Phthalonic acid, an inhibitor of alpha-oxoglutarate transport in mitochondria.

Phthalonic acid is a powerful inhibitor of alpha-oxoglutarate transport in mitochondria. This conclusion is based on the following observations: 1. Phthalonic acid inhibits the oxidation of alpha-oxoglutarate but has no effect on the oxidation of glutamate or cis-aconitate. 2. With arsenite present, phthalonic acid inhibits the oxidation of glutamate plus malate and of cis-aconitate plus malate. Under these conditions alpha-oxoglutarate accumulates inside the mitochondria. With glutamate plus malate as substrates the inhibition is competitive with malate with a Ki value of 20 muM. 3. Phthalonic acid inhibits the oxidation of intramitochondrial NAD(P)H by alpha-oxoglutarate plus ammonia. The inhibition is competitive with respect to alpha-oxoglutarate with a Ki of 30 muM. 4. Phthalonic acid inhibits the exchange between extramitochondrial alpha-oxoglutarate and intramitochondrial malate.