pfam00115: COX1 (This model is not part of the current CDD release)
Cytochrome C and Quinol oxidase polypeptide I
Cytochrome c oxidase (E.C:7.1.1.9) is a key enzyme in aerobic metabolism. Proton pumping haem-copper oxidases represent the terminal, energy-transfer enzymes of respiratory chains in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The CuB-haem a3 (or haem o) binuclear centre, associated with the largest subunit I of cytochrome c and ubiquinol oxidases (E.C:1.10.3.11), is directly involved in the coupling between dioxygen reduction and proton pumping. Some terminal oxidases generate a transmembrane proton gradient across the plasma membrane (prokaryotes) or the mitochondrial inner membrane (eukaryotes). The enzyme complex consists of 3-4 subunits (prokaryotes) up to 13 polypeptides (mammals) of which only the catalytic subunit (equivalent to mammalian subunit I (COXI) is found in all haem-copper respiratory oxidases. The presence of a bimetallic centre (formed by a high-spin haem and copper B) as well as a low-spin haem, both ligated to six conserved histidine residues near the outer side of four transmembrane spans within CO I is common to all family members.