Chloragosomes of lumbricidae as specific electron acceptors. In vitro investigations.

Measurements of the redox potential values in buffered salt solutions containing body wall homogenate, body wall homogenate with isolated chloragosomes and in both solutions enriched with NAD have shown that chloragosomes are specific electron acceptors which prevent the rapid decrease of the redox potential under anaerobic conditions. The substances responsible for the electron-acceptor activity are most probably identical with the flavins, carotenes and metalloporphyrins present in chloragosomes as shown by the visible absorption spectra of the extracts. The results support the assumption that chloragosomes may play an important role in the metabolism under hypoxic and anoxic conditions.