Electrostatic and quantum chemical investigation of the proton pumping mechanism of cytochrome c oxidase [Elektronische Ressource] / presented by Punnagai Munusami
ELECTROSTATIC AND QUANTUMCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF THEPROTON PUMPING MECHANISM OFCYTOCHROME c OXIDASED I S S E R T A T I O Nsubmitted tothe Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Geoscienceof the University of Bayreuth, Germanyfor obtaining the degree ofDoctor of Natural Sciencespresented byPunnagai MunusamiBayreuth 2008Die vorliegende Arbeit wurde in dem Zeitraum von Januar 2005bis Mai 2008 an der Universitat¨ Bayreuth unter der Leitung vonProfessor G. Matthias Ullmann erstellt.Vollstandiger¨ Abdruck der von der Fakultat¨ Biologie, Chemieund Geowissenschaften der Universitat¨ Bayreuth genehmigtenDissertation zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades Doktorder Naturwissenschaften (Dr. rer. nat.).Erster Prufer:¨ Prof. Dr. G. Matthias UllmannZweiter Prufer:¨ Prof. Dr. Holger DobbekDritter Prufer:¨ Prof. Dr. Andreas FeryPrufungsvorsitz:¨ Prof. Dr. Jur¨ gen SenkerTag der Einreichung: 09.06.2008Kolloquium: 19.09.2008ELECTROSTATIC AND QUANTUMCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF THEPROTON PUMPING MECHANISM OFCYTOCHROME c OXIDASESUMMARYCytochrome c oxidase is a crucial enzyme in the respiratory chain. It catalyzes the reductionof oxygen to water and utilizes the free energy of the reduction reaction for proton pumpingacross the inner mitochondrial membrane, a process which results in a membrane electro chemical proton gradient. For each oxygen molecule, eight protons are taken up from thematrix of the mitochondria.