title: Action of L-acetylcarnitine on age-dependent modifications of mitochondrial membrane proteins from rat cerebellum.
abstract: Protein patterns of mitochondrial outer membrane, inner membrane, and matrix from non-synaptic (free) mitochondria from rat cerebellum at different ages (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 months) were analyzed by gel electrophoresis. Acute L-acetylcarnitine treatment was performed 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. Acute L-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 of L-acetylcarnitine affects mainly the inner membrane protein composition of cerebellar mitochondria.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, Faculty of Science, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Turpeenoja
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benzi
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Giuffrida Stella
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D002331:Carnitine