Studies on the nature of the high-affinity trialkyltin binding site of rat liver mitochondria

Prodigiosins uncouple lysosomal vacuolar-type ATPase through promotion of H+/Cl- symport

We reported previously [Kataoka, Muroi, Ohkuma, Waritani, Magae, Takatsuki, Kondo, Yamasaki and Nagai (1995) FEBS Lett. 359, 53-59] that prodigiosin 25-C (one of the red pigments of the prodigiosin group produced by micro-organisms like Streptomyces and Serratia) uncoupled vacuolar H+-ATPase, inhibited vacuolar acidification and affected glycoprotein processing. In the present study we show that prodigiosin, metacycloprodigiosin and prodigiosin 25-C, all raise intralysosomal pH through inhibition of lysosomal acidification driven by vacuolar-type (V-)ATPase without inhibiting ATP hydrolysis in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 values of 30-120 pmol/mg of protein. The inhibition against lysosomal acidification was quick and reversible, showing kinetics of simple non-competitive (for ATP) inhibition. However, the prodigiosins neither raised the internal pH of isolated lysosomes nor showed ionophoric activity against H+ or K+ at concentrations where they strongly inhibited lysosomal acidification. They required Cl- for their acidification inhibitory activity even when driven in the presence of K+ and valinomycin, suggesting that their target is not anion (chloride) channel(s). In fact, the prodigiosins inhibited acidification of proteoliposomes devoid of anion channels that were reconstituted from lysosomal vacuolar-type (V-)ATPase and Escherichia coli phospholipids. However, they did not inhibit the formation of an inside-positive membrane potential driven by lysosomal V-ATPase. Instead, they caused quick reversal of acidified pH driven by lysosomal V-ATPase and, in acidic buffer, produced quick acidification of lysosomal pH, both only in the presence of Cl-. In addition, they induced swelling of liposomes and erythrocytes in iso-osmotic ammonium salt of chloride but not of gluconate, suggesting the promotion of Cl- entry by prodigiosins. These results suggest that prodigiosins facilitate the symport of H+ with Cl- (or exchange of OH- with Cl-) through lysosomal membranes, resulting in uncoupling of vacuolar H+-ATPase.

A 119Sn Mössbauer spectroscopic study on the interaction of dimethyltin (IV) derivatives with rat hemoglobin, and of related model systems in aqueous solution

In the context of a study of the molecular basis of the antileukemia (murine) activity of diorganotin (IV) compounds, the interaction with rat hemoglobin (selected as a model protein) of the representative terms dimethyltin dichloride, dimethyltin glycylglycinate (Me2SnGlyGly), and dimethyltin L-cysteinate (Me2Sn-Cys) has been investigated by 119Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy. In order to possibly determine the reaction pathway, aqueous model systems in Hepes buffer at pH 7.4 were also considered. The structural characteristics of reactants and products were advanced on the basis of semiempirical calculations of Mössbauer nuclear quadrupole splitting parameters, delta E, by the point-charge model approach. In aqueous Hepes at pH 7.4, evidence was obtained for the formation of the five-coordinated species, trigonal bipyramidal type (tbp), Me2Sn(OH)2.Hepes(II), Me2Sn(OH)(GlyGly).Hepes(III), and Me2Sn(OH)Cys(IV) (see Fig. 1). Equatorial groups or atoms would be the Me radicals, as well as OH, N(peptide), and S(thiol), respectively. Hepes would coordinate to tin in axial position through the tertiary amino nitrogen, while cysteine would behave as a bidentate chelating agent, with an axially located amino group. Species (II), (III), and (IV) react with cysteine in aqueous Hepes at pH 7.4, yielding Me2Sn(OH)Cys(IV), as well as Me2SnCys2(V), where tin would be embedded into a tbp structure due to one cysteine probably chelating (equatorial S thiol and axial amino nitrogen), and one monodentate through S thiol. Species (II), (III), and (IV) react analogously with rat hemoglobin, primarily through the S thiol of a cysteine side chain, yielding pellets where the environment of tin could be tetrahedral, such as in Me2Sn(OH)(S thiol), (VI), and tetrahedral (IX) or tbp (V) in Me2Sn(Cys)(S thiol), where Cys would act either as chelating or monodentate. Further reaction of (VI) and (IX) could involve imidazole nitrogen atoms, N het, of histidine side chains, forming tetrahedral Me2Sn(S thiol)(N het), (VIII), or tbp Me2Sn(OH)(S thiol)(N het), (VII), and Me2Sn(Cys)(S thiol)(N het), (V) (see Figs. 1 and 5).

The tonoplast proton-translocating ATPase of higher plants as a third class of proton-pumps

Taken together, all the data reported recently in the literature suggest that tonoplast ATPase belongs to a new class of proton pumps. To date, the most studied system is the proton-pumping ATPase from the tonoplast of Hevea latex. Its main characteristics are presented. It resembles the mitochondrial ATPase in its specificity, its substrate affinity, and its sensitivity to different inhibitors. However, for some aspects, it resembles the plasma membrane system in its response to other inhibitors tested (quercetin for example). It differs from both ATPases in its sensitivity to nitrate as well as by its molecular structure, i.e. a complex exhibiting a least 4 or 5 polypeptides. These results favor the existence of a third class of proton pumps, intermediate between the F1F0-class and the E1E2-class.

