Cell-Membrane Ultrastructure

Abstract

The combined electron-microscope and biochemical evidence regarding mitochondria and mitochondrial fractions, although still preliminary in character, indicates that all the functional enzymatic components of the electron-transport chain are compactly arranged in the "elementary particle," which may therefore be regarded as the ultimate unit of mitochondrial function. New data have also been obtained on the hydrated lipoprotein matrix, the recently isolated structural protein, solubilized pure lipid fractions, cytochromes, and other constituent elements of the respiratory-enzyme assemblies.