We measured sulfide-based ATP production by isolated mitochondria from four tissues of Urechis unicinctus and the effects of inhibitors of respiratory complexes on ATP production were evaluated. The results show that these mitochondria could oxidize sulfide to produce ATP. The yield of sulfide-stimulated ATP varied from 5 nmol ATP/min/mg to 90 nmol ATP/min/mg according to the sulfide concentration and the source of the mitochondria. The maximum ATP synthesis occurred in hindgut mitochondria using 5 μmol/L sulfide as a substrate. The effects of inhibitors (Rotenone, Antimycin A, Cyanide, and Salicylhydroxamic acid) on mitochondrial ATP production varied with the source of the mitochondria. Our results indicate that sulfide-based ATP production and the associated electron transport pathway are tissue-specific in U. unicinctus.
