cytochrome oxidase

enzyme

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June 22, 2026

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Cytochrome oxidase is an iron-containing enzyme crucial for cellular respiration. It plays a vital role in the electron-transport chain within mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell. This enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of reduced cytochrome c, using oxygen as the final electron acceptor. This process is essential for generating ATP, the cell's primary energy currency, through oxidative phosphorylation. The controlled transfer of electrons by cytochrome oxidase and other carriers allows cells to efficiently convert the energy from nutrients into usable energy.123

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transition metal
Biological functions of transition metals
…in plants and microorganisms; (2) cytochrome oxidase, which contains heme and copper in a 1:1 ratio; (3) tyrosinases, which catalyze the formation of melanin (brownish-black pigments occurring in hair, skin, and retina of higher animals) and were the first enzymes in which copper was shown to be essential to function.
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…in plants and microorganisms; (2) cytochrome oxidase, which contains heme and copper in a 1:1 ratio; (3) tyrosinases, which catalyze the formation of melanin (brownish-black pigments occurring in hair, skin, and retina of higher animals) and were the first enzymes in which copper was shown to be essential to function.
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