Cytochrome c
(Redirected from Cytochrome C)
Cytochrome c is a small heme protein found loosely associated with the inner membrane of the mitochondrion. It belongs to the cytochrome c family of proteins and plays a major role in cell apoptosis and the electron transport chain.
Structure[edit | edit source]
Cytochrome c has a primary structure consisting of a chain of about 100 amino acids. Many amino acids in cytochrome c are post-translationally modified, in a process called isomerization. The protein has a secondary structure which folds into a compact tertiary structure, due to the heme group which is attached to the protein.
Function[edit | edit source]
Cytochrome c plays a key role in the electron transport chain, in the third stage of cellular respiration. It accepts electrons from the bc1 complex and transfers them to the cytochrome c oxidase complex. In addition, cytochrome c is also involved in initiation of apoptosis. Upon release of cytochrome c to the cytoplasm, the protein binds Apaf-1 and ATP, which then bind procaspase-9 to create a protein complex known as an apoptosome.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Alterations in the structure or function of cytochrome c can lead to a variety of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. For example, mutations in cytochrome c can disrupt the function of the electron transport chain, leading to a buildup of reactive oxygen species and cell damage.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Cytochrome c Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD