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The reduction of tetrazolium salts by plant mitochondria

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Summary

Data has been obtained concerning the reduction of tetrazolium salts by mitochondria isolated from Jerusalem artichoke tubers with succinate as the substrate using a direct recording spectrophotometric method of assay. ATP was found to increase the rate of reduction of the tetrazolium salts, this being independent of the effect ATP had on the rate of oxygen uptake. The magnitude of the stimulation by ATP depended on the concentration of tetrazolium salts present and under certain circumstances was suppressed by the addition of azide and cyanide. The sites at which the tetrazolium salts were reduced along the electron transport chain were investigated. The role of ATP has been discussed in relation to the mechanism of tetrazolium reduction.

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Abbreviations

TTC:

2,3,5-triphenyl-2,1,3,4-tetrazolium chloride

BT:

5,5′-diphenyl-3,3′-(3,3′-dimethoxy-4,4′-diphenylene)-ditetrazolium chloride

NT:

2,2,5,5′-tetraphenyl-3,3′-(p-diphenylene)-ditetrazolium chloride

MTT:

3-(4,5′-dimethyl thiozolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide

INT:

2-(p-iodophenyl)-3-p-dinitrophenyl-3-p-nitrophenyl-5-phenyl tetrazolium chloride

NBT:

2,2′-dinitrophenyl-5,5′-diphenyl-3,3′-dimethoxy-4,4′-diphenylene)-ditetrazolium chloride

TNBT:

2,2′-5,5′-tetra-p-nitrophenyl-3,3′-dimethoxy-4,4′-diphenylene) ditetrazolium chloride

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Author notes

  1. M. Kalina

    Present address: Department of Pathology and Cytology, Government Hospital Tel-Hashomer, Tel-Hashomer, Israel

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, King's College, University of London, 24, London, S.E.

    M. Kalina & J. M. Palmer

Authors
  1. M. Kalina
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  2. J. M. Palmer
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Kalina, M., Palmer, J.M. The reduction of tetrazolium salts by plant mitochondria. Histochemie 14, 366–374 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00304260

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00304260

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