Uncoupler-reversible inhibition of mitochondrial ATPase by metal chelates of bathophenanthroline. I. General features.

(1) Certain metal chelates of 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (bathophenanthroline, BPh) are potent inhibitors of soluble mitochondrial F1-ATPase. (2) The BPh-metal chelate inhibition of soluble mitochondrial F1-ATPase is relieved by uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation. (3) The uncouplers appear to interact directly with the inhibitory chelates, forming stoichiometric adducts. (4) A complex between F1 and bPh3Fe2+, containing 3 mol BPh3Fe2+/mol F1, has been isolated. The enzymically inactive F1-BPh3Fe2+ complex binds uncouplers, yielding an enzymically active F1-BPh3Fe2+-uncoupler complex.