Electron tunneling rates in respiratory complex I are tuned for efficient energy conversion

Electron tunneling rates in respiratory complex I are tuned for efficient energy conversion

De Vries, S.
Dörner, K.
Strampraad, M.J.F.
Friedrich, T.

Applied Sciences

Biotechnology

2015-12-31

Respiratory complex I converts the free energy of ubiquinone reduction by NADH into a proton motive force, a redox reaction catalyzed by flavin mononucleotide(FMN) and a chain of seven iron–sulfur centers. Electron transfer rates between the centers were determined by ultrafast freezequenching and analysis by EPR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The complex rapidly oxidizes three NADH molecules. The electron-tunneling rate between the most distant centers in the middle of the chain depends on the redox state of center N2 at the end of the chain, and is sixfold slower when N2 is reduced. The conformational changes that accompany reduction of N2 decrease the electronic coupling of the longest electro ntunneling step. The chain of iron–sulfur centers is not just a simple electron-conducting wire; it regulates the electrontunneling rate synchronizing it with conformation-mediated proton pumping, enabling efficient energy conversion. Synchronization of rates is a principle means of enhancing the specificity of enzymatic reactions.

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:dcafa53b-6be4-44d8-9ba0-121e29e9e6ef

1433-7851

Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), 54 (9), 2015

Institutional Repository

journal article

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