The redox state of cytochrome c modulates resistance to methotrexate in human MCF7 breast cancer cells

Background

Methotrexate is a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat a variety of cancers. However, the occurrence of resistance limits its effectiveness. Cytochrome c in its reduced state is less capable of triggering the apoptotic cascade. Thus, we set up to study the relationship among redox state of cytochrome c, apoptosis and the development of resistance to methotrexate in MCF7 human breast cancer cells.

Results

Cell incubation with cytochrome c-reducing agents, such as tetramethylphenylenediamine, ascorbate or reduced glutathione, decreased the mortality and apoptosis triggered by methotrexate. Conversely, depletion of glutathione increased the apoptotic action of methotrexate, showing an involvement of cytochrome c redox state in methotrexate-induced apoptosis. Methotrexate-resistant MCF7 cells showed increased levels of endogenous reduced glutathione and a higher capability to reduce exogenous cytochrome c. Using functional genomics we detected the overexpression of GSTM1 and GSTM4 in methotrexate-resistant MCF7 breast cancer cells, and determined that methotrexate was susceptible of glutathionylation by GSTs. The inhibition of these GSTM isoforms caused an increase in methotrexate cytotoxicity in sensitive and resistant cells.

Conclusions

We conclude that overexpression of specific GSTMs, GSTM1 and GSTM4, together with increased endogenous reduced glutathione levels help to maintain a more reduced state of cytochrome c which, in turn, would decrease apoptosis, thus contributing to methotrexate resistance in human MCF7 breast cancer cells.

Mitochondrial regulation of caspase activation by cytochrome oxidase and tetramethylphenylenediamine via cytosolic cytochrome c redox state

Cytochrome c release from mitochondria induces caspase activation in cytosols; however, it is unclear whether the redox state of cytosolic cytochrome c can regulate caspase activation. By using cytosol isolated from mammalian cells, we find that oxidation of cytochrome c by added cytochrome oxidase stimulates caspase activation, whereas reduction of cytochrome c by added tetramethylphenylenediamine (TMPD) or yeast lactate dehydrogenase/cytochrome c reductase blocks caspase activation. Scrape-loading of cells with this reductase inhibited caspase activation induced by staurosporine. Similarly, incubating intact cells with ascorbate plus TMPD to reduce intracellular cytochrome c strongly inhibited staurosporine-induced cell death, apoptosis, and caspase activation but not cytochrome c release, indicating that cytochrome c redox state can regulate caspase activation. In homogenates from healthy cells cytochrome c was rapidly reduced, whereas in homogenates from apoptotic cells added cytochrome c was rapidly oxidized by some endogenous process. This oxidation was prevented if mitochondria were removed from the homogenate or if cytochrome oxidase was inhibited by azide. This suggests that permeabilization of the outer mitochondrial membrane during apoptosis functions not just to release cytochrome c but also to maintain it oxidized via cytochrome oxidase, thus maximizing caspase activation. However, this activation can be blocked by adding TMPD, which may have some therapeutic potential.

Cyanide-induced death of cells in plant leaves

Destruction of guard cell nuclei in epidermis isolated from leaves of pea, maize, sunflower, and haricot bean, as well as destruction of cell nuclei in leaves of the aquatic plants waterweed and eelgrass were induced by cyanide. Destruction of nuclei was strengthened by illumination, prevented by the antioxidant alpha-tocopherol and an electron acceptor N,N,N ,N -tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine, and removed by quinacrine. Photosynthetic O2 evolution by the leaf slices of a C3 plant (pea), or a C4 plant (maize) was inhibited by CN- inactivating ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, and was renewed by subsequent addition of the electron acceptor p-benzoquinone.

