@article{12252, abstract = {The COVID−19 pandemic not only resulted in a global crisis, but also accelerated vaccine development and antibody discovery. Herein we report a synthetic humanized VHH library development pipeline for nanomolar-range affinity VHH binders to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoC) receptor binding domains (RBD) isolation. Trinucleotide-based randomization of CDRs by Kunkel mutagenesis with the subsequent rolling-cycle amplification resulted in more than 1011 diverse phage display library in a manageable for a single person number of electroporation reactions. We identified a number of nanomolar-range affinity VHH binders to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoC) receptor binding domains (RBD) by screening a novel synthetic humanized antibody library. In order to explore the most robust and fast method for affinity improvement, we performed affinity maturation by CDR1 and CDR2 shuffling and avidity engineering by multivalent trimeric VHH fusion protein construction. As a result, H7-Fc and G12x3-Fc binders were developed with the affinities in nM and pM range respectively. Importantly, these affinities are weakly influenced by most of SARS-CoV-2 VoC mutations and they retain moderate binding to BA.4\5. The plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) resulted in IC50 = 100 ng\ml and 9.6 ng\ml for H7-Fc and G12x3-Fc antibodies, respectively, for the emerging Omicron BA.1 variant. Therefore, these VHH could expand the present landscape of SARS-CoV-2 neutralization binders with the therapeutic potential for present and future SARS-CoV-2 variants.}, author = {Dormeshkin, Dmitri and Shapira, Michail and Dubovik, Simon and Kavaleuski, Anton and Katsin, Mikalai and Migas, Alexandr and Meleshko, Alexander and Semyonov, Sergei}, issn = {1664-3224}, journal = {Frontiers in Immunology}, keywords = {Immunology, Immunology and Allergy, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, synthetic library, RBD, neutralization nanobody, VHH}, publisher = {Frontiers Media}, title = {{Isolation of an escape-resistant SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing nanobody from a novel synthetic nanobody library}}, doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2022.965446}, volume = {13}, year = {2022}, } @article{12282, abstract = {From a simple thought to a multicellular movement}, author = {Amberg, Nicole and Stouffer, Melissa A and Vercellino, Irene}, issn = {1477-9137}, journal = {Journal of Cell Science}, number = {8}, publisher = {The Company of Biologists}, title = {{Operation STEM fatale – how an equity, diversity and inclusion initiative has brought us to reflect on the current challenges in cell biology and science as a whole}}, doi = {10.1242/jcs.260017}, volume = {135}, year = {2022}, } @article{10182, abstract = {The mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation system is central to cellular metabolism. It comprises five enzymatic complexes and two mobile electron carriers that work in a mitochondrial respiratory chain. By coupling the oxidation of reducing equivalents coming into mitochondria to the generation and subsequent dissipation of a proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane, this electron transport chain drives the production of ATP, which is then used as a primary energy carrier in virtually all cellular processes. Minimal perturbations of the respiratory chain activity are linked to diseases; therefore, it is necessary to understand how these complexes are assembled and regulated and how they function. In this Review, we outline the latest assembly models for each individual complex, and we also highlight the recent discoveries indicating that the formation of larger assemblies, known as respiratory supercomplexes, originates from the association of the intermediates of individual complexes. We then discuss how recent cryo-electron microscopy structures have been key to answering open questions on the function of the electron transport chain in mitochondrial respiration and how supercomplexes and other factors, including metabolites, can regulate the activity of the single complexes. When relevant, we discuss how these mechanisms contribute to physiology and outline their deregulation in human diseases.