Structure of the Escherichia coli fumarate reductase respiratory complex

Science. 1999 Jun 18;284(5422):1961-6. doi: 10.1126/science.284.5422.1961.

Abstract

The integral membrane protein fumarate reductase catalyzes the final step of anaerobic respiration when fumarate is the terminal electron acceptor. The homologous enzyme succinate dehydrogenase also plays a prominent role in cellular energetics as a member of the Krebs cycle and as complex II of the aerobic respiratory chain. Fumarate reductase consists of four subunits that contain a covalently linked flavin adenine dinucleotide, three different iron-sulfur clusters, and at least two quinones. The crystal structure of intact fumarate reductase has been solved at 3.3 angstrom resolution and demonstrates that the cofactors are arranged in a nearly linear manner from the membrane-bound quinone to the active site flavin. Although fumarate reductase is not associated with any proton-pumping function, the two quinones are positioned on opposite sides of the membrane in an arrangement similar to that of the Q-cycle organization observed for cytochrome bc1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aerobiosis
  • Anaerobiosis
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Membrane / enzymology
  • Crystallization
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Electron Transport
  • Energy Metabolism
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology*
  • Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide / metabolism
  • Fumarates / metabolism
  • Iron-Sulfur Proteins / chemistry
  • Iron-Sulfur Proteins / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxygen Consumption
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Folding
  • Quinones / chemistry
  • Quinones / metabolism
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase / chemistry*
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase / metabolism

Substances

  • Fumarates
  • Iron-Sulfur Proteins
  • Quinones
  • Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide
  • fumaric acid
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase

Associated data

  • PDB/1FUM