Redox properties of membrane-bound b-type cytochromes and a soluble c-type cytochrome of nitrate reductase in a photodenitrifier, Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides forma sp. denitrificans

In order to identify the b-type cytochrome involved in the nitrate reduction in a photodenitrifier, Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides forma sp. denitrificans, the b-type cytochromes in the spheroplast membranes were characterized. Difference spectra at 77K of spheroplast membranes indicated the presence of two b-type cytochromes with a bands at 556.5 and 562 nm. Three components considered to be of the b-type cytochrome were resolved by anaerobic potentiometric titration at 560-572 nm. Their midpoint potentials at pH 7, Em,7, were - 135 mV, +40 mV and +175 nm and their approximate reduced minus oxidized maxima were determined to be at 565 nm (562 nm at 77K), 560 nm (556.5 nm) and 560 nm (556.5 nm), respectively. These values are almost the same as those reported for R. sphaeroides. The Em,7 value of the cytochrome c involved in the nitrate reductase of this denitrifier was determined to be 250 mV. A b-type cytochrome reduced with NADH and FMN was oxidized by nitrate in chromatophore membranes. The possibility that cytochrome b (Em,7 = 175 mV) is involved in the nitrate reduction is discussed.     

Spectral and potentiometric analysis of cytochromes from Bacillus subtilis

Bacillus subtilis cytoplasmic membranes contain several cytochromes which are linked to the respiratory chain. At least six different cytochromes have been separated and identified by ammonium sulphate fractionation and ion-exchange chromatography. They include two terminal oxidases with CO-binding properties and cyanide sensitivity. One of these is an aa3-type cytochrome c oxidase which has characteristic absorption maxima in the reduced-oxidized difference spectrum at 601 nm in the alpha-band and at 443 nm in the Soret band regions. In the alpha-band two separate electron transitions with Em = +205 mV and Em = +335 mV can be discriminated by redox potentiometric titration. The other CO-binding cytochrome c oxidase contains two cytochrome b components with alpha-band maxima at 556 nm and 559 nm. Cytochrome b556 can be reduced by ascorbate and has an Em + +215 mV, whereas cytochrome b559 has an Em = +140 mV. Furthermore a complex consisting of a cytochrome b564 (Em = +140 mV) associated with a cytochrome c554 (Em = +250 mV) was found. This cytochrome c554, which can be reduced by ascorbate, appears to have an asymmetrical alpha-peak and stains for heme-catalyzed peroxidase activity on SDS-containing polyacrylamide gels. A protein with a molecular mass of about 30 kDa is responsible for this activity. A cytochrome b559 (Em = +65 mV) appears to be an essential part of succinate dehydrogenase. Finally a cytochrome c550 component with an apparent mid-point potential of Em = +195 mV has been detected.     

Membrane cytochromes of Escherichia coli grown aerobically and anaerobically with nitrate

Redox titration has been coupled to spectroscopic techniques, enzyme fractionation, and the use of mutants to examine the cytochrome composition of the membranes from cells grown aerobically and anaerobically with nitrate. A combination of techniques was found to be necessary to resolve the cytochromes. At least six b-type cytochromes were present. Besides cytochromes bfdh and bnr, components of the formate dehydrogenase-nitrate reductase pathway, cytochromes b556, b555, b562, and o, characteristic of aerobic respiratory pathways, were present. The midpoint oxidation-reduction potentials of the aerobic b-type cytochromes suggested that the sequence of electron transfer is: cytochrome b556 leads to b555 leads to b562 leads to O2.     

Electron transport and cytochromes in aerobically grown Proteus mirabilis

The function of the cytochromes in electron transport from NADH to oxygen in aerobically grown Proteus mirabilis has been determined. 77K-Spectra of cytoplasmic membrane suspensions, frozen while catalyzing electron transport from NADH to oxygen, in the presence as well as in the absence of 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide, have been recorded. Analysis of these 77K-spectra revealed that cytochrome b-563 (E'0 = +140 mV), cytochrome b-556 (E'0 = +140 mV) [or alternatively cytochrome b-563/556 (E'0 = +140 mV)] and cytochrome b-557 (E'0 = +50 mV) may function in a Q or b-cycle. The function of cytochrome c-549 (E'0 = +75 mV), which seems to be present only in a very low concentration, and cytochrome b-556 (E'0 = -105 mV), which reacts very slowly to the addition of NADH and oxygen, remains unclear. Cytochrome o, the main oxidase of aerobically grown P. mirabilis cells, can not be detected by the methods described above. Only when the reduced form of cytochrome o is liganded with carbon monoxide a specific alpha-band can be detected at 569 nm at 25 degrees C and 565 nm at 77K.     

Oxidation-reduction potentials and absorption spectra of two b-type cytochromes from the halophilic archaebacterium, Halobacterium halobium

The oxidation-reduction midpoint potentials were determined for two b-type cytochromes, which had been solubilized from the membrane of Halobacterium halobium and partially purified. The two b-type cytochromes have oxidation-reduction midpoint potentials of 175 and 7 mV, respectively. These b-type cytochromes could also be resolved by difference absorption spectroscopy, which revealed one b-type cytochrome with absorption maximum (alpha-peak) at 558 nm, reducible by ascorbate-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine, and the other with absorption maximum (alpha-peak) at 560 nm, reducible by dithionite. Different substrates such as succinate, NADH, and alpha-glycerophosphate were used to study the b-type cytochromes in situ when bound to the membrane in a functional state. Reducing equivalents from succinate and alpha-glycerophosphate appear to enter the respiratory chain at the 175 mV b-type cytochrome. Cytochrome a3 is spectrophotometrically shown to be present in the membrane of H. halobium.     

A method for in situ characterization of b- and c-type cytochromes in Escherichia coli and in complex III from beef heart mitochondria by combined spectrum deconvolution and potentiometric analysis

An analytical technique for the in situ characterization of b- and c-type cytochromes has been developed. From evaluation of the results of potentiometric measurements and spectrum deconvolutions, it was concluded that an integrated best-fit analysis of potentiometric and spectral data gave the most reliable results. In the total cytochrome b content of cytoplasmic membranes from aerobically grown Escherichia coli, four major components are distinguished with alpha-band maxima at 77 K of 555.7, 556.7, 558.6 and 563.5 nm, and midpoint potentials at pH 7.0 of 46, 174, -75 and 187 mV, respectively. In addition, two very small contributions to the alpha-band spectrum at 547.0 and 560.2 nm, with midpoint potentials of 71 and 169 mV, respectively, have been distinguished. On the basis of their spectral properties they should be designated as a cytochrome c and a cytochrome b, respectively. In Complex III, isolated from beef heart mitochondria, five cytochromes are distinguished: cytochrome c1 (lambda m (25 degrees C) = 553.5 nm; E'0 = 238 mV) and four cytochromes b (lambda m (25 degrees C) = 558.6, 561.2, 562.1, 566.1 nm and E'0 = -83, 26, 85, -60 mV).     

Purification and properties of cytochrome b556 in the respiratory chain of aerobically grown Escherichia coli K12.

Cytochrome b556, a major component of type b cytochromes in the respiratory chain of aerobically grown Escherichia coli, was purified to near homogeneity. It was solubilized from cytoplasmic membranes by treatment with Sarkosyl/cholate mixture and purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. The purified cytochrome b556 is an oligomer composed of identical polypeptides, with a molecular weight of 17,500, determined by gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. It contains equimolar amounts of heme and polypeptide but no detectable non-heme iron, phospholipid, or dehydrogenase. Its isoelectric point was determined to be 8.5. The cytochrome b556 is highly hydrophobic in its amino acid composition and does not contain any half-cystine residues. The purified cytochrome b556 is spectrophotometrically pure and the alpha absorption peak in its difference spectrum at 77 K is at 556 nm. The molar extinction coefficient of cytochrome b556 was determined as 22.8 cm-1 mM-1. Its oxidation-reduction potential was found to be -45 mV. It could be reduced by D-lactate dehydrogenase of E. coli in the presence of menadione.     

