Mitochondrial expression of a short dystrophin-like product with molecular weight of 71 kDa.

In the brain, Dp71 is the most abundant protein product of the DMD gene and by alternative splicing of exon 78 two isoforms can be expressed, Dp71d and Dp71f. To explore the subcellular distribution of these Dp71 isoforms, specific monoclonal antibodies were used. Dp71d (with exon 78) was found in microsomes, while Dp71f (without exon 78) was detected in mitochondria. To determine the alterations which the absence of dystrophin proteins induces, we compared the expression of Dp71d in microsomes and Dp71f in mitochondria from mdx and mdx(3CV) mice. Dp71d in microsomes of mdx was similar to that of wild-type mice and, as expected, in mdx(3CV) this protein was undetectable. However, in mitochondria from mdx(3CV), Dp71f was overexpressed in comparison to mitochondria from mdx mice. Because in mdx(3CV) mice all the dystrophin proteins are mutated or diminished, we concluded that the protein detected in mitochondria is not a Dp71f but a novel product named Dp71f-like protein.

Studies on the relationship between the inner and outer membranes of rat liver mitochondria as determined by subfractionation with digitonin.

The present investigation has attempted to define in rat liver mitochondria the distribution of outer membrane proteins in relation to the inner membrane by fractionation with digitonin and phospholipase A2. Porin, the channel-forming protein in the outer membrane, was measured quantitatively by immunological methods. Neither monoamine oxidase nor porin could be released by phospholipase A2 treatment, but both were released by digitonin, at the same detergent concentration. Thus, the release of monoamine oxidase and porin requires the disruption of the cholesterol but not the phospholipid domains of the membrane and the two polypeptides exist in the same, or similar, membrane environment with regard to cholesterol. Changes in the energy state, or binding of brain hexokinase to rat liver mitochondria prior to fractionation with digitonin, did not alter the release patterns of porin and monoamine oxidase. The uptake of Ca2+, however, resulted in the concomitant release of the outer membrane markers together with the matrix marker, malate dehydrogenase. The present findings with liver differ from those obtained recently with brain mitochondria (L. Dorbani et al. (1987) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 252, 188-196) in which two populations of porin were located in two different cholesterol domains. The significance of these differences in the location of porin in liver and brain mitochondria is discussed.

Subfractionation of the outer membrane of rat brain mitochondria: evidence for the existence of a domain containing the porin-hexokinase complex.

Isolated and well-characterized rat brain nonsynaptic mitochondria were subfractionated by digitonin. Antibodies to a uniquely outer membrane protein, porin, have allowed us to use this protein for the first time as an outer membrane marker in brain. Hexokinase, which binds to porin, was also measured. Based upon the sequential release of these and other marker enzymes with increasing concentrations of digitonin, three outer membrane domains have been identified. Two populations of porin were found by this treatment. The most plausible interpretation of our results is that the two porin populations exist in different membrane environments with regard to cholesterol. One of these populations binds most of the hexokinase and appears to be associated with the inner membrane. It is proposed that the porin-hexokinase complex in brain mitochondria is located in a cholesterol-free membrane domain together with inner membrane components. This domain has the features of contact points which have been visualized by electron microscopy.