Isolation and oxidative properties of intact mitochondria isolated from spinach leaves.

A procedure was described for preparing intact mitochondria from spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaves. These mitochondria oxidized succinate, malate, pyruvate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and NADH with good respiratory control and ADP/O ratios comparable to those observed with mitochondria from other plant tissues. Glycine was oxidized by the preparations. This oxidation linked to the mitochondrial electron transport chain, was coupled to three phosphorylation sites and was sensitive to electron transport and phosphorylation inhibitors.Cyanide completely inhibited the oxidation of NADH. The oxidation of succinate, malate, and glycine was only partially inhibited.