Interaction of N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine with photosystem II as revealed by thermoluminescence: reduction of the higher oxidation states of the Mn cluster and displacement of plastoquinone from the Q(B) niche

The flash-induced thermoluminescence (TL) technique was used to investigate the action of N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) on charge recombination in photosystem II (PSII). Addition of low concentrations (muM range) of TMPD to thylakoid samples strongly decreased the yield of TL emanating from S(2)Q(B)(-) and S(3)Q(B)(-) (B-band), S(2)Q(A)(-) (Q-band), and Y(D)(+)Q(A)(-) (C-band) charge pairs. Further, the temperature-dependent decline in the amplitude of chlorophyll fluorescence after a flash of white light was strongly retarded by TMPD when measured in the presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU). Though the period-four oscillation of the B-band emission was conserved in samples treated with TMPD, the flash-dependent yields (Y(n)) were strongly declined. This coincided with an upshift in the maximum yield of the B-band in the period-four oscillation to the next flash. The above characteristics were similar to the action of the ADRY agent, carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). Simulation of the B-band oscillation pattern using the integrated Joliot-Kok model of the S-state transitions and binary oscillations of Q(B) confirmed that TMPD decreased the initial population of PSII centers with an oxidized plastoquinone molecule in the Q(B) niche. It was deduced that the action of TMPD was similar to CCCP, TMPD being able to compete with plastoquinone for binding at the Q(B)-site and to reduce the higher S-states of the Mn cluster.

Control by cytochrome c oxidase of the cellular oxidative phosphorylation system depends on the mitochondrial energy state

Recent measurements of the flux control exerted by cytochrome c oxidase on the respiratory activity in intact cells have led to a re-appraisal of its regulatory function. We have further extended this in vivo study in the framework of the Metabolic Control Analysis and evaluated the impact of the mitochondrial transmembrane electrochemical potential (Deltamu(H+)) on the control strength of the oxidase. The results indicate that, under conditions mimicking the mitochondrial State 4 of respiration, both the flux control coefficient and the threshold value of cytochrome oxidase are modified with respect to the uncoupled condition. The results obtained are consistent with a model based on changes in the assembly state of the oxidative phosphorylation enzyme complexes and possible implications in the understanding of exercise-intolerance of human neuromuscular degenerative diseases are discussed.

Partial reconstruction of in vitro gluconeogenesis arising from mitochondrial l-lactate uptake/metabolism and oxaloacetate export via novel L-lactate translocators

In the light of the occurrence of L-lactate dehydrogenase inside the mitochondrial matrix, we looked at whether isolated rat liver mitochondria can take up and metabolize L-lactate, and provide oxaloacetate outside mitochondria, thus contributing to a partial reconstruction of gluconeogenesis in vitro. We found that: (1) L-lactate (10 mM), added to mitochondria in the presence of a cocktail of glycolysis/gluconeogenesis enzymes and cofactors, can lead to synthesis of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate at a rate of about 7 nmol/min per mg mitochondrial protein. (2) Three novel translocators exist to mediate L-lactate traffic across the inner mitochondrial membrane. An L-lactate/H+ symporter was identified by measuring fluorimetrically the rate of endogenous pyridine nucleotide reduction. Consistently, L-lactate oxidation was found to occur with P/O ratio=3 (where P/O ratio is the ratio of mol of ATP synthesized to mol of oxygen atoms reduced to water during oxidative phosphorylation) and with generation of membrane potential. Proton uptake, which occurred as a result of addition of L-lactate to RLM together with electron flow inhibitors, and mitochondrial swelling in ammonium L-lactate solutions were also monitored. L-Lactate/oxaloacetate and L-lactate/pyruvate anti-porters were identified by monitoring photometrically the appearance of L-lactate counter-anions outside mitochondria. These L-lactate translocators, which are distinct from the monocarboxylate carrier, were found to differ from each other in V(max) values and in inhibition and pH profiles, and proved to regulate mitochondrial L-lactate metabolism in vitro. The role of lactate/mitochondria interactions in gluconeogenesis is discussed.

N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine initiates the appearance of a well-resolved I peak in the kinetics of chlorophyll fluorescence rise in isolated thylakoids

Addition of N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylendiamine (TMPD) to thylakoid membranes isolated from pea leaves initiates the appearance of peak I in the polyphasic rise of chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence observed during strong illumination, making it similar to that observed in leaves or intact chloroplasts. This effect depends on TMPD concentration and incubation period of isolated thylakoids with TMPD. The resolution of I-peak in the presence of weak concentrations of TMPD which reduced the overlap between I- and P-peaks, resulted from a decreased reduction of both fast and slow plastoquinone (PQ) pools of the granal and stromal thylakoids, respectively, as TMPD effectively accepts electrons from reduced PQ. High concentrations of TMPD markedly decreased the J-I-P phase of fluorescence rise and greatly retarded the I-P step rise. Accumulation of oxidized TMPD in the thylakoid lumen accelerated the re-oxidation of the acceptor side of Photosystem II (PSII) as illustrated by a two-fold increase in the magnitude of the fast component and complete suppression of the middle component of the variable Chl fluorescence (F(v)) decay in the dark. Evidently, exogenous addition of high concentrations of TMPD prevented the light-induced reduction of the slow PQ pool.

Participation of chloroplasts in plant apoptosis

Mitochondria are known to participate in the initiation of programmed cell death (PCD) in animals and in plants. The role of chloroplasts in PCD is still unknown. We describe a new system to study PCD in plants; namely, leaf epidermal peels. The peel represents a monolayer consisting of cells of two types: phototrophic (guard cells) and chemotrophic (epidermal cells). The peels from pea (Pisum sativum L.) leaves were treated by cyanide as an inducer of PCD. We found an apoptosis-enhancing effect of illumination on chloroplast-containing guard cells, but not on chloroplastless epidermal cells. Antioxidants and anaerobiosis prevented the CN(-)-induced apoptosis of cells of both types in the dark and in the light. On the other hand, methyl viologen and menadione known as ROS-generating reagents as well as the Hill reaction electron acceptors (BQ, DAD, TMPD, or DPIP) that are not oxidized spontaneously by O2 were shown to prevent the CN(-)-induced nucleus destruction in guard cells. Apoptosis of epidermal cells was potentiated by these reagents, and they had no influence on the CN- effect. The light-dependent activation of CN(-)-induced apoptosis of guard cells was suppressed by DCMU, stigmatellin or DNP-INT, by a protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine as well as by cysteine and serine protease inhibitors. The above data suggest that apoptosis of guard cells is initiated upon a combined action of two factors, i.e., ROS and reduced plastoquinone of the photosynthetic electron transfer chain. As to reduction of ubiquinone in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, it seems to be antiapoptotic for the guard cell.

An alternate photosynthetic electron donor system for PSI supports light dependent nitrogen fixation in a non-heterocystous cyanobacterium, Plectonema boryanum

Plectonema boryanum exhibits temporal separation of photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation under diazotrophic conditions. During nitrogen fixation, the photosynthetic electron transport chain becomes impaired, which leads to the uncoupling of the PSII and PSI activities. A 30-40% increase in PSI activity and continuous generation of ATP through light-dependent processes seem to support the nitrogen fixation. The use of an artificial electron carrier that shuttles electrons between the plastoquinone pool and plastocyanin, bypassing cytochrome b/f complex, enhanced the photosynthetic electron transport activity five to six fold during nitrogen fixation. Measuring of full photosynthetic electron transport activity using methyl voilogen as a terminal acceptor revealed that the photosynthetic electron transport components beyond plastocyanin might be functional. Further, glycolate can act as a source of electrons for PSI for the nitrogen fixing cells, which have residual PSII activity. Under conditions when PSI becomes largely independent of PSII and glycolate provides electrons for PSI activity, the light-dependent nitrogen fixation also was stimulated by glycolate. These results suggest that during nitrogen fixation, when the photosynthetic electron transport from PSII is inhibited at the level of cytochrome b/f complex, an alternate electron donor system for PSI may be required for the cells to carry out light dependent nitrogen fixation.

Singlet oxygen trapping by DRD156 in micellar solutions

Recently, 4.4'-bis(1-p-carboxyphenyl-3-methyl-5-dydroxyl)-pyrazol (DRD156) has been developed as a new sensitive reagent that reacts specifically with singlet oxygen. The specificity of DRD156 for singlet oxygen in a biomimetic solution (micellar solution) and the effects of its coexistence with other reagent were examined with electron spin resonance (ESR). Singlet oxygen was generated using photosensitization reaction. The ESR spectrum of the radical derived from DRD156 after the reaction with singlet oxygen in phosphate buffered salines (PBS) was comprised of twenty-nine lines, whereas that in cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) micelles was comprised of nine lines. Both 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidine (TMPD) and 1,3-diphenyl-isobenzofuran (DPBF) reduced the singlet oxygen-DRD156 signal intensity, and TMPD-mediated decrease in PBS (to 62%) was almost the same as that in CTAB micelle (to 65%). In contrast, DPBF reduced the DRD156 signal intensity more effectively in CTAB micelle (to 12%) than PBS (to 38%). These results indicate that the specificity of DRD156 for singlet oxygen is dependent on microenvironment.

