Spectra properties of rat liver mitochondrial choline dehydrogenase

Choline dehydrogenase contains the prosthetic group FAD, non-haem iron and acid labile sulfur. However, the absorption spectra of the purified enzyme do not change after adding substrate. The reduced absorption spectra of choline dehydrogenase can only be determined after the addition of dithionite. Those choline dehydrogenases situated in the mitochondrial inner membrane can be reduced by substrate and exist in the reduced state. When cholate was used to solubilize the substrate-reduced choline dehydrogenase, the reduced spectra will gradually disappear. However, if solubilization is carried out under anaerobic conditions, the reduced spectra can be retained, suggesting that the solubilized choline dehydrogenase can use oxygen as an acceptor.