Interactions of 2Fe-2S-ferredoxins (isolated from cattle adrenal corte
x, blue-green algae, and three plant species) with several cationic, a
nionic, or nonionic detergents were studied. In most cases the interac
tion with detergents destroyed the active center of the ferredoxins, t
hat is, their iron-sulfur cluster. Oxidants such as oxygen and potassi
um ferricyanide were shown to degrade the cluster. Ferredoxins from pl
ant and animal tissues displayed different sensitivities to anionic an
d nonanionic detergents.