Molecular basis for inhibition of mitochondrial respiration by naphthalene

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1983 · Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01606040· OSTI ID:5213420

Struble, V G; Harmon, H J

Naphthalenes, abundant in coal tar, synthetic, and natural crude oils, have been detected in industrial and sewage plant effluents, and in drinking waters. Naphthalene inhibits oxygen consumption by isolated cardiac mitochondria (NADH-O/sub 2/) with an EC/sub 50/ value of 78 ..mu..M. It also inhibits oxygen consumption by three types of tissue culture cells. Naphthalene affects ubiquinone (UQ) reduction by NADH as well as UQH/sub 2/ oxidation by O/sub 2/ with no effect on duroquinol oxidation. This is consistent with naphthalene inhibiting specifically at the level of ubiquinone (coenzyme Q), an essential component of the mitochondrial electron chain. This paper demonstrates an interaction of naphthalene with Q/sub 10/, the most common form of ubiquinone in mammalian heart mitochondria, that may be responsible for naphthalene's observed inhibitory effect.

• Research Organization: Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater
• OSTI ID: 5213420
• Journal Information: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Vol. 31:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
NAPHTHALENE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
RESPIRATION
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
INHIBITION
UBIQUINONE
BIOCHEMISTRY
CELL CULTURES
COENZYMES
HEART
MITOCHONDRIA
PETROLEUM
ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRA
AROMATICS
BENZOQUINONES
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHEMISTRY
CONDENSED AROMATICS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
KINETICS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANOIDS
ORGANS
QUINONES
REACTION KINETICS
SPECTRA
560301* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Cells- (-1987)
550500 - Metabolism