Time-resolved optical absorption studies of cytochrome oxidase dynamics

A method aimed at assessing the functional consequences of the supramolecular organization of the respiratory electron transfer chain by time-resolved studies

A steadily increasing number of physiological, biochemical, and structural studies have provided a growing support to the notion that the respiratory electron transfer chain may contain supra-molecular edifices made of the assembly of some, if not all, of its individual links. This structure, usually referred to as the solid state model-in comparison to the liquid state model in which the electron transfer reactions between the membrane bound enzymes are diffusion controlled-is seen as conferring specific kinetic properties to the chain and thus as being highly relevant from a functional point of view. Although the assumption that structural changes are mirrored by functional adjustment is undoubtedly legitimate, experimental evidences supporting it remain scarce. Here we review a recent methodological development aimed at tackling the functional relevance of the supramolecular organization of the respiratory electron transfer chain in intact cells.

Characterizing the proton loading site in cytochrome c oxidase

Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) uses the energy released by reduction of O2 to H2O to drive eight charges from the high pH to low pH side of the membrane, increasing the electrochemical gradient. Four electrons and protons are used for chemistry, while four more protons are pumped. Proton pumping requires that residues on a pathway change proton affinity through the reaction cycle to load and then release protons. The protonation states of all residues in CcO are determined in MultiConformational Continuum Electrostatics simulations with the protonation and redox states of heme a, a3, Cu(B), Y288, and E286 used to define the catalytic cycle. One proton is found to be loaded and released from residues identified as the proton loading site (PLS) on the P-side of the protein in each of the four CcO redox states. Thus, the same proton pumping mechanism can be used each time CcO is reduced. Calculations with structures of Rhodobacter sphaeroides, Paracoccus denitrificans, and bovine CcO derived by crystallography and molecular dynamics show the PLS functions similarly in different CcO species. The PLS is a cluster rather than a single residue, as different structures show 1-4 residues load and release protons. However, the proton affinity of the heme a3 propionic acids primarily determines the number of protons loaded into the PLS; if their proton affinity is too low, less than one proton is loaded.

Proton pumping by an inactive structural variant of cytochrome c oxidase

The aa3-type cytochrome c oxidases (CytcOs) from e.g. Rhodobacter sphaeroides and Paracoccus denitrificans harbor two proton-transfer pathways. The K pathway is used for proton uptake upon reduction of the CytcO, while the D pathway is used after binding of O2 to the catalytic site. The aim of the present study was to determine whether or not CytcO in which the K pathway is blocked (by e.g. the Lys362Met replacement) is capable of pumping protons. The process can not be studied using conventional assays because the O2-reduction activity is too low when the K pathway is blocked. Consequently, proton pumping with a blocked K pathway has not been demonstrated directly. Here, the Lys362Met and Ser299Glu structural variants were reconstituted in liposomes and allowed to (slowly) become completely reduced. Then, the reaction with O2 was studied with μs time resolution after flash photolysis of a blocking CO ligand bound to heme a3. The data show that with both the inactive Lys362Met and partly active Ser299Glu variants proton release occurred with the same time constants as with the wild-type oxidase, i.e. ~200μs and ~3ms, corresponding in time to formation of the ferryl and oxidized states, respectively. Thus, the data show that the K pathway is not required for proton pumping, suggesting that D and K pathways operate independently of each other after binding of O2 to the catalytic site.

How hydrogen peroxide is metabolized by oxidized cytochrome c oxidase

In the absence of external electron donors, oxidized bovine cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) exhibits the ability to decompose excess H2O2. Depending on the concentration of peroxide, two mechanisms of degradation were identified. At submillimolar peroxide concentrations, decomposition proceeds with virtually no production of superoxide and oxygen. In contrast, in the millimolar H2O2 concentration range, CcO generates superoxide from peroxide. At submillimolar concentrations, the decomposition of H2O2 occurs at least at two sites. One is the catalytic heme a3-CuB center where H2O2 is reduced to water. During the interaction of the enzyme with H2O2, this center cycles back to oxidized CcO via the intermediate presence of two oxoferryl states. We show that at pH 8.0 two molecules of H2O2 react with the catalytic center accomplishing one cycle. In addition, the reactions at the heme a3-CuB center generate the surface-exposed lipid-based radical(s) that participates in the decomposition of peroxide. It is also found that the irreversible decline of the catalytic activity of the enzyme treated with submillimolar H2O2 concentrations results specifically from the decrease in the rate of electron transfer from heme a to the heme a3-CuB center during the reductive phase of the catalytic cycle. The rates of electron transfer from ferrocytochrome c to heme a and the kinetics of the oxidation of the fully reduced CcO with O2 were not affected in the peroxide-modified CcO.

