A structure-potency study examining the ability of dopamine (DA), its major metabolites and related amine and acetate congeners to inhibit NADH-linked mitochondrial O(2) consumption was carried out to elucidate mechanisms by which DA could induce mitochondrial dysfunction. In the amine studies, DA was the most potent inhibitor of respiration (IC(50) 7.0 mm) compared with 3-methoxytryramine (3-MT, IC(50) 19.6 mm), 3,4-dimethoxyphenylethylamine (IC(50) 28.6 mm), tyramine (IC(50) 40.3 mm) and phenylethylamine (IC(50) 58.7 mm). Addition of monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors afforded nearly complete protection against inhibition by phenylethylamine, tyramine and 3,4-dimethoxyphenylethylamine, indicating that inhibition arose from MAO-mediated pathways. In contrast, the inhibitory effects of DA and 3-MT were only partially prevented by MAO blockade, suggesting that inhibition might also arise from two-electron catechol oxidation and quinone formation by DA and one-electron oxidation of the 4-hydroxyphenyl group of 3-MT. In the phenylacetate studies, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) was equipotent with DA in inhibiting respiration (IC(50) 7.4 mm), further implicating the catechol reaction as the cause of inhibition. All other carboxylate congeners; phenylacetic acid (IC(50) 13.0 mm), 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (IC(50) 12.1 mm), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylacetic acid (HVA, IC(50) 12.0 mm) and 3,4-dimethoxyphenylacetic acid (IC(50) 10.2 mm), were equipotent respiratory inhibitors and two- to fourfold more potent than their corresponding amine. These latter findings suggest that the phenylacetate ion can also contribute independently to mitochondrial inhibition. In summary, mitochondrial respiration can be inhibited by DA and its metabolites by four distinct MAO-dependent and independent mechanisms.