Proposal that the function of the membrane-bound cytochrome a1-like haemoprotein (cytochrome b-595) in Escherichia coli is a direct electron donation to cytochrome d.

The cytochrome d-containing oxidase of oxygen-limited Escherichia coli comprises cytochromes d, cytochrome b-558 and cytochrome b-595, previously called cytochrome a1. The reaction of the fully reduced complex with oxygen involves ligand binding to the ferrous haem d to form an oxygenated species, followed by oxidation of two b-type cytochromes, whose identity is unclear. Here we report kinetic studies on cytochrome b-595 oxidation and suggest that these results, together with optical and EPR data on the oxidase complex and its reaction with oxygen, are consistent with the hypothesis that the role of cytochrome b-595 is further reduction of the oxygen bound to cytochrome d.