Selective inhibition of mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone reductase (Complex I) by an alkyl polyoxyethylene ether.

The detergent mono-n-dodecyl octaoxyethylene ether tightly bound to mitochondrial electron-transport particles and below its critical micellar concentration inhibited the NADH oxidase activity, but not the succinate oxidase activity. The result indicates that the inhibition site is in the Complex I segment. The detergent inhibited rotenone-sensitive NADH-ubiquinone reductase activity, but not NADH-ferricyanide reductase activity, of isolated Complex I. Partial removal of phospholipids from Complex I from 18.8% (w/w) to 14.5% significantly decreased its susceptibility to the inhibitor as well as to rotenone. These results show that the binding site of the detergent responsible for the inhibition lies between the NADH dehydrogenase of flavoprotein and ubiquinone in Complex I and that the binding of the detergent to the site requires phospholipids.