---
OA_type: closed access
_id: '1979'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) is the first and largest enzyme
    in the respiratory chain of mitochondria and many bacteria. It couples the transfer
    of two electrons between NADH and ubiquinone to the translocation of four protons
    across the membrane. Complex I is an L-shaped assembly formed by the hydrophilic
    (peripheral) arm, containing all the redox centres performing electron transfer
    and the membrane arm, containing proton-translocating machinery. Mitochondrial
    complex I consists of 44 subunits of about 1 MDa in total, whilst the prokaryotic
    enzyme is simpler and generally consists of 14 conserved “core” subunits. Recently
    we have determined the first atomic structure of the entire complex I, using the
    enzyme from Thermus thermophilus (536 kDa, 16 subunits, 9 Fe-S clusters, 64 TM
    helices). Structure suggests a unique coupling mechanism, with redox energy of
    electron transfer driving proton translocation via long-range (up to ~200 Å) conformational
    changes. It resembles a steam engine, with coupling elements (akin to coupling
    rods) linking parts of this molecular machine.
article_processing_charge: No
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: Leonid A
  full_name: Sazanov, Leonid A
  id: 338D39FE-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
  last_name: Sazanov
  orcid: 0000-0002-0977-7989
citation:
  ama: Sazanov LA. The mechanism of coupling between electron transfer and proton
    translocation in respiratory complex I. <i>Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes</i>.
    2014;46(4):247-253. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10863-014-9554-z">10.1007/s10863-014-9554-z</a>
  apa: Sazanov, L. A. (2014). The mechanism of coupling between electron transfer
    and proton translocation in respiratory complex I. <i>Journal of Bioenergetics
    and Biomembranes</i>. Springer Nature. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10863-014-9554-z">https://doi.org/10.1007/s10863-014-9554-z</a>
  chicago: Sazanov, Leonid A. “The Mechanism of Coupling between Electron Transfer
    and Proton Translocation in Respiratory Complex I.” <i>Journal of Bioenergetics
    and Biomembranes</i>. Springer Nature, 2014. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10863-014-9554-z">https://doi.org/10.1007/s10863-014-9554-z</a>.
  ieee: L. A. Sazanov, “The mechanism of coupling between electron transfer and proton
    translocation in respiratory complex I,” <i>Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes</i>,
    vol. 46, no. 4. Springer Nature, pp. 247–253, 2014.
  ista: Sazanov LA. 2014. The mechanism of coupling between electron transfer and
    proton translocation in respiratory complex I. Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes.
    46(4), 247–253.
  mla: Sazanov, Leonid A. “The Mechanism of Coupling between Electron Transfer and
    Proton Translocation in Respiratory Complex I.” <i>Journal of Bioenergetics and
    Biomembranes</i>, vol. 46, no. 4, Springer Nature, 2014, pp. 247–53, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10863-014-9554-z">10.1007/s10863-014-9554-z</a>.
  short: L.A. Sazanov, Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes 46 (2014) 247–253.
date_created: 2018-12-11T11:55:01Z
date_published: 2014-08-01T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2026-09-04T11:48:14Z
day: '01'
doi: 10.1007/s10863-014-9554-z
extern: '1'
external_id:
  pmid:
  - '24943718'
intvolume: '        46'
issue: '4'
language:
- iso: eng
month: '08'
oa_version: None
page: 247 - 253
pmid: 1
publication: Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes
publication_identifier:
  eissn:
  - 1573-6881
  issn:
  - 0145-479X
publication_status: published
publisher: Springer Nature
publist_id: '5104'
status: public
title: The mechanism of coupling between electron transfer and proton translocation
  in respiratory complex I
type: journal_article
user_id: 317138e5-6ab7-11ef-aa6d-ffef3953e345
volume: 46
year: '2014'
...