Subtle Change in the Charge Distribution of Surface Residues May Affect the Secondary Functions of Cytochrome c.

ABSTRACT: Although the primary function of cytochrome c (cyt c) is electron transfer, the protein caries out an additional secondary function involving its interaction with membrane cardiolipin (CDL), its peroxidase activity, and the initiation of apoptosis. Whereas the primary function of cyt c is essentially conserved, its secondary function varies depending on the source of the protein. We report here a detailed experimental and computational study, which aims to understand, at the molecular level, the difference in the secondary functions of cyt c obtained from horse heart (mammalian) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast). The conformational landscape of cyt c has been found to be heterogeneous, consisting of an equilibrium between the compact and extended conformers as well as the oligomeric spe

SUBMITTER: Paul SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4505514 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature