Skeletal muscle mitochondrial β-oxidation. A study of the products of oxidation of [U-14C]hexadecanoate by h.p.l.c. using continuous on-line radiochemical detection

Abstract

Well-coupled mitochondrial fractions were prepared from rat skeletal muscle without the use of proteolytic enzyme. The products of [U-14C]hexadecanoate oxidation by rat skeletal muscle mitochondrial fractions were analyzed by H.P.L.C. with on-line radiochemical detection. In the presence of 1 mM-carnitine, 70% of the products is acetylcarnitine. In agreement with Veerkamp et al. [Veerkamp, van Moerkerk, Glatz. Zuurveld, Jacobs and Wagenmakers (1986) Biochem. Med. Metab. Biol. 35, 248-259] 14CO2 release is shown to be an unreliable estimate of flux through .beta.-oxidation in skeletal muscle mitochondrial fractions. The flux through .beta.-oxidation is recorded unambiguously polarographically in the presence of 1 mM-carnitine and the absence of citrate cycle intermediates.