Lipophilic Triphenylphosphonium Cations Inhibit Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain and Induce Mitochondrial Proton Leak

Lipophilic Triphenylphosphonium Cations Inhibit Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain and Induce Mitochondrial Proton Leak

BACKGROUND The lipophilic positively charged moiety of triphenylphosphonium (TPP+) has been used to target a range of biologically active compounds including antioxidants, spin-traps and other probes into mitochondria. The moiety itself, while often considered biologically inert, appears to influence mitochondrial metabolism. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We used the Seahorse XF flux analyze...

Mitochondrial proton leak and the uncoupling proteins.

An energetically significant leak of protons occurs across the mitochondrial inner membranes of eukaryotic cells. This seemingly wasteful proton leak accounts for at least 20% of the standard metabolic rate of a rat. There is evidence that it makes a similar contribution to standard metabolic rate in a lizard. Proton conductance of the mitochondrial inner membrane can be considered as having tw...

Mitochondrial proton and electron leaks.

Mitochondrial proton and electron leak have a major impact on mitochondrial coupling efficiency and production of reactive oxygen species. In the first part of this chapter, we address the molecular nature of the basal and inducible proton leak pathways, and their physiological importance. The basal leak is unregulated, and a major proportion can be attributed to mitochondrial anion carriers, w...

Identification of Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain Mutations That Effect Ageing

Frataxin interacts functionally with mitochondrial electron transport chain proteins.

Frataxin deficiency is the main cause of Friedreich ataxia, an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder. Frataxin function in mitochondria has not been fully explained yet. In this work, we show that Saccharomyces cerevisiae frataxin orthologue Yfh1p interacts physically with succinate dehydrogenase complex subunits Sdh1p and Sdh2p of the yeast mitochondrial electron transport chain and a...