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P L Dutton

Publications and source records attributed to P L Dutton.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer films of the Rhodopseudomonas viridis reaction center: determination of the order of the hemes in the cytochrome c subunit.

The Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) film technique has been applied to produce oriented and photo-active films of isolated reaction center cytochrome c complexes (RC-cyt c) and chromatophore membranes from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas viridis. Linear dichroism (LD) and redox potentiometry have been used to identify the four cytochrome c hemes of the RC-cyt c complex. Resolved angular orientations of the four hemes in LB films of both isolated RC-cyt-c complexes and of chromatophore membranes permit the reduction of the 24 possible arrangements to two. Additional structural and functional information from other sources allows us to propose a model which best accounts for all the available experimental data.

Cytochrome c Group↗
PubMed1990

Mutants of ubiquinol-cytochrome c2 oxidoreductase resistant to Qo site inhibitors: consequences for ubiquinone and ubiquinol affinity and catalysis.

Seven single-site mutants in six residues of the cyt b polypeptide of Rhodobacter capsulatus selected for resistance to the Qo site inhibitors stigmatellin, myxothiazol, or mucidin [Daldal, F., Tokito, M.K., Davidson, E., & Faham, M. (1989) EMBO J. 8, 3951-3961] have been characterized by using optical and EPR spectroscopy and single-turnover kinetic analysis. The strains were compared with wild-type strain MT1131 and with the Ps- strain R126 (G158D), which is dysfunctional in its Qo site [Robertson, D.E., Davidson, E., Prince, R.C., van den Berg, W.H., Marrs, B.L., & Dutton, P.L. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 584-591]. Mutants selected for stigmatellin resistance induced a weakening in the binding of the inhibitor without discernible loss of ubiquinone(Q)/ubiquinol(QH2) binding affinity to the Qo site or kinetic impairment to catalysis. Mutants selected for myxothiazol or mucidin resistance, inducing weakening of inhibitor binding, all displayed impaired rates of Qo site catalysis: The most severe cases (F144L, F144S) displayed loss of affinity for Q, and evidence suggests that parallel loss of affinity for the substrate QH2 was incurred in these strains. The results provide a view of the nature of the interaction of Q and QH2 of the Qpool with the Qo site. Consideration of the mutational substitutions and their structural positions along with comparisons with the QA and QB sites of the photosynthetic reaction center suggests a model for the structure of the Qo site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Orientation and lateral mobility of cytochrome c on the surface of ultrathin lipid multilayer films.

We have previously shown that cytochrome c can be electrostatically bound to an ultrathin multilayer film having a negatively charged hydrophilic surface; furthermore, x-ray diffraction and absorption spectroscopy techniques indicated that the cytochrome c was bound to the surface of these ultrathin multilayer films as a molecular monolayer. The ultrathin fatty acid multilayers were formed on alkylated glass, using the Langmuir-Blodgett method. In this study, optical linear dichroism was used to determine the average orientation of the heme group within cytochrome c relative to the multilayer surface plane. The cytochrome c was either electrostatically or covalently bound to the surface of an ultrathin multilayer film. Horse heart cytochrome c was electrostatically bound to the hydrophilic surface of fatty acid multilayer films having an odd number of monolayers. Ultrathin multilayer films having an even number of monolayers would not bind cytochrome c, as expected for such hydrophobic surfaces. Yeast cytochrome c was covalently bound to the surface of a multilayer film having an even number of fatty acid monolayers plus a surface monolayer of thioethyl stearate. After washing extensively with buffer, the multilayer films with either electrostatically or covalently bound cytochrome c were analyzed for bound protein by optical absorption spectroscopy; the orientation of the cytochrome c heme was then investigated via optical linear dichroism. Polarized optical absorption spectra were measured from 450 to 600 nm at angles of 0 degrees, 30 degrees, and 45 degrees between the incident light beam and the normal to the surface plane of the multilayer. The dichroic ratio for the heme alpha-band at 550 nm as a function of incidence angle indicated that the heme of the electrostatically-bound monolayer of cytochrome c lies, on average, nearly parallel to the surface plane of the ultrathin multilayer. Similar results were obtained for the covalently-bound yeast cytochrome c. Furthermore, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) was used to characterize the lateral mobility of the electrostatically bound cytochrome c over the monolayer plane. The optical linear dichroism and these initial FRAP studies have indicated that cytochrome c electrostatically bound to a lipid surface maintains a well-defined orientation relative to the membrane surface while exhibiting measurable, but highly restricted, lateral motion in the plane of the surface.