}, author = {Vercellino, Irene and Sazanov, Leonid A}, issn = {1471-0080}, journal = {Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology}, pages = {141–161}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{The assembly, regulation and function of the mitochondrial respiratory chain}}, doi = {10.1038/s41580-021-00415-0}, volume = {23}, year = {2022}, } @article{12138, abstract = {Complex I is the first enzyme in the respiratory chain, which is responsible for energy production in mitochondria and bacteria1. Complex I couples the transfer of two electrons from NADH to quinone and the translocation of four protons across the membrane2, but the coupling mechanism remains contentious. Here we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of Escherichia coli complex I (EcCI) in different redox states, including catalytic turnover. EcCI exists mostly in the open state, in which the quinone cavity is exposed to the cytosol, allowing access for water molecules, which enable quinone movements. Unlike the mammalian paralogues3, EcCI can convert to the closed state only during turnover, showing that closed and open states are genuine turnover intermediates. The open-to-closed transition results in the tightly engulfed quinone cavity being connected to the central axis of the membrane arm, a source of substrate protons. Consistently, the proportion of the closed state increases with increasing pH. We propose a detailed but straightforward and robust mechanism comprising a ‘domino effect’ series of proton transfers and electrostatic interactions: the forward wave (‘dominoes stacking’) primes the pump, and the reverse wave (‘dominoes falling’) results in the ejection of all pumped protons from the distal subunit NuoL. This mechanism explains why protons exit exclusively from the NuoL subunit and is supported by our mutagenesis data. We contend that this is a universal coupling mechanism of complex I and related enzymes.}, author = {Kravchuk, Vladyslav and Petrova, Olga and Kampjut, Domen and Wojciechowska-Bason, Anna and Breese, Zara and Sazanov, Leonid A}, issn = {1476-4687}, journal = {Nature}, keywords = {Multidisciplinary}, number = {7928}, pages = {808--814}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{A universal coupling mechanism of respiratory complex I}}, doi = {10.1038/s41586-022-05199-7}, volume = {609}, year = {2022}, } @article{15274, abstract = {Copper (Cu) is a redox-active micronutrient that is both essential and toxic. Its cellular homeostasis is critical for supporting cuproprotein maturation while avoiding excessive oxidative stress. The Cu importer CcoA is the prototype of the widespread CalT subfamily of the MFS-type transporters. Hence, understanding its molecular mechanism of function is significant. Here, we show that CcoA undergoes a thiol:disulfide oxidoreduction cycle, which is important for its Cu import activity.}, author = {Khalfaoui-Hassani, Bahia and Trasnea, Petru Iulian and Steimle, Stefan and Koch, Hans-Georg and Daldal, Fevzi}, issn = {2150-7511}, journal = {mBio}, keywords = {Virology, Microbiology}, number = {4}, publisher = {American Society for Microbiology}, title = {{Cysteine mutants of the major facilitator superfamily-type transporter CcoA provide insight into copper import}}, doi = {10.1128/mbio.01567-21}, volume = {12}, year = {2021}, } @article{10146, abstract = {The enzymes of the mitochondrial electron transport chain are key players of cell metabolism. Despite being active when isolated, in vivo they associate into supercomplexes1, whose precise role is debated. Supercomplexes CIII2CIV1-2 (refs. 2,3), CICIII2 (ref. 4) and CICIII2CIV (respirasome)5,6,7,8,9,10 exist in mammals, but in contrast to CICIII2 and the respirasome, to date the only known eukaryotic structures of CIII2CIV1-2 come from Saccharomyces cerevisiae11,12 and plants13, which have different organization. Here we present the first, to our knowledge, structures of mammalian (mouse and ovine) CIII2CIV and its assembly intermediates, in different conformations. We describe the assembly of CIII2CIV from the CIII2 precursor to the final CIII2CIV conformation, driven by the insertion of the N terminus of the assembly factor SCAF1 (ref. 14) deep into CIII2, while its C terminus is integrated into CIV. Our structures (which include CICIII2 and the respirasome) also confirm that SCAF1 is exclusively required for the assembly of CIII2CIV and has no role in the assembly of the respirasome. We show that CIII2 is asymmetric due to the presence of only one copy of subunit 9, which straddles both monomers and prevents the attachment of a second copy of SCAF1 to CIII2, explaining the presence of one copy of CIV in CIII2CIV in mammals. Finally, we show that CIII2 and CIV gain catalytic advantage when assembled into the supercomplex and propose a role for CIII2CIV in fine tuning the efficiency of electron transfer in the electron transport chain.