Toxicity of organotin compounds for polymorphonuclear leukocytes: the effect on phagocytosis and exocytosis

Phagocytosis and concomitant release of enzymes by rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are inhibited by micromolar concentrations of triphenyltin and tributyltin; inhibition by triethyltin occurs at higher concentrations. Chemotactic peptide-induced exocytosis is inhibited at the same concentrations as phagocytosis. Tributyltin causes cell lysis at slightly higher concentrations as required for inhibition of phagocytosis and exocytosis. The organotin compounds have little effect on ATP level in PMNs, which makes an effect on metabolic energy providing processes unlikely. The increase of Ca2+-permeability of the plasma membrane, induced by chemotactic peptide, is inhibited by the organotin compounds. Inhibition of exocytosis by triphenyltin can be counteracted by a number of sulfhydryl compounds. The results suggest that the organotin compounds interfere with PMN function in an early phase of cell activation, where all functions have a common pathway, and where vulnerable sulfhydryl groups play a pivotal role.

Inhibitor studies with adenohypophyseal granule membrane ATPase. Evidence for a membrane environment which modulates sensitivity to inhibitors

The limiting membranes of pituitary growth hormone and prolactin secretory granules contain a Mg2+-ATPase sensitive to anions. This enzyme is in many ways similar to mitochondrial ATPase. The enzyme was potently inhibited by oligomycin (Ki 6.5 X 10(-9) M), and was much more sensitive to the inhibitor than pituitary mitochondrial ATPase (Ki 2.7 X 10(-7) M). In contrast, the enzyme activity of intact secretory granules was only sparingly inhibited by oligomycin (maximal inhibition close to 30% at 5 X 10(-4) M). However, oligomycin (5 microM) did diminish to basal levels the enhanced granule ATPase activity observed in the presence of a stimulatory anion (25 mM sodium sulfite). Other compounds known to inhibit the proton translocating mitochondrial ATPase were also tested for their ability to inhibit the secretory granule ATPase. A similar pattern of limited inhibition in granules and greater sensitivity in isolated membranes was seen with the inhibitors N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and efrapeptin. In contrast, tri-n-butyltin chloride was a potent inhibitor of the ATPase of intact granules, and the susceptibility of the enzyme to inhibition by this compound was less after isolation of membranes. These observations suggest that pituitary secretory granule membrane ATPase may have a proton pumping function similar to that of the mitochondrial enzyme. In addition, the data imply that the inhibitor binding site(s) may be masked, inaccessible, or ineffective in intact granules, but exposed (or activated) in isolated membranes. The greater sensitivity of granule ATPase to tri-n-butyltin chloride, in contrast to the greater sensitivity of membrane ATPase to the other inhibitors, indicates that the tin compound may be effective at a membrane site(s) distinct from the others, or that the mechanism of inhibition is different.

Effect of thiol reagents on the proton conductivity of the H+-ATPase of mitochondria

The role of thiol groups in the proton conduction by the H+-ATPase of mitochondria is examined. A detailed kinetic analysis of the effect of arsenite and N-ethylmaleimide on the anaerobic relaxation of the proton gradient set up by respiration in 'inside-out' submitochondrial particles from beef-heart has been carried out. Arsenite, which reacts with vicinal dithiols, is shown to enhance the proton conductivity of the H+-ATPase. This effect is exerted on the F0 moiety of the complex and apparently mimics and is, in fact, favoured by a state of high proton conductivity induced in the complex by the respiratory delta mu H+. N-Ethylmaleimide (MalNEt), which is a permeant monothiol blocking reagent, appears to attack critical -SH groups in a reaction leading to inhibition of the proton conductivity of the H+-ATPase. Also the inhibitory action of MalNEt on proton conduction is exerted on the F0 moiety of the H+-ATPase. Whilst the stimulatory effect of arsenite develops rapidly, the inhibitory action of MalNEt is sluggish and takes more than 10 min to fully develop. This and other kinetic characteristics, as well a partial additivity of the inhibition by MalNEt with that by oligomycin, indicate that the inhibitory action of MalNEt is associated to a substantial conformational transition in F0. Differences in the mechanism of inhibition of proton conduction by MalNEt and triphenyltin are also presented.

Studies on the mechanism of action of triphenyltin on proton conduction by the H+-ATPase of mitochondria

A study is presented of the action of triphenyltin on the kinetics of the anaerobic relaxation of the proton gradient set up by respiration in various type of 'inside-out' inner membrane vesicles obtained by exposure of beef-heart mitochondria to ultrasonic energy. Triphenyltin is shown to act as a powerful inhibitor of the proton conductivity of the H+-ATPase. The inhibition persists after removal of the ATPase protein inhibitor, F1 and the oligomycin-sensitivity conferral protein (OSCP) from the particles. The inhibitory effect of triphenyltin is exerted, as in the case of oligomycin and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, on the F0 moiety of the ATPase complex. Comparison of the characteristics of the effect of triphenyltin on proton translocation in chloride and nitrate media shows that the inhibition of passive proton conductivity studied here is unrelated to the hydroxide/anion exchange induced by the organotin. Lack of additivity of the inhibition of H+ conduction by triphenyltin with that exerted by oligomycin and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and the kinetic pattern of the effect of triphenyltin show that the mechanism of action of the organotin is different from that of the other two inhibitors. The relevance of the results obtained with respect to the subunit location and chemical nature of the reaction site of triphenyltin in the H+-ATPase complex is discussed.