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.
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Conference Article|
November 19 2008
Molecular architecture of the proton diode of cytochrome c oxidase
Peter Brzezinski;
Peter Brzezinski
1
1Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The Arrhenius Laboratories for Natural Sciences, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email peterb@dbb.su.se).
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Joachim Reimann;
Joachim Reimann
1Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The Arrhenius Laboratories for Natural Sciences, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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Pia Ädelroth
Pia Ädelroth
1Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The Arrhenius Laboratories for Natural Sciences, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
August 13 2008
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2008 Biochemical Society
2008
Biochem Soc Trans (2008) 36 (6): 1169–1174.
Article history
Received:
August 13 2008
Citation
Peter Brzezinski, Joachim Reimann, Pia Ädelroth; Molecular architecture of the proton diode of cytochrome c oxidase. Biochem Soc Trans 1 December 2008; 36 (6): 1169–1174. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0361169
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