The effects of iron-limited growth on the reduced nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase activity and the membrane proteins of Candida utilis mitochondria

1. The mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase (EC 1.6.99.3) of Candida utilis exhibited altered properties when the organism was grown under iron-limited conditions. No suitable acceptor was found for assay of this enzyme from iron-limited cells. 2. Mitochondrial membrane proteins from C. utilis were analysed by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Compared with glycerol-limited cells, iron limitation resulted in the loss of at least two polypeptides from the mitochondrial membrane. 3. Neither of the polypeptides affected by iron limitation was part of a cytochrome, although one of them was part of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase. 4. Non-haem iron of mitochondrial membranes was released in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate, and electrophoresis in solutions of this detergent cannot be used directly to identify iron-sulphur proteins. Non-ionic detergents do not release non-haem iron but nor do they provide a satisfactory system for electrophoretic separation.     

Intramitochondrial positions of ubiquinone and iron-sulphur centres determined by dipolar interactions with paramagnetic ions.

E.p.r. (electron-paramagnetic-resonance) spectra of ubisemiquinone (QH) organic radicals and all of the known iron-sulphur centres were studied in normal and 'nickle-plated' pigeon heart mitochondria, submitochondrial particles and submitochondrial particles from which succinate dehydrogenase had been removed. Incubation of pigeon heart mitochondria, submitochondrial particles or succinate dehydrogenase-depleted submitochondrial particles with substrate in the presence of pure O2 results in the accumulation of Q-H. In mitochondria, the e.p.r. spectrum of Q-H is characterized by in-homogeneous line broadening. A heterogeneous population of semiquinones appears to be partly responsible for these effects in mitochondria. Additon of Ni(II) to mitochondria renders saturation of the Q-H resonance more difficult. On the other hand, the resonance in either submitochondrial particles or succinate dehydrogenase-depleted particles is narrower than the same spectrum in mitochondria, and saturates like a homogeneous line. The presence of Ni(II) in either of these preparations, further, has no effect on either the A-H spectrum or the saturation curve. Therefore QH appears to be situated on the exterior surface of the mitochondrion. Likewise, the e.p.r. spectra and saturation curves of iron-sulphur centre N-2 exhibit characteristics of inhomogeneous line broadening, not only in intact mitochondria but also in both submitochondrial particles and succinate dehydrogenase-depleted particles. Because of the small pool size of centre N-2, this effect is likely to arise from a spin interaction with some other component in the membrane. Ni(II) has no effect on the saturation in centre N-2 in mitochondria or submitochondrial particles, and only a marginal effect in the succinate dehydrogenase-depleted preparation. These results are indeterminate with respect to the position of centre N-2 in the membrane; but suggest that its distance from the succinate dehydrogenase binding site is on the order of 1 nm. All of the other ferredoxin-type iron-sulphur centres in both preparations were not affected by paramagnetic ions. Homogeneous e.p.r. spectra and saturation curves are observed for both of the HiPIP-type (high-potential iron-sulphur protein-type) iron-sulphur centres in mitochondrial centres S-3 and bc-3. Addition of No(II) to intact mitochondria results in a dipolar interaction with centre bc-3. No effect was observed on centre S-3 in either preparation. A comprehensive model is presented for the structure of the respiratory electron-transport system in mitochondria, based on e.p.r. relaxation studies in the present and the preceding paper. There is no direct evidence for transmembrane electron flow through any of the known energy-coupling sites in mitochondria, so that direct hydrogen atom transfer across the membrane (as a combination of H+ translocation coupled to electron flow) does not occur...     

Spectroscopic studies of flavoproteins and non-haem iron proteins of submitochondrial particles of Torulopsis utilis modified by iron- and sulphate-limited growth in continuous culture

