Studies on the Residual Respiration not Inhibited by KCN Plus Hydroxamic Acid in Tobacco Callus Cultures

A residual respiration not inhibited by KCN plus hydroxamic acid had been observed in many plant organs and tissues. The relative O2 uptake of it was 20–30% of total respiration in tobacco callus cultures. However, there is no report concerning the nature of the residual respiration and its localization in cell. The object of this study is to elucidate the characteris- tics of this residual respiration and its localization in cell. The experimental results are as follows: 1. The additions of glycolate and glyoxylate cause a marked rise in residual respiration not inhibited by KCN (or NaN3) plus m-CLAM. 2. The O2 uptake induced by glycolate and the residual respiration is inhibited by the addition of α-hydroxy ethanesulfonate. 3. The mitochondrial respiration is completely inhibited by KCN plus m-CLAM, but no effect by adding of glycolate. 4. Oxidation reactions of glycolate and glyoxylate in supernatant are observed after mitochondria are removed. Based on the above results, it is suggested that the residual respiration not inhibited by KCN plus m-CLAM in tobacco callus cultures is primarily catalyzed by glycolic acid oxidase localized within microbodies.     

Effects of KCN and NaN3 Pretreatment on the Cyanide-Resistant Respiration in Tobacco Callus

The effects of KCN (0.5mmol/L) and NaN3 (0.01 mmol/L) pretreatment on the operation of the alternative pathway in subcultured tobacco (Nicotiana rustica L. cv. Gansu yellow flower) callus were analyzed. After treatment with KCN and NaN3 for 12 h, the total respiration rate (Vt) decreased by 12% and 17%, whereas oxygen consuption by the cytochrome pathway decreased by 22% and 28% respectively. The capacity of the alternative pathway (Valt) remained constant, while the activity of the alternative pathway (ρ· Valt ) inreased slightly. This changing pattern led to a declined contribution of the cytochrome pathway to the total respiration rate and an increased activity of the alternative pathway. Treatment with KCN for 24 h brought about a slight rise of oxygen consumption by the cytochrome pathway as compared with that in callus treated for 12 h, but the oxygen consumption was still lower than that in the untreated callus. Treatment with NaN3 for 24 h resulted in a profound decrease of the cytochrome pathway operation and a continuing increase of the alternative pathway operation. These data indicated that the enhanced operation of the alternative pathway played a compensatory role to the total respiration when the cytochrome pathway was partially inhibited in tobacco callus.     

成熟和褐变荔枝果实呼吸作用和脂氧合酶活性

荔枝果实完全成熟和果皮变鮮红时,呼吸速率降低,仅相当于果皮带绿时的39.4％。此时果皮和果肉的脂氧合酶活性亦明显降低,分别相当于后者的60.2％和49.1％。成熟荔枝果实果皮呼吸作用对KCN抑制敏感。2mM KCN抑制果皮总呼吸的91.8％,而仅抑制果肉的56.9％。荔枝果皮呼吸的电了传递主要是通过细胞色素氧化酶途径,而果肉則可能一半是通过其它氧化酶途径。2mKCN和1.5mM SHAM抑制成熟果皮总呼吸97.9％,为SHAM抑制的交替途径呼吸占总呼吸5.28％。相同浓度KCN和SHAM抑制褐变果皮总呼吸79.7％,则SHAM抑制的交替途径呼吸占27.1％。果实褐变时,果成交替途径呼吸比例增高。这一变化可能促进H_2O_2积累、乙烯产生和果皮褐变深化。     

小麦根质膜原位膜微囊与翻转膜微囊的氧化还原特性比较

用二相法和不连续蔗糖梯度离心分别制得小麦根质膜的原位膜微囊和翻转膜微囊。两者比较可知：质膜内外两侧均表现出较高的氧化还原活性;膜内侧的ＮＡＤ（Ｐ）Ｈ氧化和Ｆｅ（ＣＮ）还原速率高于外侧。质膜内外两侧都能还原ＥＤＴＡ－Ｆｅ３＋,但外侧的还原活性高于内侧。质膜内外两侧均有Ｏ２吸收,同时都可被ＳＨＡＭ刺激,被ＫＣＮ抑制。质膜内侧和外侧都可产生,最适ＰＨ值为６．０;既可被ＳＨＡＭ刺激,也可被ＳＯＤ、过氧化氢酶和ＫＣＮ抑制。     

Metabolic inhibition of root water flow in red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) seedlings.

