Mitochondrial complex I.

Complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is crucial for respiration in many aerobic organisms. In mitochondria, it oxidizes NADH from the tricarboxylic acid cycle and ß-oxidation, reduces ubiquinone, and transports protons across the inner membrane, contributing to the proton-motive force. It is also a major contributor to cellular production of reactive oxygen species. The redox reaction of complex I is catalyzed in the hydrophilic domain; it comprises NADH oxidation by a flavin mononucleotide, intramolecular electron transfer along a chain of iron-sulfur clusters, and ubiquinone reduction. Redox-coupled proton translocation in the membrane domain requires long-range energy transfer through the protein complex, and the molecular mechanisms that couple the redox and proton-transfer half-reactions are currently unknown. This review evaluates extant data on the mechanisms of energy transduction and superoxide production by complex I, discusses contemporary mechanistic models, and explores how mechanistic studies may contribute to understanding the roles of complex I dysfunctions in human diseases.

Structural insights into respiratory complex I deficiency and assembly from the mitochondrial disease-related ndufs4-/- mouse.

Respiratory complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is essential for cellular energy production and NAD+ homeostasis. Complex I mutations cause neuromuscular, mitochondrial diseases, such as Leigh Syndrome, but their molecular-level consequences remain poorly understood. Here, we use a popular complex I-linked mitochondrial disease model, the ndufs4-/- mouse, to define the structural, biochemical, and functional consequences of the absence of subunit NDUFS4. Cryo-EM analyses of the complex I from ndufs4-/- mouse hearts revealed a loose association of the NADH-dehydrogenase module, and discrete classes containing either assembly factor NDUFAF2 or subunit NDUFS6. Subunit NDUFA12, which replaces its paralogue NDUFAF2 in mature complex I, is absent from all classes, compounding the deletion of NDUFS4 and preventing maturation of an NDUFS4-free enzyme. We propose that NDUFAF2 recruits the NADH-dehydrogenase module during assembly of the complex. Taken together, the findings provide new molecular-level understanding of the ndufs4-/- mouse model and complex I-linked mitochondrial disease.

Cryo-electron microscopy reveals how acetogenins inhibit mitochondrial respiratory complex I.

Mitochondrial complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase), a crucial enzyme in energy metabolism, captures the redox potential energy from NADH oxidation/ubiquinone reduction to create the proton motive force used to drive ATP synthesis in oxidative phosphorylation. High-resolution single-particle electron cryo-EM analyses have provided detailed structural knowledge of the catalytic machinery of complex I, but not of the molecular principles of its energy transduction mechanism. Although ubiquinone is considered to bind in a long channel at the interface of the membrane-embedded and hydrophilic domains, with channel residues likely involved in coupling substrate reduction to proton translocation, no structures with the channel fully occupied have yet been described. Here, we report the structure (determined by cryo-EM) of mouse complex I with a tight-binding natural product acetogenin inhibitor, which resembles the native substrate, bound along the full length of the expected ubiquinone-binding channel. Our structure reveals the mode of acetogenin binding and the molecular basis for structure-activity relationships within the acetogenin family. It also shows that acetogenins are such potent inhibitors because they are highly hydrophobic molecules that contain two specific hydrophilic moieties spaced to lock into two hydrophilic regions of the otherwise hydrophobic channel. The central hydrophilic section of the channel does not favor binding of the isoprenoid chain when the native substrate is fully bound but stabilizes the ubiquinone/ubiquinol headgroup as it transits to/from the active site. Therefore, the amphipathic nature of the channel supports both tight binding of the amphipathic inhibitor and rapid exchange of the ubiquinone/ubiquinol substrate and product.

Complexome profile of Toxoplasma gondii mitochondria identifies divergent subunits of respiratory chain complexes including new subunits of cytochrome bc1 complex.

