Internal Architecture of Mitochondrial Complex I from Arabidopsis thaliana

authored by

Jennifer Klodmann, Stephanie Sunderhaus, Manfred Nimtz, Lothar Jänsch, Hans Peter Braun

Abstract

The NADH dehydrogenase complex (complex I) of the respiratory chain has unique features in plants. It is the main entrance site for electrons into the respiratory electron transfer chain, has a role in maintaining the redox balance of the entire plant cell and additionally comprises enzymatic side activities essential for other metabolic pathways. Here, we present a proteomic investigation to elucidate its internal structure. Arabidopsis thaliana complex I was purified by a gentle biochemical procedure that includes a cytochrome c-mediated depletion of other respiratory protein complexes. To examine its internal subunit arrangement, isolated complex I was dissected into subcomplexes. Controlled disassembly of the holo complex (1000 kD) by low-concentration SDS treatment produced 10 subcomplexes of 550, 450, 370, 270, 240, 210, 160,140,140, and 85 kD. Systematic analyses of subunit composition by mass spectrometry gave insights into subunit arrangement within complex I. Overall, Arabidopsis complex I includes at least 49 subunits, 17 of which are unique to plants. Subunits form subcomplexes analogous to the known functional modules of complex I from heterotrophic eukaryotes (the so-called N-, Q-, and P-modules), but also additional modules, most notably an 85-kD domain including g-type carbonic anhydrases. Based on topological information for many of its subunits, we present a model of the internal architecture of plant complex I.

Organisation(s)

Section Plant Molecular Biology and Plant Proteomics
Institute of Plant Genetics

External Organisation(s)

Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI)

Type

Article

Journal

PLANT CELL

Volume

22

Pages

797-810

No. of pages

14

ISSN

1040-4651

Publication date

03.2010

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Plant Science, Cell Biology

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.109.073726 (Access: Open)