Interaction of n-alkanes with respiration and oxidative phosphorylation in rabbit heart mitochondria: n-nonane
Trigari, G.; Borgatti, A.R.; Pagliarani, A.; Ventrella, V.
Bollettino della Societa Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale 57(15): 1576-1582
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-8771 PMID: 6118167 Document Number: 170838
Studies in vitro on the effect of n-nonane on coupled rabbit heart mitochondria with both succinate and glutamate as substrates show that the hydrocarbon examined makes the membrane permeable to protons (uncoupling), to some matrix enzymes and to exogenous NADH. The effect increases with increasing n-alkane concentration (0-160 .mu.g/mg mitochondrial protein) and temperature (15-38.degree. C). At higher concentrations and temperatures NADH oxidase inhibition is observed, whereas on succinate oxidase a biphasic effect (activation at lower concentrations and inhibition at higher concentrations) is produced. However, the results, qualitatively similar to those observed with n-hexane, exhibit features probably due to a longer chain and that can be ascribed to perturbations of the physical state of membrane lipids.