[Molecular mechanisms of catalytic reactions and superoxide production by cytochrome bc1 complex]

Cytochrome bc1 is one of the key enzymes of biological energy conversion. The enzyme couples electron transfer between membranous quinones and water-soluble cytochromes with proton translocation across the membrane contributing to generation of protonmotive force used for ATP synthesis. This process involves the action of two types of quinone-binding catalytic sites localized on two opposite sides of the membrane. One of them catalyzes the unique in biology bifurcation reaction that directs electrons coming from quinol into two separate chains of cofactors. Side reactions of bifurcation may lead to generation of superoxide. The enzyme is a homodimer in which each monomer is equipped with a set of both catalytic sites. Recent studies identified spectroscopically a state that can be assigned as an intermediate of bifurcation reaction, described conditions of superoxide generation, and also demonstrated existence of inter-monomer electron transfer. These findings shed light on our understanding the molecular mechanisms of catalytic and side reactions and functioning of cytochrome bc1 as dimer in the context of cell physiology.