A kinetic analysis of the changes in fluorescence on the interaction of 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulphonate with submitochondrial particles.

A comparison of the fluorescence change on the addition of 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulphonate to succinate-energized submitochondrial particles with that on the addition of succinate to submitochondrial particles incubated with 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulphonate shows that these changes in fluorescence may be explained solely in terms of 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulphonate binding. This comparison does not support the proposal of an 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulphonate-monitored change in the conformation of submitochondrial-particle membranes [Brocklehurst, Freedman, Hancock & Radda (1970) Biochem. J.116, 721-731]. The biphasic nature of the decrease in fluorescence, which was found to follow the addition of uncoupler to submitochondrial particles incubated with ATP or succinate, or of antimycin A to submitochondrial particles incubated with succinate, does not support the existence of 'aplectic' and 'symplectic' states of the mitochondrial membrane [Barrett-Bee & Radda (1972) Biochim, Biophys. Acta 267, 211-215].