1. A spectroscopic resolution has been made of the components contributing to the ;iron-flavoprotein' trough extending from 450 to 520nm in the reduced-minus-oxidized difference spectrum of submitochondrial particles of Torulopsis utilis. 2. Seven components were identified other than cytochrome b, ubiquinone and succinate dehydrogenase. On the basis of the effects of iron- and sulphate-limited growth of cells on their subsequently derived electron-transport particles, and also by consideration of analytical measurements of the concentration of FMN, FAD, non-haem iron and acid-labile sulphide in the electron-transport particles in relation to the magnitude of the spectroscopic changes, it was possible to identify five of these components as follows: species 1a, the flavin of NADH dehydrogenase ferroflavoprotein; species 1b, the iron-sulphur component of NADH dehydrogenase ferroflavoprotein; species 1', the flavin of an NADPH dehydrogenase; species 2, an iron-sulphur or ferroflavoprotein component; species 3, the flavin of l-3-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase. Two additional components were a fluorescent flavoprotein, probably lipoamide dehydrogenase, and a b-type cytochrome reducible by NADH or NADPH but not reoxidizable by the respiratory chain. 3. Species 1b and 2 were undetectable in electron-transport particles from iron- or sulphate-limited cells, but could be recovered in vivo under non-growing conditions. 4. The recovery in vivo of species 2 but not species 1b was inhibited by cycloheximide. 5. The recovery of species 1b correlates with the recovery of site 1 conservation. 6. The recovery of species 1b with species 2 correlates with the recovery of piericidin A sensitivity. 7. Evidence is presented for an NADPH dehydrogenase distinct from NADH dehydrogenase. The oxidation of NADH and NADPH by the respiratory chain is sensitive to piericidin A, and an iron-sulphur protein common to both pathways (species 2) is suggested as the piericidin A-sensitive component. 8. The approximate E'(0) (pH7.0) values of species 1 (a and b, low potential) and species 2 (high potential) indicate that site 1 energy conservation occurs between the levels of species 1 (a and b) and species 2.     

The purification and properties of the respiratory-chain reduced nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase of Torulopsis utilis

1. An NADH-ferricyanide reductase activity has been isolated from the respiratory chain of Torulopsis utilis by using detergents. The isolated enzyme contains non-haem iron, acid-labile sulphide and FMN in the molar proportions 27.5:28.4:1. The preparation is free of FAD and largely free of cytochrome. 2. The enzyme catalyses ferricyanide reduction by NADPH at about 1% of the rate with NADH, and reacts poorly with acceptors other than ferricyanide. The rates of reduction of some acceptors are, as percentages of the rate with ferricyanide: menadione, 0.35%; lipoate, 0.01%; cytochrome c, 0.065%; dichlorophenolindophenol, 0.35%; ubiquinone-1, 0.08%. 3. Several properties of submitochondrial particles of T. utilis (non-haem iron, acid-labile sulphide, FMN and an NADH-reducible electron-paramagnetic-resonance signal) were found to co-purify with the NADH-ferricyanide reductase activity. Thus about 70% of the FMN and, within the limits of accuracy of the experiments, 100% of the non-haem iron and acid-labile sulphide of submitochondrial particles derived from T. utilis cells grown under conditions of glycerol limitation (but relatively low iron availability) can be attributed to the NADH-ferricyanide reductase. 4. It was also shown that the component of submitochondrial particles specifically bleached at 460nm by NADH [species 1 of Ragan & Garland (1971)] co-purifies with the NADH-ferricyanide reductase. 5. This successful purification of an NADH dehydrogenase from T. utilis forms a starting point for investigating the molecular properties of phenotypically modified mitochondrial NADH oxidation pathways that lack energy conservation between NADH and the cytochromes.     

Non-haem iron and the dissociation of piericidin A sensitivity from site 1 energy conservation in mitochondria from Torulopsis utilis

1. The aerobic incubation of iron-deficient Torulopsis utilis cells for 12h under non-growing conditions results in the recovery by mitochondria of the previously absent site 1 energy conservation and sensitivity to piericidin A. 2. The recovery of piericidin A sensitivity but not site 1 is prevented by the presence of cycloheximide (100mug/ml) in the medium used for aerobic incubation of the cells. Rotenone sensitivity behaved similarly. 3. Chloramphenicol, erythromycin and tetracycline were without effect on the recovery of site 1 and piericidin A sensitivity. 4. Inclusion of (59)Fe in the growth medium can be used as the basis for a highly sensitive assay for non-haem iron. 5. Iron-limited growth of T. utilis lowers the concentration of both non-haem iron and acid-labile sulphide of submitochondrial particles by over 20-fold compared with the ;normal' situation with iron-supplemented glycerol-limited growth. 6. Increases in the non-haem iron and acid-labile sulphide concentrations of submitochondrial particles occur when site 1 and piericidin A sensitivity are recovered. The increase is approximately halved by the presence of cycloheximide. 7. The non-haem iron of T. utilis submitochondrial particles does not exchange with added iron. 8. Continuous culture of T. utilis at the transition between glycerol- and iron-limitation results in cells where mitochondria possess site 1 energy conservation but lack piericidin A sensitivity. 8. It is concluded, in contrast with widely held views to the opposite, that energy conservation at site 1 does not require electron flow to proceed through a piericidin A- or rotenone-sensitive route. 9. Restriction of the iron supplied to growing T. utilis to a concentration just above that required for growth limitation demonstrates that a 10- to 20-fold decrease of the ;normal' non-haem iron concentration of both cells and mitochondria is without effect on the growth yield per unit of carbon source. Submitochondrial particles prepared from such iron-restricted but otherwise functionally normal cells have a non-haem iron concentration of about 0.5-0.8ng-atom/mg of protein. It is concluded that the concentration of iron-sulphur protein required for normal function by the respiratory chain is close to the concentrations of cytochromes and flavoproteins.     