Cytochrome c Group↗
PubMed1990

A new method of solvation analysis: applications to quinones.

A new method of analysis of the factor contributing to solvation of small molecules is described. Approximations of the energetic contributions to the entry of a molecule into water have been derived from partition coefficient data of solutes and selected derivatives from a multiplicity of solvents. These include taking separate account energy of the cost of introduction of a molecular cavity in water, the strength of solute-water dipolar interactions, and the strengths of hydrogen bond formation with water of the lone pairs and hydroxylic hydrogens associated with the molecule. In this report the solvation-free energies of benzoquinone and hydroquinone in water are described. We also consider the solvation of the semiquinone anion and show it to be fundamentally different from that of either the quinone or hydroquinone; this is discussed as a potentiality for selective binding ("solvation") of quinone, semiquinone and hydroquinone in sites of redox catalysis such as those found in the photosynthetic reaction center.

Kinetics↗
PubMed1989

In photosynthetic reaction centers, the free energy difference for electron transfer between quinones bound at the primary and secondary quinone-binding sites governs the observed secondary site specificity.

The secondary quinone-binding site (QB site) of bacterial reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides is generally regarded to be highly specific for its native ubiquinone-10 molecule. We demonstrate here that this is a misconception rooted in the kinetic methods used to assay for occupancy of a quinone in the QB site. We show that observance of occupancy of the QB site, revealed by kinetic assay, is sensitive to the free-energy difference for electron transfer between the quinone at the primary quinone-binding site (QA site) and the QB site (-delta G0e-). For many of the compounds previously tested for binding at the QB site, the -delta G0e- between QA and QB is too small to permit detection of the functional quinone in the QB site. With an increased -delta G0e- achieved by replacing the native ubiquinone-10 at the QA site with lower-potential quinones or by testing higher-potential QB candidates, it is shown that the QB site binds and functions with the unsubstituted 1,4-benzoquinone, 1,4-naphthoquinone, and 9,10-phenanthraquinone, as well as with their various substituted forms. Moreover, quinones with the ortho-carbonyl configuration appear to function in a similar manner to quinones with the para-carbonyl configuration.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1988

The nature and magnitude of the charge-separation reactions of ubiquinol cytochrome c2 oxidoreductase.

The transdielectric charge separation reaction catalyzed by the ubiquinol-cytochrome c2 oxidoreductase is achieved in two fractional steps. We present a detailed analysis which addresses the nature of the charge transferred, the redox groups directly involved in charge separation and the contributions of each to the full charge separation catalyzed by the enzyme. Accounting for light saturation effects, reaction centers unconnected to cytochrome c2 and the fraction of total cytochrome bc1 turning over per flash permits detailed quantitation of: (1) the red carotenoid bandshift associated with electron transfer between ubiquinol at site Qz and the high- (2Fe2S center, cytochrome c1) and low-potential (cytochrome bL, cytochrome bH) components of cytochrome bc1; (2) the blue bandshift accompanying reduction of cytochrome bH by ubiquinol via site Qc (the reverse of the physiological reaction); and (3) the effect of delta psi on the Qc-cytochrome bH redox equilibrium. Studies were performed at pH values above and below the redox-linked pK values of the redox centers known to be involved in each reaction at equilibrium. The conclusions of this study may be summarized as follows: (1) there is no transdielectric charge separation apparent in the redox reactions between Qz and cytochrome bL, 2Fe2S and cytochrome c1 (in agreement with Glaser, E. and Crofts, A.R. (1984) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 766, 223-235), i.e., charge separation accompanies electron transfer between cytochrome bL and cytochrome bH; (2) the redox reactions between cytochrome bL and cytochrome bH and between cytochrome bH and Qc constitute the full electrogenic span; (3) electron transfer between cytochrome bL and cytochrome bH contributes approx. 60% of this span; (4) electron transfer between cytochrome bH and Qc contributes 45-55% as calculated from the blue bandshift or the delta psi-dependent equilibrium shift; (5) there is no discernable pH dependence of the Qz-cytochrome bH or Qc-cytochrome bH charge-separation reactions; (6) cytochrome bL, Qz, 2Fe2S, and cytochrome c1 are on the periplasmic side out of the low dielectric part of the membrane while cytochrome bH is buried in the low dielectric medium; (7) electron transfer is the predominant if not the sole contributor to charge separation; (8) Qz and Qc are on opposite sides of the membrane dielectric profile.

