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The effects of urea, trimethylamine oxide and ionic strength on the oxidation of acyl carnitines by mitochondria isolated from the liver of the Little SkateRaja erinacea

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Summary

  1. 1.

    The rate of oxidation of intermediate chain length acyl carnitines (C-8, C-12, C-14) by isolated mitochondria from the liver of the little skateRaja erinacea is enhanced by 800 mM urea and reduced by 200 mM trimethylamine oxide (TMAO). A combination of urea and TMAO (2∶1) resulted in intermediate rates of oxidation. Glutamate oxidation was not affected by urea or TMAO alone or in combination at the concentrations used.

  2. 2.

    The disruption of acyl carnitine oxidation could only be demonstrated at unphysiologically high ionic strength (μ=0.408). Glutamate oxidation was not disrupted under these conditions.

  3. 3.

    It is suggested that the role of hydrophobic interactions in the oxidation of acyl carnitines is minimal. This reduces the disruptive effects of changing intracellular concentrations of compounds known to perturb hydrophobic interactions.

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Abbreviations

BSA :

bovine serum albumin

CMC :

critical micelle concentration

CPT :

carnitine palmitoyl transferase

RCR :

respiratory control ratio

TMAO :

trimethylamine oxide

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Huntsman Marine Laboratory, E0G 2X0, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada

    J. S. Ballantyne & T. W. Moon

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    J. S. Ballantyne

  3. Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, K1N 6N5, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    T. W. Moon

Authors
  1. J. S. Ballantyne
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  2. T. W. Moon
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Ballantyne, J.S., Moon, T.W. The effects of urea, trimethylamine oxide and ionic strength on the oxidation of acyl carnitines by mitochondria isolated from the liver of the Little SkateRaja erinacea . J Comp Physiol B 156, 845–851 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694260

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694260

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