Characterization of iron-sulphur centres of plant mitochondria by microwave power saturation.

The electron spin relaxation of iron-sulphur centres and ubisemiquinones of plant mitochondria was studied by microwave power saturation of the respective EPR signals. In the microwave power saturation technique, the experimental saturation data were fitted by a least-squares procedure to a saturation function which is characterized by the power for half-saturation (P1/2) and the inhomogeneity parameter (b). Since the theoretical saturation curves were based on a one-electron spin system, it became possible to differentiate between EPR signals of iron-sulphur centres which have similar g values but different P1/2 values. If the difference in the P1/2 values of the overlapped components was small, no significant deviation from these theoretical saturation curves was observed, as shown for the overlapped signals of centre S-3 and the Ruzicka centre of mung bean mitochondria. By contrast, the microwave power saturation data for the g = 1.93 signal (17--26 K) of Arum maculatum submitochondrial particles reduced by succinate could not be fitted using one-electron saturation curves. Reduction by NADH resulted in a stronger deviation. Since the iron-sulphur centres of Complex I were present only in an unusually low concentration in A. maculatum mitochondria, it was proposed that an iron-sulphur centre of the external NADH dehydrogenase contributes to the spectrum of centre S-1. For mung bean mitochondria, the g = 1.93 signal below 20 K could be attributed mainly to centre N-2. The microwave power saturation technique was also suitable for detecting magnetic interactions between paramagnetic centres. From the saturation data of the complex spectrum attributable to centre S-3 and an interacting ubisemiquinone pair in mung bean mitochondria (oxidized state) followed that centre S-3 has a faster electron spin relaxation than the ubisemiquinone molecules. It is noteworthy that the differences in the relaxation rates were maintained despite the interaction between centre S-3 and the ubisemiquinones. Furthermore, a relaxation enhancement was observed for centre S-1 of A. maculatum submitochondrial particles upon reduction of centre S-2 by dithionite. This indicated a magnetic interaction between centres S-1 and S-2.     

The number of Fe atoms in the iron-sulphur centers of the respiratory chain.

1. From the 57Fe hyperfine interaction in EPR spectra of reduced submitochondrial particles from the yeast Candida utilis, grown with 57Fe, it is concluded that all Fe-S centers in these particles detectable in spectra at 35-80 K are [2Fe-2S]2-(2-; 3-) centers. These are the centers 1 of NADH and succinate dehydrogenase, the Rieske Fe-S center and possibly center 2 of succinate dehydrogenase. 2. The signals of the reduced particles detectable only at temperatures below 20 K are [4Fe-4S]2-(2-; 3-) clusters. These are the centers 2,3 and 4 of NADH dehydrogenase. 3. EPR spectra of the [2Fe-2S]3- centers of Complex I and II, but not that of Complex III, display a great inequality of the Fe nuclei in the effective hyperfine interaction in the x-y direction.     

Effect of sulphate-limited growth on mitochondrial electron transfer and energy conservation between reduced nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotide and the cytochromes in Torulopsis utilis

