Real-time optical studies of respiratory Complex I turnover

Reduction of Complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase I) from Escherichia coli by NADH was investigated optically by means of an ultrafast stopped-flow approach. A locally designed microfluidic stopped-flow apparatus with a low volume (0.2 μl) but a long optical path (10 mm) cuvette allowed measurements in the time range from 270 μs to seconds. The data acquisition system collected spectra in the visible range every 50 μs. Analysis of the obtained time-resolved spectral changes upon the reaction of Complex I with NADH revealed three kinetic components with characteristic times of < 270 μs, 0.45–0.9 ms and 3–6 ms, reflecting reduction of different FeS clusters and FMN. The rate of the major (τ = 0.45–0.9 ms) component was slower than predicted by electron transfer theory for the reduction of all FeS clusters in the intraprotein redox chain. This delay of the reaction was explained by retention of NAD⁺ in the catalytic site. The fast optical changes in the time range of 0.27–1.5 ms were not altered significantly in the presence of 10-fold excess of NAD⁺ over NADH. The data obtained on the NuoF E95Q variant of Complex I shows that the single amino acid replacement in the catalytic site caused a strong decrease of NADH binding and/or the hydride transfer from bound NADH to FMN.     

Thylakoid membrane stability to heat stress studied by flash spectroscopic measurements of the electrochromic shift in intact potato leaves: influence of the xanthophyll content

A flash-induced transthylakoid electric field was measured at 515 nm as an electrochromic absorbance shift in intact potato leaves using a double flash differential spectrophotometer. The decay rate of the electrochromic shift in dark-adapted samples was used to examine the conductance to ions of thylakoid membranes. Heat stress (39.5 °C for 15 min) was found to accelerate drastically the electric field decay, with the half decay time falling from more than 200 ms to less than 45 ms. Heat-induced acceleration of the electric field breakdown was insensitive to the PSII electron donor Hydroxylamine and to the ATPase inhibitor dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), thus indicating that it reflects an increase in thylakoid membrane permeability after heat stress. This phenomenon did not involve peroxidative damage of membrane lipids. Acceleration of the electric field relaxation exhibited the same temperature dependence as that of PSII deactivation, suggesting that the ionic permeability of thylakoid membranes is one of the most heat-sensitive components of the photosynthetic apparatus. When potato leaves were infiltrated with 100 mol m^?3 ascorbate (in a buffer of pH 5), there was massive conversion of the carotenoid violaxanthin to zeaxanthin. This change in carotenoid composition protected thylakoid membranes against heat-induced changes in permeability, as revealed by the maintenance of a slow decay of the 515 nm absorbance change after heat stress. No such effect was observed after treatments which did not induce the vio-laxanthin-to-zeaxanthin conversion: leaf infiltration with 0 mol m^?3 ascorbate (at pH 5 or 8), 100 mol m^?3 ascorbate at pH 8 or 100 mol m^?3 ascorbate +5 mol m^?3 dithiothreitol at pH 5. Increased stability of the permeability properties of thylakoid membranes was also observed after a mild heat treatment (2 h at 35 °C). The data presented suggest that de-epoxidized xanthophylls in vivo stabilize thylakoid membranes and protect thylakoids against heat-induced disorganization.     

Organisation and function of the Phaeospirillum molischianum photosynthetic apparatus

We have investigated the organisation of the photosynthetic apparatus in Phaeospirillum molischianum, using biochemical fractionation and functional kinetic measurements. We show that only a fraction of the ATP-synthase is present in the membrane regions which contain most of the photosynthetic apparatus and that, despite its complicated stacked structure, the intracytoplasmic membrane delimits a single connected space. We find that the diffusion time required for a quinol released by the reaction centre to reach a cytochrome bc1 complex is about 260 ms. On the other hand, the reduction of the cytochrome c chain by the cytochrome bc1 complex in the presence of a reduced quinone pool occurs with a time constant of about 5 ms. The overall turnover time of the cyclic electron transfer is about 25 ms in vivo under steady-state illumination. The sluggishness of the quinone shuttle appears to be compensated, at least in part, by the size of the quinone pool. Together, our results show that P. molischianum contains a photosynthetic system, with a very different organisation from that found in Rhodobacter sphaeroides, in which quinone/quinol diffusion between the RC and the cytochrome bc1 is likely to be the rate-limiting factor for cyclic electron transfer.     

Estimation of Differently Bound Water Molecules for the Gel Phase of Dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine-Water System as Studied by DSC and 2H-NMR Spectroscopy

A measurement of ²H spin-lattice relaxation time, T ₁, forD₂O was performed with a high resolution liquid NMR apparatus fortwo samples of dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE)-D₂Osystem in a full hydration at varying temperatures of –20, –10, and 5 ^°C, and both components and compositions of differently boundfreezable water molecules were estimated from a best-fitted curve toexperimental inversion recovery data. A choice of the best-fitted curve wasbased on a distribution of weighted residuals for the experimental data. Asingle component was found for a temperature of –20 ^°C. At 5 ^°C, where all the freezable water exists in the liquid state, threecomponents were observed to be characterized by T ₁ values ofapproximately 20, 100, and 200 ms, respectively. By comparingcompositions of these individual components with those obtained in ourprevious DSC study, it was revealed that the first and secondarycomponents are members of freezable interlamellar water and the last oneis comparable to bulk water.     

