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Cocheme HM and Murphy MP  (2008) Complex I is the major site of mitochondrial superoxide production by paraquat. J Biol Chem 283(4):1786-98

Abstract: Paraquat (1,1(-dimethyl-4,4(-bipyridinium dichloride) is widely used as a redox cycler to stimulate superoxide production in organisms, cells and mitochondria. This superoxide production causes extensive mitochondrial oxidative damage, however there is considerable uncertainty over the mitochondrial sites of paraquat reduction and superoxide formation. Here we show that in yeast and mammalian mitochondria, superoxide production by paraquat occurs in the mitochondrial matrix, as inferred from manganese superoxide dismutase-sensitive mitochondrial DNA damage, as well as from superoxide assays in isolated mitochondria, which were unaffected by exogenous superoxide dismutase. This paraquat-induced superoxide production in the mitochondrial matrix required a membrane potential which was essential for paraquat uptake into mitochondria. This uptake was of the paraquat dication, not the radical monocation, and was carrier-mediated. Experiments with disrupted mitochondria showed that once in the matrix paraquat was principally reduced by complex I (mammals) or by NADPH dehydrogenases (yeast) to form the paraquat radical cation which then reacted with oxygen to form superoxide. Together this membrane potential-dependent uptake across the mitochondrial inner membrane and the subsequent rapid reduction to the paraquat radical cation explain the toxicity of paraquat to mitochondria.

Status: Published

Type: Journal Article

PubMed ID: 18039652

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