Interactions between a new class of eukaryotic antimicrobial agents and isolated rat liver mitochondria.
Members of a newly discovered class of eukaryotic antimicrobial peptides are shown to release respiratory control in isolated rat-liver mitochondria. They also dissipate the membrane potential and inhibit respiration. The uncoupling activity of the peptides decreases with time probably due to the presence of proteases in the mitochondrial preparation. Quinine and Mg2+ reduce the activity of the peptides. The nature of the dependence of the respiratory rate on the concentration of added peptides suggests that they are active in a multimeric form, consistent with the formation of a channel across the inner mitochondrial membrane. The channel allows passage of sucrose.
Westerhoff
H V
HV
Section of Molecular Biology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam.
Hendler
R W
RW
Zasloff
M
M
Juretić
D
D
D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D004579:Electron Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000502:physiology; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014475:Uncoupling Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D029867:Xenopus Proteins
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D010455:Peptides; D014475:Uncoupling Agents; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C053300:magainin 1 peptide, Xenopus