The extraction and reconstitution of the alpha-cyanocinnamate-sensitive pyruvate transporter from castor bean mitochondria.

The pyruvate carrier from castor bean mitochondria has been solubilized with Triton X-114 and partially purified using hydroxyapatite column chromatography. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the hydroxyapatite-eluate showed that there were 6 major protein bands of Mr, 74kDa, 66kDa, 34kDa, 32kDa, 30kDa 12kDa. When the eluate was reconstituted into liposomes it was shown to catalyze a pyruvate exchange reaction which was sensitive to N-ethyl maleimide and a series of analogues of alpha-cyanocinnamate. The characteristics of this pyruvate exchange activity are similar to that found in intact mitochondria, and it is concluded that one or more proteins in the hydroxyapatite-eluate correspond to the pyruvate carrier.