Carboxyatractyloside (CATR) is a tight-binding inhibitor of adenine nucleotide translocase, and represents the major toxic component of Xanthium sibiricum. Carboxyatractyloside competes with ADP for binding to the translocase, blocks the translocation of ADP/ATP across the inner mitochondrial membrane, and thereby inhibits ADP-stimulated respiration. In the presence of Cyclosporin A, Carboxyatractyloside still induces permeability transition in liver mitochondria of aged rats, exhibiting significant hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Carboxyatractyloside is widely used in studies related to hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and Alzheimer's disease.