Effect of cyclosporin A and its vehicle on cardiac and skeletal muscle mitochondria: relationship to efficacy of the respiratory chain

Although cyclosporin (CsA) is considered to be the best immunosuppressive molecule in transplantation, it has been suspected to alter mitochondrial respiration of various tissues. We evaluated the acute effect of CsA and its vehicle on maximal oxidative capacity (V(max)) of cardiac, soleus and gastrocnemius muscles of rats by an oxygraphic method in saponin skinned muscle fibres. The effects of Sandimmun (a formulation of CsA), vehicle of Sandimmun (cremophor and ethanol (EtOH)), CsA in EtOH and EtOH alone were tested. Increasing concentrations (5 - 20 - 50 - 100 microM) of CsA (or vehicles) were used. Sandimmun profoundly altered the V(max) of all muscles. For example, at 20 microM, inhibition reached 18+/-3, 23+/-5, 45+/-5%, for heart, soleus and gastrocnemius respectively. There were only minor effects of CsA diluted in EtOH and EtOH alone on V(max) of cardiac muscle. Because the effects of vehicle on V(max) were similar or higher than those of Sandimmun, the inhibition of oxidative capacity could be entirely attributed to the vehicle for all muscles. Next, we investigated the potential sites of action of the vehicle on the different complexes of the mitochondrial respiratory chain by using specific substrates and inhibitors. The vehicle affected mitochondrial respiration mainly at the level of complex I ( approximately -85% in skeletal muscles, and -32% in heart), but also at complex IV ( approximately -26% for all muscles). The mechanism of action of the vehicle on the mitochondrial membrane and the implications for the clinical use of immunosuppressive drugs are discussed.

Differential effects of endurance training and creatine depletion on regional mitochondrial adaptations in rat skeletal muscle

To examine the combined effects of 2-week endurance training and 3-week feeding with beta-guanidinopropionic acid (GPA) on regional adaptability of skeletal muscle mitochondria, intermyofibrillar mitochondria (IFM) and subsarcolemmal mitochondria (SSM) were isolated from quadriceps muscles of sedentary control, trained control, sedentary GPA-fed and trained GPA-fed rats. Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation was assessed polarographically by using pyruvate plus malate, succinate (plus rotenone), and ascorbate plus N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) (plus antimycin) as respiratory substrates. Assays of cytochrome c oxidase and F(1)-ATPase activities were also performed. In sedentary control rats, IFM exhibited a higher oxidative capacity than SSM, whereas F(1)-ATPase activities were similar. Training increased the oxidative phosphorylation capacity of mitochondria with both pyruvate plus malate and ascorbate plus TMPD as substrates, with no differences between IFM and SSM. In contrast, the GPA diet mainly improved the overall SSM oxidative phosphorylation capacity, irrespective of the substrate used. Finally, the superimposition of training to feeding with GPA strongly increased both oxidase and enzymic activities in SSM, whereas no cumulative effects were found in IFM mitochondria. It therefore seems that endurance training and feeding with GPA, which are both known to alter the energetic status of the muscle cell, might mediate distinct biochemical adaptations in regional skeletal muscle mitochondria.