The short-term effects of sodium azide (NaN(3)) on water flow in red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera Michx.) seedlings were examined in excised roots at a constant pressure of 0.3 MPa. NaN(3) significantly decreased root water flow rates (Q(v)). It also induced a significant reduction in root respiration and reduced stomatal conductance to a greater extent in intact seedlings than in excised shoots. Apoplastic flow of water increased with the NaN(3)-induced decreases in Q(v). Mercuric chloride (HgCl(2)) was also used to characterize the water flow responses and respiration of dogwood roots. Similarly to NaN(3), 0.1 and 0.3 mM HgCl(2) decreased root respiration rates and Q(v). The lower, 0.05 mM HgCl(2) treatment, reduced Q(v), but had no significant effect on root oxygen uptake. The reduction of Q(v) in HgCl(2)-treated plants was only partly reversed by 50 mM mercaptoethanol. The mercurial inhibition of Q(v) suggested the presence of Hg-sensitive water channels in dogwood roots. The results indicate that root-absorbed NaN(3) metabolically inhibited water channel activities in roots and in shoots and resulted in stomatal closure. It is suggested that the inhibition of respiration that occurs in plants stressed with environmental factors such as flooding, cold soils, and drought may be responsible for the closure of water channels in root cells and inhibition of root water flow.     

Electron transport pathways for the oxidation of endogenous substrate(s) in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Oxidation of endogenous substrate(s) of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans with O2 or Fe3+ as electron acceptor was studied in the presence of uncouplers and electron transport inhibitors. Endogenous substrate was oxidized with a respiratory quotient (CO2 produced/O2 consumed) of 1.0, indicating its carbohydrate nature. The oxidation was inhibited by complex I inhibitors (rotenone, amytal, and piericidin A) only partially, but piericidin A inhibited the oxidation with Fe3+ nearly completely. The oxidation was stimulated by uncouplers, and the stimulated activity was more sensitive to inhibition by complex I inhibitors. HQNO (2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide) also stimulated the oxidation, and the stimulated respiration was more sensitive to KCN inhibition than uncoupler stimulated respiration. Fructose, among 20 sugars and sugar alcohols including glucose and mannose, was oxidized with a CO2/O2 ratio of 1.0 by the organism. Iron chelators in general stimulated endogenous respiration, but some of them reduced Fe3+ chemically, introducing complications. The results are discussed in view of a branched electron transport system of the organism and its possible control.     

The reaction pathway of membrane-bound rat liver mitochondrial monoamine oxidase

1. A preparation of a partly purified mitochondrial outer-membrane fraction suitable for kinetic investigations of monoamine oxidase is described. 2. An apparatus suitable for varying the O(2) concentration in a spectrophotometer cuvette is described. 3. The reaction catalysed by the membrane-bound enzyme is shown to proceed by a double-displacement (Ping Pong) mechanism, and a formal mechanism is proposed. 4. KCN, NaN(3), benzyl cyanide and 4-cyanophenol are shown to be reversible inhibitors of the enzyme. 5. The non-linear reciprocal plot obtained with impure preparations of benzylamine, which is typical of high substrate inhibition, is shown to be due to aldehyde contamination of the substrate.     

Development of an automated water toxicity biosensor using Thiobacillus ferrooxidans for monitoring cyanides in natural water for a water filtering plant

An on-line biosensor consisting of immobilized Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and an oxygen electrode was developed for automated monitoring of acute toxicity in water samples. T. ferrooxidans is an obligatory acidophilic, autotrophic bacterium and derives its energy by the oxidation of ferrous ion, elemental sulfur, and reduced sulfur compounds including metal sulfides. The assay is based on the monitoring of a current increase by addition of toxicoids, which is caused by the inhibition of bacterial respiration and decrease in oxygen consumption. Optimum cell number on the membrane was 5.0 x 10(8) cells. The steady-state current was obtained when concentration of FeSO4 was above 3.6 mM at pH 3. The sensor response of T. ferrooxidans immobilized membrane for 5.0 microM KCN was within an error of 10% for 30 membranes. A linear relationship was obtained at KCN concentration in the range of 0.5-3.0 microM in a flow-type monitoring system. Minimum detectable concentrations of KCN, Na2S, and NaN3 were 0.5, 1.2, and 0.07 microM, respectively. The monitoring system contained two biosensors and these sensors were cleaned with sulfuric acid (pH 1.5) twice a day. This treatment could remove fouling on microbial immobilized membrane by natural water and ferrous precipitation in the flow cell. This flow-type monitoring sensor was operated continuously for 5 months. Also, T. ferrooxidans immobilized membrane can be stored for one month at 4 degrees C when preserved with wet absorbent cotton under argon gas.     

