cytochrome c oxidase

Last reviewed 01/2018

Cytochrome C oxidase is an enzyme of the inner mitochondrial membrane that is part of the electron transfer chain. It is made up of at least 8 subunits and has two coenzymes:

• cytochrome a
• cytochrome a3

Cytochrome C oxidase accepts electrons from cytochrome c and transfers them to oxygen. Ultimately, oxygen is converted to water and a proton is pumped across the inner membrane to the mitochondrial intermembranous space. This proton is used to create ATP during oxidative phosphorylation.