Reaction of wild-type and Glu243Asp variant yeast cytochrome c oxidase with O2

We have studied internal electron transfer during the reaction of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase with dioxygen. Similar absorbance changes were observed with this yeast oxidase as with the previously studied Rhodobacter sphaeroides and bovine mitochondrial oxidases, which suggests that the reaction proceeds along the same trajectory. However, notable differences were observed in rates and electron-transfer equilibrium constants of specific reaction steps, for example the ferryl (F) to oxidized (O) reaction was faster with the yeast (0.4ms) than with the bovine oxidase (~1ms) and a larger fraction CuA was oxidized with the yeast than with the bovine oxidase in the peroxy (PR) to F reaction. Furthermore, upon replacement of Glu243, located at the end of the so-called D proton pathway, by Asp the PR→F and F→O reactions were slowed by factors of ~3 and ~10, respectively, and electron transfer from CuA to heme a during the PR→F reaction was not observed. These data indicate that during reduction of dioxygen protons are transferred through the D pathway, via Glu243, to the catalytic site in the yeast mitochondrial oxidase. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 18th European Bioenergetic Conference.

Two tyrosyl radicals stabilize high oxidation states in cytochrome C oxidase for efficient energy conservation and proton translocation

The reaction of oxidized bovine cytochrome c oxidase (bCcO) with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) to determine the properties of radical intermediates. Two distinct radicals with widths of 12 and 46 G are directly observed by X-band EPR in the reaction of bCcO with H(2)O(2) at pH 6 and pH 8. High-frequency EPR (D-band) provides assignments to tyrosine for both radicals based on well-resolved g-tensors. The wide radical (46 G) exhibits g-values similar to a radical generated on L-Tyr by UV-irradiation and to tyrosyl radicals identified in many other enzyme systems. In contrast, the g-values of the narrow radical (12 G) deviate from L-Tyr in a trend akin to the radicals on tyrosines with substitutions at the ortho position. X-band EPR demonstrates that the two tyrosyl radicals differ in the orientation of their β-methylene protons. The 12 G wide radical has minimal hyperfine structure and can be fit using parameters unique to the post-translationally modified Y244 in bCcO. The 46 G wide radical has extensive hyperfine structure and can be fit with parameters consistent with Y129. The results are supported by mixed quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics calculations. In addition to providing spectroscopic evidence of a radical formed on the post-translationally modified tyrosine in CcO, this study resolves the much debated controversy of whether the wide radical seen at low pH in the bovine enzyme is a tyrosine or tryptophan. The possible role of radical formation and migration in proton translocation is discussed.

Kinetic studies of the reactions of O(2) and NO with reduced Thermus thermophilus ba(3) and bovine aa(3) using photolabile carriers

The reactions of molecular oxygen (O(2)) and nitric oxide (NO) with reduced Thermus thermophilus (Tt) ba(3) and bovine heart aa(3) were investigated by time-resolved optical absorption spectroscopy to establish possible relationships between the structural diversity of these enzymes and their reaction dynamics. To determine whether the photodissociated carbon monoxide (CO) in the CO flow-flash experiment affects the ligand binding dynamics, we monitored the reactions in the absence and presence of CO using photolabile O(2) and NO complexes. The binding of O(2)/NO to reduced ba(3) in the absence of CO occurs with a second-order rate constant of 1×10(9)M(-1)s(-1). This rate is 10-times faster than for the mammalian enzyme, and which is attributed to structural differences in the ligand channels of the two enzymes. Moreover, the O(2)/NO binding in ba(3) is 10-times slower in the presence of the photodissociated CO while the rates are the same for the bovine enzyme. This indicates that the photodissociated CO directly or indirectly impedes O(2) and NO access to the active site in Tt ba(3), and that traditional CO flow-flash experiments do not accurately reflect the O(2) and NO binding kinetics in ba(3). We suggest that in ba(3) the binding of O(2) (NO) to heme a(3)(2+) causes rapid dissociation of CO from Cu(B)(+) through steric or electronic effects or, alternatively, that the photodissociated CO does not bind to Cu(B)(+). These findings indicate that structural differences between Tt ba(3) and the bovine aa(3) enzyme are tightly linked to mechanistic differences in the functions of these enzymes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Respiratory Oxidases.