The mitochondrial electron transport chain (mETC) and F1Fo-ATP synthase are of central importance for energy and metabolism in eukaryotic cells. The Apicomplexa, important pathogens of humans causing diseases such as toxoplasmosis and malaria, depend on their mETC in every known stage of their complicated life cycles. Here, using a complexome profiling proteomic approach, we have characterised the Toxoplasma mETC complexes and F1Fo-ATP synthase. We identified and assigned 60 proteins to complexes II, IV and F1Fo-ATP synthase of Toxoplasma, of which 16 have not been identified previously. Notably, our complexome profile elucidates the composition of the Toxoplasma complex III, the target of clinically used drugs such as atovaquone. We identified two new homologous subunits and two new parasite-specific subunits, one of which is broadly conserved in myzozoans. We demonstrate all four proteins are essential for complex III stability and parasite growth, and show their depletion leads to decreased mitochondrial potential, supporting their assignment as complex III subunits. Our study highlights the divergent subunit composition of the apicomplexan mETC and F1Fo-ATP synthase complexes and sets the stage for future structural and drug discovery studies.

A conserved arginine residue is critical for stabilizing the N2 FeS cluster in mitochondrial complex I.

Respiratory complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase), the first enzyme of the electron-transport chain, captures the free energy released by NADH oxidation and ubiquinone reduction to translocate protons across an energy-transducing membrane and drive ATP synthesis during oxidative phosphorylation. The cofactor that transfers the electrons directly to ubiquinone is an iron-sulfur cluster (N2) located in the NDUFS2/NUCM subunit. A nearby arginine residue (R121), which forms part of the second coordination sphere of the N2 cluster, is known to be posttranslationally dimethylated but its functional and structural significance are not known. Here, we show that mutations of this arginine residue (R121M/K) abolish the quinone-reductase activity, concomitant with disappearance of the N2 signature from the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum. Analysis of the cryo-EM structure of NDUFS2-R121M complex I at 3.7 Å resolution identified the absence of the cubane N2 cluster as the cause of the dysfunction, within an otherwise intact enzyme. The mutation further induced localized disorder in nearby elements of the quinone-binding site, consistent with the close connections between the cluster and substrate-binding regions. Our results demonstrate that R121 is required for the formation and/or stability of the N2 cluster and highlight the importance of structural analyses for mechanistic interpretation of biochemical and spectroscopic data on complex I variants.

Reverse Electron Transfer by Respiratory Complex I Catalyzed in a Modular Proteoliposome System.

Respiratory complex I is an essential metabolic enzyme that uses the energy from NADH oxidation and ubiquinone reduction to translocate protons across an energy transducing membrane and generate the proton motive force for ATP synthesis. Under specific conditions, complex I can also catalyze the reverse reaction, Δp-linked oxidation of ubiquinol to reduce NAD+ (or O2), known as reverse electron transfer (RET). Oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species generated during RET underpins ischemia reperfusion injury, but as RET relies on several converging metabolic pathways, little is known about its mechanism or regulation. Here, we demonstrate Δp-linked RET through complex I in a synthetic proteoliposome system for the first time, enabling complete kinetic characterization of RET catalysis. We further establish the capability of our system by showing how RET in the mammalian enzyme is regulated by the active-deactive transition and by evaluating RET by complex I from several species in which direct assessment has not been otherwise possible. We thus provide new insights into the reversibility of complex I catalysis, an important but little understood mechanistic and physiological feature.

Structure of mammalian respiratory complex I.

Complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase), one of the largest membrane-bound enzymes in the cell, powers ATP synthesis in mammalian mitochondria by using the reducing potential of NADH to drive protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane. Mammalian complex I (ref. 1) contains 45 subunits, comprising 14 core subunits that house the catalytic machinery (and are conserved from bacteria to humans) and a mammalian-specific cohort of 31 supernumerary subunits. Knowledge of the structures and functions of the supernumerary subunits is fragmentary. Here we describe a 4.2-Å resolution single-particle electron cryomicroscopy structure of complex I from Bos taurus. We have located and modelled all 45 subunits, including the 31 supernumerary subunits, to provide the entire structure of the mammalian complex. Computational sorting of the particles identified different structural classes, related by subtle domain movements, which reveal conformationally dynamic regions and match biochemical descriptions of the 'active-to-de-active' enzyme transition that occurs during hypoxia. Our structures therefore provide a foundation for understanding complex I assembly and the effects of mutations that cause clinically relevant complex I dysfunctions, give insights into the structural and functional roles of the supernumerary subunits and reveal new information on the mechanism and regulation of catalysis.

