Underevaluation of complex I activity by the direct assay of NADH-coenzyme Q reductase in rat liver mitochondria

FEBS Lett. 1995 Jun 12;366(2-3):119-21. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(95)00508-7.

Abstract

We have shown that the rate of NADH-coenzyme Q reductase in rat liver mitochondria, assayed using the decyl-ubiquinone analog DB, is underevaluated, probably as a result of its low water solubility. In view of drawbacks encountered using other more soluble acceptors in this system, we demonstrate that the most reliable assay of the physiological rate of CoQ reduction by Complex I is the indirect calculation from the total rate of NADH oxidation and the rate of ubiquinol oxidation, using the pool equation of Kröger and Klingenberg [(1973) Eur. J. Biochem. 34, 358-368].

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Electron Transport Complex I
  • Electron Transport Complex III / metabolism
  • Electron Transport Complex IV / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mitochondria, Liver / enzymology*
  • NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) / metabolism*
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases
  • NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone)
  • Electron Transport Complex IV
  • Electron Transport Complex I
  • Electron Transport Complex III