Spectroelectrochemical study of the cytochrome a site in carbon monoxide inhibited cytochrome c oxidase

The reduction potential of the cytochrome a site in the carbon monoxide derivative of beef heart cytochrome c oxidase has been studied under a variety of conditions by thin-layer spectroelectrochemistry. The reduction potential exhibits no ionic strength dependence and only a 9 mV/pH unit dependence between pH 6.5 and 8.5. The weak pH dependence indicates that protonation of the protein is not stoichiometrically linked to oxidoreduction over the pH range examined. The temperature dependence of the reduction potential implies a relatively large standard entropy of reduction of cytochrome a. The measured thermodynamic parameters for reduction of cyctochrome a are (all relative to the normal hydrogen electrode) delta Go'(25 degrees C) = -6.37 kcal mol-1, delta Ho' = -21.5 kcal mol-1, and delta So' = -50.8 eu. When cytochrome c is bound to the oxidase, the reduction potential of cytochrome a and its temperature dependence are not measurably affected. Under all conditions studied, the cytochrome a site did not exhibit simple Nernstian n = 1 behavior. The titration behavior of the site is consistent with a moderately strong anticooperative interaction between cytochrome a and CuA [Wang, H., Blair, D. F., Ellis, W. R., Jr., Gray, H. B., & Chan, S. I. (1985) Biochemistry (following paper in this issue)].     

Electron paramagnetic resonance of the tungsten derivative of rat liver sulfite oxidase.

Sulfite oxidase purified from livers of tungsten-treated rats has been used for EPR studies of tungsten substituted at the molybdenum site of the enzyme in a fraction of the molecules. The EPR signal of W(V) in sulfite oxidase is quite similar to that of Mo(V) in its line shape and in its sensitivity to the presence of anions such as phosphate and fluoride. Hyperfine interaction with a dissociable proton is also observed in both signals. The pH-dependent alteration in line shape exhibited by the Mo(V) EPR signal of the rat liver enzyme. Incomplete reduction of the tungsten center at pH 9 is indicated by attenuated signal intensity at this pH. The W(V) signal has g values lower than those of the Mo(V) signal, has a much broader resonance envelope, and is much less readily saturated by increasing microwave power. Kinetic studies on the reduction of the heme and tungsten centers of sulfite oxidase have shown that reduction of de-molybdo forms of sulfite oxidase by sulfite is catalyzed by the residual traces of native molybdenum-containing molecules. Reduction is accomplished by electron transfer involving intermolecular heme-heme interaction. The W(V) signal is generated only after all the heme centers are reduced. The rate and extent of heme reduction at pH 9 are the same as at pH 7. Studies on the reoxidation of W(V) and reduced heme by O2 and by cytochrome c suggest that the cytochrome b5 of sulfite oxidase is the site of electron transfer to cytochrome c, whereas oxidase activity is the property of the molybdenum center. It appears that the tungsten center in sulfite oxidase is incapable of oxidizing sulfite.     

Biochemical and biophysical studies on cytochrome c oxidase XIV. The reaction with cytochrome c as studied by pulse radiolysis

1. The reduction of cytochrome c oxidase by hydrated electrons was studied in the absence and presence of cytochrome c.

2. Hydrated electrons do not readily reduce the heme of cytochrome c oxidase. This observation supports our previous conclusion that heme a is not directly exposed to the solvent.

3. In a mixture of cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase, cytochrome c is first reduced by hydrated electrons (k = 4 · 10¹⁰ M⁻¹ · s⁻¹ at 22 °C and pH 7.2) after which it transfers electrons to cytochrome c oxidase with a rate constant of 6 · 10⁷ M⁻¹ · s⁻¹ at 22 °C and pH 7.2.

4. It was found that two equivalents of cytochrome c are oxidized initially per equivalent of heme a reduced, showing that one electron is accepted by a second electron acceptor, probably one of the copper atoms of cytochrome c oxidase.

5. After the initial reduction, redistribution of electrons takes place until an equilibrium is reached similar to that found in redox experiments of Tiesjema, R. H., Muijsers, A. O. and Van Gelder, B. F. (1973) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 305, 19–28.     

Transient-state reduction and steady-state kinetic studies of menaquinol oxidase from Bacillus subtilis, cytochrome aa3-600 nm. Spectroscopic characterization of the steady-state species.

Cytochrome aa3-600 or menaquinol oxidase, from Bacillus subtilis, is a member of the heme-copper oxidase family. Cytochrome aa3-600 contains cytochrome a, cytochrome a3, and CuB, and each is coordinated via histidine residues to subunit I. Subunit II of cytochrome aa3-600 lacks CuA, which is a common feature of the cytochrome c oxidase family members. Anaerobic reduction of cytochrome aa3-600 by the substrate analogue 2,3-dimethyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (DMN) resolves two distinct kinetic phases by stopped-flow, single-wavelength spectrometry. Global analysis of time-resolved, multiwavelength spectra shows that during these distinct phases cytochromes a and a3 are both reduced. Cyanide binding to cytochrome a3 enhances the fast phase rate, which in the presence of cyanide can be assigned to cytochrome a reduction, whereas cytochrome a3-cyanide reduction is slow. The steady-state activity of cytochrome aa3-600 exhibits saturation kinetics as a function of DMN concentration with a Km of 300 microM and a maximal turnover of 63.5 s(-1). Global kinetic analysis of steady-state spectra reveals a species that is characteristic of a partially reduced oxygen adduct of cytochrome a3-CuB, whereas cytochrome a remains oxidized. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of the oxidase in the steady state shows the expected signal from ferricytochrome a, and a new EPR signal at g = 2.01. A model of the catalytic cycle for cytochrome aa3-600 proposes initial electron delivery from DMN to cytochrome a, followed by rapid heme to heme electron transfer, and suggests possible origins of the radical signal in the steady-state form of the enzyme.     

Models of the two heme centers in cytochrome oxidase. The optical properties of cytochrome a and a3

High and low spin complexes of ferric and ferrous heme a have been prepared and characterized spectroscopically. Bis(1-methylimidazole) heme a provides a good model for cytochrome a in both oxidation states while several spectral properties of cytochrome a3 can be reproduced by 1,2-dimethylimidazole heme a3. The visible absorbance spectra of these analogs account well for the absorbance spectra of oxidized and reduced cytochrome oxidase and support the conclusion (Vanneste, W. (1966) Biochemistry 5, 838-848) that cytochrome a provides the major contribution to the spectral changes in the 600 nm band upon reduction. The 655 nm band present in cytochrome oxidase appears to be a characteristic of high spin heme a+3.     

Activation by reduction of the resting form of cytochrome c oxidase: tests of different models and evidence for the involvement of CuB

(1) The reaction of the resting form of oxidised cytochrome c oxidase from ox heart with dithionite has been studied in the presence and absence of cyanide. In both cases, cytochrome a reduction in 0.1 M phosphate (pH 7) occurs at a rate of 8.2.10(4) M-1.s-1. In the absence of cyanide, ferrocytochrome a3 appears at a rate (kobs) of 0.016 s-1. Ferricytochrome a3 maintains its 418 nm Soret maximum until reduced. The rate of a3 reduction is independent of dithionite concentration over a range 0.9 mM-131 mM. In the presence or cyanide, visible and EPR spectral changes indicate the formation of a ferric a3/cyanide complex occurs at the same rate as a3 reduction in the absence of cyanide. A g = 3.6 signal appears at the same time as the decay of a g = 6 signal. No EPR signals which could be attributed to copper in any significant amounts could be detected after dithionite addition, either in the presence or absence of cyanide. (2) Addition of dithionite to cytochrome oxidase at various times following induction of turnover with ascorbate/TMPD, results in a biphasic reduction of cytochrome a3 with an increasing proportion of the fast phase of reduction occurring after longer turnover times. At the same time, the predominant steady state species of ferri-cytochrome a3 shifts from high to low spin and the steady-state level of reduction of cytochrome a drops indicating a shift in population of the enzyme molecules to a species with fast turnover. In the final activated form, oxygen is not required for fast internal electron transfer to cytochrome a3. In addition, oxygen does not induce further electron uptake in samples of resting cytochrome oxidase reduced under anaerobic conditions in the presence of cyanide. Both findings are contrary to predictions of certain O-loop types of mechanism for proton translocation. (3) A measurement of electron entry into the resting form of cytochrome oxidase in the presence of cyanide, using TMPD or cytochrome c under anaerobic conditions, shows that three electrons per oxidase enter below a redox potential of around +200 mV. An initial fast entry of two electrons is followed by a slow (kobs approximately 0.02 s) entry of a third electron.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Reduction of oxygen-pulsed cytochrome c oxidase by cytochrome c and other electron donors