Using a chimeric respiratory chain and EPR spectroscopy to determine the origin of semiquinone species previously assigned to mitochondrial complex I.

BACKGROUND: For decades, semiquinone intermediates have been suggested to play an essential role in catalysis by one of the most enigmatic proton-pumping enzymes, respiratory complex I, and different mechanisms have been proposed on their basis. However, the difficulty in investigating complex I semiquinones, due to the many different enzymes embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane, has resulted in an ambiguous picture and no consensus. RESULTS: In this paper, we re-examine the highly debated origin of semiquinone species in mitochondrial membranes using a novel approach. Our combination of a semi-artificial chimeric respiratory chain with pulse EPR spectroscopy (HYSCORE) has enabled us to conclude, unambiguously and for the first time, that the majority of the semiquinones observed in mitochondrial membranes originate from complex III. We also identify a minor contribution from complex II. CONCLUSIONS: We are unable to attribute any semiquinone signals unambiguously to complex I and, reconciling our observations with much of the previous literature, conclude that they are likely to have been misattributed to it. We note that, for this earlier work, the tools we have relied on here to deconvolute overlapping EPR signals were not available. Proposals for the mechanism of complex I based on the EPR signals of semiquinone species observed in mitochondrial membranes should thus be treated with caution until future work has succeeded in isolating any complex I semiquinone EPR spectroscopic signatures present.

Understanding How the Rate of C-H Bond Cleavage Affects Formate Oxidation Catalysis by a Mo-Dependent Formate Dehydrogenase.

Metal-dependent formate dehydrogenases (FDHs) catalyze the reversible conversion of formate into CO2, a proton, and two electrons. Kinetic studies of FDHs provide key insights into their mechanism of catalysis, relevant as a guide for the development of efficient electrocatalysts for formate oxidation as well as for CO2 capture and utilization. Here, we identify and explain the kinetic isotope effect (KIE) observed for the oxidation of formate and deuterioformate by the Mo-containing FDH from Escherichia coli using three different techniques: steady-state solution kinetic assays, protein film electrochemistry (PFE), and pre-steady-state stopped-flow methods. For each technique, the Mo center of FDH is reoxidized at a different rate following formate oxidation, significantly affecting the observed kinetic behavior and providing three different viewpoints on the KIE. Steady-state turnover in solution, using an artificial electron acceptor, is kinetically limited by diffusional intermolecular electron transfer, masking the KIE. In contrast, interfacial electron transfer in PFE is fast, lifting the electron-transfer rate limitation and manifesting a KIE of 2.44. Pre-steady-state analyses using stopped-flow spectroscopy revealed a KIE of 3 that can be assigned to the C-H bond cleavage step during formate oxidation. We formalize our understanding of FDH catalysis by fitting all the data to a single kinetic model, recreating the condition-dependent shift in rate-limitation of FDH catalysis between active-site chemical catalysis and regenerative electron transfer. Furthermore, our model predicts the steady-state and time-dependent concentrations of catalytic intermediates, providing a valuable framework for the design of future mechanistic experiments.

Hydroxylated Rotenoids Selectively Inhibit the Proliferation of Prostate Cancer Cells.

Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in men. The identification of new therapeutics to selectively target prostate cancer cells is therefore vital. Recently, the rotenoids rotenone (1) and deguelin (2) were reported to selectively kill prostate cancer cells, and the inhibition of mitochondrial complex I was established as essential to their mechanism of action. However, these hydrophobic rotenoids readily cross the blood-brain barrier and induce symptoms characteristic of Parkinson's disease in animals. Since hydroxylated derivatives of 1 and 2 are more hydrophilic and less likely to readily cross the blood-brain barrier, 29 natural and unnatural hydroxylated derivatives of 1 and 2 were synthesized for evaluation. The inhibitory potency (IC50) of each derivative against complex I was measured, and its hydrophobicity (Slog10P) predicted. Amorphigenin (3), dalpanol (4), dihydroamorphigenin (5), and amorphigenol (6) were selected and evaluated in cell-based assays using C4-2 and C4-2B prostate cancer cells alongside control PNT2 prostate cells. These rotenoids inhibit complex I in cells, decrease oxygen consumption, and selectively inhibit the proliferation of prostate cancer cells, leaving control cells unaffected. The greatest selectivity and antiproliferative effects were observed with 3 and 5. The data highlight these molecules as promising therapeutic candidates for further evaluation in prostate cancer models.

