A new non-covalent complex of semisynthetically modified tryptic fragments of cytochrome c.

We have prepared a semisynthetic analogue of fully acetimidylated horse cytochrome c, a complex in which the peptide bond between residues glycine-37 and arginine-38 is lacking. In contrast with the complex that we have previously described [Harris & Offord (1977) Biochem. J. 161, 12-25], in which the break in continuity is between residues arginine-38 and lysine-39, the new analogue has a nearly normal redox potential, and can more fully restore succinate oxidation to mitochondria depleted of cytochrome c. Studies of this and other analogues lead us to propose an explanation for the low biological activity of complex (1-38)-(39-104) and a role for the invariance of arginine-38.