Reduction of a disulphide in relation to the metabolic states of mitochondria.

TL;DRAbstract

The role of -SH groups in mitochondrial energy transfer reaction was studied by observing the reduction of a disulphide, 5, 5'-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoic acid), DTNB, a specific analytical agent for the estimation of -SH groups in biological materials, by addition of it to the isolated rat liver mitochondria in various respiratory states, as defined by CHANCE and WILLIAMS. 1. In the various respiratory states, states 1 to 5, the reduction of DTNB proceeds most rapidly at state 5, and most slowly at state 3. DTNB reduction at state 5 is suppressed by the partial oxidation of respiratory carriers with oxygen (state 4) and the addition of respiratory substrate does not affect the DTNB reduction. 2. The retardation in the reduction rate at state 3 is relieved partially by a respiratory inhibitor, KCN, and is intensified markedly by oligomycin, an inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation. An uncoupler for oxidative phosphorylation, DNP, does not affect the reduction rate at state 3. At state 4

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