Mitochondrial importation of lipids and liponucleotides from microsomes independent of and facilitated by purified cytosol proteins.

The mitochondrial importation of microsomal lipids and liponucleotides in the presence and in the absence of partially purified cytosol protein(s) isolated from guinea pig liver was studied by the aid of isomeric (5-, 12-, and 16-(N-oxyl-4',4'-dimethyloxazolidine)stearoyl) spin-labelled radioactive phosphatide acid, phosphatidylcholine, neutral lipids, and CDP-diglycerides. Using a conventional procedure for the protein purification, cytosol protein(s) was purified approximately 1000-fold in respect to its ability to catalyze the translocation of isomeric spin-labelled lipids and liponucleotides from the microsomal to mitochondrial membranes. The highest activity of this protein was exhibited with biosynthesized spin-labelled lipids and liponucleotides bound to the microsomal membranes as substrates and the lowest, with the synthetic liponucleotides and derived lipids bound to the microsomal membranes. The partially purified protein was active in catalyzing the mitochondrial import of phospholipids from microsomes after heat treatment up to 90 degrees C. In addition to the cytosol protein catalyzing mechanism of mitochondrial import of lipids and liponucleotides from microsomal membranes, another cytosol protein independent mechanism of the mitochondrial importation of the same lipids and liponucleotides was also demonstrated in an agreement with our previous reports on the existence of cytosol protein independent intermembranous translocation of phospholipids. These experimental findings are discussed in terms of possible physiological significance and reaction mechanisms involved in the mitochondrial import of lipids and liponucleotides from the microsomal membranes of guinea pig liver.