Carotenoids↗
PubMed1988

Cytochrome c and c2 binding dynamics and electron transfer with photosynthetic reaction center protein and other integral membrane redox proteins.

To further the understanding of the details of c-type cytochrome action as a redox carrier between major electron-transfer proteins, the single-turnover kinetics time course of cytochrome c and cytochrome c2 oxidation by flash-activated photosynthetic reaction center (purified from the bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides) has been examined under a wide variety of conditions of concentration, ionic strength, and viscosity with reaction center present in detergent dispersion and phosphatidylcholine proteoliposomes. We find that the three-state model proposed by Overfield and Wraight [Overfield, R. E., & Wraight, C. A. (1980) Biochemistry 19, 3322-3327] is generally sufficient to model the kinetics time course; many similarities are found with the cytochrome c-cytochrome c oxidase interaction in mitochondria. Further, we find the following: (1) Significant "product inhibition" by oxidized cytochrome c (c2) bound to the reaction center is apparent. (2) The viscosity sensitivity of the electron transfer into the reaction center from bound cytochrome c (c2) suggests a physical interpretation of the distal state. (3) The exchange dynamics of oxidized and reduced cytochrome c (c2) are similar regardless of the state of activation of the reaction center. (4) Preferential binding of the oxidized form of cytochrome c is revealed upon reconstitution of the reaction center into neutral lipid vesicles, permitting an independent confirmation of the binding suggested by the kinetics. (5) Flash-activated electron-transfer kinetics in reaction center hybrid protein systems have shown that diffusion and competitive binding characterize the behavior of cytochrome c as a redox carrier between the reaction center protein and either the cytochrome bc1 complex or the cytochrome c oxidase.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1988

Photoelectric currents across planar bilayer membranes containing bacterial reaction centers: the response under conditions of multiple reaction-center turnovers.

The characteristics of the photocurrent response activated by continuous illumination of planar bilayer membranes containing bacterial reaction centers have been resolved by voltage clamp methods. The photocurrent response to a long light pulse consists of an initial spike arising from the fast, quasi-synchronous electron transfer from the reaction center bacteriochlorophyll dimer, BChl2, to the primary quinone QA. This is followed by a slow relaxation of the current to that promoted by secondary, asynchronous multiple electron transfers from the reduced cytochrome c through the reaction centers to the ubiquinone-10 pool. Currents derived from cytochrome c oxidation that occurs when cytochrome c is associated with the reaction center or when limited by diffusional interaction from solution are recognized. Changes of the ionic strength and pH in the aqueous phase, and the clamped membrane potential (+/- 150 mV), affect the electron-transfer rate between cytochrome c and BChl2. In contrast, the primary light-induced charge separation between BChl2 and QA, or electron transfer between QA on the ubiquinone pool are unaffected. During illumination of reaction center membranes supplemented with cytochrome c and a ubiquinone pool, there is a small but significant steady-state current which is considered to be caused by the re-oxidation of photoreduced quinone by molecular oxygen. In the dark, after illumination of reaction centers supplemented with cytochrome c and a ubiquinone pool, there is a small amount of reverse current resulting from the movement of charges back across the membrane. This reverse current is observed maximally after 400 ms illumination while prolonged illumination diminishes the effect. The source of this current is uncertain, but it is considered to be due to the flux of anionic semiquinone within the membrane profile; this may also be the species that interacts with oxygen giving rise to the steady-state current. It is postulated that when the reaction centers are contained in an alkane-containing phospholipid membrane, in contrast to the in vivo situation, the semiquinone anion formed in the QB site is not tightly bound to the site and can, by exchange-diffusion with the membrane-quinone pool, move away from the site and accumulate in the membrane. However, in the absence, more quantitative work superoxide anion, resulting from O2 interaction with semiquinone of QA, QB or pool cannot be excluded.

