Molecular machinery of a membrane-bound proton pump : Studies of charge transfer reactions in cytochrome c oxidase

Abstract: In cellular respiration, electron transfer from the breakdown of foodstuff is coupled to the formation of an electrochemical proton gradient. This is accomplished through proton translocation by respiratory complexes, and the proton gradient is subsequently used e.g. to drive ATP production. Consequently, proton- and electron-transfer reactions through the hydrophobic interior of membrane proteins are central to cellular respiration. In this thesis, proton- and electron transfer through an aa3-type terminal oxidase, cytochrome c oxidase (CytcO) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, have been studied with the aim of understanding the molecular proton-transfer machinery of this proton pump.In the catalytic site of CytcO the electrons combine with protons and the terminal electron acceptor O2 to form water in an exergonic reaction that drives proton pumping. Therefore, CytcO must transfer both protons that are pumped and protons for the oxygen chemistry through its interior. This is done through its two proton-transfer pathways, termed the D pathway and the K pathway. Our studies have shown that the protons pumped during oxidation of CytcO are taken through the D pathway, and that this process does not require a functional K pathway. Furthermore, our data suggests that the K pathway is used for charge compensation of electron transfer to the catalytic site, but only in the A2 → P3 state transition. Our data also show that the water molecules identified in the crystal structures of CytcO play an important role in proton transfer through the D pathway. Finally, the effects of liposome reconstitution of CytcO on D-pathway proton transfer were investigated. The results suggest that the membrane modulates the rates of proton transfer through the D pathway, and also influences the extent of electron transfer between redox-active sites CuA and heme a.