The 1,2,3-benzothiadiazoles. A new type of compound acting on coupling site I, in rat liver mitochondria.

1. In rat liver mitochondria, 6-chloro-1,2,3-benzothiadiazole inhibited ADP phosphorylation and Ca2+-transport when the energy required for these processes came from the oxidation of NAD-linked substrates. The inhibition was characterized by substantial reduction in oxygen consumption, H+-movement and disappearance of acceptor control ratio. 2. When the substrate oxidized was succinate, depending on the 6-chloro-1,2,3-benzothiadiazole concn., little or no effect was observed on ADP phosphorylation and Ca2+-transport. 3. The results suggest that 6-chloro-1,2,3-benzothiadiazole can block site I at low concn., but at higher concn. can affect site I and site II, although site I is always more affected.