Abstract
IT has been observed1,2 that substances like thyroxine, Ca++, orthophosphate, induce swelling in rat liver mitochondria when suspended in a medium containing 0.3 M sucrose, and 0.02 M tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, at pH 7.4. That the swelling of mitochondria is dependent on the respiratory chain is shown by the fact that 2,4-dinitrophenol, which is an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation, is a strong inhibitor of mitochondrial swelling1. The swelling of mitochondria is associated with the active water uptake, which was first pointed out by Raaflaub3. The active water uptake is also inhibited by adenine triphosphate4. Other substances like spermine, spermidine, and related polyamine also inhibit swelling5. It has also been observed that many antihistamine drugs inhibit mitochondrial swelling6 where permeability change has been suggested. It is known that pyridoxal phosphate intensifies the uptake of amino-acids by Ehrlich ascites tumour cells7 with the concomitant uptake of water. A study of the effect of pyridoxal phosphate and other analogues of vitamin B6 on the active water uptake by rat liver mitochondria will be of some interest.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Tapley, D. F., Cooper, C., and Lehninger, A. L., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 18, 597 (1955).
Tapley, D. F., J. Biol. Chem., 222, 325 (1956).
Raaflaub, J., Helv. Physiol. et Pharmacol. Acta, 11, 142, 157 (1953).
Lehninger, A. L., J. Biol. Chem., 234, 2465 (1959).
Herbst, E. J., and Witherspoon, B. H., Fed. Proc., 19, 138 (1960).
Judah, J. D., Nature, 185, 390 (1960).
Christensen, H. N., Riggs, T. R., and Coyne, B. A., J. Biol. Chem., 209, 413 (1954).
Lehninger, A. L., Ray, B. L., and Schneider, M., J. Biophys. Biochem. Cytol., 5, 97 (1959).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
PAL, P. Effect of Vitamin B6 and its Analogues on the Swelling of Rat Liver Mitochondria. Nature 200, 173 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1038/200173a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/200173a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.