Abstract
The architecture of quinone/inhibitor-access channel in proton-translocating NADH-quinone oxidoreductase (respiratory complex I) was modeled by X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM, however, it remains debatable whether the channel model reflects the physiologically relevant state present throughout the catalytic cycle. Using photoreactive [125I]amilorides, we demonstrated that amiloride-type inhibitors bind to the interfacial region of multiple subunits (49-kDa, ND1, PSST, and 39-kDa subunits), which is difficult to reconcile with the current channel model. This report describes the procedures for photoaffinity labeling of bovine submitochondrial particles by photoreactive [125I]amilorides. The protocol could be widely applicable for the characterization of various biologically active compounds, whose target protein remains to be identified or characterized.