Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 13, 2026

Simultaneous Measurement of Superoxide/Hydrogen Peroxide and NADH Production by Flavin-containing Mitochondrial Dehydrogenases
Published on: February 24, 2018
Oxidation of cytosolic NADH by the malate-aspartate shuttle in MC29 hepatoma cells
1Department of Measles virus, National Institute of Health, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
The malate-aspartate shuttle activity for the reoxidation of cytosolic NADH was studied in MC29 avian hepatoma cells whose mitochondria preferentially utilized glutamine and produced aspartate for ATP formation. The tumour cells showed reoxidation of NADH, as evidenced by the accumulation of pyruvate, when incubated aerobically with L-lactate. The involvement of the respiratory chain and transaminase in the process was demonstrated by the addition of specific inhibitors. When the tumour cells were cultured in Eagle's medium with aminooxyacetate or in the absence of glutamine, a marked reduction in the cellular NAD/NADH ratio was observed. These results indicate that the malate-aspartate shuttle was actively functioning in the tumour cells and that this hepatoma may provide a suitable system for the investigation of the bioenergetics of malignant cells.
Related Concept Videos
Pyruvate Oxidation
First, the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase removes the carboxyl group from pyruvate and releases it as carbon dioxide. The stripped molecule is then oxidized and releases electrons, which are then picked up by NAD+...
The Citric Acid Cycle
Electron Transport Chains
The ETC is comprised of...
Role of Reduced Coenzymes NADH and FADH₂
Oxidation and Reduction of Organic Molecules
The removal of an electron from a molecule, results in a...
Electron Transport Chain: Complex III and IV

