A NOVEL PROPERTY OF ADENINE-NUCLEOTIDES - SENSITIVITY TO HELIUM-NEON LASER IN MITOCHONDRIAL REACTIONS

Consideration is made here of the ability of He-Ne laser light to affe ct both transport and enzymic reactions by acting on substrates. Adeni ne nucleotides irradiated with 3 Joules/cm(2) fluence (10 mW/cm(2) flu ence rate) showed altered biochemical behaviour when used as substrate s for certain mitochondrial reactions in isolated rat liver mitochondr ia: ADP/ATP antiport and ATP synthase, which allow for oxidative phosp horylation, and adenylate kinase reaction. In order to determine ATP s ynthase kinetics a specific method was developed which allows for calc ulation of ADP phosphorylation rate in intact mitochondria. While no c hange in ATP synthase kinetics was observed as a result of ADP irradia tion, adenine nucleotides proved to be sensitive to He-Ne laser irradi ation when their interaction with ADP/ATP carrier and adenylate kinase was considered.