Asymmetric binding of cytochrome b5 to the membrane of human erythrocyte ghosts

The intact, amphipatic form of cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$ could bind to unsealed ghosts, but not to resealed ghosts, suggesting that the cytochrome could bind only to the inner (cytoplasmic) surface of the ghost membrane. This was further confirmed by the finding that the cytochrome could bind to closed, inside-out vesicles prepared from the ghosts. This asymmetric binding was not due to the exclusive localization of sialic acid and sugar chains on the outer surface of the ghosts membrane, because the cytochrome could not bind to ghosts even after enzymatic removal of these components. Although liposomes consisting of phosphatidylcholine or both phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin could effectively bind the cytochrome, this binding capacity was progressively decreased as increasing amount of cholesterol was included in the composition of phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Removal of cholesterol from resealed ghosts by incubation with egg phosphatidylcholine liposomes resulted in the binding of cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$ to the outer surface of the treated ghosts. The possibility is discussed that the asymmetric binding is due to preferential localization of cholesterol in the outer leaflet of the lipid bilayer that constitutes the ghost membrane.     

DNA complementary to rabbit globin mRNA made by E. coli polymerase I

Incubation of liver microsomes with cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$, purified after solubilization with detergents, caused an effective incorporation of the cytochrome into the microsomal membranes. The incorporated cytochrome was reducible by NADH and could not be removed by repeated washing with 0.3 M KCl or 10 mM EDTA. The incorporation was much more efficient at 37°C than at 0°C. Trypsin-solubilized cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$, which lacks the hydrophobic tail of the native protein, could not be inserted into the membranes. These findings confirm the view that the hydrophobic tail of the cytochrome molecule is responsible for its tight binding to the microsomal membranes.     

Synthesis of a complementary DNA to rat liver albumin mRNA.

NADPH reduces both liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$. In the presence of CO, ferrous cytochrome P-450 can slowly transfer electrons to amaranth, an azo dye. This reaction is followed by the reoxidation of cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$ which proceeds at essentially the same rate as does cytochrome P-450 oxidation. It is suggested that cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$ directly reduces cytochrome P-450 in rat liver microsomes.     

Immunochemical study on the participation of cytochrome b5 in drug oxidation reactions of mouse liver microsomes.

Highly purified divalent and monovalent antibodies against cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$, anti-$\text{b}{}_5$ immunoglobulin G (IG) and anti-$\text{b}{}_5$ Fab', were used in elucidating the role of this cytochrome in the drug-oxidizing enzyme system of mouse liver microsomes. Anti-$\text{b}{}_5$ IG strongly inhibited not only NADH-supported but also NADPH-supported oxidation of 7-ethoxycoumarin and benzo(a)pyrene, but had no inhibitory action on the oxidation of aniline. Anti-$\text{b}{}_5$ Fab' also inhibited NADH-supported and NADPH-supported benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylation. These observations indicate an essential role of cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$ in the transfer of electrons not only from NADH but also from NADPH to cytochrome P-450 in the microsomal oxidation of some drugs, but not of aniline.     

Lipid-protein interactions in membrane models fluorescence polarization study of cytochrome b5-phospholipids complexes

According to previous authors, cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$, when extracted from bovine liver by a detergent method, is called cytochrome $\text{d-b}{}_5$. On the other hand, the protein obtained after trypsin action, which eliminates an hydrophobic peptide of about 54 residues, is called cytochrome $\text{t-b}{}_5$.Fluorescence polarization of the dansyl phosphatidylethanolamine probe inserted into phospholipid vesicles is very senstive to the binding of proteins, and so is a useful method to study lipid-protein interactions.The chromophore mobility, $\text{R}$, decreases markedly when dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine vesicles are incubated with cytochrome $\text{d-b}{}_5$, whereas $\text{R}$ does not change for cytochrome $\text{c}$ and cytochrome $\text{t-b}{}_5$. This can be interpreted as a strengthening of the bilayer, only due to the interaction of the hydrophobic peptide tail.Interaction of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine vesicles with cytochrome $\text{d-b}{}_5$ occurs either below or above the melting temperature of the aliphatic chains (41 °C). Even for a high protein to lipid molar ratio (1 molecule of protein for 40 phospholipid molecules), the melting temperature is apparently unaffected.Phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol do not interact at pH 7.7 with cytochrome $\text{d-b}{}_5$, because electrostatic forces prevent formation of complexes. At low pH, the interaction with the protein occurs, but the binding is mainly of electrostatic nature.     

