Regulation of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria by external free Ca2+ concentrations

The rate of oxidative phosphorylation was studied in rat liver mitochondria incubated with free Ca2+ concentrations that range from 10(-9) to 5 X 10(-6) M. The highest rate was observed between 0.5-1.0 microM Ca2+. ATP synthesis was measured by polarographic and spectrophotometric techniques and by uptake of radioactive inorganic phosphate. The concentration of Ca2+ at which maximal rates of ATP synthesis take place is modified by Mg2+ and phosphate. The dependence of oxidative phosphorylation on Ca2+ was observed with alpha-ketoglutarate, glutamate + malate, and succinate, but not with beta-hydroxybutyrate. At 10(-9) M Ca2+ there is a continuous exit of endogenous Ca2+, while with 10(-6) M Ca2+, intramitochondrial Ca2+ levels remained constant throughout time. Apparently the control of the level of internal Ca2+ by external Ca2+ modulates the rate of oxidative phosphorylation. Uncoupler-stimulated respiration also depends on Ca2+ concentration, even though at 10(-9) to 10(-6) M Ca2+ the rate of oxidative phosphorylation is lower than the rate of uncoupled respiration. The contribution of the ADP/ATP carrier and the ATP synthase to the kinetic regulation of ATP synthesis at 10(-9) and 10(-6) M Ca2+ was evaluated by titrations with carboxyatractyloside and oligomycin, respectively. The contribution of the carrier and the synthase to the regulation of the final rate of ATP synthesis was different at the two concentrations of Ca2+; therefore, the concentration of extramitochondrial Ca2+ influences the overall kinetics of oxidative phosphorylation.