The targeting information of the mitochondrial outer membrane isoform of cytochrome b5 is contained within the carboxyl‐terminal region

Two isoforms of mammalian cytochrome b5, which have homologous cytosolic amino-terminal catalytic domains, are located one on endoplasmic reticulum (ER b5) the other on mitochondrial outer membranes (OM b5). A cDNA coding for the previously unknown carboxyl-terminal domain of OM b5 was cloned and a chimera between the catalytic domain of ER b5 and the carboxyl-terminal region of OM b5 was expressed in cultured mammalian cells. The chimera localized to mitochondria, indicating that the carboxyl-terminal 43 amino acids of OM b5 contain sufficient information to target the catalytic domain of ER b5 to the mitochondrial outer membrane.