Selective inhibition of deactivated mitochondrial complex I by biguanides.

Biguanides are widely used antihyperglycemic agents for diabetes mellitus and prediabetes treatment. Complex I is the rate-limiting step of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC), a major source of mitochondrial free radical production, and a known target of biguanides. Complex I has two reversible conformational states, active and de-active. The deactivated state is promoted in the absence of substrates but is rapidly and fully reversed to the active state in the presence of NADH. The objective of this study was to determine the relative sensitivity of active/de-active complex I to biguanide-mediated inhibition and resulting superoxide radical (O2(•⁻)) production. Using isolated rat heart mitochondria, we show that deactivation of complex I sensitizes it to metformin and phenformin (4- and 3-fold, respectively), but not to other known complex I inhibitors, such as rotenone. Mitochondrial O2(•⁻) production by deactivated complex I was measured fluorescently by NADH-dependent 2-hydroxyethidium formation at alkaline pH to impede reactivation. Superoxide production was 260.4% higher than in active complex I at pH 9.4. However, phenformin treatment of de-active complex I decreased O2(•⁻) production by 14.9%, while rotenone increased production by 42.9%. Mitochondria isolated from rat hearts subjected to cardiac ischemia, a condition known to induce complex I deactivation, were sensitized to phenformin-mediated complex I inhibition. This supports the idea that the effects of biguanides are likely to be influenced by the complex I state in vivo. These results demonstrate that the complex I active and de-active states are a determinant in biguanide-mediated inhibition.

Nitric oxide inhibits succinate dehydrogenase-driven oxygen consumption in potato tuber mitochondria in an oxygen tension-independent manner.

NO (nitric oxide) is described as an inhibitor of plant and mammalian respiratory chains owing to its high affinity for COX (cytochrome c oxidase), which hinders the reduction of oxygen to water. In the present study we show that in plant mitochondria NO may interfere with other respiratory complexes as well. We analysed oxygen consumption supported by complex I and/or complex II and/or external NADH dehydrogenase in Percoll-isolated potato tuber (Solanum tuberosum) mitochondria. When mitochondrial respiration was stimulated by succinate, adding the NO donors SNAP (S-nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine) or DETA-NONOate caused a 70% reduction in oxygen consumption rate in state 3 (stimulated with 1 mM of ADP). This inhibition was followed by a significant increase in the Km value of SDH (succinate dehydrogenase) for succinate (Km of 0.77±0.19 to 34.3±5.9 mM, in the presence of NO). When mitochondrial respiration was stimulated by external NADH dehydrogenase or complex I, NO had no effect on respiration. NO itself and DETA-NONOate had similar effects to SNAP. No significant inhibition of respiration was observed in the absence of ADP. More importantly, SNAP inhibited PTM (potato tuber mitochondria) respiration independently of oxygen tensions, indicating a different kinetic mechanism from that observed in mammalian mitochondria. We also observed, in an FAD reduction assay, that SNAP blocked the intrinsic SDH electron flow in much the same way as TTFA (thenoyltrifluoroacetone), a non-competitive SDH inhibitor. We suggest that NO inhibits SDH in its ubiquinone site or its Fe-S centres. These data indicate that SDH has an alternative site of NO action in plant mitochondria.

Bis-THF motif of acetogenin binds to the third matrix-side loop of ND1 subunit in mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase.

Natural acetogenins are among the most potent inhibitors of bovine heart mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I). Our photoaffinity labeling study suggested that the hydroxylated bis-THF ring moiety of acetogenins binds at "site A" in the third matrix-side loop connecting the fifth and sixth transmembrane helices in the ND1 subunit [Kakutani et al. (2010) Biochemistry 49, 4794-4803]. Nevertheless, since this proposition was led using a photoreactive Δlac-acetogenin derivative, it needs to be directly verified using a natural acetogenin-type probe. We therefore conducted photoaffinity labeling using a photoreactive natural acetogenin mimic ([(125)I]diazinylated natural acetogenin, [(125)I]DANA), which has a small photolabile diazirine group, in place of a hydroxy group, attached to the bis-THF ring moiety. Analysis of the photocross-linked protein in bovine heart submitochondrial particles unambiguously revealed that [(125)I]DANA binds to the membrane subunit ND1 with high specificity. The photocross-linking was completely blocked in the presence of just a 5-fold excess of bullatacin, indicating that [(125)I]DANA is an excellent mimic of natural acetogenins and hence binds to the site that accommodates natural products. Careful examination of the fragmentation patterns of the cross-linked ND1 generated by different proteases and their combinations indicated that the cross-linked residue is predominantly located at the supposed site A in the third matrix-side loop.

