The effect of the stress-induced, cysteine-rich protein, metallothione
in I (MT), on oxygen consumption by rat liver mitochondria was studied
. Using a Clark-type oxygen electrode we found that electron transport
from succinate to oxygen was enhanced by MT whereas ADP-initiated oxy
gen consumption was inhibited by MT. The MT effect was concentration d
ependent. No evidence was found for the provision by MT of an alternat
e pathway to oxygen.