Redox interactions in cytochrome c oxidase: from the "neoclassical" toward "modern" models

Because of recent experimental data on the redox characteristics of cytochrome c oxidase and renewed interest in the role of cooperativity in energy coupling, the question of redox cooperativity in cytochrome c oxidase is reexamined. Extensive redox cooperativity between more than two redox centers, some of which are spectrally invisible, may be expected for this electron transfer coupled proton pump. Such cooperativity, however, cannot be revealed by the traditional potentiometric experiments based on a difference in absorbance between two wavelengths. Multiwavelength analyses utilizing singular value decomposition and second derivatives of absorbance vs. wavelength have revealed a stronger cooperativity than consistent with the "neoclassical" model, which allowed only for weak negative cooperativity between two equipotential one-electron centers. A thermodynamic analysis of redox cooperativity is developed, which includes the possibilities of strong cooperative redox interactions, the involvement of invisible redox centers, conformational changes, and monomer/dimer equilibrations. The experimental observation of an oxidation of one of the cytochromes (a3) with a decrease in applied redox potential is shown to require both strong negative cooperativity and the participation of more than two one-electron centers. A number of "modern" models are developed using the analytical approaches described in this paper. By testing with experimental data, some of these models are falsified, whereas some are retained with suggestions for further testing