Cellular energy utilization and supply during hypoxia in embryonic cardiac myocytes

Studies of intact hearts suggest that cardiac myocytes may have the ability to reversibly suppress metabolic activity and energy demand in states of regional hypoperfusion. However, an ability to suppress respiration in response to hypoxia has never been demonstrated in isolated myocytes. To test this, isolated embryonic chick cardiac myocytes were exposed to progressive hypoxia while their rate of O2 uptake and concentrations of lactate, ATP, ADP, AMP, and phosphocreatine were measured. Compared with the value obtained at an oxygen tension (PO2) of 120 Torr, cellular O2 uptake decreased by 28 +/- 14% (SD) at PO2 = 50 Torr and by 64 +/- 25% at PO2 = 20 Torr (P < 0.05). This decrease was similar after 1 min or 2 h of hypoxia, was sustained for 16 h, and was completely reversible within 2 min after reoxygenation. The reduction in O2 uptake was associated with a decrease in the rate of ATP turnover, but no change in adenine nucleotide or phosphocreatine concentrations. In myocytes adherent to glass cover-slips, O2 uptake and contractile motion were decreased after 30-60 min at 50 and 20 Torr, compared with normoxic values. O2 uptake also was significantly decreased at 50 and 20 Torr in myocytes incubated with N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine, which suggests that the catalytic activity of cytochrome-c oxidase was partially inhibited during hypoxia. In summary, these results demonstrate that embryonic chick cardiac myocytes can suppress their rates of ATP demand, ATP utilization, and O2 uptake during moderate hypoxia through a mechanism that involves a reversible inhibition of cytochrome-c oxidase. This mechanism may represent a protective response to cellular hypoxia.

Synchronization of calcium waves by mitochondrial substrates in Xenopus laevis oocytes

In Xenopus oocytes, as well as other cells, inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3)-induced Ca2+ release is an excitable process that generates propagating Ca2+ waves that annihilate upon collision. The fundamental property responsible for excitability appears to be the Ca2+ dependency of the Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor. Here we report that Ins(1,4,5)P3-induced Ca2+ wave activity is strengthened by oxidizable substrates that energize mitochondria, increasing Ca2+ wave amplitude, velocity and interwave period. The effects of pyruvate/malate are blocked by ruthenium red at the Ca2+ uniporter, by rotenone at complex I, and by antimycin A at complex III, and are subsequently rescued at complex IV by ascorbate tetramethylphenylenediamine (TMPD). Our data reveal that potential-driven mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake is a major factor in the regulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3-induced Ca2+ release and clearly demonstrate a physiological role of mitochondria in intracellular Ca2+ signalling.

Proton translocation linked to the activity of the bi-trans-membrane electron transport chain

Recently we have proposed and presented evidence suggesting the existence of a "bi-trans-membrane" electron transport chain, located at the contact sites between outer and inner mitochondrial membranes, which can be utilized to promote either the oxidation of exogenous NADH in the presence of catalytic amounts of added cytochrome c or the reduction of exogenous cytochrome c supported by the oxidation of respiratory substrates present inside the mitochondria. Here we show that the oxidation of exogenous NADH is accompanied by a net alkalinization of the incubation medium preceded by a transient acidification phase. In oxygen-pulse experiments, the alcohol oxidation (induced by the addition of alcohol dehydrogenase) was used to mimic a cytosolic source of reducing equivalents. Oxygen pulses promote an acidification-alkalinization proton cycle which is insensitive to antimycin and myxothiazol inhibitory effect, is stimulated by valinomycin, inhibited by trypsin-aprotinin complex, abolished by the protonophore carbonyl cyanide-p-trifluoromethoxy phenylhydrazone (FCCP), and is absent or at least inverted (alkalinization-acidification cycle) in broken mitochondria. The oxidation of cytosolic substrates, mediated by the bi-trans-membrane electron transport chain, does not involve endogenous cytochrome c and is associated with a vectorial proton translocation from the inside to the outside of the mitochondria. In the out-->in electron transport pathway the components involved appear to be cytosolic reduced substrates-->NADH produced by cytosolic dehydrogenases activity-->NADH-cytochrome b5 oxidoreductase complex leaning out the external side of the external membrane-->exogenous cytochrome c-->cytochrome oxidase of contact sites-->molecular oxygen. The possible components of the in-->out pathway are matrix respiratory substrates-->primary dehydrogenases of the matrix-->Complexes I, II, and III of the respiratory chain present in the inner membrane-->NADH-cytochrome b5 oxidoreductase system of the external membrane-->exogenous cytochrome c-->additional cytosolic electron acceptors or, alternatively, cytochrome oxidase of contact sites. The two pathways can be considered a bi-trans-membrane electron channeling system which, at the level of bridges set up by the contact points between the outer and the inner mitochondrial membrane, may represent a link between the redox processes occurring inside with those present outside the mitochondrion.

