Anion Transporters in Plant Mitochondria

The swelling of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) mitochondria in isosmotic ammonium salts of phosphate, chloride, malate, succinate, and citrate was investigated by measuring light scattering. Potato mitochondria swell spontaneously in ammonium phosphate, and this swelling can be inhibited in N-ethylmaleimide. They swell in ammonium malate or succinate only after the addition of inorganic phosphate and in ammonium citrate only after the addition of both phosphate and a dicarboxylic acid. Pentylmalonate inhibits swelling in ammonium citrate solutions by competing for dicarboxylate entry. The results indicate that potato mitochondria possess a phosphate-hydroxyl carrier, a dicarboxylate carrier, and a tricarboxylate carrier.