Evidence for coenzyme Q function in transplasma membrane electron transport

Transplasma membrane electron transport activity has been associated with stimulation of cell growth. Coenzyme Q is present in plasma membranes and because of its lipid solubility would be a logical carrier to transport electrons across the plasma membrane. Extraction of coenzyme Q from isolated rat liver plasma membranes decreases the NADH ferricyanide reductase and added coenzyme Q10 restores the activity. Piericidin and other analogs of coenzyme Q inhibit transplasma membrane electron transport as measured by ferricyanide reduction by intact cells and NADH ferricyanide reduction by isolated plasma membranes. The inhibition by the analogs is reversed by added coenzyme Q10. Thus, coenzyme Q in plasma membrane may act as a transmembrane electron carrier for the redox system which has been shown to control cell growth.     

Retinoic acid inhibition of transplasmalemma diferric transferrin reductase

All trans retinoic acid inhibited diferric transferrin reduction by HeLa cells. The NADH diferric transferrin reductase activity of isolated liver plasma membranes was also inhibited by retinoic acid. Retinol and retinyl acetate had very little effect. Transplasma membrane ferricyanide reduction by HeLa cells and NADH ferricyanide reductase of liver plasma membrane was also inhibited by retinoic acid, therefore the inhibition was in the electron transport system and not at the transferrin receptor. Since the transmembrane electron transport has been shown to stimulate cell growth, the growth inhibition by retinoic acid thus may be based on inhibition of the NADH diferric transferrin reductase.     

Adriamycin affects plasma membrane redox functions

Adriamycin (Doxorubicin) stimulates NADH oxidase activity in liver plasma membrane, but does not cause NADH oxidase activity to appear where it is not initially present, as in erythrocyte membrane. NADH dehydrogenase from rat liver and erythrocyte plasma membranes shows similar adriamycin effects with other electron acceptors. Both NADH ferricyanide reductase and vanadate-stimulated NADH oxidation are inhibited by adriamycin, as is a cyanide insensitive ascorbate oxidase activity, whereas NADH cytochrome c reductase is not affected. The effects may contribute to the growth inhibitory (control) and/or deleterious effects of adriamycin. It is clear that adriamycin effects on the plasma membrane dehydrogenase involve more than a simple catalysis of superoxide formation.     

The plasma membrane NADH oxidase of HeLa cells has hydroquinone oxidase activity.

The plasma membrane NADH oxidase activity partially purified from the surface of HeLa cells exhibited hydroquinone oxidase activity. The preparations completely lacked NADH:ubiquinone reductase activity. However, in the absence of NADH, reduced coenzyme Q10 (Q10H2=ubiquinol) was oxidized at a rate of 15+/-6 nmol min-1 mg protein-1 depending on degree of purification. The apparent Km for Q10H2 oxidation was 33 microM. Activities were inhibited competitively by the cancer cell-specific NADH oxidase inhibitors, capsaicin and the antitumor sulfonylurea N-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)-N'-(4-chlorophenyl)urea (LY181984). With coenzyme Q0, where the preparations were unable to carry out either NADH:quinone reduction or reduced quinone oxidation, quinol oxidation was observed with an equal mixture of the Q0 and Q0H2 forms. With the mixture, a rate of Q0H2 oxidation of 8-17 nmol min-1 mg protein-1 was observed with an apparent Km of 0.22 mM. The rate of Q10H2 oxidation was not stimulated by addition of equal amounts of Q10 and Q10H2. However, addition of Q0 to the Q10H2 did stimulate. The oxidation of Q10H2 proceeded with what appeared to be a two-electron transfer. The oxidation of Q0H2 may involve Q0, but the mechanism was not clear. The findings suggest the potential participation of the plasma membrane NADH oxidase as a terminal oxidase of plasma membrane electron transport from cytosolic NAD(P)H via naturally occurring hydroquinones to acceptors at the cell surface.     

A growth factor- and hormone-stimulated NADH oxidase from rat liver plasma membrane.

NADH oxidase activity (electron transfer from NADH to molecular oxygen) of plasma membranes purified from rat liver was characterized by a cyanide-insensitive rate of 1 to 5 nmol/min per mg protein. The activity was stimulated by growth factors (diferric transferrin and epidermal growth factor) and hormones (insulin and pituitary extract) 2- to 3-fold. In contrast, NADH oxidase was inhibited up to 80% by several agents known to inhibit growth or induce differentiation (retinoic acid, calcitriol, and the monosialoganglioside, GM3). The growth factor-responsive NADH oxidase of isolated plasma membranes was not inhibited by common inhibitors of oxidoreductases of endoplasmic reticulum or mitochondria. As well, NADH oxidase of the plasma membrane was stimulated by concentrations of detergents which strongly inhibited mitochondrial NADH oxidases and by lysolipids or fatty acids. Growth factor-responsive NADH oxidase, however, was inhibited greater than 90% by chloroquine and quinone analogues. Addition of coenzyme Q10 stimulated the activity and partially reversed the analogue inhibition. The pH optimum for NADH oxidase was 7.0 both in the absence and presence of growth factors. The Km for NADH was 5 microM and was increased in the presence of growth factors. The stoichiometry of the electron transfer reaction from NADH to oxygen was 2 to 1, indicating a 2 electron transfer. NADH oxidase was separated from NADH-ferricyanide reductase, also present at the plasma membrane, by ion exchange chromatography. Taken together, the evidence suggests that NADH oxidase of the plasma membrane is a unique oxidoreductase and may be important to the regulation of cell growth.     

NADH-ascorbate free radical and -ferricyanide reductase activities represent different levels of plasma membrane electron transport

Plasma membranes isolated from rat liver by two-phase partition exhibited dehydrogenase activities for ascorbate free radical (AFR) and ferricyanide reduction in a ratio of specific activities of 1 : 40. NADH-AFR reductase could not be solubilized by detergents from plasma membrane fractions. NADH-AFR reductase was inhibited in both clathrin-depleted membrane and membranes incubated with anti-clathrin antiserum. This activity was reconstituted in plasma membranes in proportion to the amount of clathrin-enriched supernatant added. NADH ferricyanide reductase was unaffected by both clathrin-depletion and antibody incubation and was fully solubilized by detergents. Also, wheat germ agglutinin only inhibited NADH-AFR reductase. The findings suggest that NADH-AFR reductase and NADH-ferricyanide reductase activities of plasma membrane represent different levels of the electron transport chain. The inability of the NADH-AFR reductase to survive detergent solubilization might indicate the involvement of more than one protein in the electron transport from NADH to the AFR but not to ferricyanide.     

Recycling of the ascorbate free radical by human erythrocyte membranes.

Reduction of the ascorbate free radical (AFR) at the plasma membrane provides an efficient mechanism to preserve the vitamin in a location where it can recycle alpha-tocopherol and thus prevent lipid peroxidation. Erythrocyte ghost membranes have been shown to oxidize NADH in the presence of the AFR. We report that this activity derives from an AFR reductase because it spares ascorbate from oxidation by ascorbate oxidase, and because ghost membranes decrease steady-state concentrations of the AFR in a protein- and NADH-dependent manner. The AFR reductase has a high apparent affinity for both NADH and the AFR (< 2 microM). When measured in open ghosts, the reductase is comprised of an inner membrane activity (both substrate sites on the cytosolic membrane face) and a trans-membrane activity that mediates extracellular AFR reduction using intracellular NADH. However, the trans-membrane activity constitutes only about 12% of the total measured in ghosts. Ghost AFR reductase activity can also be differentiated from NADH-dependent ferricyanide reductase(s) by its sensitivity to the detergent Triton X-100 and insensitivity to enzymatic digestion with cathepsin D. This NADH-dependent AFR reductase could serve to recycle ascorbic acid at a crucial site on the inner face of the plasma membrane.     

Inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport by hydrophilic metal chelators. Determination of dehydrogenase topography

The topography of the inner mitochondrial membrane was investigated using inhibitors of electron transport on preparations of beef heart mitochondria and electron transport particles of opposite orientation. Reductions of juglone, ferricyanide, indophenol, coenzyme Q, duroquinone, and cytochrome c by NADH are inhibited to different extents on both sides of the membrane by the impermeant hydrophilic chelators bathophenanthroline sulfonate and orthophenanthroline. The extent of inhibition for each acceptor increased in the order given. At least two chelator-sensitive sites are present on each membrane face between the flavoprotein and coenzyme Q and a chelator-sensitive site is present on the matrix face between the sites of coenzyme Q and duroquinone interaction. Duroquinol oxidation in mitochondria only is stimulated by bathophenanthroline sulfonate. Juglone reduction is stimulated in electron transport particles (only) by p-hydroxymercuribenzenesulfonate, but after mercurial treatment, juglone reduction in both particles and mitochondria is more sensitive to bathophenanthroline sulfonate.Succinate dehydrogenase components are inhibited by hydrophilic orthophenanthroline or bathophenanthroline sulfonate in mitochondria only. Electron flow between the dehydrogenases of succinate and NADH occurs via a chelator-sensitive site located on the matrix face of the membrane. Inter-complex electron flow is prevented by rotenone or thenoyltrifluoroacetone. The lack of succinate-indophenol reductase inhibition by bathophenanthroline sulfonate in the presence of rotenone or thenoyltrifluoroacetone indicates that the rotenone-sensitive site may be located on the matrix face and demonstrates that electrons flow between the NADH and succinate dehydrogenases via a hydrophilic chelator and rotenone-thenoyltrifluoroacetone-sensitive site on the matrix face of the membrane. Inhibition by hydrophilic chelators only in mitochondria indicates that succinate dehydrogenase as well as NADH dehydrogenase has a transmembranous orientation.     

The NADH oxidase activity of the plasma membrane of synaptosomes is a major source of superoxide anion and is inhibited by peroxynitrite

Plasma membrane vesicles from adult rat brain synaptosomes (PMV) have an ascorbate-dependent NADH oxidase activity of 35-40 nmol/min/(mg protein) at saturation by NADH. NADPH is a much less efficient substrate of this oxidase activity, with a Vmax 10-fold lower than that measured for NADH. Ascorbate-dependent NADH oxidase activity accounts for more than 90% of the total NADH oxidase activity of PMV and, in the absence of NADH and in the presence of 1 mm ascorbate, PMV produce ascorbate free radical (AFR) at a rate of 4.0 +/- 0.5 nmol AFR/min/(mg protein). NADH-dependent *O2- production by PMV occurs with a rate of 35 +/- 3 nmol/min/(mg protein), and is a coreaction product of the NADH oxidase activity, because: (i) it is inhibited by more than 90% by addition of ascorbate oxidase, (ii) it is inhibited by 1 micro g/mL wheat germ agglutinin (a potent inhibitor of the plasma membrane AFR reductase activity), and (iii) the KM(NADH) of the plasma membrane NADH oxidase activity and of NADH-dependent *O2- production are identical. Treatment of PMV with repetitive micromolar ONOO- pulses produced almost complete inhibition of the ascorbate-dependent NADH oxidase and *O2- production, and at 50% inhibition addition of coenzyme Q10 almost completely reverts this inhibition. Cytochrome c stimulated 2.5-fold the plasma membrane NADH oxidase, and pretreatment of PMV with repetitive 10 microm ONOO- pulses lowers the K0.5 for cytochrome c stimulation from 6 +/- 1 (control) to 1.5 +/- 0.5 microm. Thus, the ascorbate-dependent plasma membrane NADH oxidase activity can act as a source of neuronal.O2-, which is up-regulated by cytosolic cytochrome c and down-regulated under chronic oxidative stress conditions producing ONOO-.     

NADH diferric transferrin reductase in liver plasma membrane

Evidence is presented that rat liver plasma membranes contain a distinct NADH diferric transferrin reductase. Three different assay procedures for demonstration of the activity are described. The enzyme activity is highest in isolated plasma membrane, and activity in other internal membranes is one-eighth or less than in plasma membrane. The activity is inhibited by apotransferrin and antitransferrin antibodies. Trypsin treatment of the membranes leads to rapid loss of the transferrin reductase activity as compared with NADH ferricyanide reductase activity. Erythrocyte plasma membranes, which lack transferrin receptors, show no diferric transferrin reductase activity, although NADH ferricyanide reductase is present. The transferrin reductase is inhibited by agents that inhibit diferric transferrin reduction by intact cells and is activated by CHAPS (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfate) detergent. Inhibitors of mitochondrial electron transport have no effect on the activity. We propose that the NADH diferric transferrin reductase in plasma membranes measures the activity of the enzyme that causes the reduction of diferric transferrin by intact cells. This transmembrane electron transport system requires the transferrin receptor for diferric transferrin reduction. Because the transmembrane electron transport has been shown to stimulate cell growth, the reduction of diferric transferrin at the cell surface may be an important function for diferric transferrin in stimulation of cell growth, in addition to its role in iron transport.     

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.     

