THE DIRECT IN VITRO ACTION OF GLIOTOXIN ON RAT LIVER MITOCHONDRIA

Abstract

Gliotoxin by itself induced a mitochondrial volume change believed to be respiration energized as the effect was blocked by either antimycin or 2, 4-dinitrophenol. It has been postulated that the pivotal mitochondrial thiol group interacted with the -S-S- bond in gliotoxin to form a new -S-S- bond and a new extended pivotal mitochondrial thiol group. The behaviour of gliotoxin with mitochondria was clearly differentiated from that of ELLMAN'S reagent, showdomycin and N-ethylmaleimide, and could account for the antibiotic and antitumor properties of gliotoxin and with certain qualifications the antiviral properties of gliotoxin.