Architecture of mammalian respiratory complex I.

Complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is essential for oxidative phosphorylation in mammalian mitochondria. It couples electron transfer from NADH to ubiquinone with proton translocation across the energy-transducing inner membrane, providing electrons for respiration and driving ATP synthesis. Mammalian complex I contains 44 different nuclear- and mitochondrial-encoded subunits, with a combined mass of 1 MDa. The 14 conserved 'core' subunits have been structurally defined in the minimal, bacterial complex, but the structures and arrangement of the 30 'supernumerary' subunits are unknown. Here we describe a 5 Å resolution structure of complex I from Bos taurus heart mitochondria, a close relative of the human enzyme, determined by single-particle electron cryo-microscopy. We present the structures of the mammalian core subunits that contain eight iron-sulphur clusters and 60 transmembrane helices, identify 18 supernumerary transmembrane helices, and assign and model 14 supernumerary subunits. Thus, we considerably advance knowledge of the structure of mammalian complex I and the architecture of its supernumerary ensemble around the core domains. Our structure provides insights into the roles of the supernumerary subunits in regulation, assembly and homeostasis, and a basis for understanding the effects of mutations that cause a diverse range of human diseases.

Correlating kinetic and structural data on ubiquinone binding and reduction by respiratory complex I.

Respiratory complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase), one of the largest membrane-bound enzymes in mammalian cells, powers ATP synthesis by using the energy from electron transfer from NADH to ubiquinone-10 to drive protons across the energy-transducing mitochondrial inner membrane. Ubiquinone-10 is extremely hydrophobic, but in complex I the binding site for its redox-active quinone headgroup is ∼20 Šabove the membrane surface. Structural data suggest it accesses the site by a narrow channel, long enough to accommodate almost all of its ∼50-Šisoprenoid chain. However, how ubiquinone/ubiquinol exchange occurs on catalytically relevant timescales, and whether binding/dissociation events are involved in coupling electron transfer to proton translocation, are unknown. Here, we use proteoliposomes containing complex I, together with a quinol oxidase, to determine the kinetics of complex I catalysis with ubiquinones of varying isoprenoid chain length, from 1 to 10 units. We interpret our results using structural data, which show the hydrophobic channel is interrupted by a highly charged region at isoprenoids 4-7. We demonstrate that ubiquinol-10 dissociation is not rate determining and deduce that ubiquinone-10 has both the highest binding affinity and the fastest binding rate. We propose that the charged region and chain directionality assist product dissociation, and that isoprenoid stepping ensures short transit times. These properties of the channel do not benefit the exhange of short-chain quinones, for which product dissociation may become rate limiting. Thus, we discuss how the long channel does not hinder catalysis under physiological conditions and the possible roles of ubiquinone/ubiquinol binding/dissociation in energy conversion.

Reversible and Selective Interconversion of Hydrogen and Carbon Dioxide into Formate by a Semiartificial Formate Hydrogenlyase Mimic.

The biological formate hydrogenlyase (FHL) complex links a formate dehydrogenase (FDH) to a hydrogenase (H2ase) and produces H2 and CO2 from formate via mixed-acid fermentation in Escherichia coli. Here, we describe an electrochemical and a colloidal semiartificial FHL system that consists of an FDH and a H2ase immobilized on conductive indium tin oxide (ITO) as an electron relay. These in vitro systems benefit from the efficient wiring of a highly active enzyme pair and allow for the reversible conversion of formate to H2 and CO2 under ambient temperature and pressure. The hybrid systems provide a template for the design of synthetic catalysts and surpass the FHL complex in vivo by storing and releasing H2 on demand by interconverting CO2/H2 and formate with minimal bias in either direction.

Open questions: respiratory chain supercomplexes-why are they there and what do they do?

In the mitochondrial inner membrane the respiratory enzymes associate to form supramolecular assemblies known as supercomplexes. The existence of supercomplexes is now widely accepted-but what functional or structural advantages, if any, do they confer?

