dibromothymoquinone

Dibromothymoquinone is a synthetic halogenated derivative of thymoquinone and belongs to the class of p-benzoquinones. It is primarily used as a research tool in photosynthesis studies due to its ability to inhibit the cytochrome b₆f complex in chloroplasts. At low concentrations it acts as a plastoquinone antagonist by inhibiting reduction of hydrophilic electron acceptors; at higher concentrations it can act as an electron acceptor itself. Its main mechanism involves blocking plastoquinol oxidation and disrupting electron flow between photosystem II and I in photosynthetic organisms. Dibromothymoquinone has also been shown to bind specific proteins such as KaiA involved in circadian rhythms[1][2][5].

Other names

2,5-dibromo-3-isopropyl-6-methylbenzoquinone2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone2,5-dibromo-6-isopropyl-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone2,5-cyclohexadiene-1,4-dione, 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-(1-methylethyl)-