Electron transfer dynamics of Rhodothermus marinus caa(3) cytochrome c domains on biomimetic films

The subunit II of the caa(3) oxygen reductase from Rhodothermus marinus contains, in addition to the Cu(A) center, a c-type heme group in the cytochrome c domain (Cyt-D) that is the putative primary electron acceptor of the enzyme. In this work we have combined surface-enhanced resonance Raman (SERR) spectroelectrochemistry, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and electron pathway calculations to assess the most likely interaction domains and electron entry/exit points of the truncated Cyt-D of subunit II in the reactions with its electron donor, HiPIP and electron acceptor, Cu(A). The results indicate that the transient interaction between Cyt-D and HiPIP relies upon a delicate balance of hydrophobic and polar contacts for establishing an optimized electron transfer pathway that involves the exposed edge of the heme group and guaranties efficient inter-protein electron transfer on the nanosecond time scale. The reorganization energy of ca. 0.7 eV was determined by time-resolved SERR spectroelectrochemistry. The intramolecular electron transfer pathway in integral subunit II from Cyt-D to the Cu(A) redox center most likely involves the iron ligand histidine 20 as an electron exit point in Cyt-D.