Activation of the Alternative Oxidase of Yarrowia lipolytica by Adenosine Monophosphate

The study of the effect of nucleoside phosphates on the activity of cyanide-resistant oxidase in the mitochondria and the submitochondrial particles of Yarrowia lipolytica showed that adenosine-5-monophosphate (AMP) did not stimulate the respiration of the intact mitochondria. The incubation of the mitochondria at room temperature (25°) for 3–5 h or their treatment with ultrasound, phospholipase A, and the detergent Triton X-100 at a low temperature inactivated the cyanide-resistant alternative oxidase. The inactivated alternative oxidase could be reactivated by AMP. The reactivating effect of AMP was enhanced by azolectin. Some other nucleoside phosphates also showed reactivating ability, in the following descending order: AMP = GMP > GDP > GTP > XMP > IMP. The apparent reaction rate constant K _m for AMP upon the reactivation of the alternative oxidase of mitochondria treated with Triton X-100 or incubated at 25°C was 12.5 and 20 M, respectively. The K _m for AMP upon the reactivation of the alternative oxidase of submitochondrial particles was 15 M. During the incubation of yeast cells under conditions promoting the development of alternative oxidase, the content of adenine nucleotides (AMP, ADP, and ATP) in the cells and their respiration tended to decrease. The subsequent addition of cyanide to the cells activated their respiration, diminished the intracellular content of ATP by three times, and augmented the content of AMP by five times. These data suggest that the stimulation of cell respiration by cyanide may be due to the activation of alternative oxidase by AMP.     

Intracellular cAMP Content and the Induction of Alternative Oxidase in the Yeast Yarrowia lipolytica

The effect of cyanide, antimycin A, ethanol, and acetate on the induction of alternative oxidase in the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica VKM Y-155 was studied. The aerobic incubation of logarithmic-phase cells, whose respiration is sensitive to cyanide, in the presence of the aforementioned compounds led to the development of cyanide-resistant respiration, which could be suppressed by benzohydroxamic acid, an inhibitor of alternative oxidases. The incubation of cells with cyanide, ethanol, or acetate raised the intracellular pool of cAMP, which attained maximal values after a 2- to 3-min incubation period, then rapidly decreased to the initial value and did not change over the next three hours of incubation. The possible role of cAMP in the induction of alternative oxidase in yeast cells is discussed.     

Interactions Between the Cytochrome Pathway and the Alternative Oxidase in Isolated Acanthamoeba castellanii Mitochondria

The steady-state activity of the two quinol-oxidizing pathways of Acanthamoeba castellanii mitochondria, the phosphorylating cytochrome pathway (i.e. the benzohydroxamate(BHAM)-resistant respiration in state 3) and the alternative oxidase (i.e. the KCN-resistant respiration), is shown to be fixed by ubiquinone (Q) pool redox state independently of the reducing substrate (succinate or exogenous reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)), indicating that the active Q pool is homogenous. For both pathways, activity increases with the Q reduction level (up to 80%). However, the cytochrome pathway respiration partially inhibited (about 50%) by myxothiazol decreases when the Q reduction level increases above 80%. The decrease can be explained by the Q cycle mechanism of complex III. It is also shown that BHAM has an influence on the relationship between the rate of ADP phosphorylation and the Q reduction level when alternative oxidase is active, and that KCN has an influence on the relationship between the alternative oxidase activity and the Q reduction level. These unexpected effects of BHAM and KCN observed at a given Q reduction level are likely due to functional connections between the two pathways activities or to protein–protein interaction.     

Mutants of the Phytopathogenic FungusMagnaporthe griseaDeficient in Alternative, Cyanide-Resistant, Respiration

The phytopathogenic fungusMagnaporthe griseahas a cyanide-resistant respiratory pathway. The fungicide SSF-126 ((E)-2-methoxyimino-N-methyl-2-(2-phenoxyphenyl) acetamide) blocks the cytochrome electron transport ofM. griseaand induces the alternative respiratory pathway. Twelve mutants ofM. griseamore susceptible to SSF-126 than wild type were identified afterN-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis. Five mutants retained a reduced alternative respiration activity, and seven mutants lacked alternative pathway activity. A monoclonal antibody against the maize alternative oxidase cross-reacted against a 40-kDa mitochondrial protein ofM. grisea,indicating that the 40-kDa protein is an alternative oxidase. Immunoblot analysis indicated that the seven completely deficient mutants grouped into two classes: four mutants produced the 40-kDa proteins while the other three mutants failed to produce the functional protein.     

Involvement of the alternative oxidase in respiration of Yarrowia lipolytica mitochondria is controlled by the activity of the cytochrome pathway

The degree of involvement of cyanide-resistant alternative oxidase in the respiration of Yarrowia lipolytica mitochondria was evaluated by comparing the rate of oxygen consumption in the presence of cyanide, which shows the activity of the cyanide-resistant alternative oxidase, and the oxidation rate of cytochrome c by ferricyanide, which shows the activity of the main cytochrome pathway. The oxidation of succinate by mitochondria in the presence of ferricyanide and cyanide was associated with oxygen consumption due to the functioning of the alternative oxidase. The subsequent addition of ADP or FCCP (an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation) completely inhibited oxygen consumption by the mitochondria. Under these conditions, the inhibition of the alternative oxidase by benzohydroxamic acid (BHA) failed to affect the reduction of ferricyanide at the level of cytochrome c. BHA did not influence the rate of ferricyanide reduction by the cytochrome pathway occurring in controlled state 4, nor could it change the phosphorylation quotient ATP/O upon the oxidation of various substrates. These data indicate that the alternative system is unable to compete with the cytochrome respiratory chain for electrons. The alternative oxidase only transfers the electrons that are superfluous for the cytochrome respiratory chain.     

The Alternative Respiration Pathway in Leaves ofRhodiola roseaand Ajuga reptans: Presumable Physiological Role

The effect of growth conditions and plant age on the relationships between respiratory pathways was investigated in Rhodiola roseaand Ajuga reptans.The alternative pathway (AP) contributed 0–50% to the leaf respiration; however, this pathway was absent from the overwintered leaves of A. reptans.In both plant species, AP contributed 15–20% to the respiration of mature leaves, and in the young rapidly expanding leaves the contribution was twice higher. The highest AP contribution (40–50%) was found in the leaves of A. reptansplants grown in an experimental plot in full light. As compared to the plot-grown plants, A. reptansplants grown in their natural habitats were characterized by a lower AP contribution to the respiration of leaves; they contained two times less nonstructural carbohydrates and accumulated less biomass. We conclude that a high AP contribution to the respiration of leaves correlates with their rapid growth and that a high supply of respiratory substrates is one of prerequisite for the AP activation.     

The Content of Alternative Oxidase of Euglena Mitochondria is Increased by Growth in the Presence of Cyanide and is not Cytochrome o.

ABSTRACT A study of the effect of respiratory inhibitors on O₂ uptake of Euglena gracilis mitochondria, isolated from cells grown in the presence of cyanide or with ethanol as carbon source, was undertaken. The contents of cytochrome c oxidase and alternative oxidase were also determined. Inhibition of respiration by antimycin and cyanide was only partial and it was dependent on the oxidizable substrate used. Succinate oxidation was the most sensitive to cyanide whereas lactate oxidation was the most resistant. Cell growth in the presence of cyanide or with ethanol as carbon source brought about an enhanced content of alternative oxidase without a concomitant increase in cytochrome aa₃ content. However, a correlation between cyanide-resistant respiration and alternative oxidase content was not found. Analysis of heme types in mitochondrial membranes revealed the absence of heme O. The data suggest the presence of an inducible alternative oxidase in Euglena mitochondria which has high resistance to cyanide and contains heme B. A close relationship between Euglena alternative oxidase and bacterial quinol oxidases containing B-type heme is proposed.     

Effects of Enhanced UV-B Radiation on the Activity and Expression of Alternative Oxidase in Red Kidney Bean Leaves

An increase in ultraviolet(UV)B radiation on the earth's surface is a feature of current global climate changes.It hasbeen reported that alternative oxidase(AOX)may have a protective role against oxidative stress induced by environmentalstresses,such as UV-B.To better understand the characteristic tolerance of plants to UV-B radiation,the effects ofenhanced UV-B radiation on the activity and expression of AOX in red kidney bean(Phaseolus vulgaris)leaves wereinvestigated in the present study.The results show that the total respiration rate and AOX activity in red kidney bean leavesincreased significantly during treatment with enhanced UV-B.However,cytochrome oxidase(COX)activity did not changesignificantly.The H_2O_2 content was also markedly increased and reached a maximum of 4.45 mmol.L~(-1)·g~(-1)DW(dry weight)at 24 h of UV-B treatment,before dropping rapidly.Both alternative pathway content and alternative pathway activity wereincreased in the presence of exogenous H_2O_2.Immunoblotting analysis with anti-AOX monoclonal antibody revealed thatexpression of the AOX protein increased in red kidney bean leaves under enhanced UV-B radiation,reaching a peak at 72h.In addition,AOX expression in red kidney bean leaves was induced by exogenous H_2O_2.These data indicate that theincrease in AOX activity in red kidney bean leaves under enhanced UV-B radiation was mainly due to H_2O_2-induced AOXexpression.     

