Inhibition of amino acid transport in Bacillus subtilis by uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation.

The effect of three uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation, trifluoromethoxycarbon-ylcyanidephenylhydrazone (FCCP), 3,3′,4′,5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCSA), and pentachlorophenol (PCP), on transport of glycine and proline by Bacillus subtilis were examined. FCCP inhibited proline uptake uncompetitively, but glycine uptake competitively. TCSA inhibited proline uptake noncompetitively, but glycine uptake competitively. PCP inhibited proline uptake noncompetitively, but glycine uptake uncompetitively. The results indicate that these uncouplers inhibit amino acid transport by interacting at specific sites rather than by reducing any central supply of energy used to fuel metabolic processes.     

Control of oxidative phosphorylation by the extramitochondrial ATP/ADP ratio

The control of mitochondrial ATP synthesis by the extramitochondrial adenine nucleotide pattern was investigated with rat liver mitochondria. It is demonstrated that any stationary state between the two limit states of maximum activity (state 3) and of resting activity (state 4) can be obtained by a hexokinase-glucose trap as an ADP-regenerating system. These intermediate states are characterized by stationary respiratory rates, stationary redox levels of the cytochromes b and c and stationary levels of extramitochondrial ATP and ADP between the rates and levels of the limit states. At a constant concentration of inorganic phosphate the activity of mitochondria between the limit states is controlled by the extramitochondrial ATP/ADP ratio independent of the total concentration of adenine nucleotides present. The control range was found to be between ratios of about 5 and 100 at 10 mM phosphate. At lower ratios the mitochondria are in their maximum phosphorylating state. With succinate + rotenone and glutamate + malate the same control range was observed, indicating that it is independent of the nature of substrate oxidized.The results suggest that in the control range the mitochondrial activity is limited by the competition of ADP and ATP for the adenine nucleotide translocator.     

Non-local thermodynamic effects and efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation

A non-equilibrium thermodynamic model of oxidative phosphorylation is formulated, which allows us to take into account some non-local effects. In this way, we compute the influence of the tangential resistivity of the inner mitochondrial membrane to proton current, as well as that of the distance between active sites, on the stoichiometry and efficiency of energy conversion.     

The effect of PGF2a on in vivo cerebral arteriolar diameter in cats and rats

We compared the effect of tropical application of PGF_2a on cerebral arterioles in cats and rats equipped with an acutely implanted cranial window. Arterial diameter was measured using a microscope and image splitting device. PGF_2a in a concentration ranging from 10^?7 to 10^?5 M had no effect on large (≥ 100 μm) or small (< 100 μm) cat pial arterioles, but induced a dose dependent constriction of rat pial arterioles with a maximum constriction fo 76% of control diameter. Dilation of cat large cerebral arterioles by topically applied PGE₂ was not affected by simultaneous application of PGF_2a and PGE₂ induced dilation of small arterioles was decreased 3% by PGF_2a. While we and others have previosuly shown that both cat and rat brain can synthesize PGF_2a, it appears that PGF_2a is not likely to normally be a major modulator of cerebral arteriolar resistance in all species.     

A study of protein phosphorylation in shape change and Ca++-dependent serotonin release by blood platelets

Upon treatment with agents such as thrombin, collagen or concanavalin A, blood platelets change shape, secrete serotonin and phosphorylate two proteins having molecular weights of approximately 20,000 and 40,000. We have analyzed the relationship of this protein phosphorylation to shape change and release aided by the fact that while shape change occurs independently of extracellular calcium, release of serotonin displays a rather strict calcium requirement. Under limited calcium conditions, where virtually no serotonin release occurs, (Con A)-stimulated phosphorylation is uninhibited. Divalent cations (Mg⁺⁺, Co⁺⁺ and Zn⁺⁺) also inhibit release but not phosphorylation. The microtubule effectors colchicine and D₂O show concomitant effects on release and phosphorylation, indicating a microtubule involvement prior to phosphorylation. Papaverine inhibits release and phosphorylation while not strongly influencing shape change, suggesting that shape change does not require phosphorylation. We therefore conclude that phosphorylation of these proteins takes place after shape change but prior to release, and although it may be required for secretion to occur, the two processes are easily separated. Thus phosphorylation of these proteins is not likely to be an integral component of the release mechanism.     

The effects of insulin and glucose on the induction and intracellular translocation of delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase

The administration of insulin and glucose to young Sprague-Dawley rats (125-150 g) resulted in changes in the intracellular distribution and in the turnover rates of delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALAS) activity in the mitochondria and the cytosol. When starved, allylisopropylacetamide (AIA)-induced rats were injected with either insulin or glucose, the percentage of the total ALAS activity found in the cytosol increased from 27% in control animals to 33-40% in insulin-treated and 50% in glucose-treated rats. Similar increases of the ALAS activity in the cytosol were observed after insulin treatment of noninduced, starved animals. Glucose administration also repressed 25-40% of the AIA induction of ALAS as previously reported; however, this effect apparently was not a result of elevated insulin levels, since there was no observed repression of AIA induction after insulin administration. The effects of insulin and glucose on the turnover rates of ALAS activity in the mitochondria and in the cytosol were investigated by observing changes in the half-lives of ALAS activity in the two intracellular compartments. Administration of both insulin and glucose resulted in an increased half-life of ALAS activity in the cytosol from 20.8 to over 100 min, while the mitochondrial half-life was not significantly changed. When insulin was given to either fed, AIA-induced or to starved, noninduced rats, the half-life of the cytosolic ALAS increased from about 14 to 40 min. In contrast to the starved, induced animals, the mitochondrial ALAS half-life in starved, noninduced animals decreased 50%. These results suggest that insulin and glucose treatment may inhibit the translocation of ALAS from the cytosol into the mitochondrial matrix.     

