The Journal of Biological Chemistry

Hormonal control of the initial step in hepatic gluconeogenesis from pyruvate was examined following acute administration of epinephrine, glucagon, or cortisol to adult rats. After hormonal treatment of the animals, the mitochondria were isolated for the study of pyruvate metabolism. When pyruvate and bicarbonate were the only substrates provided, mitochondrial fixation of carbon dioxide and production of acetyl coenzyme A accounted for the entire uptake of pyruvate. Although none of the three hormones raised the activity of mitochondrial pyruvate carboxylase, each increased mitochondrial pyruvate uptake and secondarily enhanced both CO, fixation and pyruvate-1-r4C decarboxylation. The primary role of mitochondrial pyruvate uptake was confirmed by reducing the osmolality of the suspending medium during incubation of mitochondria with substrate. Increasing mitochondrial uptake of pyruvate by this means enhanced both fixation of COs and decarboxylation of pyruvate-l-14C, while reducing the observable effect of hormone. Apparently the rate of pyruvate transfer into mitochondria is of primary importance in the control of mitochondrial COZ fixation.