Complex I of Rhodobacter capsulatus and its role in reverted electron transport

The activities of NAD⁺-photoreduction and NADH/decyl-ubiquinone reductase in membrane preparations of Rhodobacter capsulatus changed to the same extent under different conditions. These results indicated that NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) catalyzes the electron transport in the downhill direction (respiratory chain) and in the uphill direction (reverted electron flow). This conclusion was confirmed by the characterization of a complex-I-deficient mutant of R. capsulatus. The mutant was not able to reduce NAD⁺ in the light. Since this mutant was not able to grow photoautotrophically, we concluded that complex I is the enzyme that catalyzes the reverted electron flow to NAD⁺ to provide reduction equivalents for CO₂ fixation. Complex I is not essential for the reverted electron flow to nitrogenase since the mutant grew under nitrogen-fixing conditions. As shown by immunological means, NuoE, a subunit of complex I from R. capsulatus having an extended C-terminus, was modified depending on the nitrogen source present in the growth medium. When the organism used N₂ instead of NH₄ ⁺, a smaller NuoE polypeptide was synthesized. The complex-I-deficient mutant was not able to modify NuoE. The function of the modification is discussed. Received: 28 February 1997 / Accepted: 28 August 1997