Oxidation of malate, NADH and glycine in C3 and C4 plant mitochondria]

Spinach leaf mitochondria (C3 plant) were capable of oxidizing Glycine. This oxidation was linked to the mitochondrial electron transport chain, was coupled to three phosphorylation sites and was sensitive to electron transport inhibitors. In marked contrast however, neither mitochondria from dark grown plants nor mitochondria from C4 leaf plants were capable of oxidizing this amino acid.