The mechanism of electron gating in proton pumping cytochrome c oxidase: the effect of pH and temperature on internal electron transfer

Ultrafast photochemistry of the bc1 complex

We present a full investigation of ultrafast light-induced events in the membraneous cytochrome bc₁ complex by transient absorption spectroscopy. This energy-transducing complex harbors four redox-active components per monomer: heme c₁, two 6-coordinate b-hemes and a [2Fe-2S] cluster. Using excitation of these components in different ratios under various excitation conditions, probing in the full visible range and under three well-defined redox conditions, we demonstrate that for all ferrous hemes of the complex photodissociation of axial ligands takes place and that they rebind in 5-7 ps, as in other 6-coordinate heme proteins, including cytoglobin, which is included as a reference in this study. By contrast, the signals are not consistent with photooxidation of the b hemes. This conclusion contrasts with a recent assessment based on a more limited data set. The binding kinetics of internal and external ligands are indicative of a rigid heme environment, consistent with the electron transfer function. We also report, for the first time, photoactivity of the very weakly absorbing iron-sulfur center. This yields the unexpected perspective of studying photochemistry, initiated by excitation of iron-sulfur clusters, in a range of protein complexes.

Nanosecond electron tunneling between the hemes in cytochrome bo3

Biological electron transfer (eT) between redox-active cofactors is thought to occur by quantum-mechanical tunneling. However, in many cases the observed rate is limited by other reactions coupled to eT, such as proton transfer, conformational changes, or catalytic chemistry at an active site. A prominent example of this phenomenon is the eT between the heme groups of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase, which has been reported to take place in several different time domains. The question of whether pure eT tunneling in the nanosecond regime between the heme groups can be observed has been the subject of some experimental controversy. Here, we report direct observations of eT between the heme groups of the quinol oxidase cytochrome bo(3) from Escherichia coli, where the reaction is initiated by photolysis of carbon monoxide from heme o(3). eT from CO-dissociated ferrous heme o(3) to the low-spin ferric heme b takes place at a rate of (1.2 ns)(-1) at 20 degrees C as determined by optical spectroscopy. These results establish heme-heme electron tunneling in the bo(3) enzyme, a bacterial relative to the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase. The properties of eT between the closely lying heme groups in the heme-copper oxidases are discussed in terms of the reorganization energy for the process, and two methods for assessing the rate of electron tunneling are presented.

Cytochrome c oxidase: chemistry of a molecular machine

The plethora of proposed chemical models attempting to explain the proton pumping reactions catalyzed by the CcO complex, especially the number of recent models, makes it clear that the problem is far from solved. Although we have not discussed all of the models proposed to date, we have described some of the more detailed models in order to illustrate the theoretical concepts introduced at the beginning of this section on proton pumping as well as to illustrate the rich possibilities available for effecting proton pumping. It is clear that proton pumping is effected by conformational changes induced by oxidation/reduction of the various redox centers in the CcO complex. It is for this reason that the CcO complex is called a redox-linked proton pump. The conformational changes of the proton pump cycle are usually envisioned to be some sort of ligand-exchange reaction arising from unstable geometries upon oxidation/reduction of the various redox centers. However, simple geometrical rearrangements, as in the Babcock and Mitchell models are also possible. In any model, however, hydrogen bonds must be broken and reformed due to conformational changes that result from oxidation/reduction of the linkage site during enzyme turnover. Perhaps the most important point emphasized in this discussion, however, is the fact that proton pumping is a directed process and it is electron and proton gating mechanisms that drive the proton pump cycle in the forward direction. Since many of the models discussed above lack effective electron and/or proton gating, it is clear that the major difficulty in developing a viable chemical model is not formulating a cyclic set of protein conformational changes effecting proton pumping (redox linkage) but rather constructing the model with a set of physical constraints so that the proposed cycle proceeds efficiently as postulated. In our discussion of these models, we have not been too concerned about which electron of the catalytic cycle was entering the site of linkage, but merely whether an ET to the binuclear center played a role. However, redox linkage only occurs if ET to the activated binuclear center is coupled to the proton pump. Since all of the models of proton pumping presented here, with the exception of the Rousseau expanded model and the Wikström model, have a maximum stoichiometry of 1 H+/e-, they inadequately explain the 2 H+/e- ratio for the third and fourth electrons of the dioxygen reduction cycle (see Section V.B). One way of interpreting this shortfall of protons is that the remaining protons are pumped by an as yet undefined indirectly coupled mechanism. In this scenario, the site of linkage could be coupled to the pumping of one proton in a direct fashion and one proton in an indirect fashion for a given electron. For a long time, it was assumed that at least some elements of such an indirect mechanism reside in subunit III. While recent evidence argues against the involvement of subunit III in the proton pump, subunit III may still participate in a regulatory and/or structural capacity (Section II.E). Attention has now focused on subunits I and II in the search for residues intimately involved in the proton pump mechanism and/or as part of a proton channel. In particular, the role of some of the highly conserved residues of helix VIII of subunit I are currently being studied by site directed mutagenesis. In our opinion, any model that invokes heme alpha 3 or CuB as the site of linkage must propose a very effective means by which the presumedly fast uncoupling ET to the dioxygen intermediates is prevented. It is difficult to imagine that ET over the short distance from heme alpha 3 or CuB to the dioxygen intermediate requires more than 1 ns. In addition, we expect the conformational changes of the proton pump to require much more than 1 ns (see Section V.B).

