Contribution to Control of Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation by Supplement of Reducing Equivalents

The influence of enhancing the supply of hydrogen donors on respiratory rates, NAD(P)H fluorescence, and membrane potential was investigated. Addition of 5 mM malate to mitochondria during oxidation of 10 mM isocitrate, oxoglutarate, succinate, proline, or glycerol-3-phosphate under steady-state conditions resulted in an inhibition of respiration, coincident with a decrease in both transmembrane electrical potential and percentage reduction of NAD(P). Half-maximum inhibition of NAD(P) reduction in the resting state of 10 mM isocitrate respiration was reached at 10 mM malate. This inhibition was concluded to be due to oxaloacetate formed immediately from malate by succinate dehydrogenase. Addition of 5 mM isocitrate caused higher respiratory rates, accompanied by an increase in both Δψ and percentage of NAD(P) reduction, in mitochondria oxidizing 10 mM oxoglutatate, glutamate, proline, hydroxybutyrate, glycerol-3-phosphate, or 0.025 mM palmitoyl carnitine. The half maximum increase in percentage NAD(P) reduction with 10 mM 2-oxoglutarate as primary substrate was found at 0.24 mM isocitrate. Within the citric acid cycle, succinate dehydrogenase and NAD-isocitrate dehydrogenase play an important role in changes in the rate of NADH formation. Therefore, they participate in flux control. Furthermore, mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase and oxidoreductases of the β-oxidation pathway of fatty acids are additionally involved in adjusting the rate of NADH formation.