Questioning the functional relevance of mitochondrial supercomplexes by time-resolved analysis of the respiratory chain

Mitochondria are the powerhouses of eukaryotic cells as they feed metabolism with its major substrate. Oxidative-phosphorylation relies on the generation, by an electron/proton transfer chain, of an electrochemical transmembrane potential utilized to synthesize ATP. Although these fundamental principles are not a matter of debate, the emerging picture of the respiratory chain diverges from the linear and fluid scheme. Indeed, a growing number of pieces of evidence point to membrane compartments that possibly restrict the diffusion of electron carriers, and to supramolecular assembly of various complexes within various kinds of supercomplexes that modulate the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of the components of the chain. Here, we describe a method that allows the unprecedented time-resolved study of the respiratory chain in intact cells that is aimed at assessing these hypotheses. We show that, in yeast, cytochrome c is not trapped within supercomplexes and encounters no particular restriction to its diffusion which questions the functional relevance of these supramolecular edifices.

Radical formation in cytochrome c oxidase

The formation of radicals in bovine cytochrome c oxidase (bCcO), during the O(2) redox chemistry and proton translocation, is an unresolved controversial issue. To determine if radicals are formed in the catalytic reaction of bCcO under single turnover conditions, the reaction of O(2) with the enzyme, reduced by either ascorbate or dithionite, was initiated in a custom-built rapid freeze quenching (RFQ) device and the products were trapped at 77K at reaction times ranging from 50μs to 6ms. Additional samples were hand mixed to attain multiple turnover conditions and quenched with a reaction time of minutes. X-band (9GHz) continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance (CW-EPR) spectra of the reaction products revealed the formation of a narrow radical with both reductants. D-band (130GHz) pulsed EPR spectra allowed for the determination of the g-tensor principal values and revealed that when ascorbate was used as the reductant the dominant radical species was localized on the ascorbyl moiety, and when dithionite was used as the reductant the radical was the SO(2)(-) ion. When the contributions from the reductants are subtracted from the spectra, no evidence for a protein-based radical could be found in the reaction of O(2) with reduced bCcO. As a surrogate for radicals formed on reaction intermediates, the reaction of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) with oxidized bCcO was studied at pH 6 and pH 8 by trapping the products at 50μs with the RFQ device to determine the initial reaction events. For comparison, radicals formed after several minutes of incubation were also examined, and X-band and D-band analysis led to the identification of radicals on Tyr-244 and Tyr-129. In the RFQ measurements, a peroxyl (ROO) species was formed, presumably by the reaction between O(2) and an amino acid-based radical. It is postulated that Tyr-129 may play a central role as a proton loading site during proton translocation by ejecting a proton upon formation of the radical species and then becoming reprotonated during its reduction via a chain of three water molecules originating from the region of the propionate groups of heme a(3). This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: "Allosteric cooperativity in respiratory proteins".

Kinetic design of the respiratory oxidases

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(2)O, 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.

CO and O2 binding to pseudo-tetradentate ligand-copper(I) complexes with a variable N-donor moiety: kinetic/thermodynamic investigation reveals ligand-induced changes in reaction mechanism

