Characterization of oxidative phosphorylation in the colorless chlorophyte Polytomella sp.: Its mitochondrial respiratory chain lacks a plant-like alternative oxidase

The presence of an alternative oxidase (AOX) in Polytomella sp., a colorless relative of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, was explored. Oxygen uptake in Polytomella sp. mitochondria was inhibited by KCN (94%) or antimycin (96%), and the remaining cyanide-resistant respiration was not blocked by the AOX inhibitors salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) or n-propylgallate. No stimulation of an AOX activity was found upon addition of either pyruvate, α-ketoglutarate, or AMP, or by treatment with DTT. An antibody raised against C. reinhardtii AOX did not recognized any polypeptide band of Polytomella sp. mitochondria in Western blots. Also, PCR experiments and Southern blot analysis failed to identify an Aox gene in this colorless alga. Finally, KCN exposure of cell cultures failed to stimulate an AOX activity. Nevertheless, KCN exposure of Polytomella sp. cells induced diminished mitochondrial respiration (20%) and apparent changes in cytochrome c oxidase affinity towards cyanide. KCN-adapted cells exhibited a significant increase of a-type cytochromes, suggesting accumulation of inactive forms of cytochrome c oxidase. Another effect of KCN exposure was the reduction of the protein/fatty acid ratio of mitochondrial membranes, which may affect the observed respiratory activity. We conclude that Polytomella lacks a plant-like AOX, and that its corresponding gene was probably lost during the divergence of this colorless genus from its close photosynthetic relatives.     

Purification of a flavoprotein having NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and transhydrogenase activities from Nitrobacter winogradskyi and its molecular and enzymatic properties

A flavoenzyme which showed NADPH-cytochrome c reductase (NADPH-cytochrome c oxidoreductase EC 1.6.2.4) and transhydrogenase (NADPH-NAD⁺ oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.1.1) activities was purified to an electrophoretically homogeneous state from Nitrobacter winogradskyi. The reductase was a flavoprotein which contained one FAD per molecule but no FMN. The oxidized form of the enzyme showed absorption maxima at 272, 375 and 459 nm with a shoulder at 490 nm, its molecular weight was estimated to be 36,000 by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the enzyme seemed to exist as a dimer in aqueous solution. The enzyme catalyzed reduction of cytochrome c, DCIP and benzylviologen by NADPH, oxidation of NADPH with menadione and duroquinone, and showed transhydrogenase activity. NADH was less effective than NADPH as the electron donor in the reactions catalyzed by the enzyme. The NADPH-reduction catalyzed by the enzyme of N. winogradskyi cytochrome c-550 and horse cytochrome c was stimulated by spinach ferredoxin. The enzyme reduced NADP⁺ with reduced spinach ferredoxin and benzylviologen radical.Abbreviations DCIP dichlorophenolindophenol - Tris trishydroxy-methylaminomethane - Mops 3-(N-morpholino) propanesulfonic acid - SDS sodium dodecylsufate     

Inactivation of nitric oxide by cytochrome c oxidase under steady-state oxygen conditions

We have developed a respiration chamber that allows intact cells to be studied under controlled oxygen (O₂) conditions. The system measures the concentrations of O₂ and nitric oxide (NO) in the cell suspension, while the redox state of cytochrome c oxidase is continuously monitored optically. Using human embryonic kidney cells transfected with a tetracycline-inducible NO synthase we show that the inactivation of NO by cytochrome c oxidase is dependent on both O₂ concentration and electron turnover of the enzyme. At a high O₂ concentration (70 μM), and while the enzyme is in turnover, NO generated by the NO synthase upon addition of a given concentration of l-arginine is partially inactivated by cytochrome c oxidase and does not affect the redox state of the enzyme or consumption of O₂. At low O₂ (15 μM), when the cytochrome c oxidase is more reduced, inactivation of NO is decreased. In addition, the NO that is not inactivated inhibits the cytochrome c oxidase, further reducing the enzyme and lowering O₂ consumption. At both high and low O₂ concentrations the inactivation of NO is decreased when sodium azide is used to inhibit cytochrome c oxidase and decrease electron turnover.     

Multiple sites of inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport by local anesthetics

Local anesthetics and alcohols were found to inhibit mitochondrial electron transport at several points along the chain. The anesthetics employed were the tertiary amines procaine, tetracaine, dibucaine, and chlorpromazine, and the alcohols were n-butanol, n-pentanol, n-hexanol, and benzyl alcohol. Uncoupled sonic submitochondrial particles from beef heart and rat liver were studied. We report the following: (1) All of the anesthetics were found to inhibit each of the segments of the electron transport chain assayed; these included cytochrome c oxidase, durohydroquinone oxidase, succinate oxidase, NADH oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase, succinate-cytochrome c oxidoreductase, and NADH-cytochrome c oxidoreductase. (2) NADH oxidase and NADH-cytochrome c oxidoreductase required the lowest concentrations of anesthetic for inhibition, and cytochrome c oxidase required the highest concentrations. (3) We conclude that there are several points along the chain at which inhibition occurs, the most sensitive being in the region of Complex I (NADH dehydrogenase). (4) Beef heart submitochondrial particles are less sensitive to inhibition than are rat liver particles. (5) Low concentrations of several of the anesthetics gave enhancement of electron transport activity, whereas higher concentrations of the same agents caused inhibition. (6) The concentrations of anesthetics (alcohol and tertiary amine) which gave 50% inhibition of NADH oxidase were lower than the reported concentrations required for blockage of frog sciatic nerve.     

Respiratory terminal oxidases in the facultative chemoheterotrophic and dinitrogen fixing cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis strain ATCC 29413: characterization of the cox2 locus

Upon nitrogen step-down, some filamentous cyanobacteria differentiate heterocysts, cells specialized for dinitrogen fixation, a highly oxygen sensitive process. Aerobic respiration is one of the mechanisms responsible for a microaerobic environment in heterocysts and respiratory terminal oxidases are the key enzymes of the respiratory chains. We used Anabaena variabilis strain ATCC 29413, because it is one of the few heterocyst-forming facultatively chemoheterotrophic cyanobacteria amenable to genetic manipulation. Using PCR with degenerate primers, we found four gene loci for respiratory terminal oxidases, three of which code for putative cytochrome c oxidases and one whose genes are homologous to cytochrome bd-type quinol oxidases. One cytochrome c oxidase, Cox2, was the only enzyme whose expression, tested by RT-PCR, was evidently up-regulated in diazotrophy, and therefore cloned, sequenced, and characterized. Up-regulation of Cox2 was corroborated by Northern and primer extension analyses. Strains were constructed lacking Cox1 (a previously characterized cytochrome c oxidase), Cox2, or both, which all grew diazotrophically. In vitro cytochrome c oxidase and respiratory activities were determined in all strains, allowing for the first time to estimate the relative contributions to total respiration of the different respiratory electron transport branches under different external conditions. Especially adding fructose to the growth medium led to a dramatic enhancement of in vitro cytochrome c oxidation and in vivo respiratory activity without significantly influencing gene expression.     

Reaction of cytochrome c in the electron-transport chain of Paracoccus denitrificans

The reaction of the cytochrome c oxidase (ferrocytochrome c:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.9.3.1) of Paracoccus denitrificans cytoplasmic membranes with the endogenous cytochrome c of the membranes was studied, as well as its interaction with added exogenous cytochrome c from P. denitrificans or bovine heart. The polarographic method was employed, using N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine plus ascorbate to reduce the cytochrome c. We found that overall electron transport can proceed maximally while the cytochrome c remains membrane bound; NADH or succinoxidase activities were not inhibited by the addition of substances which bind the P. denitrificans cytochrome c strongly. In contrast to our observations with the spectrophotometric method (Smith, L., Davies, H.C. and Nava, M.E. (1976) Biochemistry 15, 5827–5831), in the polarographic assays the membrane-bound oxidase reacts with about equal rapidity with exogenous bovine and P. denitrificans cytochromes c. The reaction of the oxidase with the endogenous cytochrome c proceeds at high rates and preferentially to that with exogenous cytochrome c; the reaction with the latter, but not the former is inhibited by positively charged poly(l-lysine). The cytochrome c and the oxidase appear to be very closely associated on the membrane.     

Cytochrome c-linked reactions in Rhodopseudomonas palustris grown photosynthetically on thiosulfate

The nonsulfur purple bacterium Rps. palustris was adapted to grow photoautotrophically with thiosulfate as substrate. An isolated cell-free fraction catalyzed the enzymatic transfer of electrons from thiosulfate to endogenous and/or added mammalian cytochrome c. Antimycin A, NOQNO, rotenone, amytal and atebrin did not inhibit the thiosulfate-cytochrome c reductase. The products of thiosulfate oxidation were primarily tetrathionate, trithionate, and sulfate, suggesting oxidation via the polythionate pathway. Succinate, formate and NADH were also effective electron donors in this system showing Michaelis constants of 40, 30 and 0.025 mm, respectively for cytochrome c reduction. The NADH-cytochrome c reductase was not inhibited by flavoprotein inhibitors and by Antimycin A or NOQNO. The cell-free extracts also contained an active cytochrome c-O₂ oxidoreductase which was inhibited by cyanide, azide and EDTA, and these inhibitions were overcome by the addition of Cu²⁺. The oxidase activity was stimulated by the addition of uncoupling agents such as CCCP and DNP, as well as by Antimycin A and NOQNO. Reduced + CO minus reduced difference absorption spectra revealed the presence of cytochrome components of the a and o types which may function as the terminal oxidase(s).     

Reduction of ascorbate free radical by the plasma membrane of synaptic terminals from rat brain

Synaptic plasma membranes (SPMV) decrease the steady state ascorbate free radical (AFR) concentration of 1 mM ascorbate in phosphate/EDTA buffer (pH 7), due to AFR recycling by redox coupling between ascorbate and the ubiquinone content of these membranes. In the presence of NADH, but not NADPH, SPMV catalyse a rapid recycling of AFR which further lower the AFR concentration below 0.05 μM. These results correlate with the nearly 10-fold higher NADH oxidase over NADPH oxidase activity of SPMV. SPMV has NADH-dependent coenzyme Q reductase activity. In the presence of ascorbate the stimulation of the NADH oxidase activity of SPMV by coenzyme Q₁ and cytochrome c can be accounted for by the increase of the AFR concentration generated by the redox pairs ascorbate/coenzyme Q₁ and ascorbate/cytochrome c. The NADH:AFR reductase activity makes a major contribution to the NADH oxidase activity of SPMV and decreases the steady-state AFR concentration well below the micromolar concentration range.     

The kinetics of enzyme changes in yeast under conditions that cause the loss of mitochondria

1. Aerobically grown yeast having a high activity of glyoxylate-cycle, citric acid-cycle and electron-transport enzymes was transferred to a medium containing 10% glucose. After a lag phase of 30min. the yeast grew exponentially with a mean generation time of 94min. 2. The enzymes malate dehydrogenase, isocitrate lyase, succinate–cytochrome c oxidoreductase and NADH–cytochrome c oxidoreductase lost 45%, 17%, 27% and 46% of their activity respectively during the lag phase. 3. When growth commenced pyruvate kinase, pyruvate decarboxylase, alcohol dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase (NADP⁺-linked) and NADPH–cytochrome c oxidoreductase increased in activity, whereas aconitase, isocitrate dehydrogenase (NAD⁺- and NADP⁺-linked), α-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, fumarase, malate dehydrogenase, succinate–cytochrome c oxidoreductase, NADH–cytochrome c oxidoreductase, NADH oxidase, NADPH oxidase, cytochrome c oxidase, glutamate dehydrogenase (NAD⁺-linked), glutamate–oxaloacetate transaminase, isocitrate lyase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase decreased. 4. During the early stages of growth the loss of activity of aconitase, α-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, fumarase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase could be accounted for by dilution by cell division. The lower rate of loss of activity of isocitrate dehydrogenase (NAD⁺- and NADP⁺-linked), glutamate dehydrogenase (NAD⁺-linked), glutamate–oxaloacetate transaminase, NADPH oxidase and cytochrome c oxidase implies their continued synthesis, whereas the higher rate of loss of activity of malate dehydrogenase, isocitrate lyase, succinate–cytochrome c oxidoreductase, NADH–cytochrome c oxidoreductase and NADH oxidase means that these enzymes were actively removed. 5. The mechanisms of selective removal of enzyme activity and the control of the residual metabolic pathways are discussed.     