Kinetics of delayed chlorophyll a fluorescence registered in milliseconds time range

Delayed fluorescence dark decays in the time interval from 0.35 to 5.5ms are measured during dark to light adaptation in whole barley leaves and isolated thylakoid membranes, using a disc phosphoroscope. The changes in delayed fluorescence features are compared with variable chlorophyll fluorescence simultaneously registered with the same apparatus as well as in parallel by Handy PEA (Hansatech Instruments Ltd.), and absorbance changes at 820 nm. The registered delayed fluorescence signal is a sum of three components – submillisecond with lifetime of about 0.6 ms, millisecond decayed 2–4 ms and slow component with lifetime > >5.5 ms. The submillisecond delayed fluorescence component is proposed to be a result of radiative charge recombination in Photosystem II reaction centers in the state Z⁺PQ_A⁻Q_B⁻, and its lifetime is determined by the rate of electron transfer from Q_A⁻ to Q_B⁻. The millisecond delayed fluorescence component is associated with recombination in Z⁺PQ_A⁻Q_B⁼ centers with a lifetime determined by the sum of the rate constants of electron transfer from the oxygen-evolving complex to Z⁺ and of the exchange between the reduced and oxidized plastoquinone pool in the Q_B-site. On the basis of these assumptions and of the different share of the three components in the integral delayed fluorescence during induction, an attempt has been made to interpret the changes in the delayed fluorescence intensity during the transition of the photosynthetic apparatus from dark to light adapted state.     

An observation chamber for a high-pressure stopped-flow apparatus

A new design of the observation window to observation chamber seal is described for the Berger rapid stopped-flow apparatus. This design permits reliable operation of the apparatus and retains the features of a square non-deviating observation path with flush windows. Incorporation of fiber optic light guides for the observation path has made the apparatus insensitive to vibration artifacts. A demonstration reaction of calcium binding to EGTA is presented; the reaction, which is 90% complete complete within 2 ms, illustrates the capability of this apparatus for examining fast reactions.     

Electron-microscopic studies of iodine-binding and peroxidase activity in the endostyle of the larval amphioxus (Branchiostoma lanceolatum)

Summary The asymmetric endostyle in the larval amphioxus (Branchiostoma lanceolatum) was examined by light-and electron-microscopic cytochemistry (peroxidase; incubation in diaminobenzidine) and autoradiography (incubation in ¹²⁵I^-). Compared to the adult the same cellular zones were also found in the larval endostyle, with the exception of zone 1, which was absent. The corresponding adult and larval zones had a similar morphology. All cells in zones 5a, 5b, and 6 were reactive for peroxidase. A reaction product was also present in the lateral 2 to 3 cell rows of zone 3. The dense reaction product was located on the inner surface of membranes of the rough endoplasmatic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and vesicles, and multivesicular bodies as well as on the outer surface of the luminal plasma membrane. An incomplete row of granule-containing, peroxidase-negative cells was located between zones 5b and 6. After incubation of larvae in sea water containing ¹²⁵I^-, autoradiographic grains were selectively concentrated over the lumen at the apical surface of all peroxidase-positive zones. The highest grain density occurred in relation to zone 5a, which in the adult has been recognized as the iodination center. Few grains were located over the cytoplasm. Methimazole, an inhibitor of peroxidase, abolished the cytochemical reaction and the appearance of autoradiographic grains. The observations indicate that iodination in the larval endostyle takes place extracellularly and is catalyzed by peroxidase bound in the plasma membrane.     

Kinetic and mechanistic studies on the reduction of melilotate hydroxylase by reduced pyridine nucleotides.

The reduction of the melilotate hydroxylase . 2-OH-phenyl propionate complex by NADH and reduced 3-acetyl pyridine adenine dinucleotide (AcPyNADH) has been investigated using steady state kinetic and rapid reaction techniques. Reduction by NADH appeared to involve only one charge-transfer-type intermediate (between reduced enzyme and NAD) as previously described (Strickland, S., and Massey, V. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 2953-2962). Reduction by AcPyNADH was shown to involve two charge-transfer-type intermediates. The first was between oxidized enzyme and AcPyNADH and the second was between reduced enzyme and AcPyNAD. Reaction of AcPyNADH with oxidized enzyme . 2-OH-phenyl propionate complex to form the first charge-transfer complex reached equilibrium within the mixing time of the stopped flow apparatus (5 ms). Subsequent steps in the reaction appeared to be first order and were independent of the AcPyNADH concentration. An 8-fold deuterium isotope effect on the step involving flavin reduction was found when reduced 3-acetyl[4A-2H]pyridine adenine dinucleotide (AcPyNADD) was used as the reductant. Analysis of the rapid reaction results for the reaction of oxidized pyridine nucleotide with reduced enzyme . 2-OH-phenyl propionate complex indicated the presence of two forms of reduced enzyme (in equilibrium) of which only one form was capable of reacting with the oxidized pyridine nucleotide. Based on the rapid reaction data, a mechanism for the reduction half-reaction is proposed. The turnover number calculated from this mechanism is in good agreement with that determined from the steady state data.     

