Synchronization of the function of respiratory chain enzymes and ATP-synthetase in energized mitochondria

The present study revealed that the previously described effect of ATP-synthetase inhibition concomitant with inhibition of the respiratory chain functioning could be observed under different absolute values of delta phi on the mitochondrial membrane. This points out that the membrane potential is not a unique regulator in the coupling of the ATP-synthetase and respiratory chain activities. At the same time, we succeeded in obtaining some evidence testifying that under conditions of ATP-synthetase inhibition the amount of functioning respiratory chains has to be proportional the functioning of the ATP-synthetases units. The osmolarity of the incubation medium was shown to control the state of the oxidative phosphorylation system. The respiratory chain and ATP-synthetase should be considered as an enzymatic supercomplex only when the osmolarity is close to 150-300 mOsm (within the physiological range). The coupling effectivity (ADP/O) of mitochondria under these conditions is maximal. It is concluded that the respiratory chain and ATP-synthetase are tightly bound from the kinetic point of view. The ATP-synthetase inhibition induces proportional inhibition of the respiratory chain enzymes and vice versa, the respiratory chain inhibition induces proportional inhibition of ATP-synthetase.     

Relationships of respiratory chain and ATP-synthetase in energized mitochondria

The present study reveals that the previously described effect of ATP-synthetase inhibition concomitant with inhibition of respiratory chain functioning may be observed at different absolute values of delta psi on the mitochondrial membrane. This fact points out that the membrane potential is not a unique regulator in coupling of ATP-synthetase and respiratory chain activities. We found, using the double-inhibitor titration technique, that ATP-synthetase inhibition induces proportional inhibition of respiratory chain enzymes and vice versa respiratory chain inhibition induces proportional inhibition of ATP-synthetase. This effect is shown to exist only when osmolarity is close to 150-300 (mosM) (in the physiological range). The coupling effectivity (ADP/O) of mitochondria under these conditions is maximal. Under conditions of high osmolarity (400-600 mosM) the respiratory chain and ATP-synthetase behave as if they were coupled by bulk phase delta -mu H+, from the kinetic point of view.     

Electron spin resonance of phosphorylating and non-phosphorylating submitochondrial particles

Paramagnetic centres related with the work of ATP-synthetase, found earlier on mitochondria were studied on phosphorylating and non-phosphorylating submitochondrial particles (SMP). A complex doublet signal with half-width 38 . 10(-4) T was shown to be recorded only on actively phosphorylating and oligomycin-inhibited SMP. It was found that the signal components were conditioned by different paramagnetic centres, one of which (g = 2.03) seemed to be the metal centre, more probable non-hemeiron. The nature of the second signal characterized by evenly saturating doublet components with g = 2.03 and g = 2.00 is unclear. Studies of flavin signal saturation have also shown that it consists of two components: one of them--saturating, specific for non-phosphorylating SMP, another--non-saturating, mostly observed in phosphorylating SMP, probably conditioned by flavin--the constituent of ATP-synthetase.     

Effect of magnesium ions on the inhibition of the mitochondrial ATPase (ATP-synthetase) complex by azide

The effect of azide on the activity and phosphorylation of ATPase in rat liver mitochondria was studied. It was shown that in the absence of exogenous Mg2+ azide inhibits both the activity and phosphorylation of ATPase. In the presence of exogenous Mg2+ azide inhibits ATPase hydrolysis, but does not inhibit the enzyme phosphorylation. It is concluded that the one-sided effect of azide on the activity of the ATPase (ATP-synthetase) mitochondrial complex is realized by participation of Mg2+. It was found also that the inhibitory effect of azide depends on the exogenous Mg2+ concentration.     

Studies on the degranulation test for carcinogens

Lipid peroxidation in mitochondria induced by Fe2+ in the presence of ascorbate or by cumene hydroperoxide in the presence of phosphate results in a drop of the membrane potential and in K+ efflux. The inhibitors of ATP-synthetase (oligomycin and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD)) are capable of preventing lipid peroxidation, stabilizing the membrane potential and inhibiting potassium efflux. The same effects are observed in the presence of ionol or alpha-tocopherol. In contrast to antioxidant protection the effects of oligomycin and DCCD are reversed by the uncoupler (FCCP). The functional link between non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation, proton conduction through Fo component of ATP-synthetase and induced cation transport is suggested.     

ATP-synthetase activity, respiration and cytochromes of rat heart mitochondria in aging and hyperthyroidism

The ATP-synthetase activity, the rate of oxygen uptake under different metabolic conditions, the tightness of coupling of respiration to oxidative phosphorylation and the cytochrome contents in heart mitochondria of rats from different age groups were studied under normal conditions and in hyperthyroidism. It was found that heart mitochondria of aged animals did not practically differ in terms of their functional activity from those of the young animals. Administration of thyroxin to the animals from all age groups produced no significant effects on the state of mitochondria, increasing the rate of ATP synthesis on alpha-glycerophosphate, which was especially well-pronounced in aged animals, and the cytochrome content in 1-month-old rats.     

Redox regulation in ATP synthesis

Evidence is considered which points to changes of redox potential of the redox-centres in mitochondria during energization, to high sensitivity of ATP-synthetase to redox agents. Examples of ATP-syntheses in model systems stimulated with an electron are discussed. This stimulation is so efficient that it permits weakening of the bond between phosphorus atom and extremely bad leaving group O- in inorganic phosphate-phosphorylating agent in ATP synthesis during oxidative phosphorylation. The sum of these data suggests that function of the redox-centres found in the coupling site may be the accumulation of the intermediate inducing ADP and Phinorg interactions. The electron pool may serve as an intermediate. Thus the redoxcentre function in the coupling site accepting and accumulating the electrons during energization may be compared with chlorophyll function in photosynthesis. Change of redox potential of redox-centres at energization (by protonation, for example) initiates electron transfer in ATP-synthetase, which by the formation of highly reactive-free radical of ADP provides the occurrence of endergonic reaction of ATP synthesis, i.e. storage of energy as a chemical bond.     

Effect of freezing-thawing rates on the functional state and ionic permeability of rat liver mitochondria

The effects of various rats of freezing-thawing reactions on the functional state and ionic permeability of rat liver mitochondria were studied. The degree of mitochondrial damage during the freezing -- thawing process depended on the rate of thawing rather than on that of freezing. The mitochondria which were slowly or rapidly frozen down to --196 degrees and subsequently slowly thawed revealed a higher membrane permeability for K+ Na+ and H+ and a more than 2-fold increase of the ATPase activity and the maximal rate of NADH oxidation via the antimycin-insensitive pathway in the presence of cytochrome c. This was concomitant with a complete inhibition of the ATP-synthetase activity and a marked inhibition of the respiratory chain function due to the efflux of cytochrome c from the inner mitochondrial membrane. After freezing and rapid thawing the functional activity of mitochondria changed insignificantly. A comparison of different cryoeffects demonstrated that the minimal damaging effects were exerted by rapid freezing -- rapid thawing, when the mitochondria partly restored their ability for oxidative phosphorylation.     

Regulation of ion transport in mitochondria by respiratory chain enzymes and ATPase

The effects of the respiratory chain inhibitors as well as those of the inhibitors and substrates of ATP-synthetase in Ca2+ and K+ transport induced in the mitochondria upon the medium acidification in the presence of phosphate or arsenate, were investigated. Evidence has been obtained suggesting that under the experimental conditions used the transmembrane fluxes of K+ and Ca2+ are paralleled with H+ leakage through the proton channel of ATPase. It was found also that the system inducing cation fluxes at low pH values included peroxidation and hydrolysis of phospholipids. A scheme of regulation of ion transport in the mitochondria involving oxidative phosphorylation and oxidation and hydrolysis of lipids is proposed.     

Variations in ATP synthetase activity of rat liver mitochondria during aging and under the effect of thyroxine

Experiments with 1-, 3-, 12- and 24-month male rats show a decrease in the rate of ATP synthesis by the liver mitochondria with oxidation of succinate and alpha-glycerophosphate. Administration of thyroxin to animals for 2 and 9 days evokes a more pronounced increase of ATP-synthetase activity in 12- and 24-month rats and an essential decrease of the age differences of the activity. It is suggested that the character of observed variations is caused by age changes in the system of the hormonal metabolism control.     

Distribution of the ATPase inhibitor proteins of mitochondria in mammalian tissues including fibroblasts from a patient with Luft's disease.

The mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor proteins--the Pullman-Monroy inhibitor (PMI) and the Ca(2+)-binding protein (CaBI)--have a wide distribution, both being present in mitochondria of bovine heart and kidney, rat liver and brain, two mitochondrial populations of rabbit skeletal muscle, and mitochondria from human fibroblasts and the human breast cancer cell line T-47-D. The ratio of CaBI to PMI was highest in heart and skeletal muscle mitochondria. The subsarcolemmal fraction of skeletal muscle had 2.6-times as much CaBI as did the intermyofibrillar. The ratio of CaBI to PMI in the mitochondria of the other normal tissues and fibroblasts was close to 1. In contrast, mitochondria from T-47D cells had 1.5-times as much PMI as CaBI whilst mitochondria from fibroblasts from a patient with Luft's disease showed a virtual lack of PMI. The specific ATPase, ATP-synthetase and succinate dehydrogenase activities of the Luft's mitochondria were, however, in the normal range. The specific ATP synthetase activity of the T-47D cells was significantly higher than normal. We conclude that tissues like heart and skeletal muscle which experience wide fluctuations in intracellular Ca2+ have a greater need for CaBI. Why lack of PMI could lead to 'loose' coupling of oxidative phosphorylation in skeletal muscle of Luft's patients, but not in fibroblasts is discussed.     

Mechanism of opiate of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria]

Effect of morphine, codeine, dionine and nalorphine on the oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria was studied. Morphine is found to inhibit both ATP-synthetase and ATP-ase activities in mitochondria, but not in submitochondrial particles. Morphine-suppressed oxidative phosphorylation was competitively reversed with high concentrations of ADP, but not of inorganic phosphate. The effect of other opiates (i.e. codeine, dionine, nalorphine) was similar. It is suggested, that opiates inhibit the transport of adenine nucleotides through inner mitochondrial membrane, as it does atractyloside. A significance of the hydrophobic interaction between the inhibitor and adenine nucleotide translocase is outlined, since the degree of the inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation is increased with the increase in the number of non-ionized opiate molecules (at alkaline pH values) and in the length of the carbon chain of narcotic molecule as follows: morphine--codeine--dionine--nalorphine.     

Bromobimane crosslinking studies in oligomycin-sensitive ATPase from beef heart mitochondria. Mr 31 000 protein crosslinked

Using a bromobimane fluorescent label the Mr 31 000 protein band oligomycin-sensitive (OS)-ATPase from beef heart mitochondria is shown to become much intensified by 2-mercaptopropionylglycine. In the presence of 3.5 nmol/mg protein of the thiol reagent ATP-Pi exchange activity is increased by 90%. With the fluorescent crosslinking reagent dibromobimane (DB) we show that a new fluorescent peak appears between Mr 50 000 and 60 000. ATP-Pi exchange is very much decreased by DB. The results suggest that for regulation of ATP-synthetase activity sulfhydryl groups in the region of the Mr 31 000 protein(s) play an important role.     

Hydrogen abstraction from thiols by adenosyl radicals: chemical precedent for thiyl radical formation, the first catalytic step in ribonucleoside triphosphate reductase from Lactobacillus leichmannii

Aqueous solutions of adenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl) were thermolyzed with excess beta-mercaptoethanol under anaerobic conditions. The product studies reveal that approximately 90% Co-C bond homolysis occurs, to yield Co(II)cobalamin, 5'-deoxyadenosine, and the disulfide product from the combination of two HOCH2CH2S* radicals, 2,2'-dithiodiethanol; there is also approximately 10% Co-C bond heterolysis, yielding Co(III)cobalamin, adenine, and 2,3-dihydroxy-4-pentenal. The kinetic studies show there is a first-order dependence on AdoCbl and zero-order dependence on thiol under the higher [RSH] experimental conditions used, consistent with the rate-determining step at high [RSH] being the generation of Ado*. The kinetic results require that, in enzyme-free AdoCbl solution, adenosyl radical (Ado*) is formed as a discrete intermediate which then abstracts H* from the added thiol. The activation parameters for Co-C bond homolysis in the presence of thiol trap are the same within experimental error as the activation parameters for Co-C bond homolysis without trap, standard delta H(obs) = 29(2) kcal mol(-1) and standard delta S(obs) = -1(5) e.u. The results, in comparison to the rate of Co-C bond homolysis in ribonucleoside triphosphate reductase (RTPR), reveal that RTPR accelerates Co-C bond cleavage in AdoCbl by approximately 10(10+/-1). The recent literature evidence bearing on the exact mechanism of RTPR enzymic cleavage of the Co-C bond of AdoCbl is briefly discussed, notably the fact that this mechanism is presently controversial, but does involve at least coupled (and possibly concerted) Co-C cleavage, -S-H cleavage, and C-H (Ado-H) formation steps.     

Substrate-induced conformational change of a coenzyme B12-dependent enzyme: crystal structure of the substrate-free form of diol dehydratase

Substrate binding triggers catalytic radical formation through the cobalt-carbon bond homolysis in coenzyme B12-dependent enzymes. We have determined the crystal structure of the substrate-free form of Klebsiella oxytoca diol dehydratase*cyanocobalamin complex at 1.85 A resolution. The structure contains two units of the heterotrimer consisting of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits. As compared with the structure of its substrate-bound form, the beta subunits are tilted by approximately 3 degrees and cobalamin is also tilted so that pyrrole rings A and D are significantly lifted up toward the substrate-binding site, whereas pyrrole rings B and C are only slightly lifted up. The structure revealed that the potassium ion in the substrate-binding site of the substrate-free enzyme is also heptacoordinated; that is, two oxygen atoms of two water molecules coordinate to it instead of the substrate hydroxyls. A modeling study in which the structures of both the cobalamin moiety and the adenine ring of the coenzyme were superimposed onto those of the enzyme-bound cyanocobalamin and the adenine ring-binding pocket, respectively, demonstrated that the distortions of the Co-C bond in the substrate-free form are already marked but slightly smaller than those in the substrate-bound form. It was thus strongly suggested that the Co-C bond becomes largely activated (labilized) when the coenzyme binds to the apoenzyme even in the absence of substrate and undergoes homolysis through the substrate-induced conformational changes of the enzyme. Kinetic coupling of Co-C bond homolysis with hydrogen abstraction from the substrate shifts the equilibrium to dissociation.     

Coenzyme AdoB12 vs AdoB12.-homolytic Co-C cleavage following electron transfer: a rate enhancement greater than or equal to 10(12)

Comparison of the 25 degrees C Co-C bond homolysis rate constant of adenosyl-cobalamin (coenzyme B12) vs that for electrochemically reduced adenosyl-cobalamin radical anion indicates a rate enhancement of at least 10(12 +/- 2) upon the addition of one antibonding electron. Even though electrochemical reduction promotes Co-C homolysis by virtually the same amount as the 10(12 +/- 1) enzymic activation seen for adenosylcobalamin, electron-transfer activation of the Co-C homolysis in adenosylcobalamin-dependent enzyme reactions is considered unlikely, based on four lines of evidence.     

Emission M?ssbauer studies of some organocobalamins

Subtle changes in the M?ssbauer parameters are observed while going from methyl- to ethyl- to adenosylcobalamin, and also when the "base" is detached from the cobalt. The observation of these changes demonstrates that the Co-C bond, among others, remains intact after the Auger event, accompanying the electron-capture decay of the cobalt-57. The differences between ethylcobalamin and the other two organocobalamins in the magnitude of the quadrupole splittings have been interpreted on the basis of the sigma-donating tendency of the organic moiety and the Co-C bond length. The latter is presumably determined by the steric hindrance offered to the group in approaching the cobalt atom. The ethyl- and adenosylcobalamins in their "base-off" form exhibit a larger quadrupole splitting than the corresponding "base-on" form. In the "bas-off" form, the cobalt atom is perhaps raised above the mean plane of the four equatorial nitrogen atoms of the corrin ring, which may result in the diminution of the delocalization of the 3dpi electron density. The higher population of dpi orbitals and the enhanced metallic character of the dz2, resulting from shrinkage of the Co-C bond length, enhances the magnitude of the quadrupole splitting.     

