Structural changes in cytochrome c oxidase induced by cytochrome c binding. A resonance raman study

Electrostatically stabilized complexes of fully oxidized cytochrome c oxidase from Paracoccus denitrificans and horse heart cytochrome c were studied by resonance Raman spectroscopy. The experiments were carried out with the wild-type oxidase and a variant in which a negatively charged amino acid in the binding domain (D257) is replaced by an asparagine. It is shown that cytochrome c induces structural changes at heme a and heme a(3) which are reminiscent to those found in mammalian cytochrome c oxidase-cytochrome c complex. The spectral changes are attributed to subtle changes in the heme-protein interactions implying that there is a structural communication from the binding domain even to the remote catalytic center. Only for the heme a modes minor spectral differences were found in the response of the wild-type and the D257N variant oxidase upon cytochrome c binding indicating that electrostatic interactions of aspartate 257 are not crucial for the perturbation of the catalytic site structure in the complex. On the other hand, in none of the complexes, structural changes were detected in the bound cytochrome c. These findings are in contrast to previous results obtained with beef heart cytochrome c oxidase which triggers the formation of a new conformational state of cytochrome c assumed to be involved in the biological electron transfer process.     

The NT-26 cytochrome c552 and its role in arsenite oxidation

Arsenite oxidation by the facultative chemolithoautotroph NT-26 involves a periplasmic arsenite oxidase. This enzyme is the first component of an electron transport chain which leads to reduction of oxygen to water and the generation of ATP. Involved in this pathway is a periplasmic c-type cytochrome that can act as an electron acceptor to the arsenite oxidase. We identified the gene that encodes this protein downstream of the arsenite oxidase genes (aroBA). This protein, a cytochrome c(552), is similar to a number of c-type cytochromes from the alpha-Proteobacteria and mitochondria. It was therefore not surprising that horse heart cytochrome c could also serve, in vitro, as an alternative electron acceptor for the arsenite oxidase. Purification and characterisation of the c(552) revealed the presence of a single heme per protein and that the heme redox potential is similar to that of mitochondrial c-type cytochromes. Expression studies revealed that synthesis of the cytochrome c gene was not dependent on arsenite as was found to be the case for expression of aroBA.     

Lipid and subunit III depleted cytochrome c oxidase purified by horse cytochrome c affinity chromatography in lauryl maltoside

Cytochrome oxidase is purified from rat liver and beef heart by affinity chromatography on a matrix of horse cytochrome c-Sepharose 4B. The success of this procedure, which employs a matrix previously found ineffective with beef or yeast oxidase, is attributed to thorough dispersion of the enzyme with nonionic detergent and a low density of cross-linking between the lysine residues of cytochrome c and the cyanogen bromide activated Sepharose. Beef heart oxidase is purified in one step from mitochondrial membranes solubilized with lauryl maltoside, yielding an enzyme of purity comparable to that obtained on a yeast cytochrome c matrix [Azzi, A., Bill, K., & Broger, C. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 2447-2450]. Rat liver oxidase is prepared by hydroxyapatite and horse cytochrome c affinity chromatography in lauryl maltoside, yielding enzyme of high purity (12.5-13.5 nmol of heme a/mg of protein), high activity (TN = 270-400 s-1), and very low lipid content (1 mol of DPG and 1 mol of PI per mol of aa3). The activity of the enzyme is characterized by two kinetic phases, and electron transfer can be stimulated to maximal rates as high as 650 s-1 when supplemented with asolectin vesicles. The rat liver oxidase purified by this method does not contain the polypeptide designated as subunit III. Comparisons of the kinetic behavior of the enzyme in intact membranes, solubilized membranes, and the purified delipidated form reveal complex changes in kinetic parameters accompanying the changes in state and assay conditions, but do not support previous suggestions that subunit III is a critical factor in the binding of cytochrome c at the high-affinity site on oxidase or that cardiolipin is essential for the low-affinity interaction of cytochrome c. The purified rat liver oxidase retains the ability to exhibit respiratory control when reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles, providing definitive evidence that subunit III is not solely responsible for the ability of cytochrome oxidase to produce or respond to a membrane potential or proton gradient.     

Inhibition of electron transfer from ferrocytochrome b to ubiquinone, cytochrome c1 and duroquinone by antimycin.

The effect of antimycin on (i) the respiratory activity of the KCN-insensitive pathway of mitochondria of Neurospora grown on chloramphenicol (chloramphenicol-grown) with durohydroquinone and succinate or NADH as substrate, (ii) the electron transfer from the b-type cytochromes to ubiquinone with durohydroquinone as electron donor as well as (iii) the electron transfer from the b-type cytochromes to duroquinone with succinate as electron donor in chloramphenicol-grown Neurospora and beef heart submitochondrial particles was studied. All experiments were performed in the uncoupled state. 1. The respiratory chain of chloramphenicol-grown Neurospora mitochondria branches at ubiquinone into two pathways. Besides the cytochrome oxidase-dependent pathway, a KCN-insensitive branch equiped with a salicylhydroxamate-sensitive oxidase exists. Durohydroquinone, succinate or NADH are oxidized via both pathways. The durohydroquinone oxidation via the KCN-insensitive pathway is inhibited by antimycin, wheras the succinate or NADH oxidation is not. The titer for ful inhibition is one mol antimycin per mol cytochrome b-563 or cytochrome b-557. 2. The electron transfer from durohydroquinone to ubiquinone, which takes place in the KCN-inhibited state, does not occur in the antimycin-inhibited state. 3. The reduction of duroquinone by succinate in the presence of KCN is inhibited by antimycin. The titer for full inhibition is one mol antimycin per mol cytochrome b-566 or cytochrome b-562 for beef heart (or cytochrome b-563 or cytochrome b-557 for Neurospora). 4. When electron transfer from the b-type cytochromes to cytochrome C1, ubiquinone and duroquinone is inhibited by antimycin, the hemes of cytochrome b-566 and cytochrome b-562 (or cytochrome b-563 and cytochrome b-557) are in the reduced state. 5. The experimental results suggest that the two b-type cytochromes form a binary complex the electron transferring activity of which is inhibited by antimycin, the titer for full inhibition being one mol of antimycin per mol of complex. The electron transfer from the b-type cytochromes to ubiquinone is inhibited in a non-linear fashion.     

Interactions of cytochrome c with mitochondrial membranes. Binding to succinate-cytochrome c reductase

Methyl-4-azidobenzoimidate was reacted with horse heart cytochrome c to give a photoaffinity-labeled derivative of this heme protein. The modified cytochrome c bound to cytochrome c-depleted mitochondria with the same Kd as native cytochrome c and restored oxygen uptake to the same extent. Irradiation of cytochrome c-depleted mitochondrial membranes with 3- to 4-fold excess of photoaffinity-labeled cytochrome c over cytochrome c oxidase resulted in covalent binding of the derivative to the membranes. Fractionation of the irradiated mitochondria in the presence of detergents and salts followed by chromatography on an agarose Bio-Gel-A-5m showed that the labeled cytochrome c was bound covalently to succinate-cytochrome c reductase. The covalently bound cytochrome c was active in mediating electron transfer between its reductase and oxidase. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the succinate-cytochrome c reductase containing photoaffinity-labeled 125I-cytochrome c showed that the reductase contained a protein binding site for cytochrome c. It is suggested that cytochrome c1 is the most likely site for the cytochrome c binding in mitochondria in situ.     

Cytochromes c of Nitrobacter winogradskyi and Thiobacillus novellus: structure, function and evolution.

The amino acid sequences of Thiobacillus novellus and Nitrobacter winogradskyi cytochromes c have been compared with those of cytochromes c from several other organisms. The two bacterial cytochromes resemble eukaryotic cytochromes c; 49 amino-acid residues are identical between T. novellus and horse cytochromes c, and 50 residues identical between N. winogradskyi and horse cytochromes c. However, their reactivity with cow cytochrome c oxidase is about 80% lower than the reactivity of eukaryotic cytochromes c with the cow mitochondrial oxidase, while they react with yeast cytochrome c peroxidase as rapidly as eukaryotic cytochromes c. The numbers of identical amino-acid residues between T. novellus and animal cytochromes c are 45-53 and those between N. winogradskyi and animal cytochromes c 47-53, while those between the two bacterial cytochromes and yeast and protozoan cytochromes c are around 40. Thus, N. winogradskyi and T. novellus cytochromes c are more similar to animal cytochromes c than to yeast and protozoan cytochromes c on the basis of the amino-acid sequence.     

Correlation of the kinetics of electron transfer activity of various eukaryotic cytochromes c with binding to mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase.

