Sulfide:quinone reductase

The SQR in Aquifex aeolicus is composed of three subunits with a negatively charged hydrophilic side exposed to the periplasmic space and a hydrophobic region that integrates into the cell’s plasma membrane. The protein's active site is composed of an FAD cofactor covalently linked by a thioether bond to the enzyme. On the si side of the FAD the sulfide reacts and donates its electrons to FAD, while the re side of FAD is connected to a disulfide bridge and donates electrons to the quinone. 2, 3 The quinone is surrounded by Phe-385 and Ile-346. Both amino acids are located in the hydrophobic region of the plasma membrane and are conserved among all sulfide: quinone oxidoreductases. == Reaction Pathway ==

In A. aeolicus, SQR is an integral monotopic protein, so it penetrates into the hydrophobic region of the plasma membrane. The SQR reaction takes place in two half reactions, sulfide oxidation and quinone reduction. The active site of SQR is composed of a region that interacts with the periplasmic space and sulfide connected by a FAD cofactor and a trisulfide bridge to a quinone. FAD receives two electrons from sulfide and transfers the electrons one at time to the quinone. The amino acids surrounding the quinone are all hydrophobic. Also, there is a highly conserved region of uncharged amino acids, phenylalanine and isoleucine, that surround the benzene ring of the quinone. SQR is a member of the flavoprotein disulfide reductase (FDR) superfamily. FDRs are typically characterized as being dimeric or two subunit proteins, but sulfide quinone oxidoreductase is a trimeric protein. The main purpose of SQR is to detoxify sulfide. Sulfide is a toxic chemical that inhibits enzymatic reactions, especially those with metal cofactors. Most notably, sulfide inhibits cytochrome oxidase found in the electron transport chain. SQR oxidizes sulfide and produces non-toxic products. == Role in metabolism ==

SQR is an integral protein that enters cells' plasma membrane (or inner mitochondrial membrane). The plasma membrane is the site of the electron transport chain for respiration. The electron transport chain depends on two factors: 1) ability of a membrane to store an ion gradient; 2) the ability of an organism to pump hydrogen ions against a gradient (from low to high concentration). 2) electrons from sulfide are donated to SQR, while the electrons from NADH are donated to the NADH:quinone oxidoreductase. == References ==