Submitochondrial location of ruthenium red-sensitive calcium-ion transport and evidence for its enrichment in a specific population of rat liver mitochondria.

1. Seven fractions sedimenting at between 3000 and 120000g-min were prepared from a rat liver homogenate by differential centrifugation in buffered iso-osmotic sucrose. The following measurements were carried out on each of these fractions: Ruthenium Red-sensitive Ca(2+) transport in the absence and in the presence of P(i) as well as in the presence of N-ethylmaleimide to prevent P(i) cycling, succinate-supported respiration in the absence and in the presence of ADP, the DeltaE and -59 DeltapH components of the protonmotive force, cytochrome oxidase, uncoupler-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase, alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase, P(i) content and the effect on the ;resting' rate of respiration of repeated additions of a fixed Ca(2+) concentration. 2. Ca(2+) transport either in the presence or in the absence of added P(i) and in the presence of N-ethylmaleimide exhibits significantly higher rates in the fraction sedimenting at 8000g-min. By contrast, respiration in the presence or in the absence of added ADP and the values for DeltaE and -59 DeltapH were similar in those fractions sedimenting between 4000 and 20000g-min, indicating that the driving force for Ca(2+) transport was similar in each of these fractions. 3. Experiments designed to determine the capacity of the individual fractions for Ca(2+), as measured by the effect of repeated additions of Ca(2+) on the resting rate of respiration, showed that fraction 2, i.e. that sedimenting at 8000g-min, also exhibited the greatest tolerance towards the uncoupling action of the ion. 4. Of the three enzyme activity profiles, only that of alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase was similar to that of Ca(2+) transport. Because previous workers have assigned this enzyme to loci in the inner peripheral membrane [Werner & Neupert (1972) Eur. J. Biochem.25, 379-396], it is concluded that the Ruthenium Red-sensitive Ca(2+)- transport system also is located in this domain of the inner membrane. The relation of these findings to the mechanisms of mitochondrial Ca(2+) transport and the biogenesis of mitochondria is discussed.