Further characterisation of the FAD and Fe2S2 redox centres of component C, the NADH:acceptor reductase of the soluble methane monooxygenase of Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath).

The absorbance contributions of the FAD and Fe2S2 redox centres of component C of the soluble methane monooxygenase complex have been resolved, using mersalyl to destroy the Fe2S2 centre. The Fe2S2 seems to be very similar to that of spinach ferredoxin, by its absorbance and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra, and the FAD semiquinone is a neutral semiquinone. Spectrophotometry near room temperature and EPR spectroscopy near liquid-helium temperature allow the three redox couples of component C to be ordered. Component C can exist in Oe-1 (oxidised), 1e-1 (semiquinone), 2e-1 (mostly semiquinone and reduced Fe2S2), and 3e-1 forms (dihydroquinone and reduced Fe2S2), under equilibrium conditions. The ability of component C to support odd-electron forms is consistent with its proposed role as a 2e-1/1e-1 transformase, splitting electron pairs from NADH for passage to component A in one-electron steps. (The FAD appears to interact with NADH, and transfers single electrons to the Fe2S2, for donation to component A at a constant redox potential.) The mid-point potentials of component C were found using redox dyes and EPR spectroscopy and were: FAD/FAD., Em = -150 mV; Fe2S2/Fe2.S2,Em = -220 mV; FAD./FAD..,Em = -260 mV. the presence of NADH did not alter these mid-point potentials. These mid-point potentials are consistent with the role of component C as the NADH:component A reductase, passing electrons from NADH (Em = -320 mV) onto component A (Em = +150 mV and Em = -150 mV). The reducing power from NADH appears to be required by component A to activate one atom of oxygen, to insert into methane, and the reducing equivalents derived from NADH end up with the other oxygen atom, as water.