DBHBM (3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxy-benzylidenemalonitrile) is a novel inhibitor of electron transfer through the QN center of the mitochondrial bc1 complex

DBHBM (3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxy-benzylidenemalonitrile) inhibited the NADH- or succinate-supported rate of O2 consumption in beef heart submitochondrial particles (Ki = 7 x 10(-7) M). Oxygen comsumption was restored with the addition of ascorbate/TMPD, indicating that the inhibitory effect was on the ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase activity of the respiratory chain. Difference spectra with submitochondrial particles indicated that DBHBM blocked electron transport through the cytochrome bc1 complex, in a mode closely similar to that of antimycin A. The reduction rates of cytochrome b by succinate were strongly inhibited in the presence of DBHBM plus myxothiazol, but not by DBHBM plus antimycin A. These data suggest that DBHBM may bind primarily to the QN center. In the purified bc1 complex, DBHBM and antimycin A induced a red shift from 562 to 566 nm of the alpha peak of cytochrome b, supporting the idea that DBHBM influences predominantly the ligand field of the b562 (bh) heme. Difference spectra in the presence or absence of myxothiazol showed that DBHBM induced the same red shift with a maximum at 565 nm and a minimum at 559 nm. We conclude that DBHBM blocks electron transfer at the QN center and thus may be considered a novel group III inhibitor of the bc1 complex.

The sum of flux control coefficients in the electron-transport chain of mitochondria

The sum of the flux control coefficients for group-transfer reactions such as electron transport has been proposed to be two when the coefficients are calculated from experiments in which the concentrations of the electron carriers are changed (CE) but one when they are calculated from changes in the rates of the electron-transfer processes (Cv). We tested this proposal using electron transport in uncoupled beef heart, potato tuber and rat liver mitochondria. First, with ascorbate plus N,N,N',N"-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine as substrate, the CE flux control coefficients of ascorbate, N,N,N',N"-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine, mitochondria and oxygen over electron-transport rate were measured by direct titration of the concentrations of these electron carriers. CE values were close to zero, one, one and zero, respectively, giving a sum of CE flux control coefficients of approximately two. At higher concentrations of N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine, its CE control decreased and the sum decreased towards one as predicted. Secondly, the Cv control coefficients of groups of electron-transfer processes with succinate or ascorbate plus N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine as substrate were measured. This was achieved by measuring the effects of KCN (or malonate or N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine) on system flux when intermediates were allowed to relax and on local flux when intermediates were held constant. The Cv flux control coefficients were calculated as the ratio of the effects on system flux and on local flux. The sum of the Cv flux control coefficients was approximately one. Whether a sum of one or a sum of two was obtained depended entirely on the definition of control coefficients that was used, since either sum was obtained from the same set of data depending on the method of calculation. Both definitions are valid, but they give different information. It is important to be aware of which definition is being used when analysing control coefficients in electron-transport chains and other group-transfer systems.

