A benzopyrylium dye as a novel effective cationic uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation.

Benzopyrylium dye BDBP was found to be an effective uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation. It stimulates state 4 respiration of mitochondria 2-fold at about 2 microM, reveals a maximum stimulation (8-fold) at 30 microM and inhibits the respiration at higher concentrations. BDBP is also an effective proton (hydroxyl) carrier through bilayer lipid membranes (BLM) as is seen from the electrical properties of BLM with BDBP.