cytochrome c oxidase

cy·to·chrome c ox·i·dase

(sī'tō-krōm oks'i-dās),

A cupriferous cytochrome of the a type that catalyzes the oxidation of four molecules of ferrocytochrome c by molecular oxygen to produce four molecules of ferricytochrome c and 2H₂O. A part of Complex IV of the respiratory chain. A deficiency of one or more of the polypeptides of this complex results in neuronal loss in the brain leading to psychomotor retardation and neurodegenerative disease.

Synonym(s): cytochrome aa3, indophenol oxidase, indophenolase

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