Detection of cytochrome b+50 in membranes of Rhodospirillum rubrum isolated from aerobically and phototrophically grown cells.

1. Dark equilibrium potentiometric titrations were conducted on membranes purified from Rhodospirillum rubrum in an effort to identify b-type cytochrome components reported in other Rhodospirillaceae. In preparations from aerobically grown cells virtually devoid of bacteriochlorophyll a, three components were observed at 560-540 nm. Their oxidation-reduction midpoint potentials assigned by computer-assisted analysis were +195, +50 and -110 mV at pH 7.0; each of these fitted closely to theoretical single-electron equivalent curves. 2. In chromatophores from phototrophically grown carotenoidless mutant G-9, three components were also observed with E0' +190, +50 and -90mV. 3. The alpha-band of the +50mV component exhibited an absorption maximum near 560nm in difference spectra obtained at fixed oxidation-reduction potentials. 4. This component could be demonstrated most readily in purified membrane preparations and may have been obscured in previous studies by residual cytochrome c'. 5. This is the first definitive report of cytochrome b+50 in membranes from Rs. rubrum and aligns this bacterium with other Rhodospirillaceae in which this component functions in light-driven cyclic electron flow.     

Potentiometric analysis of the cytochromes of an Escherichia coli mutant strain lacking the cytochrome d terminal oxidase complex.

A combination of potentiometric analysis and electrochemically poised low-temperature difference spectroscopy was used to examine a mutant strain of Escherichia coli that was previously shown by immunological criteria to be lacking the cytochrome d terminal oxidase. It was shown that this strain is missing cytochromes d, a1, and b558 and that the cytochrome composition of the mutant is similar to that of the wild-type strain grown under conditions of high aeration. The data indicate that the high-aeration branch of the respiratory chain contains two cytochrome components, b556 (midpoint potential [Em] = +35 mV) and cytochrome o (Em = +165 mV). The latter component binds to CO and apparently has a reduced-minus-oxidized split-alpha band with peaks at 555 and 562 nm. When the wild-type strain was grown under conditions of low aeration, the components of the cytochrome d terminal oxidase complex were observed: cytochrome d (Em = +260 mV), cytochrome a1 (Em = +150 mV) and cytochrome b558 (Em = +180 mV). All cytochromes appeared to undergo simple one-electron oxidation-reduction reactions. In the absence of CO, cytochromes b558 and o have nearly the same Em values. In the presence of CO, the Em of cytochrome o is raised, thus allowing cytochromes b558 and o to be individually quantitated by potentiometric analysis when they are both present.     

The active site of ribonuclease A from the crystallographic studies of ribonuclease-A-inhibitor complexes

Several members of the genus Methanosarcina were investigated by room-temperature and low-temperature difference spectroscopy for the presence of cytochromes. In combination with potentiometric titrations two membrane-bound b-cytochromes and one membrane-bound c-cytochrome could be detected in cells grown on methanol or trimethylamine. Very probably acetate-grown cells contained an additional cytochrome b. The midpoint potentials of the two b-type cytochromes were Em1 = -325 mV and Em2 = -183 mV, respectively. The additional b cytochrome formed during growth on acetate exhibited a midpoint potential of Em3 = -250 mV.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic properties of membrane-bound cytochromes of aerobically and photosynthetically grown Rhodopseudomonas spheroides

A green mutant of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides was isolated in which spectroscopic measurements of the α-band region of cytochromes could be made. It was grown either aerobically or photosynthetically, and the membrane fractions prepared from cells of each type. Anaerobic potentiometric titration at 560 nm minus 542 nm showed the same three redox components, tentatively identified as b-type cytochromes, in membrane fractions from either type of cell. The mid-point potentials were approximately +185, +41 and ?104 mV. In membranes from photosynthetically grown cells the major cytochrome form absorbing at 560 nm had a mid-point potential of +42 mV; in aerobically grown cells the major form had a potential of +185 mV. In both types of cell only one c-type cytochrome was found, with a mid-point potential of +295 mV. An a-type cytochrome was present only in aerobically-grown cells.Substrate-reduced particles from these cells were mixed with air-saturated buffer in a stopped-flow spectrophotometer and the kinetics of oxidation of b- and c-type cytochromes were measured. The same two b-type components, reacting with pseudo first order kinetics, were detected in particles from both aerobically and photosynthetically grown cells ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ for oxidation 1.3 s and 0.13 s). The c-type cytochrome of particles from aerobically grown cells was oxidised with $\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ of 0.97 s; the c-type cytochrome of photosynthetic cells was oxidised faster, with $\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ of 0.27 s.These observations have implications on the adaptive formation of electron transport systems that are discussed.     