Cytochemical localization of glutaraldehyde-resistant NAD(P)H-oxidase in rat hepatocytes

NAD(P)H-oxidase activity was demonstrated in glutaraldehyde-fixed rat hepatocytes by a cerium technique. The activity was observed exclusively on the bile-canalicular plasma membrane of hepatocyte. No reaction product was formed in the absence of NAD(P)H as the substrate. The reaction was inhibited by pCMB (surface sulfhydryl group specific reagent), by heating, by anaerobic incubation and by catalase (H2O2 scavenger), but it was not inhibited by KCN or NaN3. The present results show that bile-canalicular plasma membrane produces H2O2 and the cerium technique for demonstration of H2O2 is therefore an useful method for the subcellular localization of NAD(P)H-oxidase activity in the glutaraldehyde-fixed hepatocyte.     

Chemical and physical differentiation of superoxide dismutases in anaerobes.

Superoxide dismutase activity in crude or partially purified cell extracts from several species and strains of obligate anaerobe Bacteroides was inhibited instantaneously by NaN3 and was inactivated rapidly upon incubation with H2O2. The extent of NaN3 inhibition varied from 41 to 93%, and the half-life of the enzymatic activity in 5 mM H2O2 ranged from 1.2 to 6.1 min, depending upon the organism tests. When grown in a defined medium containing 59Fe, Bacteroides fragilis (VPI 2393) incorporated radiolabel into a 40,000-molecular-weight NaN3- and H2O2-sensitive superoxide dismutase but did not incorporate 54Mn into that protein under similar growth conditions. The anaerobe Actinomyces naeslundii (VPI 9985) incorporated 54Mn but not 59Fe into a NaN3-insensitive and H2O2-resistant superoxide dismutase. The apparent molecular weight of the superoxide dismutase from this and several other Actinomyces spp. was estimated to be 110,000 to 140,000. Comparison of these data with studies of homogeneous metallosuperoxide dismutases suggests that the Bacteroides spp. studied contain a ferrisuperoxide dismutase, whereas Actinomyces spp. contain a managanisuperoxide dismutase.     

Effect of inhibitors and uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation during compaction and blastulation of bovine embryos cultured in vitro

The effect of inhibiting ATP production via oxidative phosphorylation during pericompaction of in vitro produced bovine embryos was investigated. This was achieved by: (i) varying the atmospheric O2 concentration (0, 1, 2, 4 and 7%); (ii) addition of oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors, NaN3 and antimycin A; and (iii) addition of 2,4-dinitrophenol, an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation from electron transport. The development of embryos under various O2 concentrations from day 5 to day 7 of development indicated that an optimal concentration occurred at about 2%. Addition of NaN3 revealed that doses above 100 mumol l-1 were toxic to embryo development, but that concentrations of 5-10 mumol l-1 stimulated embryo development by 10-25%. A similar result was observed after addition of 2,4-dinitrophenol, whereas antimycin A was inhibitory at doses as low as 1 mumol l-1. At concentrations of NaN3 or 2,4-dinitrophenol that stimulated embryo development, the number of cells of the resulting blastocysts was also significantly increased. Addition of NaN3 from day 1 of development inhibited subsequent development. Metabolic data of NaN3-treated embryos revealed that O2 uptake was significantly lower at inhibitory doses (100 mumol l-1). A significant (P < 0.05) log linear increase in glucose uptake was measured between the three concentrations of NaN3 (0, 10 and 100 mumol l-1). These results demonstrate that ATP production via oxidative phosphorylation is essential for bovine embryo development in vitro. However, transient (subacute) inhibition appears to be beneficial to embryo development and the number of cells, perhaps by creating a more favourable intracellular environment.     

羊红细胞超氧化物歧化酶的研究

自羊红细胞分离得到一种高等电点的铜.锌-超氧化物歧化酶(Cu.ZnSOD)。其沉降系数(S)为3.23,亚基分子量为16600,等电点为8.50,紫外最大吸收峰位于259nm,酶分子中含有铜和锌,氨基酸组成特点与其它动物来源的Cu.Zn-SOD相同。该酶的比活性为5500U/mg(黄嘌吟氧化酶—细胞色素还原法);对KCN的抑制作用敏感,最适pH值为6。     

Inhibition of Cyanide-Insensitive Respiration in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Klebsiella oxytoca</Emphasis> SYSU-011 by 8-Hydroxyquinolone

