title: Activation of potassium ion transport in mitochondria by cadmium ion.
abstract: Low levels of Cd2+ (1-5 microM) produce rapid swelling of mitochondria, which is respiration-dependent and uncoupler-sensitive. No cation requirement is apparent, since the swelling occurs in a medium containing only sucrose and the respiratory substrate. The swelling is inhibited by ruthenium red, suggesting that this effect of Cd2+ requires its entry into mitochondria. In medium containing 9 mM K+, addition of Cd2+ along with ruthenium red increases the rate of K+ influx threefold. In the presence of K+, Rb+ or Li+, but not of Na+, addition of Cd2+ produces first efflux of H+ into the medium followed by discharge of the pH gradient or uncoupling. Only the latter effect is inhibited by ruthenium red, showing that the efflux and influx of H+ are independent reactions. The H+ efflux appears to be an antiport response to the induced K+ entry. Its activation by Cd2+ is similar to the known effect of p-chloromercuriphenyl sulfonate. The H+ influx or uncoupling appears to result from binding of Cd2+ to some matrix-facing membrane site, perhaps the dithiol group on coupling factor B, and may relate to apparent permeability changes associated Cd2+-induced swelling.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000187:drug effects; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008933:Mitochondrial Swelling / Q000187:drug effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium; D011188:Potassium