Selective and reversible disruption of mitochondrial inner membrane protein complexes by lipophilic cations

•Mitochondrially targeted compounds using the triphenylphosphonium (TPP+) moiety are widely used for research and therapeutic purposes.•Previous studies have shown significant functional effects of the targeting moiety itself, without any targeted substance.•This study significantly extends the knowledge about these effects on mitochondrial membrane protein levels and tests several hypotheses about the mechanism.•Triphenylphosphonium-based lipophilic cations exert profound but reversible effects on a mitochondrial ETC proteins, which cannot be explained only by a loss of membrane potential.