1. Stopped-flow experiments were performed in which solutions containing dithionite were mixed with air-saturated buffer. Cytochrome c oxidase present in the dithionite-containing syringe is fully oxidized within the mixing time and the oxygen-pulsed form of the oxidase is produced. 2. The reduction of this form by dithionite, by dithionite plus cytochrome c and by dithionite plus methyl viologen or benzyl viologen was followed and compared with the corresponding reduction reactions of the "resting" oxidized enzyme. Reduction by dithionite is relatively slow, but the rate of reduction is greatly increased by addition of cytochrome c or the viologens, which are even more effective than cytochrome c on a molar basis. 3. Profound differences between the transient kinetics of the reduction of the two oxidized oxidase derivatives were observed. The results are consistent with a direct reduction of cytochrome a followed by an intramolecular electron transfer to cytochrome a3 (k1obs = 7.5 s-1 for the oxygen-pulsed oxidase). 4. The spectrum of the oxygen-pulsed oxidase formed within 5 ms of the mixing closely resembles that of the "oxygenated" compound, but there were small differences between the two spectra.     

Functional properties of the heme propionates in cytochrome c oxidase from Paracoccus denitrificans. Evidence from FTIR difference spectroscopy and site-directed mutagenesis

By specific (13)C labeling of the heme propionates, four bands in the reduced-minus-oxidized FTIR difference spectrum of cytochrome c oxidase from Paracoccus denitrificans have been assigned to the heme propionates [Behr, J., Hellwig, P., M?ntele, W., and Michel, H. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 7400-7406]. To attribute these signals to the individual propionates, we have constructed seven cytochrome coxidase variants using site-directed mutagenesis of subunit I. The mutant enzymes W87Y, W87F, W164F, H403A, Y406F, R473K, and R474K were characterized by measurement of enzymatic turnover, proton pumping activity, and Vis and FTIR spectroscopy. Whereas the mutant enzymes W164F and Y406F were found to be structurally altered, the other cytochrome c oxidase variants were suitable for band assignment in the infrared. Reduced-minus-oxidized FTIR difference spectra of the mutant enzymes were used to identify the ring D propionate of heme a as a likely proton acceptor upon reduction of cytochromic oxidase. The ring D propionate of heme a(3) might undergo conformational changes or, less likely, act as a proton donor.     

Functional intermediates in the reaction of membrane-bound cytochrome oxidase with oxygen.

Flash photolysis of the membrane-bound cytochrome oxidase/carbon monoxide compound in the presence of oxygen at low temperatures and in the frozen state leads to the formation of three types of intermediates functional in electron transfer in cytochrome oxidase and reduction of oxygen by cytochrome oxidase. The first category (A) does not involve electron transfer to oxygen between -125 degrees and -105 degrees, and includes oxy compounds which are spectroscopically similar for the completely reduced oxidase (Cu1+alpha3(2+)-O2) or for the ferricyanide-pretreated oxidase (Cu2+alpha3(3+)-O2). Oxygen is readily dissociated from compounds of type A. The second category (B) involves oxidation of the heme and the copper moiety of the reduced oxidase to form a peroxy compound (Cu2+alpha 3(3+)-O2=or Cu2+alpha3(2+)-O2H2) in the temperature range from -105 degrees to -60 degrees. Above -60 degrees, compounds of type B serve as effective electron acceptors from cytochromes a, c, and c1. The third category (C) is formed above -100 degrees from mixed valency states of the oxidase obtained by ferricyanide pretreatment, and may involve higher valency states of the heme iron (Cu2+alpha3(4+)-O2=). These compounds act as electron acceptors for the respiratory chain and as functional intermediates in oxygen reduction. The remarkable features of cytochrome oxidase are its highly dissociable "oxy" compound and its extremely effective electron donor reaction which converts this rapidly to tightly bound reduced oxygen and oxidized oxidase.     

