Interaction of n-alkanes with respiration and oxidative phosphorylation in rabbit heart mitochondria: n-dodecane, n-pentadecane and n-octadecane
Borgatti, A.R.; Trigari, G.; Ventrella, V.; Pagliarani, A.
Bollettino della Societa Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale 57(15): 1583-1589
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-8771 PMID: 6118168 Document Number: 181298
The effect of n-dodecane, n-pentadecane and n-octadecane at various concentrations (0-160 .mu.g/mg mitochondrial protein) and temperatures (15-38.degree. C) is studied in vitro on coupled rabbit heart mitochondria. With both glutamate and succinate as substrates, and at higher temperatures only, n-dodecane makes the membrane permeable to protons (uncoupling), to some matrix enzymes and poorly to NADH; it slightly inhibits NADH-oxidase and exerts a biphasic action (activation followed by inhibition) on succinate oxidase. The results, qualitatively similar to those observed with n-hexane and n-nonane, are less striking and exhibit features probably due to the longer chain. The other n-alkanes examined do not show any effect.