Architecture of succinate dehydrogenase and reactive oxygen species generation

Science. 2003 Jan 31;299(5607):700-4. doi: 10.1126/science.1079605.

Abstract

The structure of Escherichia coli succinate dehydrogenase (SQR), analogous to the mitochondrial respiratory complex II, has been determined, revealing the electron transport pathway from the electron donor, succinate, to the terminal electron acceptor, ubiquinone. It was found that the SQR redox centers are arranged in a manner that aids the prevention of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation at the flavin adenine dinucleotide. This is likely to be the main reason SQR is expressed during aerobic respiration rather than the related enzyme fumarate reductase, which produces high levels of ROS. Furthermore, symptoms of genetic disorders associated with mitochondrial SQR mutations may be a result of ROS formation resulting from impaired electron transport in the enzyme.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aerobiosis
  • Anaerobiosis
  • Binding Sites
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Dinitrophenols / chemistry
  • Dinitrophenols / pharmacology
  • Electron Transport
  • Electron Transport Complex II
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology*
  • Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide / metabolism
  • Heme / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular
  • Multienzyme Complexes / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Multienzyme Complexes / chemistry*
  • Multienzyme Complexes / genetics
  • Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism*
  • Mutation
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxidoreductases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Oxidoreductases / chemistry*
  • Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Protein Subunits / chemistry
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase / chemistry*
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase / metabolism*
  • Succinic Acid / metabolism
  • Superoxides / metabolism
  • Ubiquinone / chemistry
  • Ubiquinone / metabolism

Substances

  • Dinitrophenols
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Protein Subunits
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Superoxides
  • Ubiquinone
  • Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide
  • Heme
  • Succinic Acid
  • Oxidoreductases
  • Electron Transport Complex II
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase

Associated data

  • PDB/1NEK
  • PDB/1NEN