Adenosine Triphosphatase and ATP-Pi Exchange in Mitochondria of Essential Fatty Acid-Deficient Rats

Abstract

ATPase, Mg⁺⁺-ATPase, DNP-ATPase, and ATP-P_i exchange was measured in liver mitochondria from normal and essential fatty acid-deficient rats. Little difference was noted in these systems when freshly prepared mitochondria were used. When the mitochondria were aged at 30°C for various times, however, differences between the normal and deficient mitochondria became apparent. Uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation occurred relatively rapidly in deficient mitochondria that were aged, and this appeared to be linked to a loss of ATP-P_i exchange activity, but not to ATPase activity.