Respiratory Complex I in Bos taurus and Paracoccus denitrificans Pumps Four Protons across the Membrane for Every NADH Oxidized.

Respiratory complex I couples electron transfer between NADH and ubiquinone to proton translocation across an energy-transducing membrane to support the proton-motive force that drives ATP synthesis. The proton-pumping stoichiometry of complex I (i.e. the number of protons pumped for each two electrons transferred) underpins all mechanistic proposals. However, it remains controversial and has not been determined for any of the bacterial enzymes that are exploited as model systems for the mammalian enzyme. Here, we describe a simple method for determining the proton-pumping stoichiometry of complex I in inverted membrane vesicles under steady-state ADP-phosphorylating conditions. Our method exploits the rate of ATP synthesis, driven by oxidation of NADH or succinate with different sections of the respiratory chain engaged in catalysis as a proxy for the rate of proton translocation and determines the stoichiometry of complex I by reference to the known stoichiometries of complexes III and IV. Using vesicles prepared from mammalian mitochondria (from Bos taurus) and from the bacterium Paracoccus denitrificans, we show that four protons are pumped for every two electrons transferred in both cases. By confirming the four-proton stoichiometry for mammalian complex I and, for the first time, demonstrating the same value for a bacterial complex, we establish the utility of P. denitrificans complex I as a model system for the mammalian enzyme. P. denitrificans is the first system described in which mutagenesis in any complex I core subunit may be combined with quantitative proton-pumping measurements for mechanistic studies.

Structure of subcomplex Iß of mammalian respiratory complex I leads to new supernumerary subunit assignments.

Mitochondrial complex I (proton-pumping NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is an essential respiratory enzyme. Mammalian complex I contains 45 subunits: 14 conserved "core" subunits and 31 "supernumerary" subunits. The structure of Bos taurus complex I, determined to 5-Å resolution by electron cryomicroscopy, described the structure of the mammalian core enzyme and allowed the assignment of 14 supernumerary subunits. Here, we describe the 6.8-Å resolution X-ray crystallography structure of subcomplex Iß, a large portion of the membrane domain of B. taurus complex I that contains two core subunits and a cohort of supernumerary subunits. By comparing the structures and composition of subcomplex Iß and complex I, supported by comparisons with Yarrowia lipolytica complex I, we propose assignments for eight further supernumerary subunits in the structure. Our new assignments include two CHCH-domain containing subunits that contain disulfide bridges between CX9C motifs; they are processed by the Mia40 oxidative-folding pathway in the intermembrane space and probably stabilize the membrane domain. We also assign subunit B22, an LYR protein, to the matrix face of the membrane domain. We reveal that subunit B22 anchors an acyl carrier protein (ACP) to the complex, replicating the LYR protein-ACP structural module that was identified previously in the hydrophilic domain. Thus, we significantly extend knowledge of how the mammalian supernumerary subunits are arranged around the core enzyme, and provide insights into their roles in biogenesis and regulation.

Subunit NDUFV3 is present in two distinct isoforms in mammalian complex I.

Complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is the first enzyme of the electron transport chain in mammalian mitochondria. Extensive proteomic and structural analyses of complex I from Bos taurus heart mitochondria have shown it comprises 45 subunits encoded on both the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes; 44 of them are different and one is present in two copies. The bovine heart enzyme has provided a model for studying the composition of complex I in other mammalian species, including humans, but the possibility of additional subunits or isoforms in other species or tissues has not been explored. Here, we describe characterization of the complexes I purified from five rat tissues and from a rat hepatoma cell line. We identify a~50kDa isoform of subunit NDUFV3, for which the canonical isoform is only ~10kDa in size. We combine LC-MS and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry data from two different purification methods (chromatography and immuno-purification) with information from blue native PAGE analyses to show the long isoform is present in the mature complex, but at substoichiometric levels. It is also present in complex I in cultured human cells. We describe evidence that the long isoform is more abundant in both the mitochondria and purified complexes from brain (relative to in heart, liver, kidney and skeletal muscle) and more abundant still in complex I in cultured cells. We propose that the long 50kDa isoform competes with its canonical 10kDa counterpart for a common binding site on the flavoprotein domain of complex I.

