A continuous recording technique for the measurement of carbon dioxide, and its application to mitochondrial oxidation and decarboxylation reactions

Abstract

1. A technique is described for continuously recording the concentration of carbon dioxide in mitochondrial suspensions. 2. The oxidation of palmitoylcarnitine by rat-liver mitochondria inhibits the oxidation of pyruvate and isocitrate, and stimulates the carboxylation of pyruvate. 3. These effects of palmitoylcarnitine oxidation are reversed by the uncoupling agent pentachlorophenol. 4. The effects of palmitoylcarnitine oxidation and pyruvate oxidation on the acylation of mitochondrial coenzyme A and reduction of nicotinamide nucleotides were measured. 5. Control mechanisms are discussed for the interactions between palmitoylcarnitine oxidation and the tricarboxylic acid cycle in rat-liver mitochondria.