The effect of aging and acetyl-L-carnitine on the activity of the phosphate carrier and on the phospholipid composition in rat heart mitochondria. |
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| Authors: | G Paradies F M Ruggiero M N Gadaleta E Quagliariello |
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| Institution: | Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bari, Italy. |
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| Abstract: | The effect of aging and treatment with acetyl-L-carnitine on the activity of the phosphate carrier and on the phospholipid composition in rat heart mitochondria was studied. It was found that the activity of the phosphate carrier was reduced by aging. Treatment of aged rats with acetyl-L-carnitine reversed this effect. The mitochondrial level of cardiolipin was decreased with aging. Treatment of aged rats with acetyl-L-carnitine restored the level of cardiolipin to that of young rats. It is proposed that acetyl-L-carnitine may restore the correct phospholipid composition (cardiolipin level) of the mitochondrial membrane, altered by aging, thereby restoring the activity of the phosphate carrier. |
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