Increase in <--H+/e- ratio of the cytochrome c oxidase reaction in mitochondria irradiated with helium-neon laser

In order to gain a degree of insight into the mitochondrial component/s responsible of the mitochondria-red light interaction, isolated rat liver mitochondria were irradiated with a Helium-Neon laser (energy dose 2 Joules/cm2, light power 10 mW) and measurements made of the activity of cytochrome c oxidase. A low, but statistically significant increase in the oxygen uptake was found, as polarographically measured, in the presence of rotenone and antimycin A, with ascorbate and TMPD used as substrate pair. Measurements were also made both of the electron transfer and of proton pumping activity: as a result of a major stimulation in the proton pumping activity, about 55% increase of <--H+/e- ratio was found in irradiated mitochondria.

Substrate-dependent changes in mitochondrial function, intracellular free calcium concentration and membrane channels in pancreatic beta-cells

Microfluorimetric and patch-clamp techniques have been combined to determine the relationship between changes in mitochondrial metabolism, the activity of KATP channels and changes in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in isolated pancreatic beta-cells in response to glucose, ketoisocaproic acid (KIC) and the electron donor couple tetramethyl p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) and ascorbate. Exposure of cells to 20 mM glucose raised NAD(P)H autofluorescence after a delay of 28 +/- 1 s (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 30). The mitochondrial inner membrane potential, delta psi m (monitored using rhodamine 123 fluorescence), hyperpolarized with a latency of 49 +/- 6 s (n = 17), and the [Ca2+]i rose after 129 +/- 13 s (n = 5). The amplitudes of the metabolic changes were graded appropriately with glucose concentration over the range 2.5-20 mM. All variables responded to KIC with shorter latencies: NAD(P)H autofluorescence rose after a delay of 20 +/- 3 s (n = 5) and rhodamine 123 changed after 21 +/- 3 s (n = 6). The electron donor couple, TMPD with ascorbate, rapidly hyperpolarized delta psi m and raised [Ca2+]i. When [Ca2+]i was raised by sustained exposure to 20 mM glucose, TMPD had no further effect. TMPD also decreased whole-cell KATP currents and depolarized the cell membrane, measured with the perforated patch configuration. These data are consistent with a central role for mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in coupling changes in glucose concentration with the secretion of insulin.

The terminal quinol oxidases of Bacillus subtilis have different energy conservation properties

We have analyzed the respiratory chains in the log-arithmic and stationary growth phases of Bacillus subtilis cells grown in rich glucose medium. The cytochrome c branch of the respiratory chain was absent from both types of cells, which used a quinol oxidase branch for respiration. Cytochrome aa3-600 was found to be the major terminal oxidase in log phase cells. This enzyme was shown to translocate protons across the membrane in addition to the charge separation in the oxidation of quinol. Both cytochromes d and aa3-600 were expressed in the stationary phase. After inhibition of the latter by cyanide, cytochrome d was shown to catalyze charge separation during quinol oxidation, but not to pump protons across the membrane. A CO-binding membrane-bound cytochrome of approximately 17 kDa, called cytochrome b558, was presented in log phase cells. This protein did not exhibit oxidase activity and did not have the characteristics of members of the conserved terminal oxidase family.

Kinetic and ligand binding evidence for two heme A-based terminal oxidases in plasma membranes from Bacillus subtilis

Detergent-solubilized plasma membranes from Bacillus subtilis have been characterized for their cytochrome oxidase content. Triton X-100-solubilized membranes show high O2 turnover with ascorbate plus TMPD. Reduced-oxidized difference spectroscopy of ascorbate-TMPD-reduced membranes reveals the presence of cytochrome c and cytochrome a. An additional, b-type cytochrome appears when the membranes are reduced with dithionite. Time-resolved difference spectra taken during reduction by ascorbate-TMPD reveal two kinetic forms of heme A-containing cytochromes. There is a high-turnover form that is rapidly reduced upon anaerobiosis, and a second type which is only slowly reduced upon anaerobiosis. The slowly reduced oxidase is distinguished by an alpha-band blue-shifted to 600 nm relative to the 603-nm position observed for high-turnover oxidase. Addition of CO to ascorbate-TMPD-reduced membranes gives a spectrum typical of ferrocytochrome a3-CO, and the intensity corresponds to the total ferrocytochrome a3 concentration. Photolysis of ascorbate-TMPD-reduced, CO-bound membranes indicates that both species are photosensitive with similar rates of recombination. Addition of CO to dithionite-reduced membranes shows an additional CO reactive center that has a spectrum characteristic of cytochrome o. Cyanide blocks complete reduction of high-turnover oxidase by ascorbate plus TMPD, but does not appear to effect slowly reduced oxidase. These results indicate the presence of two different types of cytochrome aa3 oxidase in plasma membranes of B. subtilis.

Spectral analysis of cytochromes in rat heart myocytes: transient and steady-state photodiode array spectrophotometry measurements

Myocytes prepared from rat heart have been studied by optical spectroscopy using a photodiode array spectrophotometer adapted to a stopped flow apparatus (PASF). The isolated cells were viable for 3-4 h (i.e., over the total time of the experiments), as tested employing morphological parameters of cell damage, reactivity toward trypan blue, and the ability to use succinate in the absence and presence of digitonin. Respiration was activated by addition of sodium ascorbate and tetramethyl-para-phenylenediamine (TMPD) as exogenous reductants, in order to single out the contributions of cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase among the complexes of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. TMPD was shown to be freely permeable across cytoplasmic and mitochondrial membranes, with a measured KD = 0.9 mM. The use of singular value decomposition analysis coupled to PASF acquisition proved very powerful in resolving statically and kinetically, in the millisecond time region, the spectral contributions of the cytochromes. Spectral analysis was improved by adding carbon monoxide at concentrations which did not affect cytochrome c oxidase activity, but kept myoglobin fully saturated (and thus uninfluential to absorbance changes).

Mitochondrial oxidation of p-phenylenediamine derivatives in vitro: structure-activity relationships and correlation with myotoxic activity in vivo

A number of p-phenylenediamine derivatives are known to cause necrosis of skeletal and/or cardiac muscle when administered to experimental animals. Compounds of this type are oxidized to semiquinonedi-imines or quinonedi-imines by mitochondria in vitro, establishing alternative pathways for electron transport in the respiratory chain with concomitant decreases in respiratory control and ADP:O ratios. Muscle mitochondria were found to be particularly effective in promoting p-phenylenediamine oxidation in vitro and the magnitude of the mitochondrial effects of the various compounds tested correlated well with their ability to cause muscle necrosis in vivo. It is suggested that mitochondrial oxidation may be involved in the initiation of the myotoxic effects of these compounds and account for their target-site specificity.

Quantitative determination by ESR of the arylaminyl free radical during the reaction of N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine with oxyhemoglobin

Aromatic amines with electron-donating substituents are directly activated by pure oxyhemoglobin with formation of ferrihemoglobin. Of these xenobiotics the N-alkylated p-phenylenediamines are particularly active. With N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) cooxidation with oxyhemoglobin was observed by ESR spectroscopy with formation of the arylaminyl free radical (TMPD+*). Since the radical is rapidly reduced by ferrohemoglobin, a catalytic cycle of ferrihemoglobin formation is sustained with initially very low steady-state concentrations of the radical, e.g. below 0.1%. Ferrihemoglobin is also able to oxidize TMPD to the radical, hence the steady-state concentration of TMPD+* rises with increasing ferrihemoglobin. Radicals of the Wurster's type tend to disproportionate at high rates generating reactive quinonediiminium cations which oxidize and arylate cellular thiols like GSH and protein SH groups. Because the disproportionation rate depends on the square of the radical concentration, quenching of the radicals by ferrohemoglobin to protect cellular thiols will be effective as long as the capacity of the methemoglobin reductase system is not overwhelmed. The results indicate that erythrocytes may play a critical role in activation and detoxication of p-phenylenediamines.

