Cited by 370Enzyme Structure and FunctionMitochondrial Function and PathologyATP Synthase and ATPases Research

Structure of the membrane domain of respiratory complex I

Efremov, Rouslan G., Sazanov, Leonid A.·2011·Nature

Abstract

Complex I is the first and largest enzyme of the respiratory chain, coupling electron transfer between NADH and ubiquinone to the translocation of four protons across the membrane. It has a central role in cellular energy production and has been implicated in many human neurodegenerative diseases. The L-shaped enzyme consists of hydrophilic and membrane domains. Previously, we determined the structure of the hydrophilic domain. Here we report the crystal structure of the Esherichia coli complex I membrane domain at 3.0 Å resolution. It includes six subunits, NuoL, NuoM, NuoN, NuoA, NuoJ and NuoK, with 55 transmembrane helices. The fold of the homologous antiporter-like subunits L, M and N is novel, with two inverted structural repeats of five transmembrane helices arranged, unusually, face-to-back. Each repeat includes a discontinuous transmembrane helix and forms half of a channel across the membrane. A network of conserved polar residues connects the two half-channels, completing the proton translocation pathway. Unexpectedly, lysines rather than carboxylate residues act as the main elements of the proton pump in these subunits. The fourth probable proton-translocation channel is at the interface of subunits N, K, J and A. The structure indicates that proton translocation in complex I, uniquely, involves coordinated conformational changes in six symmetrical structural elements.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nature10330

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  • Modeling using prokaryotic complex I structures produced an orthologous mammalian core structure containing ND3 Cys39.

    “We modeled the location of ND3 Cys39 using structures of prokaryotic complex I (refs. 32–34). This modeling led to an orthologous mammalian core structure containing ND3 Cys39 (Fig. 3f,g and Supplementary Figs. 14 and 15).”

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Authors
Efremov, R. G., & Sazanov, L. A.
Affiliations
  • Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology (DE)
  • MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit (GB)
Corresponding author
Sazanov, Leonid A.
Venue
Nature
Published
2011-08
Volume
476
Issue
7361
Pages
414-420
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W1987127397
Cited by
370
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 36 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 39 · 2012: 50
FWCI
21.32
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DORA PSI (Paul Scherrer Institute) (submittedVersion)
  • Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (submittedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Enzyme Structure and Function
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › ATP Synthase and ATPases Research
Keywords
mitochondrial complex I, membrane domains, crystal structure, proton translocation, proton pump, lysine residues, transmembrane helices, Escherichia coli, neurodegenerative diseases
MeSH terms
Cell Membrane, Escherichia coli, Lysine, Models, Molecular, NAD, NADH Dehydrogenase, Protein Binding, Protons, Ubiquinone, Ion Transport, Protein Structure, Tertiary, Protein Folding, Antiporters, Crystallography, X-Ray, Protein Subunits, Escherichia coli Proteins, Electron Transport Complex I

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