1. Conditions have been established for the sulphate-limited growth of Torulopsis utilis in continuous culture. 2. Mitochondria prepared from sulphate-limited cells lack both piericidin A sensitivity and the first energy-conservation site (site 1). Sensitivity to antimycin A or cyanide and the second and third energy-conservation sites were apparently unaffected by sulphate-limited growth. 3. Aerobic incubation for 8h of sulphate-limited cells with a low concentration of sulphate (50mum or less) resulted in the recovery of mitochondrial piericidin A sensitivity and site 1. The use of higher concentrations of sulphate (250mum or more) still resulted in the recovery of mitochondrial piericidin A sensitivity and site 1, but also resulted in the appearance of a non-phosphorylating oxidase, which mediated oxidation of the respiratory chain at about the level of cytochrome b in an antimycin A- and cyanide-insensitive manner. Both this alternative route and the conventional normal route of respiration were shown to coexist and to intercommunicate at the level of cytochrome b. 4. Low-temperature spectroscopy failed to identify any new respiratory component to explain the alternative route. 5. The apparent affinity of the alternative route for oxygen was similar to that for the conventional route through cytochrome oxidase, namely half-maximal activity at 0.1mum-oxygen or less. 6. The non-haem iron concentration of submitochondrial particles was unaffected by sulphate limitation, whereas the acid-labile sulphide concentration was lowered tenfold. Marked increases (between four- and 30-fold) in the acid-labile sulphide concentration of submitochondrial particles were observed in sulphate-limited cells after aerobic incubation with various concentrations of sulphate. The lowest increase (fourfold) was observed without added sulphate, the highest (30-fold) with 1.0mm added sulphate. 7. The ratio of non-haem iron to acid-labile sulphide in submitochondrial particles varied with different growth conditions from a maximum of 15.0 to a minimum of 0.72. It is suggested that analytical measurements of non-haem iron are an inadequate guide to the concentration of iron-sulphur protein in complex systems. 8. The effects of sulphate-limited growth on site 1 and piericidin sensitivity are interpreted to indicate a role for iron-sulphur protein in these properties. 9. The aerobic incubation of sulphate-limited cells with cycloheximide resulted in the recovery by mitochondria of site 1 but not of piericidin sensitivity. 10. The appearance of the alternative route for cyanide- and antimycin-A (but not piericidin A-) insensitive respiration on incubating sulphate-limited cells with sulphate concentrations higher than 250mum indicates that the alternative route involves an iron-sulphur protein.     

The mechanism of oxidation of reduced nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate by submitochondrial particles from beef heart.

1. Oxidation of NADPH by various acceptors catalyzed by submitochondrial particles and a partially purified NADH dehydrogenase from beef heart was investigated. Submitochondrial particles devoid of nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase activity catalyze an oxidation of NADPH by oxygen. The partially purified NADH dehydrogenase prepared from these particles catalyzes an oxidation of NADPH by acetylpyridine-NAD. In both cases the rates of oxidation are about two orders of magnitude lower than those obtained with NADH as electron donor. 2. The kinetic characteristics of the NADPH oxidase reaction and reduction of acetylpyridine-NAD by NADPH are similar with regard to pH dependences and affinities for NADPH, indicating that both reactions involve the same binding site for NADPH. The binding of NADPH to this site appears to be rate limiting for the overall reactions. 3. At redox equilibrium NADPH and NADH reduce FMN and iron-sulphur center 1 of NADH dehydrogenase to the same extents. The rate of reduction of FMN by NADPH is at least two orders of magnitude lower than with NADH. 4. It is concluded that NADPH is a substrate of NADH dehydrogenase and that the nicotinamide nucleotide is oxidized by submitochondrial particles via the NADH--binding site of the enzyme.     

The purification and properties of the soluble cytochromes c of the obligate methylotroph Methylophilus methylotrophus.

Submitochondrial particles from bovine heart in which NADH dehydrogenase is reduced by either addition of NADH and rotenone or by reversed electron transfer generate 0.9 +/- 0.1 nmol of O2-/min per mg of protein at pH 7.4 and at 30 degrees C. When NADH is used as substrate, rotenone, antimycin and cyanide increase O2- production. In NADH- and antimycin-supplemented submitochondrial particles, rotenone has a biphasic effect: it increases O2- production at the NADH dehydrogenase and it inhibits O2- production at the ubiquinone-cytochrome b site. The generation of O2- by the rotenone, the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide rho-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone and oligomycin at concentrations similar to those required to inhibit energy-dependent succinate-NAD reductase. Cyanide did not affect O2- generation at the NADH dehydrogenase, but inhibited O2- production at the ubiquinone-cytochrome b site. Production of O2- at the NADH dehydrogenase is about 50% of the O2- generation but the ubiquinone-cytochrome b area at pH 7.4. Additivity of the two mitochondrial sites of O2- generation was observed over the pH range from 7.0 to 8.8. AN O2- -dependent autocatalytic process that requires NADH, submitochondrial particles and adrenaline is described.     

