Proton turnover rates of single heme copper oxidases operating against electrochemical gradients (A06)

• Subject Area: Biophysics
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 221545957

In this project heme copper oxidases (cytochrome c oxidase and ubiquinol oxidase) are reconstituted into liposomes and advanced microscopic approaches are applied to quantify the proton turnover rate of single oxidases based on recording the pH changes occurring within the proteoliposomes. The dynamics of proton uptake by the oxidases will be quantified in dependence of the generated electrochemical gradient. By these means, we will achieve an understanding of the regulation of proton pumping by the electrochemical gradient.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1078: Protonation Dynamics in Protein Function
• Applicant Institution: Freie Universität Berlin
• Project Head: Dr. Stephan Block