THE ELECTRON-TRANSPORT SYSTEM OF ALCALIGENES-EUTROPHUS H16 .1. SPECTROSCOPIC AND THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES

The electron transport system of autotrophically grown Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 has been investigated by spectroscopic and thermodynamic approaches. The results have been interpreted as evidence that isolated membranes contain a branched respiratory chain composed of three c-type haems (E(m, 7) = + 160 mV, + 270 mV, and + 335 mV), five b-type haems (E(m, 7) = + 5 mV, + 75 mV, + 205 mV, + 300 mV, and + 405 mV), two (possibly three) a-type haems [E(m, 7) = + 255 mV, + 350 mV, (+ 420 mV)], and one d-type haem. EPR-analysis of the signals at g = 1.93, g = 2.02, and g = 1.90 revealed the presence of iron-sulphur centres diagnostic of complexes I (NADH dehydrogenase), II (succinate dehydrogenase), and III (ubiquinol/cytochrome c oxidoreductase). The low potential b haems (+ 5 mV and + 75 mV) plus the Rieske protein (g = 1.90, E(m, 7) = + 280 mV), thought to be part of an orthodox bc1 complex, were present in low amounts as compared to their counterparts in membranes from Paracoccus denitrificans. CO-difference spectra in the presence of either succinate, NADH, hydrogen, ascorbate/TMPD, and/or dithionite as reductants, suggested the existance of four different oxidases composed by bo-, cb-, a-, and d-type haems. It is concluded that in contrast to other chemolithotrophes, e.g. P. denitrificans, autotrophic growth of Alcaligenes eutrophus utilizes a respiratory system in which the bc1 complex containing pathway is only partially involved in electron transport.