Magnetic circular dichroism study of cytochrome ba3 from Thermus thermophilus: spectral contributions from cytochromes b and a3 and nanosecond spectroscopy of CO photodissociation intermediates.

Near-UV-vis magnetic and natural circular dichroism (MCD and CD) spectra of oxidized, reduced, and carbonmonoxy-complexed cytochrome ba3, a terminal oxidase from the bacterium Thermus thermophilus, and nanosecond time-resolved MCD (TRMCD) and CD (TRCD) spectra of the unligated species formed after photodissociation of the CO complex are presented. The spectral contributions of individual cytochromes b and a3 to the Soret region MCD are identified. TRMCD spectroscopy is used to follow the spin state change (S = 0 to S = 2) in cytochrome a3(2+) following photodissociation of the CO complex. There is prompt appearance of the high-spin state after photolysis, as found previously in mammalian cytochrome oxidase [Goldbeck, R. A., Dawes, T. D., Einarsdóttir, O., Woodruff, W. H., & Kliger, D. S. (1991) Biophys. J. 60, 125-134]. Peak shifts of 1-10 nm appear in the TRMCD, TRCD, and time-resolved UV-vis absorption spectra of the photolyzed enzyme throughout its observable lifetime, indicating that the photolyzed enzyme does not relax to its equilibrium deliganded form before recombination with CO occurs hundreds of milliseconds later. Direct heme-heme interaction is not found in cytochrome ba3, but red-shifts in the MCD and absorption spectra of both cytochromes b and (photolyzed) a3 are correlated with a CO-liganded form of the protein. The long time (tau approximately greater than 1 s) needed for relaxation of the cytochrome b and a3 peaks to their static positions suggests that CO binding to a3 induces a global conformational change in the protein that weakly perturbs the MCD and absorption spectra of b and photolyzed a3. Fea3 binds CO more weakly in cytochrome ba3 than in cytochrome aa3. The MCD spectrum of reduced enzyme solution placed under 1 atm of CO contains a peak at 446 nm that shows approximately 30% of total cytochrome a3 remains pentacoordinate, high-spin.     

Proton uptake upon anaerobic reduction of the Paracoccus denitrificans cytochrome c oxidase: a kinetic investigation of the K354M and D124N mutants

The kinetics and stoichiometry of the redox-linked protonation of the soluble Paracoccus denitrificans cytochrome c oxidase were investigated at pH = 7.2-7.5 by multiwavelength stopped-flow spectroscopy, using the pH indicator phenol red. We compared the wild-type enzyme with the K354M and the D124N subunit I mutants, in which the K- and D-proton-conducting pathways are impaired, respectively. Upon anaerobic reduction by Ru-II hexamine, the wild-type enzyme binds 3.3 +/- 0.6 H(+)/aa(3), i.e., approximately 1 H(+) in excess over beef heart oxidase under similar conditions and the D124N mutant 3.2 +/- 0.5 H(+)/aa(3). In contrast, in the K354M mutant, in which the reduction of heme a(3)-Cu(B) is severely impaired, approximately 0.8 H(+) is promptly bound synchronously with the reduction of heme a, followed by a much slower protonation associated with the retarded reduction of the heme a(3)-Cu(B) site. These results indicate that complete reduction of heme a (and Cu(A)) is coupled to the uptake of approximately 0.8 H(+), which is independent of both H(+)-pathways, whereas the subsequent reduction of the heme a(3)-Cu(B) site is associated with the uptake of approximately 2.5 H(+) transferred (at least partially) through the K-pathway. On the basis of these results, the possible involvement of the D-pathway in the redox-linked protonation of cytochrome c oxidase is discussed.     

