Unexpected stimulation of mitochondrial ADP-ribosylation by cyanide.

Cyanide, the classical inhibitor of the mitochondrial respiratory chain at site III, stimulates ADP-ribosylation of a number of mitochondrial proteins, the major protein being the 50-55 kDa band. Sodium azide, sharing the same inhibitory site, does not have the same effect. Rotenone or antimycin A have no influence on mitochondrial ADP-ribosylation. Data suggest that no apparent correlation exists between oxidoreductase function and protein ADP-ribosylation. Purified nuclear poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity was not affected by cyanide. The cyanide effect on mitochondrial ADP-ribosylation seems intriguing and may be attributed to NAD+-CN complex formation, since NAD reacts with cyanide at pH greater than 8 with N-substituted nicotinamide which may prevent inhibition of ADP-ribosylation.