CRYSTAL-STRUCTURE OF FULLY OXIDIZED BOVINE HEART CYTOCHROME-C-OXIDASEAT 2.8 ANGSTROM RESOLUTION - A REVIEW

Structural and functional studies on cytochrome c oxidase before the c rystal structures appeared are summarized to show the importance of X- ray crystal structure at atomic resolution for understanding the mecha nism of the enzyme reaction, O-2 reduction coupled with proton pumping . The crystal structure of the bovine heart enzyme in the fully oxidiz ed state at 2.8 Angstrom resolution are reviewed to evaluate its contr ibution for understanding the enzyme reaction mechanism. Effects of de tergent structure on the crystallization conditions of bovine heart cy tochrome c oxidase, which were critical for obtaining the X-ray crysta l structure, are presented to propose a possible mechanism of crystall ization of multicomponent membrane proteins.