Translocation of Adenine Nucleotides in the Mitochondria of Male Sterile and Male Fertile Sorghum

The translocation of ATP from the inside to the outside of the mitochondrial membrane has been studied in a male sterile (2219 A) and a male fertile (2219 B) line of sorghum. The translocation of ATP was found to be substantially lower in case of mitochondria from the male sterile line. The affinity of adenine nucleotides to the translocator proteins of the mito­ chondrial membrane was found to be almost one half in case of 2219 A as compared to 2219 B when the Km for ATP-ADP was determined by two different assays. It is proposed that the inadequate supply of ATP in the cytosol resulting from its inefficient translocation may con­ tribute to the male sterility in this line.