Effect of primycin on the inner membrane permeability of rat liver mitochondria.

The effects of primycin on mitochondrial respiration, volume changes, ATPase activity and the acidification following ATP hydrolysis were studied. Primycin in concentrations below 2--3 nmoles/mg mitochondrial protein reacts only with energized mitochondria rendering their inner membrane permeable to K+, Na+, Tris+ but not to TEA+. Above this concentration primycin interacts both with energized and deenergized mitochondria and the inner membrane also becomes permeable for H+, Cl- but not for ATP. In this case mitochondria very probably lose Mg2+. It is concluded that primycin up to concentrations of 2--3 nmoles/mg mitochondrial protein acts like an ionophore, while at higher concentrations it changes the permeability properties of the mitochondrial inner membrane without a drastic alteration of the membrane itself.