Poliovirus induces an early impairment of mitochondrial function by inhibiting succinate dehydrogenase activity

Poliovirus infection of COS-1 and T47D cells caused a rapid decrease in total cell respiration, and this was attributed to an inhibition of mitochondrial respiration. The stimulation of mitochondrial respiration by pyruvate plus malate or succinate was impaired in saponin-permeabilised cells. However, this inhibition could be overcome by the addition of N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1, 4-phenylenediamine and ascorbate. The activity of succinate dehydrogenase was impaired in parallel with the inhibition of mitochondrial respiration during poliovirus infection. This shows that mitochondrial function is profoundly altered during poliovirus infection and that this occurs primarily through inhibition of electron flow at complex II of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

Mitochondria present in excised patches from pancreatic B-cells may form microcompartments with ATP-dependent potassium channels

Experiments with inside-out patches excised from pancreatic B-cells have yielded evidence that mitochondria are often contained in the cytoplasmic plug protruding into the tip of patch pipette. When intact B-cells were loaded with the fluorescent mitochondrial stain, rhodamine 123, and membrane patches excised from these cells, a green fluorescence could be observed in the lumen at the tip of the patch pipette. The same result was obtained with the mitochondrial stain, MitoTracker Green FM, which is only fluorescent in a membrane-bound state. Furthermore, the open probability of ATP-dependent potassium (K(ATP)) channels in inside-out patches was influenced by mitochondrial fuels and inhibitors. Respiratory substrates like tetramethyl phenylene diamine (2 mM) plus ascorbate (5 mM) or alpha-ketoisocaproic acid (10 mM) reduced the open probability of K(ATP) channels in inside-out patches significantly (down to 57% or 65% of control, respectively). This effect was antagonized by the inhibitor of cytochrome oxidase, sodium azide (5 mM). Likewise, the inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase, malonate (5 mM), increased the open probability of K(ATP) channels in the presence of succinate (1 mM). However, oligomycin in combination with antimycin and rotenone did not increase open probability. Although it cannot be excluded that these effects result from a direct interaction with the K(ATP) channels, the presence of mitochondria in the close vicinity permits the hypothesis that changes in mitochondrial metabolism are involved, mitochondria and K(ATP) channels thus forming functional microcompartments.

Low reserve of cytochrome c oxidase capacity in vivo in the respiratory chain of a variety of human cell types

The question of whether and to what extent the in vivo cytochrome c oxidase (COX) capacity in mammalian cells exceeds that required to support respiration is still unresolved. In the present work, to address this question, a newly developed approach for measuring the rate of COX activity, either as an isolated step or as a respiratory chain-integrated step, has been applied to a variety of human cell types, including several tumor-derived semidifferentiated cell lines, as well as specialized cells removed from the organism. KCN titration assays, carried out on intact uncoupled cells, have clearly shown that the COX capacity is in low excess (16-40%) with respect to that required to support the endogenous respiration rate. Furthermore, measurements of O2 consumption rate supported by 0.4 mM tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine in antimycin-inhibited uncoupled intact cells have given results that are fully consistent with those obtained in the KCN titration experiments. Similarly, KCN titration assays on digitonin-permeabilized cells have revealed a COX capacity that is nearly limiting (7-22% excess) for ADP + glutamate/malate-dependent respiration. The present observations, therefore, substantiate the conclusion that the in vivo control of respiration by COX is much tighter than has been generally assumed on the basis of experiments carried out on isolated mitochondria. This conclusion has important implications for understanding the role of physiological or pathological factors in affecting the COX threshold.

Thermoregulatory uncoupling in heart muscle mitochondria: involvement of the ATP/ADP antiporter and uncoupling protein

Possible involvement of the ATP/ADP antiporter and uncoupling protein (UCP) in thermoregulatory uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation in heart muscle has been studied. To this end, effects of carboxyatractylate (cAtr) and GDP, specific inhibitors of the antiporter and UCP, on the membrane potential of the oligomycin-treated mitochondria from cold-exposed (6 degrees C, 48 h) and control rats have been measured. It is found that cAtr increases the membrane potential level in both cold-exposed and non-exposed groups, the effect being strongly enhanced by cooling. As for GDP, it is effective only in mitochondria from the cold-exposed rats. In these mitochondria, the coupling effect of GDP is smaller than that of cAtr. CDP, which does not interact with UCP, is without any influence on membrane potential. The cold exposure is found to increase the uncoupling efficiency of added natural (palmitate) or artificial (SF6847) uncouplers, the increase being cAtr- and GDP-sensitive in the case of palmitate. The fatty acid-free bovine serum albumin enhances delta psi in both cold-exposed and control groups, the effect being much larger in the former case. It is concluded that in heart muscle mitochondria the ATP/ADP antiporter is responsible for the 'mild uncoupling' under normal conditions and for major portion of the thermoregulatory uncoupling in the cold whereas the rest of thermoregulatory uncoupling is served by UCP (presumably by UCP2 since the UCP2 mRNA level is shown to strongly increase in rat heart muscle under the cold exposure conditions used).

Intrinsic uncoupling of cytochrome c oxidase may cause the maternally inherited mitochondrial diseases MELAS and LHON

Mutations in the human mtDNA gene encoding subunit III of cytochrome c oxidase (CO) have been reported to cause MELAS and LHON. Poracoccus denitrificans cells expressing substitutions homologous to these MELAS- and LHON-causing mutations had lower growth yield than wild type cells and lower efficiency of proton pumping by CO (e.g. lower H+/e ratio and lower deltapsi), but had similar CO activity. These results indicate that both substitutions (F263L > A212T) cause intrinsic uncoupling, which may be the direct cause of the diseases. These results also suggest that subunit III is involved in proton pumping.

Mitochondrial respiration after sepsis and prolonged hypoxia

Recently, marked oxygen dependence of respiration by isolated mitochondria after exposure to prolonged hypoxia has been described. Because mitochondrial oxygen-dependent respiration could significantly influence oxygen consumption during critical illness, we sought to confirm the oxygen-dependent behavior of mitochondria. We hypothesized that mitochondria isolated during sepsis would exhibit increased oxygen dependence. We isolated rat liver mitochondria 16 h after cecal ligation and puncture and found a 30-40% greater oxygen uptake compared with control rats under state 3 conditions. Mitochondria incubated in deoxygenated buffer were studied for oxygen dependence at 10-min intervals for 90 min. Mitochondrial respiration after reoxygenation was stable over a 60-min period of hypoxia for control rats and decreased slightly for septic rats (10-15%). State 3 respiration was 10% lower when mitochondria were reoxygenated at low (15-25 Torr) versus high (90-100 Torr) and low (10-15 Torr) versus intermediate (40-45 Torr) oxygen tension. Oxygen consumption with ascorbate+N, N, N', N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine was 20% lower at low versus high oxygen tension. No increase in oxygen dependence was observed during 1 h of hypoxic incubation. Our data indicate only a modest oxygen dependence of respiration between 10 and 100 Torr, which is similar for septic and control mitochondria. Additionally, oxygen dependence did not increase significantly during a 1-h hypoxic exposure for well-coupled mitochondrial preparations.

Electrogenic reduction of the primary electron donor P700+ in photosystem I by redox dyes

The kinetics of reduction of the photo-oxidized primary electron donor P700+ by redox dyes N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylendiamine, 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol and phenazine methosulfate was studied in proteoliposomes containing Photosystem I complexes from cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 using direct electrometrical technique. In the presence of high concentrations of redox dyes, the fast generation of a membrane potential related to electron transfer between P700 and the terminal iron-sulfur clusters F(A)/F(B) was followed by a new electrogenic phase in the millisecond time domain, which contributes approximately 20% to the overall photoelectric response. This phase is ascribed to the vectorial transfer of an electron from the redox dye to the protein-embedded chlorophyll of P700+. Since the contribution of this electrogenic phase in the presence of artificial redox dyes is approximately equal to that of the phase observed earlier in the presence of cytochrome c6, it is likely that electrogenic reduction of P700+ in vivo occurs due to vectorial electron transfer within RC molecule rather than within the cytochrome c6-P700 complex.

Does the respiratory rate in sea urchin embryos increase during early development without proliferation of mitochondria?

