Reversibility of the mitochondrial isocitrate dehydrogenase reaction in the perfused rat liver. Evidence from isotopomer analysis of citric acid cycle intermediates.

The reversal of the mitochondrial isocitrate dehydrogenase reaction was investigated in rat livers perfused with [U-13C5]glutamate or [U-13C5]glutamine. The mass isotopomer distribution of citric acid cycle intermediates extracted from the livers was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Citrate was enriched in an isotopomer containing five 13C. The formation of this isotopomer can only be explained by the reversal of the isocitrate dehydrogenase reaction. Calculation of kinetic parameters from the mass isotopomer data reveals a rapid interconversion of isocitrate and alpha-ketoglutarate. This interconversion results in an isotopic exchange between carbon 6 of citrate and mitochondrial CO2 that can affect the calculation of citric acid cycle kinetic parameters. Thus, the reversal of the isocitrate dehydrogenase reaction should be included in isotope labeling models of the citric acid cycle.