Mechanism of carrier-mediated glutamine transport across the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Mersalyl completely inhibits glutamine influx into kidney and liver mitochondria indicating clearly that this process requires the presence of functional thiol groups and probably a specific glutamine carrier. There is a close correlation between the transport of glutamine and the transport of inorganic phosphate. Glutamine crosses mitochondrial membrane as an electroneutral species driven by the concentration gradient. Proton gradient and membrane potential generated by the energization of kidney mitochondria stimulate the influx of glutamine. Glutaminase and glutamine carrier are probably distinct proteins.