Molecular components and biochemistry of electron transport in plant plasma membranes (Review)

Summary It is worthwhile emphasizing the importance of electron transport across lipid membranes. Mitochondrial and electron transport in chloroplasts were elucidated in great detail many years ago. Plasma membrane-bound electron transfer may be involved in several processes such as membrane energization, signalling, regulation of transport and/or growth, and generation or scavenging of free radicals. We here give an overview of plasma membrane-bound electron transfer, of possible compounds of the electron transporting systems isolated from plasma membranes, and of their biochemical characteristics. Both the progress made in purification of redox enzymes and compounds and data from biochemical characterization of the activities found, support the discussion concerning models of the molecular structure of the electron transport systems of plant plasma membranes.