An unconventional copper protein required for cytochrome C oxidase respiratory function under extreme acidic conditions

Abstract

Very little is known about the processes used by acidophile organisms to preserve stability and function of respiratory pathways. Here, we reveal a potential strategy of these organisms for protecting and keeping functional key enzymes under extreme conditions. Using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, we have identified a protein belonging to a new cupredoxin subfamily, AcoP, for "acidophile CcO partner," which is required for the cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) function.Weshow that it is a multifunctional copper protein with at least two roles as follows: (i) as a chaperone-like protein involved in the protection of the CuA center of the CcO complex and (ii) as a linker between the periplasmic cytochrome c and the inner membrane cytochrome c oxidase. It could represent an interesting model for investigating the multifunctionality of proteins known to be crucial in pathways of energy metabolism. © 2010 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.