31P NMR studies of control of mitochondrial function in phosphofructokinase-deficient human skeletal muscle

Metabolic control of mitochondrial respiratory activity by Pi and ADP has been evaluated by 31P NMR measurements of the levels of Pi in normal exercising human skeletal tissues in the resting-active-resting transition and, in this contribution, in the phosphofructokinase (PFK)-deficient leg. The latter studies show near constancy of Pi in the recovery from maximal exercise of the leg, with large changes of sugar phosphate (SP) complementary to the changes of phosphocreatine (PCr). The PFK deficiency permits observation of PCr resynthesis in postexercise recovery under conditions of nearly constant Pi and ATP--a phenomenon not evident in normal exercising muscle. The constancy of free Pi is inconsistent with its role in control of mitochondrial activity, leaving ADP as a key metabolic control element. These results help clarify previous controversies on the nature of control of metabolic activity of mitochondria and extend the idea of ADP control of mitochondrial metabolic states in vivo and, in addition, provide an appropriate exercise protocol for the evaluation of a genetic deficiency affecting mitochondrial metabolism.