Temperature dependence of mitochondrial respiratory activities

Arrhenius plots of succinate oxidase activity in intact beef heart mitochondria show a clear transition from a low to a high activation energy at 27°C. This temperature is significantly higher than that observed for ATPase (17°C). Arrhenius plots of succinate-cytochromec reductase and cytochromec oxidase also show anomalous curves; while the latter has a breakpoint (at 26°C) only when assayed manometrically, the former has a break at only 20°C.The succinoxidase activity of lipid-deficient mitochondria depends upon addition of exogenous phospholipids. Unsaturated phospholipids are more active than saturated phospholipids but the latter become very effective in restoration of succinoxidase at increasing temperatures. It is suggested that a liquid-crystalline state of the phospholipids is required for correct binding to the lipid-depleted membrane and for restoration of respiratory activity. The is no clear correlation between the above mentioned effects in lipid deficient mitochondria and the transitions in the Arrhenius plots of intact mitochondria.