Effect of zearalenone (F-2) on pea stem, maize root, and rat liver mitochondria.

At 5 and 10 μg ml(-1) concentration, zearalenone (F-2), a mycotoxin produced by a number of species of the genus Fusarium, causes an inhibition of the oxidative phosphorylation of isolated plant mitochondria, while at 20 and 40 μg ml(-1) it causes uncoupling. However, when the mitochondria are pre-incubated for 20 min with F-2, the uncoupling appears to be the prevailing effect. F-2 is also able to inhibit the mitochondrial ATPase activity (Mg(2+)-dependent). Conversely, F-2 (40 μg ml(-1)) does not alter the ATP level of maize roots and only slightly affects the ATPase activity of pea stem and maize root microsomal fractions. In addition, F-2 (10-40 μg ml(-1)) inhibits ATP synthesis catalyzed by rat liver mitochondria. It is suggested that the phytotoxicity of F-2, also known for its ability to collapse the transmembrane electric potential of maize roots, may be mainly linked to its ability to increase the proton permeability of the cell, similar to the common uncouplers.