Kinetic design of the respiratory oxidases

Christoph Von Ballmoos, Robert B. Gennis, Pia Ädelroth, Peter Brzezinski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Energy conservation in all kingdoms of life involves electron transfer, through a number of membrane-bound proteins, associated with proton transfer across the membrane. In aerobic organisms, the last component of this electron-transfer chain is a respiratory heme-copper oxidase that catalyzes reduction of O 2 to H 2O, linking this process to transmembrane proton pumping. So far, the molecular mechanism of proton pumping is not known for any system that is driven by electron transfer. Here, we show that this problem can be addressed and elucidated in a unique cytochrome c oxidase (cytochrome ba 3) from a thermophilic bacterium, Thermus thermophilus. The results show that in this oxidase the electron- and proton-transfer reactions are orchestrated in time such that previously unresolved proton-transfer reactions could be directly observed. On the basis of these data we propose that loading of the proton pump occurs upon electron transfer, but before substrate proton transfer, to the catalytic site. Furthermore, the results suggest that the pump site alternates between a protonated and deprotonated state for every second electron transferred to the catalytic site, which would explain the noninteger pumping stoichiometry (0.5 H +/e -) of the ba 3 oxidase. Our studies of this variant of Nature's palette of mechanistic solutions to a basic problem offer a route toward understanding energy conservation in biological systems.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11057-11062
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume108
Issue number27
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 5 2011

Keywords

  • Electrochemical gradient
  • Membrane protein
  • Rapid kinetics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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