The kinetics, thermodynamics, and coordination dynamics are reported for O(2) and CO 1:1 binding to a series of pseudo-tetradentate ligand-copper(I) complexes ((D)LCu(I)) to give Cu(I)/O(2) and Cu(I)/CO product species. Members of the (D)LCu(I) series possess an identical tridentate core structure where the cuprous ion binds to the bispicolylamine (L) fragment. (D)L also contains a fourth variable N-donor moiety {D = benzyl (Bz); pyridyl (Py); imidazolyl (Im); dimethylamino (NMe(2)); (tert-butylphenyl)pyridyl (TBP); quinolyl (Q)}. The structural characteristics of (D)LCu(I)-CO and (D)LCu(I) are detailed, with X-ray crystal structures reported for (TBP)LCu(I)-CO, (Bz)LCu(I)-CO, and (Q)LCu(I). Infrared studies (solution and solid-state) confirm that (D)LCu(I)-CO possess the same four-coordinate core structure in solution with the variable D moiety "dangling", i.e., not coordinated to the copper(I) ion. Other trends observed for the present series appear to derive from the degree to which the D-group interacts with the cuprous ion center. Electrochemical studies reveal close similarities of behavior for (Im)LCu(I) and (NMe(2))LCu(I) (as well as for (TBP)LCu(I) and (Q)LCu(I)), which relate to the O(2) binding kinetics and thermodynamics. Equilibrium CO binding data (K(CO), ΔH°, ΔS°) were obtained by conducting UV-visible spectrophotometric CO titrations, while CO binding kinetics and thermodynamics (k(CO), ΔH(double dagger), ΔS(double dagger)) were measured through variable-temperature (193-293 K) transient absorbance laser flash photolysis experiments, λ(ex) = 355 nm. Carbon monoxide dissociation rate constants (k(-CO)) and corresponding activation parameters (ΔH(double dagger), ΔS(double dagger)) have also been obtained. CO binding to (D)LCu(I) follows an associative mechanism, with the increased donation from D leading to higher k(CO) values. Unlike observations from previous work, the K(CO) values increased as the k(CO) and k(-CO) values declined; the latter decreased at a faster rate. By using the "flash-and-trap" method (λ(ex) = 355 nm, 188-218 K), the kinetics and thermodynamics (k(O(2)), ΔH(double dagger), ΔS(double dagger)) for O(2) binding to (NMe(2))LCu(I) and (Im)LCu(I) were measured and compared to those for (Py)LCu(I). A surprising change in the O(2) binding mechanism was deduced from the thermodynamic ΔS(double dagger) values observed, associative for (Py)LCu(I) but dissociative for (NMe(2))LCu(I) and (Im)LCu(I); these results are interpreted as arising from a difference in the timing of electron transfer from copper(I) to O(2) as this molecule coordinates and a tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvent molecule dissociates. The change in mechanism was not simply related to alterations in (D)LCu(II/I) geometries or the order in which O(2) and THF coordinate. The equilibrium O(2) binding constant (K(O(2)), ΔH°, ΔS°) and O(2) dissociation rate constants (k(-O(2)), ΔH(double dagger), ΔS(double dagger)) were also determined. Overall the results demonstrate that subtle changes in the coordination environment, as occur over time through evolution in nature or through controlled ligand design in synthetic systems, dictate to a critically detailed level the observed chemistry in terms of reaction kinetics, structure, and reactivity, and thus function. Results reported here are also compared to relevant copper and/or iron biological systems and analogous synthetic ligand-copper systems.

Cryophotolysis of a caged oxygen compound for use in low temperature biological studies

Mechanistic investigations of biological enzymatic processes require controlled initiation and monitoring of catalytic reactions. A well-known technique to trap and observe reaction intermediates building up along a reaction pathway is the use of low temperature conditions. Here, we report a kinetically competent system for the release of molecular oxygen at cryogenic temperature, using a cobalt-based caged oxygen molecule, (micro-peroxo)(micro-hydroxo)bis[bis(bipyridyl)cobalt(III)] nitrate. Cryophotolysis of this compound was induced using 266 nm laser light and monitored by absorption microspectrophotometry. Furthermore, to verify that photo-fragmentation was accompanied by release of the active caged molecule, the production of dioxygen during cryophotolysis was directly visualized. This work lays the foundations for the use of low temperature reaction triggering as a tool to prolong the lifetime of normally unstable intermediate states in oxygen-dependent enzymes.

Molecular architecture of the proton diode of cytochrome c oxidase

CytcO (cytochrome c oxidase) is a membrane-bound multisubunit protein which catalyses the reduction of O2 to H2O. The reaction is arranged topographically so that the electrons and protons are taken from opposite sides of the membrane and, in addition, it is also linked to proton pumping across the membrane. Thus the CytcO moves an equivalent of two positive charges across the membrane per electron transferred to O2. Proton transfer through CytcO must be controlled by the protein to prevent leaks, which would dissipate the proton electrochemical gradient that is maintained across the membrane. The molecular mechanism by which the protein controls the unidirectionality of proton-transfer (cf. proton diode) reactions and energetically links electron transfer to proton translocation is not known. This short review summarizes selected results from studies aimed at understanding this mechanism, and we discuss a possible mechanistic principle utilized by the oxidase to pump protons.

The role of the conserved tryptophan272 of the Paracoccus denitrificans cytochrome c oxidase in proton pumping

The catalytic mechanism of heme-copper oxidases - electron transfer coupled to proton pumping - is not yet fully understood. Single turnover experiments in which fully reduced cytochrome aa(3) from Paracoccus denitrificans reacts with O(2) using the microsecond freeze-hyperquenching sampling technique enabled trapping of transient catalytic intermediates and analysis by low temperature UV-Visible, X-band and Q-band EPR spectroscopy. Our recent findings (Wiertz et al. (2007) J. Biol. Chem. 282, 31580-31591), which show that the strictly conserved W272 is a redox active residue are reviewed here. The W272 forms a tryptophan neutral radical in the transition F-->F(W)-->O(H) in which the novel intermediate F(W) harbors the tryptophan radical. The potential role of W272 in proton pumping is highlighted.

