Assembly of the Multi-Subunit Cytochrome bc1 Complex in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The cytochrome bc(1) complex is an essential component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It is composed of ten protein subunits, three of them playing an important role in electron transfer and proton pumping across the inner mitochondrial membrane. Cytochrome b, the central component of this respiratory complex, is encoded by the mitochondrial genome, whereas all the other subunits are of nuclear origin. The assembly of all these subunits into the mature and functional cytochrome bc(1) complex is therefore a complicated process which requires the participation of several chaperone proteins. It has been found that the assembly process of the mitochondrial bc(1) complex proceeds through the formation of distinct sub-complexes in an ordered sequence. Most of these sub-complexes have been thoroughly characterized, and their molecular compositions have also been defined. This study critically analyses the results obtained so far and highlights new possible areas of investigation.

Automated summary

This study critically analyzes the assembly process of the cytochrome bc(1) complex in the mitochondrial respiratory chain of yeast. It highlights the complexity of this process, which involves multiple protein subunits and the formation of distinct sub-complexes. The results of this study provide important insights into the mechanism and function of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, and suggest new areas of investigation for future research.