Adrenodoxin interaction with adrenodoxin reductase and cytochrome P-450scc. Cross-linking of protein complexes and effects of adrenodoxin modification by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide

Modification of the three carboxyl groups on adrenodoxin using a water-soluble carbodiimide (1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide) caused a weakening of the binding of this iron-sulfur protein to both its electron donor protein, adrenodoxin reductase, and its electron acceptor protein, cytochrome P-450scc. Based upon the proximity of the modified groups, the site on adrenodoxin for interaction with the other two proteins is likely to be either identical or highly overlapping, and formation of a ternary complex among the proteins is precluded. Upon incubation of adrenodoxin and either adrenodoxin reductase or cytochrome P-450 plus the carbodiimide (1:1), covalently cross-linked species were formed. When all three proteins were incubated with the cross-linker, only the binary complexes were formed, and no higher order (e.g. 1:1:1 or 1:2:1) complexes were seen. These studies indicate that adrenodoxin forms exclusive binary complexes with its electron transfer partner proteins, and thus provide a physical explanation for the proposed role of adrenodoxin as a mobile electron shuttle between NADPH-adrenodoxin reductase and cytochrome P-450scc.