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Effects of copper concentration in continuous culture on the aa 3-type cytochrome oxidase and respiratory chains of Paracoccus denitrificans

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Abstract

The role(s) of copper in a bacterial cytochrome oxidase of the aa 3-type was investigated by growth of Paracoccus denitrificans NCIB 8944, in batch and steady state continuous culture, in a medium from which the bulk of the copper had been extracted. In a medium containing approximately 0.02 μM copper, cellular copper content, cytochromes a+a 3 and cytochrome a 3 were reduced to 55%, 58% and 33% respectively of control values and there were also less marked decreases in cytochromes c+c 1 (to 85%) and a CO-binding b-type cytochrome, possibly cytochrome o (to 71%). Copper deficiency elicited in reduced minus oxidized difference spectra a shift to shorter wavelengths and narrowing of the band width of the α-band of the oxidase, and loss of a (negative) band near 830 nm attributable to CuA (the copper functionally associated with haem a in the oxidase complex). The oxidase in copper-deficient cells reacted with oxygen to form the oxy “Compound A” at rates similar to that in control cells but CO recombination to ferrous haem a 3 was slowed 4-fold in the copper deficient case. The results are interpreted as indicating loss of CuA and changes in the proportions of haems a and a 3 with retention of catalytic activity. Titrations of respiration rates with antimycin suggested that copper deficiency did not result in diversion of electron flux through an antimycin A-insensitive, cytochrome o-terminated branch of the respiratory chain.

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  1. Julia A. Hubbard

    Present address: Department of Biology, University College, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT, London, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, King's College London (Kensington Campus), Campden Hill Road, W8 7AH, London, UK

    Julia A. Hubbard & Martin N. Hughes

  2. Biosphere Sciences Division, King's College London (Kensington Campus), Campden Hill Road, W8 7AH, London, UK

    Julia A. Hubbard & Robert K. Poole

Authors
  1. Julia A. Hubbard
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  2. Martin N. Hughes
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  3. Robert K. Poole
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Hubbard, J.A., Hughes, M.N. & Poole, R.K. Effects of copper concentration in continuous culture on the aa 3-type cytochrome oxidase and respiratory chains of Paracoccus denitrificans . Arch. Microbiol. 151, 300–306 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406555

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406555

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