Studies on the Electron Transfer System

Abstract

Abstract Purified preparations of cytochrome oxidase solubilized in bile acid exhibit random aggregations of subunit particles of about 50 and 100 A in diameter. When the bile acids are removed, the subunit particles organize into vesicular membranes. Removal of phospholipid from cytochrome oxidase eliminates the capacity of the subunits to organize into vesicles. This capacity is restored by adding back mitochondrial phospholipid to the lipid-depleted particles.