Oxidative titration of reduced cytochrome oxidase (cytochrome c oxidase; ferrocytochrome c:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.9.3.1) in the presence of carbon monoxide and sulfide, at potentials greater than +500 mV (vs. the neutral hydrogen electrode), have failed to produce new copper signals in the electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of this enzyme. This observation implies that once of the copper centers in cytochrome oxidase remains Cu(I) under strongly oxidizing conditions. The rationalization of this fact, and the possible explanation of a great accumulation of spectroscopic data, is that cytochrome a3 may be a two-electron redox center, with stable Fe(IV), Fe(III), and Fe(II) states during its redox cycle. This oxidase model does not require an antiferromagnetic coupling scheme, in contrast to currently prevalent models.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.