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. 1980 Mar;65(3):433–436. doi: 10.1104/pp.65.3.433

Reduction of Nitrate via a Dicarboxylate Shuttle in a Reconstituted System of Supernatant and Mitochondria from Spinach Leaves 1

K C Woo 1,2, Mark Jokinen 1, David T Canvin 1
PMCID: PMC440348  PMID: 16661207

Abstract

Substantial rates of nitrate reduction could be achieved with a reconstituted system from spinach leaves containing supernatant, mitochondria, NAD+, oxaloacetate (OAA), and an oxidizable substrate. Appropriate substrates were glycine, pyruvate, citrate, isocitrate, fumarate, or glutamate. The reduction of NO3− with any of the substrates could be inhibited by n-butyl malonate, showing that the transfer of reducing power from the mitochondria to the supernatant involved the malate exchange carrier. The addition of ADP to the reconstituted system decreased NO3− reduction and this decrease could be reversed by the addition of rotenone or antimycin A. The operation of the OAA/malate shuttle was achieved most quickly in the system when low concentrations (≤0.1 millimolar) of OAA were added. A corresponding increase in the lag time for the operation of the OAA/malate shuttle was observed when the OAA concentration was increased. Concentrations for half-maximal activity of OAA, glycine, NAD+, and NO3− in the reconstituted system were 42 micromolar, 0.5 millimolar, 0.25 millimolar, and 26 micromolar, respectively. The transfer of reducing power from the mitochondria to the soluble phase via the OAA/malate shuttle can not only provide NADH for cytoplasmic reduction but can also sustain oxidation of tricarboxylic cycle acids and the generation of α-ketoglutarate independently of the respiratory electron transport chain.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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