We have previously shown that the potent mammalian nephrotoxicant tetrafluoroethyl-L-cysteine (TFEC) covalently modifies a select group of mitochondrial proteins prior to cell death. More recently we have identified these adducted proteins as subunits of mitochondrial dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes, which are involved in key regulatory steps of cellular respiration. Most importantly the E2 and E3 subunits of alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase are adducted. We report here that the consequence of adduction is the formation of tertiary complexes between dehydrogenase subunits and the mitochondrial heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) and a HSP70 homolog (mortalin/PBP74). Thus, adduction perturbs protein structural integrity sufficiently to allow for mitochondrial stress protein recognition. These data also suggest that, in our mammalian system, HSP60 appears to act in the identification and maintenance of protein integrity, as has been previously established for simpler eukaryotic systems.