The interactions of cetyltrimethylammonium with mitochondria: an uncoupler or a detergent?

The interactions of cetyltrimethylammonium (CTA) with mitochondria have been investigated. We confirm, as already observed in a previous paper, that this compound behaves as proton carrier (or uncoupler) of the oxidative phosphorylation, but evidences suggest that this compound enhances the membrane permeability to many other compounds such as sucrose. We conclude therefore that CTA as a detergent enhances membrane permeability to all ions including protons. Some evidences are also given that the inhibitory effect of CTA on the mitochondrial respiratory chain is a consequence of the swelling induced. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.