Ubiquinone-1 Induces External Deamino-NADH Oxidation in Potato Tuber Mitochondria

The addition of ubiquinone-1 (UQ-1) induced Ca2+-independent oxidation of deamino-NADH and NADH by intact potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv Bintje) tuber mitochondria. The induced oxidation was coupled to the generation of a membrane potential. Measurements of NAD+-malate dehydrogenase activity indicated that the permeability of the inner mitochondrial membrane to NADH and deamino-NADH was not altered by the addition of UQ-1. We conclude that UQ-1-induced external deamino-NADH oxidation is due to a change in specificity of the external rotenone-insensitive NADH dehydrogenase. The addition of UQ-1 also induced rotenone-insensitive oxidation of deamino-NADH by inside-out submitochondrial particles, but whether this was due to a change in the specificity of the internal rotenone-insensitive NAD(P)H dehydrogenase or to a bypass in complex I could not be determined.     

Piericiden A sensitivity, site 1 phosphorylation, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase during iron-limited growth of Candida utilis.

It has been reported that cells of Candida utilis, grown in continuous culture under iron-limited conditions, develop site 1 phosphorylation, without the appearance of piericidin sensitivity and without changes in the iron-sulfur centers of NADH dehydrogenase, on aeration in the presence of cycloheximide, as well as on increasing the supply of iron during growth. These findings were reinvestigated in the present study. The parameters and properties followed during these transitions were sensitivity of NADH oxidation to piericidin, presence or absence of coupling site 1, EPR signals appearing on reduction with NADH or dithionite, the specific activities of NADH oxidase, NADH-ferricyanide reductase, and NADH-5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (juglone) reductase, and the kinetic behavior of NADH dehydrogenase in the ferricyanide assay. Monitoring the rates of oxidation of NADH in submitochondrial particles with artificial oxidants, observing the kinetics of the ferricyanide assay, and measuring the concentration of iron-sulfur centers elicited by EPR permitted ascertaining the type of NADH dehydrogenase present and its relative concentration in different experimental situations. It was found that on gradually increasing the concentration of iron during continuous culture (transition from ironlimited to iron- and substrate-limited growth), as well as on aeration of iron-limited cells, coupling site 1, piericidin sensitivity, NADH-ferricyanide activity, and iron-sulfur centers 1 and 2 increased concurrently, with concomitant decline of NADH-juglone reductase activity. Cycloheximide prevented all these changes. Iron-sulfur centers 3 plus 4 underwent relatively little increase during these transitions. It is concluded that in both of these experimental conditions a replacement of the type of NADH dehydrogenase present in exponential phase cells by that characteristic of stationary phase cells occurs and that the appearance of site 1 phosphorylation, piercidin sensitivity, and iron-sulfur centers 1 plus 2, all associated with the latter enzyme, is a consequence of this replacement. No evidence was found for the development of coupling site 1 without the appearance of piericidin sensir th     

The polypeptide composition of the mitochondrial NADH: ubiquinone reductase complex from several mammalian species.

The polypeptide composition of isolated mitochondrial NADH:ubiquinone reductase (NADH dehydrogenase) is very similar to that of material immunoprecipitated from detergent-solubilized bovine heart submitochondrial particles by antisera to the holoenzyme. The specificity of the antisera for dehydrogenase polypeptides was determined by immunoblotting, which showed that antisera reacting with only a few proteins were able to immunoprecipitate all others in parallel. The polypeptide compositions of rat, rabbit and human NADH dehydrogenase were determined by immunoprecipitation of the enzyme from solubilized submitochondrial particles and proved to be very similar to that of the bovine heart enzyme, particularly in the high-Mr region. Further homologies in these and other species were explored by immunoblotting with antisera to the holoenzyme and monospecific antisera raised against iron-sulphur-protein subunits of the enzyme.     

A comparison of mitochondria from Torulopsis utilis grown in continous culture with glycerol, iron, ammonium, magnesium or phosphate as the growth-limiting nutrient

1. Mitochondria prepared from Torulopsis utilis grown in a chemostat with iron-limited growth were found to lack energy conservation but not electron flow in that segment of the respiratory chain leading from intramitochondrial NADH to the cytochromes [i.e. the site 1 segment (Lehninger, 1964)]. 2. Site 1 energy conservation was present in mitochondria prepared from cells grown under conditions of limitation by glycerol, ammonium and magnesium. Phosphate-limited growth resulted in mitochondrial preparations without respiratory control. 3. Mitochondria from cells grown under conditions of iron limitation were insensitive to the respiratory inhibitor piericidin A, whereas sensitivity was present in mitochondria prepared from glycerol-, ammonium-, magnesium- or phosphate-limited cells. 4. These observations are considered to provide indirect evidence for a role of non-haem iron in the mechanism of energy conservation and also piericidin A sensitivity in T. utilis mitochondria. 5. A readily constructed and inexpensive pH-measuring and -controlling circuit is described for use with continuous-culture apparatus.     

