The effect of carnitine on the oxidation of saturated fatty acids by pea cotyledon mitochondria.

Carnitine was found to stimulate fatty acid oxidation by pea (Pisum sativum L.) cotyledon mitochondria. The stimulation was at a maximum for long chain (C16:0) and short chain (C4:0 and C6:0) fatty acids. Evidence was also provided which indicated that mid-chain (C10:0 and C12:0) fatty acid oxidation by mitochondria was stimulated by carnitine. It is postulated that carnitine acts by facilitating transport of these species of fatty acids across the mitochondrial membranes to intramitochondrial β-oxidation sites.