Effects of dibromothymoquinone on the structure and function of the mitochondrial bc1 complex.

We have investigated in detail the effects of dibromothymoquinone (2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone, DBMIB) on the ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase (cytochrome bc1 complex) from bovine heart mitochondria. The inhibitory action of DBMIB on the steady-state activity of the bc1 complex is related to the specific binding of the quinone to the purified enzymatic complex. At concentrations higher than 10 mol per mol of the enzyme, DBMIB is able to stimulate an antimycin-insensitive reduction of cytochrome c catalyzed by the bc1 complex. In accordance with kinetic data showing a competition by endogenous ubiquinone in the inhibitory action, DBMIB can be considered as a product-like inhibitor of the ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase activity. The site of specific binding of dibromothymoquinone in the bc1 complex enables it to interact with the iron-sulphur center of the enzyme, as indicated by changes induced in the EPR spectrum of the center. However, the inhibitor also directly interacts with cytochrome b, promoting a fast chemical oxidation of the reduced heme center. In spite of these effects, DBMIB has been found not to exert significant effects on the first turnover of the fully oxidized bc1 complex, as monitored by the rapid reduction of both cytochromes b and c1 by ubiquinol-1. In the presence of antimycin, only a stimulation of cytochrome c1 reduction, in parallel to an enhanced cytochrome b reoxidation, is observed. Moreover, DBMIB does not affect the oxidant-induced extra cytochrome b reduction in the presence of antimycin. On the basis of the evidences suggesting a competition with the endogenous ubiquinone in the redox cycle of the bc1 complex, a model is proposed for the mechanism of DBMIB inhibition. Such model can also explain at the molecular level the redox bypass induced by dibromothymoquinone in the whole respiratory chain (Degli Esposti, M., Rugolo, M. and Lenaz, G. (1983) FEBS Lett. 156, 15-19).