Oxidative phosphorylation at the fin de siècle

Characterization of a second methylene tetrahydromethanopterin dehydrogenase from Methylobacterium extorquens AM1

Cell extracts of Methylobacterium extorquens AM1 were recently found to catalyze the dehydrogenation of methylene tetrahydromethanopterin (methylene H4MPT) with NAD+ and NADP+. The purification of a 32-kDa NADP-specific methylene H4MPT dehydrogenase (MtdA) was described already. Here we report on the characterization of a second methylene H4MPT dehydrogenase (MtdB) from this aerobic alpha-proteobacterium. Purified MtdB with an apparent molecular mass of 32 kDa was shown to catalyze the oxidation of methylene H4MPT to methenyl H4MPT with NAD+ and NADP+ via a ternary complex catalytic mechanism. The Km for methylene H4MPT was 50 microM with NAD+ (Vmax = 1100 U x mg(-1) and 100 microM with NADP+ (Vmax = 950 U x mg(-1). The Km value for NAD+ was 200 microM and for NADP+ 20 microM. In contrast to MtdA, MtdB could not catalyze the dehydrogenation of methylene tetrahydrofolate. Via the N-terminal amino-acid sequence, the MtdB encoding gene was identified to be orfX located in a cluster of genes whose translated products show high sequence identities to enzymes previously found only in methanogenic and sulfate reducing archaea. Despite its location, MtdB did not show sequence similarity to archaeal enzymes. The highest similarity was to MtdA, whose encoding gene is located outside of the archaeal island. Mutants defective in MtdB were unable to grow on methanol and showed a pronounced sensitivity towards formaldehyde. On the basis of the mutant phenotype and of the kinetic properties, possible functions of MtdB and MtdA are discussed. We also report that both MtdB and MtdA can be heterologously overproduced in Escherichia coli making these two enzymes readily available for structural analysis.

The IF(1) inhibitor protein of the mitochondrial F(1)F(0)-ATPase

Recent studies on the IF(1) inhibitor protein of the mitochondrial F(1)F(0)-ATPase from molecular biochemistry to possible pathophysiological roles are reviewed. The apparent mechanism of IF(1) inhibition of F(1)F(0)-ATPase activity and the biophysical conditions that influence IF(1) activity are summarized. The amino acid sequences of human, bovine, rat and murine IF(1) are compared and domains and residues implicated in IF(1) function examined. Defining the minimal inhibitory sequence of IF(1) and the role of conserved histidines and conformational changes using peptides or recombinant IF(1) is reviewed. Luft's disease, a mitochondrial myopathy where IF(1) is absent, is described with respect to IF(1) relevance to mitochondrial bioenergetics and clinical observations. The possible pathophysiological role of IF(1) in conserving ATP under conditions where cells experience oxygen deprivation (tumor growth, myocardial ischemia) is evaluated. Finally, studies attempting to correlate IF(1) activity to ATP conservation in myocardial ischemic preconditioning are compared.

Outer mitochondrial membrane permeability can regulate coupled respiration and cell survival

Coupled cellular respiration requires that ATP and ADP be efficiently exchanged between the cytosol and the mitochondrial matrix. When growth factors are withdrawn from dependent cells, metabolism is disrupted by a defect in ATP/ADP exchange across the mitochondrial membranes. Unexpectedly, we find that this defect results from loss of outer mitochondrial membrane permeability to metabolic anions. This decrease in anion permeability correlates with the changes in conductance properties that accompany closure of the voltage-dependent anion channel (also known as mitochondrial porin). Loss of outer membrane permeability (i) results in the accumulation of stored metabolic energy within the intermembrane space in the form of creatine phosphate, (ii) is prevented by the outer mitochondrial membrane proteins Bcl-x(L) and Bcl-2, and (iii) can be reversed by growth factor readdition. If outer membrane impermeability persists, the disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis culminates in loss of outer mitochondrial membrane integrity, cytochrome c redistribution, and apoptosis. The recognition that outer membrane permeability is regulated under physiological conditions has important implications for the understanding of bioenergetics and cell survival.