Energy conversion, redox catalysis and generation of reactive oxygen species by respiratory complex I.

Complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is critical for respiration in mammalian mitochondria. It oxidizes NADH produced by the Krebs' tricarboxylic acid cycle and ß-oxidation of fatty acids, reduces ubiquinone, and transports protons to contribute to the proton-motive force across the inner membrane. Complex I is also a significant contributor to cellular oxidative stress. In complex I, NADH oxidation by a flavin mononucleotide, followed by intramolecular electron transfer along a chain of iron-sulfur clusters, delivers electrons and energy to bound ubiquinone. Either at cluster N2 (the terminal cluster in the chain) or upon the binding/reduction/dissociation of ubiquinone/ubiquinol, energy from the redox process is captured to initiate long-range energy transfer through the complex and drive proton translocation. This review focuses on current knowledge of how the redox reaction and proton transfer are coupled, with particular emphasis on the formation and role of semiquinone intermediates in both energy transduction and reactive oxygen species production. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Respiratory complex I, edited by Volker Zickermann and Ulrich Brandt.

Oxidation-State-Dependent Binding Properties of the Active Site in a Mo-Containing Formate Dehydrogenase.

Molybdenum-containing formate dehydrogenase H from Escherichia coli (EcFDH-H) is a powerful model system for studies of the reversible reduction of CO2 to formate. However, the mechanism of FDH catalysis is currently under debate, and whether the primary Mo coordination sphere remains saturated or one of the ligands dissociates to allow direct substrate binding during turnover is disputed. Herein, we describe how oxidation-state-dependent changes at the active site alter its inhibitor binding properties. Using protein film electrochemistry, we show that formate oxidation by EcFDH-H is inhibited strongly and competitively by N3-, OCN-, SCN-, NO2-, and NO3-, whereas CO2 reduction is inhibited only weakly and not competitively. During catalysis, the Mo center cycles between the formal Mo(VI)═S and Mo(IV)-SH states, and by modeling chronoamperometry data recorded at different potentials and substrate and inhibitor concentrations, we demonstrate that both formate oxidation and CO2 reduction are inhibited by selective inhibitor binding to the Mo(VI)═S state. The strong dependence of inhibitor-binding affinity on both Mo oxidation state and inhibitor electron-donor strength indicates that inhibitors (and substrates) bind directly to the Mo center. We propose that inhibitors bind to the Mo following dissociation of a selenocysteine ligand to create a vacant coordination site for catalysis and close by considering the implications of our data for the mechanisms of formate oxidation and CO2 reduction.

Using Hyperfine Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy to Define the Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer Reaction at Fe-S Cluster N2 in Respiratory Complex I.

Energy-transducing respiratory complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is one of the largest and most complicated enzymes in mammalian cells. Here, we used hyperfine electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic methods, combined with site-directed mutagenesis, to determine the mechanism of a single proton-coupled electron transfer reaction at one of eight iron-sulfur clusters in complex I, [4Fe-4S] cluster N2. N2 is the terminal cluster of the enzyme's intramolecular electron-transfer chain and the electron donor to ubiquinone. Because of its position and pH-dependent reduction potential, N2 has long been considered a candidate for the elusive "energy-coupling" site in complex I at which energy generated by the redox reaction is used to initiate proton translocation. Here, we used hyperfine sublevel correlation (HYSCORE) spectroscopy, including relaxation-filtered hyperfine and single-matched resonance transfer (SMART) HYSCORE, to detect two weakly coupled exchangeable protons near N2. We assign the larger coupling with A(1H) = [-3.0, -3.0, 8.7] MHz to the exchangeable proton of a conserved histidine and conclude that the histidine is hydrogen-bonded to N2, tuning its reduction potential. The histidine protonation state responds to the cluster oxidation state, but the two are not coupled sufficiently strongly to catalyze a stoichiometric and efficient energy transduction reaction. We thus exclude cluster N2, despite its proton-coupled electron transfer chemistry, as the energy-coupling site in complex I. Our work demonstrates the capability of pulse EPR methods for providing detailed information on the properties of individual protons in even the most challenging of energy-converting enzymes.