A STUDY OF SOME MITOCHONDRIAL AND PEROXISOMAL ENZYMES IN HUMAN COLONIC ADENOCARCINOMA

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  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (1) , 13-17
Abstract
Cytochrome oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase, monoamine oxidase, catalase and urate oxidase were measured spectrophotometrically in the postnuclear supernatant prepared from homogenates of normal mucosa and carcinoma of the human colon. The specific activities, in normal mucosa and carcinoma, varied from patient to patient. The difference in these activities between normal mucosa and carcinoma was consistent when patients were compared. The activities of cytochrome oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase, monoamine oxidase and catalase were greater in normal mucosa than in carcinoma. Urate oxidase activity increased in carcinoma as compared with normal mucosa. Cytochrome oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase decreased proportionally in carcinoma, supporting the concept that the mitochondrial respiration in normal tissue and carcinoma is quantitatively but not qualitatively changed. The decrease in monoamine oxidase activity in carcinoma was greater than that observed with other mitochondrial enzyme activities and was irregular. A qualitative mitochondrial change may occur in carcinoma. The ratio between outer membrane enzyme activity and respiratory enzyme activity may be altered.