The cytochromes of Dictyostelium discoideum

Abstract

1. Low temperature (77 K), reduced oxidized difference spectra of "purified" mitochondria of Dictyostelium discoideum revealed the presence of b, c and a-type cytochromes. 2. The same components were also identifiable in intact organisms, the only possible discrepancies from the contribution by "microsomal" b-type cytochromes which showed major maxima at 533, 553, and 560 nm. 3. Room temperature carbon monoxide difference spectra of mitochondrial enriched fractions revealed at least three components reacting with CO. These were: cytochrome a3; another a-type cytochrome, a614; a b-type cytochrome. The latter component rapidly reacted with CO but ligand dissociation was observed over a period of about 20 min. 4. Microsomal membranes contained at least two CO-reacting components tentatively attributed to cytochromes P-450 and P-420 and it is suggested that cytochrome P-450 may be converted to cytochrome P-420 in the presence of CO and sodium dithionite. 5. The results are compared with those obtained for other protozoa.