Specification of the inhibitory action of MIBG on the respiratory chain by EPR scanning

In this paper we report EPR studies on the effects of meta-Iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG), a structural analogue of norepinephrine capable of inhibiting complex I and III of the respiratory chain, on the reduction state of the various complexes of the respiratory chain in beef heart submitochondrial particles. The EPR spectrum of SMPs incubated with MIBG showed completely reduced prosthetic groups of complex I, but oxidised prosthetic groups of complex IV. This indicates that complex I is inhibited by MIBG at the end of the complex (i.e. at the Q binding site). Determination of the exact site of inhibition of MIBG on complex III yielded no conclusive results, but did confirm that complex III is indeed inhibited by MIBG.