Ascorbic Acid↗
PubMed1986

Radical-pair energetics and decay mechanisms in reaction centers containing anthraquinones, naphthoquinones or benzoquinones in place of ubiquinone.

In reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides (formerly called Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides), light causes an electron-transfer reaction that forms the radical pair state (P+I-, or PF) from the initial excited singlet state (P) of a bacteriochlorophyll dimer (P). Subsequent electron transfer to a quinone (Q) produces the state P+Q-. Back electron transfer can regenerate P from P+Q-, giving rise to 'delayed' fluorescence that decays with approximately the same lifetime as P+Q-. The free-energy difference between P+Q- and P can be determined from the initial amplitude of the delayed fluorescence. In the present work, we extracted the native quinone (ubiquinone) from Rps. sphaeroides reaction centers, and replaced it by various anthraquinones, naphthoquinones, and benzoquinones. We found a rough correlation between the halfwave reduction potential (E1/2) of the quinone used for reconstitution (as measured polarographically in dimethylformamide) and the apparent free energy of the state P+Q- relatively to P. As the E1/2 of the quinone becomes more negative, the standard free-energy gap between P+Q- and P decreases. However, the correlation is quantitatively weak. Apparently, the effective midpoint potentials (Em) of the quinones in situ depend subtly on interactions with the protein environment in the reaction center. Using the value of the Em for ubiquinone determined in native reaction centers as a reference, and the standard free energies determined for P+Q- in reaction centers reconstituted with other quinones, the effective Em values of 12 different quinones in situ are estimated. In native reaction centers, or in reaction centers reconstituted with quinones that give a standard free-energy gap of more than about 0.8 eV between P+Q- and P*, charge recombination from P+Q- to the ground state (PQ) occurs almost exclusively by a temperature-insensitive mechanism, presumably electron tunneling. When reaction centers are reconstituted with quinones that give a free-energy gap between P+Q- and P* of less than 0.8 with quinones that give a free-energy gap between P+Q- and P* of less than 0.8 eV, part or all of the decay proceeds through a thermally accessible intermediate. There is a linear relationship between the log of the rate constant for the decay of P+Q- via the intermediate state and the standard free energy of P+Q-. The higher the free energy, the faster the decay. The kinetic and thermodynamic properties of the intermediate appear not to depend strongly on the quinone used for reconstitution, indicating that the intermediate is probably not simply an activated form of P+Q-.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Anthraquinones↗
PubMed1986

Discrete catalytic sites for quinone in the ubiquinol-cytochrome c2 oxidoreductase of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata. Evidence from a mutant defective in ubiquinol oxidation.

A non-photosynthetic mutant (Ps-) of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata, designated R126, was analyzed for a defect in the cyclic electron transfer system. Compared to a Ps+ strain MR126, the mutant was shown to have a full complement of electron transfer components (reaction centers, ubiquinone-10, cytochromes b, c1, and c2, the Rieske 2-iron, 2-sulfur (Rieske FeS) center, and the antimycin-sensitive semiquinone). Functionally, mutant R126 failed to catalyze complete cytochrome c1 + c2 re-reduction or cytochrome b reduction following a short (10 microseconds) flash of actinic light. Evidence (from flash-induced carotenoid band shift) was characteristic of inhibition of electron transfer proximal to cytochrome c1 of the ubiquinol-cytochrome c2 oxidoreductase. Three lines of evidence indicate that the lesion of R126 disrupts electron transfer from quinol to Rieske FeS: 1) the degree of cytochrome c1 + c2 re-reduction following a flash is indicative of electron transfer from Rieske FeS to cytochrome c1 + c2 without redox equilibration with an additional electron from a quinol; 2) inhibitors that act at the Qz site and raise the Rieske FeS midpoint redox potential (Em), namely 5-undecyl-6-hydroxy-4,7-dioxobenzothiazole or 3-alkyl-2-hydroxy-1,4-napthoquinone, have no effect on cytochrome c1 + c2 oxidation in R126; 3) the Rieske FeS center, although it exhibits normal redox behavior, is unable to report the redox state of the quinone pool, as metered by its EPR line shape properties. Flash-induced proton binding in R126 is indicative of normal functional primary (QA) and secondary (QB) electron acceptor activity of the photosynthetic reaction center. The Qc functional site of cytochrome bc1 is intact in R126 as measured by the existence of antimycin-sensitive, flash-induced cytochrome b reduction.

