On the adenosine triphosphatase activity of rat brain mitochondria.

Brain mitochondria are known to differ in many respects from the mitochondria of other tissues in their sensitivity to drugs and to other exogenous factors (l-4) as well as in the nature and organization of their component enzyme systems (5-7). Comparative studies of brain mitochondria may aid in the eventual understanding of the relationship between the special features of brain mitochondria and the problem of conduction and excitability within the nervous system. The present study is concerned with a more detailed study of the adenosine triphosphatase activity of brain mitochondria and with a comparison between the ATPase of brain and that of other mitochondria. In addition, attempts are made to investigate the relationship between mitochondrial ATPase and phosphorylation in brain.