Effect of ATP level and its metabolic turnover in liver on the proteosynthesis postmortem.

The level of ATP in liver tissue kept at 37 degrees C decreases rapidly. Its concentration decreases to 20% of the original one 2 hr postmortem and disappears completely in the following 2 hr. The decrease of ATP concentration is independent of both the degree of mechanical disintegration of the tissue (mash, homogenate) and of the presence of inhibitors of ATP biosynthesis (2,4-dinitrophenol, monoiodoacetate). The application of precursors of ATP biosynthesis, labeled with suitable radionuclides (32Pi and [14C]ADP), makes it possible to prove that ATP is formed in the absence of inhibitors. Increased biosynthesis of ATP simultaneously enables an increase in metabolic turnover. Higher consumption of ATP, under conditions of its higher biosynthesis, is the reason for the identical decrease of ATP concentration in liver postmortem, independently of the intensity of its biosynthesis. The gradual fall of ATP level postmortem causes a corresponding decrease of proteosynthesis. At that moment when ATP disappears, proteosynthesis is stopped as well. However, the synthesis of proteins can continue even in this period if exogenous source of energy (ATP) is added.