Factors affecting the oxidation of glycerol-1-phosphate by insect flight-muscle mitochondria

The oxidation of l -glycerol-1-phosphate by flight-muscle mitochondria isolated from a variety of insects has been studied. Low levels of calcium ions, 10 −7 M, and strontium ions, 10 −5 M, act as heterotropic allosteric effectors of the oxidation by both mitochondria and sub-mitochondrial particles. l -Glycerol-1-phosphate also acts as a homotropic effector in the absence of calcium and strontium ions. The preparation is described of submitochondrial particles, EGTA particles, which do not show allosteric behaviour. The site of action of calcium and strontium ions is discussed.