| Abstract: | Experiments with intact cells and submitochondrial fractions of Pythium aphanidermatum (Edson) Fitz. indicated an interference of benzimidazole-N-sulfonamides with the NADH- or succinate-driven electron transport system between cytochromes b and c. Comparison with Ustilago maydis (DC) Corda and Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr. revealed that this effect is Oomycetes specific. The molecular interaction between benzimidazole-N-sulfonamides and the mitochondrial cytochrome b/c1 complex from P. aphanidermatum has been investigated. Binding assays with 14C]52232 RP (dimefluazole) indicated a time- and dose-dependent labelling of two proteins. The molecular mass of one labelled protein and the competition of the binding with antimycin A suggest that benzimidazole-N-sulfonamides interact with the Q1-centre of cytochrome b. Furthermore, experiments with doubly labelled 3H]14C]CGA 323103 revealed a possible irreversible inactivation of the b/c1 complex leading to covalent linkage of the dimethylsulfonamoyl moiety to the target site. |