During early development of the sea urchin, the respiratory rate, enhanced upon fertilization, is maintained up to hatching (pre-hatching period) and then gradually increases to a maximum at the gastrula stage (post-gastrula period). Except for a short duration after fertilization, respiration in embryos is strongly inhibited by CN- and antimycin A. During the whole span of early development, the amounts of proteins, cytochromes and the specific activities of cytochrome c oxidase and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) cytochrome c reductase in mitochondria are practically the same as in unfertilized eggs. A marked augmentation of mitochondrial respiration after hatching probably occurs without net increase in whole mitochondrial intrinsic capacities. Carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) or tetramethyl p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) enhances the respiratory rate in the pre-hatching period but hardly augments the respiration in the post-gastrula period. In the presence of both FCCP and TMPD, the respiratory rate in the pre-hatching period was as high as in the post-gastrula period. Probably, electron transport in the mitochondrial respiratory chain is regulated by acceptor control and limitation of cytochrome c reduction in the pre-hatching period and released from those regulations in the post-gastrula period. Acceptor control of respiration is experimentally reproduced in isolated mitochondria by making adenine nucleotide levels as those levels in the pre-hatching period.

The effect of chloroform on mitochondrial energy transduction

The effect of chloroform on mitochondrial respiration with succinate was investigated by applying the method of Brand, Chien and Diolez [(1994) Biochem. J. 297, 27-29] to examine whether chloroform causes redox slip (fewer protons pumped per electron transferred) during mitochondrial electron transport. N,N,N',N'-Tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD), which lowers H+/O (the number of protons pumped to the external medium by the electron transport complexes per oxygen atom consumed) by altering the electron flow pathway, was investigated for comparison. Non-phosphorylating mitochondria that had been treated with 350 microM TMPD or 30 mM chloroform were titrated with malonate in the presence of submaximal concentrations of the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). Linear relations between CCCP-induced extra respiration and protonmotive force were obtained. These results showed that there was no measurable protonmotive force-dependent or rate-dependent slip in mitochondria treated with either TMPD or chloroform. However, both TMPD and chloroform seemed to decrease H+/O in a manner independent of protonmotive force and rate. The relationship between non-phosphorylating respiration and protonmotive force was simulated in mitochondria of which 25% of the total population were assumed to have been broken. The simulation showed that the apparent decrease in H+/O on the addition of TMPD or chloroform to mitochondria could be in principle accounted for by breakage. Assays of mitochondrial breakage (ATP hydrolysis in the presence of atractyloside and oxidation of exogenous NADH) showed that chloroform broke mitochondria but TMPD did not. We conclude that chloroform changes the measured H+/O as an artifact by causing mitochondrial breakage and does not cause measurable redox slip, whereas TMPD genuinely lowers H+/O.

Oxygen-dependent regulation of energy metabolism in ascites tumor cells by nitric oxide

To understand the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the regulation of energy metabolism of tumor cells, its effect on the respiration and calcium homeostasis was examined with ascites hepatoma (AH130) cells under different oxygen tensions. NO reversibly inhibited the respiration and depolarized the membrane potential of AH130 cells in an oxygen-dependent manner; the inhibition was more marked at physiologically low oxygen concentrations than at its high tensions. NO reversibly decreased the cellular ATP levels and elevated the cytosolic calcium, particularly under low oxygen concentrations. Since the peritoneal cavity is fairly anaerobic, the results suggested that small amounts of NO generated in this compartment might strongly affect the energy metabolism and calcium homeostasis of tumor cells in vivo.

2-Nitrosofluorene and N-hydroxy-2-aminofluorene react with the ubiquinone-reduction center (center N) of the mitochondrial cytochrome bc1 complex

We determined the sites of artificial electron transfer onto 2-nitrosofluorene (NOF), a metabolite of carcinogenic 2- acetylaminofluorene in mitochondria and isolated cytochrome bc1 complex. NOF-induced O2 consumption in mitochondria was sensitive to antimycin A, but insensitive to myxothiazol. In the isolated cytochrome bc1 complex, NOF induced rapid MOA-stilbene-insensitive reoxidation of cytochrome b, whereas in the presence of antimycin A, reoxidation was very slow. The corresponding hydroxylamine, N-hydroxy-2-aminofluorene (N-OH-AF), reduced cytochrome b specifically through center N of the cytochrome bc1 complex. We conclude that NOF and N-OH-AF bind to center N of the cytochrome bc1 complex and act as electron acceptor and donor, respectively. The N-OH-AF/NOF interconversion is considered to be involved in the cytotoxicity of 2-acetylaminofluorene in vivo.

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.