title: Reconstitution of cytochrome c oxidase in phospholipid vesicles containing polyvinylic polymers.
abstract: Cytochrome c oxidase was reconstituted in phospholipid vesicles in the presence of highly hydrophobic poly(vinyl alkanoate) polymers. Electron-microscopy observations demonstrated that polymer interaction with the lipid phase induces vesicles to adopt smaller diameters than those typical of standard proteoliposomes. Functional characterization of these polymer-proteoliposome structures indicates that the reconstitution of the enzyme proceeds efficiently without causing either scrambling of the protein orientation in the membrane or loss of respiratory control. A clear dependence of respiratory control ratio on vesicle size was also demonstrated, which is in agreement with a previous model proposed for control of activity of cytochrome c oxidase vesicles [Brunori, Sarti, Colosimo, Antonini, Malatesta, Jones & Wilson (1985) EMBO J. 4, 2365-2368].
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Technology and Biometry, University of L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sarti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antonini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Malatesta
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vallone
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Villaschi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunori
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Hider
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamed
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010743:Phospholipids; D011108:Polymers; D011145:Polyvinyls; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV