Structure of a cytochrome b-c 1 complex from Saccharomyces cerevisiae YF.

1. An isolation and purification procedure is reported for an active cytochrome b-c1 complex from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The complex acts as an antimycin A-sensitive duroquinone-cytochrome c reductase and contains cytochromes b and c1 at a concentration of 8 nmol/mg protein and non-heme iron at a concentration of 15 nmol/mg protein. 2) Difference spectra at room temperature and at 70 degrees K show that the preparation is free from contamination with cytochromes c or aa3. Assays of enzyme activity indicate the absence of any of the other catalytic functions normally associated with the mitochondrial respiratory chain. 3) On dissociation and separation on sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gels the complex gives rise to seven bands corresponding to subunit polypeptide molecular weights of 43 000, 40 000, 32 000, 24 000, 22 000, 20 000 and 18 000. These appear in a regular stoichiometry of 1:1:3:1:1:1:1.