Nitric oxide and peroxynitrite cause irreversible increases in the Km for oxygen of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase: in vitro and in vivo studies

Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase is competitively and reversibly inhibited by inhibitors that bind to ferrous heme, such as carbon monoxide and nitric oxide. In the case of nitric oxide, nanomolar levels inhibit cytochrome oxidase by competing with oxygen at the enzyme's heme-copper active site. This raises the K_m for cellular respiration into the physiological range. This effect is readily reversible and may be a physiological control mechanism. Here we show that a number of in vitro and in vivo conditions result in an irreversible increase in the oxygen K_m. These include: treatment of the purified enzyme with peroxynitrite or high (μM) levels of nitric oxide; treatment of the endothelial-derived cell line, b.End5, with NO; activation of astrocytes by cytokines; reperfusion injury in the gerbil brain. Studies of cell respiration that fail to vary the oxygen concentration systematically are therefore likely to significantly underestimate the degree of irreversible damage to cytochrome oxidase.     

The electron transport system of Alcaligenes eutrophus H16

In a previous work (Kömen et al. 1991) it has been concluded that membrane fragments isolated from autotrophically grown Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 contain several iron-sulphur centres along with haems of a-, b-, c-, and d-type. These redox components have been proposed to be part of a branched respiratory chain leading to multiple membrane bound oxidases. Here, some of the respiratory activities catalyzed by membrane fragments from wild type cells of A. eutrophus (H16) and, for comparison, Paracoccus denitrificans, have been investigated through the use of electron transport inhibitors. Cyanide (CN^-) titration curves indicated that in A. eutrophus H16 oxidation of succinate and H₂ preferentially proceeds via the cytochrome c oxidase(s) branch (I ₅₀=2 · 10^-5 M) whereas the NADH dependent respiration started being inhibited at higher CN^- concentrations (I ₅₀=5 · 10^-4 M). In membranes isolated from both, cells harvested at late growth-phase (OD 12) and from a mutant deficient in cytochrome c oxidase activity (A. eutrophus RK1), respiration was insensitive to low CN^- concentrations (< 10^-4 M), and it was sustained by the high catalytic activities of two quinol oxidases. These alternative oxidases of b- (formally o-) and d-type showed different sensitivities to KCN (I ₅₀=10^-3 M and 10^-2 M, respectively). Interestingly, the cytochrome c oxidase(s) dependent respiration of H16 membranes was insensitive to antimycin A but largely inhibited by myxothiazol (10^-6 M). This, and previous work (Kömen et al. 1991), suggest that although the respiratory chain of A. eutrophus is endowed with a putative bc ₁ complex, its biochemical nature and role in respiration of this organism are apparently different from those of P. denitrificans. The peculiarity of the respiratory chain of A. eutrophus is confirmed by the rotenone insensitivity of the NADH oxidation in both protoplasts and membrane fragments from wild type and soluble hydrogenase deficient cells (HF14 and HF160). A tentative model of the respiratory chain of autotrophically grown A. eutrophus is presented.     

Knockdown of human Oxa1l impairs the biogenesis of F1Fo-ATP synthase and NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase

The Oxa1 protein is a founding member of the evolutionarily conserved Oxa1/Alb3/YidC protein family, which is involved in the biogenesis of membrane proteins in mitochondria, chloroplasts and bacteria. The predicted human homologue, Oxa1l, was originally identified by partial functional complementation of the respiratory growth defect of the yeast oxa1 mutant. Here we demonstrate that both the endogenous human Oxa1l, with an apparent molecular mass of 42 kDa, and the Oxa1l-FLAG chimeric protein localize exclusively to mitochondria in HEK293 cells. Furthermore, human Oxa1l was found to be an integral membrane protein, and, using two-dimensional blue native/denaturing PAGE, the majority of the protein was identified as part of a 600-700 kDa complex. The stable short hairpin (sh)RNA-mediated knockdown of Oxa1l in HEK293 cells resulted in markedly decreased steady-state levels and ATP hydrolytic activity of the F₁F_o-ATP synthase and moderately reduced levels and activity of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I). However, no significant accumulation of corresponding sub-complexes could be detected on blue native immunoblots. Intriguingly, the achieved depletion of Oxa1l protein did not adversely affect the assembly or activity of cytochrome c oxidase or the cytochrome bc₁ complex. Taken together, our results indicate that human Oxa1l represents a mitochondrial integral membrane protein required for the correct biogenesis of F₁F_o-ATP synthase and NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase.     

Quantum chemistry as a tool in bioenergetics

Recent developments of quantum chemical methods have made it possible to tackle crucial questions in bioenergetics. The most important systems, cytochrome c oxidase in cellular respiration and photosystem II (PSII) in photosynthesis will here be used as examples to illustrate the power of the quantum chemical tools. One main contribution from quantum chemistry is to put mechanistic suggestions onto an energy scale. Accordingly, free energy profiles can be constructed both for reduction of molecular oxygen in cytochrome c oxidase and water oxidation in PSII, including O-O bond cleavage and formation, and also proton pumping in cytochrome c oxidase. For the construction of the energy diagrams, the computational results sometimes have to be combined with experimental information, such as reduction potentials and rate constants for individual steps in the reactions.     

Respiratory Chain of a Pathogenic Fungus, Microsporum gypseum: Effect of the Antifungal Agent Pyrrolnitrin

Pyrrolnitrin has been reported to inhibit Bacillus megaterium primarily by forming complexes with phospholipids and to block electron transfer of Saccharomyces cerevisiae between succinate or reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and coenzyme Q. We found that pyrrolnitrin inhibited respiration of conidia of Microsporum gypseum. In mitochondrial preparations, pyrrolnitrin strongly inhibited respiration and the rotenone-sensitive NADH-cytochrome c reductase. The rotenone-insensitive NADH-cytochrome c reductase, the succinate-cytochrome c reductase, and the reduction of dichlorophenolindophenol by either NADH or succinate were inhibited to a lesser extent. However, the activity of cytochrome oxidase was not affected by pyrrolnitrin. The extent of reduction of flavoproteins by NADH and succinate, measured at 465 - 510 nm, was unaltered; however, the reduction of cytochrome b, measured at 560 - 575 nm, was partially inhibited by pyrrolnitrin. The level of totally reduced cytochrome b was restored with antimycin A. We, therefore, concluded that the primary site of action of this antifungal antibiotic is to block electron transfer between the flavoprotein of the NADH-dehydrogenase and cytochrome b segment of the respiratory chain of M. gypseum.     

External mitochondrial NADH-dependent reductase of redox cyclers: VDAC1 or Cyb5R3?

It was reported that VDAC1 possesses an NADH oxidoreductase activity and plays an important role in the activation of xenobiotics in the outer mitochondrial membrane. In the present work, we evaluated the participation of VDAC1 and Cyb5R3 in the NADH-dependent activation of various redox cyclers in mitochondria. We show that external NADH oxidoreductase caused the redox cycling of menadione ≫ lucigenin>nitrofurantoin. Paraquat was predominantly activated by internal mitochondria oxidoreductases. An increase in the ionic strength stimulated and suppressed the redox cycling of negatively and positively charged acceptors, as was expected for the Cyb5R3-mediated reduction. Antibodies against Cyb5R3 but not VDAC substantially inhibited the NADH-related oxidoreductase activities. The specific VDAC blockers G3139 and erastin, separately or in combination, in concentrations sufficient for the inhibition of substrate transport, exhibited minimal effects on the redox cycler-dependent NADH oxidation, ROS generation, and reduction of exogenous cytochrome c. In contrast, Cyb5R3 inhibitors (6-propyl-2-thiouracil, p-chloromercuriobenzoate, quercetin, mersalyl, and ebselen) showed similar patterns of inhibition of ROS generation and cytochrome c reduction. The analysis of the spectra of the endogenous cytochromes b₅ and c in the presence of nitrofurantoin and the inhibitors of VDAC and Cyb5R3 demonstrated that the redox cycler can transfer electrons from Cyb5R3 to endogenous cytochrome c. This caused the oxidation of outer membrane-bound cytochrome b₅, which is in redox balance with Cyb5R3. The data obtained argue against VDAC1 and in favor of Cyb5R3 involvement in the activation of redox cyclers in the outer mitochondrial membrane.     

On the significance of electron transport systems for growth of Rhodospirillum rubrum

The inhibitory effects of 2-hydroxybiphenyl on various electron transport reactions of isolated membranes and growth in the presence of malate of either phototrophic or chemotrophic cells of Rhodospirillum rubrum were studied. 50% inhibition of both oxygen uptake of whole cells and growth under chemotrophic conditions (i.e. aerobiosis in the dark) was achieved in the presence of 0.09 mM 2-hydroxybiphenyl. With isolated membranes the same effect on NADH oxidase was obtained with 0.08 mM of inhibitor. Succinate dependent respiratory reactions were inhibited by 50% at a concentration of 0.36 mM. Growth under phototrophic conditions (i.e. anaerobiosis in the light) was inhibited by 50% in the presence of 0.17 mM (wild type strain) or 0.21 mM (blue-green mutant, strain VI) of 2-hydroxybiphenyl. Photophosphorylation and light dependent NAD⁺ reduction by succinate were inhibited by 50% at concentrations of 0.21 mM and 0.03 mM of inhibitor, respectively. After phototrophic growth of the organisms for about five doublings of cell mass in the presence of 0.18 mM of 2-hydroxybiphenyl coloured carotenoids could no longer be detected. Membrane fractions of such cultures exhibited normal activities of succinate cytochrome c reductase but activities of NADH cytochrome c reductase were decreased by 80%. In comparison with a blue green mutant, strain VI, of R. rubrum light induced absorbance changes at 865 nm as well as activities of photophosphorylation were unaffected. However, no activity of light dependent NAD⁺ reduction with succinate could be detected. The data indicate that cellular respiration as well as chemotrophic growth depend largely on NADH dependent respiration. Phototrophic growth, on the other hand, is limited by photophosphorylation while energy dependent reversed electron flow to NAD⁺, if at all, is of rathe minor importance.Abbreviation BChl bacteriochlorophyll     

Parallel electron donation pathways to cytochrome cz in the type I homodimeric photosynthetic reaction center complex of Chlorobium tepidum

We studied the regulation mechanism of electron donations from menaquinol:cytochrome c oxidoreductase and cytochrome c-554 to the type I homodimeric photosynthetic reaction center complex of the green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium tepidum. We measured flash-induced absorption changes of multiple cytochromes in the membranes prepared from a mutant devoid of cytochrome c-554 or in the reconstituted membranes by exogenously adding cytochrome c-555 purified from Chlorobium limicola. The results indicated that the photo-oxidized cytochrome c_z bound to the reaction center was rereduced rapidly by cytochrome c-555 as well as by the menaquinol:cytochrome c oxidoreductase and that cytochrome c-555 did not function as a shuttle-like electron carrier between the menaquinol:cytochrome c oxidoreductase and cytochrome c_z. It was also shown that the rereduction rate of cytochrome c_z by cytochrome c-555 was as high as that by the menaquinol:cytochrome c oxidoreductase. The two electron-transfer pathways linked to sulfur metabolisms seem to function independently to donate electrons to the reaction center.     