Drug delivery to mitochondria: the key to mitochondrial medicine

The major function of mitochondria in human cells is to provide ATP by oxidative phosphorylation. However, mitochondria have many other roles including the modulation of intracellular calcium concentration and the regulation of apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, the mitochondrial respiratory chain is a major source of damaging free radicals. Consequently, mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to a number of human diseases, ranging from neurodegenerative diseases and ischaemia-reperfusion injury to obesity and diabetes. In addition, mutations to nuclear or mitochondrial DNA cause a number of human diseases. Therefore, strategies to prevent mitochondrial damage or to manipulate mitochondrial function in clinically useful ways may provide new therapies for a range of human disorders. Here we outline why mitochondria are a potentially important target for drug delivery and discuss how to deliver bioactive molecules selectively to mitochondria within cells.

The symbiotically essential cbb(3)-type oxidase of Bradyrhizobium japonicum is a proton pump

Purified cbb(3)-type oxidase of Bradyrhizobium japonicum was reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles. Tight vesicles were obtained as shown by the disturbance of deltapH with CCCP and the membrane potential with valinomycin, which led to a six-fold increase in cytochrome c oxidase activity. The vesicles were thus suitable for proton translocation experiments. In the presence of valinomycin, a pulse with reduced cytochrome c caused an acidification with a subsequent alkalinization, whereas the same pulse caused only an alkalinization in the presence of valinomycin plus CCCP. We conclude that the cbb(3)-type oxidase of B. japonicum is a proton pump.

Mitochondria and skin disease

In addition to the 3 billion base pair nuclear genome, each human cell contains thousands of copies of a small, 16.5 kb circular molecule of double stranded DNA: mitochondria have their own DNA (mtDNA) which generally accounts for only 1% of the total cellular nucleic acid content. Therefore why should anyone, particularly in the field of dermatology, have an interest in this cytoplasmic organelle and its DNA? This review will address this question; there are three principle reasons: (i) mitochondria have a crucial role both in energy production and the viability of the cell and recently mitochondria have been implicated in programmed cell death (apoptosis). Although much smaller than the nuclear genome, mtDNA is equally important. MtDNA defects and the resulting mitochondrial dysfunction is an important contributor to human degenerative diseases, ageing and cancer; (ii) mtDNA is a significant target of ultraviolet radiation and current work shows that it may be useful as a candidate biomarker of cumulative exposure in skin; and (iii) there is a broad spectrum of skin manifestations that are signs of mitochondrial disorders; in addition, the frequency of skin findings in these syndromes is probably under-reported.

Mitochondrial function in flying honeybees (Apis mellifera): respiratory chain enzymes and electron flow from complex III to oxygen

The biochemical bases for the high mass-specific metabolic rates of flying insects remain poorly understood. To gain insights into mitochondrial function during flight, metabolic rates of individual flying honeybees were measured using respirometry, and their thoracic muscles were fixed for electron microscopy. Mitochondrial volume densities and cristae surface densities, combined with biochemical data concerning cytochrome content per unit mass, were used to estimate respiratory chain enzyme densities per unit cristae surface area. Despite the high content of respiratory enzymes per unit muscle mass, these are accommodated by abundant mitochondria and high cristae surface densities such that enzyme densities per unit cristae surface area are similar to those found in mammalian muscle and liver. These results support the idea that a unit area of mitochondrial inner membrane constitutes an invariant structural unit. Rates of O(2) consumption per unit cristae surface area are much higher than those estimated in mammals as a consequence of higher enzyme turnover rates (electron transfer rates per enzyme molecule) during flight. Cytochrome c oxidase, in particular, operates close to its maximum catalytic capacity (k(cat)). Thus, high flux rates are achieved via (i) high respiratory enzyme content per unit muscle mass and (ii) the operation of these enzymes at high fractional velocities.

