TY - JOUR
AB - My group and myself have studied respiratory complex I for almost 30 years, starting in 1994 when it was known as a L-shaped giant ‘black box' of bioenergetics. First breakthrough was the X-ray structure of the peripheral arm, followed by structures of the membrane arm and finally the entire complex from Thermus thermophilus. The developments in cryo-EM technology allowed us to solve the first complete structure of the twice larger, ∼1 MDa mammalian enzyme in 2016. However, the mechanism coupling, over large distances, the transfer of two electrons to pumping of four protons across the membrane remained an enigma. Recently we have solved high-resolution structures of mammalian and bacterial complex I under a range of redox conditions, including catalytic turnover. This allowed us to propose a robust and universal mechanism for complex I and related protein families. Redox reactions initially drive conformational changes around the quinone cavity and a long-distance transfer of substrate protons. These set up a stage for a series of electrostatically driven proton transfers along the membrane arm (‘domino effect'), eventually resulting in proton expulsion from the distal antiporter-like subunit. The mechanism radically differs from previous suggestions, however, it naturally explains all the unusual structural features of complex I. In this review I discuss the state of knowledge on complex I, including the current most controversial issues.
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 12757
IS - 5
JF - The Biochemical Journal
SN - 0264-6021
TI - From the 'black box' to 'domino effect' mechanism: What have we learned from the structures of respiratory complex I
VL - 480
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - The potential of immune-evasive mutation accumulation in the SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to its rapid spread, causing over 600 million confirmed cases and more than 6.5 million confirmed deaths. The huge demand for the rapid development and deployment of low-cost and effective vaccines against emerging variants has renewed interest in DNA vaccine technology. Here, we report the rapid generation and immunological evaluation of novel DNA vaccine candidates against the Wuhan-Hu-1 and Omicron variants based on the RBD protein fused with the Potato virus X coat protein (PVXCP). The delivery of DNA vaccines using electroporation in a two-dose regimen induced high-antibody titers and profound cellular responses in mice. The antibody titers induced against the Omicron variant of the vaccine were sufficient for effective protection against both Omicron and Wuhan-Hu-1 virus infections. The PVXCP protein in the vaccine construct shifted the immune response to the favorable Th1-like type and provided the oligomerization of RBD-PVXCP protein. Naked DNA delivery by needle-free injection allowed us to achieve antibody titers comparable with mRNA-LNP delivery in rabbits. These data identify the RBD-PVXCP DNA vaccine platform as a promising solution for robust and effective SARS-CoV-2 protection, supporting further translational study.
AU - Dormeshkin, Dmitri
AU - Katsin, Mikalai
AU - Stegantseva, Maria
AU - Golenchenko, Sergey
AU - Shapira, Michail
AU - Dubovik, Simon
AU - Lutskovich, Dzmitry
AU - Kavaleuski, Anton
AU - Meleshko, Alexander
ID - 13232
IS - 6
JF - Vaccines
TI - Design and immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 DNA vaccine encoding RBD-PVXCP fusion protein
VL - 11
ER -
TY - THES
AB - Most energy in humans is produced in form of ATP by the mitochondrial respiratory chain consisting of several protein assemblies embedded into lipid membrane (complexes I-V). Complex I is the first and the largest enzyme of the respiratory chain which is essential for energy production. It couples the transfer of two electrons from NADH to ubiquinone with proton translocation across bacterial or inner mitochondrial membrane. The coupling mechanism between electron transfer and proton translocation is one of the biggest enigma in bioenergetics and structural biology. Even though the enzyme has been studied for decades, only recent technological advances in cryo-EM allowed its extensive structural investigation.
Complex I from E.coli appears to be of special importance because it is a perfect model system with a rich mutant library, however the structure of the entire complex was unknown. In this thesis I have resolved structures of the minimal complex I version from E. coli in different states including reduced, inhibited, under reaction turnover and several others. Extensive structural analyses of these structures and comparison to structures from other species allowed to derive general features of conformational dynamics and propose a universal coupling mechanism. The mechanism is straightforward, robust and consistent with decades of experimental data available for complex I from different species.
Cyanobacterial NDH (cyanobacterial complex I) is a part of broad complex I superfamily and was studied as well in this thesis. It plays an important role in cyclic electron transfer (CET), during which electrons are cycled within PSI through ferredoxin and plastoquinone to generate proton gradient without NADPH production. Here, I solved structure of NDH and revealed additional state, which was not observed before. The novel “resting” state allowed to propose the mechanism of CET regulation. Moreover, conformational dynamics of NDH resembles one in complex I which suggest more broad universality of the proposed coupling mechanism.
In summary, results presented here helped to interpret decades of experimental data for complex I and contributed to fundamental mechanistic understanding of protein function.
AU - Kravchuk, Vladyslav
ID - 12781
SN - 2663-337X
TI - Structural and mechanistic study of bacterial complex I and its cyanobacterial ortholog
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Robust oxygenic photosynthesis requires a suite of accessory factors to ensure efficient assembly and repair of the oxygen-evolving photosystem two (PSII) complex. The highly conserved Ycf48 assembly factor binds to the newly synthesized D1 reaction center polypeptide and promotes the initial steps of PSII assembly, but its binding site is unclear. Here we use cryo-electron microscopy to determine the structure of a cyanobacterial PSII D1/D2 reaction center assembly complex with Ycf48 attached. Ycf48, a 7-bladed beta propeller, binds to the amino-acid residues of D1 that ultimately ligate the water-oxidising Mn4CaO5 cluster, thereby preventing the premature binding of Mn2+ and Ca2+ ions and protecting the site from damage. Interactions with D2 help explain how Ycf48 promotes assembly of the D1/D2 complex. Overall, our work provides valuable insights into the early stages of PSII assembly and the structural changes that create the binding site for the Mn4CaO5 cluster.
AU - Zhao, Ziyu
AU - Vercellino, Irene
AU - Knoppová, Jana
AU - Sobotka, Roman
AU - Murray, James W.
AU - Nixon, Peter J.
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
AU - Komenda, Josef
ID - 14040
JF - Nature Communications
TI - The Ycf48 accessory factor occupies the site of the oxygen-evolving manganese cluster during photosystem II biogenesis
VL - 14
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - The mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation system is central to cellular metabolism. It comprises five enzymatic complexes and two mobile electron carriers that work in a mitochondrial respiratory chain. By coupling the oxidation of reducing equivalents coming into mitochondria to the generation and subsequent dissipation of a proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane, this electron transport chain drives the production of ATP, which is then used as a primary energy carrier in virtually all cellular processes. Minimal perturbations of the respiratory chain activity are linked to diseases; therefore, it is necessary to understand how these complexes are assembled and regulated and how they function. In this Review, we outline the latest assembly models for each individual complex, and we also highlight the recent discoveries indicating that the formation of larger assemblies, known as respiratory supercomplexes, originates from the association of the intermediates of individual complexes. We then discuss how recent cryo-electron microscopy structures have been key to answering open questions on the function of the electron transport chain in mitochondrial respiration and how supercomplexes and other factors, including metabolites, can regulate the activity of the single complexes. When relevant, we discuss how these mechanisms contribute to physiology and outline their deregulation in human diseases.
AU - Vercellino, Irene
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 10182
JF - Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
SN - 1471-0072
TI - The assembly, regulation and function of the mitochondrial respiratory chain
VL - 23
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Complex I is one of the major respiratory complexes, conserved from bacteria to mammals. It oxidises NADH, reduces quinone and pumps protons across the membrane, thus playing a central role in the oxidative energy metabolism. In this review we discuss our current state of understanding the structure of complex I from various species of mammals, plants, fungi, and bacteria, as well as of several complex I-related proteins. By comparing the structural evidence from these systems in different redox states and data from mutagenesis and molecular simulations, we formulate the mechanisms of electron transfer and proton pumping and explain how they are conformationally and electrostatically coupled. Finally, we discuss the structural basis of the deactivation phenomenon in mammalian complex I.
AU - Kampjut, Domen
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 11167
JF - Current Opinion in Structural Biology
KW - Molecular Biology
KW - Structural Biology
SN - 0959-440X
TI - Structure of respiratory complex I – An emerging blueprint for the mechanism
VL - 74
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Imbalanced mitochondrial dNTP pools are known players in the pathogenesis of multiple human diseases. Here we show that, even under physiological conditions, dGTP is largely overrepresented among other dNTPs in mitochondria of mouse tissues and human cultured cells. In addition, a vast majority of mitochondrial dGTP is tightly bound to NDUFA10, an accessory subunit of complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. NDUFA10 shares a deoxyribonucleoside kinase (dNK) domain with deoxyribonucleoside kinases in the nucleotide salvage pathway, though no specific function beyond stabilizing the complex I holoenzyme has been described for this subunit. We mutated the dNK domain of NDUFA10 in human HEK-293T cells while preserving complex I assembly and activity. The NDUFA10E160A/R161A shows reduced dGTP binding capacity in vitro and leads to a 50% reduction in mitochondrial dGTP content, proving that most dGTP is directly bound to the dNK domain of NDUFA10. This interaction may represent a hitherto unknown mechanism regulating mitochondrial dNTP availability and linking oxidative metabolism to DNA maintenance.
AU - Molina-Granada, David
AU - González-Vioque, Emiliano
AU - Dibley, Marris G.
AU - Cabrera-Pérez, Raquel
AU - Vallbona-Garcia, Antoni
AU - Torres-Torronteras, Javier
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
AU - Ryan, Michael T.
AU - Cámara, Yolanda
AU - Martí, Ramon
ID - 11551
IS - 1
JF - Communications Biology
TI - Most mitochondrial dGTP is tightly bound to respiratory complex I through the NDUFA10 subunit
VL - 5
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Progress in structural membrane biology has been significantly accelerated by the ongoing 'Resolution Revolution' in cryo electron microscopy (cryo-EM). In particular, structure determination by single particle analysis has evolved into the most powerful method for atomic model building of multisubunit membrane protein complexes. This has created an ever increasing demand in cryo-EM machine time, which to satisfy is in need of new and affordable cryo electron microscopes. Here, we review our experience in using the JEOL CRYO ARM 200 prototype for the structure determination by single particle analysis of three different multisubunit membrane complexes: the Thermus thermophilus V-type ATPase VO complex, the Thermosynechococcus elongatus photosystem I monomer and the flagellar motor LP-ring from Salmonella enterica.
AU - Gerle, Christoph
AU - Kishikawa, Jun-ichi
AU - Yamaguchi, Tomoko
AU - Nakanishi, Atsuko
AU - Çoruh, Mehmet Orkun
AU - Makino, Fumiaki
AU - Miyata, Tomoko
AU - Kawamoto, Akihiro
AU - Yokoyama, Ken
AU - Namba, Keiichi
AU - Kurisu, Genji
AU - Kato, Takayuki
ID - 11648
IS - 5
JF - Microscopy
KW - Radiology
KW - Nuclear Medicine and imaging
KW - Instrumentation
KW - Structural Biology
SN - 2050-5698
TI - Structures of multisubunit membrane complexes with the CRYO ARM 200
VL - 71
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Complex I is the first enzyme in the respiratory chain, which is responsible for energy production in mitochondria and bacteria1. Complex I couples the transfer of two electrons from NADH to quinone and the translocation of four protons across the membrane2, but the coupling mechanism remains contentious. Here we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of Escherichia coli complex I (EcCI) in different redox states, including catalytic turnover. EcCI exists mostly in the open state, in which the quinone cavity is exposed to the cytosol, allowing access for water molecules, which enable quinone movements. Unlike the mammalian paralogues3, EcCI can convert to the closed state only during turnover, showing that closed and open states are genuine turnover intermediates. The open-to-closed transition results in the tightly engulfed quinone cavity being connected to the central axis of the membrane arm, a source of substrate protons. Consistently, the proportion of the closed state increases with increasing pH. We propose a detailed but straightforward and robust mechanism comprising a ‘domino effect’ series of proton transfers and electrostatic interactions: the forward wave (‘dominoes stacking’) primes the pump, and the reverse wave (‘dominoes falling’) results in the ejection of all pumped protons from the distal subunit NuoL. This mechanism explains why protons exit exclusively from the NuoL subunit and is supported by our mutagenesis data. We contend that this is a universal coupling mechanism of complex I and related enzymes.
AU - Kravchuk, Vladyslav
AU - Petrova, Olga
AU - Kampjut, Domen
AU - Wojciechowska-Bason, Anna
AU - Breese, Zara
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 12138
IS - 7928
JF - Nature
KW - Multidisciplinary
SN - 0028-0836
TI - A universal coupling mechanism of respiratory complex I
VL - 609
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - The COVID−19 pandemic not only resulted in a global crisis, but also accelerated vaccine development and antibody discovery. Herein we report a synthetic humanized VHH library development pipeline for nanomolar-range affinity VHH binders to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoC) receptor binding domains (RBD) isolation. Trinucleotide-based randomization of CDRs by Kunkel mutagenesis with the subsequent rolling-cycle amplification resulted in more than 1011 diverse phage display library in a manageable for a single person number of electroporation reactions. We identified a number of nanomolar-range affinity VHH binders to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoC) receptor binding domains (RBD) by screening a novel synthetic humanized antibody library. In order to explore the most robust and fast method for affinity improvement, we performed affinity maturation by CDR1 and CDR2 shuffling and avidity engineering by multivalent trimeric VHH fusion protein construction. As a result, H7-Fc and G12x3-Fc binders were developed with the affinities in nM and pM range respectively. Importantly, these affinities are weakly influenced by most of SARS-CoV-2 VoC mutations and they retain moderate binding to BA.4\5. The plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) resulted in IC50 = 100 ng\ml and 9.6 ng\ml for H7-Fc and G12x3-Fc antibodies, respectively, for the emerging Omicron BA.1 variant. Therefore, these VHH could expand the present landscape of SARS-CoV-2 neutralization binders with the therapeutic potential for present and future SARS-CoV-2 variants.
AU - Dormeshkin, Dmitri
AU - Shapira, Michail
AU - Dubovik, Simon
AU - Kavaleuski, Anton
AU - Katsin, Mikalai
AU - Migas, Alexandr
AU - Meleshko, Alexander
AU - Semyonov, Sergei
ID - 12252
JF - Frontiers in Immunology
KW - Immunology
KW - Immunology and Allergy
KW - COVID-19
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - synthetic library
KW - RBD
KW - neutralization nanobody
KW - VHH
SN - 1664-3224
TI - Isolation of an escape-resistant SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing nanobody from a novel synthetic nanobody library
VL - 13
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - From a simple thought to a multicellular movement
AU - Amberg, Nicole
AU - Stouffer, Melissa A
AU - Vercellino, Irene
ID - 12282
IS - 8
JF - Journal of Cell Science
SN - 0021-9533
TI - Operation STEM fatale – how an equity, diversity and inclusion initiative has brought us to reflect on the current challenges in cell biology and science as a whole
VL - 135
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Mica-titania pearlescent pigments (MTs) were previously coated with organic molecules to obtain combination pigments (CPs) for achieving certain improvements or functionalities. Anthocyanins (ACNs) are molecules that can be extracted from natural resources and exhibit color changes via pH modifications of the enclosing medium. The purpose of the study was to produce a new series of CPs by depositing ACNs on MTs at different pH values, to observe the changes in color, and to associate these changes to thermogravimetrically determined deposition efficiencies in light of spectral differences. The extraction and deposition methods were based on aqueous chemistry and were straightforward. The ACN deposition generally increased with increasing pH and correlated with the consistency between the charges of the MT surfaces and the dominant ACN species at a specific pH value. The fluorescence of the CPs was inversely correlated with the deposition quantities invoking the possibility of a quenching effect.
AU - Çoruh, Mehmet Orkun
AU - Gündüz, Güngör
AU - Çolak, Üner
AU - Maviş, Bora
ID - 10945
IS - 2
JF - Colorants
SN - 2079-6447
TI - pH-dependent coloring of combination effect pigments with anthocyanins from Brassica oleracea var. capitata F. rubra
VL - 1
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Nanobodies (VHH) from camelid antibody libraries hold great promise as therapeutic agents and components of immunoassay systems. Synthetic antibody libraries that could be designed and generated once and for various applications could yield binders to virtually any targets, even for non-immunogenic or toxic ones, in a short term. One of the most difficult tasks is to obtain antibodies with a high affinity and specificity to polyglycosylated proteins. It requires antibody libraries with extremely high functional diversity and the use of sophisticated selection techniques. Here we report a development of a novel sandwich immunoassay involving a combination of the synthetic library-derived VHH-Fc fusion protein as a capture antibody and the immune single-chain fragment variable (scFv) as a tracer for the detection of pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) of cattle (Bos taurus). We succeeded in the generation of a number of specific scFv antibodies against PAG from the mouse immune library. Subsequent selection using the immobilized scFv-Fc capture antibody allowed to isolate 1.9 nM VHH binder from the diverse synthetic library without any overlapping with the capture antibody binding site. The prototype sandwich ELISA based on the synthetic VHH and the immune scFv was established. This is the first successful example of the combination of synthetic and immune antibody libraries in a single sandwich immunoassay. Thus, our approach could be used for the express isolation of antibody pairs and the development of sandwich immunoassays for challenging antigens.
AU - Dormeshkin, Dmitri
AU - Shapira, Michail
AU - Karputs, Alena
AU - Kavaleuski, Anton
AU - Kuzminski, Ivan
AU - Stepanova, Elena
AU - Gilep, Andrei
ID - 11462
JF - Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
SN - 0175-7598
TI - Combining of synthetic VHH and immune scFv libraries for pregnancy-associated glycoproteins ELISA development
VL - 106
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) is a key inhibitor of directional (polar) transport of the hormone auxin in plants. For decades, it has been a pivotal tool in elucidating the unique polar auxin transport-based processes underlying plant growth and development. Its exact mode of action has long been sought after and is still being debated, with prevailing mechanistic schemes describing only indirect connections between NPA and the main transporters responsible for directional transport, namely PIN auxin exporters. Here we present data supporting a model in which NPA associates with PINs in a more direct manner than hitherto postulated. We show that NPA inhibits PIN activity in a heterologous oocyte system and that expression of NPA-sensitive PINs in plant, yeast, and oocyte membranes leads to specific saturable NPA binding. We thus propose that PINs are a bona fide NPA target. This offers a straightforward molecular basis for NPA inhibition of PIN-dependent auxin transport and a logical parsimonious explanation for the known physiological effects of NPA on plant growth, as well as an alternative hypothesis to interpret past and future results. We also introduce PIN dimerization and describe an effect of NPA on this, suggesting that NPA binding could be exploited to gain insights into structural aspects of PINs related to their transport mechanism.
AU - Abas, Lindy
AU - Kolb, Martina
AU - Stadlmann, Johannes
AU - Janacek, Dorina P.
AU - Lukic, Kristina
AU - Schwechheimer, Claus
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
AU - Mach, Lukas
AU - Friml, Jiří
AU - Hammes, Ulrich Z.
ID - 8993
IS - 1
JF - PNAS
SN - 00278424
TI - Naphthylphthalamic acid associates with and inhibits PIN auxin transporters
VL - 118
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Cryo-EM grid preparation is an important bottleneck in protein structure determination, especially for membrane proteins, typically requiring screening of a large number of conditions. We systematically investigated the effects of buffer components, blotting conditions and grid types on the outcome of grid preparation of five different membrane protein samples. Aggregation was the most common type of problem which was addressed by changing detergents, salt concentration or reconstitution of proteins into nanodiscs or amphipols. We show that the optimal concentration of detergent is between 0.05 and 0.4% and that the presence of a low concentration of detergent with a high critical micellar concentration protects the proteins from denaturation at the air-water interface. Furthermore, we discuss the strategies for achieving an adequate ice thickness, particle coverage and orientation distribution on free ice and on support films. Our findings provide a clear roadmap for comprehensive screening of conditions for cryo-EM grid preparation of membrane proteins.
AU - Kampjut, Domen
AU - Steiner, Julia
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 9205
IS - 3
JF - iScience
TI - Cryo-EM grid optimization for membrane proteins
VL - 24
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - The enzymes of the mitochondrial electron transport chain are key players of cell metabolism. Despite being active when isolated, in vivo they associate into supercomplexes1, whose precise role is debated. Supercomplexes CIII2CIV1-2 (refs. 2,3), CICIII2 (ref. 4) and CICIII2CIV (respirasome)5,6,7,8,9,10 exist in mammals, but in contrast to CICIII2 and the respirasome, to date the only known eukaryotic structures of CIII2CIV1-2 come from Saccharomyces cerevisiae11,12 and plants13, which have different organization. Here we present the first, to our knowledge, structures of mammalian (mouse and ovine) CIII2CIV and its assembly intermediates, in different conformations. We describe the assembly of CIII2CIV from the CIII2 precursor to the final CIII2CIV conformation, driven by the insertion of the N terminus of the assembly factor SCAF1 (ref. 14) deep into CIII2, while its C terminus is integrated into CIV. Our structures (which include CICIII2 and the respirasome) also confirm that SCAF1 is exclusively required for the assembly of CIII2CIV and has no role in the assembly of the respirasome. We show that CIII2 is asymmetric due to the presence of only one copy of subunit 9, which straddles both monomers and prevents the attachment of a second copy of SCAF1 to CIII2, explaining the presence of one copy of CIV in CIII2CIV in mammals. Finally, we show that CIII2 and CIV gain catalytic advantage when assembled into the supercomplex and propose a role for CIII2CIV in fine tuning the efficiency of electron transfer in the electron transport chain.
AU - Vercellino, Irene
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 10146
IS - 7880
JF - Nature
SN - 0028-0836
TI - Structure and assembly of the mammalian mitochondrial supercomplex CIII2CIV
VL - 598
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - A high-resolution structure of trimeric cyanobacterial Photosystem I (PSI) from Thermosynechococcus elongatus was reported as the first atomic model of PSI almost 20 years ago. However, the monomeric PSI structure has not yet been reported despite long-standing interest in its structure and extensive spectroscopic characterization of the loss of red chlorophylls upon monomerization. Here, we describe the structure of monomeric PSI from Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1. Comparison with the trimer structure gave detailed insights into monomerization-induced changes in both the central trimerization domain and the peripheral regions of the complex. Monomerization-induced loss of red chlorophylls is assigned to a cluster of chlorophylls adjacent to PsaX. Based on our findings, we propose a role of PsaX in the stabilization of red chlorophylls and that lipids of the surrounding membrane present a major source of thermal energy for uphill excitation energy transfer from red chlorophylls to P700.
AU - Çoruh, Mehmet Orkun
AU - Frank, Anna
AU - Tanaka, Hideaki
AU - Kawamoto, Akihiro
AU - El-Mohsnawy, Eithar
AU - Kato, Takayuki
AU - Namba, Keiichi
AU - Gerle, Christoph
AU - Nowaczyk, Marc M.
