Functioning of mitochondria-bound hexokinase in rat brain in accordance with generation of ATP inside the organelle.

The function of mitochondria-bound hexokinase, the enzymatic form peculiar to the brain, in utilization of ATP generated inside the organelles, was examined by incubating rat brain mitochondrial fraction with [14C]glucose under various conditions. Addition of succinate and ADP to the incubation medium increased glucose 6-phosphate formation by the mitochondrial hexokinase and caused a smaller increase in ATP concentration in the mitochondria. The glucose phosphorylation was markedly inhibited by the addition of dinitrophenol, potassium cyanide, and oligomycin, and the ATP concentration was decreased. On the other hand, addition of atractyloside suppressed the glucose phosphorylation without affecting the mitochondrial hexokinase activity, whereas addition of antiserum against the mitochondrial hexokinase inhibited both glucose 6-phosphate formation and hexokinase activity. A part of both the glucose phosphorylation and hexokinase activities, however, remained even in the presence of the maximum dose of the anti-hexokinase serum and atractyloside. These results indicate the active utilization of intrinsically generated ATP by the mitochondria-bound hexokinase, a part of which may be located away from the surface of the mitochondrial membrane.