Mitochondrial autonomy: incorporation of monosaccharides into glycoprotein by isolated mitochondria.

Isolated intact mitochondria selectively incorporate monosaccharides from nucleotide diphosphate monosaccharides into protein. Fucose, mannose, glucose, and galactose were incorporated by the mitochondria into glycoprotein; xylose was not. Structural integrity of the mitochondria was not necessary for the incorporation of monosaccharide into glycoprotein; mitochondria broken by homogenization also incorporated monosaccharide. The monosaccharides incorporated into glycoprotein were localized in the inner mitochondrial membranes, the same membranes which contain the protein into which leucine is incorporated by the isolated mitochondria.