Uncovering the [2Fe2S] domain movement in cytochrome bc1 and its implications for energy conversion

In crystals of the key respiratory and photosynthetic electron transfer protein called ubihydroquinone:cytochrome (cyt) c oxidoreductase or cyt bc(1), the extrinsic [2Fe2S] cluster domain of its Fe-S subunit assumes several conformations, suggesting that it may move during catalysis. Herein, using Rhodobacter capsulatus mutants that have modifications in the hinge region of this subunit, we were able to reveal this motion kinetically. Thus. the bc(1) complex (and possibly the homologous b(6)f complex in chloroplasts) employs the [2Fe2S] cluster domain as a device to shuttle electrons from ubihydroquinone to cyt c(1) (or cyt f). We demonstrate that this domain movement is essential for cyt bc(1) function, because a mutant enzyme with a nonmoving Fe-S subunit has no catalytic activity, and one with a slower movement has lower activity. This motion is apparently designed with a natural frequency slow enough to assure productive Q(0) site charge separation but fast enough not to be rate limiting. These findings add the unprecedented function of intracomplex electron shuttling to large-scale domain motions in proteins and may well provide a target for cyt bc(1) antibiotics.