Particulate and free hexokinase in fetal rat liver

The association of hexokinase with particulate fractions of liver has been studied during the development of the rat. In the fetal rat liver about 50% of the total hexokinase is bound to the mitochondria. This proportion decreases gradually after birth. No association of hexokinase with mitochondria could be demonstrated in the adult rat liver. It is suggested that the binding of hexokinase to the mitochondria is a consequence of a property which is lost during development of the mitochondrial membranes. At least part of the hexokinase is rather tightly bound to the mitochondria. Glucose-6-phosphate or ATP do not solubilize the enzyme. The proportion of hexokinase bound to the mitochondria is independent of the metabolic state of the hepatocyte as exemplified by studies with inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation, using the digitonin technique for the separation of particulate and cytosol fractions of isolated fetal rat hepatocytes.