Isolation of an acid protease from rabbit reticulocytes and evidence for its role in processing redox proteins during erythroid maturation

A protease which generates a soluble hemepeptide from bovine liver microsomal cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$ has been isolated from the membrane fraction of rabbit reticulocytes. Inhibition by pepstatin and an acidic pH optimum indicate that the protease belongs to the acid protease class. Little cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$-processing activity is observed in rabbit erythrocytes. We suggest that the protease may be involved in the processing which generates the proteins of the methemoglobin reduction system from their membrane-bound precursors during the maturation of the erythroid cell.     

Characterization of cytochrome P-450SCC-containing liposomes

Purified cytochrome $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ from bovine adrenocortical mitochondria was incorporated into liposomes by the cholate-dilution method utilizing either dialysis or Sephadex gel filtration. Among synthetic phospholipids tested, dioleoylglycerophosphocholine showed the best stability during the incorporation of $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ into liposomes. A maximum amount of heme was incorporated into liposomes at a molar ratio of phospholipid to the cytochrome of approx. 200. When $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ was incorporated into the dioleoylglycerophosphocholine liposomes by the cholate-filtration method, the $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}\text{-}\text{containing liposomes}$ showed two major populations on the elution pattern of the Sepharose 4B gel filtration, and were seen at a diameter of 200–600 Å and its aggregated forms. When the cytochrome was incorporated into dioleoylglycerophosphocholine liposomes or cholesterol-free adrenocortical mitochondrial liposomes, $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ was less stable than $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ in aqueous solution. Cholesterol or adrenodoxin markedly stabilized the liposomal $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$. Liposomal $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ required cholesterol for its optimum reduction with adrenodoxin, adrenodoxin reductase, and NADPH in the presence of CO. About 70% of the total heme in the dioleoylglycerophosphocholine liposomes was reduced by the enzymatic reduction in the presence of cholesterol, indicating that 70% of the total molecules are exposed to the surface of the outer monolayer. In order to see the location of the heme in membrane, the dioleoylglycerophosphocholine-liposomal $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$ was subjected to $\text{p-}\text{chloromercuriphenyl sulfonic acid}$ treatment. This reagent destroyed the liposomal $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>450</mtext><mtext>SCC</mtext>}}$. These results suggest that the heme is located in the proximity of the $\text{p-}\text{chloromercuriphenyl sulfonic acid}$ reacting sites which are exposed to the surface, or located on the vincinity of polar heads of the membrane.     

Cytochrome b5/cytochrome b5 reductase interaction in microsomes: kinetics at subzero temperature.

The cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5\text{b}{}_5$ reductase system solubilized from microsomes exhibits monophasic reduction kinetics over the temperature range 15 ° to ?25 °C in aqueous/ethylene glycol co-solvent, whereas in intact microsomes, the process becomes increasingly heterogeneous below 0 °C, reflecting heterogeneities in membrane structure observable as distributions in reaction rates and activation energies.     

Purification of bovine liver microsomal NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase using affinity chromatography

Microsomal NADH-cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$ reductase has been purified from bovine liver by an improved procedure which employs affinity chromatography on ADP-agarose in combination with anion exchange chromatography. The reductase was extracted from a 105,000 × $\text{g}$ microsomal pellet with Triton X-100. The overall purification from isolated microsomes was 98-fold and the yield was 10%. The preparation was nearly homogeneous on SDS-PAGE. This procedure requires less time and effort than previously described procedures. Partially purified cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$ is also obtained.     

Binding of bovine cytochrome b5 to phosphatidycholine liposomes Characterization of the reconstituted lipid-protein vesicles

Cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$ was extracted and purified from beef liver by a detergent method (cytochrome $\text{d-b}{}_5$). The hydrophilic moiety which carries the heme group (cytochrome $\text{t-b}{}_5$) was prepared by trypsin action upon pure cytochrome $\text{d-b}{}_5$.Single-shelled lecithin liposomes form complexes with cytochromes $\text{d-b}{}_5$ up to a molar ratio of one protein for 35 phospholipids. The lipid-protein complexes were isolated by gel filtration on Sepharose 4B. They are hollow vesicles in which [³H]-glucose can be trapped. Their diameter is greater than that of the initial liposomes.Cytochrome $\text{t-b}{}_5$ does not interact with the vesicles. These results show that the hydrophobic tail is necessary for the binding and that the hydrophilic part of the protein is located on the outer face of the vesicles. This asymmetry is also proved by the action of reducing agents.Experiments with saturated phosphatidylcholines show that the protein interacts with the lipids both below the transition temperature $\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{M}}$. i.e. when the aliphatic chains are in a crystalline state, and above $\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{M}}$, when the alipathic chain are in a fluid state.¹H NMR spectra show that even at the maximum cytochrome $\text{d-b}{}_5$ concentration the presence of the proteins does not markedly change the dynamics to the phospholipid molecules. An asymmetric single-shelled vesicle structure is proposed for the complex.     

Glycosylation of rat liver cytochrome b5 on the ribosomal level

The distribution and site of synthesis of cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$ was studied by antibody precipitation of the enzyme labeled $\text{in}\text{vivo}$. The enzyme is present in rough and smooth microsomes, Golgi and outer mitochondrial membranes. The cytochrome is synthesized only on bound ribosomes, where glucosamine and galactose moieties are also added. The enzyme seems to be devoid of mannose and sialic acid residues.     

Phosphorylated intermediates of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase in renal plasma membranes

Renal basal-lateral and brush border membrane preparations were phosphorylated in the presence of [γ-³²P]ATP. The ³²P-labeled membrane proteins were analysed on SDS-polyacrylamide gels. The phosphorylated intermediates formed in different conditions are compared with the intermediates formed in well defined membrane preparations such as erythrocyte plasma membranes and sarcoplasmic reticulum from skeletal muscle, and with the intermediates of purified renal enzymes such as $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ and alkaline phosphatase. Two Ca²⁺-induced, hydroxylamine-sensitive phosphoproteins are formed in the basal-lateral membrane preparations. They migrate with a molecular radius $\text{M}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>r</mtext>}}$ of about 130 000 and 100 000. The phosphorylation of the 130 kDa protein was stimulated by La³⁺-ions (20 μM) in a similar way as the $\text{(}\text{Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ from erythrocytes. The 130 kDa phosphoprotein also comigrated with the erythrocyte $\text{(}\text{Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$. In addition in the same preparation, another hydroxylamine-sensitive 100 kDa phosphoprotein was formed in the presence of Na⁺. This phosphoprotein comigrates with a preparation of renal $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$. In brush border membrane preparations the Ca²⁺-induced and the Na⁺-induced phosphorylation bands are absent. This is consistent with the basal-lateral localization of the renal Ca²⁺-pump and Na⁺-pump. The predominant phosphoprotein in brush border membrane preparations is a 85 kDa protein that could be identified as the phosphorylated intermediate of renal alkaline phosphatase. This phosphoprotein is also present in basal-lateral membrane preparations, but it can be accounted for by contamination of those membranes with brush border membranes.     

The effect of extra bound cytochrome b-5 on cytochrome P-450-dependent enzyme activities in liver microsomes

Binding of increasing amounts of detergent-purified cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$ to rabbit liver microsomes produces a progressive inhibition of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activity which is accompanied by a similar inhibition of NADPH-supported benzphetamine demethylation. In contrast, NADH-cytochrome P-450 reductase activity in the enriched microsomes is markedly enhanced and this stimulation is accompanied by a similar increase in NADH-peroxidase activity, suggesting that cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$ in these two reactions functions as an intermediate electron carrier to cytochrome P-450.     

A gel-electrophoretically homogeneous preparation of cytochrome P-450 from liver microsomes of phenobarbital-pretreated rabbits

Cytochrome P-450 was purified from liver microsomes of phenobarbital-pretreated rabbits to a specific content of 16 to 17 nmoles per mg of protein with a yield of about 10 %. The purified cytochrome yielded only a single protein band on sodium dodecylsulfate-urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and an apparent molecular weight of about 45,000 was estimated for the protein. The preparation was free of cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$, NADH-cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$ reductase, and NADPH-cytochrome $\text{c}$ reductase activities. Aniline hydroxylase and ethylmorphine N-demethylase activities could be reconstituted upon mixing the purified cytochrome with an NADPH-cytochrome $\text{c}$ reductase preparation (purified by a detergent method) and phosphatidyl choline.     

Cytochrome b5 as electron donor to rabbit liver cytochrome P-450LM2 in reconstituted phospholipid vesicles

When incorporated into phospholipid vesicles containing NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and P-450_LM2, cytochrome b₅ enhanced the rate of NADPH-supported hydroxylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin or $\text{p}$-nitroanisole about 5-fold. Cytochrome b₅ did not affect the rate of NADPH-oxidation, nor the rate of NADPH-supported formation of the ferrous CO-complex of cytochrome P-450. However, the cytochrome b₅-mediated increase in product formation was found to be correlated with concomitant decreases in the production of H₂O₂ or $\text{O}{}_2{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ in the system, thus strongly indicating cytochrome b₅ being a more efficient donor of the second electron to cytochrome P-450 than is NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase.     

Catalytic properties of the resolved flavoprotein and cytochrome B components of the NADPH dependent O2−• generating oxidase from human neutrophils

The resolved flavoprotein and cytochrome b₅₅₉ components of the NADPH dependent $\text{O}{}_2{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_{\mathrm{?}}$ generating oxidase from human neutrophils were the subject of further study. The resolved flavoprotein, depleted of cytochrome b₅₅₉, was reduced by NADPH under anaerobic conditions and reoxidized by oxygen. NADPH dependent $\text{O}{}_2{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_{\mathrm{?}}$ generation by the resolved flavoprotein fraction was not detectable, however it was competent in the transfer of electrons from NADPH to artificial electron acceptors. The resolved cytochrome b₅₅₉, depleted of flavoprotein, demonstrated no measureable NADPH dependent $\text{O}{}_2{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_{\mathrm{?}}$ generating activity and was not reduced by NADPH under anaerobic conditions. The dithionite reduced form of the resolved cytochrome b₅₅₉ was rapidly oxidized by oxygen, as was the cytochrome b₅₅₉ in the intact oxidase.     

Ubisemiquinone radicals from the cytochrome b-c1 complex of the mitochondrial electron transport chain--demonstration of QP-S radical formation

Stable ubisemiquinone radical(s) in the cytochrome $\text{b}\text{?}\text{c}{}_1$-II complex of bovine heart was observed following reduction by succinate in the presence of catalytic amounts of succinate dehydrogenase. The radical was abolished by addition of antimycin A, but a residual radical remained in the presence of excess exogenous Q₂. The radical showed an EPR signal of g = 2.0046 ± .003 at X band (～9.4 GHz) with no resolved hyperfine structure and had a line width of 8.1 ± .5 Gauss at 23°C. The Q band (35 GHz) spectra showed wellresolved $\text{g}$-anisotropy and had a field separation between derivative extrema of 26 ± 1 Gauss. This radical is evidently from QP-C. These observations substantiate that the radical is immobilized and bound to a protein. The QP-S radical was demonstrated in the cytochrome $\text{b}\text{-}\text{c}{}_1$-II complex only in the presence of more than a catalytic amount of succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome $\text{b}\text{-}\text{c}{}_1$. This signal was not antimycin a inhibitory. The signal amplitude paralleled the reconstitutive enzymic activity of succinate-cytochrome $\text{c}$ reductase from succinate dehydrogenase and the cytochrome $\text{b}\text{-}\text{c}{}_1$-II complex.     

Studies on NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase activities in hemolysates of human and rabbit red cells by isoelectric focusing

NADH-cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$ reductase activities in hemolysates of young and old human erythrocytes, and in hemolysates of rabbit reticulocytes and erythrocytes were measured after the separation of the enzyme from the bulk of hemoglobin only by isoelectric focusing. In any cases, a single main peak of the enzyme activity was detected after the electrophoresis in the fraction with pH 6.8 and 8.3 for human and rabbit red cells, respectively. The rabbit enzyme showed more than 30 times higher enzyme activity than that of human erythrocytes under the standard assay conditions. Significant differences of Micahelis constants for cytochrome $\text{b}{}_5$ of the enzyme were found between young and old human erythrocytes, and also between human and rabbit red cells.     

