Abstract
ACCORDING to the theory of anion respiration1, the activity of the cytochrome system is controlled by the activity (concentration) of movable salt anions in the surroundings. With the aid of a new spectrophotometric technique it has been shown that in living wheat roots the oxidation reduction balance of the cytochromes a (oxidase), c and b is moved towards a higher state of oxidation by a change of the medium from distilled water to salt solutions (potassium chloride or nitrate, calcium nitrate, etc.). On removal of the salts the cytochromes revert to a more reduced state. From the automatic recording of the time-course of the phenomena, it was clearly shown that the change in the oxidation–reduction balance of the cytochromes starts simultaneously with the absorption of the salt ions. The fundamental fact that the coenzymatic effect is exerted by salt anions was established by earlier investigations on the effect of salts on the cyanide-sensitive part of respiration2. It was shown that this part of respiration is enhanced only if anions are absorbed; absorption of cations only had no effect on it.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lundegårdh, H., Nature, 169, 1088 (1952); Ark. f. Kemi (Swed. Acad. Sci.), 5, No. 7 (1952), No. 12 (1953); and earlier papers.
Lundegårdh, H., Ann. Agric. Coll. Sweden, 16, 372 (1949); and earlier papers.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
LUNDEGÅRDH, H. Controlling Effect of Salts on the Activity of the Cytochrome Oxidase. Nature 171, 477–478 (1953). https://doi.org/10.1038/171477a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/171477a0
This article is cited by
-
Sources of electrical potential across membranes
Irish Journal of Medical Science (1980)
-
Salts and Respiration
Nature (1960)
-
Regulationseffekte von Salzen gegen�ber Fermenten
Die Naturwissenschaften (1954)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.