Action ofl-acetylcarnitine on age-dependent modifications of mitochondrial membrane proteins from rat cerebellum

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Abstract
Protein patterns of mitochondrial outer membrane, inner membrane, and matrix from nonsynaptic (free) mitochondria from rat cerebellum at different ages (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 months) were analyzed by gel electrophoresis. Acutel-acetylcarnitine treatment was per-formed by a single i.p. injection (100 mg/kg body weight) of the substance 60 min before the sacrifice of the animals. Different age-dependent changes were obtained for the proteins of the three fractions. The amount of some protein subunits increased and/or decreased after drug treatment. In particular, protein composition of the inner mitochondrial membrane showed significant age-related modifications. This result probably indicates differences in protein synthesis and/or turnover rates in the various mitochondrial compartments during aging. Acutel-acetylcarnitine treatment caused: a high increase in the amount of one inner membrane protein with Mw 16 kDa, at all the ages studied; a decrease in the amount of many other inner membrane proteins; modifications of some matrix proteins. Our results show that in vivo administration ofl-acetylcarnitine affects mainly the inner membrane protein composition of cerebellar mitochondria.

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