Proton-Coupled Electron Transport in Two Distinct CYBASC Paralogs of Arabidopsis thaliana: A Comparative Characterization of Highly Conserved Tyrosine and Lysine Residues

Abstract

CYBASC proteins are ascorbate (AscH−) reducible, diheme b-containing integral membrane cytochrome b561 proteins (cytb561), which are proposed to be involved in AscH− recycling and facilitation of iron absorption. Two distinct CYBASC paralogs from the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, Atcytb561-A (A-paralog) and Atcytb561-B (B-paralog), have been found to differ in their visiblespectral characteristics and their interaction with AscH− and ferric iron chelates. A previously determined crystal structure of the Bparalog provides the first insights into the structural organization of a CYBASC member and implies hydrogen bonding between the substrate AscH− and the conserved lysine residues at positions 77 (B-K77) and 81 (B-K81). The function of the highly conserved tyrosine at position 70 (B-Y70) is not obvious in the crystal structure, but its localization indicates the possible involvement in proton-coupled electron transfer. Here we show that B-Y70 plays a major role in the modulation of the oxidation−reduction midpoint potential of the high-potential heme, EM(bH), as well as in AscH− oxidation. Our results support the involvement of the functionally conserved B-K77 in the stabilization of the dianion Asc2−. These findings are supported by the crystal structure of the Bparalog, but a comparative biochemical and biophysical characterization of the A- and B-paralogs implied distinct and more complex functions of the corresponding residues A-Y69 and A-K76 in the A-paralog. Our results emphasize the need for a high-resolution crystal structure of the A-paralog to illuminate the differences in functional organization between the two paralogs.