A comparative study of inner membrane enzymes and transport systems in mitochondria from R3230AC mammary tumor and normal rat mammary gland.

Mitochondria from a rat mammary tumor (R3230AC) have been compared with mitochondria from pregnant and lactating rat mammary glands, with particular attention paid to inner membrane enzymes and Transport proteins. In the tumor the mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase was not activated by 2,4-dinitrophenol, in contrast to the mammary mitochondria from lactating or pregnant rats. Translocation of adenosine diphosphate across the inner membrane was found to be more rapid in the tumor by virtue of lovered Km adenosine diphosphate and raised Vmax. Transport of phosphate and dicarboxylic acids occurred at similar rates in all three types of mitochondria. The inner membrane proteins were also examined directly by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and some differences are noted. These results, although they indicate subtle differences between the inner mitochondrial membranes of tumor as compared with those of pregnant or lactating rat mammary glands, cannot form the basis of an explanation for enhanced glucose utilization and aerobic lactic acid production in this tumor.