1. A detailed study of cytochrome c oxidase activity with Keilin-Hartree particles and purified beef heart enzyme, at low ionic strength and low cytochrome c concentrations, showed biphasic kinetics with apparent Km1 = 5 x 10(-8) M, and apparent Km2 = 0.35 to 1.0 x 10(-6) M. Direct binding studies with purified oxidase, phospholipid-containing as well as phospholiptaining aid-depleted, demonstrated two sites of interaction of cytochrome c with the enzyme, with KD1 less than or equal to 10(-7) M, and KD2 = 10(-6) M. 2. The maximal velocities as low ionic strength increased with pH and were highest above ph 7.5. 3. The presence and properties of the low apparent Km phase of the kinetics were strongly dependent on the nature and concentration of the anions in the medium. The multivalent anions, phosphate, ADP, and ATP, greatly decreased the proportion of this phase and similarly decreased the amount of high affinity cytochrome c-cytochrome oxidase complex formed. The order of effectiveness was ATP greater than ADP greater than P1 and since phosphate binds to cytochrome c more strongly than the nucleotides, it is concluded that the inhibition resulted from anion interaction with the oxidase. 4mat low concentrations bakers' yeast iso-1, bakers' yeast iso-1, horse, and Euglena cytochromes c at high concentrations all attained the same maximal velocity. The different proportions of low apparent Km phase in the kinetic patterns of these cytochromes c correlated with the amounts of high affinity complex formed with purified cytochrome c oxidase. 5. The apparent Km for cytochrome c activity in the succinate-cytochrome c reductase system of Keilin-Hartree particles was identical with that obtained with the oxidase (5 x 10(-8) M), suggesting the same site serves both reactions. 6. It is concluded that the observed kinetics result from two catalytically active sites on the cytochrome c oxidase protein of different affinities for cytochrome c. The high affinity binding of cytochrome c to the mitochondrial membrane is provided by the oxidase and at this site cytochrome c can be reduced by cytochrome c1. Physiological concentrations of ATP decrease the affinity of this binding to the point that interaction of cytochrome c with numerous mitochondrial pholpholipid sites can competitively remove cytochrome c from the oxidase. It is suggested that this effect of ATP represents a possible mechanism for the control of electron flow to the oxidase.     

Presteady-state and steady-state kinetic properties of human cytochrome c oxidase. Identification of rate-limiting steps in mammalian cytochrome c oxidase.

Human cytochrome c oxidase was purified in a fully active form from heart and skeletal muscle. The enzyme was selectively solubilised with octylglucoside and KCl from submitochondrial particles followed by ammonium sulphate fractionation. The presteady-state and steady-state kinetic properties of the human cytochrome c oxidase preparations with either human cytochrome c or horse cytochrome c were studied spectrophotometrically and compared with those of bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase. The interaction between human cytochrome c and human cytochrome c oxidase proved to be highly specific. It is proposed that for efficient electron transfer to occur, a conformational change in the complex is required, thereby shifting the initially unfavourable redox equilibrium. The very slow presteady-state reaction between human cytochrome c oxidase and horse cytochrome c suggests that, in this case, the conformational change does not occur. The proposed model was also used to explain the steady-state kinetic parameters under various conditions. At high ionic strength (I = 200 mM, pH 7.4), the kcat was highly dependent on the type of oxidase and it is proposed that the internal electron transfer is the rate-limiting step. The kcat value of the 'high-affinity' phase, observed at low ionic strength (I = 18 mM, pH 7.4), was determined by the cytochrome c/cytochrome c oxidase combination applied, whereas the Km was highly dependent only on the type of cytochrome c used. Our results suggest that, depending on the cytochrome c/cytochrome c oxidase combination, either the dissociation of ferricytochrome c or the internal electron transfer is the rate-limiting step in the 'high-affinity' phase at low ionic strength. The 'low-affinity' kcat value was not only determined by the type of oxidase used, but also by the type of cytochrome c. It is proposed that the internal electron-transfer rate of the 'low-affinity' reaction is enhanced by the binding of a second molecule of cytochrome c.     

Electron transfer between horse heart and Candida krusei cytochromes c in the free and bound states

Electron transfer between horse heart and Candida krusei cytochromes c in the free and phosvitin-bound states was examined by difference spectrum and stopped-flow methods. The difference spectra in the wavelength range of 540-560 nm demonstrated that electrons are exchangeable between the cytochromes c of the two species. The equilibrium constants of the electron transfer reaction for the free and phosvitin-bound forms, estimated from these difference spectra, were close to unity at 20 degrees C in 20 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.4). The electron transfer rate for free cytochrome c was (2-3).10(4) M-1.s-1 under the same conditions. The transfer rate for the bound form increased with increase in the binding ratio at ratios below half the maximum, and was almost constant at higher ratios up to the maximum. The maximum electron exchange rate was about 2.10(6) M-1.s-1, which is 60-70 times that for the free form at a given concentration of cytochrome c. The activation energy of the reaction for the bound cytochrome c was equal to that for the free form, being about 10 kcal/mol. The dependence of the exchange rate on temperature, cytochrome c concentration and solvent viscosity suggests that enhancement of the electron transfer rate between cytochromes c on binding to phosvitin is due to increase in the collision frequency between cytochromes c concentrated on the phosvitin molecule.     

Lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination of horse cytochrome c:monoiodotyrosyl 74 cytochrome c.

Iodination of horse cytochrome c with the lactoperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-iodide system results initially in the formation of the monoiodotyrosyl 74 derivative. This singly modified protein was obtained in pure form by ion exchange chromatography and preparative column electrophoresis. It shows an intact 695 nm absorption band, the midpoint potential of the native protein, a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum which indicates an undisturbed heme crevice structure, a normal reaction with antibodies directed against native horse cytochrome c, and circular dichroic spectra in which the only changes from those of the native protein can be ascribed to the spectral properties of iodotyrosine itself. This conformationally intact derivative reacts with the succinate-cytochrome c reductase and the cytochrome c oxidase systems of beef mitochondrial particle preparations indistinguishably from the unmodified protein, showing that the region including tyrosine 74 is not involved in these enzymic electron transfer functions of the protein. The circular dichroic spectra of this derivative indicate that the minima observed at 288 and 282 nm in the spectrum of native ferricytochrome c originate from tyrosyl residue 74.     

Respiratory cytochrome c oxidase can be efficiently reduced by the photosynthetic redox proteins cytochrome c6 and plastocyanin in cyanobacteria

Plastocyanin and cytochrome c6 are two small soluble electron carriers located in the intrathylacoidal space of cyanobacteria. Although their role as electron shuttle between the cytochrome b6f and photosystem I complexes in the photosynthetic pathway is well established, their participation in the respiratory electron transport chain as donors to the terminal oxidase is still under debate. Here, we present the first time-resolved analysis showing that both cytochrome c6 and plastocyanin can be efficiently oxidized by the aa3 type cytochrome c oxidase in Nostoc sp. PCC 7119. The apparent electron transfer rate constants are ca. 250 and 300 s(-1) for cytochrome c6 and plastocyanin, respectively. These constants are 10 times higher than those obtained for the oxidation of horse cytochrome c by the oxidase, in spite of being a reaction thermodynamically more favourable.     

Interaction of cytochrome c with cytochrome c oxidase: an understanding of the high- to low-affinity transition

The steady-state kinetics of high- and low-affinity electron transfer reactions between various cytochromes c and cytochrome c oxidase (ferrocytochrome c:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.9.3.1) preparations were studied spectrophotometrically and polarographically. The dissociation constants for the binding of the first and second molecules of horse cytochrome c (I = 15 mM) are 5.10(-8) M and 1.10(-5) M, respectively, close to the spectrophotometric Km values and consistent with the controlled binding model for the interaction between cytochrome c and cytochrome oxidase (Speck, S.H., Dye, D. and Margoliash, E. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81, 346-351) which postulates that the binding of a second molecule of cytochrome c weakens that of the first, resulting in low-affinity kinetics. While the Km of the polarographically assayed high-affinity reaction is comparable to that observed spectrophotometrically, the low-affinity Km is over an order of magnitude smaller and cannot be attributed to the binding of a second molecule of cytochrome c. Increasing the viscosity has no effect on the Vmax of the low-affinity reaction assayed polarographically, but increases the Km. Thus, the transition from high- to low-affinity kinetics is dependent on the frequency of productive collisions, as expected for a hysteresis model ascribing the transition to the trapping of the oxidase in a primed state for turnover. At ionic strengths above 150 mM, the rate of cytochrome c oxidation decreases without any correlation to the calculated net charge of the cytochrome c, indicating rate-limiting rearrangement of the two proteins in proximity to each other.     

Metal-free and metal-substituted cytochromes c. Use in characterization of the cytochrome c binding site.

The luminescent properties of metal-free, tin(IV) and zinc(II) cytochromes c have been used to characterize the interaction of cytochrome c with mitochondria and cytochrome oxidase. Diminution in the fluorescence yields of tin and zinc cytochrome c occur when these derivates bind to cytochrome oxidase or mitochondria. Based upon spectral overlap and quantum yield, the distance between the porphyrin rings of cytochrome a and cytochrome c is estimated according to Forster theory to be in the neighborhood of 3.5 nm. Measurements of the polarized emission of metal-free 'porphyrin' cytochrome c when bound to oriented layers of cytochrome c oxidase indicate that the porphyrin is bound obliquely to the plane of the oxidase layers with an angle of about 70 degrees C from heme plane to membrane plane. It is proposed that these data have significance for elucidation of electron transfer mechanisms.     

Catalytic properties of cytochrome c oxidase purified from Nitrosomonas europaea

Cytochrome c oxidase of Nitrosomonas europaea reacts with not only the native cytochrome c (N. europaea cytochrome c-552) but also horse and yeast cytochromes c. The effects on its reactivity of various reagents were very different between the reactions with the native and eukaryotic cytochromes c as the electron donors. The oxidation of eukaryotic ferrocytochrome c by the oxidase was activated by addition of anionic detergents such as sodium dodecyl sulfate and sodium cholate, and anionic phospholipids such as cardiolipin, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidylethanolamine, while the reaction was not activated by Triton X-100, Tween 20, or phosphatidylcholine. However, the reaction with the native cytochrome c of the enzyme was hardly affected by any of the detergents and phospholipids mentioned above, while it was activated by the presence of poly-L-lysine.     

Effects of monoclonal antibodies to bovine and Paracoccus denitrificans cytochromes c on reactions with oxidase, reductase and peroxidase

The effects of monoclonal antibodies to bovine and Paracoccus denitrificans cytochromes c (Kuo, L.M. and Davies, H.C. (1983) Mol. Immunol. 20, 827-838) in the reactions of the cytochromes c with cytochrome c oxidase, reductase and peroxidase were studied. Spectrophotometric assays were employed, under conditions where binding of cytochrome c to the enzymes appears to be rate-limiting. Less than stoichiometric amounts of antibodies to P. denitrificans cytochrome c added to the cytochrome rendered some of it nonoxidizable or nonreducible by the P. denitrificans membrane-bound electron transport system and decreased the rate constant with the remaining cytochrome c. The antibodies appear to affect both electron transport reactions (blocking effects) with the oxidase and reductase and binding effects (effects on rate constants) and to distinguish between the two. Different ratios of antibody site to cytochrome c gave different extents of blocking of the reductase as compared with the oxidase reaction. Differences were also apparent in the effect of these antibodies on the reaction of yeast peroxidase and the oxidase with the P. denitrificans cytochrome c. Antibodies to bovine and P. denitrificans cytochromes c had considerably less effect on the reactions of the bovine cytochrome with bovine oxidase and reductase. One antibody was inhibitory to the oxidase reaction with bovine cytochrome c, but not to that with the reductase. Also, an antibody which inhibited the oxidase reaction had no effect on the reaction with yeast peroxidase. The data give evidence that the interaction areas on cytochrome c for oxidase and reductase and peroxidase are not identical, although they may be nearby.     

Laser flash photolysis studies of electron transfer mechanisms in cytochromes: an aromatic residue at position 82 is not required for cytochrome c reduction by flavin semiquinones or electron transfer from cytochrome c to cytochrome oxidase.

The influence of an aromatic side chain at position 82 of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c on the kinetics of its electron transfer reactions has been investigated using laser flash photolysis methods to compare a series of site-specific mutant cytochromes in their reduction by free flavin semiquinone and in electron transfer from reduced cytochrome to bovine cytochrome c oxidase. Although small (approximately 10%) but significant differences are observed between some of the mutants (S82, Y82, I82) and wild-type (F82) or G82 cytochrome in the second-order rate constant for reduction by lumiflavin semiquinone, these do not correlate with side-chain aromaticity. In the reaction between the ferrocytochromes and cytochrome c oxidase, significantly larger deviations from exponentiality are found for those mutants having aliphatic residues at position 82 than for wild type or Y82. We interpret the nonexponential behavior in terms of multiple orientations of the cytochromes within the oxidase binding site; the extent to which this occurs is apparently influenced by the character of the residue at position 82. However, a comparison of the average rate constants for electron transfer to cytochrome oxidase for the various mutants reveals that all are closely comparable to WT, except for I82 which is significantly slower (approximately threefold). These results, combined with those obtained previously from steady-state kinetic and thermodynamic measurements, suggest that the observed differences among the mutants are due to alterations in the mode of binding of the cytochrome to the oxidase, rather than to a specific requirement for the presence of an aromatic group at position 82.     

Studies on cytochrome c oxidase activity of the cytochrome c1aa3 complex from Thermus thermophilus

Cytochrome oxidase from T. thermophilus is isolated as a noncovalent complex of cytochromes c1 and aa3 in which the four redox components of aa3 appear to be associated with a single approximately 55,000-D subunit while the heme C is associated with a approximately 33,000-D peptide (Yoshida, T., Lorence, R. M., Choc, M. G., Tarr, G. E., Findling, K. L., and Fee, J. A. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 112-123). We have examined the steady state transfer of electrons from ascorbate to oxygen by cytochrome c1aa3 as mediated by horse heart, Candida krusei, and T. thermophilus (c552) cytochromes c as well as tetramethylphenylenediamine (TMPD). These mediators exhibit simple Michaelis-Menten kinetic behavior yielding Vmax and KM values characteristic of the experimental conditions. Three classes of kinetic behavior were observed and are qualitatively discussed in terms of a reaction scheme. The data show that tetramethylphenyldiamine and cytochromes c react with the enzyme at independent sites; it is suggested that cytochrome c1 may efficiently transfer electrons to cytochrome aa3. When incorporated into phospholipid vesicles, the highly purified cytochrome c1aa3 was found to translocate one proton into the exterior medium for each molecule of cytochrome c552 oxidized. The combined results suggest that this bacterial enzyme functions in a manner generally identical with the more complex eucaryotic enzyme.     

Effect of pyridoxal phosphate on the formation of cytochrome c1-c and cytochrome c-cytochrome oxidase complexes.

The cytochrome c-cytochrome oxidase complex is formed when c reacts with cytochrome oxidase (Kuboyama et al. (1962) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 9, 534) and the cytochrome c1-cytochrome c complex is formed when c reacts with cytochrome c1 in the presence of the hinge protein (Kim, C.H. and King, T.E. (1981) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 101, 607). Both complexes are considered to be possible intermediates in electron transfer reaction between these cytochromes. Triply substituted modified cytochrome c by pyridoxal phosphate at lysine residues (Lys-79, 86 and one to be identified) abolishes both complex formations and electron transfer activity with succinate cytochrome c reductase or cytochrome oxidase.     

The active form of cytochrome c oxidase: effects of detergent, the intact membrane, and radiation inactivation.

Cytochrome oxidase is a multisubunit, intrinsic membrane protein with a complex function that includes oxidation of cytochrome c, reduction of oxygen and generation of a membrane potential. To clarify the relationship of its normal function to protein and membrane structure, we have examined the kinetic behavior of rat liver cytochrome oxidase in the intact inner mitochondrial membrane and in detergent solubilized states. Dissolution of rat liver mitochondrial membranes alters the kinetic parameters of the oxidase in a manner dependent in part on the dispersing agent, and characterized by a large increase in maximal activity which is not attributable to exposure of more oxidase or diminished affinity for cytochrome c. The most profound effect of solubilization of the membrane is seen on the low affinity reaction of cytochrome c, suggesting that the electron transfer pathway from this site to oxygen is sensitive to alterations in hydrophobic interactions within the oxidase. Purified rat liver and beef heart oxidase exists predominantly in a monodisperse, 300 kilodalton form in laurylmaltoside (Rosevear et al., 1980). However, a smaller, 130 kd species that exhibits high turnover rates equal to the 300 kd form is detected in some beef heart preparations, implying that the dimer may not be essential for high activity. Radiation inactivation studies on purified oxidase reveal a molecular weight for the functional unit of approximately 70 kd. It is concluded that less than a complete set of subunits may be sufficient for both normal binding of cytochrome c and rapid electron transfer to oxygen.