The Response Difference of Mitochondria in Recalcitrant Antiaris toxicaria Axes and Orthodox Zea mays Embryos to Dehydration Injury

Long-term preservation of recalcitrant seeds is very difficult because the physiological basis on their desiccation sensitivity is poorly understood. Survival of Antiaris toxicaria axes rapidly decreased and that of immature maize embryos very slowly decreased with dehydration. To understand their different responses to dehydration, we examined the changes in mitochondria activity during dehydration. Although activities of cytochrome （Cyt） c oxidase and malate dehydrogenase of the A. toxicaria axis and maize embryo mitochondria decreased with dehydration, the parameters of maize embryo mitochondria were much higher than those of A. toxicaria, showing that the damage was more severe for the A. toxicaria axis mitochondria than for those of maize embryo. The state I and III respiration of the A. toxicaria axis mitochondria were higher than those of maize embryo, the former rapidly decreased, and the latter slowly decreased with dehydration. The proportion of Cyt c pathway to state III respiration for the A. toxicaria axis mitochondria was low and rapidly decreased with dehydration, and the proportion of alternative oxidase pathway was high and slightly increased with dehydration. In contrast, the proportion of Cyt c pathway for maize embryo mitochondria was high, and that of alternative oxidase pathway was low. Both pathways decreased slowly with dehydration.     

不同低温胁迫对烟草愈伤组织抗氰交替途径诱导和交替氧化酶表达影响的比较

比较了不同低温(14℃和4℃)胁迫对烟草(Nicotiana rusticaL．)愈伤组织抗氰交替途径诱导和交替氧化酶表达的影响。结果显示,不同低温胁迫处理能显著诱导烟草愈伤组织交替途径容量和实际运行的增加,且都呈现出基本相同的变化模式：在胁迫的初期(1—3d)持续增加,在3d时达到最高,而后下降到一个相对恒定的水平。但交替途径容量增加的幅度与温度下降的程度密切相关,而交替途径实际运行量的诱导程度在不同低温胁迫下的差异却很小。表明交替途径容量和实际运行对低温胁迫的响应是不同的。免疫印迹分析结果表明：低温胁迫明显诱导了交替氧化酶总蛋白的增加,且其随低温胁迫进程的变化与交替途径容量的变化基本一致;而对交替氧化酶单体与二聚体在低温胁迫下的含量变化检测结果则显示,烟草愈伤组织中交替氧化酶主要以二聚体形式存在,且这一存在形式并不随低温胁迫程度的加深而发生改变。两种形式的交替氧化酶蛋白含量都能被低温胁迫诱导增加,但其单体水平在两种不同的低温胁迫下并无明显差别,而4℃低温胁迫诱导的二聚体交替氧化酶蛋白含量明显高于14℃。表明不同程度低温对抗氰交替途径发生的不同影响主要是由于对交替氧化酶蛋白二聚体形式的不同诱导程度所致;而高活性的交替氧化酶单体形式则不因低温胁迫程度的加重而被明显诱导升高,使得抗氰交替途径的运行程度在两种不同的低温胁迫处理条件下无显著差异。     

Reactivity of Nitric Oxide with Cytochrome c Oxidase: Interactions with the Binuclear Centre and Mechanism of Inhibition

Nitric oxide (NO) has recently been recognized as an important biological mediator that inhibits respiration at cytochrome c oxidase (CcO). This inhibition is reversible and shows competition with oxygen, the K _i being lower at low oxygen concentrations. Although the species that binds NO in turnover has been suggested to contain a partially reduced binuclear center, the exact mechanism of the inhibition is not clear. Recently, rapid (ms) redox reactions of NO with the binuclear center have been reported, e.g., the ejection of an electron to cytochrome a and the depletion of the intermediates P and F. These observations have been rationalized within a scheme in which NO reacts with oxidized Cu_B leading to the reduction of this metal center and formation of nitrite in a very fast reaction. Electron migration from Cu_B to other redox sites within the enzyme is proposed to explain the optical transitions observed. The relevance of these reactions to the inhibition of CcO and metabolism of NO are discussed.     

