Cytochrome c-cytochrome oxidase interaction at subzero temperatures

High resolution structure of the ba3 cytochrome c oxidase from Thermus thermophilus in a lipidic environment

The fundamental chemistry underpinning aerobic life on Earth involves reduction of dioxygen to water with concomitant proton translocation. This process is catalyzed by members of the heme-copper oxidase (HCO) superfamily. Despite the availability of crystal structures for all types of HCO, the mode of action for this enzyme is not understood at the atomic level, namely how vectorial H⁺ and e^- transport are coupled. Toward addressing this problem, we report wild type and A120F mutant structures of the ba₃-type cytochrome c oxidase from Thermus thermophilus at 1.8 Å resolution. The enzyme has been crystallized from the lipidic cubic phase, which mimics the biological membrane environment. The structures reveal 20 ordered lipid molecules that occupy binding sites on the protein surface or mediate crystal packing interfaces. The interior of the protein encloses 53 water molecules, including 3 trapped in the designated K-path of proton transfer and 8 in a cluster seen also in A-type enzymes that likely functions in egress of product water and proton translocation. The hydrophobic O₂-uptake channel, connecting the active site to the lipid bilayer, contains a single water molecule nearest the Cu_B atom but otherwise exhibits no residual electron density. The active site contains strong electron density for a pair of bonded atoms bridging the heme Fe_a3 and Cu_B atoms that is best modeled as peroxide. The structure of ba₃-oxidase reveals new information about the positioning of the enzyme within the membrane and the nature of its interactions with lipid molecules. The atomic resolution details provide insight into the mechanisms of electron transfer, oxygen diffusion into the active site, reduction of oxygen to water, and pumping of protons across the membrane. The development of a robust system for production of ba₃-oxidase crystals diffracting to high resolution, together with an established expression system for generating mutants, opens the door for systematic structure-function studies.

Electron redistribution in mixed valence cytochrome oxidase following photolysis of carboxy-oxidase

Absorbance changes at 446 nm in purified cytochrome oxidase following flash photolysis of carboxy-oxidase poised in the mixed valance state at +220 mV show biphasic kinetics. One phase corresponds to CO recombination to ferrous cytochrome a3 with an energy of activation of 9 kcal/mol; the second phase is 3-5 times faster with an energy of activation of 9.15 kcal/mol. Following flash photolysis at approximately -60 degrees C, cytochromes a and c and the 840-nm CuA species are observed to undergo reduction as electrons from ferrous unliganded cytochrome a3 equilibrate with the equipotential redox centers of the oxidase; as CO recombines with ferrous cyochrome a3, these centers are oxidized and the mixed valence carboxy-oxidase is regenerated. Electron redistribution between centers of the oxidase in the forward and reverse directions occurs faster than does the binding of CO.

The active form of cytochrome c oxidase: effects of detergent, the intact membrane, and radiation inactivation

Cytochrome oxidase is a multisubunit, intrinsic membrane protein with a complex function that includes oxidation of cytochrome c, reduction of oxygen and generation of a membrane potential. To clarify the relationship of its normal function to protein and membrane structure, we have examined the kinetic behavior of rat liver cytochrome oxidase in the intact inner mitochondrial membrane and in detergent solubilized states. Dissolution of rat liver mitochondrial membranes alters the kinetic parameters of the oxidase in a manner dependent in part on the dispersing agent, and characterized by a large increase in maximal activity which is not attributable to exposure of more oxidase or diminished affinity for cytochrome c. The most profound effect of solubilization of the membrane is seen on the low affinity reaction of cytochrome c, suggesting that the electron transfer pathway from this site to oxygen is sensitive to alterations in hydrophobic interactions within the oxidase. Purified rat liver and beef heart oxidase exists predominantly in a monodisperse, 300 kilodalton form in laurylmaltoside (Rosevear et al., 1980). However, a smaller, 130 kd species that exhibits high turnover rates equal to the 300 kd form is detected in some beef heart preparations, implying that the dimer may not be essential for high activity. Radiation inactivation studies on purified oxidase reveal a molecular weight for the functional unit of approximately 70 kd. It is concluded that less than a complete set of subunits may be sufficient for both normal binding of cytochrome c and rapid electron transfer to oxygen.

Carbon monoxide- and oxygen-reacting haemoproteins in the mitochondrial fraction from the soil amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii. Studies at subzero temperatures

1. Mitochondria-enriched fractions of the soil amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii contained four haemoproteins that in their reduced forms reacted with CO to give photodissociable CO complexes; these were cytochromes a 3, a 614, b- and c-type cytochromes. 2. Non-photodissociable oxygen-containing compounds were formed at temperatures between -130 and -150 degrees C after photodissociation of CO in the presence of 200 microM-O2, 3. Electron transport, indicated by the oxidation of cytochromes a + a3 and cytochrome c, did not occur until the temperature was raised to -80 degrees C.

The effect of pH and ionic strength on the pre-steady-state reaction of cytochrome c and cytochrome aa3

(1) In the pH range between 5.0 and 8.0, the rate constants for the reaction of ferrocytochrome c with both the high- and low-affinity sites on the cytochrome aa3 increased by a factor of approx. 2 per pH unit. (2) The pre-steady-state reaction between ferrocytochrome c and cytochrome aa3 did nt cause a change in the pH of an unbuffered medium. Furthermore, it was found that this reaction and the steady-state reaction are equally fast in H2O and 2H2O. From these results it was concluded that no protons are directly involved in a rate-determining reaction step. (3) Arrhenius plots show that the reaction between ferrocytochrome c and cytochrome aa3 requires a higher enthalpy of activation at temperatures below 20 degrees C (15--16 kcal/mol) as compared to that at higher temperature (9 kcal/mol). We found no effect of ionic strength on the activation enthalpy of the pre-steady-state reaction, nor on that of the steady-state reaction. This suggests that ionic strength does not change the character of these reactions, but merely affects the electrostatic interaction between both cytochromes.

Resolution of two compound C-type intermediates in the reaction with oxygen of mixed-valence state membrane-bound cytochrome oxidase

The reaction of mixed-valence state membrane-bound cytochrome oxidase with oxygen has been studied by difference spectroscopy with reference to the unliganded state and by the low temperature technique of Chance and coworkers. Three intermediates, compound A2 and two compound C-type components denoted C606 and C610, have been resolved in time and wavelength in the alpha region. Their optical properties are defined in the visible range. Compound A2 disappearance and compound C606 formation exhibit first-order kinetics with identical rate constants: 2.4 . 10(-3) s-1 at -94 degrees C. Compound A2 has its alpha band maximum at 590 nm and shares an isosbestic point at 595 nm with the C606 species. The alpha band of this intermediate peaks at 606 nm. Compound C610 is the real end point of the reaction and its alpha band maximum appears at 610 nm. Compound C606 is interpreted as resulting from the transfer of one electron from heme alpha 3 copper to oxygen and compound C610 as expressing a molecular reorganization due to the effect of the temperature. Structural requirements for the location of CuB in the active site are discussed. It is concluded that the three observed compounds are the only intermediates formed in the reaction between oxygen and mixed-valence state membrane-bound cytochrome oxidase.