Library
ETC Inhibitors, Uncouplers, and Transporter Inhibitors of Oxidative Phosphorylation
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| Site of Action | Inhibitors / Uncouplers | Mechanism | Mnemonic for Easy Recall |
| Complex I (NADH Dehydrogenase) | Rotenone, Piericidin A, Amytal | Blocks electron transfer from NADH to CoQ | “Rotten Pies Available” (Rotenone, Piericidin A, Amytal block Complex I) |
| Complex II (Succinate Dehydrogenase) | Malonate, Carboxin, TTFA | Competes with succinate, preventing electron transfer to CoQ | “Malonate Causes Trouble Fast” (Malonate, Carboxin, TTFA block Complex II) |
| Complex III (Cytochrome bc1) | Antimycin A, BAL | Inhibits electron transfer from CoQ to cytochrome c | “Anti-BAL for Three” (Antimycin, BAL block Complex III) |
| Complex IV (Cytochrome c Oxidase) | Cyanide (CN⁻), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Azide (N₃⁻), Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) | Prevents oxygen from acting as the final electron acceptor | “Certain Compounds Attack Hearts” (Cyanide, CO, Azide, H₂S) |
| ATP Synthase (Complex V) | Oligomycin | Blocks proton flow through ATP synthase | “O for ATP” (Oligomycin blocks ATP production) |
| Uncouplers (Chemical) | DNP, Aspirin, Calcium ions | Dissipate the proton gradient, generating heat without ATP production | “Do Not Push Aspirin or Calcium (DNP, Aspirin, Calcium ions) |
| Uncouplers (Physiological) | Thermogenin (UCP1), Fatty Acids, Thyroxine | Disrupt the proton gradient to generate heat (brown adipose tissue) | “The Fat Tissue Uncouples” (Thermogenin, Fatty acids, Thyroxine) |
| ADP/ATP Transporter Inhibitors | Atractyloside, Bongkrekic Acid | Inhibit the ADP/ATP exchange across the inner mitochondrial membrane | “A Tricky Bong Blocks ATP” (Atractyloside, Bongkrekic Acid inhibit ADP/ATP exchange) |
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