Beef-heart submitochondrial particles: a mixture of mitochondrial inner and outer membranes.

1. EPR spectra at 9 GHz and 83 degrees K of NADH-reduced anaerobic beef-heart submitochondrial particles, prepared from mitochondria by sonication and centrifugation, contain a signal (gz equals to 2.01, gy equals to 1.94, gx equals to 1.89) due to an iron-sulphur center of the mitochondrial outer membrane. 2. The ratio of inner and outer membranes in submitochondrial particles is not greatly different from that in beef-heart mitochondria. 3. Beef-heart submitochondrial particles free from outer-membrane contamination have been prepared by free-flow electrophoresis. EPR spectra at 83 degrees K of such particles are presented.     

The organization of NADH dehydrogenase polypeptides in the inner mitochondrial membrane.

The organization of the constituent polypeptides of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase was studied by using two membrane-impermeable probes, diazobenzene[35S]sulphonate and lactoperoxidase-catalysed radioiodination. The incorporation of label into the subunits of the isolated enzyme was compared with that obtained with enzyme immunoprecipitated from labelled mitochondria or inverted submitochondrial particles. On the basis of accessibility to these two labels, we divide the polypeptides of Complex I into five groups: those that are apparently buried in the enzyme, those that are accessible to labelling in the isolated enzyme but not in the membrane, those that are exposed on the cytoplasmic face of the membrane, those that are exposed on the matrix face and finally those that are exposed on both faces and are therefore transmembranous. We conclude that NADH dehydrogenase is asymmetrically organized across the inner mitochondrial membrane.     

Intramitochondrial positions of cytochrome haem groups determined by dipolar interactions with paramagnetic cations.

E.p.r.(electron-paramagnetic-resonance) spectra of the ferricytochromes were studied in normal and 'nickel-plated' pigeon heart mitochondria and pigeon heart submitochondrial particles. NiCL2 added to either mitochondria or particles was bound completely to the membranes, but none was transported across the vesicles. Hence, any perturbations of the haem e.p.r. spectra by Ni(II) should occur only for those cytochromes in close proximity to the exterior surface. Whenever Ni(II) can approach to within 1 nm of cytochrome haem. the consequent acceleration of the haem e.p.r. relaxation kinetics should elicit dipolar line broadening. Relaxation acceleration should also increase the incident power level required to saturate the haem e.p.r. signal. In pigeon heart mitochondria, at least three e.p.r. resonances, attributable in part to cytochromes c1, bK and br, are observed at gz=3.3 resonance. In these submitochondrial particles, the peak at gz=3.5 is missing, and the resonance at gz=3.6 resolves into two components, neither of which is sensitive to added Ni(ii). Addition of free haemin (ferric, a paramagnetic anion) to intact mitochondria elicits the same e.p.r. signal changes as does a preparation of submitochondrial particles. Saturation curves for cytochrome oxidase obtained for e.p.r. spectra of the high-spin form (g = 6) and the low-spin form (gz=3.1) also reveal no effect of Ni(II) on the haem e.p.r. relaxation in either mitochondria or inverted submitochondrial particles. Further, Ni(II) fails to alter the spectra or saturation properties of cytochrome c in either mitochondria or submitochondrial particles therefrom. Only with a 50-fold molar excess of Ni(II) can one accelerate the e.p.r. relaxation of cytochrome c in aqueous solution, although other more subtle types of magnetic interactions may occur between the cytochrome and either Ni(II) or ferricyanide. Addition of haemin to mitochondria likewise failed to alter the e.p.r. characteristics of either cytochrome c or cytochrome oxidase. The present observations strongly suggest that cytochromes bK, br and c1 reside on the exterior surface of the inner mitochondrial membrane. On the other hand, we find no positive evidence for the location of cytochrome c or cytochrome oxidase haem groups within 1 nm of either membrane surface. Because of possible shielding effects from the protein moieties, however, we cannot unequivocally assign the location of the haem groups to the membrane interior. The present results are not inconsistent with the observations of other investigators who used different techniques. However, it is clear that any model of energy coupling in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation must account for the positioning of all the b-c cytochrome haem groups on the outside.     