Voltage-dependent anion-selective channel 1 (VDAC1)--a mitochondrial protein, rediscovered as a novel enzyme in the plasma membrane

The eukaryotic porin or voltage-dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC1) is a pore-forming protein discovered twenty five years ago in the mitochondrial outer membrane. Its gene in eukaryotes is known, but its tertiary structure has never been solved. Structure predictions highlight the presence of several amphipathic beta-strands possibly organised in a beta-barrel. VDAC1 has recently been described as being a NADH:ferricyanide reductase in the plasma membrane. There it affects the regulation of cell growth and death. Physiological cell death (apoptosis) has become a major research focus of biomedical research. Regulation of the enzyme will have impacts on cancer and autoimmune diseases (insufficient apoptosis) as well as neurodegenerative diseases (excessive apoptosis). VDAC1 in the plasma membrane establishes a novel level of apoptosis regulation putatively via its redox activity.     

VDAC1 is a transplasma membrane NADH-ferricyanide reductase

Porin isoform 1 or VDAC (voltage-dependent anion-selective channel) 1 is the predominant protein in the outer mitochondrial membrane. We demonstrated previously that a plasma membrane NADH-ferricyanide reductase activity becomes up-regulated upon mitochondrial perturbation, and therefore suggested that it functions as a cellular redox sensor. VDAC1 is known to be expressed in the plasma membrane; however, its function there remained a mystery. Here we show that VDAC1, when expressed in the plasma membrane, functions as a NADH-ferricyanide reductase. VDAC1 preparations purified from both plasma membrane and mitochondria fractions exhibit NADH-ferricyanide reductase activity, which can be immunoprecipitated with poly- and monoclonal antibodies directed against VDAC(1). Transfecting cells with pl-VDAC1-GFP, which carries an N-terminal signal peptide, directs VDAC1 to the plasma membrane, as shown by confocal microscopy and FACS analysis, and significantly increases the plasma membrane NADH-ferricyanide reductase activity of the transfected cells. This novel enzymatic activity of the well known VDAC1 molecule may provide an explanation for its role in the plasma membrane. Our data suggest that a major function of VDAC1 in the plasma membrane is that of a NADH(-ferricyanide) reductase that may be involved in the maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis.     

Evidence for functional interaction of plasma membrane electron transport, voltage-dependent anion channel and volume-regulated anion channel in frog aorta

Frog aortic tissue exhibits plasma membrane electron transport (PMET) owing to its ability to reduce ferricyanide even in the presence of mitochondrial poisons, such as cyanide and azide. Exposure to hypotonic solution (108 mOsmol/kg H2O) enhanced the reduction of ferricyanide in excised aortic tissue of frog. Increment in ferricyanide reductase activity was also brought about by the presence of homocysteine (100 microM dissolved in isotonic frog Ringer solution), a redox active compound and a potent modulator of PMET. Two plasma-membrane-bound channels, the volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC) and the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC), are involved in the response to hypotonic stress. The presence of VRAC and VDAC antagonists-tamoxifen, glibenclamide, fluoxetine and verapamil, and 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS), respectively-inhibited this enhanced activity brought about by either hypotonic stress or homocysteine. The blockers do not affect the ferricyanide reductase activity under isotonic conditions. Taken together, these findings indicate a functional interaction of the three plasma membrane proteins, namely, ferricyanide reductase (PMET), VDAC and VRAC.     

Comparison of growth stimulation of HeLa cells,HL-60 cells,and mouse fibroblasts by coenzyme Q10

Summary The addition of coenzyme Q₁₀ to culture media stimulates the serum-free growth of HeLa, HL-60 cells, and mouse fibroblasts (Balb/3T3). With HeLa cells, the stimulation by coenzyme Q₁₀ is additive to the stimulation by ferricyanide, an impermeable electron acceptor for the transplasma membrane electron transport. This combined response to coenzyme Q₁₀ and ferricyanide is enhanced with insulin. -Tocopherylquinone can also stimulate the growth of HeLa cells, but vitamin K₁ is inactive. Specificity of quinone effects is indicated. Serum-free growth of Balb/3T3 and SV 40 transformed BaIb/3T3 (SV/T2) cells is also stimulated by coenzyme Qio with stimulation similar to HeLa cells. However, Balb/3T3 cells are not stimulated by ferricyanide, which does not increase the response to coenzyme Q₁₀. The transformed cells (SV/T2) respond better to ferricyanide alone, but the effects of coenzyme Qio and ferricyanide are not additive. Serum-free growth of HL-60 cells is stimulated dramatically by coenzyme Q₁₀. The extent of growth stimulation on HL-60 cells is almost six-fold that of HeLa or Balb/3T3 cells. The stimulation of NADH-ferricyanide reductase (a transmembrane redox enzyme) by coenzyme Q₁₀ with HL-60 cells is similar to their growth pattern in response to coenzyme Q₁₀. Unlike HL-60, HeLa and Balb/3T3 cells show little stimulation of ferricyanide reduction by coenzyme Q₁₀. The stimulatory effect on both ferricyanide reduction and cell growth by the short side-chain coenzyme Q₂ is much less than that of the long side-chain coenzyme Q₁₀. Ferricyanide reduction by HeLa cells is inhibited by coenzyme Q analogs such as 2,3-dimethoxy-5-chloro-6-naphthyl-mercapto-coenzyme Q and 2-methoxy-3-ethoxyl-5-methyl-6-hexadecyl-mercapto-coenzyme Q. However, these inhibitions are reversed by coenzyme Q₁₀. The growth inhibition of HL-60 cells by other coenzyme Q analogs, such as capsiacin can also be reversed by coenzyme Q₁₀. These data indicate that plasma membrane-based NADH oxidation or modification of the membrane quinone redox balance may be a basis for the growth stimulation.     

Extracellular ascorbate stabilization as a result of transplasma electron transfer inSaccharomyces cerevisiae

The presence of yeast cells in the incubation medium prevents the oxidation of ascorbate catalyzed by copper ions. Ethanol increases ascorbate retention. Pyrazole, an alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor, prevents ascorbate stabilization by cells. Chelation of copper ions does not account for stabilization, since oxidation rates with broken or boiled cells or conditioned media are similar to control rates in the absence of cells. Protoplast integrity is needed to reach optimal values of stabilization. Chloroquine, a known inhibitor of plasma membrane redox systems, inhibits the ascorbate stabilization, the inhibition being partially reversed by coenzyme Q₆. Chloroquine does not inhibit ferricyanide reduction. Growth of yeast in iron-deficient media to increase ferric ion reductase activity also increases the stabilization. In conclusion, extracellular ascorbate stabilization by yeast cells can reflect a coenzyme Q dependent transplasmalemma electron transfer which uses NADH as electron donor. Iron deficiency increases the ascorbate stabilization but the transmembrane ferricyanide reduction system can act independently of ascorbate stabilization.     

NAD+/NADH and/or CoQ/CoQH2 ratios from plasma membrane electron transport may determine ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate levels accompanying G1 arrest and apoptosis

To elucidate possible biochemical links between growth arrest from antiproliferative chemotherapeutic agents and apoptosis, our work has focused on agents (EGCg, capsaicin, cis platinum, adriamycin, anti-tumor sulfonylureas, phenoxodiol) that target tNOX. tNOX is a cancer-specific cell surface NADH oxidase (ECTO-NOX protein), that functions in cancer cells as the terminal oxidase for plasma membrane electron transport. When tNOX is active, coenzyme Q(10) (ubiquinone) of the plasma membrane is oxidized and NADH is oxidized at the cytosolic surface of the plasma membrane. However, when tNOX is inhibited and plasma membrane electron transport is diminished, both reduced coenzyme Q(10) (ubiquinol) and NADH would be expected to accumulate. To relate inhibition of plasma membrane redox to increased ceramide levels and arrest of cell proliferation in G(1) and apoptosis, we show that neutral sphingomyelinase, a major contributor to plasma membrane ceramide, is inhibited by reduced glutathione and ubiquinone. Ubiquinol is without effect or stimulates. In contrast, sphingosine kinase, which generates anti-apoptotic sphingosine-1-phosphate, is stimulated by ubiquinone but inhibited by ubiquinol and NADH. Thus, the quinone and pyridine nucleotide products of plasma membrane redox, ubiquinone and ubiquinol, as well as NAD(+) and NADH, may directly modulate in a reciprocal manner two key plasma membrane enzymes, sphingomyelinase and sphingosine kinase, potentially leading to G(1) arrest (increase in ceramide) and apoptosis (loss of sphingosine-1-phosphate). As such, the findings provide potential links between coenzyme Q(10)-mediated plasma membrane electron transport and the anticancer action of several clinically-relevant anticancer agents.     

