Mitochondrial toxicity and autophagy - Pertubation by xenobiotics - Uncoupling agents
4 important questions on Mitochondrial toxicity and autophagy - Pertubation by xenobiotics - Uncoupling agents
What happens when you uncouple the ETC? (3)
- The energy of the proton gradient can not be transfered to ATP. Therefore it will be transfered into kinetic energy. => heat
- Increased ATP demand
- Increased ETC activity
What does an uncoupling agents do?
- Crosses the outer membrane to inner membrane space (pH 7.4 to pH 7.0).
- Acquires a proton.
- Crosses the inner membrane to matrix (pH 7.0 to 7.8). Loses a proton.
- Moves back to the inter membrane space.
- Dissipates protons in the inner mitochondrial matrix IMM.
What is the ideal uncoupling agent? (3)
- Small
- Lipophilic => it needs to go over the membranes
- Weakly acidic
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Pentachloropenol (PCP), what is it, what does it do?
- Impregnating wood
- Mechanism: compound enters the cytosol (pH 7.4), moves to IMM (pH 7.0) becomes protonated, uncharged molecule moves to matrix (pH 7.8), where it gets dissociated. Negatively charged chemical is transported back IMM. Cycle repeats.
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