Secondary carnitine deficiency and impaired docosahexaenoic (22:6n-3) acid synthesis: a common denominator in the pathophysiology of diseases of oxidative phosphorylation and beta-oxidation

A critical analysis of the literature of mitochondrial disorders reveals that genetic diseases of oxidative phosphorylation are often associated with impaired beta-oxidation, and vice versa, and preferentially affect brain, retina, heart and skeletal muscle, tissues which depend on docosahexaenoic (22:6n-3)-containing phospholipids for functionality. Evidence suggests that an increased NADH/NAD(+) ratio generated by reduced flux through the respiratory chain inhibits beta-oxidation, producing secondary carnitine deficiency while increasing reactive oxygen species and depleting alpha-tocopherol (alpha-TOC). These events result in impairment of the recently elucidated mitochondrial pathway for synthesis of 22:6n-3-containing phospholipids, since carnitine and alpha-TOC are involved in their biosynthesis. Therapeutic supplementation with 22:6n-3 and alpha-TOC is suggested.

Simple redox-linked proton-transfer design: new insights from structures of quinol-fumarate reductase

The mitochondrial bioenergetics field has experienced an exciting breakthrough with the recent structure determination of several key membrane complexes. The latest addition to this line of structures, that of quinol-fumarate reductase, provides new insights into the mechanism of energy transduction.

Sulfite and membrane energization induce two different active states of the Paracoccus denitrificans F0F1-ATPase

Activation of the latent ATPase activity of inside-out vesicles from plasma membranes of Paracoccus denitrificans was studied. Several factors were found to induce activation: heat, membrane energization by succinate oxidation, methanol, oxyanions (sulfite, phosphate, arsenate, bicarbonate) and limited proteolysis with trypsin. Among the oxyanions, sulfite induced the higher increase in ATPase activity. Sulfite functioned as a nonessential activator that slightly modified the affinity for ATP and increased notoriously the Vmax. There was a competitive effect between sulfite, bicarbonate and phosphate for ATPase activation; their similar chemical geometry suggests that these oxyanions have a common binding site on the enzyme. Dithiothreitol did not affect the ATPase activity. ATPase activation by sulfite was decreased by uncoupler, enhanced by trypsin and inhibited by ADP, oligomycin and venturicidin. In contrast, activation induced by succinate was less sensitive to ADP, oligomycin, venturicidin and trypsin. It is proposed that the active states induced by sulfite and succinate reflect two conformations of the enzyme, in which the inhibitory subunit epsilon is differently exposed to trypsin.

Voltammetry of a flavocytochrome c(3): the lowest potential heme modulates fumarate reduction rates

Iron-induced flavocytochrome c(3), Ifc(3), from Shewanella frigidimarina NCIMB400, derivatized with a 2-pyridyl disulfide label, self-assembles on gold electrodes as a functional array whose fumarate reductase activity as viewed by direct electrochemistry is indistinguishable from that of Ifc(3) adsorbed on gold or graphite electrodes. The enhanced stability of the labeled protein's array permits analysis at a rotating electrode and limiting catalytic currents fit well to a Michaelis-Menten description of enzyme kinetics with K(M) = 56 +/- 20 microM, pH 7.5, comparable to that obtained in solution assays. At fumarate concentrations above 145 microM cyclic voltammetry shows the catalytic response to contain two features. The position and width of the lower potential component centered on -290 mV and corresponding to a one-electron wave implicates the oxidation state of the lowest potential heme of Ifc(3) as a defining feature in the mechanism of fumarate reduction at high turnover rates. We propose the operation of dual pathways for electron transfer to the active site of Ifc(3) with the lowest potential heme acting as an electron relay on one of these pathways.