Thansplasmalemma redox reactions and ion transport in photosynthetic and heterotrophic plant cells

Extracellular ferricyanide reduction, NADH and ferrocyanide oxidation were investigated by spectrophotometrical method on photosynthetic freshwater plants ( Elodea canadensis Rich., Vallisneria spiralis L., Nitella flexilis L.) and heterotrophic tissues (roots of Triticum vulgare L., Hordeum vulgare L., Zea mays L., Pisum sativum L., Avena sativa L., Allium sativa L., Allium cepa L.). All species had ferricyanide reductase activity. The roots of land plants also carried out extracellular oxidation of NADH and ferrocyanide in contrast to leaves of the freshwater plants. External NADH stimulated ferricyanide reductase activity, but only with those objects that had external NADH oxidase activity. In all species ferricyanide decreased the membrane potential (MP), decreased the membrane resistance measured at a fixed current and inhibited K⁺ influx measured by flame photometry. The factors affecting ferricyanide reductase activity also influenced the inhibitory effect of ferricyanide on the MP and K⁺ transport. These results demonstrate a connection between transport, electrogenic and redox functions of the plasmalemma.     

Interactions Between Ascorbyl Free Radical and Coenzyme Q at the Plasma Membrane

A role for coenzyme Q in the stabilization of extracellular ascorbate by intact cells has beenrecently recognized. The aim of this work was to study the interactions between reducedubiquinone in the plasma membrane and the ascorbyl free radical, as an approach to understandubiquinone-mediated ascorbate stabilization at the cell surface. K-562 cells stabilized ascorbateand decreased the steady-state levels of the semiascorbyl radical. The ability of cells to reduceascorbyl free radical was inhibited by the quinone analogs capsaicin and chloroquine andstimulated by supplementing cells with coenzyme Q₁₀. Purified plasma membranes also reducedascorbyl free radical in the presence of NADH. Free-radical reduction was notobserved inquinone-depleted plasma membranes, but restored after its reconstitution with coenzyme Q₁₀.Addition of reduced coenzyme Q₁₀ to depleted membranes allowed them toreduce the signalof the ascorbyl free radical without NADH incubation and the addition of an extra amount ofpurified plasma membrane quinone reductase further stimulated this activity. Reduction wasabolished by treatment with the reductase inhibitor p-hydroximercuribenzoate and by blockingsurface glycoconjugates with the lectin wheat germ agglutinin, which supports the participationof transmembrane electron flow. The activity showed saturation kinetics by NADH andcoenzyme Q, but not by the ascorbyl free radical in the range of concentrations used. Our resultssupport that reduction of ascorbyl free radicals at the cell surface involves coenzyme Qreduction by NADH and the membrane-mediated reduction of ascorbyl free radical.     

Purification and characterization of a doxorubicin-inhibited NADH-quinone (NADH-ferricyanide) reductase from rat liver plasma membranes

Plasma membrane-associated redox systems play important roles in regulation of cell growth, internal pH, signal transduction, apoptosis, and defense against pathogens. Stimulation of cell growth and stimulation of the redox system of plasma membranes are correlated. When cell growth is inhibited by antitumor agents such as doxorubicin, capsaicin, and antitumor sulfonylureas, redox activities of the plasma membrane also are inhibited. A doxorubicin-inhibited NADH-quinone reductase was characterized and purified from plasma membranes of rat liver. First, an NADH-cytochrome b(5) reductase, which was doxorubicin-insensitive, was removed from the plasma membranes by the lysosomal protease, cathepsin D. After removal of the NADH-cytochrome b(5) reductase, the plasma membranes retained a doxorubicin-inhibited NADH-quinone reductase activity. The enzyme, with an apparent molecular mass of 57 kDa, was purified 200-fold over the cathepsin D-treated plasma membranes. The purified enzyme had also an NADH-coenzyme Q(0) reductase (NADH: external acceptor (quinone) reductase; EC 1.6.5.) activity. Partial amino acid sequence of the enzyme showed that it was unique with no sequence homology to any known protein. Antibody against the enzyme (peptide sequence) was produced and affinity-purified. The purified antibody immunoprecipitated both the NADH-ferricyanide reductase activity and NADH-coenzyme Q(0) reductase activity of plasma membranes and cross-reacted with human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells and doxorubicin-resistant human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562R cells. Localization by fluorescence microscopy showed that the reaction was with the external surface of the plasma membranes. The doxorubicin-inhibited NADH-quinone reductase may provide a target for the anthracycline antitumor agents and a candidate ferricyanide reductase for plasma membrane electron transport.