INTERACTION OF VANADATE WITH RESPIRATORY-CHAIN OF RAT-LIVER AND WHEAT SEEDLING MITOCHONDRIA

1. 1. Vanadate inhibited electron transfer chain in rat liver and wheat seedling mitochondria. 2. 2. Vanadate accepts electrons at the region of NADH in rat liver submitochondrial particles and intact wheat seedling mitochondria. 3. 3. Vanadate is able to short-circuit the respiratory chain in rat liver submitochondrial particles and intact wheat seedling mitochondria. 4. 4. The short-circuiting of the respiratory chain by vanadate was not sensitive to classical inhibitors of respiration (rotenone, antimycin A and cyanide) and was inhibited by an anti-oxidant (nor-dihydroguaiaretic acid). 5. 5. Differences in the action of vanadate on the respiratory chain of mammalian and plant mitochondria are discussed in relation to different localization of NADH-dehydrogenases in their membranes. © 1979.