Rapid oxidation of palmitate with concomitant phosphorylation of adenosine 5′-diphosphate by moth flight-muscle mitochondria

A procedure is described for isolating mitochondria from the thoracic muscle of the southern armyworm moth, Prodenia eridania. These mitochondria are capable of very rapidly oxidizing palmitate with concomitant phosphorylation of adenosine 5′-diphosphate. There is an absolute requirement for adenosine 5′-diphosphate and inorganic phosphate, but added nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide, nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate and carnitine have no effect. Maximal rates of oxygen uptake are found when a high-energy phosphate trap and some protein are present.