Characterization and topology of the membrane domain Nqo10 subunit of the proton-translocating NADH-quinone oxidoreductase of Paracoccus denitrificans.

The proton-translocating NADH-quinone oxidoreductase (NDH-1) of Paracoccus denitrificans is composed of 14 different subunits (Nqo1-Nqo14). Of these, seven subunits (Nqo7, Nqo8, and Nqo10-14) which are equivalent to the mitochondrial DNA-encoded subunits of complex I constitute the membrane segment of the enzyme complex; the remaining subunits make up the peripheral part of the enzyme. We report here on the biochemical characterization and heterologus expression of the Nqo10 subunit. The Nqo10 subunit could not be extracted from the Paracoccus membranes by NaI or alkaline treatment, which is consistent with the presumed membrane localization. By using the maltose-binding protein (MBP) fusion system, the Nqo10 subunit was overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The MBP-fused Nqo10 was expressed in membrane fractions of the host cell and was extractable by Triton X-100. The extracted fusion protein was then isolated by one-step affinity purification through an amylose column. By using immunochemical methods in conjunction with cysteine-scanning mutagenesis and chemical modification techniques, the topology of the Nqo10 subunit expressed in E. coli membranes was determined. The data indicate that the Nqo10 subunit consists of five transmembrane segments with the N- and C-terminal regions facing the periplasmic and cytoplasmic sides of the membrane, respectively. In addition, the data also suggest that the proposed topology of the MBP-fused Nqo10 subunit expressed in E. coli membranes is consistent with that of the Nqo10 subunit in the native Paracoccus membranes. From the experimentally determined topology together with computer prediction programs, a topological model for the Nqo10 subunit is proposed.

Direct interaction between a membrane domain subunit and a connector subunit in the H(+)-translocating NADH-quinone oxidoreductase.

When Paracoccus denitrificans membranes were treated with a crosslinker, m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS), a cross-linked product of M(r) approximately 31 kDa was found which reacted with antibodies against the hydrophobic subunit Nqo7 and the connector subunit Nqo6. NaI treatment of the Paracoccus membranes before, but not after, the crosslinking step prevented the formation of the 31 kDa band. When Nqo7 and Nqo6 were coexpressed in Escherichia coli, both subunits were located in the membrane fraction. MBS treatment of the E. coli membranes generated the 31 kDa band as in the Paracoccus membranes. These results indicate that Nqo7 interacts with probable N2-binding Nqo6.

Quinone reductase (NQO1), a sensitive redox indicator, is increased in Alzheimer's disease.

NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), a redox-regulated flavoenzyme, plays a central role in monitoring cellular redox state. NQO1 acts to protect against oxidative stress induced by a variety of metabolic situations, including metabolism of quinones and other xenobiotics, by: (i) functioning as a two electron donor to provide a shunt that competes with the formation of reactive oxygen species; (ii) maintaining reduced coenzyme Q; and (iii) regulating the stress activated kinase pathway. In Alzheimer's disease, while there is abundant evidence for the involvement of oxidative stress, the cause or the consequences are largely unresolved. We suspected that increased NQO1 could signal a major shift in redox balance in Alzheimer's disease and, in this study, found that NQO1 is localized not only to neurofibrillary tangles but also the cytoplasm of hippocampal neurons. By marked contrast, there is very little NQO1 in the same neuronal populations in young and age-matched controls. This novel association of NQO1 further buttresses the nexus of oxidative stress, via free radicals, with selective neuronal vulnerability and also supports a fundamental abnormality in redox balance in Alzheimer's disease.

Structural studies of the proton-translocating NADH-quinone oxidoreductase (NDH-1) of Paracoccus denitrificans: identity, property, and stoichiometry of the peripheral subunits.

The proton-translocating NADH-quinone oxidoreductase (NDH-1) of Paracoccus denitrificans is composed of at least 14 unlike subunits and contains one FMN and at least five EPR-detectable iron-sulfur clusters. The 14 subunits are designated NQO1 through NQO14. The expression and partial characterization of the NQO4, -5, and -6 subunits have been performed. The NQO4, -5, and -6 subunits were individually expressed in Escherichia coli. The NQO4 subunit was expressed in both the cytoplasmic phase and membrane fraction, the NQO5 subunit in the cytoplasmic phase only, and the NQO6 subunit in the membrane fraction only. The NQO4 and NQO5 subunits were purified from cytoplasmic phase. Neither subunit contains non-heme iron or acid-labile sulfide, suggesting that the NQO4 or NQO5 subunit is not an iron-sulfur subunit. The antibodies against the NQO4, -5, and -6 subunits cross-reacted with their counterpart subunits in bovine heart complex I. The NQO4, -5, and -6 subunits in membrane-bound P. denitrificans NDH-1 were extracted by treatment at alkaline pH ( > or = 10) or with chaotropes (NaBr, Nal, and urea), suggesting that these subunits are localized in the peripheral part (not in the membrane sector) of the enzyme complex similar to the NQO1, -2, and -3 subunits. In addition, the subunit stoichiometry of NQO1 through -6 of the membrane-bound P. denitrificans NDH-1 has been determined by radioimmunoassays. There is 1 mol each of the NQO1 through -6 subunits per mol of the P. denitrificans NDH-1.

