title: Electron tunneling rates in respiratory complex I are tuned for efficient energy conversion.
abstract: Respiratory complex I converts the free energy of ubiquinone reduction by NADH into a proton motive force, a redox reaction catalyzed by flavin mononucleotide(FMN) and a chain of seven iron-sulfur centers. Electron transfer rates between the centers were determined by ultrafast freeze-quenching and analysis by EPR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The complex rapidly oxidizes three NADH molecules. The electron-tunneling rate between the most distant centers in the middle of the chain depends on the redox state of center N2 at the end of the chain, and is sixfold slower when N2 is reduced. The conformational changes that accompany reduction of N2 decrease the electronic coupling of the longest electron-tunneling step. The chain of iron-sulfur centers is not just a simple electron-conducting wire; it regulates the electron-tunneling rate synchronizing it with conformation-mediated proton pumping, enabling efficient energy conversion. Synchronization of rates is a principle means of enhancing the specificity of enzymatic reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Institution Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 67, 2628 BC, Delft (The Netherlands). s.devries@tudelft.nl.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dörner
authors.forename: Marc J F
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Strampraad
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Friedrich
mesh_terms: D004579:Electron Transport; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005486:Flavin Mononucleotide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007506:Iron-Sulfur Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009243:NAD / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D017494:Proton Pumps / Q000378:metabolism; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007506:Iron-Sulfur Proteins; D017494:Proton Pumps; D011725:Pyridines; D009243:NAD; D005486:Flavin Mononucleotide; C100213:piericidin A; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I
keywords: bioenergetics; electron tunneling; enzyme kinetics; metalloenzymes; reaction mechanisms