Illustration of cytochrome c prime proteins from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus thermophilus. Cytochrome molecules perform oxidation and reduction reactions for electron transport, a chain of reactions used to power cellular processes that require energy. The majority of cytochromes have a mainly alpha-helical fold structure, however this molecule has a predominantly antiparallel beta-sheet fold structure. It is thought that this structure contributes to its high thermal stability.