[Effect of ethylmaleimide on the transport of Ca+ and K+ ions across mitochondrial membranes].

As already reported, it has been found that the gradient of protons, set up across the inner membrane during the Ca2+ uptake by rat liver mitochondria, can be completely reversed by the addition of NEM. Identical results have been obtained by following the energy dependent K+ uptake. In these last conditions, the rate of H+ efflux supported by succinate oxidation is greatly enhanced only when NEM is added after rotenone. It is proposed that the increased rate other than to the inhibition of Pi uptake, as suggested by Reynafarje and Lehninger, could also be ascribed to a further decrease in the energetic level of the membrane as well as to an increased rate of succinate-Pi exchange diffusion reaction induced by NEM. A possible direct effect of NEM on succinate oxidation has been also considered to account for the inhibition observed when it is added before rotenone.