Antimycin A↗
PubMed1984

Two distinct quinone-modulated modes of antimycin-sensitive cytochrome b reduction in the cytochrome bc1 complex.

Reduction of cytochrome b-560 (analogous to cyt b-562 of mitochondria) via an antimycin-sensitive route has been revealed in chromatophores of the photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides Ga. Indeed, the results suggest that two reductive mechanisms can be operative. One is consistent with the idea that the quinol generated at the reaction center QB site enters the Q pool and, via the Qc site, equilibrates with cytochrome b-560. The other reductive mode circumvents redox equilibrium with the pool; we consider that this could result from a direct encounter of the reaction center with the bc1 complex perhaps involving a direct QB-Qc site interaction. This latter reaction is suppressed by occupancy of the Qc site, not only by antimycin but by ubiquinol and ubiquinone.

Antimycin A↗
PubMed1984

One- and two-electron reduction of hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones and hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinones. The role of internal hydrogen bonding and its bearing on the redox chemistry of the anthracycline antitumour quinones.

First and second half-wave reduction potentials of 11 1,4-naphthoquinones and 42 9,10-anthraquinones have been measured for solutions in dimethylformamide. The presence of hydroxy groups at the 5- and 8-positions of the 1,4-naphthoquinone nucleus, and at the 1-, 4-, 5- and 8-positions of the 9,10-anthraquinone (the alpha-positions) markedly raises both reduction potentials. Measurements on the corresponding methoxy- and acetoxyquinones indicate that internal hydrogen bonding in the alpha-hydroxyquinones makes a major contribution to stabilisation of the semiquinone, probably as a result of increased delocalisation due to exchange of the hydroxy hydrogen between the two neighbouring oxygen atoms. The bearing of this phenomenon on the mechanism of action of anthracycline antitumour quinones is discussed, and the stabilising effect on the semiquinone of hydroxy groups at the 1- and 5-positions of the 9,10-anthraquinone nucleus is highlighted.

Anthraquinones↗
PubMed1984

Thermodynamic properties of the semiquinone and its binding site in the ubiquinol-cytochrome c (c2) oxidoreductase of respiratory and photosynthetic systems.

The antimycin-sensitive ubisemiquinone radical (QC) of the ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase of submitochondrial particles and chromatophores of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides Ga has been studied by a combination of redox potentiometry and EPR spectroscopy. This g = 2.005 radical signal appears at physiological pH values and increases in intensity with increasing pH up to pH 7.6 in submitochondrial particles and pH 9.0 in R. sphaeroides after which its intensity remains unchanged. The Em7 (ubiquinone/quinol) of the signal, estimated from redox titration data is 80 mV for submitochondrial particles, and 150 mV in chromatophores. Each of these values is higher than that of the quinone pool by 20 mV in submitochondrial particles and 60 mV in R. sphaeroides. This indicates that the quinone at the binding site is out of equilibrium with the pool, and that binding site preferentially binds quinol over quinone. Analysis of the shapes of the semiquinone titration curves, taken together with the midpoint elevation, indicates a quinone-binding site: cytochrome c1 stoichiometry of 1:1 in both submitochondrial particles and chromatophores. At its maximal intensity, the semiquinone concentration at the binding site is 0.26 in submitochondrial particles (greater than pH 7.6) and 0.4 in chromatophores (greater than pH 9.0). In both systems, the midpoint of the ubiquinone/ubisemiquinone couple is constant as the pH is raised up to the pH of maximal semiquinone formation whereafter it becomes more negative at the rate of -60 mV/pH unit. The midpoint of the ubisemiquinone/quinol couple, on the other hand, varies by -120 mV/pH unit at pH values up to the transition pH, after which it, too, changes by -60 mV/pH unit. This seemingly anomalous behavior may be explained by invoking a protonated group at or near the quinone-binding site whose pK corresponds to the pH transition point in the quinone/semiquinone/quinol redox chemistry when the site is free or when quinone or quinol occupies the site. This pK is elevated to at least pH 9.0 in submitochondrial particles and 10.5 in R. sphaeroides when semiquinone is bound to the site.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

A structural investigation of cytochrome c binding to photosynthetic reaction centers in reconstituted membranes.

