2,4-Dinitrophenol and carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone activate the glutathione S-conjugate transport ATPase of human erythrocyte membranes.

2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNPOH) and carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP), two classical uncouplers of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, were found to stimulate human erythrocyte membrane vesicle ATPase activity. Both compounds competed with S-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)glutathione (DNPSG) for activation of the glutathione S-conjugate transport ATPase. Stimulation of the ATPase by DNPOH or FCCP occurred with Vmax values 4-6 times greater than that with DNPSG. The K0.5 for DNPOH (195 microM) was similar to that of DNPSG (196 microM), while that for FCCP (4.3 microM) was 40 times lower. Vanadate inhibits both the DNPOH- and FCCP-stimulated ATPase activities, as previously reported for the glutathione S-conjugate ATPase. The stimulation of erythrocyte vesicle ATPase activities by these classical uncoupling agents does not result from increased proton conductance across the vesicle membrane: monensin, gramicidin and nystatin, all of which increase proton conductance, but by different mechanisms, do not stimulate erythrocyte vesicle ATPase activity. Verapamil, a known P-glycoprotein ATPase activator also does not stimulate human erythrocyte membrane ATPase activity. These results show that relatively small, monoanionic lipophilic compounds such as DNPOH and FCCP can activate the glutathione S-conjugate transport ATPase. The higher Vmax values for activation by these agents than by DNPSG make possible a more sensitive assay of this transport ATPase activity. The results raise the question of whether these substances and other small anionic, lipophilic compounds are also transported by this system.