Intra- and inter-complex cross-linking of subunits in the quinol oxidase super-complex from thermophilic Bacillus PS3

Gram-positive thermophilic Bacilli contain quinol-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome c oxidase as two major respiratory complexes of the electron transfer chain, and these enzymes can be extracted with mild detergents as an associated quinol oxidase super-complex. The reductase is composed of three subunits; cytochrome b6, cytochrome c1, and FeS protein, whereas cytochrome c oxidase consists of four subunits numbered 1 through 4. In order to clarify the interactions between the subunits, the super-complex isolated from Bacillus PS3 was cross-linked with three bifunctional cross-linkers; disuccinimidyl tartrate, 3,3'-dithiobis(succinimidylpropionate), and ethylene glycolbis(sulfosuccinimidylsuccinate). The most prominent cross-linking was observed for the combination of subunit 1 plus 2 in cytochrome c oxidase, and for that of cytochrome b6 plus cytochrome c1 in the reductase. In addition to these intra-complex cross-linkings, inter-complex linking was observed for the combination of cytochrome b6 plus subunit 1 with ethylene glycolbis(sulfosuccinimidylsuccinate), and for the combinations of cytochrome b6 plus subunit 1 and cytochrome b6 plus subunit 2 with 3,3'-dithiobis(succinimidylpropionate). Incubation in the presence of Triton X-100, which was confirmed to cleave the two enzyme complexes, selectively reduced the inter-complex cross-linking, suggesting that the chemical cross-linking reflect the spatial arrangement of subunits in the super-complex.