Figure 5.

Mitochondrial coupling in Leishmania tarentolae promastigotes (LtP). (a) Typical experiment to assess mitochondrial coupling in LtP. LtP cells (110 ± 13 × 10⁶/ml) in Schneider's medium supplemented with 6 μM hemin were equilibrated with air within the reaction chamber of a Clark‐type electrode. After closing the chamber, the basal cellular O₂ consumption was measured. By addition of 5 μM oligomycin (Oligo), an inhibitor of ATP synthase, oxygen consumption coupled to ATP production was blocked. Finally, the uncoupler CCCP (0.5 μM) was added to obtain the capacity of mitochondrial electron transport in LtP at non‐coupled respiration. (b) O₂ consumption rates obtained from the respective slopes in the left graph. Data represent mean ± standard deviation of four independent experiments. ^*Significant differences versus LtP on the level p < .05