Functional Dissection of the Multi-Domain Di-Heme Cytochrome c₅₅₀ from Thermus thermophilus

In bacteria, oxidation of sulfite to sulfate, the most common strategy for sulfite detoxification, is mainly accomplished by the molybdenum-containing sulfite:acceptor oxidoreductases (SORs). Bacterial SORs are very diverse proteins; they can exist as monomers or homodimers of their core subunit, as well as heterodimers with an additional cytochrome c subunit. We have previously described the homodimeric SOR from Thermus thermophilus HB8 (SOR_TTHB8), identified its physiological electron acceptor, cytochrome c₅₅₀, and demonstrated the key role of the latter in coupling sulfite oxidation to aerobic respiration. Herein, the role of this di-heme cytochrome c was further investigated. The cytochrome was shown to be composed of two conformationally independent domains, each containing one heme moiety. Each domain was separately cloned, expressed in E. coli and purified to homogeneity. Stopped-flow experiments showed that: i) the N-terminal domain is the only one accepting electrons from SOR_TTHB8; ii) the N- and C-terminal domains are in rapid redox equilibrium and iii) both domains are able to transfer electrons further to cytochrome c₅₅₂, the physiological substrate of the ba₃ and caa₃ terminal oxidases. These findings show that cytochrome c₅₅₀ functions as a electron shuttle, without working as an electron wire with one heme acting as the electron entry and the other as the electron exit site. Although contribution of the cytochrome c₅₅₀ C-terminal domain to T. thermophilus sulfur respiration seems to be dispensable, we suggest that di-heme composition of the cytochrome physiologically enables storage of the two electrons generated from sulfite oxidation, thereof ensuring efficient contribution of sulfite detoxification to the respiratory chain-mediated energy generation.