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A polypeptide migrating in the area of the isotubulin in 2 D-gel electrophoresis of extracts from neuronal cells was characterized as the beta-subunit of the F1 ATPase matrix component. The synthesis of this subunit is enhanced during neurogenesis and the presence of an isoform was detected in adult mouse brain.

CCA, a potent neuroblastoma differentiation inducer, was shown by oxygraphic measurements to reduce significantly the O2 consumption of whole neuroblastoma cells as of mitochondria purified from neuroblastoma or mouse cortex. The effect of CCA on the respiration was compared to those of oligomycin. Our results suggest that the molecular target of CCA is the matrix F1 catalytic component of the F0F1 mitochondrial ATPase.

Mitochondrial proteins from rat brain cortex, muscle, liver, and from neuronal cells in culture were compared on 2-D electrophoregrams. This analysis permitted characterization of certain specificities in the distribution of polypeptides depending on tissue localization. In particular, 16 mit-proteins were found exclusively in the mitochondrion from brain tissue.