Activationless electron transfer through the hydrophobic core of cytochrome c oxidase

Electron transfer (ET) within proteins occurs by means of chains of redox intermediates that favor directional and efficient electron delivery to an acceptor. Individual ET steps are energetically characterized by the electronic coupling V, driving force DeltaG, and reorganization energy lambda. lambda reflects the nuclear rearrangement of the redox partners and their environment associated with the reactions; lambda approximately 700-1,100 meV (1 eV = 1.602 x 10(-19) J) has been considered as a typical value for intraprotein ET. In nonphotosynthetic systems, functional ET is difficult to assess directly. However, using femtosecond flash photolysis of the CO-poised membrane protein cytochrome c oxidase, the intrinsic rate constant of the low-DeltaG electron injection from heme a into the heme a(3)-Cu(B) active site was recently established at (1.4 ns)(-1). Here, we determine the temperature dependence of both the rate constant and DeltaG of this reaction and establish that this reaction is activationless. Using a quantum mechanical form of nonadiabatic ET theory and common assumptions for the coupled vibrational modes, we deduce that lambda is <200 meV. It is demonstrated that the previously accepted value of 760 meV actually originates from the temperature dependence of Cu(B)-CO bond breaking. We discuss that low-DeltaG, low-lambda reactions are common for efficiently channeling electrons through chains that are buried inside membrane proteins.

Electron transfer between hemes in mammalian cytochrome c oxidase

Fast intraprotein electron transfer reactions associated with enzymatic catalysis are often difficult to synchronize and therefore to monitor directly in non-light-driven systems. However, in the mitochondrial respiratory enzyme cytochrome oxidase aa(3), the kinetics of the final electron transfer step into the active site can be determined: reverse electron flow between the close-lying and chemically identical hemes a(3) and a can be initiated by flash photolysis of CO from reduced heme a(3) under conditions where heme a is initially oxidized. To follow this reaction, we used transient absorption spectroscopy, with femtosecond time resolution and a time window extending to 4 ns. Comparison of the picosecond heme a(3)-CO photodissociation spectra under different redox states of heme a shows significant spectral interaction between both hemes, a phenomenon complicating the interpretation of spectral studies with low time resolution. Most importantly, we show that the intrinsic electron equilibration, corresponding to a DeltaG(0) of 45-55 meV, occurs in 1.2 +/- 0.1 ns. This is 3 orders of magnitude faster than the previously established equilibration phase of approximately 3 mus, which we suggest to reflect a change in redox equilibrium closely following CO migration out of the active site. Our results allow testing a number of conflicting predictions regarding this reaction between both experimental and theoretical studies. We discuss the potential physiological relevance of fast equilibration associated with this low-driving-force redox reaction.

Modulation of the Electron Redistribution in Mixed Valence Cytochrome c Oxidase by Protein Conformational Changes

The redistribution of two electrons in the four redox centers of cytochrome c oxidase following photodissociation of CO from the CO-bound mixed valence species has been examined by resonance Raman spectroscopy. To account for both the kinetic data, obtained from 5 micros to 2 ms, and the equilibrium results, a model is proposed in which the electron redistribution is modulated by a protein conformation transition from a nascent P(1) state to a relaxed P(2) state in a time window longer than 2 ms. In this model, all six possible two-electron reduced species are considered. The high population of species with a one-electron reduced binuclear center, in which the spectrum of heme a(3) is perturbed by the redox state of Cu(B), accounts for the significant residuals in the fitting of the kinetic data with four standard spectra derived from redox species with either zero or two electrons in the binuclear center. Under equilibrium conditions, the conformational change to the P(2) state destabilizes the redox states with only one electron in the binuclear center with respect to those with either zero or two electrons. As a result, the redox equilibrium is perturbed, and the electrons are redistributed. A simulation based on the new kinetics scheme, in which the electron redistribution is modulated by the protein conformation, gives reasonable agreement with both the equilibrium and the kinetic data, demonstrating the validity of this model.

Role of the PR intermediate in the reaction of cytochrome c oxidase with O2

The first discernible intermediate when fully reduced cytochrome c oxidase reacts with O2 is a dioxygen adduct (compound A) of the binuclear heme iron-copper center. The subsequent decay of compound A is associated with transfer of an electron from the low-spin heme a to this center. This reaction eventually produces the ferryl state (F) of this center, but whether an intermediate state may be observed between A and F has been the subject of some controversy. Here we show, using both optical and EPR spectroscopy, that such an intermediate (P(R)) indeed exists and that it exhibits spectroscopic properties quite distinct from F. The optical spectrum of P(R) is similar or identical to the spectrum of the P(M) intermediate that is formed after compound A when two-electron-reduced enzyme reacts with O2. An unusual EPR spectrum with features of a CuB(II) ion that interacts magnetically with a nearby paramagnet [cf. Hansson, O., Karlsson, B., Aasa, R., Vänngård, T., and Malmström, B.G (1982) EMBO J. 1, 1295-1297; Blair, D. F., Witt, S. N., and Chan, S. I. (1985) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 107, 7389-7399] can be uniquely assigned to the P(R) intermediate, not being found in either the P(M) or F intermediate. The binuclear center in the P(R) state may be assigned as having an Fe(a3)(IV)=O CuB(II) structure, as in both the P(M) and F states. The spectroscopic differences between these three intermediates are evaluated. The P(R) state has a key role as an initiator of proton translocation by the enzyme, and the thermodynamic and electrostatic bases for this are discussed.