}, author = {Vercellino, Irene and Sazanov, Leonid A}, issn = {1476-4687}, journal = {Nature}, number = {7880}, pages = {364--367}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Structure and assembly of the mammalian mitochondrial supercomplex CIII2CIV}}, doi = {10.1038/s41586-021-03927-z}, volume = {598}, year = {2021}, } @article{10310, abstract = {A high-resolution structure of trimeric cyanobacterial Photosystem I (PSI) from Thermosynechococcus elongatus was reported as the first atomic model of PSI almost 20 years ago. However, the monomeric PSI structure has not yet been reported despite long-standing interest in its structure and extensive spectroscopic characterization of the loss of red chlorophylls upon monomerization. Here, we describe the structure of monomeric PSI from Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1. Comparison with the trimer structure gave detailed insights into monomerization-induced changes in both the central trimerization domain and the peripheral regions of the complex. Monomerization-induced loss of red chlorophylls is assigned to a cluster of chlorophylls adjacent to PsaX. Based on our findings, we propose a role of PsaX in the stabilization of red chlorophylls and that lipids of the surrounding membrane present a major source of thermal energy for uphill excitation energy transfer from red chlorophylls to P700.}, author = {Çoruh, Mehmet Orkun and Frank, Anna and Tanaka, Hideaki and Kawamoto, Akihiro and El-Mohsnawy, Eithar and Kato, Takayuki and Namba, Keiichi and Gerle, Christoph and Nowaczyk, Marc M. and Kurisu, Genji}, issn = {2399-3642}, journal = {Communications Biology}, keywords = {general agricultural and biological Sciences, general biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology, medicine (miscellaneous)}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer }, title = {{Cryo-EM structure of a functional monomeric Photosystem I from Thermosynechococcus elongatus reveals red chlorophyll cluster}}, doi = {10.1038/s42003-021-01808-9}, volume = {4}, year = {2021}, } @article{8993, abstract = {N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) is a key inhibitor of directional (polar) transport of the hormone auxin in plants. For decades, it has been a pivotal tool in elucidating the unique polar auxin transport-based processes underlying plant growth and development. Its exact mode of action has long been sought after and is still being debated, with prevailing mechanistic schemes describing only indirect connections between NPA and the main transporters responsible for directional transport, namely PIN auxin exporters. Here we present data supporting a model in which NPA associates with PINs in a more direct manner than hitherto postulated. We show that NPA inhibits PIN activity in a heterologous oocyte system and that expression of NPA-sensitive PINs in plant, yeast, and oocyte membranes leads to specific saturable NPA binding. We thus propose that PINs are a bona fide NPA target. This offers a straightforward molecular basis for NPA inhibition of PIN-dependent auxin transport and a logical parsimonious explanation for the known physiological effects of NPA on plant growth, as well as an alternative hypothesis to interpret past and future results. We also introduce PIN dimerization and describe an effect of NPA on this, suggesting that NPA binding could be exploited to gain insights into structural aspects of PINs related to their transport mechanism.}, author = {Abas, Lindy and Kolb, Martina and Stadlmann, Johannes and Janacek, Dorina P. and Lukic, Kristina and Schwechheimer, Claus and Sazanov, Leonid A and Mach, Lukas and Friml, Jiří and Hammes, Ulrich Z.}, issn = {1091-6490}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, number = {1}, publisher = {National Academy of Sciences}, title = {{Naphthylphthalamic acid associates with and inhibits PIN auxin transporters}}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2020857118}, volume = {118}, year = {2021}, } @article{9205, abstract = {Cryo-EM grid preparation is an important bottleneck in protein structure determination, especially for membrane proteins, typically requiring screening of a large number of conditions. We systematically investigated the effects of buffer components, blotting conditions and grid types on the outcome of grid preparation of five different membrane protein samples. Aggregation was the most common type of problem which was addressed by changing detergents, salt concentration or reconstitution of proteins into nanodiscs or amphipols. We show that the optimal concentration of detergent is between 0.05 and 0.4% and that the presence of a low concentration of detergent with a high critical micellar concentration protects the proteins from denaturation at the air-water interface. Furthermore, we discuss the strategies for achieving an adequate ice thickness, particle coverage and orientation distribution on free ice and on support films. Our findings provide a clear roadmap for comprehensive screening of conditions for cryo-EM grid preparation of membrane proteins.