Mammalian cytochrome c can effectively replace bacterial cytochrome c2 as the electron donor to the bacterial photosynthetic reaction center in either the natural chromatophore or a reconstituted reaction center/phospholipid membrane. In this paper, the reconstituted membrane was used to describe the nature of cytochrome c binding to the reaction center, the location of bound cytochrome c in the membrane profile and the perturbation of the reaction center and phospholipid profile structures indicated by cytochrome c binding. These structural studies utilized the combined techniques of X-ray and neutron diffraction.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Redox potential dependence of photophosphorylation and electron transfer in continuous illumination of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides chromatophores.

The dependence on redox potential (Eh) of the steady-state photophosphorylation rate in chromatophores of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides Ga was measured using slowly equilibrating (and hence less interfering) redox mediators. The remaining interference of the mediators was taken into account by extrapolating to zero mediator concentration. The extents of cytochrome redox reactions (in the presence of antimycin) and of the carotenoid shift were similarly measured. The redox titration of cytochrome c oxidation is consistent with a requirement for prior cytochrome c2 reduction and prior Q1 (primary electron acceptor) oxidation, while the titration of cytochrome b reduction is consistent with a requirement for prior (BChl)2 reduction and prior cytochrome b560 oxidation. The steady-state carotenoid shift extent is a much more broadly peaked function of Eh than is the extent following a single-turnover flash, indicating that the transmembrane electrical potential difference can be built up to significant levels by minimal rates of electron flow. The photophosphorylation rate, in contrast, is much more strongly Eh dependent, supporting the concept of a threshold membrane energization below which phosphorylation cannot occur. Earlier work by others showing a requirement for equilibrium cytochrome c2 reduction and Q1 oxidation is clearly confirmed. A much greater enhancement in phosphorylation rate was found at low Eh than has heretofore been reported. This threefold enhancement is discussed in relation to the equilibrium redox states of the ubiquinone-10 complement of the chromatophore membrane.

Bacterial Chromatophores↗
PubMed1983

Inhibition of electron transfer by 3-alkyl-2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones in the ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductases of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides and mammalian mitochondria. Interaction with a ubiquinone-binding site and the Rieske iron-sulfur cluster.

3-Alkyl-2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones (alkyl-HNQ) inhibit Rieske iron-sulfur cluster (Rieske FeS) oxidation and cytochrome b reduction in ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase. The effects are the same as those of 5-undecyl-6-hydroxy-4,7-dioxobenzothiazole. Concentrations for 50% inhibition in chromatophores of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides (at 0.4 microM reaction center) are 2 microM for undecyl-, 3 microM for octyl-, and 40 microM for pentyl-substituted hydroxynaphthoquinones. The ethyl-substituted and unsubstituted derivatives do not inhibit electron transfer below 2 mM. In chromatophores in which the ubiquinone is partially extracted by isooctane (leaving 4 ubiquinones/reaction center), undecyl-HNQ is effective at 2.5 times lower concentration than in normal chromatophores (30 ubiquinones/reaction center). This observation suggests that the binding of the inhibitor is competitive with ubiquinone. Undecyl-HNQ eliminates the effect that the ubiquinone redox state has on the line shape of the EPR signal of Rieske FeS. This supports the idea that alkyl-HNQ shares a common binding site with ubiquinone which is closely associated with Rieske FeS. The ubiquinone in question has a midpoint oxidation-reduction potential at pH 7 of 90 mV with a -60 mV/pH unit dependency. This value matches that of the ubiquinone pool rather than that of ubiquinone Z, which is functionally recognized as a component "between" cytochrome b and Rieske FeS. When Rieske FeS is oxidized, a 20 times higher concentration of undecyl-HNQ is required for the electron transfer inhibition. This is consistent with the observation that the binding of the inhibitor shifts the midpoint oxidation-reduction potential of Rieske FeS about 60 mV higher, which in turn means that the inhibitor binds about 10 times stronger to the site when Rieske FeS is reduced than when it is oxidized. The observations suggest that 3-alkyl-2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones inhibit electron transfer by acting as ubiquinone antagonists at a site closely associated with Rieske FeS.

Animals↗