Cytochrome c oxidase subunit II, abbreviated CoxII, is the second subunit of cytochrome c oxidase.

Cytochrome c oxidase ()^[1][2] is an oligomeric enzymatic complex which is a component of the respiratory chain and is involved in the transfer of electrons from cytochrome c to oxygen. In eukaryotes this enzyme complex is located in the mitochondrial inner membrane; in aerobic prokaryotes it is found in the plasma membrane. The enzyme complex consists of 3-4 subunits (prokaryotes) to up to 13 polypeptides (mammals).

Subunit 2 (CO II) transfers the electrons from cytochrome c to the catalytic subunit 1. It contains two adjacent transmembrane regions in its N-terminus and the major part of the protein is exposed to the periplasmic or to the mitochondrial intermembrane space, respectively. CO II provides the substrate-binding site and contains a copper centre called Cu(A) (see ), probably the primary acceptor in cytochrome c oxidase. An exception is the corresponding subunit of the cbb3-type oxidase which lacks the copper A redox-centre. Several bacterial CO II have a C-terminal extension that contains a covalently bound haem c.

The N-terminal domain of cytochrome C oxidase contains two transmembrane alpha-helices.

Human proteins containing this domain

COII; COX2; MT-CO2;

References

• [1]. The whole structure of the 13-subunit oxidized cytochrome c oxidase at 2.8 A. Tsukihara T, Aoyama H, Yamashita E, Tomizaki T, Yamaguchi H, Shinzawa-Itoh K, Nakashima R, Yaono R, Yoshikawa S; Science 1996;272:1136-1144.

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