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The assumption that nitric oxide inhibits mitochondrial ATP synthesis is correct
Author(s) -
Brookes Paul S.,
Bolaños Juan P.,
Heales Simon J.R.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(99)00217-3
Subject(s) - peroxynitrite , electron transport chain , nitric oxide , chemistry , respiration , oxygen , mitochondrion , biophysics , electron acceptor , cytochrome c , atp synthase , cellular respiration , respiratory chain , cytochrome , biochemistry , mitochondrial respiratory chain , nitric oxide synthase , superoxide , enzyme , biology , organic chemistry , anatomy
The assumption that reversible inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by nitric oxide (NO ⋅ ) represents inhibition of ATP synthesis is unproven. NO ⋅ could theoretically inhibit the oxygen consumption with continued ATP synthesis, by acting as an electron acceptor from cytochrome c or as a terminal electron acceptor in stead of oxygen. We report here that NO ⋅ does reversibly inhibit brain mitochondrial ATP synthesis with a time course similar to its inhibition of respiration. Whilst such inhibition was largely reversible, there appeared to be a small irreversible component which may theoretically be due to peroxynitrite formation, i.e. as a result of the reaction between NO ⋅ and superoxide, generated by the mitochondrial respiratory chain.