肺炎克雷伯菌质粒p1512-KPC的测序及比较基因组学分析

【目的】对多重耐药的肺炎克雷伯菌1512中的质粒p1512-KPC进行测序及比较基因组学的分析。【方法】利用16S rRNA基因测序进行菌种鉴定,根据7对管家基因(gapA、infB、mdh、pgi、phoE、rpoB和tonB)对菌株进行多位点序列分型(Multilocus sequence typing,MLST)。利用PCR进行耐药基因的筛查,通过接合转移实验及电转化实验将质粒转入受体菌大肠杆菌EC600。采用改良Carba NP法检测细菌碳青霉烯酶的活性以及类型,使用VITEK2Compact全自动细菌鉴定及药敏分析仪检测菌株最小抑菌浓度(Minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC)。最后通过高通量测序技术结合生物信息分析手段明确菌株1512及质粒p1512-KPC的耐药基因谱,并通过比较基因组方法对质粒p1512-KPC的基本结构、耐药基因遗传环境及移动元件等结构基因组学特征进行分析。【结果】菌株1512为产A类碳青霉烯酶的多重耐药肺炎克雷伯菌,MLST分型结果显示该菌为ST11型。经PCR筛查,菌株1512包含bla_(KPC-2)、dfrA1和sul1耐药基因,其中bla_(KPC-2)基因位于不可结合转移但电转成功的质粒p1512-KPC上。测序结果显示,质粒p1512-KPC长度为117.69 kb,同时包含IncFII型复制子和属于Rep_3家族但类型未知的复制子repB,并携带耐药基因bla_(KPC-2)、bla_(CTX-M-65)、bla_(TEM-1)及rmtB。其中bla_(KPC-2)、bla_(CTX-M-65)及bla_(TEM-1)分别存在于截短的Tn6296、Tn6367及截短的Tn2的基因环境中。【结论】携带bla_(KPC-2)、bla_(CTX-M-65)、bla_(TEM-1)及rmtB基因的质粒p1512-KPC介导了肺炎克雷伯菌1512对青霉素类、头孢菌素类、碳青霉烯类、单环β-内酰胺类及氨基糖苷类抗生素耐药,并能引起相应耐药基因的水平传播。此外,本研究还对IncFII型复制子和Rep_3家族复制子repB共存的质粒进行了比较基因组分析,为该类型质粒的多样性和进化提供了更深入的理解。     

IncFII-FIA-FIB型多重耐药质粒pBTR-CTXM的结构基因组学分析

【背景】IncFII-FIA-FIB型质粒广泛存在于肠杆菌科细菌中,介导了许多耐药基因的水平转移,并导致细菌多重耐药问题日益严重。【目的】分析IncFII-FIA-FIB型多重耐药质粒pBTR-CTXM的基因组结构,并研究其介导大肠杆菌BTR株的耐药基因水平转移机制。【方法】利用PCR进行耐药基因筛查;接合转移和电转化实验验证质粒pBTR-CTXM是否具备自主接合转移的特性;VITEK 2 Compact全自动细菌鉴定及药敏分析仪测定相关菌株对抗生素的药物敏感性;构建MatePair文库并进行细菌全基因组高通量测序和质粒结构基因组学分析。【结果】菌株BTR是携带blaNDM-1、blaCTX-M-15、blaTEM、qnrD、qnrS1、mph(A)、erm(B)和tetA(B)等耐药基因的多重耐药大肠杆菌,其中blaCTX-M-15、mph(A)、erm(B)和tet A(B)等耐药基因均位于大小为144 939 bp的质粒p BTR-CTXM (GenBank登录号MF156697)上,该质粒可与菌株BTR内质粒pNDM-BTR接合共转移到受体菌大肠杆菌EC600中。pBTR-CTXM具备IncFII-FIA-FIB型质粒典型的骨架区结构,其多重耐药(Multidrug-resistant,MDR)区由新的复合型转座子Tn6492、Tn2残余、Tn10残余、ISEcp1-blaCTX-M-15-Δorf477转座单元和一些插入序列组成。【结论】pBTR-CTXM中新复合型转座子Tn6492与Tn10残余和ISEcp1-blaCTX-M-15-Δorf477转座单元共同介导大肠杆菌BTR株的多重耐药与耐药基因的水平传播。     

产NDM-5大肠埃希菌的鉴定及特征分析

对分离自血液标本的1株碳青霉烯类耐药大肠埃希菌(Escherichia coli)SCNJ06进行特征分析,以期为临床耐药菌株感染的防治提供理论参考。采用全基因组测序以及生物信息学分析,该菌株属于序列型167(ST167),含有11种耐药基因,分别是rmtB、aph(3″)-Ib、aph(6)-Id、bla_(NDM-5)、bla_(TEM-1B)、bla_(CTX-M-55)、fosA3、floR、sul2、tet(A)和mdf(A)。其中,bla_(NDM-5)位于IncX3型质粒pNDM5_SCNJ06上,mdf(A)位于染色体上,其余耐药基因位于IncFII型质粒prmtB_SCNJ06上。接合试验显示,pNDM5_SCNJ06和prmtB_SCNJ06均能够发生接合转移。应加强抗菌药物临床应用管理和医院感染防控措施,重视细菌耐药监测工作。     

污水厂产超广谱β内酰胺酶大肠杆菌通过接合水平传递耐药性

【目的】研究废水中产超广谱β-内酰胺酶大肠杆菌中可移动质粒在耐药基因水平传播机制中的作用。【方法】对污水厂分离所得的50株产ESBLs大肠杆菌进行接合试验,并对所得的接合子采用纸片扩散法测定其对15种常见药物的耐药表型,针对质粒介导的产ESBLs菌株的耐药基因设计7对特异性引物对接合子进行PCR扩增。【结果】研究结果显示,80份水样分离得50株产ESBLs大肠杆菌,共接合成功35株细菌,接合成功率高达70%。接合子与供体菌相比,均发生耐药谱型的改变,且存在丢失一种或几种药物耐药性且产生另一种或几种药物耐药性的现象。PCR扩增结果显示,接合子与供体菌相比,耐药基因型有所减少或不变,bla_(TEM)、bla_(CTX-M)基因全部接合成功,bla_(SHV)基因仅1株未接合成功,耐氟喹诺酮类基因未发生转移。【结论】本研究表明,不同的耐药基因可能位于不同的可移动质粒上,可移动质粒在大肠杆菌耐药性水平传播的过程中起到了十分重要的作用。     

温度与pH值对长江水系产超广谱β-内酰胺酶大肠埃希菌耐药基因转移影响分析

研究温度和pH值对长江水系中产超广谱β-内酰胺酶(Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases,ESBL)大肠埃希菌(Escherichia coli)耐药基因转移影响规律,为今后介水疾病的预防与控制提供理论依据。采用滤膜法分离、梅里埃微生物分析系统鉴定菌株;将由长江水系分离出的产ESBL大肠埃希菌与大肠埃希菌NK5449进行接合,观察不同温度和pH值条件下接合频率变化情况;用纸片扩散法测定耐药谱;用PCR方法分析产ESBL供体菌与转移接合子β-内酰胺酶编码基因(bla),并对供、受体菌及转移接合子进行随机扩增多态性分析,判别转移接合子与供、受体菌的同源性。温度和pH值对产ESBL大肠埃希菌耐药基因水平转移影响明显,发生接合最适宜的pH值为7.1。温度对接合频率的影响具有双重性,相同条件下,某些大肠埃希菌接合频率随环境温度的降低率急剧下降,但某些大肠埃希菌的接合频率随环境温度下降有所上升。温度和pH值对产ESBL大肠埃希菌接合频率有重要影响。     

重庆市北碚区宠物源沙门氏菌耐药性监测及ESBL和PMQR基因检测

【背景】沙门氏菌是一种常见的人兽共患病病原菌。随着饲养宠物的人越来越多,宠物肠道内沙门氏菌对公共卫生的威胁逐渐显现,但鲜见宠物携带沙门氏菌的流行病学及宠物源沙门氏菌耐药性的报道。【目的】了解重庆市北碚区宠物源沙门氏菌的流行情况,以及其对常用抗菌药物的敏感性及超广谱β-内酰胺酶(Extended-Spectrumβ-Lactamases,ESBL)基因和质粒介导的喹诺酮耐药(Plasmid-Mediated Quinolone Resistance,PMQR)基因的携带情况。【方法】共采集北碚区宠物粪便样品1 038份,通过样品前增菌、选择性增菌、选择性平板筛选和PCR鉴定沙门氏菌特异性invA基因分离鉴定沙门氏菌;接着测定了分离菌株对28种抗菌药物的敏感性,检测了10种ESBL基因和10种PMQR基因。【结果】共分离到沙门氏菌41株,分离率为3.95%。这些菌株对磺胺异噁唑、氨苄西林、四环素、多西环素的耐药率都超过50%,而且82.92%为多重耐药菌株,对阿米卡星、氧氟沙星、依诺沙星、加替沙星完全敏感;85.37%的分离菌携带ESBL基因,以blaTEM基因最为流行;46.34%携带PMQR基因,以qnrS最为流行;48.57%的ESBL阳性菌株携带至少一种PMQR基因。【结论】北碚区宠物体内的沙门氏菌对一些抗菌药物存在不同程度的耐药性,而且耐药性可能是通过耐药质粒介导的。     

产AmpC酶肺炎克雷伯菌对氨基糖苷类抗生素的耐药性分析

目的了解本地区质粒介导的耐药机制在产AmpC酶肺炎克雷伯菌多重耐药中的作用、氨基糖苷修饰酶(AMEs)基因类型及转移方式。方法头孢西丁三维试验方法,检测产AmpC酶菌株;采用接合转移试验了解肺炎克雷伯菌耐药基因转移方式。采用K-B纸片测定产AmpC接合子对4种氨基糖苷类抗生素的敏感性,并采用PCR技术检测AMEs基因。结果临床分离的820株肺炎克雷伯菌共筛选出108株疑产AmpC酶菌株,阳性率为13.17%。经接合转移试验、AmpC酶表型确认试验共获得53株产AmpC接合子。其中67.9%的接合子(36/53)检出氨基糖苷修饰酶基因,aac(3)-I和aac(6′)-II未检出,对4种常用氨基糖苷类抗生素(阿米卡星、庆大霉素、妥布霉素、奈替米星)耐药率分别为37.7%、68.0%、43.4%和62.3%。结论本地区质粒介导AmpC酶是肺炎克雷伯菌产生多重耐药的重要原因,产酶株对氨基糖苷类高度耐药,其耐药性与AMEs密切相关,耐药基因质粒的转移可导致耐药性的传播扩散。     

2017–2019年中国南方五省规模化养猪场副猪格拉菌血清型、耐药性及β-内酰胺类耐药基因bla-TEM分子特征分析

【目的】旨在分析当前规模化养殖场副猪格拉菌(Glaesserella parasuis)优势血清型、耐药特性、耐药基因与分子特征。【方法】对源自规模化养猪场21株副猪格拉菌临床分离株,采用PCR鉴定血清型;利用K-B纸片扩散法鉴定其对25种抗生素的耐药表型;采用PCR检测bla-_TEM、bla-_NDM和bla-_CTX等7种耐药基因,并采用Chi-square test和Fisher exact test分析耐药表型和耐药基因型的相关性;耐药基因目的条带测序,并应用CLC Sequence Viewer软件分析β-内酰胺类耐药基因(bla-_TEM)编码蛋白氨基酸关键位点差异与耐药性的关系。【结果】21株副猪格拉菌临床分离株的优势血清型为4和12型;对β-内酰胺类药物苯唑西林的耐药性较强,耐药菌占比达61.9%(13/21);多重耐药菌株占比高达90.5%(19/21);β-内酰胺类耐药基因bla-_TEM携带率较高(52.4%,11/21),且bla-_TEM与β-内酰胺类药物青霉素G、苯唑西林和头孢拉定的耐药性显著相关,部分bla-_TEM编码氨基酸存在可能与副猪格拉菌耐药能力有关的差异位点。【结论】本研究表明,规模化养猪场的副猪格拉菌多重耐药情况仍很严重,并明确了被调查区域β-内酰胺类药物耐药率高的主要原因是携带耐药基因bla-_TEM,为加强对规模化养猪场副猪格拉菌耐药性监测提供理论依据。     

细菌中介导多重耐药的Tn7转座子研究进展

转座子是介导细菌耐药性传播的重要可移动遗传元件。Tn7转座子与细菌耐药密切相关,其携带转座模块和Ⅱ类整合子系统。Tn7编码转座相关蛋白TnsABCDE进行“剪切-粘贴”机制转座,转座核心TnsABC也可与三链DNA或Cas-RNA复合物结合实现转座。近年来新发现了多种介导多重耐药的Tn7转座子,其在介导细菌抗生素、消毒剂和重金属抗性基因的获得、传播扩散等方面发挥了重要作用。本文综述了细菌中Tn7转座子的遗传结构、转座机制、流行以及新发现的介导多重耐药的Tn7转座子,以期为细菌中Tn7转座子的深入研究提供参考。     

一株红球菌(Rhodococcus sp.)二噁英降解质粒的稳定性与接合转移特性

【目的】考察一株红球菌Rhodococcus sp.strain p52中的二噁英降解质粒pDF01(170 kb)和pDF02(242 kb)的稳定性和接合转移特性。【方法】在无选择压力的条件下对菌株p52进行连续传代培养,考察质粒pDF01、pDF02的丢失;以菌株p52为供体菌,以不同种属的菌株作受体菌,通过平板接合实验探讨质粒pDF01、pDF02接合转移的受体菌范围以及接合转移频率,利用菌落杂交、Southern杂交对质粒转移结果进行确认,利用降解实验测试转移质粒降解基因的表达。【结果】质粒pDF01和pDF02在红球菌p52中均具有较高的稳定性,在LB培养基上连续传代少于47次时pDF02可保持,连续传代少于65次时pDF01可保持。质粒pDF01和pDF02具备在同属和属间接合转移的能力,可向受体菌——紫红红球菌(Rhodococcus rhodochrous)、红串红球菌(Rhodococcus erythropolis)、大地两面神菌(Terrabacter tumescens)和节杆菌(Arthrobacter sp.)转移,其中以节杆菌作受体菌时质粒pDF01和pDF02接合转移频率最高,达到3.5×10~(-6)(接合子/受体菌);对节杆菌接合子质粒进行Southern杂交进一步确认了质粒pDF01、pDF02的存在。另外获得质粒pDF01、pDF02后的节杆菌接合子可以对二苯并呋喃高效利用,且降解能力与红球菌供体菌株p52相当。【结论】红球菌菌株p52可通过降解质粒转移强化生物修复过程,在去除环境中二噁英污染中具有良好的应用前景。     

On the integration of subthreshold inputs from Perforant Path and Schaffer Collaterals in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons

Using a realistic model of a CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neuron, we make experimentally testable predictions on the roles of the non-specific cation current, I _h , and the A-type Potassium current, I _A , in modulating the temporal window for the integration of the two main excitatory afferent pathways of a CA1 neuron, the Schaffer Collaterals and the Perforant Path. The model shows that the experimentally observed increase in the dendritic density of I _h and I _A could have a major role in constraining the temporal integration window for these inputs, in such a way that a somatic action potential (AP) is elicited only when they are activated with a relative latency consistent with the anatomical arrangement of the hippocampal circuitry.     

Subunit Organization of the Stator Part of the F 0 Complex from Escherichia coli ATP Synthase

Membrane-bound ATP synthases (F₁F₀) catalyze the synthesis of ATP via a rotary catalyticmechanism utilizing the energy of an electrochemical ion gradient. The transmembrane potentialis supposed to propel rotation of a subunit c ring of F₀ together with subunits and of F₁,hereby forming the rotor part of the enzyme, whereas the remainder of the F₁F₀ complexfunctions as a stator for compensation of the torque generated during rotation. This reviewfocuses on our recent work on the stator part of the F₀ complex, e.g., subunits a and b. Usingepitope insertion and antibody binding, subunit a was shown to comprise six transmembranehelixes with both the N- and C-terminus oriented toward the cytoplasm. By use of circulardichroism (CD) spectroscopy, the secondary structure of subunit b incorporated intoproteoliposomes was determined to be 80% -helical together with 14% turn conformation, providingflexibility to the second stalk. Reconstituted subunit b together with isolated ac subcomplexwas shown to be active in proton translocation and functional F₁ binding revealing the nativeconformation of the polypeptide chain. Chemical crosslinking in everted membrane vesiclesled to the formation of subunit b homodimers around residues bQ37 to bL65, whereas bA32Ccould be crosslinked to subunit a, indicating a close proximity of subunits a and b near themembrane. Further evidence for the proposed direct interaction between subunits a and b wasobtained by purification of a stable ab ₂ subcomplex via affinity chromatography using Histags fused to subunit a or b. This ab ₂ subcomplex was shown to be active in proton translocationand F₁ binding, when coreconstituted with subunit c. Consequences of crosslink formationand subunit interaction within the F₁F₀ complex are discussed.     

Expression of the mosquitocidal cryIVB gene under the control of different promoters in Bacillus sphaericus 2362 and acrystalliferous Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis c4Q2-72

The 3.7 kb XbaI fragment harbouring the cryIVB gene which encoded a 130 kDa mosquitocidal toxin protein from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (B.t.i.) was placed downstream to the cat-86 gene promoter (P _cat-86, spore stage specific expression) or bgaB gene promoter (P _bgaB , vegetative stage specific expression). The constructs were subcloned into pBC16 to obtain pBTC3 and pBTC6, respectively. Both plasmids and the other construct, pBTC1 were successfully transferred into B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis c4Q2-72 and B. sphaericus 2362. Western blot analysis showed that P _bgaB in front of P _cryIVB could enable cells to produce a 130 kDa protein from the vegetative stage (4 h) whereas those with P _cat-86 could not. The positive detection of 130 kDa crystal protein during the vegetative stage (4 h) by Western blot analysis indicated the vegetative-stage-specific expression of P _bgaB , while the 130 kDa crystal protein produced from cryIVB gene under control of P _cat-86 was detected only at 48 h. The strong activity of P _bgaB , together with P _cryIVB within pBTC6 in both bacterial hosts was also shown by the toxicity assay against Aedes aegypti larvae (B.t.i. c4Q2-72, 5.6 ± 3.6 × 10² c.f.u./ml; B. sphaericus 2362, 5.4 ± 2.5 × 10² c.f.u./ml) which were 100-fold and 10-fold more toxic to such larvae when compared with pBTC3 (P _cat-86 together with P _cryIVB ) and pBTC1 (contained only its self promoter) in the same bacterial host strains, respectively. The plasmid pBTC6 is not stable in either Bacillus host.     

Purification of cytochrome a 1 c 1 from Nitrobacter agilis and characterization of nitrite oxidation system of the bacterium

Cytochrome a ₁ c ₁ was highly purified from Nitrobacter agilis. The cytochrome contained heme a and heme c of equimolar amount, and its reduced form showed absorption peaks at 587, 550, 521, 434 and 416 nm. Molecular weight per heme a of the cytochrome was estimated to be approx. 100,000–130,000 from the amino acid composition. A similar value was obtained by determining the protein content per heme a. The cytochrome molecule was composed of three subunits with molecular weights of 55,000, 29,000 and 19,000, respectively. The 29 kd subunit had heme c.Hemes a and c of cytochrome a ₁ c ₁ were reduced on addition of nitrite, and the reduced cytochrome was hardly autoxidizable. Exogenously added horse heart cytochrome c was reduced by nitrite in the presence of cytochrome a ₁ c ₁; K _m values of cytochrome a ₁ c ₁ for nitrite and N. agilis cytochrome c were 0.5 mM and and 6 M, respectively. V _max was 1.7 mol ferricytochrome c reduced/min·mol of cytochrome a ₁ c ₁ The pH optimum of the reaction was about 8. The nitrite-cytochrome c reduction catalyzed by cytochrome a ₁ c ₁ was 61% and 88% inhibited by 44M azide and cyanide, respectively. In the presence of 4.4 mM nitrate, the reaction was 89% inhibited. The nitrite-cytochrome c reduction catalysed by cytochrome a ₁ c ₁ was 2.5-fold stimulated by 4.5 mM manganous chloride. An activating factor which was present in the crude enzyme preparation stimulated the reaction by 2.8-fold, and presence of both the factor and manganous ion activated the reaction by 7-fold.Cytochrome a ₁ c ₁ showed also cytochrome c-nitrate reductase activity. The pH optimum of the reaction was about 6. The nitrate reductase activity was also stimulated by manganous ions and the activating factor.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the activator protein specific for the enzymic hydrolysis of GM1 in urine

We have established a sensitive and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of the activator protein which stimulates the enzymic hydrolysis of G_M1 (G_M1-activator) in human urine. The level of G_M1-activator in 19 normal, adult urine samples was estimated to be 370.7±33.2 ng/ml. The amounts of G_M1-activator excreted in 24 h were estimated to be between 0.28 and 1.1 mg. The coefficient of variation for this method is 4.3% for the intra-assay and 14.4% for the inter-assay. Urine samples, without purification, can be used directly for the ELISA.     

The role of the membrane bound cytochromes of b- and c-type in the electron transport chain of Rhodobacter capsulatus

(1) The electron transport system of heterotrophically dark-grown Rhodobacter capsulatus was investigated using the wild-type strain MT1131 and the phototrophic non-competent (Ps^-) mutant MT-GS18 carrying deletions of the genes for cytochrome c ₁ and b of the bc ₁ complex and for cytochrome c ₂. (2) Spectroscopic and thermodynamic data demonstrate that deletion of both bc ₁ complex and cyt. c ₂ still leaves several haems of c- and b-type with Em_7.0 of +265 mV and +354 mV at 551–542 nm, and +415 mV and +275 mV at 561–575 nm, respectively. (3) Analysis of the oxidoreduction kinetic patterns of cytochromes indicated that cyt. b ₄₁₅ and cyt. b ₂₇₅ are reduced by either ascorbate-diaminodurene or NADH, respectively. (4) Growth on different carbon and nitrogen sources revealed that the membrane-bound electron transport chain of both MT1131 and MT-GS18 strains undergoes functional modifications in response to the composition of the growth medium used. (5) Excitation of membrane fragments from cells grown in malate minimal medium by a train of single turnover flashes of light led to a rapid oxidation of 32% of the membrane-bound c-type haem complement. Conversely, membranes prepared from peptone/yeast extract grown cells did not show cyt. c photooxidation. These results are discussed within the framework of an electron transport chain in which alternative pathways bypassing both the cyt. c ₂ and bc ₁ complex might involve high-potential membrane bound haems of b- and c-type.Abbreviations AA antimycin A - CCCP carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone - CN^- cyanide - DAD diaminodurene - Q₂H₂ ubiquinol-2 - Q-pool ubiquinone-10 pool - RC photochemical reaction center     

The coupling of the relative movement of thea andc subunits of the F0 to the conformational changes in the F1-ATPase

F₀F₁-ATPase structural information gained from X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy has activated interest in a rotational mechanism for the F₀F₁-ATPase. Because of the subunit stoichiometry and the involvement of both thea- andc-subunits in the mechanism of proton movement, it is argued that relative movement must occur between the subunits. Various options for the arrangement and structure of the subunits involved are discussed and a mechanism proposed.     

Dynamics of Fst for the island model

F(st) is a measure of genetic differentiation in a subdivided population. Sewall Wright observed that F(st)=1/1+2Nm in a haploid diallelic infinite island model, where N is the effective population size of each deme and m is the migration rate. In demonstrating this result, Wright relied on the infinite size of the population. Natural populations are not infinite and therefore they change over time due to genetic drift. In a finite population, F(st) becomes a random variable that evolves over time. In this work we ask, given an initial population state, what are the dynamics of the mean and variance of F(st) under the finite island model? In application both of these quantities are critical in the evaluation of F(st) data. We show that after a time of order N generations the mean of F(st) is slightly biased below 1/1+2Nm. Further we show that the variance of F(st) is of order 1/d where d is the number of demes in the population. We introduce several new mathematical techniques to analyze coalescent genealogies in a dynamic setting.     

Identification of the polypeptides in the cytochromeb 6/f complex from spinach chloroplasts with redox-center-carrying subunits

An improved procedure for the isolation of the cytochromeb ₆/f complex from spinach chloroplasts is reported. With this preparation up to tenfold higher plastoquinol-plastocyanin oxidoreductase activities were observed. Like the complex obtained by our previous procedure, the complex prepared by the modified way consisted of five polypeptides with apparent molecular masses of 34, 33, 23, 20, and 17 kD, which we call Ia, Ib, II, III, and IV, respectively. In addition, one to three small components with molecular masses below 6 kD were now found to be present. These polypeptides can be extracted with acidic acetone. Cytochromef, cytochromeb ₆, and the Rieske Fe-S protein could be purified from the isolated complex and were shown to be represented by subunits Ia + Ib, II, and III, respectively. The heterogeneity of cytochromef is not understood at present. Estimations of the stoichiometry derived from relative staining intensities with Coomassie blue and amido black gave 1:1:1:1 for the subunits Ia + Ib/II/III/IV, which is interesting in of the presence of two cytochromesb ₆ per cytochromef. Cytochromef titrated as a single-electron acceptor with a pH-independent midpoint potential of +339 mV between pH 6.5 and 8.3, while cytochromeb ₆ was heterogeneous. With the assumption of two components present in equal amounts, two one-electron transitions withE _m(1)=–40 mV andE _m(2)=–172 at pH 6.5 were derived. Both midpoint potentials were pH-dependent.Abbreviation Tris tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane - SDS sodium dodecylsulfate - SDS-PAGE SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - MES 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid