Detection of liver mitochondrial oxaloacetate by NMR spectroscopy and membrane potential-dependent accumulation

Oxaloacetate (OAA) is a central liver metabolite fundamental to critical metabolic pathways. However, understanding OAA metabolism in the liver has been limited because the compound is very difficult to measure by mass spectroscopy and not abundant enough for detection by other methods. Here we describe a novel approach to quantifying OAA in liver mitochondria. Moreover, we provide evidence for membrane potential-dependent OAA accumulation in mitochondria during complex II-energized respiration consistent with OAA inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase.