Ochratoxin A: inhibition of mitochondrial respiration

Ochratoxin A is a fungal metabolite which induces pathological changes in animals. The toxin was isolated from cultures of Aspergillus ochraceus and purified by thin-layer chromatography. Ochratoxin A and one of its hydrolysis products, dihydroisocoumarin, severely inhibited coupled respiration when applied at low concentration to rat liver mitochondria.