Intermembrane electron transport in the absence of added water-soluble carriers

Abstract

Electron transport from untreated to mersalyzed microsomal vesicles at the level of NADH-cytochrome b 5 reductase or cytochrome b 5 has been demonstrated in the absence of added water-soluble electron carriers. A similar effect was shown in the systems “intact mitochondria — mersalyzed microsomes” and “mersalyzed mitochondria— untreated microsomes”. No measurable electron transport between intact and mersalyzed particles of inner mitochondrial membrane was found. The obtained data suggest that the capability to carry out intermembrane electron transfer is specific for NADH-cytochrome b 5 reductase and/or cytochrome b 5, localized in microsomal and outer mitochondrial membranes.