Defective phosphorylation and processing of beta-hexosaminidase by intact cultured fibroblasts from patients with mucolipidosis III

Previous studies of the synthesis, phosphorylation, and processing of β-hexosaminidase in cultured fibroblasts from normal individuals and from patients with mucolipidosis II (I-cell disease) (A. Hasilik and E. F. Neufeld, 1980, J. Biol. Chem.225, 4937–4946) have been extended to fibroblasts derived from patients with a related genetic disorder, mucolipidosis III (pseudo-Hurler polydystrophy). The enzyme was biosynthetically labeled in pulse-chase experiments with [³H]leucine and ³³P_i, and isolated from cells and medium by immunoprecipitation. The constitutent α and β chains of the enzyme were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing and denaturing conditions, visualized by autoradiography and fluorography, extracted from the gel, and quantitated by liquid scintillation spectrometry. Enzyme produced by fibroblasts from mucolipidosis III patients had a very low but detectable phosphate content; a high proportion of newly made enzyme was secreted, though some remained within the cells and was processed to mature enzyme; the presence of NH₄Cl during the labeling and chase did not significantly increase the amount of enzyme secreted. The β-hexosaminidase produced by mucolipidosis III fibroblasts thus resembled more closely that produced by fibroblasts from patients with mucolipidosis II than the normal enzyme. β-Hexosaminidase made by fibroblasts from mucolipidosis II heterozygotes was similar to the normal enzyme with respect to phosphorylation, processing, and secretion. Mucolipidosis II and III fibroblasts could endocytose normal precursor β-hexosaminidase and process it to the mature form. The deficiency of mature enzyme in the patients' cells may therefore be attributed to failure of the unphosphorylated enzyme to be incorporated into lysosomes, where processing would normally occur.     

Influence of the estrous cycle on heterosexual aggression in two strains of rats (S3 and WEzob)

Two strains of rats (S₃ and WEzob), which show different levels of aggression in the laboratory, were tested in repeated heterosexual confrontations. Daily 15-min observations were made of the interactions between a female throughout a complete estrous cycle and the same male partner. In both strains the topography of aggression was similar in males and females, but the frequency of specific parameters varied. Males showed more offensive and females more defensive patterns. The overall level of aggression was very low on the day of estrous, when the female was sexually receptive. There were no differences in any elements of female or male behavior between the other 3 days of the cycle. The results support previous conclusions from single-sex encounters that in rats there is no sexual dimorphism in the ability to show aggression.     

Biochemical effects of PR toxin on rat liver mitochondrial respiration and oxidative phosphorylation

The in vitro effects of PR toxin, a toxic secondary metabolite produced by certain strains of Penicillium roqueforti, on the membrane structure and function of rat liver mitochondria were investigated. It was found that the respiratory control and oxidative phosphorylation of the isolated mitochondria decreased concomitantly when the toxin was added to the assay system. The respiratory control ratio decreased about 60% and the ADP/O ratio decreased about 40% upon addition of 3.1 X 10(-5) M PR toxin to the highly coupled mitochondria. These findings suggest that PR toxin impairs the structural integrity of mitochondrial membranes. On the other hand, the toxin inhibited mitochondrial respiratory functions. It exhibited noncompetitive inhibitions to succinate oxidase, succinate-cytochrome c reductase, and succinate dehydrogenase activities of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The inhibitory constants of PR toxin to these three enzyme systems were estimated to be 5.1 X 10(-6), 2.4 X 10(-5), and 5.2 X 10(-5) M, respectively. Moreover, PR toxin was found to change the spectral features of succinate-reduced cytochrome b and cytochrome c1 in succinate-cytochrome c reductase and inhibited the electron transfer between the two cytochromes. These observations indicate that the electron transfer function of succinate-cytochrome c reductase was perturbed by the toxin. However, PR toxin did not show significant inhibition of either cytochrome oxidase or NADH dehydrogenase activity of the mitochondria. It is thus concluded that PR toxin exerts its effect on the mitochondrial respiration and oxidative phosphorylation through action on the membrane and the succinate-cytochrome c reductase complex of the mitochondria.     

