Electron transport chain components, table

Because of the difficulty of isolating the electron transport chain from the rest of the mitochondrion, it is easiest to measure ratios of components (Table 18-3). Cytochromes a, a3, b, cv and c vary from a 1 1 to a 3 1 ratio while flavins, ubiquinone, and nonheme iron occur in relatively larger amounts. The much larger... 

Table 18.2. Components of the mitochondrial electron-transport chain...

The arrangement of components of the electron transport chain was deduced experimentally. Since electrons pass only from electronegative systems to electropositive systems, the carriers react according to their standard redox potential (Table 14-2). Specific inhibitors and spectroscopic analysis of respiratory chain components are used to identify the reduced and oxidized forms and also aid in the determination of the sequence of carriers. 

Table II summarizes the sources and key properties of isolated HiPIPs, almost all of which have been isolated from photosynthetic organisms, and there has been extensive speculation on their involvement in respiratory electron transport chains (18, 21, 91-93, 95, 96, 102-105). Evidence in support of such a hypothesis has recently emerged from studies of a partially reconstructed reaction center (RC) complex from Rhodoferax fermentans (93, 95). The kinetics of photo-induced electron transfer from HiPIP to the reaction center suggested the formation of a HiPIP-RC complex with a dissociation constant of 2.5 fx,M. In vivo and in vitro studies by Schoepp et al. (94) similarly have demonstrated that the only high-redox-potential electron transfer component in the soluble fraction of Rhodocyclus gelatinosus TG-9 that could serve as the immediate electron transfer donor to the reaction-center-bound C3d ochrome was a HiPIP. In vitro experiments have shown HiPIP to be an electron donor to the Chromatium reaction center (106). Fukumori and Yamanaka (107) also reported that Chromatium vinosum HiPIP is an efficient electron acceptor for a thiosulfate-oxidizing enzyme isolated from that organism.

It has been suggested that menadiones are components of the electron transport chain (ETC). Indeed, we (Bonarceva et al, 1973b) found naphthoquinones in propionibacteria (Table 3.8). Cox et al. (1970) showed that during the oxidation of NADH, lactate and malate in E. colt ubiquinones may act at two sites of the ETC before and after cytochrome h. At the same time, there is evidence for quinone-independent pathways of electron transport. 

The development by Chance of a dual wavelength spectrophotometer permitted easy observation of the state of oxidation or reduction of a given carrier within mitochondria.60 This technique, together with the study of specific inhibitors (some of which are indicated in Fig. 18-5 and Table 18-4), allowed some electron transport sequences to be assigned. For example, blockage with rotenone and amytal prevented reduction of the cytochrome system by NADH but allowed reduction by succinate and by other substrates having their own flavoprotein components in the chain. Artificial electron acceptors, some of which are shown in Table 18-5,... 

Now that it is established that cestodes possess all the components of a electron transport system, is the latter functional Weinbach von Brand (952) failed to demonstrate either respiratory control or oxidative phosphorylation in T. taeniaeformis, although they regarded this as a technical rather than a physiological problem. However, there is good evidence that isolated mitochondria from M. expansa (124-127) and H. diminuta (663, 978) are capable of oxidative phosphorylation and respiratory control. The demonstration that a preparation of H. diminuta mitochondria will oxidise a range of substrates, exhibiting respiratory control, is shown in Table 5.14. Similarly, mitochondria from Diphyllo-bothrium latum can oxidise NADH (728) and succinate (729). It is likely that the classical mammalian-type part of the cytochrome chain in cestodes is capable of oxidative phosphorylation, but there is no evidence for ATP synthesis occurring on the alternative branch from the quinone or vitamin K/cytochrome b complex to cytochrome o. 

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