Redox dependent conformational changes in the mixed valence form of the cytochrome c oxidase from p. The reorganization of glutamic acid 278 is coupled to the electron transfer from/to heme a and the binuclear center. denitrificans

In this work we present the separation of FTIR difference signals induced by electron transfer to/from the redox centers of the cytochrome c oxidase from P. denitrificans and compare electrochemically induced FTIR difference spectra with those induced by CO photolysis. FTIR difference spectra of rebinding of CO to the half reduced (mixed valence) form of the cytochrome c oxidase after photolysis reflect the conformational changes induced by the rebinding of CO and by electron transfer reactions from heme a3 to heme a and further on to CUA. During this process, heme a3 (and CUB) are oxidized, whereas heme a and CuA are reduced. By subtracting these difference spectra from an electrochemically induced FTIR difference spectrum, where all four cofactors are reduced, the contributions for heme a3 (and CuB) could be separated. Correspondingly, the spectral contributions of heme a and CuA have been separated. The comparison of these spectra with the spectra calculated for the hemes on the basis of their redox dependent changes previously published in Hellwig et al., (Biochemistry 38, (1999) 1685-1694) show a high degree of similarity, except for additional signals coupled to the reorganization of the binuclear center upon CO rebinding. The separated spectra clearly show that the signals attributed to Glu278, an amino acid discussed to be crucial for proton pumping, is coupled to electron transfer to/from heme a and the binuclear heme a3-CuB center.

Ligand replacement study at the His120 site of purple CuA azurin

The CuA center is a dinuclear Cu2S2(Cys) electron transfer center found in cytochrome c oxidase and nitrous oxide reductase. In a previous investigation of the equatorial histidine ligands' effect on the reduction potential, electron transfer and spectroscopic properties of the CuA center, His120 in the engineered CuA azurin was mutated to Asn, Asp, and Ala. The identical absorption and EPR spectra of these mutants indicate that a common ligand is bound to the copper center. To identify this replacement ligand, the His120Gly CuA azurin mutant was constructed and purified. Absorption and X-band EPR spectra show that His120Gly is similar to the other His120X (X = Asn, Asp, Ala) mutant proteins. Titrations with chloride, imidazole, and azide suggest that the replacement ligand is not exchangeable with exogenous ligands. The possibility of an internal amino acid acting as the replacement ligand for His120 in the His120X mutant proteins was investigated by analyzing the CuA azurin crystal structure and then converting the likely internal ligand, Asn 119, to Asp, Ser, or Ala in the His120Gly mutant. The double mutants H120G/Asn 119X (X = Asp, Ser, or Ala) displayed UV-Vis absorption and EPR spectra that are identical to His120Gly and the other His120X mutants, indicating that Asn119 is not the internal ligand replacing His120 in the His120X mutant proteins. These results demonstrate the remarkable stability of the dinuclear His120 mutants of CuA azurin.

Electron transfer in ruthenium-modified spinach plastocyanin mutants

Four site-directed mutants of spinach plastocyanin, Pc(Leu12His), Pc(Leu15His), Pc(Thr79His), and Pc(Lys81His), have been modified by covalent attachment of a photoactive [Ru(bpy)2(im)]2+ complex at the surface-exposed histidine residues. The Pc-Ru complexes were characterized with optical absorption, CD, and EPR spectroscopy and their spectra were found to be similar to the unmodified proteins except in the case of the Pc(Leu12His) mutant which lost the Cu ion irreversibly during the Ru modification. Electron transfer (ET) within the other Pc-Ru complexes was studied with time-resolved optical spectroscopy, using an external-quencher approach. The fully reduced [Cu(I), Ru(II)] proteins were photoexcited and subsequently oxidized by an external quencher, [Ru(NH3)6]Cl3, forming the [Cu(I), Ru(III)] proteins. This was followed by an internal ET from Cu(I) to Ru(III). The rates of the internal ET reactions exhibit an exponential dependence on metal-to-metal separation, with a decay factor of 1.1 A-1. From a temperature-dependence study of the Ru-modified Pc(Lys81His) protein, a reorganization energy for the Cu-to-Ru ET reaction of 1.2 eV was determined. In this analysis it was found necessary to include an appreciable temperature dependence in the driving force of the ET reaction.

Factors determining electron-transfer rates in cytochrome c oxidase: studies of the FQ(I-391) mutant of the Rhodobacter sphaeroides enzyme

