Question

What are cytochrome carriers?

Answer 1

Cytochrome carriers:

1. These are special proteins that carry electrons along the inner mitochondrial membrane during cellular respiration in a solid-state environment.
2. They help in oxidoreduction reactions.
3. The heme-containing proteins of the cytochromes take part in redox reactions and electron transport chains (ETC).
4. The cytochromes in the ETC, while transferring electrons, help to generate a proton pump across the membrane, which will in turn help in generating power from the ATP synthase.
5. There are different types of cytochrome carriers, such as cytochrome c, which is a mobile carrier that shuttles electrons between immobile integral membrane macromolecule complex.
6. Complex III and IV of the ETC contain cytochromes within macromolecules, which are embedded in the membrane.
7. Complex III contains cytochrome b and cytochrome c₁, which act as major electron transporters from dehydrogenases to cyt-c to iron-sulfur regions.
8. Complex IV, also known as cytochrome c oxidase, is composed of cytochrome a and cytochrome a_3.