scholarly journals Factors influencing the activity of ornithine aminotransferase in isolated rat liver mitochondria

1977 ◽  
Vol 162 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
J D McGivan ◽  
N M Bradford ◽  
A D Beavis

1. The characteristics of ornithine catabolism by the aminotransferase pathway in isolated mitochondria were determined. 2. Ornithine synthesis from glutamate and glutamate gamma-semialdehyde produced by the oxidation of proline was studied. No ornithine was formed in the absence of rotenone. 3. The mechanism of ornithine transport was reinvestigated, and the existence of an ornithine+/H+ exchange system postulated. 4. The kinetics of ornithine transport, ornithine catabolism in intact mitochondria and ornithine aminotransferase activity in solubilized mitochondria were compared. It is concluded that ornithine aminotransferase activity in liver mitochondria is rate-limited by the transport of ornithine across the mitochondrial membrane, and that this enzyme is involved primarily in ornithine degradation rather than ornithine synthesis.

1973 ◽  
Vol 134 (1) ◽  
pp. 209-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. McGivan ◽  
Norah M. Bradford ◽  
M. Crompton ◽  
J. B. Chappell

1. l-Leucine strongly activated intramitochondrial glutamate dehydrogenase in the direction of glutamate synthesis. 2. In the deamination direction, the enzyme was not stimulated by leucine. This was probably due to a rate-limiting transport of glutamate across the mitochondrial membrane. 3. The effect of leucine on the kinetic constants of glutamate dehydrogenase in a mitochondrial sonicate was studied. 4. In isolated mitochondria, leucine did not stimulate the synthesis of citrulline with glutamate as the source of NH3. 5. Leucine very markedly stimulated the synthesis of glutamate from added 2-oxoglutarate+NH4Cl. 6. Under conditions where glutamate and citrulline could be synthesized simultaneously from added NH4Cl, leucine greatly increased glutamate synthesis at the expense of citrulline synthesis. 7. It is suggested that the intramitochondrial leucine concentration may be a factor influencing the nitrogen metabolism of the liver cell.


1980 ◽  
Vol 188 (2) ◽  
pp. 329-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
M E Koller ◽  
I Romslo

Rat liver mitochondria accumulate protoporphyrin IX from the suspending medium into the inner membrane in parallel with the magnitude of the transmembrane K+ gradient (K+in/K+out). Only protoporphyrin IX taken up in parallel with the transmembrane K+ gradient is available for haem synthesis. Coproporphyrins (isomers I and III) are not taken up by the mitochondria. The results support the suggestion by Elder & Evans [(1978) Biochem. J. 172, 345-347] that the prophyrin to be taken up by the inner mitochondrial membrane belongs to the protoporphyrin(ogen) IX series. Protoporphyrin IX at concentrations above 15 nmol/mg of protein has detrimental effects on the structural and functional integrity of the mitochondria. The relevance of these effects to the hepatic lesion in erythropoietic protoporphyria is discussed.


Blood ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 923-930 ◽  
Author(s):  
RA Gams ◽  
EM Ryel ◽  
F Ostroy

Abstract Protein-mediated B12 uptake by isolated rat liver mitochondria has been shown to be enhanced by plasma transcobalamin (TC-II) but not by salivary R binder in vitro. The process is enhanced by calcium and depends on active mitochondrial respiration. Following uptake, cyanocobalamin is converted to adenosyl and methylcobalamins and released from the mitochondria. TC-II appears to be required for both cellular and mitochondrial uptake of vitamin B12.


1980 ◽  
Vol 186 (2) ◽  
pp. 637-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Krab ◽  
M Wikström

The respiratory-chain inhibitor 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide catalyses transmembrane proton transport driven by a pH gradient in isolated rat liver mitochondria. This effect explains the apparent blockade of net proton translocation by this compound in mitochondria respiring with ferrocyanide as described by Papa, Lorusso, Guerrieri, Boffoli, Izzo & Capuano [(1977) in Bioenergetics of Membranes (Packer, Papageorgiu & Trebst, eds.), pp. 377-388, Elsevier/North-Holland, Amsterdam] and by Lorusso, Capuano, Boffoli, Stefanelli & Papa [(1979) Biochem. J. 182, 133-147].


Blood ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 923-930
Author(s):  
RA Gams ◽  
EM Ryel ◽  
F Ostroy

Protein-mediated B12 uptake by isolated rat liver mitochondria has been shown to be enhanced by plasma transcobalamin (TC-II) but not by salivary R binder in vitro. The process is enhanced by calcium and depends on active mitochondrial respiration. Following uptake, cyanocobalamin is converted to adenosyl and methylcobalamins and released from the mitochondria. TC-II appears to be required for both cellular and mitochondrial uptake of vitamin B12.


1976 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 348-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
C L Bowman ◽  
H Tedeschi ◽  
B J DiDomenico ◽  
F D Tung

Experiments were carried out with water-treated isolated rat liver mitochondria (mitochondria ghosts) previously studied by Caplan and Greenawalt (Caplan, A.I., and J.W. Greenawalt. 1966. J. Cell Biol. 31:455-472) and Vasington and Greenawalt (Vasington, F., and J. Greenawalt. 1968. J. Cell Biol. 39:661-675). The ghosts have permeability properties and osmotic behavior comparable to those of isolated mitochondria. Although they have lost most of their internal contents, they must have resealed. Four properties were found which have not been previously described in systems derived from biological membranes: (a) an osmotic behavior in the virtual absence of internal components. (b) a self-arranging property in the formation of invaginations corresponding in morphology to the cristae. The results suggest that the assembly of the molecular components of the inner membrane is sufficient to specify the morphology. Hence the surface area to volume ratio of the vesicles may specify the presence or absence of cristae-like folds. (c) an increase in the permeability of the membranes to sucrose in the presence of iso-osmotic concentrations of sucrose. (d) an independence of the light transmitted by suspensions of the vesicles from the refractive index of the external medium. This observations run counter to the general previous experience with either mitochondria or liposomes.


1982 ◽  
Vol 202 (1) ◽  
pp. 197-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
M E Bardsley ◽  
M D Brand

1. Addition of oxaloacetate or acetoacetate to isolated rat liver mitochondria results in an efflux of Ca2+. Concomitant with this efflux is an immediate oxidation of endogenous nicotinamide nucleotides, a fall in the mitochondrial membrane potential and an increase in the rate of respiration. The primary effect in this sequence may be either (a) physiologically important stimulation of a Ca2+-efflux carrier, followed by Ca2+ re-uptake, a fall in membrane potential and increased respiration, or (b) physiologically unimportant damage to mitochondrial integrity, followed by a fall in membrane potential, increased respiration and Ca2+ efflux. 2. Ruthenium Red and EGTA will restore the increased respiratory rate to one approximating to the control rate of respiration. However, addition of lanthanide, at a concentration which inhibits the uptake but not the normal efflux of Ca2+, inhibits the rate of Ca2+ efflux induced by oxaloacetate or acetoacetate. Therefore the observed efflux is occurring by a reversal of the uptake pathway (uniporter) and thus follows the fall in membrane potential. 3. From these results we conclude that the decrease in membrane potential and increase in the rate of respiration seen during oxaloacetate- or acetoacetate-induced Ca2+ efflux cannot be accounted for by rapid Ca2+ cycling, but are due to damage to mitochondrial integrity.


1978 ◽  
Vol 176 (1) ◽  
pp. 295-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
B P Hughes ◽  
G J Barritt

1. The administration of glucagon to fed rats by intraperitoneal injection, or the perfusion of livers from fed rats with glucagon by the method of Mortimore [Mortimore (1963) Am.J. Physiol. 204, 699–704] was associated with increases of 15- and 5-fold respectively, in the time for which a given load of exogenous Ca2+ is retained by mitochondria subsequently isolated from the liver. This effect of glucagon was (a) also induced by N6O2′-dibutyryl cyclic AMP, (b) completely blocked by cycloheximide, (c) relatively slow in onset (15–60 min) and (d) associated with a stimulation of about 20% in the rates of ADP-stimulated oxygen utilization and Ca2+ transport measured in the presence of succinate. 2. Perfusion of livers with glucagon resulted in the isolation of mitochandria which showed a 50% increase, no significant change and a 40% increase in the concentrations of endogenous Ca, Mg and Pi respectively, when compared with mitochondria isolated from control perfused livers. 3. The administration of insulin or adrenaline to fed rats induced increases of 10- and 8-fold respectively, in the time for which Ca2+ is retained by isolated liver mitochondria. Perfusion of livers with insulin had no effect on mitochondrial Ca2+ retention time. 4. The perfusion of livers from starved rats with glucagon, or the administration of either glucagon or insulin to starved rats, increased by about 2.5- and 15-fold respectively, the time for which isolated mitochondria retain Ca2+. 5. Mechanisms which may be responsible for the observed alterations in Ca2+-retention time are discussed.


1961 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald S. Gotterer ◽  
Thomas E. Thompson ◽  
Albert L. Lehninger

Angular light-scattering studies have been carried out on suspensions of isolated rat liver mitochondria. The angular scatter pattern has a large forward component, typical of large particles. Changes in dissymmetry and in the intensity of light scattered at 90° have been correlated with changes in optical density during the course of mitochondrial swelling and contraction. Such changes can be measured at mitochondrial concentrations much below those required for optical density measurements. Changes in mitochondrial geometry caused by factors "leaking" from mitochondria, not detectable by optical density measurements, have been demonstrated by measuring changes in dissymmetry. Angular light-scattering measurements therefore offer the advantages of increased sensitivity and of added indices of changes in mitochondrial conformation.


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