Figure 7.

Diagrammatic representation of the electron transport chain. Specific complexes are denoted by the numerals I to V. Electrons are transferred from NADH and FADH 2 to the electron-transport chain carriers with H⁺ release. H⁺ is exported across the inner mitochondrial membrane before diffusing back into the matrix via complex V thereby coupling oxidation to phosphorylation. The diagram shows the proposed mechanisms of mitochondrial respiratory complex protection from ischemia-reperfusion injury in hyperthermically treated myocardium. Up-regulated heme oxygenase-derived antioxidant systems offer protection of respiratory proteins against oxidative stress damage to the respiratory complexes whereas Hsp chaperonins are shown to assist in folding and translocation of both nuclear and mitochondrial encoded respiratory protein subunits.