Protein synthesis in heart mitochondria: mechanism and metabolic aspects

A short review is given with respect to the status quo of the knowledge of mitochondrial protein synthesis in mammalian tissues. The inhibitory effects of antibiotic such as chloramphenicol and thiamphenicol are discussed from the point of possible complications for cardiac metabolism. It is shown that a decrease of the activity of cytochrome c oxidase, the terminal enzyme of the respiratory chain, caused an increase in the production of lactate, if beating heart cells are cultured in the presence of chloramphenicol. In vivo treatment of rabbits with the chloramphenicol analogue thiamphenicol causes a strong fall in the cytochrome aa3 content of the hearts. The results are discussed in the light of the possible implications for cardiac function and metabolism in man.