Oxidative phosphorylation and respiratory control in mitochondria from Aspergillus niger.

1. Tightly coupled mitochondria were isolated from Aspergillus niger by using an all-glass homogenizer followed by differential centrifugation. 2. The mitochondria oxidized the common intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, NADH(2) and the ascorbate-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine system. 3. High P/O ratios and control of respiration by ADP were obtained with all substrates tested. The average P/O ratios observed were: 1.5-1.8 with succinate as substrate [respiratory control ratio (RC) 2-4]; 0.8-1.0 with ascorbate-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (RC 1.2-1.5); 1.4-1.8 with NADH(2) (RC 2-3); 2.4-2.8 with alpha-oxoglutarate (RC 3-5). 4. Bovine serum albumin (0.05-0.2%) was essential for tightly coupled respiration to be observed. 5. Coupled oxidation of exogenous NADH(2) was relatively insensitive to rotenone and Amytal. 6. The mitochondria responded to specific inhibitors and uncoupling agents in a manner similar to that of mammalian mitochondria. 7. It was concluded that the isolated mitochondria from A. niger show respiratory properties similar to those reported for intact yeast and mammalian mitochondria.