Sarcosomes and magnesium deficiency in ducks

Abstract

The respiratory rate and oxidative phosphorylation of duck-heart sarcosomes were increased when sarcosomes were isolated in 0[center dot]25[image]-sucrose as compared with 0[center dot]88[image]-sucrose. Conversely, the adenosine-triphospha-tase activity was reduced when sarcosomes were isolated in 0[center dot]25[image]-suc-rose. Sarcosomes from ducks given a purified diet low in magnesium exhibited decreased respiration and normal oxidative phosphorylation and adenosine-triphosphatase activity. However, sarcosomes from magnesium-deficient ducks showed no oxidative phosphorylation when magnesium was omitted from the incubating medium.