H(2)O(2) selectively damages the binuclear iron-sulfur cluster N1b of respiratory complex I

NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, respiratory complex I, plays a major role in cellular energy metabolism by coupling electron transfer with proton translocation. Electron transfer is catalyzed by a flavin mononucleotide and a series of iron-sulfur (Fe/S) clusters. As a by-product of the reaction, the reduced flavin generates reactive oxygen species (ROS). It was suggested that the ROS generated by the respiratory chain in general could damage the Fe/S clusters of the complex. Here, we show that the binuclear Fe/S cluster N1b is specifically damaged by H(2)O(2), however, only at high concentrations. But under the same conditions, the activity of the complex is hardly affected, since N1b can be easily bypassed during electron transfer.