Influence of the beta-hydroxybutyrate/acetoacetate ratio on the redox states of mitochondrial NAD(P) and cytochrome c systems, extramitochondrial ATP/ADP ratio and the respiration of isolated liver mitochondria in the resting state

Abstract

The effect of changes in hydrogen supply on the rate of energy transformation (measured as respiration rate), on the redox state of the NAD(P) and cytochrome c couples and on the extramitochondrial ATP/ADP was investigated with isolated rat liver mitochondria. Hydrogen supply was changed by variation of the beta-hydroxybutyrate/acetoacetate ratio in the incubation medium. In the active state respiration rate was strongly diminished by lowering the beta-hydroxybutyrate/acetoacetate ratio, whereas in the resting state a minor effect was observed. This resulted in a decrease in the respiratory control index (RCI). Even under a metabolic situation of strongly diminished hydrogen supply corresponding to a beta-hydroxybutyrate/acetoacetate ratio equal to 0.5 added ADP was phosphorylated. However, the ATP/ADP ratio generated extramitochondrially amounted to half that obtained at a beta-hydroxybutyrate/acetoacetate ratio of more than 100. Nevertheless at a beta-hydroxybutyrate/acetoacetate ratio of 0.5 the generated extramitochondrial ATP/ADP ratio is near to 100. A comparison of the changes in the available free redox energy with those in the extramitochondrial phosphorylation potential points to a disequilibrium between them in the resting state, too. The experimental results are discussed in the light of the metabolic conditions in vivo.