}, author = {Kampjut, Domen and Steiner, Julia and Sazanov, Leonid A}, issn = {2589-0042}, journal = {iScience}, number = {3}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Cryo-EM grid optimization for membrane proteins}}, doi = {10.1016/j.isci.2021.102139}, volume = {24}, year = {2021}, } @article{7788, abstract = {Mutations in NDUFS4, which encodes an accessory subunit of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complex I (CI), induce Leigh syndrome (LS). LS is a poorly understood pediatric disorder featuring brain-specific anomalies and early death. To study the LS pathomechanism, we here compared OXPHOS proteomes between various Ndufs4−/− mouse tissues. Ndufs4−/− animals displayed significantly lower CI subunit levels in brain/diaphragm relative to other tissues (liver/heart/kidney/skeletal muscle), whereas other OXPHOS subunit levels were not reduced. Absence of NDUFS4 induced near complete absence of the NDUFA12 accessory subunit, a 50% reduction in other CI subunit levels, and an increase in specific CI assembly factors. Among the latter, NDUFAF2 was most highly increased. Regarding NDUFS4, NDUFA12 and NDUFAF2, identical results were obtained in Ndufs4−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and NDUFS4-mutated LS patient cells. Ndufs4−/− MEFs contained active CI in situ but blue-native-PAGE highlighted that NDUFAF2 attached to an inactive CI subcomplex (CI-830) and inactive assemblies of higher MW. In NDUFA12-mutated LS patient cells, NDUFA12 absence did not reduce NDUFS4 levels but triggered NDUFAF2 association to active CI. BN-PAGE revealed no such association in LS patient fibroblasts with mutations in other CI subunit-encoding genes where NDUFAF2 was attached to CI-830 (NDUFS1, NDUFV1 mutation) or not detected (NDUFS7 mutation). Supported by enzymological and CI in silico structural analysis, we conclude that absence of NDUFS4 induces near complete absence of NDUFA12 but not vice versa, and that NDUFAF2 stabilizes active CI in Ndufs4−/− mice and LS patient cells, perhaps in concert with mitochondrial inner membrane lipids.}, author = {Adjobo-Hermans, Merel J.W. and De Haas, Ria and Willems, Peter H.G.M. and Wojtala, Aleksandra and Van Emst-De Vries, Sjenet E. and Wagenaars, Jori A. and Van Den Brand, Mariel and Rodenburg, Richard J. and Smeitink, Jan A.M. and Nijtmans, Leo G. and Sazanov, Leonid A and Wieckowski, Mariusz R. and Koopman, Werner J.H.}, issn = {1879-2650}, journal = {Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Bioenergetics}, number = {8}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{NDUFS4 deletion triggers loss of NDUFA12 in Ndufs4−/− mice and Leigh syndrome patients: A stabilizing role for NDUFAF2}}, doi = {10.1016/j.bbabio.2020.148213}, volume = {1861}, year = {2020}, } @article{8284, abstract = {Multiple resistance and pH adaptation (Mrp) antiporters are multi-subunit Na+ (or K+)/H+ exchangers representing an ancestor of many essential redox-driven proton pumps, such as respiratory complex I. The mechanism of coupling between ion or electron transfer and proton translocation in this large protein family is unknown. Here, we present the structure of the Mrp complex from Anoxybacillus flavithermus solved by cryo-EM at 3.0 Å resolution. It is a dimer of seven-subunit protomers with 50 trans-membrane helices each. Surface charge distribution within each monomer is remarkably asymmetric, revealing probable proton and sodium translocation pathways. On the basis of the structure we propose a mechanism where the coupling between sodium and proton translocation is facilitated by a series of electrostatic interactions between a cation and key charged residues. This mechanism is likely to be applicable to the entire family of redox proton pumps, where electron transfer to substrates replaces cation movements.}, author = {Steiner, Julia and Sazanov, Leonid A}, issn = {2050-084X}, journal = {eLife}, publisher = {eLife Sciences Publications}, title = {{Structure and mechanism of the Mrp complex, an ancient cation/proton antiporter}}, doi = {10.7554/eLife.59407}, volume = {9}, year = {2020}, } @article{8318, abstract = {Complex I is the first and the largest enzyme of respiratory chains in bacteria and mitochondria. The mechanism which couples spatially separated transfer of electrons to proton translocation in complex I is not known. Here we report five crystal structures of T. thermophilus enzyme in complex with NADH or quinone-like compounds. We also determined cryo-EM structures of major and minor native states of the complex, differing in the position of the peripheral arm. Crystal structures show that binding of quinone-like compounds (but not of NADH) leads to a related global conformational change, accompanied by local re-arrangements propagating from the quinone site to the nearest proton channel. Normal mode and molecular dynamics analyses indicate that these are likely to represent the first steps in the proton translocation mechanism. Our results suggest that quinone binding and chemistry play a key role in the coupling mechanism of complex I.