The influence of bilirubin on oxidative phosphorylation and related reactions in brain and liver mitochondria: effects of protein-binding.

Abstract

SUMMARY1. The uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation of liver mitochondria by bilirubin does not occur in the presence of equimolar quantities of human serum albumin. With brain mitochondria, however, albumin was not protective.2. A similar protective effect of albumin for liver, but not for brain, mitochondria was observed in studies of the effects of bilirubin on the 32Pi‐ATP exchange reaction.3. The latent ATPase of fresh brain mitochondria is activated by Mg2+ but only slightly by DNP. Bilirubin increased the Mg2+ stimulated ATPase activity in liver mitochondria but depressed this activity in brain mitochondria. These effects were uninfluenced by protein binding.4. Isotope studies with [14C]bilirubin demonstrated that the affinity of brain mitochondria for albumin‐bound bilirubin is not greater than that of liver mitochondria.5. The greater toxicity of protein‐bound bilirubin for brain mitochondria than for liver mitochondria might be related to the greater lipid content of brain mitochondria.