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Evidence for the existence of catalase in the matrix space of rat‐heart mitochondria
Author(s) -
Nohl Hans,
Hegner Dietmar
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(78)80537-7
Subject(s) - pharmacy , library science , medicine , pharmacology , computer science , family medicine
Despite the ability of isolated rat-heart mitochondria to produce HzOz under state 4 conditions [ 1,2] , it was concluded that state 4 respiration cannot occur in vivo on account of the apparent absence of HzOzdestroying enzyme systems [l-S] . In addition, Hz02 per se was shown to be without effect on such sensitive mitochondrial functions as reversed electron flow and energy conservation [6]. However, the participation of this compound as an essential intermediate in the initiation of lipid peroxidation appears to be widely established [7-lo] . This concept is in agreement with the findings [ 111 , namely that lipid peroxides are formed in vivo by a radical-generating system involving H202. The existence of these compounds in rat-heart mitochondria of living cells poses the question as to whether or not mitochondria from rat-heart are equipped with enzymes for metabolizing H202. This paper reports on the presence of catalase in the matrix of rat-heart mitochondria by various techniques.