Inhibition of pyruvate oxidation by skeletal muscle mitochondria by phenylpyruvate

1. Phenylpyruvate inhibits pyruvate plus malate oxidation in human and rat skeletal muscle mitochondria in state 3 and in the uncoupled state, it has, however, no effect in state 4. 2. Inhibition by phenylpyruvate of pyruvate oxidation by intact uncoupled rat muscle mitochondria was competitive, with the Ki value about 0.18 mM. 3. It is suggested that the inhibition of pyruvate oxidation is due to the action of phenylpyruvate on muscle pyruvate dehydrogenase, and is the principal cause of the elevated concentration of pyruvate and lactate in blood plasma of phenylketonuric patients.