Isolation and properties of the soluble c-type cytochromes of the dinoflagellate Peridinium cinctum.

Four soluble cytochromes of the c type were isolated from the freshwater dinoflagellate Peridinium cinctum collected from Lake Kinneret, Israel. Cytochrome c with alpha-band maximum at 550 nm in the reduced state had a molecular mass of 10,200 Da, pI 7.4, and Em of 278 m V. This cytochrome was active in the respiratory chain of beef heart Keilin-Hartree particles. Cytochrome c-553 had a molecular mass of 13,200 Da, pI 4.9, and Em of 384 m V, and was active in light induced electron transport of Euglena gracilis chloroplast fragments. Cytochrome c-554 had a molecular mass of 13,500 Da, pI 4.4, and Em of 326 m V. This cytochrome was inactive in light induced electron transport but competed with cytochrome c-552 of Euglena in the assay. The acidic cytochrome c-557 was present in very small quantities. The properties of the soluble c-type cytochromes of P. cinctum are compatible with the classification of dinoflagellates as primitive eucaryotes.