Bacillus subtilis cytochrome oxidase mutants: biochemical analysis and genetic evidence for two aa3-type oxidases

The ctaBCDEF genes coding for cytochrome c oxidase were found to reside adjacent to a regulatory gene ctaA at 127 degrees on the Bacillus subtilis chromosome. The structural genes for subunits I and II, ctaD and ctaC, were deleted by gene-replacement using a phleomycin-resistance marker. The mutant was unable to oxidize N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylene-diamine and oxidized cytochrome c at a significantly lower rate. Absorption spectra of the mutant and wild-type membranes confirmed the presence of two haem A-containing enzymes in B. subtilis. Another mutant, with a spontaneous deletion upstream from ctaC, was found to express neither of these enzymes. Radioactive haem-labelling was used to identify subunit II, which contains a haem C, and cytochrome c-550 among the membrane-bound c-type cytochromes of B. subtilis.

Effects of thyroid hormones on the bypasses of the antimycin A block in the bc1 complex of rat liver mitochondria

The effect of thyroid hormones on the electron flow through the bc1 complex of rat liver mitochondria was studied using two dye bypasses of the Antimycin A block of the bc1 complex by the method of Alexandre and Lehninger (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 767:120; 1984). Bypass respiration rates with both DCIP (2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol) and TMPD (N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride) were elevated in the hyperthyroid rats and depressed in the hypothyroid groups compared to the euthyroid controls. T3 treatment of hypothyroid rats returned the bypass rates to control levels in 24 hours with the TMPD dye but not for the DCIP. This further demonstrates that different portions of the bc1 complex respond individually to the thyroid state.

Role of influenza B virus in hepatic steatosis and mitochondrial abnormalities in a mouse model of Reye syndrome

The hepatic steatosis observed in the influenza B virus mouse model of Reye syndrome has been attributed to infectious virus or, alternately, to decreased food intake in the virus-treated mice or impurities in the virus preparation. To resolve this issue, 4- to 6-wk-old male Balb C mice were given, by intravenous injection, 12,800 hemagglutination units of influenza B Lee/40 virus in phosphate buffered saline/1% bovine serum albumin using virus prepared by ultra-centrifugation from infected allantoic fluid, by sucrose density-gradient purification of virus prepared by ultracentrifugation from infected allantoic fluid or by irradiation of virus prepared by ultracentrifugation from infected allantoic fluid to inactivate virus. The infectivity titer of virus prepared by ultracentrifugation from infected allantoic fluid was much higher than that of sucrose density-gradient purified virus prepared from infected allantoic fluid: 50% egg infectious dose for virus prepared by ultracentrifugation from infected allantoic fluid was 3.9 x 10(4)/hemagglutination unit vs. 8.7 50% egg infectious dose/hemagglutination unit for sucrose density-gradient purified virus prepared from infected allantoic fluid. Control mice received phosphate-buffered saline/1% bovine serum albumin or uninfected allantoic fluid diluted in phosphate-buffered saline/1% bovine serum albumin. Mice were fasted to eliminate dietary variation, and livers were obtained 36 hr after virus administration. Of the above treatments, only virus prepared by ultracentrifugation from infected allantoic fluid caused clinical illness and increased hepatic triglycerides (p less than 0.02) compared with controls. Hepatic triglycerides in virus prepared by ultracentrifugation from infected allantoic fluid correlated with histopathological vacuolization scores (r = 0.5773; p less than 0.03).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inhibition of cytochrome oxidase by dibucaine