Characterization of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in a membranous preparation from the optic ganglion of the squid (Loligo pealei)

(1) A membrane fraction enriched in $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ (EC 3.6.1.3) was obtained from optic ganglia of the squid (Loligo pealei) by density gradient fractionation of membranes followed by treatment with either SDS or Brij-58. The resulting membrane had an $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ specific activity of approx. 2 units/mg and was $\text{>95\%}$ ouabain-sensitive. (2) The $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ had a $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ for ATP of $\text{0.42 ± 0.04}\text{mM}$ and a pH optimum of 7.0. It was inhibited by ouabain with a $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ of $\text{0.32 ± 0.04 μ}\text{M}$. (3) Optimum monovalent cation concentrations were: 240 mM NaCl, 60 mM KCl, tested with $\text{NaCl + KCl}\text{= 300}\text{mM}$. (4) The Mg²⁺ dependence of hydrolysis varied with the absolute ATP concentration. At 3 mM ATP, the$\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ for Mg²⁺ was $\text{0.86 ± 0.10}\text{mM}$, and at 6 mM ATP, the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ was $\text{1.86 ± 0.44}\text{mM}$. High levels of Mg²⁺ caused inhibition of hydrolysis. (5) The interactions of Na⁺ and K⁺ were examined over a range of conditions. K⁺ levels caused modulations in the Na⁺ dependence in the range of 1–150 mM. (6) The $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ prepared from squid optic ganglion displays properties similar to those of the sodium pump in injected nerves.     

The effect of formate on cytochrome aa3 and on electron transport in the intact respiratory chain

1. Formate inhibits cytochrome $\text{c}$ oxidase activity both in intact mitochondria and submitochondrial particles, and in isolated cytochrome $\text{aa}{}_3$. The inhibition increases with decreasing pH, indicating that HCOOH may be the inhibitory species.2. Formate induces a blue shift in the absorption spectrum of oxidized cytochrome $\text{aa}{}_3\text{(a}{}^{\mathrm{3+}}\text{a}{}_3{}^{\mathrm{3+}}$) and in the half-reduced species ($\text{a}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{a}{}_3{}^{\mathrm{3+}}$). Comparison with cyanide-induced spectral shifts, towards the red, indicates that formate and cyanide have opposite effects on the $\text{aa}{}_3$ spectrum, both in the fully oxidized and the half-reduced states. The formate spectra provide a new method of obtaining the difference spectrum of $\text{a}{}_3{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$ minus $\text{a}{}_3{}^{\mathrm{3+}}$, free of the difficulties with cyanide (which induces marked high → low spin spectral shifts in cytochrome $\text{a}{}_3{}^{\mathrm{3+}}$) and azide (which induces peak shifts of cytochrome $\text{a}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$ towards the blue in both α- and Soret regions).3. The rate of formate dissociation from cytochrome $\text{a}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{a}{}_3{}^{\mathrm{3+}}\text{-}\text{HCOOH}$ is faster than its rate of dissociation from $\text{a}{}^{\mathrm{3+}}\text{a}{}_3{}^{\mathrm{3+}}\text{-}\text{HCOOH}$, especially in the presence of cytochrome $\text{c}$. The $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ for formate inhibition of respiration is a function of the reduction state of the system, varying from 30 mM (100% reduction) to 1 mM (100% oxidation) at pH 7.4, 30 °C.4. Succinate-cytochrome $\text{c}$ reductase activity is also inhibited by formate, in a reaction competitive with succinate and dependent on [formate]².5. Formate inhibition of ascorbate plus $\text{N,N,N′,N′-}\text{tetramethyl}\text{-p-}\text{phenyl-enediamine}$ oxidation by intact rat liver mitochondria is partially released by uncoupler addition. Formate is permeable through the inner mitochondrial membrane and no differences in ‘on’ or ‘off’ inhibition rates were observed when intact mitochondria were compared with submitochondrial particles.6. NADH-cytochrome $\text{c}$ reductase activity is unaffected by formate in submitochondrial particles, but mitochondrial oxidation of glutamate plus malate is subject both to terminal inhibition at the cytochrome $\text{aa}{}_3$ level and to a slow extra inhibition by formate following uncoupler addition, indicating a third site of formate action in the intact mitochondrion.