Effect of NAD on Malate Oxidation in Intact Plant Mitochondria.

Potato tuber mitochondria oxidizing malate respond to NAD(+) addition with increased oxidation rates, whereas mung bean hypocotyl mitochondria do not. This is traced to a low endogenous content of NAD(+) in potato mitochondria, which prove to take up added NAD(+). This mechanism concentrates NAD(+) in the matrix space. Analyses for oxaloacetate and pyruvate (with pyruvate dehydrogenase blocked) are consistent with regulation of malate oxidation by the internal NAD(+)/NADH ratio.