In this paper allosteric interactions in protonmotive heme aa3 terminal oxidases of respiratory chain are dealt with. The different lines of evidence supporting the key role of H+/e- coupling (redox Bohr effect) at the low spin heme a in the proton pump of the bovine oxidase are summarized. Results are presented showing that the I-R54M mutation in P. denitrificans aa3 oxidase, which decreases by more than 200 mV the Em of heme a, inhibits proton pumping. Mutational aminoacid replacement in proton channels, at the negative (N) side of membrane-inserted prokaryotic aa3 oxidases, as well as Zn2 + binding at this site in the bovine oxidase, uncouple proton pumping. This effect appears to result from alteration of the structural/functional device, closer to the positive, opposite (P) surface, which separate pumped protons from those consumed in the reduction of O2 to 2 H2O. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Respiratory Oxidases

A study is presented on the effect of zinc binding at the matrix side, on the proton pump of purified liposome reconstituted bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase (COV). Internally trapped Zn2+ resulted in 50% decoupling of the proton pump at level flow. Analysis of the pH dependence of inhibition by internal Zn2+ of proton release in the oxidative and reductive phases of the catalytic cycle of cytochrome c oxidase indicates that Zn2+ suppresses two of the four proton pumping steps in the cycle, those taking place when the 2 OH− produced in the reduction of O2 at the binuclear center are protonated to 2 H2O. This decoupling effect could be associated with Zn2+ induced conformational alteration of an acid/base cluster linked to heme a3.

Lipids of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) of Paracoccus denitrificans have been identified by MALDI-TOF MS direct analyses of isolated protein complexes, avoiding steps of lipid extraction or chromatographic separation. Two different COX preparations have been considered in this study: the enzyme core consisting of subunits I and II (COX 2-SU) and the complete complex comprising all four subunits (COX 4-SU). In addition, MALDI-TOF MS lipid profiles of bacterial COX are also compared with those of the isolated mitochondrial COX and bacterial bc1 complex. We show that the main lipids associated with bacterial COX 4-SU are phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylcholine (PC), and minor amounts of cardiolipin (CL). PG and PC are absent in the COX 2-SU preparation lacking subunits III and IV, whereas CL is still present. Quantitative analyses indicate that at variance from mitochondrial COX, cardiolipin is present in substoichiometric amounts in bacterial COX, at a CL:COX molar ratio of ∼1:10. We conclude that bacterial COX does not require CL for structure or its activity.

Structural and functional observations are reviewed which provide evidence for a central role of redox Bohr effect linked to the low-spin heme a in the proton pump of bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase. Data on the membrane sidedness of Bohr protons linked to anaerobic oxido-reduction of the individual metal centers in the liposome reconstituted oxidase are analysed. Redox Bohr protons coupled to anaerobic oxido-reduction of heme a (and CuA) and CuB exhibit membrane vectoriality, i.e. protons are taken up from the inner space upon reduction of these centers and released in the outer space upon their oxidation. Redox Bohr protons coupled to anaerobic oxido-reduction of heme a3 do not, on the contrary, exhibit vectorial nature: protons are exchanged only with the outer space. A model of the proton pump of the oxidase, in which redox Bohr protons linked to the low-spin heme a play a central role, is described. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Allosteric cooperativity in respiratory proteins.

We have isolated and characterized the light-driven proton pump Bop I from the ultrathin square archaeon Haloquadratum walsbyi, the most abundant component of the dense microbial community inhabiting hypersaline environments. The disruption of cells by hypo-osmotic shock yielded Bop I retinal protein highly enriched membranes, which contain one main 27 kDa protein band together with a high content of the carotenoid bacterioruberin. Light-induced pH changes were observed in suspensions of Bop I retinal protein-enriched membranes under sustained illumination. Solubilization of H. walsbyi cells with Triton X-100, followed by phenyl-Sepharose chromatography, resulted in isolation of two purified Bop I retinal protein bands; mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the Bop I was present as only protein in both the bands. The study of light/dark adaptations, M-decay kinetics, responses to titration with alkali in the dark and endogenous lipid compositions of the two Bop I retinal protein bands showed functional differences that could be attributed to different protein aggregation states. Proton-pumping activity of Bop I during the photocycle was observed in liposomes constituted of archaeal lipids. Similarities and differences of Bop I with other archaeal proton-pumping retinal proteins will be discussed.