Inhibitor effects on redox-linked protonations of the b haems of the mitochondrial bc1 complex.

The effects of pH and inhibitors on the spectra and redox properties of the haems b of the bc1 complex of beef heart submitochondrial particles were investigated. The major findings were: (1) both haems have a weakly redox-linked protonatable group with pKox and pKred of around 6 and 8; (2) at pH values above 7, haem bH becomes heterogeneous in its redox behaviour. This heterogeneity is removed by the Qi site inhibitors antimycin A, funiculosin and HQNO, but not by the Qo site inhibitors myxothiazol or stigmatellin; (3) of all inhibitors tested only funiculosin had a large effect on the Em/pH profile of either haem b. In all cases where definite effects were found, the haem most affected was that thought to be closest to the site of inhibitor binding; (4) spectral shifts of haem groups caused by inhibitor binding were usually, but not always, of the haem group closest to the binding site; (5) titrations with succinate/fumarate were in reasonable agreement with redox-mediated data provided that strict anaerobiosis was maintained. Apparent large shifts of haem midpoint potentials with antimycin A and myxothiazol could be produced in aerobic succinate/fumarate titrations in the presence of cyanide, as already reported in the literature, but these were artefactual; (6) the heterogeneous haem bH titration behaviour can be simulated with a model similar to that proposed by Salerno et al. (J. Biol. Chem. (1989) 264, 15398-15403) in which there is redox interaction between haem bH and ubiquinone species bound at the Qi site. Simulations closely fit both the haem bH data and known semiquinone data only if it is assumed that semiquinone bound to oxidised haem bH is EPR-silent.

Cholesterol distribution in rat liver and brain mitochondria as determined by stopped-flow kinetics with filipin.

Recently, analysis of protein distribution in rat brain mitochondria suggested the existence of distinct cholesterol domains in the outer membrane (Dorbani et al., 1987, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 252, 188-196) while such domains were not detected in rat liver mitochondria (Jancsik et al., 1988, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 264, 295-301). We studied cholesterol distribution in both types of mitochondria by analyzing the kinetics of filipin-cholesterol complex formation, using the stopped-flow technique. In liver mitochondria, the kinetics are characterized by a biphasic curve which presumably corresponds to the two membranes. This was confirmed by the finding that pretreatment with digitonin abolished one of the kinetic components. Sonication of the mitochondria increased the rate of the filipin-cholesterol complex formation and also abolished one of the two components. In the case of brain mitochondria, several distinct cholesterol domains could be revealed: one of them was cholesterol-free and it was directly accessible to filipin. Two other domains were revealed by differences found in the rate of the cholesterol-filipin complex formation. It is noteworthy that only a part of the cholesterol is accessible to filipin. Sonication of mitochondria decreased the proportion of cholesterol molecules accessible to filipin. This suggests specific interactions of cholesterol with other mitochondrial components, which occur only in brain mitochondria.

Stoichiometry of chargerin II (A6L) in the H(+)-ATP synthase of rat liver mitochondria.

Previous studies suggested that the hydrophobic protein chargerin II, which is encoded in the A6L of mitochondrial DNA, may have a key role in the energy transduction by mitochondrial H(+)-ATP synthase because an antibody against chargerin II inhibited ATP synthesis and ATP-Pi exchange, in an energy-dependent fashion. In the present work, the contents of chargerin II in the H(+)-ATP synthase purified from rat liver mitochondria and in submitochondrial particles were determined by radioimmunoassay. Results showed that the H(+)-ATP synthase contained chargerin II in a molar ratio of one to one. This is the first report on the stoichiometry of the A6L-product in mitochondrial H(+)-ATP synthase.

Purification and immunohistochemical study of actin in mitochondrial matrix.

Actin was purified to apparent homogeneity from the matrix of ultra-pure mitochondria of rat livers by DNase-I affinity chromatography and HPLC gel filtration. The mitochondrial actin was immunologically identified by an anti-actin antibody, and its apparent molecular weight was 43 KDa, as determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The immunohistochemical study revealed the localization of the mitochondrial actin in the matrix space and on the internal surface of inner membrane. The actin fraction eluted from a DNase-I column by KCl-EGTA solution underwent polymerization and bundling in vitro.

Improved methods to isolate and subfractionate rat liver mitochondria. Lipid composition of the inner and outer membrane.

Rat liver mitochondria were isolated by a combination of differential and Percoll gradient centrifugation, resulting in a highly pure and intact preparation, as assessed by marker enzyme analysis, latency of cytochrome-c oxidase, respiratory control index and electron microscopy. Two different methods were compared for the separation of inner and outer membranes. In the swell-shrink-sonicate procedure glycerol was included resulting in the isolation of one outer membrane and two inner membrane fractions of high purity. Using digitonin a highly selective and gradual solubilization of the outer membrane could be accomplished. Analysis of the phospholipid composition of the intact mitochondria and all subfractions showed that the inner membrane was virtually devoid of phosphatidylinositol and -serine, while the outer membrane contained 23% of the total mitochondrial cardiolipin, which did not originate from inner membrane contamination and therefore is a true component of the outer membrane.

Molecular species of mitochondrial phosphatidylcholine in rat liver and lung.

The acyl species of mitochondrial phosphatidylcholine from rat liver and lung were analysed by HPLC separation of the 1,2-diacyl-3-naphthylurethane derivatives. Comparison of phosphatidylcholine species patterns in microsomal, mitochondrial and submitochondrial fractions revealed only minor differences, whereas mitochondria from liver and lung differed markedly in the molecular composition of their respective phosphatidylcholine species.

Mitochondrial matrix localization of a protein altered in mutants resistant to the microtubule inhibitor podophyllotoxin.

Specific antibodies to a protein designated P1 (Mr approximately equal to 63,000), which is specifically altered in mutants resistant to the microtubule inhibitor podophyllotoxin, bind to mitochondria in cells of various vertebrate and invertebrate species (Eur. J. Cell Biol. 44, 278-285 (1987); Can. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 63, 489-502 (1985)). To investigate the relationship of this protein to mitochondria, rat liver mitochondria have been purified and immunoblot analysis with these provide evidence that the P1 protein is a major component of mitochondria. Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis of mitochondrial proteins from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells also show the P1 protein to be a major mitochondrial component. Subfractionation of rat liver mitochondria into various compartments indicates that the P1 protein is mainly associated with the matrix fraction. Effect of treatment of CHO cells with mitochondrial inhibitors on the synthesis of P1 protein was also investigated. Treatment with the K+ ionophores nonactin and valinomycin, which abolish mitochondrial membrane potential, inhibited synthesis of the mature forms of the P1 protein as well as a number of other mitochondrial proteins, as seen by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of labeled polypeptides. Treatment of the podophyllotoxin-resistant mutant of CHO cells with the above inhibitors affected both the wild-type and the mutant forms of the P1 protein in a similar manner. Concomitant with the disappearance of the above proteins, new basic proteins of higher molecular masses, related to the P1 and other proteins by peptide analysis, were observed in the drug-treated cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Specific polypeptide differences in normal versus malignant human breast tissues by two-dimensional electrophoresis.

Postmitochondrial and cytosolic polypeptides were extracted from human breast tumors and non-malignant breast tissue and analyzed using high resolution two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE). Approximately 800-1000 postmitochondrial and 600-800 silver stained cytosolic polypeptides were detected over the pH range of 4.8 to 7.5 and molecular weight range of 18-120 kDa. The 2D-PAGE patterns of polypeptides from normal and malignant tissue were very similar, although both qualitative and quantitative polypeptide differences were noted. Six cytosolic polypeptides (pI/molecular weight X 10(-3) 5.20/80 kDa, 5.75/43, 6.25/40, 5.43/35, 5.45/34.5, 5.50/34 and 6.15/24 were expressed only in malignant tissues. One constitutive polypeptide, 7.25/52, was not detected in any of the malignant tissue samples. Quantitatively, marked differences in spot density were noted in polypeptides localized mainly in the molecular weight ranges of 22-40 kDa and pI ranges of 5.65-7.00. A general increase in polypeptide expression was noted in malignant tissues as compared to normal. Twenty-two polypeptides were significantly and consistently increased in tumor samples while only one polypeptide was decreased. One polypeptide, p24 (6.15/24) was expressed in greatest concentrations in tumors which also expressed the greatest estrogen receptor content. Expression of p24 was markedly reduced in normal tissue and malignant tissues expressing low levels of estrogen and progesterone receptors.

An ubiquinone-binding protein in mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone reductase (Complex I).

An ubiquinone-binding protein (QP) was purified from mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone reductase (Complex I). Complex I was separated into 3 fragments: a fraction of hydrophobic proteins, that of soluble iron-sulfur protein (IP) and soluble NADH dehydrogenase of flavoprotein by a procedure involving the resolution with DOC and cholate, followed by ethanol and ammonium acetate fractionations. About 40% of the total ubiquinone was recovered in the IP fragment which consisted of 12 polypeptides. The QP was purified from the IP fragment with a hydrophobic affinity chromatography. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the purified QP corresponded to 14-kDa polypeptide of the IP fragment and was a different protein from the QP (12.4 kDa) in Complex III. The purified QP (14 kDa) contained one mol ubiquinone per mol. The ubiquinone-depleted IP fragment could rebind ubiquinone. These results indicate that an ubiquinone-binding site in Complex I is on the 14-kDa polypeptide of the IP fragment.

