Cytochrome oxidase evolved by tinkering with denitrification enzymes

FEBS Letters

Castresana, Jose¹  Saraste, Matti¹ 

[1] European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Meyerhofstrasse 1, Postfach 102209, D-69012 Heidelberg, Germany

关键词: Cytochrome oxidase;    Respiration;    Denitrification;    Evolution of metabolism;   

DOI  :  10.1016/0014-5793(94)80228-9

学科分类：生物化学/生物物理

来源: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

【 摘 要 】

The cytochrome bc complex which is encoded by the fixNOPQ operon in Bradyrhizobiumjaponicum, is the most distant member of the haem-copper cytochrome oxidase family. We have found that its major subunit, FixN, is homologous to the NorB subunit of nitric oxide reductase in a purple bacterium. A second evolutionary link between cytochrome oxidases and denitrification enzymes is the presence of a similar binuclear copper site in cytochrome aa ₃ (the mitochondrial oxidase) and nitrous oxide reductase. This centre was probably acquired by a primitive FixN-type oxidase, leading to the evolution of the mitochondrial-type oxidase. These links suggest that the oxygen-reducing respiratory chain developed from the anaerobic, denitrifying respiratory system.

【 授权许可】

Unknown