Structure of fumarate reductase from Wolinella succinogenes at 2.2 A resolution

Fumarate reductase couples the reduction of fumarate to succinate to the oxidation of quinol to quinone, in a reaction opposite to that catalysed by the related complex II of the respiratory chain (succinate dehydrogenase). Here we describe the crystal structure at 2.2 A resolution of the three protein subunits containing fumarate reductase from the anaerobic bacterium Wolinella succinogenes. Subunit A contains the site of fumarate reduction and a covalently bound flavin adenine dinucleotide prosthetic group. Subunit B contains three iron-sulphur centres. The menaquinol-oxidizing subunit C consists of five membrane-spanning, primarily helical segments and binds two haem b molecules. On the basis of the structure, we propose a pathway of electron transfer from the dihaem cytochrome b to the site of fumarate reduction and a mechanism of fumarate reduction. The relative orientations of the soluble and membrane-embedded subunits of succinate:quinone oxidoreductases appear to be unique.

Mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders and the liver

Mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders are an established cause of liver failure in early childhood but they are probably under-diagnosed, partly due to under-recognition and partly due to the difficulty of investigation. It is particularly important to look for mitochondrial disorders if the liver disease presents with hypoglycaemia and lactic acidaemia or if it is accompanied by neurological, muscle or renal tubular abnormalities. Respiratory chain defects have been demonstrated in a number of patients who die of liver failure following severe epilepsy; this includes at least some cases of Alpers syndrome or 'progressive neuronal degeneration of childhood'. In mitochondrial liver disease, histology usually shows steatosis, often accompanied by fibrosis, cholestasis and loss of hepatocytes. Unless the clinical picture suggests a particular syndrome, such as Pearson syndrome, biochemical assays and histochemistry should be the initial investigations. Ideally, investigations should be carried out on liver as well as more standard tissues, such as muscle, since defects can be tissue-specific. Nuclear defects and mtDNA point mutations are probably responsible for many cases of mitochondrial liver disease but, as yet, the only identified molecular abnormalities are mtDNA rearrangements and mtDNA depletion. Treatment of mitochondrial liver disease is unsatisfactory. If the disease is confined to the liver, transplantation may be appropriate but in several patients transplantation has been followed by the appearance of disease in other organs, particularly the brain.

Structure of the Escherichia coli fumarate reductase respiratory complex

The integral membrane protein fumarate reductase catalyzes the final step of anaerobic respiration when fumarate is the terminal electron acceptor. The homologous enzyme succinate dehydrogenase also plays a prominent role in cellular energetics as a member of the Krebs cycle and as complex II of the aerobic respiratory chain. Fumarate reductase consists of four subunits that contain a covalently linked flavin adenine dinucleotide, three different iron-sulfur clusters, and at least two quinones. The crystal structure of intact fumarate reductase has been solved at 3.3 angstrom resolution and demonstrates that the cofactors are arranged in a nearly linear manner from the membrane-bound quinone to the active site flavin. Although fumarate reductase is not associated with any proton-pumping function, the two quinones are positioned on opposite sides of the membrane in an arrangement similar to that of the Q-cycle organization observed for cytochrome bc1.

Mitochondrial physiology and pathology; concepts of programmed death of organelles, cells and organisms

The review summarizes the present state of our knowledge concerning alternative functions of mitochondria, namely energy conservation in forms of protonic potential and ATP, thermoregulatory energy dissipation as heat, production of useful substances, decomposition of harmful substances, control of cellular processes. The recent progress in understanding of some mitochondrion-linked pathologies is described. The role of reactive oxygen species in these processes is stressed. Possible mechanisms of programmed death of mitochondrion (mitoptosis), cell (apoptosis) and organism (phenoptosis) are considered. A concept is put forward assuming that mitoptosis is involved in some types of apoptosis whereas apoptosis can be a part of a phenoptotic cascade. It is hypothesized that septic shock, as well as the stress-induced brain and heart ischemic diseases and cancer, exemplify mechanisms of phenoptosis purifying population, community of organisms or kin from dangerous or useless individuals.