Coupled electron and proton transfer in
cytochrome c oxidase: Coulomb proton pump with kinetic gating
Alexei Stuchebrukhov
Department of Chemistry, University of California at Davis
I will discuss coupled transport of electrons and protons in cytochrome c oxidase, the terminal enzyme in the respiratory electron transport chain of aerobic organisms. This enzyme catalyses the reduction of atmospheric oxygen to water and converts redox energy into membrane proton gradient. The proton gradient subsequently drives the synthesis of ATP. Computer simulations and theoretical modeling point to a possible molecular mechanism of this redox-driven proton pump.