The reconstitution of functional respiratory chains in membranes from electron transport deficient mutants of Escherichia coli as demonstrated by quenching of atebrin fluorescence

Abstract

Measurements were made of electron transport dependent quenching of atebrin fluorescence in particles prepared from mutants of E. coli unable to synthesize either ubiquinone or haem. Such quenching was either absent (in haem deficient particles) or decreased (in ubiquinone deficient particles), but was restored under conditions used to reconstitute oxidase activities. It is concluded that the reconstitution of oxidase activity, in both cases, is associated with the formation of a functional, proton translocating, respiratory chain.