Energy transport from mitochondria to myofibril by a creatine phosphate shuttle in cardiac cells

In hyperpermeable cardiac cells, in which the surface membrane has been made highly permeable to small molecules and ions, resting tension increases when the concentration of ATP falls below 200 microM. Peak resting tension occurs in 10 microM ATP and equals 60% of maximum Ca-activated force in 5 mM ATP. The mitochondria in hyperpermeable cells can maintain an ATP concentration above 200 microM if supplied with O2, substrate, ADP, and inorganic phosphate (Pi). Removal of ATP from the bathing solution does not increase resting tension as long as creatine phosphate is present. However O2, substrate, and Pi cannot lower resting tension in the absence of ATP and creatine phosphate. These results are interpreted as evidence for adenine nucleotide tightly bound to the myofibrils and a creatine phosphate shunt of energy from the mitochondria to the myofibrils.