High activity of alpha-glycerophosphate oxidation by human placental mitochondria.

Human term placental mitochondria oxidize alpha-glycerophosphate at an unusually high rate as compared to other substrates. The apparent Km both for oxidation and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.99.5) activity of DL-alpha glycerophosphate determined in a medium containing 2mM EDTA and 5 mM MgSO4 was approx. 0.7 mM. EDTA inhibited the alpha-glycerophosphate oxidation if the later was used at low concentrations. A subsequent addition of MgSO4 or CaCl2 restored the original activity. EDTA had no effect on mitochondrial respiration at high concentration of alpha-glycerophosphate. Possible physiological role of relatively high activity of human placental mitochondrial alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase is discussed.