Import of cytochrome c into mitochondria

Nicholson, Donald W. and Neupert, Walter (1989): Import of cytochrome c into mitochondria. Reduction of heme, mediated by NADH and flavin nucleotides, is obligatory for its covalent linkage to apocytochrome c. In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 86, No. 12: pp. 4340-4344

Abstract

The covalent attachment of heme to apocytochrome c, and therefore the import of cytochrome c into mitochondria, is dependent on both NADH plus a cytosolic cofactor that has been identified to be FMN or FAD. NADH in concert with flavin nucleotides mediates the reduction of heme. Heme in the reduced state is a prerequisite for its covalent attachment to apocytochrome c by the enzyme cytochrome c heme lyase and thus for subsequent translocation of cytochrome c across the outer mitochondrial membrane during import.

• Item Type: Article
• Collections: Medicine
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health