Some biochemical and physiochemical properties of the potent uncoupler SF 6847 (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidenemalononitrile).

Various physicochemical and biochemical properties of the most potent uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation known to date 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidenemalononitrile (SF 6847), such as pH dependence of the uncoupling activity and binding to mitochondria, spectral properties in the presence of different types of liposomes, biopolymers and mitochondria, and effects on model membrane systems have been investigated. From the results, it is concluded that the uncoupler most likely is localized in the phospholipid part of the membrane.