Expression and processing of the TMEM70 protein.

TMEM70 protein represents a novel ancillary factor of mammalian ATP synthase. We have investigated import and processing of this factor in human cells using GFP- and FLAG-tagged forms of TMEM70 and specific antibodies. TMEM70 is synthesized as a 29kDa precursor protein that is processed to a 21kDa mature form. Immunocytochemical detection of TMEM70 showed mitochondrial colocalization with MitoTracker Red and ATP synthase. Western blot of subcellular fractions revealed the highest signal of TMEM70 in isolated mitochondria and mitochondrial location was confirmed by mass spectrometry analysis. Based on analysis of submitochondrial fractions, TMEM70 appears to be located in the inner mitochondrial membrane, in accordance with predicated transmembrane regions in the central part of the TMEM70 sequence. Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis did not show direct interaction of TMEM70 with assembled ATP synthase but indicated the presence of dimeric form of TMEM70. No TMEM70 protein could be found in cells and isolated mitochondria from patients with ATP synthase deficiency due to TMEM70 c.317-2A>G mutation thus confirming that TMEM70 biosynthesis is prevented in these patients.

A common mechanism links differently acting complex II inhibitors to cardioprotection: modulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production.

In this study, we have analyzed the effect of different cardioprotective complex II inhibitors on the mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) because ROS seem to be essential for signaling during preconditioning to prevent ischemia/reperfusion injury. Despite different binding sites and concentrations required for half-maximal inhibition-ranging from nanomolar for the Q site inhibitor atpenin A5 to millimolar for the succinate analog malonate-all inhibitors modulated ROS production in the same ambivalent fashion: they promoted the generation of superoxide at the Q(o) site of complex III under conditions of "oxidant-induced reduction" but attenuated ROS generated at complex I due to reverse electron transfer. All inhibitors showed these ambivalent effects independent of the presence of K(+). These findings suggest a direct modulation of mitochondrial ROS generation during cardioprotection via complex II inhibition and question the recently proposed role of complex II as a regulatory component of the putative mitochondrial K(ATP) channel.

Synthetic chromanol derivatives and their interaction with complex III in mitochondria from bovine, yeast, and Leishmania.

Synthetic chromanol derivatives (TMC4O, 6-hydroxy-2,2,7,8-tetramethyl-chroman-4-one; TMC2O, 6-hydroxy-4,4,7,8-tetramethyl-chroman-2-one; and Twin, 1,3,4,8,9,11-hexamethyl-6,12-methano-12H-dibenzo[d,g][1,3]dioxocin-2,10-diol) share structural elements with the potent inhibitor of the mitochondrial cytochrome (cyt) bc(1) complex stigmatellin. Studies with isolated bovine cyt bc(1) complex demonstrated that these compounds partially inhibit the mammalian enzyme. The aim of this work was to comparatively investigate these toxicological aspects of synthetic vitamin E derivatives in mitochondria of different species. The chromanols and atovaquone as reference compound were evaluated for their inhibition of the cyt bc(1) activity in mitochondrial fractions from bovine hearts, yeast, and Leishmania. In addition, compounds were evaluated in vitro for their inhibitory activity against whole-cell Leishmania and mouse peritoneal macrophages. In these organisms, the chromanols showed a species-selective inhibition of the cyt bc(1) activity different from that of atovaquone. While in atovaquone the side chain mediates species-selectivity, the marked differences for TMC2O and TMC4O in cyt bc(1) inhibition suggests that direct substitution of the chromanol headgroup will control selectivity in these compounds. Low micromolar concentrations of TMC2O (IC(50) = 9.5 ± 0.5 µM) inhibited the growth of Leishmania, and an esterified TMC2CO derivative inhibited the cyt bc(1) activity with an IC(50) of 4.9 ± 0.9 µM. These findings suggest that certain chromanols also exhibit beyond their antioxidative properties antileishmanial activities and that TMC2O derivatives could be useful toward the development of highly active antiprotozoal compounds.

