[Electrogenic function of submitochondrial particles at the water-octane interphases]

Studies on submitochondrial particles (SMP) preparation showed that in the sourse of the redox reactions at the octane-water interface, catalyzed by SMP enzymes, the charges are transferred from the aqueous to the octane phase. The effects were detected by a shift of the Volta potential, using the vibrating electrode method. In the presence of 2-N-methyl-amino-1,4-naphthoquinone in octane, acting as electron acceptor, the negative charges were transferred from water to octane following the oxidation of NADH, succinate and ascorbate. The charging of the octane phase was sensitive to the inhibitors of the respiratory chain, e. g. rotenone, antimycin and cyanide. In the presence of 2,4-DNP in octane, acting as a proton acceptor, the oxidation of NADH and succinate by ferricyanide, catalyzed by CMP in the presence of antimycin and cyanide correspondingly, was followed by a transfer of positive charges from water to octane. The positive charging of the octane phase, coupled with NADH oxidation, was found insensitive to rotenone, and that coupled with succinate oxidation, was completely inhibited by antimycin. The positive charging of the octane phase was also observed during the reverse transhydrogenase reaction, catalyzed by SMP at the division of the phases. The effect was inhibited by palmitoyl-CoA.