Dibucaine-HCl inhibited mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase activity in intact mitochondria with 50% inhibition occurring at 1.1 mM dibucaine-HCl. Dibucaine-HCl did not prevent the reduction of cytochrome oxidase by ascorbate plus N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (TMPD) when measured at 604 nm but prevented 50% of the absorbance change at 445 nm; dithionite reduced the oxidase completely. Dibucaine prevented binding of CO to oxidase reduced with ascorbate plus TMPD by preventing the reduction of cytochrome a3. The midpotenials of cytochrome c and cytochrome oxidase, the visible absorbance wavelength maxima, and the position and intensity of the signals of the EPR spectrum of the oxidase were not affected. Dibucaine-HCl prevented ascorbate plus TMPD-driven reduction of the near infra-red detectable copper center associated with cytochrome a: dithionite subsequently reduced this center. Dibucaine-HCl inhibited cytochrome oxidase activity by interacting between cytochrome a and its associated copper. Since respiration was 8-fold less sensitive in submitochondrial particles, this site of inhibition is on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane.

Effects of chronic alcohol consumption on the steady-state kinetics properties of cytochrome oxidase in rat liver

The effect of chronic alcohol consumption on steady-state kinetic characteristics of cytochrome oxidase in rat liver was studied using submitochondrial particles prepared from ethanol-fed and control rats. Preparations from both control and alcoholic rats had equivalent apparent Km values for cytochrome c of 13 microM in the presence of phenazine methosulfate or 19 microM with N,N,N',N'-tetramethylphenylene diamine as oxidation-reduction mediators at physiological ionic strength. Both preparations showed comparable stimulation (approx. 3-fold) of oxidase activity following detergent solubilization of the membrane and similar temperature dependence for oxidase activity. Under all conditions, preparations from alcohol-fed rats displayed 30 to 50% lower rats of cytochrome oxidase activity per unit membrane protein than those from control rats. The diminution in specific activity per mg protein was accompanied by a similar decline in heme aa3 content, as has been noted in previous studies. When expressed on a turnover number basis, the molecular activity of cytochrome oxidase (natoms O/min per nmol heme a) was equivalent in both alcoholic and control preparations. The results indicate that the intrinsic kinetic characteristics of cytochrome oxidase are not changed by alcohol consumption. The data suggest that the characteristic decline in heme aa3 content and cytochrome oxidase specific activity seen in ethanol-fed rats does not arise from alterations in the accessibility of the oxidase towards cytochrome c, or from changes in bulk phase lipid composition or physical properties. The results support the conclusion that ethanol consumption decreases the membrane content of functionally active oxidase molecules, but does not change the catalytic properties of these oxidase molecules.

Structure and vectorial properties of proteoliposomes containing cytochrome oxidase in the submitochondrial orientation

Cytochrome oxidase proteoliposomes were prepared from bovine heart oxidase. Size distributions determined by quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS) showed that there was a small population of large vesicles (120-200-nm diameter) and a large population of small vesicles (50-100-nm diameter). Trapping cytochrome c inside the proteoliposomes did not significantly alter this size distribution. Separation of the vesicles by gel filtration, however, revealed that the cytochrome c/cytochrome a ratio is higher in the larger vesicles. Internally trapped cytochrome c can be reduced by the membrane-permeable reductants 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DAD) or N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD). Respiration on internal cytochrome c generated a membrane potential of 53 mV (positive inside) and a pH gradient of 0.2 (acid inside) as monitored by the optical probes oxonol V and pyranine, respectively. But the true magnitude of these gradients in individual proteoliposomes is complicated by vesicle heterogeneity. The membrane potential increased biphasically with increasing concentration of reductant. Ionophore sensitivity was higher for the "low Km" phase, and respiration became increasingly uncoupled as the reductant concentration was increased. These findings are consistent with a kinetic heterogeneity such that vesicles respiring at lower reductant concentrations generate a higher proton motive force than those with a larger Km. The steady-state internal acidification induced by turnover of the internally facing enzyme is probably maintained by both cytochrome oxidase proton translocation and a TMPD+/H+ antiport present in these vesicles [Cooper, C. E., & Nicholls, P. (1987) FEBS. Lett. 223, 155-160].

