Disclosed herein are compositions and methods related to aromatic-cationic peptides. In particular, the compositions and methods relate to aromatic-cationic peptides in conjunction with cytochrome c. In some embodiments, the aromatic-cationic peptide comprises one or more of D-Arg-Tyr-Lys-Phe-NH2 (P-231), DArg-D-Dmt-D-Lys-D-Phe-NH2, and D-Arg-D-Tyr-D-Lys-D-Phe-N H2 (P-2310). In some embodiments, the method relates to increasing cytochrome c reduction, enhancing electron diffusion through cytochrome c, enhancing electron capacity in cytochrome c, and/or inducing novel n-n interactions around cytochrome c.