Kinetic Resolution of a Tryptophan-radical Intermediate in the Reaction Cycle of Paracoccus denitrificans Cytochrome c Oxidase

The catalytic mechanism, electron transfer coupled to proton pumping, of heme-copper oxidases is not yet fully understood. Microsecond freeze-hyperquenching single turnover experiments were carried out with fully reduced cytochrome aa(3) reacting with O(2) between 83 micros and 6 ms. Trapped intermediates were analyzed by low temperature UV-visible, X-band, and Q-band EPR spectroscopy, enabling determination of the oxidation-reduction kinetics of Cu(A), heme a, heme a(3), and of a recently detected tryptophan radical (Wiertz, F. G. M., Richter, O. M. H., Cherepanov, A. V., MacMillan, F., Ludwig, B., and de Vries, S. (2004) FEBS Lett. 575, 127-130). Cu(B) and heme a(3) were EPR silent during all stages of the reaction. Cu(A) and heme a are in electronic equilibrium acting as a redox pair. The reduction potential of Cu(A) is 4.5 mV lower than that of heme a. Both redox groups are oxidized in two phases with apparent half-lives of 57 micros and 1.2 ms together donating a single electron to the binuclear center in each phase. The formation of the heme a(3) oxoferryl species P(R) (maxima at 430 nm and 606 nm) was completed in approximately 130 micros, similar to the first oxidation phase of Cu(A) and heme a. The intermediate F (absorbance maximum at 571 nm) is formed from P(R) and decays to a hitherto undetected intermediate named F(W)(*). F(W)(*) harbors a tryptophan radical, identified by Q-band EPR spectroscopy as the tryptophan neutral radical of the strictly conserved Trp-272 (Trp-272(*)). The Trp-272(*) populates to 4-5% due to its relatively low rate of formation (t((1/2)) = 1.2 ms) and rapid rate of breakdown (t((1/2)) = 60 micros), which represents electron transfer from Cu(A)/heme a to Trp-272(*). The formation of the Trp-272(*) constitutes the major rate-determining step of the catalytic cycle. Our findings show that Trp-272 is a redox-active residue and is in this respect on an equal par to the metallocenters of the cytochrome c oxidase. Trp-272 is the direct reductant either to the heme a(3) oxoferryl species or to Cu (2+)(B). The potential role of Trp-272 in proton pumping is discussed.

Reactivity studies on Fe(III)-(O2(2-))-Cu(II) compounds: influence of the ligand architecture and copper ligand denticity

Heme-Cu/O2 adducts are of interest in the elucidation of the fundamental metal-O2 chemistry occurring in heme-Cu enzymes which effect reductive O-O cleavage of dioxygen to water. In this report, the chemistry of four heme-peroxo-copper [FeIII-(O22-)-CuII]+ complexes (1-4), varying in their ligand architecture, copper-ligand denticity, or both and thus their structures and physical properties are compared in their reactivity toward CO, PPh3, acids, cobaltocene, and phenols. In 1 and 2, the copper(II) ligand is N4-tetradentate, and the peroxo unit is bound side-on to iron(III) and end-on to the copper(II). In contrast, 3 and 4 contain a N3-tridentate copper(II) ligand, and the peroxo unit is bound side-on to both metal ions. CO "displaces" the peroxo ligand from 2-4 to form reduced CO-FeII and CO-CuI species. PPh3 reacts with 3 and 4 displacing the peroxide ligand from copper, forming (porphyrinate)FeIII-superoxide plus CuI-PPh3 species. Complex 2 does not react with PPh3, and surprisingly, 1 reacts neither with PPh3 nor CO, exhibiting remarkable stability toward these reagents. The behavior of 1 and 2 compared to that of 3 and 4 correlates with the different denticity of the copper ligand (tetra vs tridentate). Complexes 1-4 react with HCl releasing H2O2, demonstrating the basic character of the peroxide ligand. Cobaltocene causes the two-electron reduction of 1-4 giving the corresponding micro-oxo [FeIII-(O2-)-CuII]+ complexes, in contrast to the findings for other heme-peroxo-copper species of different design. With t-butyl-substituted phenols, no reaction occurs with 1-4. The results described here emphasize how ligand design and variations influence and control not only the structure and physical properties but also the reactivity patterns for heme-Cu/O2 adducts. Implications for future investigations of protonated heme/Cu-peroxo complexes, low-spin analogues, and ultimately O-O cleavage chemistry are discussed.