The respiratory electron transport system of heterotrophically-grown Rhodopseudomonas palustris.

The enzymatic activities and the cytochrome components of the respiratory chain were investigated with membrane fractions from chemoheterotrophically growth Rhodopseudomonas palustris. Whereas the level of electron transfer carriers was not distinctly affected by a change of the culture conditions, the potential activities of the enzymes were clearly increased when the cells were grown aerobically. Reduced-minus oxidized difference spectra of the membrane fractions prepared from dark aerobically grown cells revealed the presence of three beta-types cytochromes b561, b560 and b558, and at least two c-type cytochromes c556 and c2 as electron carriers in the electron transfer chain. Cytochrome of a-type could not be detected in these membranes. Reduced plus CO minus reduced difference spectra of the membrane fractions were indicative of cytochrome o, which may be equivalent to cytochrome b560, appearing in substrate-reduced minus oxidized difference spectra. Cytochrome o was found to be the functional terminal oxidase. CO difference spectra of the high speed supernatant fraction indicated the presence of cytochrome c'. Succinate and NADH reduced the same types of cytochromes. However, a considerable amount of cytochrome b561 with associated beta and gamma bands at 531 and 429 nm, respectively, was reducible by succinate, but not by NADH. A substantial fraction of the membrane-bound b-type cytochrome was non-substrate reducible and was found in dithionite-reduced minus substrate-reduced spectra. Cytochrome c2 may be localized in a branch of the electron transport system, with the branch-point at the level of ubiquinone. The separate pathways rejoined at a common terminal oxidase. Two terminal oxidases with different KCN sensitivity were present in the respiratory chain, one of which was sensitive to low concentrations of KCN and was connected with the cytochrome chain. The other terminal oxidase which was inhibited only by high concentrations of cyanide was located in a branched pathway, through which the electrons could flow from ubiquinone to oxygen bypassing the cytochrome chain.     

Respiratory chain of the alkalophilic bacterium Bacillus firmus RAB and its non-alkalophilic mutant derivative

The membrane-bound respiratory chain components of alkalophilic Bacillus firmus RAB were studied by difference spectroscopy and oxidation-reduction potentiometric titrations. Cytochromes with the following midpoint potentials were identified at pH 9.0: a-type cytochromes, +110 and +210 mV; b-type cytochromes, +20, -120, -280, and -400 mV; and cytochrome c, +60 mV. Only the higher-potential cytochrome a showed an upward shift in midpoint potential when titrated at pH 7.0. Parallel studies of a non-alkalophilic mutant derivative of B. firmus RAB, strain RABN, revealed the presence of only one species each of a-, b-, and c-type cytochromes which exhibited midpoint potentials of +110, -150, and +160 mV, respectively, at pH 7.0. Membranes of both strains were found to contain menaquinone. At pH 9.0, NADH caused the reduction of essentially all of the cytochromes that were seen in fully reduced preparations of wild-type B. firmus RAB membranes. By contrast, at pH 7.0, NADH failed to appreciably reduce the b-type cytochromes. These findings may relate to our recent proposal that an inadequacy in energy transduction (production of a proton motive force) by the alkalophilic respiratory chain at pH 7.0 is what precludes the growth of B. firmus RAB at a neutral pH.     

Comparison of cytochromes from anaerobically and aerobically grown cells of Pseudomonas perfectomarinus.

