3-Nitropropionic acid is an irreversible inhibitor of mitochondrial respiratory complex II (succinate dehydrogenase), which impairs cellular energy metabolism by inhibiting succinate dehydrogenase and reducing ATP production. Also, 3-nitropropionic acid can cause the generation and release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from mitochondria (the main source of cellular oxidative stress), mitochondrial DNA damage, as well as loss of mitochondrial function.

References:

1. Huang LS, Sun G, Cobessi D, et al. 3-Nitropropionic acid is a suicide inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration that, upon oxidation by complex II, forms a covalent adduct with a catalytic base arginine in the active site of the enzyme. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2006, 281(9): 5965-5972.

2. Zhang JQ, Shen M, Zhu CC, et al. 3-Nitropropionic acid induces ovarian oxidative stress and impairs follicle in mouse. PLoS One, 2014, 9(2): e86589.

3. Mandavilli BS, Boldogh I, Van Houten B. 3-Nitropropionic acid-induced hydrogen peroxide, mitochondrial DNA damage, and cell death are attenuated by Bcl-2 overexpression in PC12 cells. Brain research. Molecular brain research, 2005, 133(2): 215-223.