Decylubiquinol impedes mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I activity

Mol Cell Biochem. 2008 Jul;314(1-2):45-50. doi: 10.1007/s11010-008-9763-z. Epub 2008 Apr 15.

Abstract

We have studied the interaction of decylubiquinone, an effective substrate for respiratory chain complexes III and II, with complex I in mouse and human tissues. We found that its reduced form, decylubiquinol, severely impedes complex I activity, while the oxidized form, decylubiquinone acts as a potent acceptor for complex I electrons. This observation has obvious incidence on the assay conditions for complex I. In keeping with that, we found that the inhibition by the reduced form can be avoided by maintaining decylubiquinone under an oxidized form. Under these experimental conditions, a high complex I activity could be measured allowing to detect partial complex I deficiency. Use of these conditions is however restricted to tissues/cells with limited contaminating NADH dehydrogenase activities that are prone to react with redox active compounds.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 2,6-Dichloroindophenol / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Cell Extracts / chemistry
  • Electron Transport Complex I / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Electron Transport Complex I / drug effects
  • Electron Transport Complex I / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mitochondria, Heart / drug effects*
  • Mitochondria, Heart / metabolism
  • Multienzyme Complexes / metabolism
  • Myocardium / chemistry
  • Myocardium / enzymology
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / metabolism
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Rotenone / pharmacology
  • Superoxides / metabolism
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Ubiquinone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Ubiquinone / metabolism
  • Ubiquinone / pharmacology
  • Uncoupling Agents / pharmacology

Substances

  • Cell Extracts
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Uncoupling Agents
  • Rotenone
  • Superoxides
  • Ubiquinone
  • 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-decyl-1,4-benzoquinone
  • 2,6-Dichloroindophenol
  • NADH oxidase
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases
  • Electron Transport Complex I