The mechanisms of internal electron transfer and oxygen reduction were investigated in cytochrome c oxidase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides (cytochrome aa3) using site-directed mutagenesis in combination with time-resolved optical absorption spectroscopy. Electron-transfer reactions in the absence of O2 were studied after flash photolysis of CO from the partly-reduced enzyme and the reaction of the fully-reduced enzyme with O2 was studied using the so-called flow-flash technique. Results from studies of the wild-type and mutant enzyme in which phenylalanine-391 of subunit I was replaced by glutamine (FQ(I-391)) were compared. The turnover activity of the mutant enzyme was approximately 2% ( approximately 30 s-1) of that of the wild-type enzyme. After flash photolysis of CO from the partly-reduced mutant enzyme approximately 80% of CuA was reduced, which is a much larger fraction than in the wild-type enzyme, and the rate of this electron transfer was 3.2 x 10(3) s-1, which is significantly slower than in the wild-type enzyme. The redox potentials of hemes a and a3 in the mutant enzyme were found to be shifted by about +30 and -70 mV, respectively, as compared to the wild-type enzyme. During the reaction of the fully-reduced FQ(I-391) mutant enzyme with O2 a rapid kinetic phase with a rate constant of 1.2 x 10(5) s-1, presumably associated with O2 binding, was followed by formation of the P intermediate with electrons from heme a3 and CuB with a rate of approximately 4 x 10(3) s-1, and oxidation of the enzyme with a rate of approximately 30 s-1. The dramatically slower electron transfer between the hemes during O2 reduction in the mutant enzyme is not only due to the slower intrinsic electron transfer, but also due to the altered redox potentials. In addition, the results show that the reduced overall activity of the mutant enzyme is due to the slower electron transfer from heme a to the binuclear center during O2 reduction. The relation between the intrinsic heme a/heme a3 electron-transfer rate and equilibrium constant, and the electron-transfer rate from heme a to the binuclear center during O2 reduction is discussed.

Kinetic coupling between electron and proton transfer in cytochrome c oxidase: simultaneous measurements of conductance and absorbance changes

Bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase is an electron-current driven proton pump. To investigate the mechanism by which this pump operates it is important to study individual electron- and proton-transfer reactions in the enzyme, and key reactions in which they are kinetically and thermodynamically coupled. In this work, we have simultaneously measured absorbance changes associated with electron-transfer reactions and conductance changes associated with protonation reactions following pulsed illumination of the photolabile complex of partly reduced bovine cytochrome c oxidase and carbon monoxide. Following CO dissociation, several kinetic phases in the absorbance changes were observed with time constants ranging from approximately 3 microseconds to several milliseconds, reflecting internal electron-transfer reactions within the enzyme. The data show that the rate of one of these electron-transfer reactions, from cytochrome a3 to a on a millisecond time scale, is controlled by a proton-transfer reaction. These results are discussed in terms of a model in which cytochrome a3 interacts electrostatically with a protonatable group, L, in the vicinity of the binuclear center, in equilibrium with the bulk through a proton-conducting pathway, which determines the rate of proton transfer (and indirectly also of electron transfer). The interaction energy of cytochrome a3 with L was determined independently from the pH dependence of the extent of the millisecond-electron transfer and the number of protons released, as determined from the conductance measurements. The magnitude of the interaction energy, 70 meV (1 eV = 1.602 x 10(-19) J), is consistent with a distance of 5-10 A between cytochrome a3 and L. Based on the recently determined high-resolution x-ray structures of bovine and a bacterial cytochrome c oxidase, possible candidates for L and a physiological role for L are discussed.

Surface plasmon resonance studies of complex formation between cytochrome c and bovine cytochrome c oxidase incorporated into a supported planar lipid bilayer. II. Binding of cytochrome c to oxidase-containing cardiolipin/phosphatidylcholine membranes

Complex formation between horse heart cytochrome c (cyt c) and bovine cytochrome c oxidase (cco) incorporated into a supported planar egg phosphatidylcholine membrane containing varying amounts of cardiolipin (CL) (0-20 mol%) has been studied under low (10 mM) and medium (160 mM) ionic strength conditions by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy. Both specific and nonspecific modes of cyt c binding are observed. The dissociation constant of the specific interaction between cyt c and cco increases from approximately 6.5 microM at low ionic strength to 18 microM at medium ionic strength, whereas the final saturation level of bound protein is independent of salt concentration and corresponds to approximately 53% of the total cco molecules present in the membrane. This suggests a 1:1 binding stoichiometry between the two proteins. The nonspecific binding component is governed by electrostatic interactions between cyt c and the membrane lipids and results in a partially ionic strength-reversible protein-membrane association. Thus, hydrophobic interactions between cyt c and the membrane, which are the predominant mode of binding in the absence of cco, are greatly suppressed. Both the amount of nonspecifically bound protein and the binding affinity can be varied over a broad range by changing the ionic strength and the extent of CL incorporation into the membrane. Under conditions approximating the physiological state in the mitochondrion (i.e., 20 mol% CL and medium ionic strength), 1-1.5 cyt c molecules are bound to the lipid phase per molecule of cco, with a dissociation constant of 0.1 microM. The possible physiological significance of these observations is discussed.

Understanding the cytochrome c oxidase proton pump: thermodynamics of redox linkage

The cytochrome c oxidase complex (CcO) catalyzes the four-electron reduction of dioxygen to water by using electrons from ferrocytochrome c. Redox free energy released in this highly exergonic process is utilized to drive the translocation of protons across a transmembrane electrochemical gradient. Although numerous chemical models of proton pumping have been developed, few attempts have been made to explain the stepwise transfer of energy in the context of proposed protein conformational changes. A model is described that seeks to clarify the thermodynamics of the proton pumping function of CcO and that illustrates the importance of electron and proton gating to prevent the occurrence of the more exergonic electron leak and proton slip reactions. The redox energy of the CcO-membrane system is formulated in terms of a multidimensional energy surface projected into two dimensions, a nuclear coordinate associated with electron transfer and a nuclear coordinate associated with elements of the proton pump. This model provides an understanding of how a transmembrane electrochemical gradient affects the efficiency of the proton pumping process. Specifically, electron leak and proton slip reactions become kinetically viable as a result of the greater energy barriers that develop for the desired reactions in the presence of a transmembrane potential.

Rapid electron injection into multisite metalloproteins: intramolecular electron transfer in cytochrome oxidase

The principles for the operation of redox-linked proton pumps are reviewed and applied to one specific pump, cytochrome oxidase. Systematic studies of internal electron transfer in the different redox states of this pump will be facilitated by the development of methods for rapid electron injection into the metal centers of the enzyme. Two methods that have been employed to generate electron donors are pulse radiolysis and laser flash photolysis. The rate of electron injection from photoexcited Ru-modified cytochrome c or triplet Zn-cytochrome c into the CuA center is about 10(5) s-1, and the CuA/cytochrome a electron equilibration rate is 2 x 10(4) s-1. Electron transfer from cytochrome a to the cytochrome a3-CuB site occurs at 2 x 10(5) s-1 in the half-reduced enzyme, whereas the rate is only 2 x 10(2) s-1 in the peroxide intermediate, despite a much higher driving force. It is likely that variations in distant electronic coupling attributable to a ligand shuttle, as well as changes in the reorganization energy of one or more of the redox centers, contribute to the control of internal electron flow in the enzyme.

Structure and function of a molecular machine: cytochrome c oxidase

Cytochrome c is responsible for over 90% of the dioxygen consumption in the living cell and contributes to the build-up of a proton electrochemical gradient derived by the vectorial transfer of electrons between cytochrome c and molecular oxygen. The metal ions found in cytochrome oxidases play a crucial role in these processes and have been extensively studied. In this review we present and discuss some of the relevant spectroscopic and kinetic properties of the prosthetic groups of cytochrome c oxidase.

Time-resolved optical absorption studies of intramolecular electron transfer in cytochrome c oxidase

Intramolecular electron transfer and conformational changes in cytochrome c oxidase were studied at room temperature following the photodissociation of CO bound to mixed-valence enzyme (cytochrome a3(2+)-CO CuB+ cytochrome a3+ CuA2+) and fully reduced enzyme. Time-resolved optical absorption difference spectra were collected in the Soret region on time scales of nanoseconds to milliseconds using a gated optical spectrometric multichannel analyzer. A global exponential fitting procedure combined with a singular value decomposition method was used to analyze the transient difference spectra at various times following CO photolysis. The analysis shows that at least two processes, with apparent lifetimes of 1.4 microseconds and 11.1 ms, are present following the photodissociation of CO bound to the fully reduced enzyme. These are attributed to a conformational change and CO recombination at the cytochrome a3 site, respectively. Global analysis of the mixed-valence CO complex transient difference spectra showed the presence of five intermediates with apparent lifetimes of 1.0 microseconds, 5.2 microseconds, 83.7 microseconds, 10.5 ms, and 25.3 ms. The data on a microsecond time scale are consistent with a mechanism involving a conformational change at cytochrome a3, followed by electron transfer from cytochrome a3 to cytochrome a with subsequent electron transfer to CuA. One of the two processes on a millisecond time scale is attributed to CO recombination and the other to a structural rearrangement or heme-heme electron transfer. On the basis of this mechanism, the kinetics and the absorption spectra of the intermediates involved in the conformational and electron transfer dynamics of the mixed-valence enzyme were determined.

Effects of cytochrome c on the oxidation of reduced cytochrome c oxidase by hydrogen peroxide

The oxidation of the redox centres in reduced cytochrome c oxidase by hydrogen peroxide was studied by stopped-flow spectrophotometry in the absence and presence of reduced cytochrome c. The oxidation rate of cytochrome a decreased in the presence of cytochrome c. This effect was more pronounced at low than at high ionic strength. Cytochrome c did not influence the time-course of the oxidation of CuA or cytochrome a3. The oxidation of cytochrome c itself was faster at low ionic strength. The results suggest that the effect of cytochrome c is caused by re-reduction of cytochrome a by cytochrome c, the rate of which is dependent upon the ionic strength. We conclude that cytochrome a and cytochrome c are in equilibrium and that the equilibrium constant depends on the ionic strength. At low ionic strength, as a complex is formed between cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase, cytochrome a is more reduced than at high ionic strength conditions, when no such complex exists. Since CuA is oxidized at the same rate whether cytochrome c is present or not, we conclude that electron transfer from cytochrome a or cytochrome c to CuA is slower than electron transfer from CuA to cytochrome a or/and to the cytochrome a2-CuB couple.

Light-induced structural changes in cytochrome c oxidase: implication for the mechanism of electron and proton gating

We have investigated electrogenic events and absorbance changes following pulsed illumination of partly reduced cytochrome c oxidase in the absence of dioxygen and carbon monoxide (Hallén et al. (1993) FEBS Lett. 318, 134-138). In both types of experiment similar kinetics were observed; a rapid (tau < 0.5 micros) change was followed by relaxations with time constants of approx. 7 micros and 80 micros. Both the time constant and the activation energy of the 80 micros component were, within the experimental error, the same as those of one of the steps in the reduction of dioxygen by reduced cytochrome c oxidase. The absorbance changes showed a rapid haem reduction, followed by reoxidation. They were affected by CN(-) and N(-)3, ligands which bind in the binuclear centre of cytochrome c oxidase; the absorbance changes were quenched by CN(-) and in the presence of N(-)3, the amplitude of the 7 micros component increased whereas that of the 80 micros decreased. Based on these findings, a model is proposed which involves electron transfer from Cu(+)B to Fe(3+)A3, as a response to structural changes upon pulsed illumination. The same structural changes are also suggested to take place in the oxygen reduction. These changes may play an important role in the gating of electrons as well as protons, an obligatory feature of a redox-linked proton pump.