The Profile of Cardiac Cytochrome c Oxidase (COX) Expression in an Accelerated Cardiac-Hypertrophy Model

Summary The contribution of the mitochondrial components, the main source of energy for the cardiac hypertrophic growth induced by pressure overload, is not well understood. In the present study, complete coarctation of abdominal aorta was used to induce the rapid development of cardiac hypertrophy in rats. One to two days after surgery, we observed significantly higher blood pressure and cardiac hypertrophy, which remained constantly high afterwards. We found an early increased level of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) mRNA determined by in-situ hybridization and dot blotting assays in the hypertrophied hearts, and a drop to the baseline 20 days after surgery. Similarly, mitochondrial COX protein level and enzyme activity increased and, however, dropped even lower than baseline 20 days following surgery. In addition, in natural hypertension-induced hypertrophic hearts in genetically hypertensive rats, the COX protein was significantly lower than in normotensive rats. Taken together, the lower efficiency of mitochondrial activity in the enlarged hearts of long-term complete coarcted rats or genetically hypertensive rats could be, at least partially, the cause of hypertensive cardiac disease. Additionally, the rapid complete coarctation-induced cardiac hypertrophy was accompanied by a disproportionate COX activity increase, which was suggested to maintain the cardiac energy-producing capacity in overloaded hearts.     

The production of an inducible antisense alternative oxidase (Aox1a) plant

Plant mitochondria contain an alternative oxidase (AOX) acting as a terminal electron acceptor of the alternative pathway in the electron transport chain. Here we describe the production of inducible antisense Aox1a plants of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. and the procedures used to determine the resulting alternative pathway activity. The Arabidopsis Aox1a cDNA sequence was cloned behind a copper-inducible promoter system in the antisense orientation. Arabidopsis thaliana (Columbia) plants were transformed by in-planta vacuum infiltration with Agrobacterium containing the antisense construct. Whole-leaf ethanol production was used as a measure to investigate alternative pathway activity in the presence of antimycin A. After 24 h, leaves from the copper-induced, antisense line F1.1 produced up to 8.8 times more ethanol (via aerobic fermentation) than the non-induced and wild-type leaves, indicating effective cytochrome pathway inhibition by antimycin A and a decreased alternative pathway activity in induced F1.1 leaves. Transgene expression studies also revealed no expression in non-induced leaves and up until 24 h post-induction. Copper-induced transgenic leaves were less susceptible to alternative pathway inhibition than non-induced transgenic leaves, as seen via tissue-slice respiratory studies, and mitochondrial respiration, using F1.1 cell cultures, also supported this. These results demonstrate the successful production of a transgenic line of Arabidopsis in which the alternative pathway activity can be genetically manipulated with an inducible antisense system. Received: 31 March 2000 / Accepted: 10 May 2000     

A Metabolic Shift toward Pentose Phosphate Pathway Is Necessary for Amyloid Fibril- and Phorbol 12-Myristate 13-Acetate-induced Neutrophil Extracellular Trap (NET) Formation

Neutrophils are the main defense cells of the innate immune system. Upon stimulation, neutrophils release their chromosomal DNA to trap and kill microorganisms and inhibit their dissemination. These chromatin traps are termed neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and are decorated with granular and cytoplasm proteins. NET release can be induced by several microorganism membrane components, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate as well as by amyloid fibrils, insoluble proteinaceous molecules associated with more than 40 different pathologies among other stimuli. The intracellular signaling involved in NET formation is complex and remains unclear for most tested stimuli. Herein we demonstrate that a metabolic shift toward the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is necessary for NET release because glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), an important enzyme from PPP, fuels NADPH oxidase with NADPH to produce superoxide and thus induce NETs. In addition, we observed that mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, which are NADPH-independent, are not effective in producing NETs. These data shed new light on how the PPP and glucose metabolism contributes to NET formation.     

Conservation of the alternative oxidase and enhancement of cyanide-resistant respiration in suspension-cultured pear fruit cells by inhibitors of macromolecular synthesis

The contribution of the alternative pathway to the respiration of suspension-cultured pear ( Pyrus communis cv. Passa Crasanne) cells was enhanced, often severalfold, within 2 to 4 days following the addition of cycloheximide, actinomycin D, or 2-(4-methyl-2,6-dinitroanalino)- N -methyl propionamide (D-MDMP). Concomitant inhibition of cellular protein synthesis by cycloheximide and actinomycin D was transient and incomplete. However, inhibition by D-MDMP was virtually complete (>97%) and persisted over several days. [³⁵S]-labelling and polyacrylamide gel separation indicated that cycloheximide precluded the appearance of discernable new proteins in mitochondria. Probes with monoclonal antibodies revealed a conservation of alternative oxidase protein levels in the mitochondria of inhibitor-treated cells. The data, appraised within the complexities of cell-culture dynamics, lead to the conclusion that the observed increases in capacity for cyanide-resistant respiration are the consequence, likely indirect, of inhibited protein synthesis with resultant retention and activation of constitutive alternative oxidase.     

