Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that Zn 2+ may impair neuronal metabolism. We examined how Zn 2+ affects the activity of isolated brain mitochondria fueled with glutamate+malate, succinate or glycerol 3-phosphate. Submicromolar levels of Zn 2+ dissipated membrane potential and inhibited oxygen utilization in all three substrate conditions. Zn 2+-induced depolarization was reversed by the membrane-impermeant metal chelator, EGTA, and was inhibited by uniporter blockade. Cyclosporin A did not block Zn 2+-induced depolarization. Added Zn 2+ increased accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in glutamate+malate or glycerol 3-phosphate conditions, but inhibited succinate-supported ROS accumulation. These results show that Zn 2+ blocks mitochondrial function in all physiologically relevant substrate conditions.
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