[Effect of dithiothreitol on the tissue specific uncoupler of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation from rat liver].

The effect of dithiothreitol (DTT) on the activity of tissue specific uncoupler (TSU) of oxidative phosphorylation of rat liver mitochondria was studied. The reagent was shown to possess the ability to reactivate TSU inactivated in the course of thermal fractionation and storage of partially purified fraction of this regulator as well as during its incubation at neutral pH. Optimal pH values of the reaction medium favoring TSU activation, the concentration of DTT and duration of the reagent's incubation with TSU were found. The evidence obtained warrants a conclusion about the existence in TSU of reversibly oxidizable sulfhydryl groups. The possibility of monitoring TSU activity with mitochondria by negative feedback is analyzed. The participation of the uncoupler in intratissue proliferation control is discussed.