Isolation of reconstitutively active succinate dehydrogenase in highly purified state

Existing procedures for the isolation of mammalian succinate dehydrogenase yield preparations of high purity or retain reconstitution activity, but not both. A new procedure is described for the isolation in good yield of virtually homogeneous preparations with full reconstitution activity, and retaining iron-sulfur center 3 and the "low Km" reaction site of ferricyanide. On reincorporation of the soluble enzyme into alkali-treated membranes, the same high turnover number (approximately 21,000/min at 38 degrees) is obtained in catalytic assays as with intact inner membrane preparations.