Transfer of C2-units across the mitochondrial membrane. Direct recording of citrate, acetate and acetoacetate production rates.

Methods are described for the direct optical assay of citrate, acetate, and acetoacetate production by isolated, incubated rat liver mitochondria. Each metabolite is converted into acetyl-CoA, using ATP: citrate lyase or acetyl-CoA synthetase or acetoacetyl-CoA synthetase and acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase, respectively. Arylamine acetyltransferase acts as auxiliary enzyme. It was shown that isolated rat liver mitochondria produce citrate, acetate and acetoacetate, and that production rates are stimulated by pyruvate and hexanoate. It was concluded that these three products might contribute to the transport of acetyl units across the mitochondrial membrane and thus serve as precursors in fatty acid synthesis. The rate of acetyl transfer does not seem to be rate-limiting with regard to the overall-process of fatty acid synthesis from carbohydrates.