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Heterogeneity in an isolated membrane protein Has the ‘authentic cytochrome oxidase’ been identified?
Author(s) -
Hartzell Charles R.,
Beinert Helmut,
Babcock Gerald T.,
Chan Sunney I.,
Palmert Graham,
Scott Robert A.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(88)80273-4
Subject(s) - cytochrome c oxidase , cytochrome , chemistry , biochemistry , cytochrome c , membrane , oxidase test , chromatography , enzyme , mitochondrion
The criteria of homogeneity or native state of a protein are prone to become ambiguous when applied to membrane proteins, such as cytochrome‐ c oxidase, which are purified by extraction with detergents. Properties of the purified material depend on the detergent used and on details of the purification protocol followed with any single batch of a preparation. We present arguments to show that the evidence presently available in published form does not justify the designation [(1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262 3160–3164] of one type of preparation as being closer to the native state than others.