Pseudomonas perfectomarinus (ATCC 14405) is a facultative anaerobe capable of either oxygen respiration or anaerobic nitrate respiration, i.e., denitrification. A comparative study of the electron transfer components of cells revealed five c-type cytochromes and cytochrome cd in the soluble fraction from anaerobically grown cells and four c-type cytochromes in the soluble fraction from aerobically grown cells. Purification procedures yielded three c-type cytochromes (designated c-551, c-554, and acidic c-type) from both kinds of cells as indicated by similarities in absorption spectra, molecular weight, and electrophoretic mobility. Cytochrome cd, a diheme c-type cytochrome (cytochrome c-552), and a split-alpha c-type cytochrome were recovered only from anaerobically grown cells. A c-type cytochrome with a low ratio of alpha to beta absorption peak heights was uniquely present in the aerobically grown cells. Liquid N2 temperature absorption spectroscopy on the membrane fraction from anaerobically grown cells revealed residual cytochrome cd as well as differences in the relative amounts of c-type and b-type cytochromes in membranes prepared from cells grown under the two different conditions.     

Oxidation-reduction potentials of cytochromes in Ascaris muscle mitochondria: high-redox-potential cytochrome b558 in complex II (succinate-ubiquinone reductase)

Oxidation-reduction midpoint potentials (Ems) were determined at pH 7.0 for cytochromes in the anaerobic respiratory chain of Ascaris mitochondria by redox titration techniques. Cytochrome b558, which is associated with complex II that functions as fumarate reductase in the terminal step of the respiratory chain, was shown to have an Em of -34 mV in the isolated complex II and -54 mV in mitochondria. These values are much higher than the value of Ascaris cytochrome b558. In contrast, Ems of cytochromes C + C1 and cytochrome b559.5 were determined in situ to be 235 mV and 78 mV, respectively, which are comparable to those of their mammalian counterparts.     

Four different b-type cytochromes in the halophilic archaebacterium, Halobacterium halobium

The halophilic archaebacterium, Halobacterium halobium has been found to contain four different b-type cytochromes. The four components were recognized by their potentiometric characteristics in situ in their functional environment in the membrane of H. halobium. Oxidation-reduction midpoint potentials of these four b-type cytochromes were determined to be +261, +160, +30, and -153 mV, respectively. We also demonstrate that the pathway involved in the transport of reducing equivalents from succinate to oxygen proceeds through the b-type cytochromes with oxidation-reduction midpoint potentials of +261 and +161 mV. The cytochrome with oxidation-reduction midpoint potential of -153 mV was not substrate reducible by NADH but was chemically reducible by dithionite. Antimycin inhibits reduction of b-type cytochrome in the succinate pathway, but has no effect on b-type cytochrome reduction when reducing equivalents are provided by NADH. The carbon monoxide difference spectrum of H. halobium membranes shows at least one carbon monoxide-binding b-type cytochrome, indicating a terminal oxidase. A scheme for electron transport in H.halobium involving the b-type cytochromes and terminal oxidase is suggested.     

Energy tranduction in photosynthetic bacteria. XI. Further resolution of cytochromes of b type and the nature of the co-sensitive oxidase present in the respiratory chain of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata.

1. In membranes prepared from dark grown cells of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata, five cytochromes of b type (E'0 at pH 7.0 +413+/-5, +270+/-5, +148+/-5, +56+/-5 and -32+/-5 mV) can be detected by redox titrations at different pH values. The midpoint potentials of only three of these cytochromes (b148, b56, and b-32) vary as a function of pH with a slope of 30 mV per pH unit. 2. In the presence of a CO/N2 mixture, the apparent E'0 of cytochrome b270 shifts markedly towards higher potentials (+355mV); a similar but less pronounced shift is apparent also for cytochrome b150. The effect of CO on the midpoint potential of cytochrome b270 is absent in the respiration deficient mutant M6 which possesses a specific lesion in the CO-sensitive segment of the branched respiratory chain present in the wild type strain. 3. Preparations of spheroplasts with lysozyme digestion lead to the release of a large amount of cytochrome c2 and of virtually all cytochrome cc'. These preparations show a respiratory chain impaired in the electron pathway sensitive to low KCN concentration, in agreement with the proposed role of cytochrome c2 in this branch; on the contrary, the activity of the CO-sensitive branch remains unaffected, indicating that neither cytochrome c2 nor the CO-binding cytochrome cc' are involved in this pathway. 4. Membranes prepared from spheroplasts still possess a CO-binding pigment characterized by maxima at 420.5, 543 and 574 nm and minima at 431, 560 nm in C0-difference spectra and with an alpha band at 562.5 nm in reduced minus oxidized difference spectra. This membrane-bound cytochrome, which is coincident with cytochrome b270, can be classified as a typical cytochrome "0" and considered the alternative CO-sensitive oxidase.     

Half reduction potentials and oxygen affinity of the cytochromes of Pseudomonas carboxydovorans

Abstract The midpoint redox potentials (E'₀) of the cytochromes of Pseudomonas carboxydovorans have been studied by means of coupled spectrum deconvolution and potentiometric analysis. Membranes of cells grown on different substrates (CO; H₂+ CO₂; or pyruvate) contained cytochromes with similar absorption peaks and redox potentials. The cytochromes of the CO-sensitive main electron pathway of the respiratory chain revealed redox potentials in the same range as mitochondrial cytochromes (cytochrome b -555, about −20 mV; cytochrome c and cytochrome a , about +220 mV). For the cytochromes of the CO-insensitive alternative electron pathway, which allows uninhibited growth and respiration in the presence of high concentrations of CO, redox potentials of approx. +50 mV (cytochrome b -558) and −11 to −215 mV (cytochrome b -561) were determined. Cytochrome [ib-561], earlier proposed as the alternative terminal oxidase o in this organism, was shown to possess the lowest half reduction potential of all the cytochromes present in the cells. Measurements of the apparent K _m value for oxygen revealed a low affinity of cytochrome a ( K _m/ 5 υ M O₂) and a very high affinity of the CO-insensitive oxidase ( K _m < 0.5 μ M O₂). The high affinity to oxygen might be responsible for the CO-insensitivity of this unusual cytochrome o .     

Immunological characterization of the cytochrome o terminal oxidase from Escherichia coli

The cytochrome o terminal oxidase from Escherichia coli was immunochemically purified and monospecific antiserum toward cytochrome o was obtained. This antiserum is able to precipitate 100% of the ubiquinol-1 oxidase activity in Triton X-100 extracts of membranes from an E. coli strain in which cytochrome o is the only terminal oxidase. Cytochrome o was analyzed and quantitated using crossed immunoelectrophoresis, rocket immunoelectrophoresis, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis shows that cytochrome o is composed of four subunits of approximate equimolar stoichiometry with molecular weights of 51,000, 28,500, 18,000, and 12,700. The low temperature (77 K) reduced - oxidized spectrum of the immunoprecipitate shows two peaks at 555 and 562 nm, indicating b-type cytochromes. With the anti-cytochrome o and antiserum toward the cytochrome d terminal oxidase complex which was previously obtained, it is possible to immunochemically assay for all the cytochromes in the cytoplasmic membrane of aerobically grown E. coli. Preliminary results indicate that the biosynthesis of cytochrome o is repressed when cytochrome d is induced by lowering the dissolved oxygen concentration during cell growth.     

A new membrane-bound b-type cytochrome, cytochrome b-558, from photosynthetically grown Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides

A new membrane-bound b-type cytochrome, cytochrome b-558, was removed from chromatophore membranes of photosynthetically grown Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides strain R-26 by deoxycholate-cholate extraction. The cytochrome was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation and ion-exchange chromatography. Cytochrome b-558 had absorption maxima at 280 and 405 nm in the oxidized form, and at 558, 528, and 420 nm in the reduced form. It had a midpoint potential of--130 mV at pH 7.0. The minimal molecular weight of this protein was 42,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and it contained one mole heme per mole of protein. The isoelectric point was 8.5. The electrophoretic pattern of heme-carrying proteins and the redox potentiometry showed that cytochrome b-558 was present in membranes from wild type, strain R-26, and strain GA grown photosynthetically, but not from any strain grown aerobically.