Succinate Dehydrogenase Could Save Lives
Figure 1. The ribon structure of Fcc3, a model for SDHTaylor et al has crystalized flavocytochrome c3. This structure provides insight about important energy-generating metabolic pathways associated with succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). This discovery has yielded mechanistic inferences that may help to understand and cure mitochondrial disorders.
SDH is the only enzyme that is found in both the electron transport chain and the citric acid cycle. SDH is located on the mitochondrial inner membrane and is the only membrane-bound enzyme of the citric acid cycle. Because this enzyme is central to energy metabolism, SDH has been the subject of exstensive research. SDH is a complex membrane-spanning protein. The large hydrophobic regions make crystalization difficult, so a structure has not been found. Enzymes with similar functions from various species have been studied to understand this enzyme.
Author: Jennifer Brenneman / Biochemistry 462b Honors / The University of Arizona / Last Revised July 13, 2000