Single-electron photoreduction of the PM intermediate of cytochrome c oxidase

The P(M)-->F transition of the catalytic cycle of cytochrome c oxidase from bovine heart was investigated using single-electron photoreduction and monitoring the subsequent events using spectroscopic and electometric techniques. The P(M) state of the oxidase was generated by exposing the oxidized enzyme to CO plus O2. Photoreduction results in rapid electron transfer from heme a to oxoferryl heme a3 with a time constant of about 0.3 ms, as indicated by transients at 605 nm and 580 nm. This rate is approximately 5-fold more rapid than the rate of electron transfer from heme a to heme a3 in the F-->O transition, but is significantly slower than formation of the F state from the P(R) intermediate in the reaction of the fully reduced enzyme with O2 to form state F (70-90 micros). The approximately 0.3 ms P(M)-->F transition is coincident with a rapid photonic phase of transmembrane voltage generation, but a significant part of the voltage associated with the P(M)-->F transition is generated much later, with a time constant of 1.3 ms. In addition, the P(M)-->F transition of the R. sphaeroides oxidase was also measured and also was shown to have two phases of electrogenic proton transfer, with tau values of 0.18 and 0.85 ms.

Transmembrane proton translocation by cytochrome c oxidase

Respiratory heme-copper oxidases are integral membrane proteins that catalyze the reduction of molecular oxygen to water using electrons donated by either quinol (quinol oxidases) or cytochrome c (cytochrome c oxidases, CcOs). Even though the X-ray crystal structures of several heme-copper oxidases and results from functional studies have provided significant insights into the mechanisms of O2 -reduction and, electron and proton transfer, the design of the proton-pumping machinery is not known. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the identity of the structural elements involved in proton transfer in CcO. Furthermore, we discuss the order and timing of electron-transfer reactions in CcO during O2 reduction and how these reactions might be energetically coupled to proton pumping across the membrane.

Photoelectron Spectra and Ion Chemistry of Imidazolide†

The 351.1 nm photoelectron spectrum of imidazolide anion has been measured. The electron affinity (EA) of the imidazolyl radical is determined to be 2.613 +/- 0.006 eV. Vibrational frequencies of 955 +/- 15 and 1365 +/- 20 cm(-1) are observed in the spectrum of the (2)B1 ground state of the imidazolyl radical. The main features in the spectrum are well-reproduced by Franck-Condon simulation based on the optimized geometries and the normal modes obtained at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of density functional theory. The two vibrational frequencies are assigned to totally symmetric modes with C-C and N-C stretching motions. Overtone peaks of an in-plane nontotally symmetric mode are observed in the spectrum and attributed to Fermi resonance. Also observed is the photoelectron spectrum of the anion formed by deprotonation of imidazole at the C5 position. The EA of the corresponding radical, 5-imidazolyl, is 1.992 +/- 0.010 eV. The gas phase acidity of imidazole has been determined using a flowing afterglow-selected ion tube; delta(acid)G298 = 342.6 +/- 0.4 and delta(acid)H298 = 349.7 +/- 0.5 kcal mol(-1). From the EA of imidazolyl radical and gas phase acidity of imidazole, the bond dissociation energy for the N-H bond in imidazole is determined to be 95.1 +/- 0.5 kcal mol(-1). These thermodynamic parameters for imidazole and imidazolyl radical are compared with those for pyrrole and pyrrolyl radical, and the effects of the additional N atom in the five-membered ring are discussed.

An oxo-ferryl tryptophan radical catalytic intermediate in cytochromecand quinol oxidases trapped by microsecond freeze-hyperquenching (MHQ)

The pre-steady state reaction kinetics of the reduction of molecular oxygen catalyzed by fully reduced cytochrome oxidase from Escherichia coli and Paracoccus denitrificans were studied using the newly developed microsecond freeze-hyperquenching mixing-and-sampling technique. Reaction samples are prepared 60 and 200 micros after direct mixing of dioxygen with enzyme. Analysis of the reaction samples by low temperature UV-Vis spectroscopy indicates that both enzymes are trapped in the PM state. EPR spectroscopy revealed the formation of a mixture of two radicals in both enzymes. Based on its apparent g-value and lineshape, one of these radicals is assigned to a weakly magnetically coupled oxo-ferryl tryptophan cation radical. Implications for the catalytic mechanism of cytochrome oxidases are discussed.