Adenine nucleotide translocation in liver mitochondria isolated from rats deficient in essential fatty acids.

Adenine nucleotide content and adenine nucleotide transport were evaluated in rats deficient in essential fatty acids (EFA) and in control rats. ADP uptake by EFA-deficient mitochondria was altered in a manner similar to the alteration produced by treatment of normal mitochondria with uncoupler. The uptake of ATP by EFA-deficient mitochondria was more rapid than that of normal mitochondria, but similar to that of normal mitochondria treated with uncoupler (DNP). Both uptake of ADP and uptake of ATP by EFA-deficient mitochondria were atractyloside sensitive. Total adenine nucleotide content of liver mitochondria from EFA-deficient rats was similar to that of liver mitochondria from control animals, but the content of ATP in EFA-deficient mitochondria was significantly higher than that of normal mitochondria. There was a negative correlation between the concentration of linoleic acid in total mitochondria lipids and ATP content of mitochondria.