}, author = {Gutierrez-Fernandez, Javier and Kaszuba, Karol and Minhas, Gurdeep S. and Baradaran, Rozbeh and Tambalo, Margherita and Gallagher, David T. and Sazanov, Leonid A}, issn = {2041-1723}, journal = {Nature Communications}, number = {1}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Key role of quinone in the mechanism of respiratory complex I}}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-020-17957-0}, volume = {11}, year = {2020}, } @phdthesis{8353, abstract = {Mrp (Multi resistance and pH adaptation) are broadly distributed secondary active antiporters that catalyze the transport of monovalent ions such as sodium and potassium outside of the cell coupled to the inward translocation of protons. Mrp antiporters are unique in a way that they are composed of seven subunits (MrpABCDEFG) encoded in a single operon, whereas other antiporters catalyzing the same reaction are mostly encoded by a single gene. Mrp exchangers are crucial for intracellular pH homeostasis and Na+ efflux, essential mechanisms for H+ uptake under alkaline environments and for reduction of the intracellular concentration of toxic cations. Mrp displays no homology to any other monovalent Na+(K+)/H+ antiporters but Mrp subunits have primary sequence similarity to essential redox-driven proton pumps, such as respiratory complex I and membrane-bound hydrogenases. This similarity reinforces the hypothesis that these present day redox-driven proton pumps are descended from the Mrp antiporter. The Mrp structure serves as a model to understand the yet obscure coupling mechanism between ion or electron transfer and proton translocation in this large group of proteins. In the thesis, I am presenting the purification, biochemical analysis, cryo-EM analysis and molecular structure of the Mrp complex from Anoxybacillus flavithermus solved by cryo-EM at 3.0 Å resolution. Numerous conditions were screened to purify Mrp to high homogeneity and to obtain an appropriate distribution of single particles on cryo-EM grids covered with a continuous layer of ultrathin carbon. A preferred particle orientation problem was solved by performing a tilted data collection. The activity assays showed the specific pH-dependent profile of secondary active antiporters. The molecular structure shows that Mrp is a dimer of seven-subunit protomers with 50 trans-membrane helices each. The dimer interface is built by many short and tilted transmembrane helices, probably causing a thinning of the bacterial membrane. The surface charge distribution shows an extraordinary asymmetry within each monomer, revealing presumable proton and sodium translocation pathways. The two largest and homologous Mrp subunits MrpA and MrpD probably translocate one proton each into the cell. The sodium ion is likely being translocated in the opposite direction within the small subunits along a ladder of charged and conserved residues. Based on the structure, we propose a mechanism were the antiport activity is accomplished via electrostatic interactions between the charged cations and key charged residues. The flexible key TM helices coordinate these electrostatic interactions, while the membrane thinning between the monomers enables the translocation of sodium across the charged membrane. The entire family of redox-driven proton pumps is likely to perform their mechanism in a likewise manner.}, author = {Steiner, Julia}, issn = {2663-337X}, pages = {191}, publisher = {Institute of Science and Technology Austria}, title = {{Biochemical and structural investigation of the Mrp antiporter, an ancestor of complex I}}, doi = {10.15479/AT:ISTA:8353}, year = {2020}, } @article{8579, abstract = {Copper (Cu) is an essential trace element for all living organisms and used as cofactor in key enzymes of important biological processes, such as aerobic respiration or superoxide dismutation. However, due to its toxicity, cells have developed elaborate mechanisms for Cu homeostasis, which balance Cu supply for cuproprotein biogenesis with the need to remove excess Cu. This review summarizes our current knowledge on bacterial Cu homeostasis with a focus on Gram-negative bacteria and describes the multiple strategies that bacteria use for uptake, storage and export of Cu. We furthermore describe general mechanistic principles that aid the bacterial response to toxic Cu concentrations and illustrate dedicated Cu relay systems that facilitate Cu delivery for cuproenzyme biogenesis. Progress in understanding how bacteria avoid Cu poisoning while maintaining a certain Cu quota for cell proliferation is of particular importance for microbial pathogens because Cu is utilized by the host immune system for attenuating pathogen survival in host cells.