[The effect of p-chloromercuribenzoate on regulation of oxidative phosphorylation by ADP and ATP and stimulation of liver mitochondrial respiration by palmitate].

The effect of p-chloromercuribenzoate (pCMB) on oxidative phosphorylation and palmitate-stimulated respiration of liver mitochondria has been studied. pCMB (1 microM) does not affect oxidative phosphorylation but reduces the inhibiting effect of ATP on this process. Used at the same concentration, pCMB eliminates the inhibiting effect of ADP and ATP on mitochondrial respiration in the presence of 10 and 20 microM palmitate. pCMB has no effect on inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation by carboxyatractyloside or on palmitate-stimulated respiration of mitochondria. It is concluded that the SH-groups of mitochondria localized in the hydrophilic region outside the inner mitochondrial membrane participate in regulation of oxidative phosphorylation by ATP and in regulation of palmitate-stimulated respiration by ADP + ATP.