Properties of Substantially Chlorophyll-free Pea Leaf Mitochondria Prepared by Sucrose Density Gradient Separation

Mitochondria isolated from pea leaves (Pisum sativum L. var Massey Gem) and purified on a linear sucrose density gradient were substantially free of contamination by Chl and peroxisomes. They showed high respiratory rates and good respiratory control and ADP/O ratios. Malate, glutamate, succinate, glycine, pyruvate, alpha-ketoglutarate, NADH, and NADPH were oxidized but little or no oxidation of citrate, isocitrate, or proline was detected. The oxidation of NADPH by the purified mitochondria did not occur via a transhydrogenase or phosphatase converting it to NADH. NADPH oxidation had an absolute requirement for added Ca(2+), whereas NADH oxidation proceeded in its absence. In addition, oxidation of the two substrates showed different sensitivities to chelators and sulfhydryl reagents, and faster rates of O(2) uptake were observed with both substrates than with either alone. This indicates that the NADPH dehydrogenase is distinct from the exogenous NADH dehydrogenase.