TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kuhns, Martin
A1  - Trifunović, Dragan
A1  - Huber, Harald
A1  - Müller, Volker
T1  - The Rnf complex is a Na+ coupled respiratory enzyme in a fermenting bacterium, Thermotoga maritima
T2  - Communications biology
N2  - rnf genes are widespread in bacteria and biochemical and genetic data are in line with the hypothesis that they encode a membrane-bound enzyme that oxidizes reduced ferredoxin and reduces NAD and vice versa, coupled to ion transport across the cytoplasmic membrane. The Rnf complex is of critical importance in many bacteria for energy conservation but also for reverse electron transport to drive ferredoxin reduction. However, the enzyme has never been purified and thus, ion transport could not be demonstrated yet. Here, we have purified the Rnf complex from the anaerobic, fermenting thermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima and show that is a primary Na+ pump. These studies provide the proof that the Rnf complex is indeed an ion (Na+) translocating, respiratory enzyme. Together with a Na+-F1FO ATP synthase it builds a simple, two-limb respiratory chain in T. maritima. The physiological role of electron transport phosphorylation in a fermenting bacterium is discussed.
KW  - Bacteriology
KW  - Oxidoreductases
Y1  - 2020
UR  - http://publikationen.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/79336
UR  - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-793362
SN  - 2399-3642
N1  - This work was supported by a grant (MU 801/16-1) from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. Open access funding provided by Projekt DEAL.
N1  - The authors declare that all data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article, Supplementary Information, and Supplementary Data 1. Source data underlying plots shown in figures are provided in Supplementary Data 1. The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author V.M.
VL  - 3
IS  - art. 431
SP  - 1
EP  - 10
PB  - Springer Nature
CY  - London
ER  -