Co-C force constants from resonance Raman spectra of alkylcobalamins: insensitivity to dimethylbenzylimidazole coordination

The Co-C stretching vibration has been identified in resonance Raman spectra of alkyl-cobalamins, via isotope substitution, permitting estimation of the Co-C force constants, f = 1.85, 1.77 and 1.50 mdyn Å⁻¹ for methyl-, ethyl- and deoxyadenosyl-cobalamin, respectively (ν_Co-C = 506, 471 and 442/429 cm⁻¹). These values scale with the reported bond dissociation energies, and support the view that the Co-C bond weakens with increasing bulk of the alkyl group due to steric interaction with the corrin ring. However, the force constants are unaffected by dissociation of the dimethylbenzimidazole ligand at low pH, even though the bond dissociation energy rises significantly upon DMB dissociation in AdoCbl. This increase must therefore reflect destabilization of the Co^II product, rather than Co-C bond strengthening in the AdoCbl ground state. The insensitivity of the force constants to dimethylbenzimidazole dissociation implies that the steric effect of DMB coordination is not transmitted to the Co-C bond by the corrin ring. Consistent with this interpretation, the RR frequencies of the corrin ring modes are minimally perturbed by DMB dissociation, supporting earlier NMR results that indicated little change in the corrin conformation.     

Quantum-mechanical descriptions of proton transfer in biosystems containing hydrogen-bonded chains

A mechanism of proton transfer along the proton channel of (F0) ATP-synthetase of a membrane is suggested. In the small polaron model the charged fault (an excess of protons or a proton hole) transfer is considered in a longitudinal electric field along an assumed chain which is formed by hydroxyl groups connected by strong H-bonded chains. A number of kinetic parameters are estimated. The theoretical data are compared with the experimental results.     

Molecular modeling of the mechanochemical triggering mechanism for catalysis of carbon-cobalt bond homolysis in coenzyme B12

The possible contributions of the mechanochemical triggering effect to the enzymatic activation of the carbon-cobalt bond of coenzyme B12 (5'-deoxyadenosylcobalamin, AdoCbl) for homolytic cleavage have been studied by molecular modeling and semiempirical molecular orbital calculations. Classically, this effect has envisioned enzymatic compression of the axial Co-N bond in the ground state to cause upward folding of the corrin ring and subsequent sterically induced distortion of the Co-C bond leading to its destabilization. The models of this process show that in both methylcobalamin (CH3Cbl) and AdoCbl, compression of the axial Co-N bond does engender upward folding of the corrin ring, and that the extent of such upward folding is smaller in an analog in which the normal 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole axial ligand is replaced by the sterically smaller ligand, imidazole (CH3(lm)Cbl and Ado(lm)Cbl). Furthermore, in AdoCbl, this upward folding of the corrin is accompanied by increases in the carbon-cobalt bond length and in the Co-C-C bond angle (which are also less pronounced in Ado(Im)Cbl), and which indicate that the Co-C bond is indeed destabilized by this mechanism. However, these effects on the Co-C bond are small, and destabilization of this bond by this mechanism is unlikely to contribute more than ca. 3 kcal mol(-1) towards the enzymatic catalysis of Co-C bond homolysis, far short of the observed ca. 14 kcal mol(-1). A second version of mechanochemical triggering, in which compression of the axial Co-N bond in the transition state for Co-C bond homolysis stabilizes the transition state by increased Co-N orbital overlap, has also been investigated. Stretching the Co-C bond to simulate the approach to the transition state was found to result in an upward folding of the corrin ring, a slight decrease in the axial Co-N bond length, a slight displacement of the metal atom from the plane of the equatorial nitrogens towards the "lower" axial ligand, and a decrease in strain energy amounting to about 8 kcal mol(-1) for both AdoCbl and Ado(Im)Cbl. In such modeled transition states, compression of the axial Co-N bond to just below 2.0 A (the distance subsequently found to provide maximal stabilization of the transition state by increased orbital overlap) required about 4 kcal mol(-1) for AdoCbl, and about 2.5 kcal mol(-1) for Ado(Im)Cbl. ZINDO/1 calculations on slightly simplified structures showed that maximal electronic stabilization of the transition state by about 10 kcal mol(-1) occurred at an axial Co-N bond distance of 1.96 A for both AdoCbl and Ado(Im)Cbl. The net result is that this type of transition state mechanochemical triggering can provide 14 kcal mol(-1) of transition state stabilization for AdoCbl, and about 15.5 kcal mol(-1) for the Ado(Im)Cbl, enough to completely explain the observed enzymatic catalysis. These results are discussed in the light of current knowledge about class I AdoCbl-dependent enzymes, in which the coenzyme is bound in its "base-off" conformation, with the lower axial ligand position occupied by the imidazole moiety of an active site histidine residue, and the class II enzymes, in which AdoCbl binds to the enzyme in its "base-on" conformation, and the pendent 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole base remains coordinated to the metal during Co-C bond activation.