Flash photolysis of the carbon monoxide compounds of wild-type and mutant variants of cytochrome bo from Escherichia coli

The carbon monoxide compounds of the fully reduced and mixed valence forms of cytochrome bo from Escherichia coli were laser photolysed under anaerobic conditions at room temperature. The carbon monoxide recombined with characteristic rate constants of 50 s-1 or 35 s-1 in the fully reduced and mixed valence forms, respectively. Rates of CO recombination with the fully reduced enzyme were examined in a variety of mutant forms of cytochrome bo, produced by site-directed mutagenesis. A method was developed to deconvolute cytochromes bo and bd, leading to some reassessment of histidine ligands to the metals. Significant changes in the rate constant of recombination of carbon monoxide occurred in many of these mutants and these results could be rationalised generally in terms of our current working model of the folding structure of subunit I. In the mixed valence form of the enzyme the transient photolysis spectra in the visible region are consistent with a rapid electron redistribution from the binuclear centre to the low-spin haem. This electron transfer is biphasic, with rate constants of around 10(5) and 8000 s-1. The process was also examined in the His-333-Leu mutant, in which a putative histidine ligand to CuB is replaced by leucine, and which results in the loss of the CuB. It appeared that rapid haem-haem electron transfer could still occur. The observation that CuB is apparently not required for rapid haem-haem electron transfer is consistent with the recently proposed model in which the two haems are positioned on opposite sides of transmembrane helix X in subunit I of the oxidase.

The sequence of electron carriers in the reaction of cytochrome c oxidase with oxygen

Kinetic studies of the electron transfer processes performed by cytochrome oxidase have assigned rates of electron transfer between the metal centers involved in the oxidation of ferrocytochrome c by molecular oxygen. Transient-state studies of the reaction with oxygen have led to the proposal of a sequence of carriers from cytochrome c, to CuA, to cytochrome a, and then to the binuclear (i.e., cytochrome a3-CuB) center. Electron exchange rates between these centers agree with relative center-to-center distances as follows; cytochrome c to CuA 5-7 A, cytochrome c to cytochrome a 20-25 A, CuA to cytochrome a 14-16 A and cytochrome a to cytochrome a3-CuB 8-10 A. It is proposed that the step from cytochrome a to the binuclear center is the key control point in the reaction and that this step is one of the major points of energy transduction in the reaction cycle.

Light-induced structural changes in cytochrome c oxidase. Measurements of electrogenic events and absorbance changes

We have investigated flash-induced electrogenic events and absorbance changes in cytochrome c oxidase in the absence of dioxygen and carbon monoxide. Electrogenic events were studied using a Teflon-bound layer of cytochrome c oxidase oriented in a phospholipid monolayer. Absorbance changes were observed exclusively in partly reduced cytochrome c oxidase; the largest changes were found in the one-electron-reduced species. Electrogenic events were detected in all reduction states of the enzyme. Both types of experiments displayed a rapid (< 0.5 microseconds) event followed by a biphasic relaxation. The time constants of the relaxation were 6 +/- 2 microseconds and 70 +/- 10 microseconds in the electrogenicity, and 9 +/- 3 microseconds in the absorbance changes (at approximately 22 degrees C). The kinetic absorbance difference spectrum was consistent with that of reduced minus oxidized haem. The experimental results are discussed in terms of structural changes in the vicinity of cytochrome a3. These changes may play an important role in all studies that involve flash photolysis of cytochrome c oxidase-ligand complexes.

New transients in the electron-transfer dynamics of photolyzed mixed-valence CO-cytochrome c oxidase

Electron transfer following photolysis of CO from mixed-valence (cytochrome a3+ Cu2+A cytochrome a2+3-CO Cu+B) cytochrome oxidase (ferrocytochrome-c; oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.9.3.1) was studied on time scales of nanoseconds to milliseconds by multichannel time-resolved optical absorption spectroscopy. In this method, the optical absorption was measured at many wavelengths simultaneously by using an optical spectrometric multichannel analyzer system. The high-quality time-resolved difference spectra showed a large increase on a microsecond time scale in the visible region centered at approximately 520 nm and in the UV region centered at approximately 390 nm. These absorbance changes were not observed after photodissociation of CO from the fully reduced enzyme and therefore are attributed to intramolecular electron transfer. Simultaneously, there was a blue shift and a small increase in the alpha band, which is attributed to the reduction of cytochrome alpha. Approximately one-third of the absorbance change at 520 nm can be attributed to reduction of cytochrome a. The absorbance changes associated with the 520- and the 390-nm bands are on the same time scale (t1/2 approximately 2 microseconds) as the dissociation of CO from Cu+B reported previously by time-resolved infrared spectroscopy. The position and shape of these bands are reasonable for charge-transfer transitions involving copper(II). We suggest that the absorbance increase at 520 nm, which cannot be attributed to a reduction of cytochrome a, may represent a charge transfer involving Cu2+B accompanying the oxidation of Cu+B to Cu2+B. The absorbance increase at 390 nm is also partially attributed to this transition. These results suggest that Cu2+B may be observed spectrophotometrically in the electron-transfer dynamics of cytochrome oxidase.

