抄録
The effect of 3-nitropropionate (3-NPA) on oxidative phosphorylation by using mitochondria prepared from both rat liver and brain were investigated in connection with the toxicity of this material. It was found that 3-NPA inhibited oxidative phosphorylation. In this inhibition, the uptake of inorganic phosphate was blocked but the oxygen uptake was not influenced at all. Furthermore, increase in ATPase activity of intact mitochondria was shown by the addition of 3-NPA. Results showed that 3-NPA disturbed oxidative phosphorylation as an uncoupler. However, the degree of inhibition by 3-NPA was not so high in comparison with other well-known uncouplers.
Thus the toxicity of 3-NPA is not due to the inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation. 3-NPA also does not affect on cytochrome oxidase activity.