EPR signals of NADH: Q oxidoreductase. Shape and intensity.

(1) The EPR spectrum of Center 1 of NADH dehydrogenase in isolated Complex I or submitochondrial particles from beef heart consists of two overlapping nearly axial signals of the same intensity. They are defined as Center 1a (gll = 0.021, gl = 1.938) and Center 1b (gll = 2.021, gl = 1.928). (2) The line shape of the EPR spectrum of the Center 3+4 can be interpreted as an overlap of two rhombic signals of the same intensity. We define Center 3 by the g-values: gz=2.103, gy = 1.93-1.94, gx=1.884, and Center 4 by the values gz=2.04, gy=1.92-1.93, gx=1.863. (3) Direct quantitation of the individuals signals as well as computer stimulation suggests that the amount of the Centers 1a and 1b is only 25% of that of the other individuals centers and FMN. As EPR spectra of beef-heart submitochondrial particles at 10-20 K are nearly identical to those of Complex I, the same relative concentrations of the Fe-S centers are also present in the particles. (4) The signals either observed by us in EPR spectra of Complex I and submitochondrial particles at 4.2 K and high microwave powers can now be explained without assuming more than 5 paramagnetic centers in NADH dehydrogenase.     

ATPase inhibitor from yeast mitochondria. Purification and properties.

1. Mitochondria from Candida utilis CBS 1516 and Sacchromyces cerevisiae JB 65 possess an ATPase-inhibitor activity. The inhibitor activity depends on the growth conditions of the yeast cells. It is markedly decreased when the cells are grown in the presence of a high concentration of glucose, which suggests that glucose represses the synthesis of the ATPase inhibitor or of a protein required for the insertion of the inhibitor into the inner mitochondrial membrane. 2. The ATPase inhibitor has been isolated from D. utilis mitochondria and purified to homogeneity. The minimal molecular weight calculated from amino acid composition is close to 7500. Dtermination of the molecular weight by sokium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gives a value close to 6000. 3. The ATPas inhibitor of C. utilis mitochondria differs from the beef heart ATPase inhibitor by a number of properties. It has a lower molecular weight (6000-7500 vs 10500), a different amino acid composition, and a more acidic isoelectric point 5, 6 vs 7, 6). In spite of these differences, the C. utilis inhibitor cross-reacts with the ATPase of beef heart submitochondrial inhibitor-depleted particles. 4. The interaction of the C. utilis inhibitor with the ATPase of inhibitor-depleted particles requires the addition of Mg-2+-ATP or ATP in the incubation medium. 5. 14-C labelling of the C.utilis inhibitor has been achieved by growing C. utilis in a medium supplemented with [14-C]leucine. It has been found by titration experiments that the C. utilis 14-C-labelled inhibitor binds to the homologous submitochondrial inhibitor-depleted particles with a KD of about 10- minus 7 M. The number of binding sites is of the order of 0.1 nmol/mg protein.     

A protective function of superoxide dismutase during respiratory chain activity.

(1) Aerobic incubation of heart muscle submitochondrial particles in phosphate buffer after treatment with NADH causes a progressive and substantial inhibition of the NADH oxidation system. Succinate oxidation remains almost unaffected by NADH treatment. (2) The loss of NADH oxidase activity is due to an inhibition of the respiratory chain-linked NADH dehydrogenase. This inhibition of the enzyme is very similar to that caused by combination of the organic mercurial mersalyl with NADH dehydrogenase. (3) The inhibition of NADH oxidation is largely prevented by compounds that are known to react with superoxide ions (02-.), including superoxide dismutase, cytochrome c, tiron and Mn2+. EDTA also has a protective effect, but a number of other metal chelating agents, and several proteins, including catalase, are without effect. (4) It is concluded that the inhibition of NADH oxidation of NADH oxidation by superoxide ions or by mersalyl is reversible and is therefore not due to the loss of oxidoreduction components from the respiratory chain or to an irreversible change in protein conformation. (6) The function of mitochondrial superxide dismutase is discussed in relation to the key role of NADH dehydrogenase in energy-conserving reactions and the formation of hydrogen peroxide during mitochondrial oxidations.