Uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. 1. Protonophoric effects account only partially for uncoupling.

The mechanism of uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation by carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone (FCCP), a typical weak acid protonophore, oleic acid, a fatty acid, and chloroform, a general anesthetic, has been investigated by measuring in mitochondria their effect on (i) the transmembrane proton electrochemical potential gradient (delta mu H) and the rates of electron transfer and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis in static head, (ii) delta mu H and the rates of electron transfer and ATP synthesis in state 3, and (iii) the membrane proton conductance. Both FCCP and oleic acid increase the membrane proton conductance, and accordingly, they cause a depression of delta mu H [generated by either the redox proton pumps or the adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) proton pumps]. Although their effects on ATP synthesis/hydrolysis, respiration, and delta mu H are qualitatively consistent with a pure protonophoric uncoupling mechanism and an additional inhibitory action of oleic acid on both the ATPases and the electron-transfer enzymes, a quantitative comparison between the dissipative proton influx and the rate of either electron transfer or ATP hydrolysis (multiplied by either the H+/e- or the H+/ATP stoichiometry, respectively) at the same delta mu H shows that the increase in membrane conductance induced by FCCP and oleic acid accounts for the stimulation of the rate of ATP hydrolysis but not for that of the rate of electron transfer. Chloroform (at concentrations that fully inhibit ATP synthesis) only very slightly increases the proton conductance of the mitochondrial membrane and causes only a little depression of delta mu H.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)