Glutamine Transport in Rat Kidney Mitochondria in Metabolic Acidosis

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Abstract

In order to study factors regulating renal ammoniagenesis, the transport and metabolism of L-glutamine were studied in mitochondria from kidneys of control and acidotic rats. On incubation in 1 mM [14C]glutamine, there was production and accumulation of [14C]glutamate within the matrix space. However no [14C]glutamine was detected in the matrix space, even with 10 mM [14C]glutamine as substrate or with inhibition of glutamine deamidation (low temperature, p-chloromercuribenzoate, mersalyl). These results suggest that glutamine crosses the inner membrane by a carrier-mediated step and that this step is rate-limiting in glutamine deamidation.

Authors

William Adam, David P. Simpson