Submitochondrial fragments of brain mitochondria: general characteristics and catalytic properties of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I).

A number of genetic or drug-induced pathophysiological disorders, particularly neurodegenerative diseases, have been reported to correlate with catalytic impairments of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (mitochondrial complex I). The vast majority of the data on catalytic properties of this energy-transducing enzyme have been accumulated from studies on bovine heart complex I preparations of different degrees of resolution, whereas almost nothing is known about the functional activities of the enzyme in neuronal tissues. Here a procedure for preparation of coupled inside-out submitochondrial particles from brain is described and their NADH oxidase activity is characterized. The basic characteristics of brain complex I, particularly the parameters of A/D-transition are found to be essentially the same as those previously reported for heart enzyme. The results show that coupled submitochondrial particles prepared from either heart or brain can equally be used as a model system for in vitro studies aimed to delineate neurodegenerative-associated defects of complex I.

Exploring the binding site of delta(lac)-acetogenin in bovine heart mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase.

Biochemical characterization of the inhibition mechanism of Deltalac-acetogenins synthesized in our laboratory indicated that they are a new type of inhibitor of bovine heart mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) [Murai, M., et al. (2006) Biochemistry 45, 9778-9787]. To identify the binding site of Deltalac-acetogenins with a photoaffinity labeling technique, we synthesized a photoreactive Deltalac-acetogenin ([(125)I]diazinylated Deltalac-acetogenin, [(125)I]DAA) which has a small photoreactive diazirine group attached to a pharmacophore, the bis-THF ring moiety. Characterization of the inhibitory effects of DAA on bovine complex I revealed unique features specific to, though not completely the same as those of, the original Deltalac-acetogenin. Using [(125)I]DAA, we carried out photoaffinity labeling with bovine heart submitochondrial particles. Analysis of the photo-cross-linked protein by Western blotting and immunoprecipitation revealed that [(125)I]DAA binds to the membrane subunit ND1 with high specificity. The photo-cross-linking to the ND1 subunit was suppressed by an exogenous short-chain ubiquinone (Q(2)) in a concentration-dependent manner. Careful examination of the fragmentation patterns of the cross-linked ND1 generated by limited proteolysis using lysylendopeptidase, endoprotease Asp-N, or trypsin and their changes in the presence of the original Deltalac-acetogenin strongly suggested that the cross-linked residues are located at two different sites in the third matrix-side loop connecting the fifth and sixth transmembrane helices.

NADH/NAD+ interaction with NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I).

The quantitative data on the binding affinity of NADH, NAD(+), and their analogues for complex I as emerged from the steady-state kinetics data and from more direct studies under equilibrium conditions are summarized and discussed. The redox-dependency of the nucleotide binding and the reductant-induced change of FMN affinity to its tight non-covalent binding site indicate that binding (dissociation) of the substrate (product) may energetically contribute to the proton-translocating activity of complex I.

The human silent information regulator (Sir)2 homologue hSIRT3 is a mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent deacetylase.

The yeast silent information regulator (Sir)2 protein links cellular metabolism and transcriptional silencing through its nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent histone deacetylase activity. We report that mitochondria from mammalian cells contain intrinsic NAD-dependent deacetylase activity. This activity is inhibited by the NAD hydrolysis product nicotinamide, but not by trichostatin A, consistent with a class III deacetylase. We identify this deacetylase as the nuclear-encoded human Sir2 homologue hSIRT3, and show that hSIRT3 is located within the mitochondrial matrix. Mitochondrial import of hSIRT3 is dependent on an NH2-terminal amphipathic alpha-helix rich in basic residues. hSIRT3 is proteolytically processed in the mitochondrial matrix to a 28-kD product. This processing can be reconstituted in vitro with recombinant mitochondrial matrix processing peptidase (MPP) and is inhibited by mutation of arginines 99 and 100. The unprocessed form of hSIRT3 is enzymatically inactive and becomes fully activated in vitro after cleavage by MPP. These observations demonstrate the existence of a latent class III deacetylase that becomes catalytically activated upon import into the human mitochondria.

Dynamic function of the spacer region of acetogenins in the inhibition of bovine mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I).

Studies of the action mechanism of acetogenins, the most potent and structurally unique inhibitors of bovine heart mitochondrial complex I (NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase), are valuable in characterizing the inhibitor binding site in this enzyme. Our previous study deepened our understanding of the dynamic function of the spacer region of bis-THF acetogenins [Abe, M., et al. (2005) Biochemistry 44, 14898-14906] but, at the same time, posed new important questions. First, while the two toxophores (i.e., the hydroxylated THF and the gamma-lactone rings) span a distance shorter than that of the extended 13 carbon atoms [-(CH 2) 13-], what is the apparent optimal length of the spacer for the inhibition of 13 carbon atoms? In other words, what is the functional role of the additional methylene groups? Second, why was the inhibitory potency of the mono-THF derivative, but not the bis-THF derivative, drastically reduced by hardening the spacer covering 10 carbon atoms into a rodlike shape [-CH 2-(C identical withC) 4-CH 2-]? This study was designed not only to answer these questions but also to further disclose the dynamic functions of the spacer. We here synthesized systematically designed acetogenins, including mono- and bis-THF derivatives, and evaluated their inhibitory effects on bovine complex I. With regard to the first question, we demonstrated that the additional methylenes enhance the hydrophobicity of the spacer region, which may be thermodynamically advantageous for bringing the polar gamma-lactone ring into the membrane-embedded segment of complex I. With regard to the second question, we observed that a decrease in the flexibility of the spacer region is more adverse to the action of the mono-THF series than that of the bis-THF series. As a cause of this difference, we suggest that for bis-THF derivatives, one of the two THF rings, being adjacent to the spacer, is capable of working as a pseudospacer to overcome the remarkable decrease in the conformational freedom and/or the length of the spacer. Moreover, using photoresponsive acetogenins that undergo drastic and reversible conformational changes with alternating UV-vis irradiation, we provided further evidence that the spacer region is free from steric congestion arising from the putative binding site probably because there is no receptor wall for the spacer region.

Mitochondrial glycerol-3-P acyltransferase 1 is most active in outer mitochondrial membrane but not in mitochondrial associated vesicles (MAV).

Glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase-1 (GPAT1), catalyzes the committed step in phospholipid and triacylglycerol synthesis. Because both GPAT1 and carnitine-palmitoyltransferase 1 are located on the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) it has been suggested that their reciprocal regulation controls acyl-CoA metabolism at the OMM. To determine whether GPAT1, like carnitine-palmitoyltransferase 1, is enriched in both mitochondrial contact sites and OMM, and to correlate protein location and enzymatic function, we used Percoll and sucrose gradient fractionation of rat liver to obtain submitochondrial fractions. Most GPAT1 protein was present in a vesicular membrane fraction associated with mitochondria (MAV) but GPAT specific activity in this fraction was low. In contrast, highest GPAT1 specific activity was present in purified mitochondria. Contact sites from crude mitochondria, which contained markers for both endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria, also showed high expression of GPAT1 protein but low specific activity, whereas contact sites isolated from purified mitochondria lacked ER markers and expressed highly active GPAT1. To determine how GPAT1 is targeted to mitochondria, recombinant protein was synthesized in vitro and its incorporation into crude and purified mitochondria was assayed. GPAT1 was rapidly incorporated into mitochondria, but not into microsomes. Incorporation was ATP-driven, and lack of GPAT1 removal by alkali and a chaotropic agent showed that GPAT1 had become an integral membrane protein after incorporation. These results demonstrate that two pools of GPAT1 are present in rat liver mitochondria: an active one, located in OMM and a less active one, located in membranes (ER-contact sites and mitochondrial associated vesicles) associated with both mitochondria and ER.

The proximal N-terminal amino acid residues are required for the coupling activity of the bovine heart mitochondrial factor B.

Treatment of the recombinant bovine factor B with trypsin yielded a fragment (amino acid residues 62-175) devoid of coupling activity. Removal of the N-terminal Trp2-Gly3-Trp4 peptide resulted in a significant loss of coupling activity in the FB(DeltaW)(2)(-W)(4) deletion mutant. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation demonstrated co-sedimentation of recombinant factor B with the ADP/ATP carrier, which is present in preparations of H(+)-translocating F(0)F(1)-ATPase, but not in preparations of complex V. The N-terminally truncated factor B mutant FB(DeltaW)(2)(-W)(4) did not co-sediment with the ADP/ATP carrier. Recombinant factor B co-sedimented with partially purified membrane sector F(0), extracted from F(1)-stripped bovine submitochondrial particles with n-dodecyl-beta-d-maltoside. Factor B inhibited the passive proton conductance catalyzed by F(0) reconstituted into asolectin liposomes. A factor B mutant, bearing a photoreactive unnatural amino acid pbenzoyl-l-phenylalanine (pBpa) substituted for Trp2, cross-linked with F(0) subunits e and g as well as the ADP/ATP carrier. These results suggest that the N-terminal domain and, in particular, the proximal N-terminal amino acids are important for the coupling activity and protein-protein interactions of bovine factor B.

The peripheral stalk of the mitochondrial ATP synthase.

The peripheral stalk of F-ATPases is an essential component of these enzymes. It extends from the membrane distal point of the F1 catalytic domain along the surface of the F1 domain with subunit a in the membrane domain. Then, it reaches down some 45 A to the membrane surface, and traverses the membrane, where it is associated with the a-subunit. Its role is to act as a stator to hold the catalytic alpha3beta3 subcomplex and the a-subunit static relative to the rotary element of the enzyme, which consists of the c-ring in the membrane and the attached central stalk. The central stalk extends up about 45 A from the membrane surface and then penetrates into the alpha3beta3 subcomplex along its central axis. The mitochondrial peripheral stalk is an assembly of single copies of the oligomycin sensitivity conferral protein (the OSCP) and subunits b, d and F6. In the F-ATPase in Escherichia coli, its composition is simpler, and it consists of a single copy of the delta-subunit with two copies of subunit b. In some bacteria and in chloroplasts, the two copies of subunit b are replaced by single copies of the related proteins b and b' (known as subunits I and II in chloroplasts). As summarized in this review, considerable progress has been made towards establishing the structure and biophysical properties of the peripheral stalk in both the mitochondrial and bacterial enzymes. However, key issues are unresolved, and so our understanding of the role of the peripheral stalk and the mechanism of synthesis of ATP are incomplete.

Reversible dissociation of flavin mononucleotide from the mammalian membrane-bound NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I).

Conditions for the reversible dissociation of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) from the membrane-bound mitochondrial NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) are described. The catalytic activities of the enzyme, i.e. rotenone-insensitive NADH:hexaammineruthenium III reductase and rotenone-sensitive NADH:quinone reductase decline when bovine heart submitochondrial particles are incubated with NADH in the presence of rotenone or cyanide at alkaline pH. FMN protects and fully restores the NADH-induced inactivation whereas riboflavin and flavin adenine dinucleotide do not. The data show that the reduction of complex I significantly weakens the binding of FMN to protein thus resulting in its dissociation when the concentration of holoenzyme is comparable with K(d ( approximately 10(-8)M at pH 10.0).

Pyruvate-sensitive AOX exists as a non-covalently associated dimer in the homeothermic spadix of the skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus renifolius.

The cyanide-resistant alternative oxidase (AOX) is a homodimeric protein whose activity can be regulated by the oxidation/reduction state and by alpha-keto acids. To further clarify the role of AOX in the skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus renifolius, we have performed expression and functional analyses of the encoding gene. Among the various tissues in the skunk cabbage, SrAOX transcripts were found to be specifically expressed in the thermogenic spadix. Moreover, our data demonstrate that the SrAOX protein exists as a non-covalently associated dimer in the thermogenic spadix, and is more sensitive to pyruvate than to other carboxylic acids. Our results suggest that the pyruvate-mediated modification of SrAOX activity plays a significant role in thermoregulation in the skunk cabbage.

Congenital deficiency of two polypeptide subunits of the iron-protein fragment of mitochondrial complex I.

Recently, we described a patient with severe lactic acidosis due to congenital complex I (NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase) deficiency. We now report further enzymatic and immunological characterizations. Both NADH and ferricyanide titrations of complex I activity (measured as NADH-ferricyanide reductase) were distinctly altered in the mitochondria from the patient's tissues. In addition, antisera against complex I immunoprecipitated NADH-ferricyanide reductase from the control but not the patient's mitochondria. However, immunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of complex I polypeptides demonstrated that the majority of the 25 polypeptides comprising complex I were present in the affected mitochondria. A more detailed analysis using subunit selective antisera against the main polypeptides of the iron-protein fragments of complex I revealed a selective absence of the 75- and 13-kD polypeptides. These findings suggest that the underlying basis for this patient's disease was a congenital deficiency of at least two polypeptides comprising the iron-protein fragment of complex I, which resulted in the inability to correctly assemble a functional enzyme complex.

An electrogenic proton-translocating adenosine triphosphatase from bovine kidney medulla.

Urinary acidification in the mammalian collecting tubule is similar to that in the turtle bladder, an epithelium whose H+ secretion is due to a luminal proton-translocating ATPase. We isolated a fraction from bovine renal medulla, which contains ATP-dependent proton transport. H+ transport was found to be electrogenic in that its rate was reduced by a membrane potential. H+ transport activity was inhibited by N-ethyl maleimide and dicyclohexyl carbodiimide, but not by oligomycin or vanadate; its activity did not depend on the presence of potassium, differentiating this ATPase from the mitochondrial F0-F1 ATPase and the gastric H+-K+ ATPase. H+ transport activity had a specific substrate requirement for ATP, distinguishing this pump from the lysosomal H+ ATPase, which uses guanosine or inosine triphosphate as well. The distribution of this H+ pump on linear sucrose density gradient was different from that of markers of lysosomes and basolateral membranes. These results show that the kidney medulla contains an H+ -translocating ATPase different from mitochondrial, gastric, and lysosomal proton pumps, but similar to the turtle bladder ATPase.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of the mitochondrial complex 1 inhibitor 2-[4-(4-fluorobutyl)benzylsulfanyl]-3-methylchromene-4-one as a potential cardiac positron emission tomography tracer.

A series of fluorinated chromone analogs with IC50 values ranging from 9 to 133 nM for the mitochondrial complex 1 (MC-I) has been prepared. A structure-activity relationship (SAR) study of the most potent fluorinated chromone analog 10 demonstrated the linkage heteroatom preference of the side chain region of the molecule while maintaining potent MC-I inhibitory activity. Tissue distribution studies 30 min after [(18)F]10 administration to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats demonstrated high uptake of the radiotracer from the blood pool into the myocardium (2.24% ID/g), kidney (1.93% ID/g), and liver (2.00% ID/g). After 2 h about 66% of the activity in the myocardium at 30 min had been retained, whereas approximately 70% had been cleared from the liver and kidney. MicroPET images of SD rats after [(18)F]10 administration allowed easy assessment of the myocardium through 60 min with minimal lung or liver interference.

Dehydromonocrotaline inhibits mitochondrial complex I. A potential mechanism accounting for hepatotoxicity of monocrotaline.

Monocrotaline is a pyrrolizidine alkaloid present in plants of the Crotalaria species, which causes cytotoxicity and genotoxicity, including hepatotoxicity in animals and humans. It is metabolized by cytochrome P-450 in the liver to the alkylating agent dehydromonocrotaline. We evaluated the effects of monocrotaline and its metabolite on respiration, membrane potential and ATP levels in isolated rat liver mitochondria, and on respiratory chain complex I NADH oxidase activity in submitochondrial particles. Dehydromonocrotaline, but not the parent compound, showed a concentration-dependent inhibition of glutamate/malate-supported state 3 respiration (respiratory chain complex I), but did not affect succinate-supported respiration (complex II). Only dehydromonocrotaline dissipated mitochondrial membrane potential, depleted ATP, and inhibited complex I NADH oxidase activity (IC50=62.06 microM) through a non-competitive type of inhibition (K(I)=8.1 microM). Therefore, dehydromonocrotaline is an inhibitor of the activity of respiratory chain complex I NADH oxidase, an action potentially accounting for the well-documented monocrotaline's hepatotoxicity to animals and humans. The mechanism probably involves change of the complex I conformation resulting from modification of cysteine thiol groups by the metabolite.