The molecular pathology of respiratory-chain dysfunction in human mitochondrial myopathies.

Some of the different molecular pathologies of respiratory-chain dysfunction in human mitochondrial myopathies will be reviewed in relation to the findings in 58 cases. Deletions of mitochondrial DNA were identified in 21 cases [36%]. There was some correlation between the sites of the deletion and the mitochondrial biochemistry in patients with defects of Complex I but not in cases with more extensive loss of respiratory chain activity. Complex I and Complex IV polypeptides were usually normal in deleted cases. Non-deleted cases, however, often showed specific subunit deficiencies which involved the products of both nuclear and mitochondrial genes. Immunoblots of respiratory-chain polypeptides in one case pointed to defective translocation of the Rieske precursor from the cytosol into the mitochondria. The pathogenic role of circulating autoantibodies to specific matrix proteins and the nature of the target antigens in two patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathies and respiratory-chain dysfunction will also be discussed.

Identification of the NADH-binding subunit of NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase of Paracoccus denitrificans.

The NADH dehydrogenase complex isolated from Paracoccus denitrificans is composed of approximately 10 unlike polypeptides and contains noncovalently bound FMN, non-heme iron, and acid-labile sulfide [Yagi, T. (1986) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 250, 302-311]. When the Paracoccus NADH dehydrogenase complex was irradiated by UV light in the presence of [adenylate-32P]NAD, radioactivity was incorporated exclusively into one of three polypeptides of Mr approximately 50,000. Similar results were obtained when [adenylate-32P]NADH was used. The labeling of the Mr 50,000 polypeptide was diminished when UV irradiation of the enzyme with [adenylate-32P]NAD was performed in the presence of NADH, but not in the presence of NADP(H). The labeled polypeptide was isolated by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis and was shown to cross-react with antiserum to the NADH-binding subunit (Mr = 51,000) of bovine NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase. Its amino acid composition was also very similar to that of the bovine NADH-binding subunit. These chemical and immunological results indicate that the Mr 50,000 polypeptide is an NADH-binding subunit of the Paracoccus NADH dehydrogenase complex.

Studies on the structure of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase complex: topography of the subunits of the iron-sulfur flavoprotein component.

A catalytic component of the bovine mitochondrial NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase complex (Complex I) is a soluble NADH dehydrogenase iron-sulfur flavoprotein (FP). FP is composed of three subunits of Mr 51,000, 24,000, and 9,000, and contains FMN and two iron-sulfur clusters. Previous studies by others with the use of various chemical probes had suggested that, except for an access for NADH to the 51-kDa subunit, the FP polypeptides are buried within Complex I and shielded from the medium. In the present study, monospecific antibodies were raised to each of the three FP subunits, and used in conjunction with Complex I, submitochondrial particles (SMP), mitoplasts, and intact mitochondria as sources of antigens. Results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and 125I-protein A labeling experiments indicated that epitopes from the 51-, 24-, and 9-kDa subunits of FP are exposed to the medium in Complex I and SMP, but not in mitoplasts and mitochondria. Appropriate enzymatic assays showed that none of the antibodies inhibited the NADH dehydrogenase activity of isolated FP or the NADH oxidase activity of SMP. These results have been discussed in relation to the structure of Neurospora Complex I deduced from membrane crystals of the isolated enzyme complex by Leonard et al. [K. Leonard, H. Haiker, and H. Weiss (1987) J. Mol. Biol. 194, 277-286].

Mitochondrial autoantigens in primary biliary cirrhosis. Association of disease-specific determinants with a subunit of complex I (NADH-ubiquinone reductase) of the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Anti-mitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA) from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) were analysed for fine specificity by immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Inhibition ELISA showed that complex I (NADH-ubiquinone reductase) from beef heart mitochondria completely inhibited the binding of AMA to mitochondrial inner membranes (SMP), indicating that the major mitochondrial antigens are located in complex I. Immunoblot analysis of beef heart SMP, complex I and the iron sulphur (IP) subfraction of complex I revealed several antigens, one of which (75 kDa) reacted with all PBC sera but not with the additional autoimmune sera tested. Resolution of SMP or complex I by two-dimensional electrophoresis yielded in both preparations a polypeptide of 75 kDa with an isoelectric point of 6.4, which reacted with PBC serum and with rabbit antisera raised against the 75,000 subunit of complex I. In immunoblot experiments, the antigenicity of the 75,000 polypeptide in SMP, complex I, and the IP subfraction is increased by prior reduction of the sample with mercaptoethanol. This suggests a similarity to the PBC-specific 'M-2' antigen, which is also sensitive to sulphur reagents. The data indicate that the 75 kDa polypeptide of complex I is a major mitochondrial antigen binding AMA in PBC sera, and allows us to identify the location and probable function of the PBC antigen.

Primary biliary cirrhosis: indication for a single mitochondrial antigenic epitope detected by patient autoantibodies and a novel monoclonal antibody.

A monoclonal antibody specific for the major primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)-associated mitochondrial antigen (subunit I of NADH-ubiquinone reductase) was produced and used to study the binding sites recognized by anti-mitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA) in PBC sera. Immunization of mice with purified beef heart mitochondrial inner membranes resulted in one monoclonal antibody which reacted with mitochondrial proteins. This antibody (PBC-MoAb), which was of the IgG2b subclass with kappa light chains, exhibited a pattern of immunofluorescence reactivity with rat kidney, human thyroid, and cultured human epithelial cells (Hep-2) similar to that obtained with sera from PBC patients. Similar binding patterns between PBC-MoAb and AMA were also found in western blot analysis using mitochondria as antigen. Both types of antibodies revealed a major antigen of 75 kDa, a minor antigen of 60 kDa, and a third antigen (70 kDa), which was detected only in samples that had not been boiled prior to electrophoresis. Furthermore, optimal binding of the PBC-MoAb and AMA to the 75 and 70 kDa antigens required reduction of the antigen with mercaptoethanol prior to electrophoresis. Competition ELISA experiments were conducted to compare the epitopes recognized by PBC-MoAb and AMA. Of 28 PBC sera tested, 27 inhibited the binding of PBC-MoAb to mitochondrial inner membranes by almost 100% and one serum inhibited binding by 50%, indicating that most PBC sera contain autoantibodies reactive with the same or a closely related antibody binding site as the PBC-MoAb. PBC-MoAb inhibited AMA binding to the inner membrane by more than 80% in 10 sera, 60-80% in 11 sera, and 40-59% in seven sera, with an average inhibition of 71%. Our observations strongly indicate that anti-mitochondrial autoantibody binding sites are restricted to a highly immunogenic epitope on the major PBC-specific antigen (NADH-ubiquinone reductase subunit I), and that the anti-mitochondrial monoclonal antibody obtained has a specificity identical with the human PBC-specific M2 type anti-mitochondrial autoantibody.

Deficiency of subunits in heart mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase of a patient with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy and cardiomyopathy.

The heart mitochondria isolated from a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy were analyzed by immunoblotting using specific antibody against each of the purified mitochondrial energy transducing complexes from beef heart. Subunits of NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Complex I) were markedly decreased and those of cytochrome c oxidase (Complex IV) were decreased to some extent, but the deficiency of any of these subunits was only partial. On the other hand, the contents of subunits of ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase (Complex III) were normal. These results suggest that the decreased levels of some of the Complex I subunits might be the primary cause of disorder in this patient.

Interaction of anti-iron-sulfur protein and anti-ubiquinone binding protein antibodies with complex III of beef heart mitochondria.

Ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase activity of Complex III was substantially inhibited by anti-iron-sulfur protein antibody, whereas it was not affected by anti-ubiquinone binding protein antibody. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay indicated that anti-ubiquinone binding protein antibody do not bind to the complex, but that it binds to Complex III of which iron-sulfur protein and phospholipids have been depleted. These results indicate that some of the antigenic sites of the iron-sulfur protein are located on the surface of Complex III, while the antigenic sites of the ubiquinone binding protein are inaccessible to antibody owing to the interaction with iron-sulfur protein and/or phospholipids in the complex.

The polypeptide composition of the mitochondrial NADH: ubiquinone reductase complex from several mammalian species.

The polypeptide composition of isolated mitochondrial NADH:ubiquinone reductase (NADH dehydrogenase) is very similar to that of material immunoprecipitated from detergent-solubilized bovine heart submitochondrial particles by antisera to the holoenzyme. The specificity of the antisera for dehydrogenase polypeptides was determined by immunoblotting, which showed that antisera reacting with only a few proteins were able to immunoprecipitate all others in parallel. The polypeptide compositions of rat, rabbit and human NADH dehydrogenase were determined by immunoprecipitation of the enzyme from solubilized submitochondrial particles and proved to be very similar to that of the bovine heart enzyme, particularly in the high-Mr region. Further homologies in these and other species were explored by immunoblotting with antisera to the holoenzyme and monospecific antisera raised against iron-sulphur-protein subunits of the enzyme.

An analysis of the polypeptide composition of bovine heart mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase by two-dimensional polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis.

Purified preparations of Complex I (NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase) from bovine heart mitochondria may be resolved into 26 polypeptides by two-dimensional analysis combining isoelectric focusing and polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulphate. Similar analyses of the fragments obtained from chaotropic resolution of the enzyme show that each of these fragments contains a distinct and non-overlapping set of polypeptides. Evidence that the polypeptides seen in the intact enzyme are true constituents comes from analyses of immunoprecipitates obtained by allowing Complex I or solubilized submitochondrial particles to react with antisera directed against the whole enzyme and a subfragment of the enzyme.