The monocarboxylate carrier from bovine heart mitochondria: partial purification and its substrate-transporting properties in a reconstituted system.

The monocarboxylate (pyruvate) carrier from bovine heart mitochondria was extracted from submitochondrial particles with Triton X-114 in the presence of cardiolipin. By a single hydroxylapatite chromatography step a 125-fold purification of the carrier protein could be achieved. High pyruvate/pyruvate-exchange activity was recovered, when the protein was reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles. No transport activity was observed, when the isolation occurred in the absence of phospholipids. The 2-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate sensitive pyruvate exchange reaction was strongly temperature sensitive and dependent on the amount of protein reconstituted. Other 2-ketoacids caused competitive inhibition of the pyruvate uptake. Inhibitors of other mitochondrial carries, however, had very low or no effect on the monocarboxylate exchange. The influence of different -SH group reagents on the measured pyruvate/pyruvate-exchange in the reconstituted system was similar to the one observed with intact mitochondria. It is concluded that the described procedures for extraction, purification and reconstitution of the mitochondrial monocarboxylate carrier conserved the functional properties of the protein.

Analysis of cytoplasmic 19 S ring-type particles in Drosophila which contain hsp 23 at normal growth temperature.

Cytoplasmic 19 S particles were isolated from postpolysomal supernatants of 25 degrees C Drosophila embryos and culture cells. The particles were purified by salt extraction and sucrose gradient centrifugation. Electron microscopic investigation showed that the 19 S particles possess a ring-shaped morphology with an outer diameter of 12 nm and a hollow core of 3 nm. Biochemically the particles are characterized by a group of 16 polypeptides within the molecular weight range of 35 to 23 kDa, and small RNA molecules in the size range of 200 to 60 nucleotides. The RNP character of the particles is also shown by their buoyant density in Cs2SO4 of rho = 1.29 g/cm3 and their susceptibility to uv crosslinking and density in CsCl of rho = 1.38 g/cm3. Antibodies were raised against the proteins of the 19 S particles isolated from 25 degrees C cells and tested by immunoblotting after one- and two-dimensional gel-electrophoresis. Two of the antibodies raised cross react with the small heat-shock proteins hsp 28/27 and hsp 23. Comparative protease V8 cleavage of hsp 23 and the 23-kDa particle protein demonstrates that these two proteins are identical and that the small hsp of Drosophila must be a genuine part of the 19 S cytoplasmic ring-shaped complexes at normal growth temperature. The data support the idea of a general developmental role of some of the so-called heat-shock proteins.

The mitoribosomes.

So great an interest in numerous laboratories toward the understanding of the mitoribosome structures and functions comes from at least the two following considerations: a) in the field of the biogenesis of mitochondria, the mitoribosome is a biological key structure, on which synthesis of fundamental mitochondrial elements depends; b) from a phylogenetic point of view questions about the ancestral origin of mitochondrial genomes remain open. Mitoribosomes resemble other ribosomes in their fundamental properties. They are constituted of two subunits containing RNA and proteins. They function according to the same overall mechanism, using initiator tRNA, aminoacyl-tRNA and factors for initiation and elongation to translate mRNA. Mitoribosomes have been observed in situ and their composition has been established by ultrastructural cytochemistry. They are preferentially associated with the inner mitochondrial membrane and are occasionally aligned in "mitopolysomes". Mitoribosomes have been isolated, obtained whole or dissociated into subunits. Frequently, fine morphological details permit to distinguish the mitoribosomes from their cytoplasmic counterparts. The diversity found in various physico-chemical properties (S coefficient, molecular weight, buoyant density, RNA/protein ratio, RNA and protein characteristics) of mitoribosomes indicates that this class of ribosomes is the more heterogeneous. Small and large mrRNA from various organisms showed frequent homologies and conserved basic secondary structures (these similarities depending on the organism) in defined RNA regions, when compared with their counterpart molecules in other ribosomes from various origins. These regions are probably involved in the maintenance of fundamental active conformation. Post-transcriptional oligoadenylation of 3'-termini of the small and large mrRNA in mammals appears to be a general phenomenon. Methylated nucleotides in large and small mrRNA are rare, but their presence seems to constitute an important feature, for they have been phylogenetically conserved and are located in regions of the mrRNA molecules which show a high degree of primary sequence conservation. One unique feature of the mitoribosomes of animal and fungal cells is the absence of 5 S and 5.8 S rRNA molecules. But a well-established exception to the general absence of 5 S RNA is the presence of this RNA molecule in mitoribosomes extracted from higher plants.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Calmodulin binding proteins in rat liver mitochondria.

