Cytochrome oxidase is the third and
final cytochrome protein in the electron transport chain. Clicking
on each of the thumbnail images will bring up a larger, labeled
version of the described scene.
To
see the Flash movie for the following sequence of images,
click here.
The mobile carrier protein
cytochrome c (purple) transfers electrons, one at
a time, to cytochrome oxidase (orange). Four electrons must
be transferred to the oxidase comples in order for the next
major reaction to occur.
The next major event is the reaction of
the four electrons, a molecule of O2
(oxygen), and eight protons.
The reaction results in the pumping of
four hydrogen ions across the inner membrane into the intermembrane
space, and the release of two H20
(water) molecules into the matrix space.