Single electron reduction of 'slow' and 'fast' cytochrome-c oxidase

Evidence is presented that single electron reduction is sufficient for rapid electron transfer (k greater than 20 s-1 at pH 8.0 in 0.43 M potassium EDTA) between haem a/CuA and the binuclear centre in 'fast' oxidase, whereas in 'slow' oxidase intramolecular electron transfer is slow even when both CuA and haem a are reduced (k congruent to 0.01 s-1). However, while a single electron can equilibrate rapidly between CuA, haem a and CuB in 'fast' oxidase, it seems that equilibration with haem a3 is relatively slow (k congruent to 2 s-1). Electron transfer between cytochrome c and CuA/haem a is similar for both types of enzyme (k congruent to 2.4 x 10(5) M-1.s-1).

Nature and functional implications of the cytochrome a3 transients after photodissociation of CO-cytochrome oxidase

Time-resolved electronic absorption, infrared, resonance Raman, and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopies are applied to characterization of the intermediate that is formed within 20 ps after photodissociation of CO from cytochrome a3 in reduced cytochrome oxidase. This intermediate decays with the same half-life (approximately 1 microseconds) as the post-photodissociation CU+B-CO species previously observed by time-resolved infrared. The transient UV/visible spectra, kinetics, infrared, and Raman evidence suggest that an endogenous ligand is transferred from CuB to Fea3 when CO binds to CuB, forming a cytochrome a3 species with axial ligation that differs from the reduced unliganded enzyme. The time-resolved magnetic circular dichroism results suggest that this transient is high-spin and, therefore, five-coordinate. Thus we infer that the ligand from CuB binds on the distal side of cytochrome a3 and displaces the proximal histidine imidazole. This remarkable mechanistic feature is an additional aspect of the previously proposed "ligand-shuttle" activity of the CuB/Fea3 pair. We speculate as to the identity of the ligand that is transferred between CuB and Fea3 and suggest that the ligand shuttle may play a functional role in redox-linked proton translocation by the enzyme.

Electron transfer to the binuclear center in cytochrome oxidase: catalytic significance and evidence for an additional intermediate

We have followed, by transient kinetics, the reduction of cytochrome a3 in the presence of carbon monoxide under different experimental conditions. We have observed that the internal electron transfer rate accounts for the turnover number, and both display the same pH and temperature dependence [pKa = 7.4 and activation energy (Ea) = 14.7 +/- 0.1 kcal/mol]. Moreover, comparison of the time course of cytochrome c oxidation and cytochrome a3 reduction indicates that two electrons are transferred internally and with different rates to the oxygen-binding site. A kinetic model based on sequential internal electron transfer pathways, describing quantitatively the experimental data, is presented and discussed.

Effect of pH on CO recombination to cytochrome oxidase in intact mitochondria

The rate of recombination of CO with fully reduced cytochrome oxidase in intact beef heart mitochondria was measured after flash photolysis at temperatures between 180 and 230K. At pH 7.4 a single Arrhenius slope corresponds to an apparent energy of activation (Ea) of 10.5 kcal/mol; the rate constants in 100% CO are twice those in the presence of 1% CO. At pH 5.5 with 100% CO, Ea's of 11.3 and 7.1 kcal/mol are observed above and below 210K, respectively, while Ea's of 7.4 and 11.1 kcal/mol are observed with 1% CO above and below 210K. At pH 9.0 Ea's of 9.2 (above 200K), 12.5 (190-200K), and 2.3 (below 190K) kcal/mol are observed with 1% CO; Ea's of 9.4, 13.4, and 2.4 kcal/mol are observed in the same temperature ranges with 100% CO present. The findings support a model with up to 4 energy barriers separating the heme region from the bulk medium with intermediate regions that can hold 1 or 2 CO, depending on pH.

Interaction of cytochrome c with cytochrome c oxidase: an understanding of the high- to low-affinity transition

The steady-state kinetics of high- and low-affinity electron transfer reactions between various cytochromes c and cytochrome c oxidase (ferrocytochrome c:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.9.3.1) preparations were studied spectrophotometrically and polarographically. The dissociation constants for the binding of the first and second molecules of horse cytochrome c (I = 15 mM) are 5.10(-8) M and 1.10(-5) M, respectively, close to the spectrophotometric Km values and consistent with the controlled binding model for the interaction between cytochrome c and cytochrome oxidase (Speck, S.H., Dye, D. and Margoliash, E. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81, 346-351) which postulates that the binding of a second molecule of cytochrome c weakens that of the first, resulting in low-affinity kinetics. While the Km of the polarographically assayed high-affinity reaction is comparable to that observed spectrophotometrically, the low-affinity Km is over an order of magnitude smaller and cannot be attributed to the binding of a second molecule of cytochrome c. Increasing the viscosity has no effect on the Vmax of the low-affinity reaction assayed polarographically, but increases the Km. Thus, the transition from high- to low-affinity kinetics is dependent on the frequency of productive collisions, as expected for a hysteresis model ascribing the transition to the trapping of the oxidase in a primed state for turnover. At ionic strengths above 150 mM, the rate of cytochrome c oxidation decreases without any correlation to the calculated net charge of the cytochrome c, indicating rate-limiting rearrangement of the two proteins in proximity to each other.