Conservation of the alternative oxidase and enhancement of cyanide-resistant respiration in suspension-cultured pear fruit cells by inhibitors of macromolecular synthesis

The contribution of the alternative pathway to the respiration of suspension-cultured pear ( Pyrus communis cv. Passa Crasanne) cells was enhanced, often severalfold, within 2 to 4 days following the addition of cycloheximide, actinomycin D, or 2-(4-methyl-2,6-dinitroanalino)- N -methyl propionamide (D-MDMP). Concomitant inhibition of cellular protein synthesis by cycloheximide and actinomycin D was transient and incomplete. However, inhibition by D-MDMP was virtually complete (>97%) and persisted over several days. [³⁵S]-labelling and polyacrylamide gel separation indicated that cycloheximide precluded the appearance of discernable new proteins in mitochondria. Probes with monoclonal antibodies revealed a conservation of alternative oxidase protein levels in the mitochondria of inhibitor-treated cells. The data, appraised within the complexities of cell-culture dynamics, lead to the conclusion that the observed increases in capacity for cyanide-resistant respiration are the consequence, likely indirect, of inhibited protein synthesis with resultant retention and activation of constitutive alternative oxidase.     

Apparent Selection Intensity for the Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I Gene Varies with Mode of Reproduction in Echinoderms

When most amino acid substitutions in protein-coding genes are slightly deleterious rather than selectively neutral, life history differences can potentially modify the effective population size or the selective regime, resulting in altered ratios of non-synonymous to synonymous substitutions among taxa. We studied substitution patterns for the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene in a sea star genus (Leptasterias spp.) with an obligate brood-protecting mode of reproduction and small-scale population genetic subdivision, and compared the results to available COI sequences in nine other genera of echinoderms with pelagic larvae: three sea stars, five sea urchins and one brittle star. We predicted that this life history difference would be associated with differences in the ratio of non-synonymous (dN) to synonymous (dS) substitution rates. Leptasterias had a significantly greater dN/dS ratio (both between species and within species), a significantly smaller transition/transversion rate ratio, and a significantly lower average nucleotide diversity within species, than did the non-brooding genera. Other explanations for the results, such as altered mutation rates or selective sweeps, were not supported by the data analysis. These findings highlight the potential influence of reproductive traits and other life history factors on patterns of nucleotide substitution within and between species.     

Mitochondrial events during development of thermogenesis inSauromatum guttatum (Schott)

Changes in the mitochondrial electrontransport chain were followed in the thermogenic inflorescence ofSauromatum guttatum Schott from 5d before thermogenesis to 3d thereafter. The capacities of the alternative and cytochrome pathways of mitochondrial electron transport were found to be developmentally coordinated to contribute to the thermogenic events in the appendix and the sterile floral regions. Electron flow through the alternative pathway, is believed primarily responsible for heat production, and this pathway was expressed to the highest degree in both tissues during thermogenesis. In the appendix, the cytochrome chain was shut down considerably during thermogenesis, forcing electron flow through the alternative pathway and thus yielding maximum heat production. The shut-down of the cytochrome chain does not occur in the sterile floral region which may explain why this region is not as thermogenic as the appendix. Cytochrome-oxidase difference spectra indicated that the cytochrome oxidase of appendix mitochondria was not capable of accepting electrons on the day of thermogenesis, and that this capacity was partially restored by the following day even though the tissue was senescing at this time point. Relative levels of messenger RNAs for cytochrome-oxidase subunits I and II were found to decrease the day before thermogenesis, which could result in lower levels of these proteins in appendix mitochondria on the day of thermogenesis. The capacity for overall mitochondrial protein synthesis was also investigated and was found to drop continuously from 5d before thermogenesis to 3d thereafter, even though the capacities of the electron-transport chain were changing dramatically. The levels of mitochondrial ribosomal RNA levels decreased during development, which could explain the overall drop in mitochondrial translational efficiency. Experiments concerning the synthesis of the alternative-oxidase proteins indicated that they were most likely nuclearly encoded, and that their expression could be induced by salicylic acid.