title: The interactions of cetyltrimethylammonium with mitochondria: an uncoupler or a detergent?
abstract: The interactions of cetyltrimethylammonium (CTA) with mitochondria have been investigated. We confirm, as already observed in a previous paper, that this compound behaves as proton carrier (or uncoupler) of the oxidative phosphorylation, but evidences suggest that this compound enhances the membrane permeability to many other compounds such as sucrose. We conclude therefore that CTA as a detergent enhances membrane permeability to all ions including protons. Some evidences are also given that the inhibitory effect of CTA on the mitochondrial respiratory chain is a consequence of the swelling induced.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Università di Venezia, Venice, Italy. bragadin@unive.it
authors.forename: Marcantonio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bragadin
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moret
authors.forename: Rossano
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grasso
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manente
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D019069:Cell Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003902:Detergents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014475:Uncoupling Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds; D003902:Detergents; D014475:Uncoupling Agents