Spermidine and spermine stimulate the transport of the precursor of ornithine carbamoyltransferase into rat liver mitochondria

Spermine cycling in mitochondria is mediated by adenine nucleotide translocase activity: mechanism and pathophysiological implications

Spermine, besides to be transported in mitochondria by an energy dependent electrophoretic mechanism, can be also released by two different mechanisms. The first one is induced in deenergizing conditions by FCCP or antimycin A and it is mediated by an electroneutral exchange spermine protons. The second one takes place in energizing conditions during the activity of the adenine nucleotide translocase and is mediated by an electroneutral symport mechanism involving the efflux in co-transport of spermine and phosphate and the exchange of exogenous ADP with endogenous ATP. The triggering of this mechanism permits an alternating cycling of spermine across the mitochondrial membrane, that is spermine is transported or released by energized mitochondria in the absence or presence of ATP synthesis, respectively. The physiological implications of this cycling of spermine are related to the induction or prevention of mitochondrial permeability transition and, consequently, on apoptosis or its prevention.

Free radical scavenging action of the natural polyamine spermine in rat liver mitochondria

The isoflavonoid genistein, the cyclic triterpene glycyrrhetinic acid, and salicylate induce mitochondrial swelling and loss of membrane potential (Delta Psi) in rat liver mitochondria (RLM). These effects are Ca(2+)-dependent and are prevented by cyclosporin A and bongkrekik acid, classic inhibitors of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT). This membrane permeabilization is also inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, butylhydroxytoluene, and mannitol. The above-mentioned pro-oxidants also induce an increase in O(2) consumption and H(2)O(2) generation and the oxidation of sulfhydryl groups, glutathione, and pyridine nucleotides. All these observations are indicative of the induction of MPT mediated by oxidative stress. At concentrations similar to those present in the cell, spermine can prevent swelling and Delta Psi collapse, that is, MPT induction. Spermine, by acting as a free radical scavenger, in the absence of Ca(2+) inhibits H(2)O(2) production and maintains glutathione and sulfhydryl groups at normal reduced level, so that the critical thiols responsible for pore opening are also consequently prevented from being oxidized. Spermine also protects RLM under conditions of accentuated thiol and glutathione oxidation, lipid peroxidation, and protein oxidation, suggesting that its action takes place by scavenging the hydroxyl radical.

The effects of methylglyoxal-bis(guanylhydrazone) on spermine binding and transport in liver mitochondria

This study evaluated the effect of the anticancer drug methylglyoxal-bis(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG) on the binding of the polyamine spermine to the mitochondrial membrane and its transport into the inner compartment of this organelle. Spermine binding was studied by applying a new thermodynamic treatment of ligand-receptor interactions (Di Noto et al., Macromol Theory Simul 5: 165-181, 1996). Results showed that MGBG inhibited the binding of spermine to the site competent for the first step in polyamine transport; the interaction of spermine with this site, termed S1, also mediates the inhibitory effect of the polyamine on the mitochondrial permeability transition (Dalla Via et al., Biochim Biophys Acta 1284: 247-252, 1996). In the presence of 1 mM MGBG, the binding capacity and affinity of this site were reduced by about 2.6-fold; on the contrary, the binding capacity of the S2 site, which is most likely responsible for the internalization of cytoplasmic proteins (see Dalla Via et al., reference cited above), increased by about 1.3-fold, and its binding affinity remained unaffected. MGBG also inhibited the initial rate of spermine transport in a dose-dependent manner by establishing apparently sigmoidal kinetics. Consequently, the total extent of spermine accumulation inside mitochondria was inhibited. This inhibition in transport seems to reflect a conformational change at the level of the channel protein constituting the polyamine transport system, rather than competitive inhibition at the inner active site of the channel, thereby excluding the possibility that the polyamine and drug use the same transport pathway. Furthermore, it is suggested that, in the presence of MGBG, the S2 site is able to participate in residual spermine transport. MGBG also strongly inhibits deltapH-dependent spermine efflux, resulting in a complete block in the bidirectional flux of the polyamine and its sequestration inside the matrix space. The effects of MGBG on spermine accumulation are consistent with in vivo disruption of the regulator of energy metabolism and replication of the mitochondrial genome.

Role of polyamines in the transport in vitro of the precursor of ornithine transcarbamylase

Polyamines induce the transport in vitro of the rat liver precursor of ornithine transcarbamylase (pOTC) into isolated rat liver mitochondria. The accumulation of this precursor at the level of binding to the mitochondrial surface has allowed us to establish that polyamines are involved in the interaction of the precursor with the mitochondrial surface. Transport of a chimeric protein having the signal sequence of pOTC fused to a fragment of the cytosolic protein human arginosuccinate lyase was also induced by polyamines. The sensitivity of the pOTC synthesized in vitro and of the chimeric protein to proteinases decreases in the presence of polyamines. This result suggests that polyamines may play a role in modulating the folding of precursors to favour their binding to mitochondria.

In vitro transport of ornithine carbamoyltransferase precursor into rat liver mitochondria using a more homologous medium

The precursor of ornithine carbamoyltransferase can be transported in vitro into rat liver mitochondria using the postmitochondrial supernatant from rat liver, a more homologous medium than the commonly used rabbit reticulocyte lysate. The transport of the precursor in the case of reticulocyte lysate requires a standard translation mixture. In the presence of the postmitochondrial supernatant the same is true. However, when the components of the translation mixture were added individually to the postmitochondrial supernatant, it was found that spermidine or spermine, at physiological concentrations, sufficed for the transport of the precursor of ornithine carbamoyltransferase. The activity of the postmitochondrial supernatant was inactivated by trypsin and slightly decreased by RNase treatment; it was not lost by dialysis or by heating at 100 degrees C.

Polyamines are sufficient to drive the transport of the precursor of ornithine carbamoyltransferase into rat liver mitochondria: possible effect on mitochondrial membranes

The polyamines spermidine, spermine and putrescine, by themselves, at physiological concentrations, induce the transport of the precursor of ornithine carbamoyltransferase into isolated rat liver mitochondria. The presence of polyamines in the transport medium results in the approach of both mitochondrial membranes, suggesting a possible role of these molecules in the transport of the precursor of ornithine carbamoyltransferase into mitochondria, by the formation and/or stabilization of mitochondrial structures involved in the transport system.