Cytochrome oxidase copper

FIGURE 21.18 (a) The Cn site of cytochrome oxidase. Copper ligands inclnde two histidine imidazole groups and two cysteine side chains from the protein, (b) The coordination of histidine imidazole ligands to the iron atom in the heme a center of cytochrome oxidase. 

FIGURE 21.17 The electron transfer pathway for cytochrome oxidase. Cytochrome c binds on the cytosolic side, transferring electrons through the copper and heme centers to reduce O9 on the matrix side of the membrane. 

Cytochrome c oxidase contains two heme centers (cytochromes a and %) as well as two copper atoms (Figure 21.17). The copper sites, Cu and Cug, are associated with cytochromes a and respectively. The copper sites participate in electron transfer by cycling between the reduced (cuprous) Cu state and the oxidized (cupric) Cu state. (Remember, the cytochromes and copper sites are one-electron transfer agents.) Reduction of one oxygen molecule requires passage of four electrons through these carriers—one at a time (Figure... 

Cytochrome enzymes, 2, 772 Cytochrome a3 oxidase, 6, 697 Cytochrome c oxidase, 6, 683 copper complexes, 2,724,772 Cytochrome oxidases, 6, 624 bacterial, 6,696... 

Laccase, 6,699 copper, 6,654 cytochrome oxidases concerted electron transfer, 6,683 fungal... 

Fig. 6.9 The catalysts for denitrification. Nitrate is reduced by a molybdenum enzyme while nitrite and oxides of nitrogen are reduced today mainly by copper enzymes. However, there are alternatives, probably earlier iron enzymes. The electron transfer bct complex is common to that in oxidative phosphorylation and similar to the bf complex of photosynthesis, while cytochrome c2 is to be compared with cytochrome c of oxidative phosphorylation. These four processes are linked in energy capture via proton (H+) gradients see Figure 6.8(a) and (b) and the lower parts of Fig. 6.9 which show separately the active site of the all iron NO-reductase, and the active site of cytochrome oxidase (02 reductase).

Nitric oxide reductase (P) Nitrous oxide reductase (P) Ascorbate oxidase (P) Cytochrome oxidase (PM) Copper ATPase pumps (PM)... 

Sands, R.H. and Beinert, H. 1959. On the function of copper in cytochrome oxidase. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 1 175-178. 

Adults require 1-2 mg of copper per day, and eliminate excess copper in bile and feces. Most plasma copper is present in ceruloplasmin. In Wilson s disease, the diminished availability of ceruloplasmin interferes with the function of enzymes that rely on ceruloplasmin as a copper donor (e.g. cytochrome oxidase, tyrosinase and superoxide dismutase). In addition, loss of copper-binding capacity in the serum leads to copper deposition in liver, brain and other organs, resulting in tissue damage. The mechanisms of toxicity are not fully understood, but may involve the formation of hydroxyl radicals via the Fenton reaction, which, in turn initiates a cascade of cellular cytotoxic events, including mitochondrial dysfunction, lipid peroxidation, disruption of calcium ion homeostasis, and cell death. 

Copper is part of several essential enzymes including tyrosinase (melanin production), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (catecholamine production), copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (free radical detoxification), and cytochrome oxidase and ceruloplasmin (iron conversion) (Aaseth and Norseth 1986). All terrestrial animals contain copper as a constituent of cytochrome c oxidase, monophenol oxidase, plasma monoamine oxidase, and copper protein complexes (Schroeder et al. 1966). Excess copper causes a variety of toxic effects, including altered permeability of cellular membranes. The primary target for free cupric ions in the cellular membranes are thiol groups that reduce cupric (Cu+2) to cuprous (Cu+1) upon simultaneous oxidation to disulfides in the membrane. Cuprous ions are reoxidized to Cu+2 in the presence of molecular oxygen molecular oxygen is thereby converted to the toxic superoxide radical O2, which induces lipoperoxidation (Aaseth and Norseth 1986). 

Copper deficiency in humans and other mammals is characterized by slow growth, hair loss, anemia, weight loss, emaciation, edema, altered ratios of dietary copper to molybdenum and other metals, impaired immune response, decreased cytochrome oxidase activity, central nervous system histopathology, decreased phospholipid synthesis, fetal absorption, and eventually death (NAS 1977 Gallagher 1979 Kirchgessner et al. 1979 USEPA 1980 ATSDR 1990 Percival 1995). 

Copper Liver and organ meats grains, legumes, nuts, seeds (esp. cocoa powder) Component of many enzymes, especially oxidases Amine oxidases Lysyl oxidases Cytochrome oxidase... 

Copper is a component of many enzymes including amine oxidase, lysyl oxidase, ferroxidase, cytochrome oxidase, dopamine P-hydroxylase, superoxide dismutase and tyrosinase. This latter enzyme is present in melanocytes and is important in formation of melanin controlling the colour of skin, hair and eyes. Deficiency of tyrosinase in skin leads to albinism. Cu " ion plays an important role in collagen formation. 

This enzyme [EC 1.9.3.1] (also referred to as cytochrome cytochrome oxidase) catalyzes the reaction of four ferrocytochrome c with dioxygen to produce four ferricytochrome c and two water molecules. This protein also contains copper ions as cofactors. 

Nitrite reductases and nitrous oxide reductases are relatively newly found copper-containing proteins involved in bacterial denitrification. N2O reductase may bear a relationship to cytochrome oxidase and, indeed, parallels it somewhat in function, being the terminal electron acceptor in its pathway. 

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