Protein Machineries Involved in the Attachment of Heme to Cytochrome c: Protein Structures and Molecular Mechanisms
Cytochromes c (Cyt c) are ubiquitous heme-containing proteins, mainly involved in electron transfer processes, whose structure and functions have been and still are intensely studied. Surprisingly, our understanding of the molecular mechanism whereby the heme group is covalently attached to the apop...
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Wiley
2013-01-01
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| Series: | Scientifica |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/505714 |
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| author | Carlo Travaglini-Allocatelli |
| author_facet | Carlo Travaglini-Allocatelli |
| author_sort | Carlo Travaglini-Allocatelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cytochromes c (Cyt c) are ubiquitous heme-containing proteins, mainly involved in electron transfer processes, whose structure and functions have been and still are intensely studied. Surprisingly, our understanding of the molecular mechanism whereby the heme group is covalently attached to the apoprotein (apoCyt) in the cell is still largely unknown. This posttranslational process, known as Cyt c biogenesis or Cyt c maturation, ensures the stereospecific formation of the thioether bonds between the heme vinyl groups and the cysteine thiols of the apoCyt heme binding motif. To accomplish this task, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have evolved distinctive protein machineries composed of different proteins. In this review, the structural and functional properties of the main maturation apparatuses found in gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells will be presented, dissecting the Cyt c maturation process into three functional steps: (i) heme translocation and delivery, (ii) apoCyt thioreductive pathway, and (iii) apoCyt chaperoning and heme ligation. Moreover, current hypotheses and open questions about the molecular mechanisms of each of the three steps will be discussed, with special attention to System I, the maturation apparatus found in gram-negative bacteria. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3ddabaa5eb714cf5979d6084578f2b9e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-908X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Scientifica |
| spelling | doaj-art-3ddabaa5eb714cf5979d6084578f2b9e2025-02-03T01:20:41ZengWileyScientifica2090-908X2013-01-01201310.1155/2013/505714505714Protein Machineries Involved in the Attachment of Heme to Cytochrome c: Protein Structures and Molecular MechanismsCarlo Travaglini-Allocatelli0Department of Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome “Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, ItalyCytochromes c (Cyt c) are ubiquitous heme-containing proteins, mainly involved in electron transfer processes, whose structure and functions have been and still are intensely studied. Surprisingly, our understanding of the molecular mechanism whereby the heme group is covalently attached to the apoprotein (apoCyt) in the cell is still largely unknown. This posttranslational process, known as Cyt c biogenesis or Cyt c maturation, ensures the stereospecific formation of the thioether bonds between the heme vinyl groups and the cysteine thiols of the apoCyt heme binding motif. To accomplish this task, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have evolved distinctive protein machineries composed of different proteins. In this review, the structural and functional properties of the main maturation apparatuses found in gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells will be presented, dissecting the Cyt c maturation process into three functional steps: (i) heme translocation and delivery, (ii) apoCyt thioreductive pathway, and (iii) apoCyt chaperoning and heme ligation. Moreover, current hypotheses and open questions about the molecular mechanisms of each of the three steps will be discussed, with special attention to System I, the maturation apparatus found in gram-negative bacteria.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/505714 |
| spellingShingle | Carlo Travaglini-Allocatelli Protein Machineries Involved in the Attachment of Heme to Cytochrome c: Protein Structures and Molecular Mechanisms Scientifica |
| title | Protein Machineries Involved in the Attachment of Heme to Cytochrome c: Protein Structures and Molecular Mechanisms |
| title_full | Protein Machineries Involved in the Attachment of Heme to Cytochrome c: Protein Structures and Molecular Mechanisms |
| title_fullStr | Protein Machineries Involved in the Attachment of Heme to Cytochrome c: Protein Structures and Molecular Mechanisms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Protein Machineries Involved in the Attachment of Heme to Cytochrome c: Protein Structures and Molecular Mechanisms |
| title_short | Protein Machineries Involved in the Attachment of Heme to Cytochrome c: Protein Structures and Molecular Mechanisms |
| title_sort | protein machineries involved in the attachment of heme to cytochrome c protein structures and molecular mechanisms |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/505714 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT carlotravagliniallocatelli proteinmachineriesinvolvedintheattachmentofhemetocytochromecproteinstructuresandmolecularmechanisms |