Metabolite transport in mitochondria as a function of osmolarity

The effect of increasing sucrose concentrations on some mitochondrial functions was studied. The results showed that high osmolarity inhibits oxidative phosphorylation as well as ATPase activity and ATP-dependent delta phi formation as a consequence of adenine nucleotide translocase inhibition. It is also shown that high osmolarity does not affect delta phi formation and energy-dependent Ca2+ uptake as driven by succinate oxidation. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of membrane proteins showed a different reactivity to o-phenantroline/Cu2+ as function of osmolarity. It is proposed that high sucrose concentrations induce a collapse of the matrix compartment that results in a restricted diffusion of some metabolites.