AU - Kurisu, Genji
ID - 10310
IS - 1
JF - Communications Biology
KW - general agricultural and biological Sciences
KW - general biochemistry
KW - genetics and molecular biology
KW - medicine (miscellaneous)
SN - 2399-3642
TI - Cryo-EM structure of a functional monomeric Photosystem I from Thermosynechococcus elongatus reveals red chlorophyll cluster
VL - 4
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Mutations in NDUFS4, which encodes an accessory subunit of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complex I (CI), induce Leigh syndrome (LS). LS is a poorly understood pediatric disorder featuring brain-specific anomalies and early death. To study the LS pathomechanism, we here compared OXPHOS proteomes between various Ndufs4−/− mouse tissues. Ndufs4−/− animals displayed significantly lower CI subunit levels in brain/diaphragm relative to other tissues (liver/heart/kidney/skeletal muscle), whereas other OXPHOS subunit levels were not reduced. Absence of NDUFS4 induced near complete absence of the NDUFA12 accessory subunit, a 50% reduction in other CI subunit levels, and an increase in specific CI assembly factors. Among the latter, NDUFAF2 was most highly increased. Regarding NDUFS4, NDUFA12 and NDUFAF2, identical results were obtained in Ndufs4−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and NDUFS4-mutated LS patient cells. Ndufs4−/− MEFs contained active CI in situ but blue-native-PAGE highlighted that NDUFAF2 attached to an inactive CI subcomplex (CI-830) and inactive assemblies of higher MW. In NDUFA12-mutated LS patient cells, NDUFA12 absence did not reduce NDUFS4 levels but triggered NDUFAF2 association to active CI. BN-PAGE revealed no such association in LS patient fibroblasts with mutations in other CI subunit-encoding genes where NDUFAF2 was attached to CI-830 (NDUFS1, NDUFV1 mutation) or not detected (NDUFS7 mutation). Supported by enzymological and CI in silico structural analysis, we conclude that absence of NDUFS4 induces near complete absence of NDUFA12 but not vice versa, and that NDUFAF2 stabilizes active CI in Ndufs4−/− mice and LS patient cells, perhaps in concert with mitochondrial inner membrane lipids.
AU - Adjobo-Hermans, Merel J.W.
AU - De Haas, Ria
AU - Willems, Peter H.G.M.
AU - Wojtala, Aleksandra
AU - Van Emst-De Vries, Sjenet E.
AU - Wagenaars, Jori A.
AU - Van Den Brand, Mariel
AU - Rodenburg, Richard J.
AU - Smeitink, Jan A.M.
AU - Nijtmans, Leo G.
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
AU - Wieckowski, Mariusz R.
AU - Koopman, Werner J.H.
ID - 7788
IS - 8
JF - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Bioenergetics
SN - 00052728
TI - NDUFS4 deletion triggers loss of NDUFA12 in Ndufs4−/− mice and Leigh syndrome patients: A stabilizing role for NDUFAF2
VL - 1861
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - The mitochondrial respiratory chain, formed by five protein complexes, utilizes energy from catabolic processes to synthesize ATP. Complex I, the first and the largest protein complex of the chain, harvests electrons from NADH to reduce quinone, while pumping protons across the mitochondrial membrane. Detailed knowledge of the working principle of such coupled charge-transfer processes remains, however, fragmentary due to bottlenecks in understanding redox-driven conformational transitions and their interplay with the hydrated proton pathways. Complex I from Thermus thermophilus encases 16 subunits with nine iron–sulfur clusters, reduced by electrons from NADH. Here, employing the latest crystal structure of T. thermophilus complex I, we have used microsecond-scale molecular dynamics simulations to study the chemo-mechanical coupling between redox changes of the iron–sulfur clusters and conformational transitions across complex I. First, we identify the redox switches within complex I, which allosterically couple the dynamics of the quinone binding pocket to the site of NADH reduction. Second, our free-energy calculations reveal that the affinity of the quinone, specifically menaquinone, for the binding-site is higher than that of its reduced, menaquinol form—a design essential for menaquinol release. Remarkably, the barriers to diffusive menaquinone dynamics are lesser than that of the more ubiquitous ubiquinone, and the naphthoquinone headgroup of the former furnishes stronger binding interactions with the pocket, favoring menaquinone for charge transport in T. thermophilus. Our computations are consistent with experimentally validated mutations and hierarchize the key residues into three functional classes, identifying new mutation targets. Third, long-range hydrogen-bond networks connecting the quinone-binding site to the transmembrane subunits are found to be responsible for proton pumping. Put together, the simulations reveal the molecular design principles linking redox reactions to quinone turnover to proton translocation in complex I.
AU - Gupta, Chitrak
AU - Khaniya, Umesh
AU - Chan, Chun Kit
AU - Dehez, Francois
AU - Shekhar, Mrinal
AU - Gunner, M. R.
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
AU - Chipot, Christophe
AU - Singharoy, Abhishek
ID - 8040
IS - 20
JF - Journal of the American Chemical Society
SN - 00027863
TI - Charge transfer and chemo-mechanical coupling in respiratory complex I
VL - 142
ER -
TY - GEN
AB - The mitochondrial respiratory chain, formed by five protein complexes, utilizes energy from catabolic processes to synthesize ATP. Complex I, the first and the largest protein complex of the chain, harvests electrons from NADH to reduce quinone, while pumping protons across the mitochondrial membrane. Detailed knowledge of the working principle of such coupled charge-transfer processes remains, however, fragmentary due to bottlenecks in understanding redox-driven conformational transitions and their interplay with the hydrated proton pathways. Complex I from Thermus thermophilus encases 16 subunits with nine iron–sulfur clusters, reduced by electrons from NADH. Here, employing the latest crystal structure of T. thermophilus complex I, we have used microsecond-scale molecular dynamics simulations to study the chemo-mechanical coupling between redox changes of the iron–sulfur clusters and conformational transitions across complex I. First, we identify the redox switches within complex I, which allosterically couple the dynamics of the quinone binding pocket to the site of NADH reduction. Second, our free-energy calculations reveal that the affinity of the quinone, specifically menaquinone, for the binding-site is higher than that of its reduced, menaquinol forma design essential for menaquinol release. Remarkably, the barriers to diffusive menaquinone dynamics are lesser than that of the more ubiquitous ubiquinone, and the naphthoquinone headgroup of the former furnishes stronger binding interactions with the pocket, favoring menaquinone for charge transport in T. thermophilus. Our computations are consistent with experimentally validated mutations and hierarchize the key residues into three functional classes, identifying new mutation targets. Third, long-range hydrogen-bond networks connecting the quinone-binding site to the transmembrane subunits are found to be responsible for proton pumping. Put together, the simulations reveal the molecular design principles linking redox reactions to quinone turnover to proton translocation in complex I.
AU - Gupta, Chitrak
AU - Khaniya, Umesh
AU - Chan, Chun
AU - Dehez, Francois
AU - Shekhar, Mrinal
AU - Gunner, M. R.
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
AU - Chipot, Christophe
AU - Singharoy, Abhishek
ID - 9326
TI - Charge transfer and chemo-mechanical coupling in respiratory complex I
ER -
TY - GEN
AB - Additional analyses of the trajectories
AU - Gupta, Chitrak
AU - Khaniya, Umesh
AU - Chan, Chun Kit
AU - Dehez, Francois
AU - Shekhar, Mrinal
AU - Gunner, M.R.
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
AU - Chipot, Christophe
AU - Singharoy, Abhishek
ID - 9713
TI - Supporting information
ER -
TY - GEN
AU - Gupta, Chitrak
AU - Khaniya, Umesh
AU - Chan, Chun Kit
AU - Dehez, Francois
AU - Shekhar, Mrinal
AU - Gunner, M.R.
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
AU - Chipot, Christophe
AU - Singharoy, Abhishek
ID - 9878
TI - Movies
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Complex I is the first and the largest enzyme of respiratory chains in bacteria and mitochondria. The mechanism which couples spatially separated transfer of electrons to proton translocation in complex I is not known. Here we report five crystal structures of T. thermophilus enzyme in complex with NADH or quinone-like compounds. We also determined cryo-EM structures of major and minor native states of the complex, differing in the position of the peripheral arm. Crystal structures show that binding of quinone-like compounds (but not of NADH) leads to a related global conformational change, accompanied by local re-arrangements propagating from the quinone site to the nearest proton channel. Normal mode and molecular dynamics analyses indicate that these are likely to represent the first steps in the proton translocation mechanism. Our results suggest that quinone binding and chemistry play a key role in the coupling mechanism of complex I.
AU - Gutierrez-Fernandez, Javier
AU - Kaszuba, Karol
AU - Minhas, Gurdeep S.
AU - Baradaran, Rozbeh
AU - Tambalo, Margherita
AU - Gallagher, David T.
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 8318
IS - 1
JF - Nature Communications
TI - Key role of quinone in the mechanism of respiratory complex I
VL - 11
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element for all living organisms and used as cofactor in key enzymes of important biological processes, such as aerobic respiration or superoxide dismutation. However, due to its toxicity, cells have developed elaborate mechanisms for Cu homeostasis, which balance Cu supply for cuproprotein biogenesis with the need to remove excess Cu. This review summarizes our current knowledge on bacterial Cu homeostasis with a focus on Gram-negative bacteria and describes the multiple strategies that bacteria use for uptake, storage and export of Cu. We furthermore describe general mechanistic principles that aid the bacterial response to toxic Cu concentrations and illustrate dedicated Cu relay systems that facilitate Cu delivery for cuproenzyme biogenesis. Progress in understanding how bacteria avoid Cu poisoning while maintaining a certain Cu quota for cell proliferation is of particular importance for microbial pathogens because Cu is utilized by the host immune system for attenuating pathogen survival in host cells.
AU - Andrei, Andreea
AU - Öztürk, Yavuz
AU - Khalfaoui-Hassani, Bahia
AU - Rauch, Juna
AU - Marckmann, Dorian
AU - Trasnea, Petru Iulian
AU - Daldal, Fevzi
AU - Koch, Hans-Georg
ID - 8579
IS - 9
JF - Membranes
TI - Cu homeostasis in bacteria: The ins and outs
VL - 10
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - The majority of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) powering cellular processes in eukaryotes is produced by the mitochondrial F1Fo ATP synthase. Here, we present the atomic models of the membrane Fo domain and the entire mammalian (ovine) F1Fo, determined by cryo-electron microscopy. Subunits in the membrane domain are arranged in the ‘proton translocation cluster’ attached to the c-ring and a more distant ‘hook apparatus’ holding subunit e. Unexpectedly, this subunit is anchored to a lipid ‘plug’ capping the c-ring. We present a detailed proton translocation pathway in mammalian Fo and key inter-monomer contacts in F1Fo multimers. Cryo-EM maps of F1Fo exposed to calcium reveal a retracted subunit e and a disassembled c-ring, suggesting permeability transition pore opening. We propose a model for the permeability transition pore opening, whereby subunit e pulls the lipid plug out of the c-ring. Our structure will allow the design of drugs for many emerging applications in medicine.
AU - Pinke, Gergely
AU - Zhou, Long
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 8581
IS - 11
JF - Nature Structural and Molecular Biology
SN - 15459993
TI - Cryo-EM structure of the entire mammalian F-type ATP synthase
VL - 27
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Mitochondrial complex I couples NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreduction to proton pumping by an unknown mechanism. Here, we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of ovine complex I in five different conditions, including turnover, at resolutions up to 2.3 to 2.5 angstroms. Resolved water molecules allowed us to experimentally define the proton translocation pathways. Quinone binds at three positions along the quinone cavity, as does the inhibitor rotenone that also binds within subunit ND4. Dramatic conformational changes around the quinone cavity couple the redox reaction to proton translocation during open-to-closed state transitions of the enzyme. In the induced deactive state, the open conformation is arrested by the ND6 subunit. We propose a detailed molecular coupling mechanism of complex I, which is an unexpected combination of conformational changes and electrostatic interactions.
AU - Kampjut, Domen
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 8737
IS - 6516
JF - Science
TI - The coupling mechanism of mammalian respiratory complex I
VL - 370
ER -
TY - THES
AB - Mrp (Multi resistance and pH adaptation) are broadly distributed secondary active antiporters that catalyze the transport of monovalent ions such as sodium and potassium outside of the cell coupled to the inward translocation of protons. Mrp antiporters are unique in a way that they are composed of seven subunits (MrpABCDEFG) encoded in a single operon, whereas other antiporters catalyzing the same reaction are mostly encoded by a single gene. Mrp exchangers are crucial for intracellular pH homeostasis and Na+ efflux, essential mechanisms for H+ uptake under alkaline environments and for reduction of the intracellular concentration of toxic cations. Mrp displays no homology to any other monovalent Na+(K+)/H+ antiporters but Mrp subunits have primary sequence similarity to essential redox-driven proton pumps, such as respiratory complex I and membrane-bound hydrogenases. This similarity reinforces the hypothesis that these present day redox-driven proton pumps are descended from the Mrp antiporter. The Mrp structure serves as a model to understand the yet obscure coupling mechanism between ion or electron transfer and proton translocation in this large group of proteins. In the thesis, I am presenting the purification, biochemical analysis, cryo-EM analysis and molecular structure of the Mrp complex from Anoxybacillus flavithermus solved by cryo-EM at 3.0 Å resolution. Numerous conditions were screened to purify Mrp to high homogeneity and to obtain an appropriate distribution of single particles on cryo-EM grids covered with a continuous layer of ultrathin carbon. A preferred particle orientation problem was solved by performing a tilted data collection. The activity assays showed the specific pH-dependent
profile of secondary active antiporters. The molecular structure shows that Mrp is a dimer of seven-subunit protomers with 50 trans-membrane helices each. The dimer interface is built by many short and tilted transmembrane helices, probably causing a thinning of the bacterial membrane. The surface charge distribution shows an extraordinary asymmetry within each monomer, revealing presumable proton and sodium translocation pathways. The two largest
and homologous Mrp subunits MrpA and MrpD probably translocate one proton each into the cell. The sodium ion is likely being translocated in the opposite direction within the small subunits along a ladder of charged and conserved residues. Based on the structure, we propose a mechanism were the antiport activity is accomplished via electrostatic interactions between the charged cations and key charged residues. The flexible key TM helices coordinate these
electrostatic interactions, while the membrane thinning between the monomers enables the translocation of sodium across the charged membrane. The entire family of redox-driven proton pumps is likely to perform their mechanism in a likewise manner.
AU - Steiner, Julia
ID - 8353
SN - 2663-337X
TI - Biochemical and structural investigation of the Mrp antiporter, an ancestor of complex I
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Multiple resistance and pH adaptation (Mrp) antiporters are multi-subunit Na+ (or K+)/H+ exchangers representing an ancestor of many essential redox-driven proton pumps, such as respiratory complex I. The mechanism of coupling between ion or electron transfer and proton translocation in this large protein family is unknown. Here, we present the structure of the Mrp complex from Anoxybacillus flavithermus solved by cryo-EM at 3.0 Å resolution. It is a dimer of seven-subunit protomers with 50 trans-membrane helices each. Surface charge distribution within each monomer is remarkably asymmetric, revealing probable proton and sodium translocation pathways. On the basis of the structure we propose a mechanism where the coupling between sodium and proton translocation is facilitated by a series of electrostatic interactions between a cation and key charged residues. This mechanism is likely to be applicable to the entire family of redox proton pumps, where electron transfer to substrates replaces cation movements.