The inhibition of the cyanide (KCN)-insensitive respiration of Klebsiella oxytoca SYSU-011 by 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) was determined. Results showed that the profile of the rate of oxygen uptake of normal-grown and 8-HQ–grown K. oxytoca SYSU-011 was biphasic and similar, suggesting that 8-HQ did not inhibit the respiration of normal-grown K. oxytoca SYSU-011. A different biphasic KCN inhibition profile of respiration was observed for KCN-grown cells treated with and without 8-HQ. No decrease in respiration rate of KCN-grown cells and a 40% decrease in respiration rate of KCN-grown cells treated with 8-HQ were observed when KCN concentration was 10^–1 mM. Comparing differences of the profiles of oxygen uptake in KCN-grown cells with and without 8-HQ addition indicated that 8-HQ inhibited expression of the KCN-insensitive pathway carried out by nonheme oxidase. Greater inhibition of NADH oxidase activity by 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide from the cell membrane of the KCN-grown cells treated with 8-HQ, and more H₂O₂ production from these cells with than without 8-HQ, suggest that the function of the cyanide-insensitive pathway can stabilize the respiration of the cyanide-grown cells to prevent the production of H₂O₂.     

Studies on superoxide dismutase activity and modulation of nitrofurantoin resistance by hyperbaric oxygen in Vibrio el tor

Superoxide dismutase, purified from Vibrio el tor, was found to have a molecular weight of 40,000. The enzyme was insensitive to KCN and NaN3 but was completely inhibited by H2O2 suggesting it to be an iron containing enzyme. Besides its ability to counteract the bactericidal effect of hyperbaric oxygen, the purified enzyme could to some extent prevent the enhanced bactericidal effect of nitrofurantoin in the presence of hyperbaric oxygen.     

High Mitochondrial Activity but Incomplete Engagement of the Cyanide-Resistant Alternative Pathway in Guard Cell Protoplasts of Pea

The respiratory properties of guard cell protoplasts (GCP) were examined in comparison with those of mesophyll protoplasts (MCP) from the same leaves of pea (Pisum sativum L. cv Arkel). The rates of respiratory O2 uptake by GCP were extremely high (280 [mu]mol mg-1 Chl h-1) and were several times greater than those of MCP. On the other hand, the rates of photosynthetic O2 evolution by GCP were similar to those of MCP. Also on the basis of protoplast volume, the respiratory rates of GCP were higher: more than three times those of MCP. The enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, per unit protein or unit protoplast volume, had a 2- to 5-fold higher activity in GCP than in MCP, indicating an enrichment of mitochondrial activity in GCP relative to that in MCP. Respiratory inhibitors were used to assess the activity of the cytochrome (cyanide-sensitive) and alternative (cyanide-resistant) pathways in GCP and MCP. The inhibition of respiration by KCN or antimycin A was more in GCP than that in MCP. The marked inhibition of respiratory O2 uptake by salicylhydroxamic acid in the presence of KCN showed the presence of the cyanide-resistant pathway in GCP. The activity of the cyanide-resistant electron transport path constituted only one-third of total respiration in GCP but accounted for two-thirds of respiration in MCP. The alternative pathway was not completely engaged in GCP but reached its full capacity in MCP.     

Terminal oxidases of Crithidia oncopelti

Abstract Washed cell suspensions of Crithidia oncopelti oxidizing a variety of substrates gave complex plots for the inhibition of respiration by potassium cyanide or azide. The data indicated the presence of at least two and possibly three terminal oxidases on the basis of their differential sensitivity to these inhibitors. The oxidase most sensitive to cyanide, azide and CO accounted for approx. 65–70% of whole cell respiration and is probably cytochrome oxidase a/a₃. A second oxidase exhibiting low affinity for CO required high concentrations of KCN or azide for inhibition. This haemoprotein had the spectral characteristics of cytochrome o and accounted for 15–20% of cell respiration. Incomplete inhibition of respiration by high concentrations of KCN or azide suggested the presence of a third oxidase which was CO-unreactive.     

