A gene in Paracoccus for subunit III of cytochrome oxidase

Abstract
The region of Paracoccus denitrificans chromosome where the genes coding for cytochrome oxidase (cytochrome aa 3) subunits are located has been cloned. DNA sequencing revealed an open reading frame that codes for a protein homologous to the subunit III of the eukaryotic, mitochondrial enzyme. This subunit is absent from the isolated Paracoccus oxidase. It now seems that it is part of the native enzyme in the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane. This may explain the observed discrepancies in the function of the isolated enzyme.