Dibutyltin-3-hydroxyflavone bromide: A fluorescent inhibitor of F1F0-ATPase

Dibutyltin-3-hydroxyflavone bromide [Bu₂SnBr-(of)] is a fluorescent inhibitor (excitation max, 395 nm; emission max., 450 nm) of mitochondrial F₁F₀–ATPase which does not inhibit F₁–ATPase. Bu₂SnBr(of) binding to mitochondria and submitochondrial particles results in a 10-fold fluorescence enhancement which correlates with the amount of F₁F₀–ATPase in the inner membrane. Enhancement is not affected by respiratory-chain substrates, ATP, uncoupling agents, ionophores or respiratory-chain inhibitors. It is reversed by tributyltin chloride (Bu₃SnCl), indicating competition for a common triorganotin-binding site on the F₀ segment of F₁F₀–ATPase. Enhancement is not reversed by dialkyltins, monoalkyltins, tributyl-lead acetate, efrapeptin or oligomycin. Bu₂SnBr(of) is thus a new class of fluorescent probe of the F₀ segment of F₁F₀–ATPase which titrates F₀.