Inhibition of adenine nucleotide transport in mitochondria of winter rye seedlings.

Inhibition of adenine nucleotide transport was studied in mitochondria of winter rye (Secale cereale) seedlings. It has been shown that plant mitochondria have a translocase similar to the adenine-nucleotide translocase of animal mitochondria, since atractyloside, at a concentration of 40 micro M, inhibits Chance's State 3 respiration 100%. It has been demonstrated that palmitoyl-CoA--formed by a mitochondrial system for activation of fatty acids--lowers the rate of State 3 respiration during succinate oxidation, if palmitate, CoA and ATP are introduced into the incubation medium simultaneously. This can be explained by an inhibition of transport of adenine nucleotides through the internal mitochondrial membrane. The inhibition in question is counteracted by addition of carnitine.