Photoaffinity labelling of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase with arylazidoamorphigenin, an analogue of rotenone.

A photoaffinity-labelling analogue of the respiratory inhibitor rotenone was synthesized from the naturally occurring rotenoid amorphigenin. The analogue inhibits NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase activity at concentrations comparable with those of rotenone. Photolysis of the radiolabelled analogue bound to isolated NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase resulted in preferential incorporation of radioactivity into a polypeptide of Mr 33 000, particularly at low concentrations of the inhibitor. Preparations of the enzyme differ in a parallel fashion in the content of this polypeptide, the degree of photolabelling by the analogue and their sensitivity to rotenone, providing further evidence that the 33 000-Mr protein forms part of the rotenone-binding site.