Flavohemoglobin Hmp affords inducible protection for Escherichia coli respiration, catalyzed by cytochromes bo' or bd, from nitric oxide

Respiration of Escherichia coli catalyzed either by cytochrome bo' or bd is sensitive to micromolar extracellular NO; extensive, transient inhibition of respiration increases as dissolved oxygen tension in the medium decreases. At low oxygen concentrations (25-33 microm), the duration of inhibition of respiration by 9 microm NO is increased by mutation of either oxidase. Respiration of an hmp mutant defective in flavohemoglobin (Hmp) synthesis is extremely NO-sensitive (I(50) about 0.8 microm); conversely, cells pre-grown with sodium nitroprusside or overexpressing plasmid-borne hmp(+) are insensitive to 60 microm NO and have elevated levels of immunologically detectable Hmp. Purified Hmp consumes O(2) at a rate that is instantaneously and extensively (>10-fold) stimulated by NO due to NO oxygenase activity but, in the absence of NO, Hmp does not contribute measurably to cell oxygen consumption. Cyanide binds to Hmp (K(d) 3 microm). Concentrations of KCN (100 microm) that do not significantly inhibit cell respiration markedly suppress the protection of respiration from NO afforded by Hmp and abolish NO oxygenase activity of purified Hmp. The results demonstrate the role of Hmp in protecting respiration from NO stress and are discussed in relation to the energy metabolism of E. coli in natural O(2)-depleted environments.     

A cell-free preparation of human neutrophils catalyzing NADPH-dependent conversion of leukotriene B4

The sonicate of human neutrophils converted leukotriene B4 to a polar product in aerobic condition in the presence of NADPH at a rate comparable to that of the intact cells. NADH could scarcely replace NADPH. The conversion was not observed in anaerobic conditions and was inhibited by carbon monoxide (CO/O2 = 4/1) or by 1 mM p-chlormercuribenzoate, while it was not affected by 1 mM KCN, 5 mM NaN3, 200 micrograms/ml catalase, 100 mM mannitol, and 10 micrograms/ml superoxide dismutase. These observations suggest that the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-halide system and active oxygen species are not involved in the reaction. The activity was observed in the 100,000xg supernatant from the homogenate, in which cytochrome P-450 was not detected.     

Guanylate cyclase from bovine lung. Evidence that enzyme activation by phenylhydrazine is mediated by iron-phenyl hemoprotein complexes

The mechanism of activation of soluble guanylate cyclase purified from bovine lung by phenylhydrazine is reported. Heme-deficient and heme-containing forms of guanylate cyclase were studied. Heme-deficient enzyme was activated 10-fold by NO but was not activated by phenylhydrazine. Catalase or methemoglobin enabled phenylhydrazine to activate guanylate cyclase 10-fold and enhanced activation by NO to over 100-fold. Heme-containing enzyme was activated only 3-fold by phenylhydrazine but over 100-fold by NO. Added hemoproteins enhanced enzyme activation by phenylhydrazine to 12-fold without enhancing activation by NO. Reducing or anaerobic conditions inhibited, whereas oxidants enhanced enzyme activation by phenylhydrazine plus catalase, and KCN had no effect. In contrast, enzyme activation by NO and NaN3 was inhibited by oxidants or KCN. NaN3 required native catalase, whereas phenylhydrazine also utilized heat-denatured catalase for enzyme activation. Thus, the mechanism of guanylate cyclase activation by phenylhydrazine differed from that by NO or NaN3. Guanylate cyclase activation by phenylhydrazine resulted from an O2-dependent reaction between phenylhydrazine and hemoproteins to generate stable iron-phenyl hemoprotein complexes. These complexes activated guanylate cyclase in the absence of O2, but lost activity after acidification, basification, or heating. Gel filtration of prereacted mixtures of [U-14C]phenylhydrazine plus hemoproteins resulted in co-chromatography of radioactivity, protein, and guanylate cyclase stimulating activity, and yielded a phenyl-hemoprotein binding stoichiometry of four under specified conditions (one phenyl/heme). [14C]Phenyl bound to heme-containing but not heme-deficient guanylate cyclase and binding correlated with enzyme activation. Moreover, reactions between enzyme and iron-[14C] phenyl hemoprotein complexes resulted in the exchange or transfer of iron-phenyl heme to guanylate cyclase and this correlated with enzyme activation.     

Cytochemical localization of peroxisomes in Tetrahymena pyriformis.

Pronounced staining of Tetrahymena pyriformis peroxisomes was demonstrated when glutaraldehyde-fixed cells were incubated in an alkaline medium containing 3,3'-diaminobenzidine and hydrogen peroxide. A variable amount of electron-opague deposit was observed when cells were incubated in diaminobenzidine and H2O2 for 1 hr while an intense deposit followed incubation for 4 hr in the same medium. The staining was abolished completely when 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, KCN or NaN3 was added to the incubation medium. Based on these cytochemical observations and the morphologic identification by size, shape and other ultrastructural details, it is suggested that this study presents evidence for a conclusive morphologic identification of Tetrahymena peroxisomes.