Sulfhydryl groups of the uncoupling protein of brown adipose tissue mitochondria. Distinction between sulfhydryl groups of the H+ channel and the nucleotide binding site.

Mersalyl, 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoate) (Nbs2) and fluorescent Thiolyte DB react with SH groups in the H+ channel (SHc) of the uncoupling protein of brown adipose tissue mitochondria, as inferred from their inhibition of H+ transport. Cl- transport by the uncoupling protein was unaffected. Using these modifiers and N-ethylmaleimide (MalNEt), distinct SH groups (SHB) in the purine nucleotide binding site were identified. Nbs2 reacts more readily with the SHB than with the SHc groups, but mersalyl and Thiolyte DB are more reactive with the SHc groups. MalNEt reacts exclusively with the SHB. GDP inhibition is fully prevented after sufficient modification of the SHB. Pretreatment with p-diazobenzenesulfonate (N2PhSO2) suppresses only 20-25% of fluorescence of Thiolyte-DB-labeled uncoupling protein on SDS/PAGE gels, while MalNEt suppresses 66% and Nbs2 80-90%. Since N2PhSO2 also affects the GDP binding site, these results demonstrate that the N2PhSO2-reactive residue is not identical with the SHB.