Absorption spectra and magnetic circular dichroism of heme-containing proteins in nonequilibrium states. VI. Cytochrome c-oxidase

Low temperature (77 degrees K) absorption spectra of nonequilibrium states of cytochrome c oxidase produced by reduction of oxidases form protein by thermolysed electrons at 77 degrees K was studied. During reduction of cytochrome oxidase water-glycerol solution by thermolysed electrons at 77 degrees K a nonequilibrium reduced protein is formed. Low temperature (77 degrees K) absorption spectra of the nonequilibrium cytochrome oxidase differs from those reduced by ditionite. It was shown that the oxidation state of cytochrome a3 or addition of cytochrom c have no influence on these spectral changes. It is assumed, that the observed effects are conditioned by structural differences of reduced and oxidased cytochrome oxidase active center. Similar spectral changes were observed for cytochrome oxidase, bound to the mitochondrial membrane. At temperature increasing the low temperature reduced protein is relaxed to a corresponding equilibrium state. The spectral properties of bacterial cytochrome oxidase M. lysodeicticus do not depend on the way of reduction (by dytionite or thermolysed electrons at 77 degrees K).     

Catalytic activity of cytochrome oxidase and cytochrome c in apolar solvents containing phospholipids and low amounts of water

Cytochrome c and cytochrome oxidase, in bovine heart submitochondrial particles and in their purified forms, were transferred to a ternary system that contained phospholipids (10 mg/ml toluene), the apolar solvent toluene, and water at concentrations of 13-15 microliters (high water) and 3 microliters (low water) per milliliter of toluene. When the enzymes were transferred back to an all water system, they exhibited full catalytic capacity. In the low water ternary system, cytochrome c could be reduced by ascorbate introduced via inverted micelles. Also in this system, cytochrome oxidase was reduced by ascorbate and cytochrome c but its oxidation was highly impaired. Data on the kinetics of reduction by ascorbate of cytochrome c and cytochrome oxidase under these conditions are presented. Cytochrome oxidase reduced in the organic solvent by ascorbate failed to form a complex with CO, but formed a complex with cyanide introduced via inverted micelles. The oxidized and the ascorbate-reduced cytochrome oxidase-cyanide complex exhibited a trough at 415 nm and a peak at 433 nm. The extent and rate of formation of the cyanide complex were higher with the reduced form of cytochrome oxidase. To achieve protein-protein interactions (cytochrome c-cytochrome oxidase) in the ternary system, it was necessary to extract the two proteins together. There was no functional interaction when they were extracted separately and mixed. In the high water ternary system reduced cytochrome oxidase was not detected, and it oxidized ascorbate at a higher rate than in the low water system; however, this rate was several orders of magnitude lower than in aqueous media.     

Activation by reduction of the resting form of cytochrome c oxidase: Tests of different models and evidence for the involvement of CuB

(1) The reaction of the resting form of oxidised cytochrome c oxidase from ox heart with dithionite has been studied in the presence and absence of cyanide. In both cases, cytochrome a reduction in 0.1 M phosphate (pH 7) occurs at a rate of 8.2 · 10⁴ M⁻¹ · s⁻¹. In the absence of cyanide, ferrocytochrome a₃ appears at a rate (k_obs) of 0.016 s⁻¹. Ferricytochrome a₃ maintains its 418 nm Soret maximum until reduced. The rate of a₃ reduction is independent of dithionite concentration over a range 0.9 mM–131 mM. In the presence or cyanide, visible and EPR spectral changes indicate the formation of a ferric a₃/cyanide complex occurs at the same rate as a₃ reduction in the absence of cyanide. A g = 3.6 signal appears at the same time as the decay of a g = 6 signal. No EPR signals which could be attributed to copper in any significant amounts could be detected after dithionite addition, either in the presence or absence of cyanide. (2) Addition of dithionite to cytochrome oxidase at various times following induction of turnover with ascorbate/TMPD, results in a biphasic reduction of cytochrome a₃ with an increasing proportion of the fast phase of reduction occurring after longer turnover times. At the same time, the predominant steady state species of ferri-cytochrome a₃ shifts from high to low spin and the steady-state level of reduction of cytochrome a drops indicating a shift in population of the enzyme molecules to a species with fast turnover. In the final activated form, oxygen is not required for fast internal electron transfer to cytochrome a₃. In addition, oxygen does not induce further electron uptake in samples of resting cytochrome oxidase reduced under anaerobic conditions in the presence of cyanide. Both findings are contrary to predictions of certain O-loop types of mechanism for proton translocation. (3) A measurement of electron entry into the resting form of cytochrome oxidase in the presence of cyanide, using TMPD or cytochrome c under anaerobic conditions, shows that three electrons per oxidase enter below a redox potential of around +200 mV. An initial fast entry of two electrons is followed by a slow (k_obs ≈ 0.02 s) entry of a third electron. Above +200 mV, the number of electrons taken up in the initial fast phase drops as a redox center (presumably Cu_A) titrates with an apparent mid-point potential of +240 mV. The slow phase of reduction remains at the more positive redox values. (4) The results are interpreted in terms of an initial fast reduction of cytochrome a (and Cu_A at redox values more negative than +240 mV) followed by a slow reduction of Cu_B. Cu_B reduction is proposed to spin-uncouple cytochrome a₃ to form a cyanide sensitive center, and trigger a conformational change to an activated form of the enzyme with faster intramolecular electron transfer.     

Biochemical and biophysical studies on cytochrome c oxidase. XX. Reaction with sulphide.

1.Upon addition of sulphide to oxidized cytochrome c oxidase, a low-spin heme sulphide compound is formed with an EPR signal at gx = 2.54, gy = 2.23 and gz = 1.87. Concomitantly with the formation of this signal the EPR-detectable low-spin heme signal at g = 3 and the copper signal near g = 2 decrease in intensity, pointing to a partial reduction of the enzyme by sulphide. 2. The addition of sulphide to cytochrome c oxidase, previously reduced in the presence of azide or cyanide, brings about a disappearance of the azido-cytochrome c oxidase signal at gx = 2.9, gy = 2.2, and gz = 1.67 and a decrease of the signal at g = 3.6 of cyano-cytochrome c oxidase. Concomitantly the sulphide-induced EPR signal is formed. 3. These observations demonstrate that azide, cyanide and sulphide are competitive for an oxidized binding site on cytochrome c oxidase. Moreover, it is shown that the affinity of cyanide and sulphide for this site is greater than that of azide.     

Kinetics of reduction of cytochrome c oxidase by dithionite and the effect of hydrogen peroxide

The reduction of cytochrome c oxidase by dithionite was reinvestigated with a flow-flash technique and with varied enzyme preparations. Since cytochrome a3 may be defined as the heme in oxidase which can form a photolabile CO adduct in the reduced state, it is possible to follow the time course of cytochrome a3 reduction by monitoring the onset of photosensitivity. The onset of photosensitivity and the overall rate of heme reduction were compared for Yonetani and Hartzell-Beinert preparations of cytochrome c oxidase and for the enzyme isolated from blue marlin and hammerhead shark. For all of these preparations the faster phase of heme reduction, which is dithionite concentration-dependent, is almost completed when the fraction of photosensitive material is still small. We conclude that cytochrome a3 in the resting enzyme is consistently reduced by an intramolecular electron transfer mechanism. To determine if this is true also for the pulsed enzyme, we examined the time course of dithionite reduction of the peroxide complex of the pulsed enzyme. It has been previously shown that pulsed cytochrome c oxidase can interact with H2O2 and form a stable room temperature peroxide adduct (Bickar, D., Bonaventura, J., and Bonaventura, C. (1982) Biochemistry 21, 2661-2666). Rather complex kinetics of heme reduction are observed when dithionite is added to enzyme preparations that contain H2O2. The time courses observed provide unequivocal evidence that H2O2 can, under these conditions, be used by cytochrome c oxidase as an electron acceptor. Experiments carried out in the presence of CO show that a direct dithionite reduction of cytochrome a3 in the peroxide complex of the pulsed enzyme does not occur.     

An investigation by e.p.r. and optical spectroscopy of cytochrome oxidase during turnover.

Cytochrome oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1; ferrocytochrome c:oxygen oxidoreductase) was studied during steady-state by optical and e.p.r. methods. Starting with either the 'resting' or the 'pulsed' enzyme, oxidase, cytochrome c, ascorbate and O2 were mixed and the reaction monitored optically. Tetramethylphenylenediamine was used as mediator to poise the steady-state to the desired reduction level. After mixing, the reaction was quenched by the used of rapid-freeze techniques. The e.p.r. spectra of samples captured at increasing tetramethylphenylenediamine concentrations (i.e. higher electron flux) show decreasing g = 2 (Cu A) and g = 3 (cytochrome a) signals. No Cu B or g = 6 signals (high-spin cytochrome a3) could be found during the reaction. Also, the signal with peaks at g = 1.69, 1.78 and 5 as well as the g = 12 signal was hardly detectable at higher turnover rates. The only new signal appearing during turnover is a radical signal, which is discussed in terms of a protein radical. Finally, a scheme is presented, proposing a catalytic cycle for cytochrome oxidase with respect to the O2 binding Cu B-cytochrome a3 unit.     