}, author = {Andrei, Andreea and Öztürk, Yavuz and Khalfaoui-Hassani, Bahia and Rauch, Juna and Marckmann, Dorian and Trasnea, Petru Iulian and Daldal, Fevzi and Koch, Hans-Georg}, issn = {2077-0375}, journal = {Membranes}, number = {9}, publisher = {MDPI}, title = {{Cu homeostasis in bacteria: The ins and outs}}, doi = {10.3390/membranes10090242}, volume = {10}, year = {2020}, } @article{8581, abstract = {The majority of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) powering cellular processes in eukaryotes is produced by the mitochondrial F1Fo ATP synthase. Here, we present the atomic models of the membrane Fo domain and the entire mammalian (ovine) F1Fo, determined by cryo-electron microscopy. Subunits in the membrane domain are arranged in the ‘proton translocation cluster’ attached to the c-ring and a more distant ‘hook apparatus’ holding subunit e. Unexpectedly, this subunit is anchored to a lipid ‘plug’ capping the c-ring. We present a detailed proton translocation pathway in mammalian Fo and key inter-monomer contacts in F1Fo multimers. Cryo-EM maps of F1Fo exposed to calcium reveal a retracted subunit e and a disassembled c-ring, suggesting permeability transition pore opening. We propose a model for the permeability transition pore opening, whereby subunit e pulls the lipid plug out of the c-ring. Our structure will allow the design of drugs for many emerging applications in medicine.}, author = {Pinke, Gergely and Zhou, Long and Sazanov, Leonid A}, issn = {1545-9985}, journal = {Nature Structural and Molecular Biology}, number = {11}, pages = {1077--1085}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Cryo-EM structure of the entire mammalian F-type ATP synthase}}, doi = {10.1038/s41594-020-0503-8}, volume = {27}, year = {2020}, } @article{8737, abstract = {Mitochondrial complex I couples NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreduction to proton pumping by an unknown mechanism. Here, we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of ovine complex I in five different conditions, including turnover, at resolutions up to 2.3 to 2.5 angstroms. Resolved water molecules allowed us to experimentally define the proton translocation pathways. Quinone binds at three positions along the quinone cavity, as does the inhibitor rotenone that also binds within subunit ND4. Dramatic conformational changes around the quinone cavity couple the redox reaction to proton translocation during open-to-closed state transitions of the enzyme. In the induced deactive state, the open conformation is arrested by the ND6 subunit. We propose a detailed molecular coupling mechanism of complex I, which is an unexpected combination of conformational changes and electrostatic interactions.}, author = {Kampjut, Domen and Sazanov, Leonid A}, issn = {1095-9203}, journal = {Science}, number = {6516}, publisher = {American Association for the Advancement of Science}, title = {{The coupling mechanism of mammalian respiratory complex I}}, doi = {10.1126/science.abc4209}, volume = {370}, year = {2020}, } @misc{9326, abstract = {The mitochondrial respiratory chain, formed by five protein complexes, utilizes energy from catabolic processes to synthesize ATP. Complex I, the first and the largest protein complex of the chain, harvests electrons from NADH to reduce quinone, while pumping protons across the mitochondrial membrane. Detailed knowledge of the working principle of such coupled charge-transfer processes remains, however, fragmentary due to bottlenecks in understanding redox-driven conformational transitions and their interplay with the hydrated proton pathways. Complex I from Thermus thermophilus encases 16 subunits with nine iron–sulfur clusters, reduced by electrons from NADH. Here, employing the latest crystal structure of T. thermophilus complex I, we have used microsecond-scale molecular dynamics simulations to study the chemo-mechanical coupling between redox changes of the iron–sulfur clusters and conformational transitions across complex I. First, we identify the redox switches within complex I, which allosterically couple the dynamics of the quinone binding pocket to the site of NADH reduction. Second, our free-energy calculations reveal that the affinity of the quinone, specifically menaquinone, for the binding-site is higher than that of its reduced, menaquinol forma design essential for menaquinol release. Remarkably, the barriers to diffusive menaquinone dynamics are lesser than that of the more ubiquitous ubiquinone, and the naphthoquinone headgroup of the former furnishes stronger binding interactions with the pocket, favoring menaquinone for charge transport in T. thermophilus. Our computations are consistent with experimentally validated mutations and hierarchize the key residues into three functional classes, identifying new mutation targets. Third, long-range hydrogen-bond networks connecting the quinone-binding site to the transmembrane subunits are found to be responsible for proton pumping. Put together, the simulations reveal the molecular design principles linking redox reactions to quinone turnover to proton translocation in complex I.}, author = {Gupta, Chitrak and Khaniya, Umesh and Chan, Chun and Dehez, Francois and Shekhar, Mrinal and Gunner, M. R. and Sazanov, Leonid A and Chipot, Christophe and Singharoy, Abhishek}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, title = {{Charge transfer and chemo-mechanical coupling in respiratory complex I}}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.9b13450.s002}, year = {2020}, } @misc{9878, author = {Gupta, Chitrak and Khaniya, Umesh and Chan, Chun Kit and Dehez, Francois and Shekhar, Mrinal and Gunner, M.R. and Sazanov, Leonid A and Chipot, Christophe and Singharoy, Abhishek}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, title = {{Movies}}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.9b13450.s002}, year = {2020}, } @article{8040, abstract = {The mitochondrial respiratory chain, formed by five protein complexes, utilizes energy from catabolic processes to synthesize ATP. Complex I, the first and the largest protein complex of the chain, harvests electrons from NADH to reduce quinone, while pumping protons across the mitochondrial membrane. Detailed knowledge of the working principle of such coupled charge-transfer processes remains, however, fragmentary due to bottlenecks in understanding redox-driven conformational transitions and their interplay with the hydrated proton pathways. Complex I from Thermus thermophilus encases 16 subunits with nine iron–sulfur clusters, reduced by electrons from NADH. Here, employing the latest crystal structure of T. thermophilus complex I, we have used microsecond-scale molecular dynamics simulations to study the chemo-mechanical coupling between redox changes of the iron–sulfur clusters and conformational transitions across complex I. First, we identify the redox switches within complex I, which allosterically couple the dynamics of the quinone binding pocket to the site of NADH reduction. Second, our free-energy calculations reveal that the affinity of the quinone, specifically menaquinone, for the binding-site is higher than that of its reduced, menaquinol form—a design essential for menaquinol release. Remarkably, the barriers to diffusive menaquinone dynamics are lesser than that of the more ubiquitous ubiquinone, and the naphthoquinone headgroup of the former furnishes stronger binding interactions with the pocket, favoring menaquinone for charge transport in T. thermophilus. Our computations are consistent with experimentally validated mutations and hierarchize the key residues into three functional classes, identifying new mutation targets. Third, long-range hydrogen-bond networks connecting the quinone-binding site to the transmembrane subunits are found to be responsible for proton pumping. Put together, the simulations reveal the molecular design principles linking redox reactions to quinone turnover to proton translocation in complex I.}, author = {Gupta, Chitrak and Khaniya, Umesh and Chan, Chun Kit and Dehez, Francois and Shekhar, Mrinal and Gunner, M. R. and Sazanov, Leonid A and Chipot, Christophe and Singharoy, Abhishek}, issn = {1520-5126}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, number = {20}, pages = {9220--9230}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, title = {{Charge transfer and chemo-mechanical coupling in respiratory complex I}}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.9b13450}, volume = {142}, year = {2020}, } @misc{9713, abstract = {Additional analyses of the trajectories}, author = {Gupta, Chitrak and Khaniya, Umesh and Chan, Chun Kit and Dehez, Francois and Shekhar, Mrinal and Gunner, M.R. and Sazanov, Leonid A and Chipot, Christophe and Singharoy, Abhishek}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, title = {{Supporting information}}, doi = {10.1021/jacs.9b13450.s001}, year = {2020}, }