title: The effect of the protonmotive force on the redox state of mitochondrial cytochromes.
abstract: In the absence of kinetic limitations, as determined either by high substrate concentrations or by absence of respiratory chain inhibitors, we have observed that: (a) the relationship between the percentage reduction of the cytochromes and the protonmotive force is linear in the case of cytochrome c and biphasic in the case of cytochrome b, (b) the redox state of cytochrome c depends only on the membrane potential and not on the total proton motive force and (c) the alkalinization of the matrix enhances the extent of cytochrome c reduction because of the marked inhibitory effect on the cytochrome oxidase activity. Thus, although the redox states of the b, c and aa3 mitochondrial cytochromes depend on the protonmotive force, the quantitative correlation between the two parameters and the relative effects of the electrical and chemical components of the force differ among the various cytochromes.
authors.affiliation: CNR Unit for the Study of the Physiology of Mitochondria, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Azzone
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schmehl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Canton
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luvisetto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002259:Carbonyl Cyanide p-Trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone / Q000494:pharmacology; D003580:Cytochromes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology*; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011522:Protons; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D003580:Cytochromes; D011522:Protons; D002259:Carbonyl Cyanide p-Trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone