Inhibition and labelling of the mitochondrial 2-oxoglutarate carrier by eosin-5-maleimide.

Unlike hydrophobic maleimides, eosin-5-maleimide and to a lesser extent other relatively polar maleimides inhibit the 2-oxoglutarate carrier of bovine heart mitochondria. The impermeable eosin-5-maleimide labels the 2-oxoglutarate carrier in intact mitochondria but not in submitochondrial particles. 2-Oxoglutarate protects the carrier against inactivation by eosin-5-maleimide and decreases the fluorescence associated with the purified protein. Other anions which are not substrates of the carrier have no protective effect. It is concluded that sulfhydryl groups essential for the activity of the 2-oxoglutarate carrier are located at the cytosolic face of the inner mitochondrial membrane. They appear to be present at the substrate-binding site and located in a hydrophilic environment.