Bioenergetics articles from across Nature Portfolio

Tetrahymena thermophila possesses tubular mitochondrial cristae and a highly divergent electron transport chain. Here the authors report cryo-EM structures of its half ring-shaped ~8 MDa megacomplex IV₂ + (I + III₂ + II)₂ and ~10.6 MDa megacomplex (IV₂ + I + III₂+ II)₂ adapted to the cristae membrane curvature.

Combining molecular dynamic simulations with in vivo functional assays, Gagelin et al. identified unique molecular features of the mitochondrial carrier uncoupling protein 1 that are crucial to its inhibition by nucleotides

Using serial femtosecond X-ray cystallography, we provide structural insights into the final reaction step of Kok’s photosynthetic water oxidation cycle, specifically the S₃→[S₄]→S₀ transition where O₂ is formed.

Microsecond infrared spectroscopy together with quantum chemistry reveal the rate-determining proton and electron movements and identify an oxygen-radical state of the manganese cluster as the S4 state.