ISSN:
0570-0833
Keywords:
Cytochrome c oxidase
;
Enzymes
;
Warburg, Otto
;
Chemistry
;
General Chemistry
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Approximately 50 years ago, Otto Warburg received the Nobel Prize for his fundamental work on the “Atmungsferment”. But not until the end of the fifties was it possible to isolate this complicated membrane enzyme, which is necessary for respiration and energy production in most living organisms on earth. Since then, intensive research has been performed to elucidate the mechanism of reduction of oxygen to water and the coupled translocation of protons across the membrane which is involved in ATP synthesis. Until now the results have been unsatisfactory because the four catalytic heavy-metal redox centers are bound to proteins, the structures of which have begun to be studied only recently. In the course of this research, it was discovered that cytochrome c oxidase from bacteria contains only two or three, whereas the enzyme complex from animals contains thirteen different protein components. The present article analyzes the possible functions of the various protein subunits and, using the example of cytochrome c oxidase, shows that biochemical evolution proceeds in such a way as to increase regulatory capacity.
Additional Material:
7 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.198302751
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