AU - Steiner, Julia
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 8284
JF - eLife
TI - Structure and mechanism of the Mrp complex, an ancient cation/proton antiporter
VL - 9
ER -
TY - THES
AB - Mitochondria are sites of oxidative phosphorylation in eukaryotic cells. Oxidative phosphorylation operates by a chemiosmotic mechanism made possible by redox-driven proton pumping machines which establish a proton motive force across the inner mitochondrial membrane. This electrochemical proton gradient is used to drive ATP synthesis, which powers the majority of cellular processes such as protein synthesis, locomotion and signalling. In this thesis I investigate the structures and molecular mechanisms of two inner mitochondrial proton pumping enzymes, respiratory complex I and transhydrogenase. I present the first high-resolution structure of the full transhydrogenase from any species, and a significantly improved structure of complex I. Improving the resolution from 3.3 Å available previously to up to 2.3 Å in this thesis allowed us to model bound water molecules, crucial in the proton pumping mechanism. For both enzymes, up to five cryo-EM datasets with different substrates and inhibitors bound were solved to delineate the catalytic cycle and understand the proton pumping mechanism. In transhydrogenase, the proton channel is gated by reversible detachment of the NADP(H)-binding domain which opens the proton channel to the opposite sites of the membrane. In complex I, the proton channels are gated by reversible protonation of key glutamate and lysine residues and breaking of the water wire connecting the proton pumps with the quinone reduction site. The tight coupling between the redox and the proton pumping reactions in transhydrogenase is achieved by controlling the NADP(H) exchange which can only happen when the NADP(H)-binding domain interacts with the membrane domain. In complex I, coupling is achieved by cycling of the whole complex between the closed state, in which quinone can get reduced, and the open state, in which NADH can induce quinol ejection from the binding pocket. On the basis of these results I propose detailed mechanisms for catalytic cycles of transhydrogenase and complex I that are consistent with a large amount of previous work. In both enzymes, conformational and electrostatic mechanisms contribute to the overall catalytic process. Results presented here could be used for better understanding of the human pathologies arising from deficiencies of complex I or transhydrogenase and could be used to develop novel therapies.
AU - Kampjut, Domen
ID - 8340
SN - 2663-337X
TI - Molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial redox-coupled proton pumping enzymes
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Chronic overuse of common pharmaceuticals, e.g. acetaminophen (paracetamol), often leads to the development of acute liver failure (ALF). This study aimed to elucidate the effect of cultured mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) proteome on the onset of liver damage and regeneration dynamics in animals with ALF induced by acetaminophen, to test the liver protective efficacy of MSCs proteome depending on the oxygen tension in cell culture, and to blueprint protein components responsible for the effect. Protein compositions prepared from MSCs cultured in mild hypoxic (5% and 10% O2) and normal (21% O2) conditions were used to treat ALF induced in mice by injection of acetaminophen. To test the effect of reduced oxygen tension in cell culture on resulting MSCs proteome content we applied a combination of high performance liquid chromatography and mass-spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) for the identification of proteins in lysates of MSCs cultured at different O2 levels. The treatment of acetaminophen-administered animals with proteins released from cultured MSCs resulted in the inhibition of inflammatory reactions in damaged liver; the area of hepatocyte necrosis being reduced in the first 24 h. Compositions obtained from MSCs cultured at lower O2 level were shown to be more potent than a composition prepared from normoxic cells. A comparative characterization of protein pattern and identification of individual components done by a cytokine assay and proteomics analysis of protein compositions revealed that even moderate hypoxia produces discrete changes in the expression of various subsets of proteins responsible for intracellular respiration and cell signaling. The application of proteins prepared from MSCs grown in vitro at reduced oxygen tension significantly accelerates healing process in damaged liver tissue. The proteomics data obtained for different preparations offer new information about the potential candidates in the MSCs protein repertoire sensitive to oxygen tension in culture medium, which can be involved in the generalized mechanisms the cells use to respond to acute liver failure.
AU - Temnov, Andrey Alexandrovich
AU - Rogov, Konstantin Arkadevich
AU - Sklifas, Alla Nikolaevna
AU - Klychnikova, Elena Valerievna
AU - Hartl, Markus
AU - Djinovic-Carugo, Kristina
AU - Charnagalov, Alexej
ID - 6352
JF - Molecular Biology Reports
SN - 03014851
TI - Protective properties of the cultured stem cell proteome studied in an animal model of acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - V (vacuolar)/A (archaeal)-type adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases), found in archaeaand eubacteria, couple ATP hydrolysis or synthesis to proton translocation across theplasma membrane using the rotary-catalysis mechanism. They belong to the V-typeATPase family, which differs from the mitochondrial/chloroplast F-type ATP synthasesin overall architecture. We solved cryo–electron microscopy structures of the intactThermus thermophilusV/A-ATPase, reconstituted into lipid nanodiscs, in three rotationalstates and two substates. These structures indicate substantial flexibility betweenV1and Voin a working enzyme, which results from mechanical competition between centralshaft rotation and resistance from the peripheral stalks. We also describedetails of adenosine diphosphate inhibition release, V1-Votorque transmission, andproton translocation, which are relevant for the entire V-type ATPase family.
AU - Zhou, Long
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 6859
IS - 6455
JF - Science
SN - 0036-8075
TI - Structure and conformational plasticity of the intact Thermus thermophilus V/A-type ATPase
VL - 365
ER -
TY - JOUR
AU - Qi, Chao
AU - Minin, Giulio Di
AU - Vercellino, Irene
AU - Wutz, Anton
AU - Korkhov, Volodymyr M.
ID - 6919
IS - 9
JF - Science Advances
TI - Structural basis of sterol recognition by human hedgehog receptor PTCH1
VL - 5
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - The mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes are organized into supercomplexes (SCs) of defined stoichiometry, which have been proposed to regulate electron flux via substrate channeling. We demonstrate that CoQ trapping in the isolated SC I+III2 limits complex (C)I turnover, arguing against channeling. The SC structure, resolved at up to 3.8 Å in four distinct states, suggests that CoQ oxidation may be rate limiting because of unequal access of CoQ to the active sites of CIII2. CI shows a transition between “closed” and “open” conformations, accompanied by the striking rotation of a key transmembrane helix. Furthermore, the state of CI affects the conformational flexibility within CIII2, demonstrating crosstalk between the enzymes. CoQ was identified at only three of the four binding sites in CIII2, suggesting that interaction with CI disrupts CIII2 symmetry in a functionally relevant manner. Together, these observations indicate a more nuanced functional role for the SCs.
AU - Letts, James A
AU - Fiedorczuk, Karol
AU - Degliesposti, Gianluca
AU - Skehel, Mark
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 7395
IS - 6
JF - Molecular Cell
SN - 1097-2765
TI - Structures of respiratory supercomplex I+III2 reveal functional and conformational crosstalk
VL - 75
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Proton-translocating transhydrogenase (also known as nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT)) is found in the plasma membranes of bacteria and the inner mitochondrial membranes of eukaryotes. NNT catalyses the transfer of a hydride between NADH and NADP+, coupled to the translocation of one proton across the membrane. Its main physiological function is the generation of NADPH, which is a substrate in anabolic reactions and a regulator of oxidative status; however, NNT may also fine-tune the Krebs cycle1,2. NNT deficiency causes familial glucocorticoid deficiency in humans and metabolic abnormalities in mice, similar to those observed in type II diabetes3,4. The catalytic mechanism of NNT has been proposed to involve a rotation of around 180° of the entire NADP(H)-binding domain that alternately participates in hydride transfer and proton-channel gating. However, owing to the lack of high-resolution structures of intact NNT, the details of this process remain unclear5,6. Here we present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of intact mammalian NNT in different conformational states. We show how the NADP(H)-binding domain opens the proton channel to the opposite sides of the membrane, and we provide structures of these two states. We also describe the catalytically important interfaces and linkers between the membrane and the soluble domains and their roles in nucleotide exchange. These structures enable us to propose a revised mechanism for a coupling process in NNT that is consistent with a large body of previous biochemical work. Our results are relevant to the development of currently unavailable NNT inhibitors, which may have therapeutic potential in ischaemia reperfusion injury, metabolic syndrome and some cancers7,8,9.
