Tribute to Bernhard Kadenbach – Cytochrome c oxidase: from subunits to regulatory functions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26124/bec.2025-0003Keywords:
cytochrome c oxidase, subunits, isoforms, second mechanism of respiratory control, reactive oxygen species (ROS)Abstract
Bernhard Kadenbach was a German biochemist whose research advanced our understanding of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (Complex IV, CIV) and its regulation. In the 1980s, he discovered that mammalian CIV consists of 13 tightly bound subunits, a finding later confirmed through structural analysis. Besides the structural studies of CIV, his research focused on the role of tissue-specific isoforms of CIV subunits, its allosteric regulation by the ATP/ADP ratio, and phosphorylation mechanisms, proposing a “second mechanism of respiratory control” that modulates energy transformation and minimizes reactive oxygen species (ROS). Kadenbach’s insights into CIV regulation, tissue-specific isoforms, and metabolic control remain influential for ongoing mitochondrial research and potential therapeutic applications.
Cite:
Vogt S, Günther M, Hüttemann M (2025) Tribute to Bernhard Kadenbach – Cytochrome c oxidase: from subunits to regulatory functions. Bioenerg Commun 2025.3. https://doi.org/10.26124/bec.2025-0003

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Copyright (c) 2025 Sebastian Vogt, Madeline Günther, Maik Hüttemann

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