Evolutionary trends Technique

Iron and sulfur can be extracted from F. the resulting apoferredoxin is reactivated by iron(II) salts and sulfides. The synthesis of the iron-free protein has been achieved by the Merrifield technique. On account of their properties as redox systems (Fe +e" Fe ") the F. effect electron transport between enzyme systems but do not exhibit any enzymatic activity. They transport electrons in the respiratory chain, in photosynthesis, and in nitrogen fixation. The iron-sulfur protein P439 of the Fc4S4-type (Mr 11600) plays a role in photosynthesis. Conclusions can be drawn about the evolutionary histories of plants from the similarities and differences in the amino acid sequences. For the evolutionary history of F. in photosynthesis, see Lit.K F. with FejSj- and FejSg-clusters also occur in bacteria Lit. TrendsBiochem.Sci. 13,30-33(1988). FEMSMicrobiol. Rev. 54,155-176 (1988) Trends Biochem. Sci. 13,369 f. (1988). 

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