AU - Kampjut, Domen
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 6848
IS - 7773
JF - Nature
SN - 0028-0836
TI - Structure and mechanism of mitochondrial proton-translocating transhydrogenase
VL - 573
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Complex I has an essential role in ATP production by coupling electron transfer from NADH to quinone with translocation of protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane. Isolated complex I deficiency is a frequent cause of mitochondrial inherited diseases. Complex I has also been implicated in cancer, ageing, and neurodegenerative conditions. Until recently, the understanding of complex I deficiency on the molecular level was limited due to the lack of high-resolution structures of the enzyme. However, due to developments in single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), recent studies have reported nearly atomic resolution maps and models of mitochondrial complex I. These structures significantly add to our understanding of complex I mechanism and assembly. The disease-causing mutations are discussed here in their structural context.
AU - Fiedorczuk, Karol
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 152
IS - 10
JF - Trends in Cell Biology
TI - Mammalian mitochondrial complex I structure and disease causing mutations
VL - 28
ER -
TY - CHAP
AB - Complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) plays a central role in cellular energy generation, contributing to the proton motive force used to produce ATP. It couples the transfer of two electrons between NADH and quinone to translocation of four protons across the membrane. It is the largest protein assembly of bacterial and mitochondrial respiratory chains, composed, in mammals, of up to 45 subunits with a total molecular weight of ∼1 MDa. Bacterial enzyme is about half the size, providing the important “minimal” model of complex I. The l-shaped complex consists of a hydrophilic arm, where electron transfer occurs, and a membrane arm, where proton translocation takes place. Previously, we have solved the crystal structures of the hydrophilic domain of complex I from Thermus thermophilus and of the membrane domain from Escherichia coli, followed by the atomic structure of intact, entire complex I from T. thermophilus. Recently, we have solved by cryo-EM a first complete atomic structure of mammalian (ovine) mitochondrial complex I. Core subunits are well conserved from the bacterial version, whilst supernumerary subunits form an interlinked, stabilizing shell around the core. Subunits containing additional cofactors, including Zn ion, NADPH and phosphopantetheine, probably have regulatory roles. Dysfunction of mitochondrial complex I is implicated in many human neurodegenerative diseases. The structure of mammalian enzyme provides many insights into complex I mechanism, assembly, maturation and dysfunction, allowing detailed molecular analysis of disease-causing mutations.
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ED - Wikström, Mårten
ID - 444
SN - 978-1-78262-865-1
T2 - Mechanisms of primary energy transduction in biology
TI - Structure of respiratory complex I: “Minimal” bacterial and “de luxe” mammalian versions
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - The oxidative phosphorylation electron transport chain (OXPHOS-ETC) of the inner mitochondrial membrane is composed of five large protein complexes, named CI-CV. These complexes convert energy from the food we eat into ATP, a small molecule used to power a multitude of essential reactions throughout the cell. OXPHOS-ETC complexes are organized into supercomplexes (SCs) of defined stoichiometry: CI forms a supercomplex with CIII2 and CIV (SC I+III2+IV, known as the respirasome), as well as with CIII2 alone (SC I+III2). CIII2 forms a supercomplex with CIV (SC III2+IV) and CV forms dimers (CV2). Recent cryo-EM studies have revealed the structures of SC I+III2+IV and SC I+III2. Furthermore, recent work has shed light on the assembly and function of the SCs. Here we review and compare these recent studies and discuss how they have advanced our understanding of mitochondrial electron transport.
AU - Letts, James A
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 515
IS - 10
JF - Nature Structural and Molecular Biology
SN - 15459993
TI - Clarifying the supercomplex: The higher-order organization of the mitochondrial electron transport chain
VL - 24
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - The human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae is decorated with a special class of surface-proteins known as choline-binding proteins (CBPs) attached to phosphorylcholine (PCho) moieties from cell-wall teichoic acids. By a combination of X-ray crystallography, NMR, molecular dynamics techniques and in vivo virulence and phagocytosis studies, we provide structural information of choline-binding protein L (CbpL) and demonstrate its impact on pneumococcal pathogenesis and immune evasion. CbpL is a very elongated three-module protein composed of (i) an Excalibur Ca 2+ -binding domain -reported in this work for the very first time-, (ii) an unprecedented anchorage module showing alternate disposition of canonical and non-canonical choline-binding sites that allows vine-like binding of fully-PCho-substituted teichoic acids (with two choline moieties per unit), and (iii) a Ltp-Lipoprotein domain. Our structural and infection assays indicate an important role of the whole multimodular protein allowing both to locate CbpL at specific places on the cell wall and to interact with host components in order to facilitate pneumococcal lung infection and transmigration from nasopharynx to the lungs and blood. CbpL implication in both resistance against killing by phagocytes and pneumococcal pathogenesis further postulate this surface-protein as relevant among the pathogenic arsenal of the pneumococcus.
AU - Gutierrez-Fernandez, Javier
AU - Saleh, Malek
AU - Alcorlo, Martín
AU - Gómez Mejóa, Alejandro
AU - Pantoja Uceda, David
AU - Treviño, Miguel
AU - Vob, Franziska
AU - Abdullah, Mohammed
AU - Galán Bartual, Sergio
AU - Seinen, Jolien
AU - Sánchez Murcia, Pedro
AU - Gago, Federico
AU - Bruix, Marta
AU - Hammerschmidt, Sven
AU - Hermoso, Juan
ID - 1186
JF - Scientific Reports
TI - Modular architecture and unique teichoic acid recognition features of choline-binding protein L CbpL contributing to pneumococcal pathogenesis
VL - 6
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) is the largest (∼1 MDa) and the least characterized complex of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Because of the ease of sample availability, previous work has focused almost exclusively on bovine complex I. However, only medium resolution structural analyses of this complex have been reported. Working with other mammalian complex I homologues is a potential approach for overcoming these limitations. Due to the inherent difficulty of expressing large membrane protein complexes, screening of complex I homologues is limited to large mammals reared for human consumption. The high sequence identity among these available sources may preclude the benefits of screening. Here, we report the characterization of complex I purified from Ovis aries (ovine) heart mitochondria. All 44 unique subunits of the intact complex were identified by mass spectrometry. We identified differences in the subunit composition of subcomplexes of ovine complex I as compared with bovine, suggesting differential stability of inter-subunit interactions within the complex. Furthermore, the 42-kDa subunit, which is easily lost from the bovine enzyme, remains tightly bound to ovine complex I. Additionally, we developed a novel purification protocol for highly active and stable mitochondrial complex I using the branched-chain detergent lauryl maltose neopentyl glycol. Our data demonstrate that, although closely related, significant differences exist between the biochemical properties of complex I prepared from ovine and bovine mitochondria and that ovine complex I represents a suitable alternative target for further structural studies.
AU - Letts, James A
AU - Degliesposti, Gianluca
AU - Fiedorczuk, Karol
AU - Skehel, Mark
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 1209
IS - 47
JF - Journal of Biological Chemistry
TI - Purification of ovine respiratory complex i results in a highly active and stable preparation
VL - 291
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Mitochondrial complex I (also known as NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) contributes to cellular energy production by transferring electrons from NADH to ubiquinone coupled to proton translocation across the membrane. It is the largest protein assembly of the respiratory chain with a total mass of 970 kilodaltons. Here we present a nearly complete atomic structure of ovine (Ovis aries) mitochondrial complex I at 3.9 Å resolution, solved by cryo-electron microscopy with cross-linking and mass-spectrometry mapping experiments. All 14 conserved core subunits and 31 mitochondria-specific supernumerary subunits are resolved within the L-shaped molecule. The hydrophilic matrix arm comprises flavin mononucleotide and 8 iron-sulfur clusters involved in electron transfer, and the membrane arm contains 78 transmembrane helices, mostly contributed by antiporter-like subunits involved in proton translocation. Supernumerary subunits form an interlinked, stabilizing shell around the conserved core. Tightly bound lipids (including cardiolipins) further stabilize interactions between the hydrophobic subunits. Subunits with possible regulatory roles contain additional cofactors, NADPH and two phosphopantetheine molecules, which are shown to be involved in inter-subunit interactions. We observe two different conformations of the complex, which may be related to the conformationally driven coupling mechanism and to the active-deactive transition of the enzyme. Our structure provides insight into the mechanism, assembly, maturation and dysfunction of mitochondrial complex I, and allows detailed molecular analysis of disease-causing mutations.
