Abstract
Preferential rupture of the outer membrane of mitochondria from rat liver releases coproporphyrinogen oxidase [EC 1.3.3.3] in parallel with components of the intermembrane space. Coproporphyrinogen III enters the mitochondrion through the freely-permeable outer membrane. Either protoporphyrinogen IX or protoporphyrin IX must then cross the inner membrane before heme synthesis can be completed.