Mechanism of action of agents which uncouple oxidative phosphorylation: direct correlation between proton-carrying and respiratory-releasing properties using rat liver mitochondria.
The proton-carrying properties of uncoupling agents were investigated by measuring passive mitochondrial swelling under conditions where electrogenic proton transport was rate limiting.  The ability of uncoupling agents to transport protons into mitochondria, measured in this way, was compared with respiratory stimulation.  The results show that with the single exception of arsenate, all agents tested which uncouple oxidative phosphorylation demonstrate a very close correlation between release of respiration and proton transport.  These findings are in support of Mitchell's original proposal that uncoupling agents act by promoting electrogenic hydrogen ion transport across the mitochondrial inner membrane.
D000818:Animals; D001149:Arsenates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002258:Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone / Q000494:pharmacology; D002259:Carbonyl Cyanide p-Trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone / Q000494:pharmacology; D003840:Deoxycholic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008933:Mitochondrial Swelling / Q000187:drug effects; D009227:Myristic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D009596:Nitrophenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D012459:Salicylates / Q000494:pharmacology; D014475:Uncoupling Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001149:Arsenates; D009227:Myristic Acids; D009596:Nitrophenols; D009829:Oleic Acids; D012459:Salicylates; D014475:Uncoupling Agents; D003840:Deoxycholic Acid; D002259:Carbonyl Cyanide p-Trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone; D002258:Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone