Intermediate channeling on the trifunctional beta-oxidation complex from pig heart mitochondria

Structural basis for different membrane-binding properties of E. coli anaerobic and human mitochondrial β-oxidation trifunctional enzymes

Facultative anaerobic bacteria such as Escherichia coli have two α2β2 heterotetrameric trifunctional enzymes (TFE), catalyzing the last three steps of the β-oxidation cycle: soluble aerobic TFE (EcTFE) and membrane-associated anaerobic TFE (anEcTFE), closely related to the human mitochondrial TFE (HsTFE). The cryo-EM structure of anEcTFE and crystal structures of anEcTFE-α show that the overall assembly of anEcTFE and HsTFE is similar. However, their membrane-binding properties differ considerably. The shorter A5-H7 and H8 regions of anEcTFE-α result in weaker α-β as well as α-membrane interactions, respectively. The protruding H-H region of anEcTFE-β is therefore more critical for membrane-association. Mutational studies also show that this region is important for the stability of the anEcTFE-β dimer and anEcTFE heterotetramer. The fatty acyl tail binding tunnel of the anEcTFE-α hydratase domain, as in HsTFE-α, is wider than in EcTFE-α, accommodating longer fatty acyl tails, in good agreement with their respective substrate specificities.

Complementary substrate specificity and distinct quaternary assembly of the Escherichia coli aerobic and anaerobic β-oxidation trifunctional enzyme complexes

The trifunctional enzyme (TFE) catalyzes the last three steps of the fatty acid β-oxidation cycle. Two TFEs are present in Escherichia coli, EcTFE and anEcTFE. EcTFE is expressed only under aerobic conditions, whereas anEcTFE is expressed also under anaerobic conditions, with nitrate or fumarate as the ultimate electron acceptor. The anEcTFE subunits have higher sequence identity with the human mitochondrial TFE (HsTFE) than with the soluble EcTFE. Like HsTFE, here it is found that anEcTFE is a membrane-bound complex. Systematic enzyme kinetic studies show that anEcTFE has a preference for medium- and long-chain enoyl-CoAs, similar to HsTFE, whereas EcTFE prefers short chain enoyl-CoA substrates. The biophysical characterization of anEcTFE and EcTFE shows that EcTFE is heterotetrameric, whereas anEcTFE is purified as a complex of two heterotetrameric units, like HsTFE. The tetrameric assembly of anEcTFE resembles the HsTFE tetramer, although the arrangement of the two anEcTFE tetramers in the octamer is different from the HsTFE octamer. These studies demonstrate that EcTFE and anEcTFE have complementary substrate specificities, allowing for complete degradation of long-chain enoyl-CoAs under aerobic conditions. The new data agree with the notion that anEcTFE and HsTFE are evolutionary closely related, whereas EcTFE belongs to a separate subfamily.

Crystal structure of human mitochondrial trifunctional protein, a fatty acid β-oxidation metabolon

Membrane-bound mitochondrial trifunctional protein (TFP) catalyzes β-oxidation of long chain fatty acyl-CoAs, employing 2-enoyl-CoA hydratase (ECH), 3-hydroxyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HAD), and 3-ketothiolase (KT) activities consecutively. Inherited deficiency of TFP is a recessive genetic disease, manifesting in hypoketotic hypoglycemia, cardiomyopathy, and sudden death. We have determined the crystal structure of human TFP at 3.6-Å resolution. The biological unit of the protein is α₂β₂ The overall structure of the heterotetramer is the same as that observed by cryo-EM methods. The two β-subunits make a tightly bound homodimer at the center, and two α-subunits are bound to each side of the β₂ dimer, creating an arc, which binds on its concave side to the mitochondrial innermembrane. The catalytic residues in all three active sites are arranged similarly to those of the corresponding, soluble monofunctional enzymes. A structure-based, substrate channeling pathway from the ECH active site to the HAD and KT sites is proposed. The passage from the ECH site to the HAD site is similar to those found in the two bacterial TFPs. However, the passage from the HAD site to the KT site is unique in that the acyl-CoA intermediate can be transferred between the two sites by passing along the mitochondrial inner membrane using the hydrophobic nature of the acyl chain. The 3'-AMP-PPi moiety is guided by the positively charged residues located along the "ceiling" of the channel, suggesting that membrane integrity is an essential part of the channel and is required for the activity of the enzyme.

Structure of mycobacterial β-oxidation trifunctional enzyme reveals its altered assembly and putative substrate channeling pathway

The incidence of tuberculosis is increasing due to the appearance of new drug-resistant variants. A thorough understanding of the disease organism is essential in order to create more effective drugs. In an attempt to understand better the poorly studied lipid metabolism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), we identified and characterized its fatty acid β-oxidation complex (trifunctional enzyme (TFE)). TFE is an α(2)β(2) complex consisting of two types of polypeptides catalyzing three of the four reactions of the β-oxidation of fatty acids. The kinetic constants (k(cat) and K(m)) show that the complexed α chain is more active than the individual α chain. Crystal structures of Mtb TFE (mtTFE) reveal that the quaternary assembly is strikingly different from the already known Pseudomonas fragi TFE (pfTFE) assembly due to the presence of a helical insertion (LA5) in the mtTFE-β subunit. This helical insertion prevents the pfTFE mode of assembly, as it would clash with helix H9A of the TFE-α chain. The mtTFE assembly appears to be more rigid and results in a different substrate channeling path between the α and the β subunits. Structural comparisons suggest that the mtTFE active sites can accommodate bulkier fatty acyl chains than in pfTFE. Although another thiolase (FadA2), more closely related to human TFE-β/thiolase, is present in the Mtb genome, it does not form a complex with mtTFE-α. Extensive phylogenetic analyses show that there are at least four TFE subfamilies. Our studies highlight the molecular properties of mtTFE, significantly extending the structural knowledge on this type of very interesting multifunctional enzymes.

Human trifunctional protein alpha links cardiolipin remodeling to beta-oxidation

Cardiolipin (CL) is a mitochondrial membrane phospholipid which plays a key role in apoptosis and supports mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes involved in the generation of ATP. In order to facilitate its role CL must be remodeled with appropriate fatty acids. We previously identified a human monolysocardiolipin acyltransferase activity which remodels CL via acylation of monolysocardiolipin (MLCL) to CL and was identical to the alpha subunit of trifunctional protein (αTFP) lacking the first 227 amino acids. Full length αTFP is an enzyme that plays a prominent role in mitochondrial β-oxidation, and in this study we assessed the role, if any, which this metabolic enzyme plays in the remodeling of CL. Purified human recombinant αTFP exhibited acyl-CoA acyltransferase activity in the acylation of MLCL to CL with linoleoyl-CoA, oleoyl-CoA and palmitoyl-CoA as substrates. Expression of αTFP increased radioactive linoleate or oleate or palmitate incorporation into CL in HeLa cells. Expression of αTFP in Barth Syndrome lymphoblasts, which exhibit reduced tetralinoleoyl-CL, elevated linoleoyl-CoA acylation of MLCL to CL in vitro, increased mitochondrial respiratory Complex proteins and increased linoleate-containing species of CL. Knock down of αTFP in Barth Syndrome lymphoblasts resulted in greater accumulation of MLCL than those with normal αTFP levels. The results clearly indicate that the human αTFP exhibits MLCL acyltransferase activity for the resynthesis of CL from MLCL and directly links an enzyme of mitochondrial β-oxidation to CL remodeling.

Structural and functional characterization of the recombinant human mitochondrial trifunctional protein

The α and β subunits of the human mitochondrial trifunctional protein (TFP), the multienzyme complex involved in fatty acid β-oxidation, were coexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity by nickel affinity chromatography. The resulting α/His-β construct was analyzed by gel filtration, sedimentation velocity, and electron microscopy, indicating a predominance of α(2)β(2) and α(4)β(4) complexes, with higher order oligomers. Electron microscopy indicated that the elementary species α(2)β(2) had overall structural similarity with its bacterial homologue. As shown by cosedimentation and surface plasmon resonance analyses, recombinant TFP interacted strongly with cardiolipin and phosphatidylcholine, suggesting that the natural complex associates with the inner mitochondrial membrane through direct interactions with phospholipids. Recombinant TFP displayed 2-enoyl-CoA hydratase (ECH), l-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HACD), and 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase (KACT) activities, and ECH and HACD each reached equilibrium when the downstream enzymes (HACD and KACT, respectively) were made inactive, indicating feed-back inhibition. The KACT activity was optimal at pH 9.5, sensitive to ionic strength, and inhibited at concentrations of its substrate 3-ketohexadecanoyl-CoA >5 μM. Its kinetic constants (k(cat) = 169 s(-1), K(m) = 4 μM) were consistent with those determined previously on a purified porcine TFP preparation. Using different assays, trimetazidine, an efficient antiaginal agent, had no significant inhibitory effect on any of the three enzymatic activities of the recombinant TFP preparation, in contrast with other reports. This study provides the first detailed structural and functional characterization of a recombinant human TFP preparation and opens the way to in-depth analyses through site-directed mutagenesis.

The multifunctional protein in peroxisomal beta-oxidation: structure and substrate specificity of the Arabidopsis thaliana protein MFP2

Plant fatty acids can be completely degraded within the peroxisomes. Fatty acid degradation plays a role in several plant processes including plant hormone synthesis and seed germination. Two multifunctional peroxisomal isozymes, MFP2 and AIM1, both with 2-trans-enoyl-CoA hydratase and l-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activities, function in mouse ear cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) peroxisomal beta-oxidation, where fatty acids are degraded by the sequential removal of two carbon units. A deficiency in either of the two isozymes gives rise to a different phenotype; the biochemical and molecular background for these differences is not known. Structure determination of Arabidopsis MFP2 revealed that plant peroxisomal MFPs can be grouped into two families, as defined by a specific pattern of amino acid residues in the flexible loop of the acyl-binding pocket of the 2-trans-enoyl-CoA hydratase domain. This could explain the differences in substrate preferences and specific biological functions of the two isozymes. The in vitro substrate preference profiles illustrate that the Arabidopsis AIM1 hydratase has a preference for short chain acyl-CoAs compared with the Arabidopsis MFP2 hydratase. Remarkably, neither of the two was able to catabolize enoyl-CoA substrates longer than 14 carbon atoms efficiently, suggesting the existence of an uncharacterized long chain enoyl-CoA hydratase in Arabidopsis peroxisomes.

Peroxisomal plant 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase structure and activity are regulated by a sensitive redox switch

The breakdown of fatty acids, performed by the beta-oxidation cycle, is crucial for plant germination and sustainability. beta-Oxidation involves four enzymatic reactions. The final step, in which a two-carbon unit is cleaved from the fatty acid, is performed by a 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase (KAT). The shortened fatty acid may then pass through the cycle again (until reaching acetoacetyl-CoA) or be directed to a different cellular function. Crystal structures of KAT from Arabidopsis thaliana and Helianthus annuus have been solved to 1.5 and 1.8 A resolution, respectively. Their dimeric structures are very similar and exhibit a typical thiolase-like fold; dimer formation and active site conformation appear in an open, active, reduced state. Using an interdisciplinary approach, we confirmed the potential of plant KATs to be regulated by the redox environment in the peroxisome within a physiological range. In addition, co-immunoprecipitation studies suggest an interaction between KAT and the multifunctional protein that is responsible for the preceding two steps in beta-oxidation, which would allow a route for substrate channeling. We suggest a model for this complex based on the bacterial system.

Identification of the human mitochondrial linoleoyl-coenzyme A monolysocardiolipin acyltransferase (MLCL AT-1)

Here we report the identification of a previously uncharacterized human protein as the human monolysocardiolipin acyltransferase-1 (MLCL AT-1). Pig liver mitochondria were treated with n-butyl alcohol followed by Q-Sepharose chromatography, preparative gel electrophoresis, cytidine diphosphate-1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol-Sepharose chromatography, and finally monolysocardiolipin-adriamycin-agarose affinity chromatography. Elution with either monolysocardiolipin or linoleoyl coenzyme A revealed a major band at 74 kDa with high specific activity (2,300 pmol/min/mg) for the acylation of monolysocardiolipin to cardiolipin using [1-(14)C]linoleoyl coenzyme A as substrate. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight-mass spectrometry analysis followed by search of the Mascot protein data base revealed peptide matches consistent with a 59-kDa protein identified as unknown human protein (GenBank(TM) protein accession number AAX93141; nucleotide accession number AC011742.3). The purified human recombinant MLCL AT-1 protein utilized linoleoyl coenzyme A > oleoyl coenzyme A > palmitoyl coenzyme A for the specific acylation of monolysocardiolipin to cardiolipin. Expression of MLCL AT-1 in HeLa cells increased mitochondrial monolysocardiolipin acyltransferase activity and [1-(14)C]linoleic acid incorporated into cardiolipin, whereas RNA interference knockdown of MLCL AT-1 in HeLa cells resulted in reduction in enzyme activity and [1-(14)C]linoleic acid incorporated into cardiolipin. In contrast, expression of MLCL AT-1 in HeLa cells did not alter [1-(14)C]oleic or [1-(14)C]palmitate incorporation into cardiolipin indicating in vivo specificity for the remodeling of cardiolipin with linoleate. Finally, expression of MLCL AT-1 in Barth syndrome lymphoblasts, which exhibit cardiolipin levels 20% that of normal lymphoblasts, increased mitochondrial monolysocardiolipin acyltransferase activity, [1-(14)C]linoleic acid incorporation into cardiolipin, cardiolipin mass, and succinate dehydrogenase (mitochondrial complex II) activity compared with mock-transfected Barth syndrome lymphoblasts. The results identify MLCL AT-1 as a human mitochondrial monolysocardiolipin acyltransferase involved in the remodeling of cardiolipin.

Thermal instability of compound variants of carnitine palmitoyltransferase II and impaired mitochondrial fuel utilization in influenza-associated encephalopathy

Influenza-associated encephalopathy (IAE) is characterized by persistent high fever, febrile convulsions, severe brain edema, and high mortality in otherwise apparently healthy individuals. We have reported that a large proportion of patients suffering from disabling or fatal IAE, with transiently elevated serum acylcarnitine during high fever, exhibit a thermolabile phenotype of compound homo-/heterozygous variants of carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT II, gene symbol CPT2). We characterized the enzymatic properties of five single and three compound CPT II variants in patients with IAE. The kinetic characteristics of WT and variant CPT IIs, expressed in COS-7 cells, indicated that the variants exert a dominant-negative effect on the homotetrameric protein of the enzyme. Among the variants, three compound variations found in patients with severe encephalopathy; [c.1055T>G (p.Phe352Cys); c.1102G>A (p.Val368Ile)], [c.1511C>T (p.Pro504Leu); c.1813G>C (p.Val605Leu)], and [c.1055T>G (p.Phe352Cys); c.1102G>A (p.Val368Ile); c.1813G>C (p.Val605Leu)], showed reduced activities, thermal instability, and short half-lives compared with the WT. Like other disease-causing mutant proteins, these variant proteins were poly-ubiquitinated and rapidly degraded by a lactacystin-sensitive proteasome pathway. COS-7 cells transfected with the compound variants had their fatty acid beta-oxidation decreased to 30-59% and intracellular ATP levels to 48-79%, and a marked reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential at 41 degrees C, compared with control cells transfected with WT at 37 degrees C. The unstable CPT II variants with decreased enzymatic activities may bring mitochondrial fuel utilization below the phenotypic threshold during high fever, and thus may play an important etiopathological role in the development of brain edema of IAE.

Characterization of mitochondrial trifunctional protein and its inactivation study for medicine development

Mitochondrial trifunctional protein (MTP) catalyzes three consecutive step reactions in the beta-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids, and plays important roles in control and regulation of the beta-oxidation. We overexpressed in E. coli, and purified the MTP as a Mistic fusion protein, which was found to be an alpha(2)beta(2) protein complex and characterized with kinetic studies. Trimetazidine, used for treating chronic stable angina, has been proposed to be an inhibitor of the beta-subunit. We found that a catalytic cysteine residue C105 was labeled by trimetazidine through MS/MS analysis of a trimetazidine-labeled peptide fragment obtained from pepsin digested beta-subunit inactivated by trimetazidine. The MTP beta-subunit was then comparatively studied with monofunctional 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase through sequence alignment, site-directed mutagenesis, characterization of variant enzymes with kinetic studies, and homology modeling. The results indicate that the catalytic residues of the MTP beta-subunit are positioned in the active site similarly to those of monofunctional 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase.

Transcriptomic analysis of the cardiac left ventricle in a rodent model of diabetic cardiomyopathy: molecular snapshot of a severe myocardial disease

Heart disease is the major cause of death in diabetes, a disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia and cardiovascular complications. Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is increasingly recognized as a major contributor to diastolic dysfunction and heart failure in diabetes, but its molecular basis has remained obscure, in part because of its multifactorial origins. Here we employed comparative transcriptomic methods with quantitative verification of selected transcripts by reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR to characterize the molecular basis of DCM in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes of 16-wk duration. Diabetes caused left ventricular disease that was accompanied by significant changes in the expression of 1,614 genes, 749 of which had functions assignable by Gene Ontology classification. Genes corresponding to proteins expressed in mitochondria accounted for a disproportionate number of those whose expression was significantly modified in DCM, consistent with the idea that the mitochondrion is a key target of the pathogenic processes that cause myocardial disease in diabetes. Diabetes also induced global perturbations in the expression of genes regulating cardiac fatty acid metabolism, whose dysfunction is likely to play a key role in the promotion of oxidative stress, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of diabetic myocardial disease. In particular, these data point to impaired regulation of mitochondrial beta-oxidation as central in the mechanisms that generate DCM pathogenesis. This study provides a comprehensive molecular snapshot of the processes leading to myocardial disease in diabetes.

Peroxisomal beta-oxidation--a metabolic pathway with multiple functions

Fatty acid degradation in most organisms occurs primarily via the beta-oxidation cycle. In mammals, beta-oxidation occurs in both mitochondria and peroxisomes, whereas plants and most fungi harbor the beta-oxidation cycle only in the peroxisomes. Although several of the enzymes participating in this pathway in both organelles are similar, some distinct physiological roles have been uncovered. Recent advances in the structural elucidation of numerous mammalian and yeast enzymes involved in beta-oxidation have shed light on the basis of the substrate specificity for several of them. Of particular interest is the structural organization and function of the type 1 and 2 multifunctional enzyme (MFE-1 and MFE-2), two enzymes evolutionarily distant yet catalyzing the same overall enzymatic reactions but via opposite stereochemistry. New data on the physiological roles of the various enzymes participating in beta-oxidation have been gathered through the analysis of knockout mutants in plants, yeast and animals, as well as by the use of polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis from beta-oxidation intermediates as a tool to study carbon flux through the pathway. In plants, both forward and reverse genetics performed on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana have revealed novel roles for beta-oxidation in the germination process that is independent of the generation of carbohydrates for growth, as well as in embryo and flower development, and the generation of the phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid and the signal molecule jasmonic acid.

Structural basis for channelling mechanism of a fatty acid beta-oxidation multienzyme complex

The atomic view of the active site coupling termed channelling is a major subject in molecular biology. We have determined two distinct crystal structures of the bacterial multienzyme complex that catalyzes the last three sequential reactions in the fatty acid beta-oxidation cycle. The alpha2beta2 heterotetrameric structure shows the uneven ring architecture, where all the catalytic centers of 2-enoyl-CoA hydratase (ECH), L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HACD) and 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase (KACT) face a large inner solvent region. The substrate, anchored through the 3'-phosphate ADP moiety, allows the fatty acid tail to pivot from the ECH to HACD active sites, and finally to the KACT active site. Coupling with striking domain rearrangements, the incorporation of the tail into the KACT cavity and the relocation of 3'-phosphate ADP bring the reactive C2-C3 bond to the correct position for cleavage. The alpha-helical linker specific for the multienzyme contributes to the pivoting center formation and the substrate transfer through its deformation. This channelling mechanism could be applied to other beta-oxidation multienzymes, as revealed from the homology model of the human mitochondrial trifunctional enzyme complex.

Mitochondrial beta-oxidation

Mitochondrial beta-oxidation is a complex pathway involving, in the case of saturated straight chain fatty acids of even carbon number, at least 16 proteins which are organized into two functional subdomains; one associated with the inner face of the inner mitochondrial membrane and the other in the matrix. Overall, the pathway is subject to intramitochondrial control at multiple sites. However, at least in the liver, carnitine palmitoyl transferase I exerts approximately 80% of control over pathway flux under normal conditions. Clearly, when one or more enzyme activities are attenuated because of a mutation, the major site of flux control will change.

Control of mitochondrial beta-oxidation flux

The control of mitochondrial beta-oxidation, including the delivery of acyl moieties from the plasma membrane to the mitochondrion, is reviewed. Control of beta-oxidation flux appears to be largely at the level of entry of acyl groups to mitochondria, but is also dependent on substrate supply. CPTI has much of the control of hepatic beta-oxidation flux, and probably exerts high control in intact muscle because of the high concentration of malonyl-CoA in vivo. beta-Oxidation flux can also be controlled by the redox state of NAD/NADH and ETF/ETFH(2). Control by [acetyl-CoA]/[CoASH] may also be significant, but it is probably via export of acyl groups by carnitine acylcarnitine translocase and CPT II rather than via accumulation of 3-ketoacyl-CoA esters. The sharing of control between CPTI and other enzymes allows for flexible regulation of metabolism and the ability to rapidly adapt beta-oxidation flux to differing requirements in different tissues.

Structural requirements for the binding of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to the 78 kDa gastrin binding protein

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit the proliferation of colorectal carcinoma cell lines in vitro and reduce the risk of colorectal carcinoma in vivo. The good correlation observed between the potency of NSAIDs as inhibitors of colorectal carcinoma cell proliferation and as antagonists of a 78 kDa gastrin binding protein (GBP) suggested that blockade of the GBP might contribute to the anti-proliferative effects of NSAIDs [G.S. Baldwin, V.J. Murphy, Z. Yang, T. Hashimoto, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 286 (1998) 1110-1114]. The most potent NSAID investigated was sulindac sulphide, which had an IC50 value of 40 microM. In order to investigate the structural requirements for binding to the GBP, 26 analogues of sulindac sulphide and sulindac sulphoxide were tested for their ability to inhibit the binding of iodinated gastrin to the GBP. Six of the analogues inhibited gastrin binding by more than 50% at a concentration of 1 mM. The IC50 values estimated by computer fitting of titration data were in the range of 280-940 microM. Comparison of the analogue structures suggests that a substituent with a carboxyl group is preferred in the R2 position. In addition the location of the NSAID binding site within the GBP structure was investigated. NSAIDs bound to both the N- and C-terminal halves of the GBP, and the affinities determined were similar to the values previously reported for the full-length GBP. The results reported herein represent the first step in the rational design of more potent GBP antagonists, some of which may be useful for the treatment of colorectal carcinoma.

The mechanism of inhibition of beta-oxidation by aspirin metabolites in skin fibroblasts from Reye's syndrome patients and controls

The effects of aspirin metabolites on beta-oxidation were studied in skin fibroblasts from eight typical Reye's syndrome (RS) patients and controls. RS patients' cells did not differ from controls in rates of palmitate oxidation or in the three component activities of the mitochondrial trifunctional enzyme (MTE), indicating no inherited beta-oxidation defect. Aspirin metabolites salicylate, hydroxyhippurate and gentisate, but not aspirin, directly inhibited palmitate oxidation in control and RS cells. RS cells were significantly more sensitive to inhibition than controls at 0.5 to 5 mM salicylate. Inhibition was concentration-dependent and reversible. Inhibition did not occur in fibroblasts lacking activity of the long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) activity of MTE. Salicylate was therefore inhibiting beta-oxidation at this step. Hydroxyhippurate and salicylate reversibly inhibited HAD activities in extracts of control and RS cells. Studies with pure short-chain HAD and LCHAD (MTE) showed hydroxyhippurate and salicylate were competitive inhibitors of the former but mixed (not competitive) inhibitors of the latter. Both compounds inhibited the combined, three-step, MTE reaction measured in the physiological direction. We conclude that (1) salicylate and hydroxyhippurate decrease beta-oxidation in intact cells by reversible inhibition of LCHAD activity of the MTE, and (2) beta-oxidation in RS cells is inherently more sensitive to inhibition by low concentrations of salicylate than controls.

Intermediates of myocardial mitochondrial beta-oxidation: possible channelling of NADH and of CoA esters

Adult rat heart mitochondria were isolated and incubated with [U-14C]hexadecanoyl-CoA or unlabelled hexadecanoyl-CoA. The accumulating CoA and carnitine esters and [NAD+]/[NADH] ratio were measured by HPLC or tandem mass spectrometry. Despite minimal changes in the intramitochondrial [NAD+]/[NADH] ratio, 2, 3-unsaturated and 3-hydroxyacyl esters were observed as well as saturated acyl-CoA and acylcarnitine esters. In addition to acetylcarnitine, significant amounts of butyryl-, hexanoyl-, octanoyl- and decanoylcarnitines were detected and measured. Rat myocardial beta-oxidation is subject to control at the level of 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase but this control is not due to a simple lack of oxidised NAD. We hypothesise a pool of NAD in contact between the trifunctional protein of beta-oxidation and complex I of the respiratory chain, the turnover of which is responsible for some of the control of beta-oxidation flux. In addition, short- and medium-chain acylcarnitine esters were detected whereas only small amounts of long-chain acylcarnitines were present. This may imply the presence of a mitochondrial carnitine octanoyl transferase or may reflect channelling of long-chain CoA esters so that they are not available for carnitine palmitoyl transferase II activity.

Control of mitochondrial beta-oxidation: sensitivity of the trifunctional protein to [NAD+]/[NADH] and [acetyl-CoA]/[CoA]

Isolated human mitochondrial trifunctional protein was incubated with 2-hexadecenoyl-CoA, CoA and NAD+ and the resultant CoA esters measured. Steady state with respect to the concentrations of the intermediates 3-hydroxyhexadecanoyl-CoA and 3-ketohexadecanoyl-CoA and the rate of formation of the product tetradecanoyl-CoA was reached within 4 min. Flux was greatly enhanced by the addition of Tween 20 (0.2% v/v) which stimulated 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase activity by over 7-fold. When 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase was not stimulated, 3-hydroxyhexadecanoyl-CoA was the prominent CoA ester accumulated, presumably due to inhibition of 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity by accumulated 3-ketoacyl-CoA, analogous to the inhibition of short-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase by 3-ketoacyl-CoA. When [NAD+]/[NADH] was varied at a fixed total [NAD++NADH], the overall flux was only inhibited by [NAD+]/[NADH] less than 1. In contrast, when [acetyl-CoA]/[CoA] was varied at a fixed total [CoA], much greater sensitivity was observed.