Cytochrome oxidase evolution

Newcomb, R.D. and Gleeson, D.M. (1998). Pheromone evolution within the genera Ctenopseustis and Planotortrix (Lepidoptera Tortricidae) inferred from a phylogeny based on cytochrome oxidase I gene variation. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 26 473 184. 

Yamanaka T, Fukumori Y (1978) An evolutionary aspect of the reactivity of cytochrome c with cytochrome oxidase. In Matsubara H, Yamanaka T (eds), Evolution of protein molecules. Japan Scientific Societies Press, Tokyo, pp 387-399 Yamanaka T, Fukumori Y (1980) A biochemical comparison between Chlorobium and Chroma-tium flavocytochromes c. In Yagi K, Yamanao T (eds) Flavins and flavoproteins. Japan Scientific Societies Press, Tokyo, pp 631-639... 

Accordingly, the cytochrome oxidases are the product of a divergent evolution from the common precursor of the cytochrome oxidases and N20 reductase. The only convergent evolution found in cytochrome oxidases is the common structure shared with N20 reductase concerning the independent insertion of a copper center in these dissimilar enzymes. 

Castresana, J., Liibben, M., Saraste, M. and Higgins, D. G. Evolution of cytochrome oxidase, an enzyme older than atmospheric oxygen. EMBO Journal 13 2516-2525 1994. 

It is to be noted that cytochrome oxidase can reduce O2 without concomitant proton transfer. In such a case the enzyme would work as a machine converting the energy of electron transfer to heat. It may be that evolution has reserved only the e, H -form of cytochrome oxidase with minimum energy dissipation. 

Very likely CO2, CO, and N2 were among the main components by the time of the origin of life within the Earth s early atmosphere. In addition, NO, H2, H2O, and sulfuric gases could also have been present, and probably trace amounts of O2 [23]. Thus, it was not too surprising that several molecular links do exist between the evolution of denitrification enzymes and cytochrome c oxidase, the terminal oxidase of aerobic respiration [24]. Perhaps the most important is the homology between nitric oxide reductase and heme/copper cytochrome oxidases, and the presence of the mixed-valence [Cu " (Scys)2Cu " CuA electron-transfer center in nitrous oxide reductases, the quinol-dependent NO reductase from the gram-positive Bacillus azotoformans, and heme/copper cytochrome oxidases [24-27]. 

Cognato, A.I. Sperling, F.A.H. (2000). Phylogeny of Ips DeGeer (Coleoptera Scolytidae) inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I sequence. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 445-460, ISSN 1055-7903... 

In spite of recent progress toward elucidation of the mechanism of nuclear envelope formation In modern eukaryotes, evolutionary origins of the eukaryote nucleus remain obscure. Even the concept of nuclear envelope organization around annulae derived from preexisting annulae offers little to help select among the various possibilities. Yet, similarities of Inner membrane of the nuclear envelope and the procaryotic cell membrane argue for a common parallel evolution of these two membrane types. For example, the Inner nuclear membrane Is associated with DNA (i) and perhaps even with DNA replication 21, 23) as In bacterial cells (J). There was even a report that It contained cytochrome oxidase 20), an enzyme associated with the plasma membrane of prokaryotes and critical to the development of aerobic metabolism. 

Bessho, Y., Ohama, T. and Osawa, S. (1 992) Planarian mitochondria, ii. The unique genetic code as deduced from cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene sequences. journal of Molecular Evolution 34, 331-335. 

---