Interaction of cytochrome c with cytochrome c oxidase: an understanding of the high- to low-affinity transition

The steady-state kinetics of high- and low-affinity electron transfer reactions between various cytochromes c and cytochrome c oxidase (ferrocytochrome c:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.9.3.1) preparations were studied spectrophotometrically and polarographically. The dissociation constants for the binding of the first and second molecules of horse cytochrome c (I = 15 mM) are 5.10(-8) M and 1.10(-5) M, respectively, close to the spectrophotometric Km values and consistent with the controlled binding model for the interaction between cytochrome c and cytochrome oxidase (Speck, S.H., Dye, D. and Margoliash, E. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81, 346-351) which postulates that the binding of a second molecule of cytochrome c weakens that of the first, resulting in low-affinity kinetics. While the Km of the polarographically assayed high-affinity reaction is comparable to that observed spectrophotometrically, the low-affinity Km is over an order of magnitude smaller and cannot be attributed to the binding of a second molecule of cytochrome c. Increasing the viscosity has no effect on the Vmax of the low-affinity reaction assayed polarographically, but increases the Km. Thus, the transition from high- to low-affinity kinetics is dependent on the frequency of productive collisions, as expected for a hysteresis model ascribing the transition to the trapping of the oxidase in a primed state for turnover. At ionic strengths above 150 mM, the rate of cytochrome c oxidation decreases without any correlation to the calculated net charge of the cytochrome c, indicating rate-limiting rearrangement of the two proteins in proximity to each other.

Optical spectra and kinetics of reactions of prostaglandin H synthase: effects of the substrates 13-hydroperoxyoctadeca-9,11-dienoic acid, arachidonic acid, N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine, and phenol and of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs aspirin, indomethacin, phenylbutazone, and bromfenac

A combination of cyclooxygenase activity assays, rapid spectrophotometry and pre-steady-state, steady-state, and transient-state kinetics is used to characterize further the properties of prostaglandin H synthase. 13-Hydroperoxyoctadeca-9-11-dienoic acid is used as oxidizing substrate and the effects of the following compounds are examined: arachidonic acid, N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine, phenol, diethyldithiocarbamate, and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs aspirin, indomethacin, phenylbutazone, and Bromfenac. The order of reactivity of four of these substrates, predominantly with compound II of prostaglandin H synthase, is N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine greater than phenol greater than indomethacin approximately phenylbutazone. Aspirin exhibits no effect. Arachidonic acid causes inactivation. Diethyldithiocarbamate acts as a reducing substrate for the oxidized forms of prostaglandin H synthase. Bromfenac appears to act both as a protective agent and inhibitor.

Benzoyl peroxide interaction with mitochondria: inhibition of respiration and induction of rapid, large-amplitude swelling

When micromolar concentrations of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) are added to rat liver mitochondria, inhibition of mitochondrial NADH-oxidase and succinoxidase is observed. The addition of 2,4-dinitrophenol, an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation, results in only partial release of this inhibition, suggesting that BPO inhibits both electron and energy transfer in mitochondria. Release of inhibition is also observed when an electron donor, N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine, is added, suggesting that inhibition occurs on the substrate side of cytochrome c. When BPO is added to respiring submitochondrial particles, only reduced cytochrome b is observed to accumulate in the difference spectrum (reduced minus oxidized) in a manner analogous to that observed in the presence of antimycin A. These results indicate that BPO interacts at coupling site II between cytochromes b and c1. When respiring SMP are treated with BPO in the presence of the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide, electron spin resonance signals attributable to the hydroxyl and superoxide adducts are observed. Catalase and superoxide dismutase inhibit the formation of these adducts, suggesting the involvement of both hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radicals in this process. BPO also induces rapid, large-amplitude swelling of mitochondria; the swelling is dependent on the presence of monovalent cations but is independent of the presence of calcium, oxygen, and respiratory substrate. BPO-induced swelling appears to be disassociated from radical production and lipid peroxidation.