1H-n.m.r. evaluation of the ferricytochrome c-cardiolipin interaction. Effect of superoxide radicals

The interaction between ferricytochrome c and cardiolipin was investigated by 1H n.m.r. at 270 MHz. From the phospholipid-induced changes of the protein spectral features it is concluded that the first 2 equivalents of cardiolipin cause a conformational change at the lower part of the solvent-exposed haem edge, involving a rearrangement of the hydrogen-bond interactions of propionate 6, thus partly accounting for the lowered redox potential of cytochrome c in the presence of cardiolipin. The increased value for the pK of the alkaline isomerization of ferricytochrome c shows that cardiolipin stabilizes the native structure of the protein, indicating that the oxidized form assumes ferrocytochrome c-like properties. Peroxidation of cardiolipin by superoxide radical ions drastically decreases the protein binding to this phospholipid. The implications of this finding, and the likelihood of the ternary cytochrome c-cardiolipin-cytochrome c oxidase complex, for the binding of cytochrome c to cytochrome c oxidase in vivo, are discussed in relation to peroxidative damage following ischaemia and reperfusion.

The effect of pH and temperature on the reaction of fully reduced and mixed-valence cytochrome c oxidase with dioxygen

The reaction of fully reduced and mixed-valence cytochrome oxidase with O2 has been followed in flow-flash experiments, starting from the CO complexes, at 428, 445, 605 and 830 nm between pH 5.8b and 9.0 in the temperature range of 2-40 degrees C. With the fully reduced enzyme, four kinetic phase with rate constants at pH 7.4 and 25 degrees C of 9 x 10(4), 2.5 x 10(4), 1.0 x 10(4) and 800 s(-1), respectively, are observed. The rates of the three last phases display a very small temperature dependence, corresponding to activation energies in the range 13-54 kJ x mol(-1). The rates of the third and fourth phases decrease at high pH due to the deprotonation of groups with pKa values of 8.3 and 8.8, respectively, but also the second phase appears to have a small pH dependence. In the reaction of the mixed-valence enzyme, three kinetic phases with rate constants at pH 7.4 and 25 degrees C of 9 x 10(4), 6000 and 150 s(-1), respectively, are observed. The third phase only has a small temperature dependence, corresponding to an activation energy of 20 kJ x mol(-1). No pH dependence could be detected for any phase. Reaction schemes consistent with the experimental observations are presented. The pH dependencies of the rates of the two final phase in the reaction of the fully reduced enzyme are proposed to be related to the involvement of protons in the reduction of a peroxide intermediate. The temperature dependence data suggest that the reorganization energies and driving forces are closely matched in all electron transfer steps with both enzyme forms. It is suggested that the slowest step in the reaction of the mixed-valence enzyme is a conformation change involved in the reaction cycle of cytochrome oxidase as a proton pump.

Characterization of reductant-induced, tryptophan fluorescence changes in cytochrome oxidase

We have measured the steady-state tryptophan fluorescence spectrum of cytochrome oxidase in its oxidized and fully reduced states. Reduction of the oxidized enzyme by sodium dithionite causes an apparent shift in the fluorescence emission maximum from 328 nm, in the oxidized enzyme, to 348 nm, in the reduced enzyme. This spectroscopic change has been observed previously and assigned to a redox-linked, conformational change in cytochrome oxidase [Copeland, R. A., Smith, P. A., & Chan, S. I. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 7311-7316]. When dithionite-reduced enzyme sits in an open cuvette, the enzyme returns to the oxidized state, and the fluorescence maximum shifts back to 328 nm. However, the time course of the fluorescence change does not follow the redox state of the enzyme, monitored spectrophotometrically at 445,605, and 820 nm, but follows the disappearance of dithionite, which absorbs at 315 nm. Moreover, when the fluorescence emission spectrum of the dithionite-reduced enzyme is corrected for the absorbance due to dithionite, the fluorescence maximum is found 2 nm blue shifted, relative to that of the oxidized enzyme, at 326 nm. This dithionite-induced, red-shifted steady-state tryptophan fluorescence is also seen with the non-heme-containing enzyme carboxypeptidase A. The tryptophan emission spectrum of untreated carboxypeptidase A is at 332 nm, whereas in the presence of dithionite the emission spectrum of carboxypeptidase A is at 350 nm. When corrected for the absorbance of dithionite, the tryptophan emission maximum is at 332 nm. We have also used the photoreductant 3,10-dimethyl-5-deazaisoalloxazine (deazaflavin) to reduce cytochrome oxidase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Electron transfer between cytochrome a and copper A in cytochrome c oxidase: a perturbed equilibrium study

Intramolecular electron transfer in partially reduced cytochrome c oxidase has been studied by the perturbed equilibrium method. We have prepared a three-electron-reduced, CO-inhibited form of the enzyme in which cytochrome a and copper A are partially reduced and in an intramolecular redox equilibrium. When these samples were irradiated with a nitrogen laser (0.6-ns, 1.0-mJ pulses) to photodissociate the bound CO, changes in absorbance at 598 and 830 nm were observed which were consistent with a fast electron transfer from cytochrome a to copper A. The absorbance changes at 598 nm gave an apparent rate of 17,000 +/- 2000 s-1 (1 sigma), at pH 7.0 and 25.5 degrees C. These changes were not observed in either the CO mixed-valence or the CO-inhibited fully reduced forms of the enzyme. The rate was fastest at about pH 8.0, falling off toward both lower and higher pHs. There was a small but clear temperature dependence. The process was also observed in the cytochrome c-cytochrome c oxidase high-affinity complex. The electron equilibration measured between cytochrome a and copper A is far faster than any rate measured or inferred previously for this process.