Studies on the mechanism of electron transport in the bc1-segment of the respiratory chain in yeast. II. The binding of antimycin to mitochondrial particles and the function of two different binding sites.

1. In mitochondrial particles antimycin binds to two separate specific sites with dissociation constants KD1 less than 4 - 10(-13) M and KD2 = 3 - 10(-9) M, respectively. 2. The concentrations of the two antimycin binding sites are about equal. The absolute concentration for each binding site is about 100 - 150 pmol per mg of mitochondrial protein. 3. Antimycin bound to the stronger site mainly inhibits NADH-and succinate oxidase. Binding of antimycin to the weaker binding site inhibits the electron flux to exogenously added cytochrome c after blocking cytochrome oxidase by KCN. 4. Under certain conditions cytochrome b and c1 are dispensible components for antimycin-sensitive electron transport. 5. A model of the respiratory chain in yeast is proposed which accounts for the results reported here and previously. (Lang, B., Burger, G., and Bandlow, W. (1974) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 368, 71-85).     

Ionic strength dependence of the kinetics of electron transfer from bovine mitochondrial cytochrome c to bovine cytochrome c oxidase.

The effect of ionic strength on the one-electron reduction of oxidized bovine cytochrome c oxidase by reduced bovine cytochrome c has been studied by using flavin semiquinone reductants generated in situ by laser flash photolysis. In the absence of cytochrome c, direct reduction of the heme a prosthetic group of the oxidase by the one-electron reductant 5-deazariboflavin semiquinone occurred slowly, despite a driving force of approximately +1 V. This is consistent with a sterically inaccessible heme a center. This reduction process was independent of ionic strength from 10 to 100 mM. Addition of cytochrome c resulted in a marked increase in the amount of reduced oxidase generated per laser flash. Reduction of the oxidase at the heme a site was monophasic, whereas oxidation of cytochrome c was multiphasic, the fastest phase corresponding in rate constant to the reduction of the heme a. During the fast kinetic phase, 2 equiv of cytochrome c was oxidized per heme a reduced. We presume that the second equivalent was used to reduce the Cua center, although this was not directly measured. The first-order rate-limiting process which controls electron transfer to the heme a showed a marked ionic strength effect, with a maximum rate constant occurring at mu = 110 mM (1470 s-1), whereas the rate constant obtained at mu = 10 mM was 630 s-1 and at mu = 510 mM was 45 s-1. There was no effect of "pulsing" the enzyme on this rate-limiting one-electron transfer process. These results suggest that there are structural differences in the complex(es) formed between mitochondrial cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase at very low and more physiologically relevant ionic strengths, which lead to differences in electron-transfer rate constants.     

Cytochrome c oxidase: Intermediates of the catalytic cycle and their energy-coupled interconversion

Several issues relevant to the current studies of cytochrome c oxidase catalytic mechanism are discussed. The following points are raised. (1) The terminology currently used to describe the catalytic cycle of cytochrome oxidase is outdated and rather confusing. Presumably, it would be revised so as to share nomenclature of the intermediates with other oxygen-reactive heme enzymes like P450 or peroxidases. (2) A "catalytic cycle" of cytochrome oxidase involving complete reduction of the enzyme by 4 electrons followed by oxidation by O(2) is a chimera composed artificially from two partial reactions, reductive and oxidative phases, that never operate together as a true multi-turnover catalytic cycle. The 4e(-) reduction-oxidation cycle would not serve a paradigm for oxygen reduction mechanism and protonmotive function of cytochrome oxidase. (3) The foremost role of the K-proton channel in the catalytic cycle may consist in securing faultless delivery of protons for heterolytic O-O bond cleavage in the oxygen-reducing site, minimizing the danger of homolytic scission reaction route. (4) Protonmotive mechanism of cytochrome oxidase may vary notably for the different single-electron steps in the catalytic cycle.