The mitochondrial phosphate carrier reconstituted in liposomes is inhibited by doxorubicin.

The phosphate carrier has been isolated from beef heart mitochondria in the presence of cardiolipin and reconstituted in asolectin vesicles. It has been found that 100 microM doxorubicin and 100 microM Br-daunomycin inhibit the unidirectional phosphate uptake in the reconstituted liposomes to the same extent as N-ethylmaleimide. The inhibition by Br-daunomycin is not due to covalent interaction with the carrier. The specific interaction between doxorubicin and cardiolipin is responsible for the inhibition of the phosphate carrier. Br-daunomycin interacts with 3 mitochondrial proteins of apparent Mr approximately 45 000, approximately 35 000 and approximately 30 000.