Uncouplers of Oxidative Phosphorylation

was proportional to the acidity of the imidazole -NH group. Tetrachloro-2trifluoromethylbenzimidazole was the most active (50% uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation at 7-9 x 10-8M, pK5.04). Nitro-substituted analogues were less active than predicted from pK considerations or from partition-coefficient measurements. 3. Introduction of an -NH2 or -CO2H substituent caused a loss of uncoupling activity, as did alkylation at position 1 of the imidazole ring. 4. Benzimidazoles active as uncouplers stimulated mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase but not all stimulated the oxidation of succinate in the absence ofa phosphate acceptor. 5. 4,5-Dichloro-2-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole inhibited the succinate-oxidase system at about the same concentration required for uncoupling (0.52Mm for 50% inhibition of both activities) and the site of this inhibition appears to lie between succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome b.