Effect of glycerol and dihydroxyacetone on hepatic lipogenesis

Glycerol is a dietary component which is metabolized primarily by the liver and kidney where it is used mainly for glucose synthesis. The metabolism of glycerol is very similar to that of dihydroxyacetone which can be considered its more oxidized counterpart. The effects of these substrates on hepatic lipogenesis and gluconeogenesis were examined. In isolated hepatocytes, 10 mM dihydroxyacetone caused a large increase in glucose output and stimulated lipogenesis without affecting the lactate/pyruvate ratio or the total ATP content of the cells. (As compared to dihydroxyacetone, 10 mM glycerol was less effective as a gluconeogenic substrate, increased the lactate/pyruvate ratio, caused a slight decrease in the total ATP content, and inhibited lipogenesis by at least 40% depending on the type of diet fed to the rats.) The fall in ATP levels was very small and did not correlate with the changes in fatty acid synthesis. The immediate cause of the inhibition of lipogenesis, brought about by glycerol in hepatocytes from sucrose fed rats, seemed to be a large decrease in pyruvate levels. This did not result from impairment of glycolysis but from a rise in the cytosolic NADH/NAD ratio.

Leucine transport in plasma membrane vesicles of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Yeast plasma membrane vesicles were obtained by the fusion of liposomes with purified yeast membranes by means of the freeze thaw-sonication technique. Beef heart mitochondria cytochrome-c oxidase was incorporated into the vesicles. Addition of substrate (ascorbate/TMPD/cytochrome c) generated a membrane potential negative inside, and an alkaline pH gradient inside the vesicle, that served as the driving force for leucine transport. Both delta pH and delta psi could drive leucine transport. When delta pH was increased in the presence of valinomycin and potassium, at the expense of delta psi, leucine uptake increased by 10%.

Calcium uptake by bovine epididymal spermatozoa is regulated by the redox state of the mitochondrial pyridine nucleotides

Immature caput epididymal sperm accumulate calcium from exogenous sources at a rate 2- to 4-fold greater than mature caudal sperm. Calcium accumulation by these cells, however, is maximal in the presence of lactate as external substrate. This stimulation of calcium uptake by optimum levels of lactate (0.8-1.0 mM) is about 5-fold in caput and 2-fold in caudal sperm compared to values observed with glucose as substrate. Calcium accumulation by intact sperm is almost entirely mitochondrial as evidenced by the inhibition of uptake by rotenone, antimycin, and ruthenium red. The differences in the ability of the various substrates in sustaining calcium uptake appeared to be related to their ability to generate NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). Previous reports have documented that mitochondrial calcium accumulation in several somatic cells is regulated by the oxidation state of mitochondrial NADH. A similar situation obtains for bovine epididymal sperm since calcium uptake sustained by site III oxidation of ascorbate in the presence of tetramethyl phenylenediamine and rotenone was also stimulated by NADH-producing substrates, including lactate, and inhibited by substrates generating NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, oxidized form). Further, calcium uptake by digitonin-permeabilized sperm in the presence of succinate was stimulated when NADH oxidation was inhibited by rotenone. The compounds alpha-keto butyric, valeric, and caproic acids, which generate NAD+, inhibited the maximal calcium uptake observed in the presence of succinate and rotenone, and the hydroxy acids lactate and beta-hydroxybutyrate reversed this inhibition. These results document the regulation of sperm calcium accumulation by the physiological substrate lactate, emphasize the importance of mitochondria in the accumulation of calcium by bovine epididymal sperm, and suggest that the mitochondrial location of the isozyme LDH-X in mammalian sperm may be involved in the regulation of calcium accumulation.