Translocation of chicken heart apocytochrome c and its mutants (C17S, H18D) across mitochondrial membrane

The dependence of import of chicken heart apocytochrome c on its transformation to holoform by heme attachment was studied. Results showed that there was no difference in the translocation of apocytochrome c across the mitochondrial membrane in the presence or absence of hemin dithionite. Furthermore, two heme unattached mutants (H18D, C17S) were prepared, which could still be accumulated in mitochondria, but their import velocity was obviously reduced.