Question

What is the function of Cytochromes in Cellular Respiration?

Answer 1

Cytochromes:

1. Cytochromes are membrane-bound hemeproteins that contain four heme groups as cofactors and carry out electron transport.
2. Most of them contain the iron either in Fe (II) or Fe(III) oxidation states at their active site.
3. They are found in the mitochondrial inner membrane and endoplasmic reticulum of eukaryotes in the chloroplast of plants, in photosynthetic microorganisms, and bacteria.
4. It is found in all eukaryotes and most but not all prokaryotes.

The function of Cytochromes in Cellular Respiration is

1. They have a wide cellular and biological distribution functioning as the electron transporters in mitochondria, chloroplasts, endoplasmic reticulum, as well as in bacterial redox chains.
2. The physiological activity in all cytochromes is the reversible oxidation and the reduction of the iron atom, which cycles between the ferric and ferrous states.
3. The Cytochrome c oxidases are the last enzyme in the respiratory electron transport chain of the mitochondria.
4. The main function is to convert molecular oxygen to water and aid in establishing mitochondrial membrane potential.
5. Cytochrome c oxidase is located in the inner membrane and separates the mitochondrial matrix from the intermembrane space.