AU - Fiedorczuk, Karol
AU - Letts, James A
AU - Degliesposti, Gianluca
AU - Kaszuba, Karol
AU - Skehel, Mark
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 1226
IS - 7625
JF - Nature
TI - Atomic structure of the entire mammalian mitochondrial complex i
VL - 538
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes are organized into supercomplexes responsible for carrying out cellular respiration. Here we present three architectures of mammalian (ovine) supercomplexes determined by cryo-electron microscopy. We identify two distinct arrangements of supercomplex CICIII 2 CIV (the respirasome) - a major 'tight' form and a minor 'loose' form (resolved at the resolution of 5.8 Å and 6.7 Å, respectively), which may represent different stages in supercomplex assembly or disassembly. We have also determined an architecture of supercomplex CICIII 2 at 7.8 Å resolution. All observed density can be attributed to the known 80 subunits of the individual complexes, including 132 transmembrane helices. The individual complexes form tight interactions that vary between the architectures, with complex IV subunit COX7a switching contact from complex III to complex I. The arrangement of active sites within the supercomplex may help control reactive oxygen species production. To our knowledge, these are the first complete architectures of the dominant, physiologically relevant state of the electron transport chain.
AU - Letts, James A
AU - Fiedorczuk, Karol
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 1232
IS - 7622
JF - Nature
TI - The architecture of respiratory supercomplexes
VL - 537
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - The cytochrome (cyt) bc 1 complex is an integral component of the respiratory electron transfer chain sustaining the energy needs of organisms ranging from humans to bacteria. Due to its ubiquitous role in the energy metabolism, both the oxidation and reduction of the enzyme's substrate co-enzyme Q has been studied vigorously. Here, this vast amount of data is reassessed after probing the substrate reduction steps at the Q i-site of the cyt bc 1 complex of Rhodobacter capsulatus using atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. The simulations suggest that the Lys251 side chain could rotate into the Q i-site to facilitate binding of half-protonated semiquinone-a reaction intermediate that is potentially formed during substrate reduction. At this bent pose, the Lys251 forms a salt bridge with the Asp252, thus making direct proton transfer possible. In the neutral state, the lysine side chain stays close to the conserved binding location of cardiolipin (CL). This back-and-forth motion between the CL and Asp252 indicates that Lys251 functions as a proton shuttle controlled by pH-dependent negative feedback. The CL/K/D switching, which represents a refinement to the previously described CL/K pathway, fine-tunes the proton transfer process. Lastly, the simulation data was used to formulate a mechanism for reducing the substrate at the Q i-site.
AU - Postila, Pekka
AU - Kaszuba, Karol
AU - Kuleta, Patryk
AU - Vattulainen, Ilpo
AU - Sarewicz, Marcin
AU - Osyczka, Artur
AU - Róg, Tomasz
ID - 1276
JF - Scientific Reports
TI - Atomistic determinants of co-enzyme Q reduction at the Qi-site of the cytochrome bc1 complex
VL - 6
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Respiratory complex I transfers electrons from NADH to quinone, utilizing the reaction energy to translocate protons across the membrane. It is a key enzyme of the respiratory chain of many prokaryotic and most eukaryotic organisms. The reversible NADH oxidation reaction is facilitated in complex I by non-covalently bound flavin mononucleotide (FMN). Here we report that the catalytic activity of E. coli complex I with artificial electron acceptors potassium ferricyanide (FeCy) and hexaamineruthenium (HAR) is significantly inhibited in the enzyme pre-reduced by NADH. Further, we demonstrate that the inhibition is caused by reversible dissociation of FMN. The binding constant (Kd) for FMN increases from the femto- or picomolar range in oxidized complex I to the nanomolar range in the NADH reduced enzyme, with an FMN dissociation time constant of ~ 5 s. The oxidation state of complex I, rather than that of FMN, proved critical to the dissociation. Such dissociation is not observed with the T. thermophilus enzyme and our analysis suggests that the difference may be due to the unusually high redox potential of Fe-S cluster N1a in E. coli. It is possible that the enzyme attenuates ROS production in vivo by releasing FMN under highly reducing conditions.
AU - Holt, Peter
AU - Efremov, Rouslan
AU - Nakamaru Ogiso, Eiko
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 1288
IS - 11
JF - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Bioenergetics
TI - Reversible FMN dissociation from Escherichia coli respiratory complex I
VL - 1857
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - Complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) plays a central role in cellular energy production, coupling electron transfer between NADH and quinone to proton translocation. It is the largest protein assembly of respiratory chains and one of the most elaborate redox membrane proteins known. Bacterial enzyme is about half the size of mitochondrial and thus provides its important "minimal" model. Dysfunction of mitochondrial complex I is implicated in many human neurodegenerative diseases. The L-shaped complex consists of a hydrophilic arm, where electron transfer occurs, and a membrane arm, where proton translocation takes place. We have solved the crystal structures of the hydrophilic domain of complex I from Thermus thermophilus, the membrane domain from Escherichia coli and recently of the intact, entire complex I from T. thermophilus (536. kDa, 16 subunits, 9 iron-sulphur clusters, 64 transmembrane helices). The 95. Å long electron transfer pathway through the enzyme proceeds from the primary electron acceptor flavin mononucleotide through seven conserved Fe-S clusters to the unusual elongated quinone-binding site at the interface with the membrane domain. Four putative proton translocation channels are found in the membrane domain, all linked by the central flexible axis containing charged residues. The redox energy of electron transfer is coupled to proton translocation by the as yet undefined mechanism proposed to involve long-range conformational changes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Respiratory complex I, edited by Volker Zickermann and Ulrich Brandt.
AU - Berrisford, John
AU - Baradaran, Rozbeh
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 1521
IS - 7
JF - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Bioenergetics
TI - Structure of bacterial respiratory complex I
VL - 1857
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - The mitochondrial respiratory chain, also known as the electron transport chain (ETC), is crucial to life, and energy production in the form of ATP is the main mitochondrial function. Three proton-translocating enzymes of the ETC, namely complexes I, III and IV, generate proton motive force, which in turn drives ATP synthase (complex V). The atomic structures and basic mechanisms of most respiratory complexes have previously been established, with the exception of complex I, the largest complex in the ETC. Recently, the crystal structure of the entire complex I was solved using a bacterial enzyme. The structure provided novel insights into the core architecture of the complex, the electron transfer and proton translocation pathways, as well as the mechanism that couples these two processes.
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 1638
IS - 6
JF - Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology
TI - A giant molecular proton pump: structure and mechanism of respiratory complex I
VL - 16
ER -
TY - JOUR
AB - The 1 MDa, 45-subunit proton-pumping NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) is the largest complex of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. The molecular mechanism of complex I is central to the metabolism of cells, but has yet to be fully characterized. The last two years have seen steady progress towards this goal with the first atomic-resolution structure of the entire bacterial complex I, a 5 Å cryo-electron microscopy map of bovine mitochondrial complex I and a ∼3.8 Å resolution X-ray crystallographic study of mitochondrial complex I from yeast Yarrowia lipotytica. In this review we will discuss what we have learned from these studies and what remains to be elucidated.
AU - Letts, Jame A
AU - Sazanov, Leonid A
ID - 1683
IS - 8
JF - Current Opinion in Structural Biology
TI - Gaining mass: The structure of respiratory complex I-from bacterial towards mitochondrial versions
VL - 33
ER -