Perturbation of the CuA Site in Cytochrome‐c Oxidase of Paracoccus denitrificans by Replacement of Met227 with Isoleucine

Volker Zickermann, Michael Verkhovsky, Joel Morgan, Mårten Wikström, Stefan Anemüller, Eckhard Bill, Guy C.M. Steffens, Bernd Ludwig*

*Corresponding author for this work
42 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Subunit II of cytochrome‐c oxidase contains a redox centre, CuA, with unusual spectroscopic properties; this site consists of two copper atoms and acts as the entry point for electrons from cytochrome c. We have constructed a site–directed mutant of cytochrome‐c oxidase from Paracoccus denitrificans in which the CuA site has been disturbed by replacement of Met227 with isoleucine. The purified, fully assembled enzyme complex has been investigated with various techniques including metal analysis, EPR and visible spectroscopies, steady‐state and fast kinetics. The stoichiometry of the metals in the enzyme remains unchanged but a clear perturbation of the CuA site can be observed in the EPR and near‐infrared optical spectra. It is concluded that in the mutant CuA is still binuclear but that the two nuclei are no longer equivalent, converting the delocalized [Cu(1.5).…Cu(1.5)] centre of the wild type into a localized [Cu(I).…Cu(II)] system. Changes in the overall kinetics of the mutant are correlated with a diminished electron transfer rate between CuA and heme a.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropean Journal of Biochemistry
Volume234
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)686-693
Number of pages8
ISSN0014-2956
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12.1995

Research Areas and Centers

  • Academic Focus: Center for Infection and Inflammation Research (ZIEL)

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