Changes in the distribution of the control of the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in regenerating rabbit liver.

Applying the metabolic control theory, inhibitor titration studies were carried out on Complex I, III, IV, ATP synthase, ATP/ADP carrier and P(i) carrier of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in normal and regenerating rabbit liver in order to examine the acceleration mechanism of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. In regenerating rabbit liver the rate of state 3 respiration, respiratory control ratio and phosphorylation rate in the presence of mM glutamate, 250 microM ADP and 3 mM inorganic phosphate increased significantly as compared with the control by 73%, 48% and 76%, respectively. The control of the rate of state 3 respiration in normal liver was exerted by Complexes I, IV and steps other than the aforementioned six steps, whose flux control coefficients were 0.317, 0.214 and 0.469, respectively. By contrast, in regenerating liver, the control was more evenly distributed among these steps in oxidative phosphorylation and the possibility is suggested that Complexes I, IV and steps other than the six steps are activated during regeneration. The activation of Complexes I and IV was attributed to their increased activity, since it was not accompanied by an increase in the amount of the enzymes.