Interference of Uncoupling Agents with Cellular Energy-requiring Processes in Anaerobic Conditions

Abstract

THE reagents 2,4-dinitrophenol and azide, which are known to interfere with oxidative phosphorylation, inhibit energy-requiring processes in anaerobic conditions in bacterial^1,2, yeast^3–7 and animal^8,9 cells. To account for this inhibition under anaerobic conditions, when oxidative phosphorylation is not functioning and ATP is provided only by glycolysis, it has been assumed that a hypothetical high energy intermediate of oxidative phosphorylation equilibrated with glycolytically formed ATP can serve as a direct source of energy for some endergonic cellular processes¹⁰, including protein synthesis^2,6,11. Alternatively, disturbances in appropriate oxido-reduction states in the cells resulting from the interference of uncouplers with the energy linked reversal of electron transport in the respiratory chain^12,13 or with the energy linked transhydrogenase² have been suggested. Because the same inhibitory effect occurs even in cells lacking a complete respiratory chain⁶ a more general action of uncouplers on energy-linked cellular processes must be assumed².