Formate bound to cytochrome oxidase can be removed by cyanide and by reduction.

Using 14C-radiolabeled formate we have found that the rapid form of oxidized cytochrome oxidase can bind up to 1 mol of formate. Treatment of this formate-ligated enzyme with excess cyanide releases 97% of the radiolabel while reduction of formate-labeled enzyme with NADH+ruthenium releases 80-85% of the radioactivity. These data are most simply interpreted by assuming that formate binds to the heme iron of cytochrome a3.