Carbohydrate energy metabolism in Fasciola gigantica (trematoda)

Umezurike G. M. and Anya A. O. 1980. Carbohydrate energy metabolism in Fasciola gigantica (Trematoda). International Journal for Parasitology10: 175–180. Adult Fasciola gigantica contained 4.49 ± 0.06 % (mean ± S.D.) wet weight glycogen. Tissue homogenates contained high levels of malate dehydrogenase (MDH), NAD-linked malic enzyme (ME), Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). MDH, PEPCK and ME activities appeared to be localized in both cytosolic and mitoehondrial fractions, fumarase activity appeared to be predominantly mitochondrial whereas LDH and pyruvate kinase activities were cytosolic in distribution. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the predominance of LDH-1, LDH-2 and LDH-3 but only traces of LDH-4 and LDH-5 isoenzymes in the crude cytosolic fraction. LDH activity in the crude sample was inhibited by excess substrate (pyruvate). The mitoehondrial system showed NADH -cytochrome c oxidoreductase, succinate-cytochrome c oxidoreductase, NADH oxidase and some cytochrome c-oxygen oxidoreductase activities. Under anaerobic conditions, NADH-fumarate oxidoreductase and succinate-NAD + oxidoreductase activities of mitoehondrial preparations were stimulated in the presence of ADP and ATP respectively. Isolated mitochondria contained rhodoquinone and no ubiquinone, and isolated rhodoquinone was readily reduced by succinate in the presence of submitochondrial particles. Hydrogen peroxide was produced by submitochondrial particles in the presence or absence of KCN or in the presence of fumarate.     

Two variants of the assembly factor Surf1 target specific terminal oxidases in Paracoccus denitrificans

Biogenesis of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) relies on a large number of assembly proteins, one of them being Surf1. In humans, the loss of Surf1 function is associated with Leigh syndrome, a fatal neurodegenerative disorder. In the soil bacterium Paracoccus denitrificans, homologous genes specifying Surf1 have been identified and located in two operons of terminal oxidases: surf1q is the last gene of the qox operon (coding for a ba₃-type ubiquinol oxidase), and surf1c is found at the end of the cta operon (encoding subunits of the aa₃-type cytochrome c oxidase). We introduced chromosomal single and double deletions for both surf1 genes, leading to significantly reduced oxidase activities in membrane. Our experiments on P. denitrificans surf1 single deletion strains show that both Surf1c and Surf1q are functional and act independently for the aa₃-type cytochrome c oxidase and the ba₃-type quinol oxidase, respectively. This is the first direct experimental evidence for the involvement of a Surf1 protein in the assembly of a quinol oxidase. Analyzing the heme content of purified cytochrome c oxidase, we conclude that Surf1, though not indispensable for oxidase assembly, is involved in an early step of cofactor insertion into subunit I.     

Simultaneous presence of two terminal oxidases in the respiratory system of dark aerobically grown Rhodospirillum rubrum

Rhodospirillum rubrum CAF10, a spontaneous cytochrome oxidase defective mutant, was isolated from strain S1 and used to analyze the aerobic respiratory system of this bacterium. In spite of its lack of cytochrome oxidase activity, strain CAF10 grew aerobically in the dark although at a decreased rate and with a reduced final yield. Furthermore, aerobically grown mutant cells took up O₂ at high rates and membranes isolated from those cells exhibited levels of NADH and succinate oxidase activities which were similar to those of wild type membranes. It was observed also that whereas in both strains O₂ uptake (intact cells) and NADH and succinate oxidase activities (isolated membranes) were not affected by 0.2 mM KCN, the cytochrome oxidase activity of the wild type strain was inhibited about 90% by 0.2 mM KCN. These data indicate the simultaneous presence of two terminal oxidases in the respiratory system of R. rubrum, a cytochrome oxidase and an alternate oxidase, and suggest that the rate of respiratory electron transfer is not limited at the level of the terminal oxidases. It was also found that the aerobic oxidation of cellular cytochrome c ₂ required the presence of a functional cytochrome oxidase activity. Therefore it seems that this electron carrier, which only had been shown to participate in photosynthetic electron transfer, is also a constituent of the respiratory cytochrome oxidase pathway.Abbreviations DCIP 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol - DMPD N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine - TMPD N,N,N,N-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine - Tricine N-[2-hydroxy-1,1-bis(hydroxymethyl)-ethyl]-glycine