Some of the electron transport carriers (the cytochromes) absorb light at characteristic wavelengths when they are carrying the extra electron from NADH but not when they give up the electrons to the next carrier. Thus, light absorption bands are all present when mitochondria are incubated in the absence of oxygen or when tyanide is present. Cyanide blocks the transfer of electrons from the last cytochrome to oxygen. When cyanide is absent and oxygen is introduced, the cytochromes stop absorbing light. There are three cytochromes in animal mitochondria, called a, b, and c. Another inhibitor of mitochor rial electron transfer is urethane. When urethane is added to aerobic mitochondria, cytochrome b begins to absorb light, but a and c do not. Finally, purified cytochrome c, even in the presence of oxygen, continues to absorb light. Use these observations to decide the order in which the cytochromes occur in the mitochondria.

Biochemistry
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ISBN:9781305577206
Author:Reginald H. Garrett, Charles M. Grisham
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Chapter21: Photosynthesis
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Problem 5P: The Relative Efficiency of ATP Synthesis in Noncyclic versus Cyclic Photophosphorylation If...
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Some of the electron transport carriers (the cytochromes) absorb light at characteristic
wavelengths when they are carrying the extra electron from NADH but not when they give up
the electrons to the next carrier. Thus, light absorption bands are all present when mitochondria
are incubated in the absence of oxygen or when tyanide is present. Cyanide blocks the transfer
of electrons from the last cytochrome to oxygen. When cyanide is absent and oxygen is
introduced, the cytochromes stop absorbing light. There are three cytochromes in animal
mitochondria, called a, b, and c. Another inhibitor of mitochor rial electron transfer is urethane.
When urethane is added to aerobic mitochondria, cytochrome b begins to absorb light, but a and
c do not. Finally, purified cytochrome c, even in the presence of oxygen, continues to absorb
light. Use these observations to decide the order in which the cytochromes occur in the
mitochondria.
Transcribed Image Text:Some of the electron transport carriers (the cytochromes) absorb light at characteristic wavelengths when they are carrying the extra electron from NADH but not when they give up the electrons to the next carrier. Thus, light absorption bands are all present when mitochondria are incubated in the absence of oxygen or when tyanide is present. Cyanide blocks the transfer of electrons from the last cytochrome to oxygen. When cyanide is absent and oxygen is introduced, the cytochromes stop absorbing light. There are three cytochromes in animal mitochondria, called a, b, and c. Another inhibitor of mitochor rial electron transfer is urethane. When urethane is added to aerobic mitochondria, cytochrome b begins to absorb light, but a and c do not. Finally, purified cytochrome c, even in the presence of oxygen, continues to absorb light. Use these observations to decide the order in which the cytochromes occur in the mitochondria.
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Introduction 

The electron transport chain (ETC) is a series of protein complexes and electron carriers located in the inner mitochondrial membrane of eukaryotic cells or in the plasma membrane of prokaryotes. The ETC is a key component of aerobic respiration, which is the process by which cells convert nutrients into energy in the presence of oxygen.

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