Characterization of calmodulin-mediated phosphorylation of cardiac muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum

Sarcoplasmic reticulum, isolated from canine cardiac muscle, was phosphorylated in the presence of exogenous cAMP-dependent protein kinase or calmodulin. This phosphorylation has been shown previously to activate sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium uptake (LePeuch et al. (1979) Biochemistry18, 5150–5157). Calmodulin appeared to activate an endogenous protein kinase present in sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes. The incorporation of phosphate increased with time. However, once all the ATP was consumed, the level of phosphorylated protein started to decrease due to the action of an endogenous protein phosphatase. Dephosphorylation occurred even when the level of phosphorylated sarcoplasmic reticulum remained constant at high ATP concentrations. The phosphorylation of sarcoplasmic reticulum in the presence of calmodulin, increased as the pH was increased from pH 5.5 to 8.5. This phosphorylation was only inhibited by KCl concentrations greater than 100 mm. The apparent K_m of cAMP-dependent protein kinase for ATP was 5.2 ± 0.2 × 10^?5m, and of the calmodulin-dependent protein kinase for ATP was 3.67 ± 0.29 × 10^?5m. Phosphorylation was maximally activated by 5–10 mm MgCl₂; higher MgCl₂ concentrations inhibited this phosphorylation. Thus the calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum could be maximally activated at sarcoplasmic concentrations of K⁺, Mg²⁺, and ATP. The calmodulindependent phosphorylation was half-maximally activated at Ca²⁺ concentrations that were significantly greater than those required to promote the formation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-activated ATPase phosphoprotein intermediate. Thus at sarcoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentrations that might be expected during systole, the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump would be fully activated before any significant calmodul-independent sarcoplasmic reticulum phosphorylation occurred. However, under certain pathological conditions when the sarcoplasmic Ca²⁺ becomes elevated (e.g., in ischemia) the kinase could be activated so that the sarcoplasmic reticulum would be phosphorylated and calcium uptake augmented. Thus, the calmodulin-dependent protein kinase may only function when the heart needs to rescue itself from a possibly fatal calcium overload.     

Insemination of rabbit eggs is associated with slow depolarization and repetitive diphasic membrane potentials

The plasma membrane of the rabbit egg allows only one sperm to enter the egg during fertilization, but the mechanism of this block to polyspermy is unknown. Electrophysiology and in vitro fertilization techniques were employed in this study to investigate the possibility that a voltage block to polyspermy exists in rabbit eggs. Ovulated zona-intact eggs had a mean membrane potential of -71 +/- 2.1 mV (interior negative). A stereotypic response occurred 12-135 min following in vitro insemination in 19 of 40 eggs. Association of this stereotypic response with the appearance of pronuclei suggested that the electrical response was related to some interaction of gametes. This response consisted of a slow transient 8 +/- 1.5 mV depolarization upon which were superimposed up to 36 repetitive diphasic insemination potentials. Each potential consisted of a brief 2.0 +/- 0.44 mV hyperpolarization followed by a slow 2.5 +/- 0.45 mV depolarization. The small amplitude of the stereotypic response when compared with the large variation of resting potentials suggested that the response was insufficient to block polyspermy by a mechanism dependent upon the magnitude of the rabbit egg membrane potential.     

Temperature effect on the luminescence of synthetized Yt base in PVA film

The mean phosphorescence lifetimes, fluorescence yields and phosphorescence-to-fluorescence quantum yields ratios of Y_t base in PVA films were measured in the temperature range of 100–250°K. The quantum yield of triplet state formation was found to be temperature independent at a wide range of lower temperatures. The radiative and nonradiative rate constants for triplet state were measured.     

Increased microsomal oxidation of hydroxyl radical scavenging agents and ethanol after chronic consumption of ethanol

The ability of the neonatal rat to oxidize the branched-chain amino acids leucine and valine and their corresponding keto acids was evaluated. In vivo, about 20% of orally administered labeled amino or keto acids were oxidized in 6 h, after which time little further oxidation occurred. In perfused neonatal liver the amino acids were oxidized at only 5-10% the rate of the keto acids. The oxidation of the keto acids showed a saturable dependence on concentration. The decarboxylation of ketoisocaproate (KIC) had a maximal rate of 40.1 +/- 1.6 mumol/h/g liver with an apparent Km of 0.27 +/- 0.03 mM, and decarboxylation of ketoisovalerate (KIV) had a maximal rate of 37.9 +/- 1.9 mumol/h/g liver and an apparent Km of 0.28 +/- 0.04 mM. KIC was ketogenic, producing mainly acetoacetate at a maximal rate of 44.5 +/- 1.6 mumol/h/g liver with an apparent Km of 0.27 +/- 0.03 mM. On the other hand, KIV was not gluconeogenic, although the perfused neonatal liver was able to produce glucose from lactate. During liver perfusion, KIV did not produce measurable quantities of either propionic or beta-aminoisobutyric acids, which are possible end products of KIV metabolism. Decanoic acid inhibited the decarboxylation of both keto acids to the same extent with a maximal effect at 0.4 mM fatty acid. At saturating levels, KIC was less ketogenic than decanoate. Inhibition of endogenous fatty acid oxidation by 2-tetradecylglycidic acid had no effect on keto acid oxidation. These data suggest that branched-chain amino acids derived from milk proteins are probably not quantitatively significant sources of either ketone bodies or glucose in the neonatal rat.