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The number of electrons involved in the enzymatic action of cytochrome c oxidase, carbonic anhydrase and photosynthetic oxygen evolving complex, respe
Question

The number of electrons involved in the enzymatic action of cytochrome c oxidase, carbonic anhydrase and photosynthetic oxygen evolving complex, respectively, are


A.

B.

C.

D.

Correct option is B

Cytochrome c oxidase

The enzyme cytochrome c oxidase is a large transmembrane protein complex found in bacteria, archaea, and the mitochondria of eukaryotes. It is the last enzyme in the respiratory electron transport chain of cells located in the membrane. It receives an electron from each of four cytochrome c molecules and transfers them to one oxygen molecule and four protons, producing two molecules of water. In addition to binding the four protons from the inner aqueous phase, it transports another four protons across the membrane, increasing the transmembrane difference of proton electrochemical potential, which the ATP synthase then uses to synthesize ATP.

The complex

The complex is a large integral membrane protein composed of several metal prosthetic sites and 13 protein subunits in mammals. In mammals, ten subunits are nuclear in origin, and three are synthesized in the mitochondria. The complex contains two hemes, a cytochrome a and cytochrome a3, and two copper centers, the CuA and CuB centers. In fact, the cytochrome a3 and CuB form a binuclear center that is the site of oxygen reduction. Cytochrome c, which is reduced by the preceding component of the respiratory chain (cytochrome bc1 complex, Complex III), docks near the CuA binuclear center and passes an electron to it, being oxidized back to cytochrome c containing Fe3+. The reduced CuA binuclear center now passes an electron on to cytochrome a, which in turn passes an electron on to the cytochrome a3>-CuB binuclear center. The two metal ions in this binuclear center are 4.5 Å apart and coordinate a hydroxide ion in the fully oxidized state.

It plays a vital role in enabling the cytochrome a3- CuB binuclear center to accept four electrons in reducing molecular oxygen and four protons to water. The mechanism of reduction was formerly thought to involve a peroxide intermediate, which was believed to lead to superoxide production. However, the currently accepted mechanism involves a rapid four-electron reduction involving immediate oxygen–oxygen bond cleavage, avoiding any intermediate likely to form superoxide.

Carbonic anhydrase

The carbonic anhydrases form a family of enzymes that catalyze the interconversion between carbon dioxide and water and the dissociated ions of carbonic acid (i.e. bicarbonate and hydrogen ions). The active site of most carbonic anhydrases contains a zinc ion. They are therefore classified as metalloenzymes. The enzyme maintains acid-base balance and helps transport carbon dioxide.

The reaction that shows the catalyzation of carbonic anhydrase in our tissues is 

The catalyzation of carbonic anhydrase in the lungs is shown by

The reason for the reactions being in opposite directions for the tissues and lungs is because of the different pH levels found in them. Without the carbonic anhydrase catalyst, the reaction is very slow, however with the catalyst the reaction is 107 times faster.

The reaction catalyzed by carbonic anhydrase is

Oxygen-evolving complex

The oxygen-evolving complex (OEC), also known as the water-splitting complex, is a water-oxidizing enzyme involved in the photo-oxidation of water during the light reactions of photosynthesis. OEC is surrounded by 4 core proteins of photosystem II at the membrane-lumen interface. The mechanism for splitting water involves absorption of three photons before the fourth provides sufficient energy for water oxidation. Based on a widely accepted theory from 1970 by Kok, the complex can exist in 5 states, denoted S0 to S4, with S0 the most reduced and S4 the most oxidized. Photons trapped by photosystem II move the system from state S0 to S1 to S2 to S3 and finally to S4. S4 reacts with water producing free oxygen:




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