S
IPR001505

Copper centre Cu(A)

InterPro entry
Short nameCopper_CuA

Description

The Cu(A) centre contains a mixed valence binuclear copper binding site formed of about 50 amino acids containing two cysteines and histidines and one glutamate and methionine
[1]
. The Cu(A) centre has been identified in subunit II of cytochrome c oxidase and nitrous oxide reductase
[2, 3]
.

Cytochrome c oxidase (
1.9.3.1
)
[4, 5]
is an oligomeric enzymatic complex which is a component of the respiratory chain and is involved in the transfer of electrons from cytochrome c to oxygen. In eukaryotes this enzyme complex is located in the mitochondrial inner membrane; in aerobic prokaryotes it is found in the plasma membrane. The enzyme complex consists of 3-4 subunits (prokaryotes) to up to 13 polypeptides (mammals). Subunit II (see
IPR011759
,
IPR002429
) transfers the electrons from cytochrome c to the catalytic subunit I. It provides the substrate-binding site and contains a Cu(A) centre that is probably the primary acceptor in cytochrome c oxidase.

Nitrous oxide reductase (
1.7.99.6
) (gene nosZ) of Pseudomonas is part of the bacterial respiratory system which is activated under anaerobic conditions in the presence of nitrate or nitrous oxide. NosZ is a periplasmic homodimer that contains a dinuclear copper centre, probably located in a 3-dimensional fold similar to the cupredoxin-like fold that has been suggested for the copper-binding site of subunit II
[2]
.

References

1.Identification of essential amino acids within the proposed CuA binding site in subunit II of Cytochrome c oxidase. Speno H, Taheri MR, Sieburth D, Martin CT. J. Biol. Chem. 270, 25363-9, (1995). View articlePMID: 7592701

2.Restoration of a lost metal-binding site: construction of two different copper sites into a subunit of the E. coli cytochrome o quinol oxidase complex. van der Oost J, Lappalainen P, Musacchio A, Warne A, Lemieux L, Rumbley J, Gennis RB, Aasa R, Pascher T, Malmstrom BG. EMBO J. 11, 3209-17, (1992). View articlePMID: 1324168

3.Derived amino acid sequences of the nosZ gene (respiratory N2O reductase) from Alcaligenes eutrophus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas stutzeri reveal potential copper-binding residues. Implications for the CuA site of N2O reductase and cytochrome-c oxidase. Zumft WG, Dreusch A, Lochelt S, Cuypers H, Friedrich B, Schneider B. Eur. J. Biochem. 208, 31-40, (1992). View articlePMID: 1324835

4.Structure of cytochrome c oxidase. Capaldi RA, Malatesta F, Darley-Usmar VM. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 726, 135-48, (1983). View articlePMID: 6307356

5.The superfamily of heme-copper respiratory oxidases. Garcia-Horsman JA, Barquera B, Rumbley J, Ma J, Gennis RB. J. Bacteriol. 176, 5587-600, (1994). View articlePMID: 8083153

GO terms

biological process

  • None

cellular component

  • None

Cross References

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