455 — Effect of pH on the electroactivity of horse heart cytochrome c

The effect of pH on the electroactivity of horse heart cytochrome c has been studied by differential pulse polarography, differential pulse voltammetry at the gold electrode, cyclic voltammetry and spectro-photometry; the gold electrode has been activated by 4.4′-bipyridine. The experimental results have been interpreted on the basis of the existence of a pH-dependent equilibrium between two electroactive cytochrome c forms; in agreement with the Lambeth et al.'s scheme the existence of transient species can be postulated.From spectrophotometric and differential pulse voltammetric experiments the pK_a value of 8.1±0.1 has been calculated for the equilibrium between the neutral and alkaline cytochrome c forms: state III ? state IV+H⁺.