Effects of 2,4-D and Other Herbicides on Oxidative Phosphorylation in Mitochondria from Cabbage

Abstract

The effects of 22 herbicides on oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria from cabbage (Brassica oleraceavar.capitataL.) have been studied. Carbamates, phenoxyacids, 3,5-dimethyltetrahydro-l,3,5,2H-thiadiazine-2-thione (DMTT),N-1-napthylphthalamic acid (NPA), 2,3,6-trichlorobenzoic acid (2,3,6-TBA), 3-(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (monuron), and 2-chloro-2-N,N-diallylacetamide (CDAA) inhibited phosphorylation to a greater extent than oxygen uptake in cabbage mitochondria. The compounds 1,2-dihydropyridazine-3,6-dione (MH), 2,2-dichloropropionic acid (dalapon), 2,2,3-trichloropropionic acid (hereinafter referred to as 2,2,3-TPA), sodium chlorate, and 3-amino-l,2,4-triazole (amitrole) at concentrations as high as 1 × 10–2M did not have a large effect on oxidative phosphorylation in cabbage mitochondria. Respiration which was stimulated by 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) or adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was inhibited by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Although 2,4-D did not affect Mg++-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), it inhibited an oleate-stimulated ATPase activity and the ATP-32Pi exchange reaction in cabbage mitochondria. The results suggest that 2,4-D may inhibit respiration in cabbage mitochondria by an effect on a reaction involved in coupling phosphorylation with electron transport.