Calmodulin binding proteins have been found in submitochondrial fractions obtained from highly purified rat liver mitochondria. The matrix fraction contains two major calmodulin binding proteins: one, having Mr of 145,000, apparently is carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase. Another has a Mr of 58,000 and has not been associated with enzyme activities. A major calmodulin binding protein of unknown function and having Mr of 32,000 has been found in the Triton X-100 solubilizate of the inner membrane. Minor amounts of two calmodulin binding proteins having Mr of about 37,000 and 56,000 have been found in the outer membrane.

Selective labeling and rotational diffusion of the ADP/ATP translocator in the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Submitochondrial particles were labeled with the triplet probe eosin-5-maleimide (EMA) after pretreatment with N-ethylmaleimide. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, eosin fluorescence occurred in a single band of Mr approximately 30,000. The labeled band was identified as the ADP/ATP translocator, since EMA binding was completely inhibited by carboxyatractylate. Furthermore, the EMA-labeled polypeptide had the same molecular weight as the purified carboxyatractylate-bound translocator and the purified EMA-labeled translocator. Rotational diffusion of the translocator around the membrane normal in submitochondrial particles was measured by observing flash-induced absorption anisotropy of EMA. The translocator rotates with a time constant which varied from approximately 240 microseconds at 5 degrees C to approximately 100 microseconds at 37 degrees C. However, it is likely that only a fraction of the translocator rotates, the remainder being immobile over the measurement time of 500 microseconds. The mobile fraction of the translocator decreased with decrease in temperature. The observed fluorescence anisotropy of 0.24 indicates that EMA undergoes subnanosecond rapid wobbling in the binding site of the ADP/ATP translocator.

Modification of the spectral properties of cytochrome b in mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae resistant to 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. Mapping at two distinct genetic loci of the split mitochondrial gene of cytochrome b.

The effects of five inhibitors of the cytochrome bc1 complex: 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (diuron), 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide (HpHOQnO), antimycin A, funiculosin and mucidin were measured in submitochondrial particles of strains of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae belonging to two classes of diuron-resistant mutants Diu 1 and Diu 2 which are modified in different exons of the split mitochondrial gene of cytochrome b. 1. The oxidation of NADH and of cytochrome b-561 exhibits a similar resistance to diuron and HpHOQnO in Diu 1 and Diu 2 mutants. 2. No extra reduction of cytochrome b-561 and cytochrome b-565 is observed in the presence of diuron and HpHOQnO. 3. Both Diu 1 and Diu 2 mutants exhibit the red shift of cytochrome b-561 induced by concentrations of HpHOQno 2 -- 3-times higher than those required in the parental strains. 4. The spectral and respiratory effects of antimycin A, funiculosin and mucidin and generally similar in the diuron-resistant mutants and in their parental strains. However a cross-resistance between diuron and antimycin A is indicated in one Diu 2 mutant. 5. From the combined genetic and biochemical data it is concluded that the interaction of diuron and HpHOQnO with cytochrome b is mediated by at least two specific amino acids located apart in the central region of the apocytochrome b peptide coded by mitochondrial DNA. These two amino acids control tightly the extra reduction of cytochromes b-565 and b-561 as well as the flow of electrons through the bc1 complex. However the binding of HpHOQnO required for the expression of the red shift of cytochrome b-561 is only slightly affected by the diu-1 and diu-2 mutations.

Control and virus-transformed baby hamster kidney cells resistant to ethidium bromide. II. Membrane properties.

Aspects of membrane structure and functions were studied in ethidium bromide resistant cells. Submitochondrial particles were solubilized and electrophoresed. The gel patterns, representing mitochondrial membrane proteins, demonstrated qualitative and quantitative alterations in mitochondrial preparations derived from virus-transformed cells and ethidium bromide resistant cells as compared to the control cells. The plasma membrane glycoproteins were labelled by the sodium borohydride method. The glycoproteins were pleased with Triton X-100 and electrophoresed. Fluorograms of the gels demonstrated some marked differences between the ethidium bromide resistant cells and their parental strain. The observed alterations in the membrane glycoproteins did not result in altered glucose transport properties or in the elution patterns of plasma membrane glycopeptides as analyzed by Sephadex G-50 chromatography. Dye uptake and binding studies with intact parental and drug resistant cells and their isolated mitochondria demonstrated no alteration of the membrane permeability or the number of binding sites for ethidium bromide. Similar results were also obtained with a cyanine dye. This latter finding was significant in that it permitted one to exclude dye exclusion as a mechanism for ethidium bromide resistance.