Electron-transfer complexes of mitochondria in Ascaris suum

During the past ten years, studies on the respiratory chain of mitochondria in parasites have progressed to provide new insight into the structural organization and physiological significance of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. In this review, Kiyoshi Kita focuses on studies on the respiratory chain of Ascaris mitochondria in which major advances have recently been made. These include the identification of the unique features of anaerobic respiration, the elucidation of the molecular structures of the components involved and an understanding of the evolution of the energy transducing system and of the developmental changes that occur during the life cycle of this nematode.