Internal electron transfer within mitochondrial succinate-cytochrome c reductase.

Internal electron transfer within succinate-cytochrome C reductase from pigeon breast muscle mitochondria was followed by the pulse radiolytic technique. The electron equivalent is transferred from an unknown donor to b type cytochrome(s) in a first order process with a rate constant of: 660±150 s^?1. This process might be the rate determining step of electron transfer in mitochondria, since it is similar in rate to the turn over number of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.