Oxidation–reduction titration of cytochrome components in the electron transport chain of Azotobacter vinelandii

The multiple cytochrome components in the electron transport particle of Azotobacter vinelandii were resolved and their oxidation–reduction midpoint potentials were determined by a simultaneous potentiometric and absorption measurements under anaerobic condition with or without CO. The midpoints of the individual cytochrome component corresponding to the membrane-bound types were also determined in the solubilized fractions prepared by a differential detergent solubilization of the membrane particles of A. vinelandii. Two cytochromes of b type, one with an absorption maximum measured at 559 nm and another at 561 nm in the membrane particle, were resolved and their Em, 7.4 values determined to be −30 mV and +122 mV, respectively. Cytochrome b559 reacted with CO readily in both membrane-bound and solubilized forms, however, cytochrome b561 was inert to CO treatment. Only one cytochrome of c type (c4) measured at 575–551 nm was resolved, its midpoint potential at pH 7.4 was +322 mV in the membrane-bound form and +278 mV in the solubilized form. This c-type cytochrome had no CO reactivity. Cytochrome d, a CO-reactive component, had a midpoint of +270 mV in the membrane fraction. The midpoint of cytochrome a1 in its membrane-bound form could not be measured accurately because of its low concentration. However, in the solubilized preparations, cytochrome a1 apparently had a red shift with an absorption maximum at 613 nm, with an estimated Em, 7.4 of −45 mV, while cytochrome d was no longer detected, possibly because of denaturation.