The site of inhibition by 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) in ubiquinol: cytochrome c oxidoreductase.

In 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoate) (DTNB)-treated succinate: cytochrome c reductase, the electron transfer from duroquinol to cytochrome c is inhibited due to the fact that the Rieske Fe-S cluster and, consequently, cytochrome, c, are no longer reducible by substrate. The finding that, after this treatment, cytochrome b is still reducible by substrate in the absence of antimycin, but not in its presence, is consistent with a Q-cycle mechanism for the electron transfer through QH2:cytochrome c oxidoreductase. The inhibitory effect of DTNB and its effect on the EPR spectrum of the [2Fe-2S] cluster suggest that it prevents either the binding of ubiquinone in the vicinity of this cluster or the interaction between the Fe-S protein and a ubiquinone-binding protein.