A simple volumetric apparatus for measuring the rate of gas exchange in microorganisms

A new simple volumetric apparatus for measuring the respiration,fermentation and photosynthesis rates in microorganisms wasconstructed. The apparatus, its operation and some data obtainedwith it are presented. This apparatus 1) has an open-capillaryconstant-pressure volumeter without a compensation chamber,2) has a magnetic stirrer for stirring the reaction mixture,3) can be used to measure with a sensitivity of 0.85 µlvolume change per one mm reading without a microscope, 4) simultaneouslyuses seven volumeters, one of which is set as a thermobarometer,5) is completely immersed in a water bath to minimize the effectof ambient temperature, and 6) simplifies calculation. (Received May 9, 1977; )     

The response of bacterial spores to vacuum treatments. I. Design and characterization of the vacuum apparatus

A vacuum apparatus has been described that has enabled samples of bacterial spore suspensions to be dehydrated at defined temperatures between 0 and 65 °C, with facilities for reequilibration of the dried samples to aqueous vapor pressures between 5 × 10^?4 and 10 torr and subsequent exposure to dry gases. The apparatus has been characterized using sample temperature/drying-time profiles, and drying rate/ drying-time curves, and the reproducibility of the dehydration and rehydration techniques has been established. Biological data have confirmed the suitability of the apparatus since no loss of spores from samples has been observed during any of these experimental treatments. On the basis of measurements recorded during rehydration of dried spores, it is suggested that dehydration occurs at specific sites in the spore which are of two types, 1) reversibly dehydrated (rehydratable) and 2) irreversibly dehydrated (nonrehydratable).     

Cytochrome f and plastocyanin kinetics in Chlorella pyrenoidosa II. Reduction kinetics and electric field increase in the 10 ms range

On dark-adapted Chlorella, after one flash, plastocyanin (PC) undergoes reduction with a half-time of 7 ms. After 4 or 5 flashes, the reduction of PC⁺ in the 10 ms range is suppressed, and the level of oxidized plastocyanin increases during the next few flashes before reaching a stationary value. Cytochrome f exhibits approximately the same pattern.The reduction of PC⁺ and cytochrome f⁺ in the 10 ms range is correlated with an increase of the electrice field named phase b (Joliot, P. and Delosme, R., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 357 (1974) 267–284). Both need the presence of a compound R′ in the reduced state. A dark electron transfer involving a carrier of electrons across the membrane, a proton carrier, R′ as terminal reducant, PC⁺ and cytochrome f⁺ as terminal oxidants, would account for this field generation.Cooperation between the electron transfer chains is implied at the level of plastocyanin oxidation. An equilibrium constant of about 2 is observed between cytochrome f and plastocyanin before 1 ms and after 500 ms after the photochemical reactions. We observe that cytochrome f and plastocyanin are not connected from 1 to 100 ms after a photochemical reaction. The equilibrium constant between plastocyanin and P-700 remains large [20] under these conditions.     

Relaxation kinetics of E. coli ribosomes.

Relaxation kinetics measurements on two types of ribosome preparations were parformed by the pressure-jump and temperature-Jump techniques, using light scattered at 90° as detector. For freshly prepared tibosomes isolated as 70S tight coupled from 26 000 RPM sucrose gradint sedimentation in 10 mM Mg²⁺, surprisingly large reaction amplitudes were found in 10 mM Mg²⁺ wilh both techniques, leading to an overall formation constant for 70S couples approximately three orders of magnitude smaller than that reported fot tight couples. For pelleted, two-tunes salt-washed ribosomes, amplitude titration versus Mg²⁺ in the pressure-jump apparatus showed an amplitude maximum near 10 mM Mg²⁺ with a relaxation time near 20 ms, and a second amplitude maximum near 2.5 mM Mg²⁺ with a relaxation time near 25 s. Both types of preparation on reanalysis on sucrose gradients at 5 mM Mg²⁺ showed approximately 15% of subunits, with a distinct zone in the 50S region. 70S light couples recovered from a sucrose density gradient separation at 5 mM Mg²⁺ on pelleted two-times salt-washed ribosomes behaved in the same way as the original sample in pressure-jump experiments at 10 mM Mg²⁺. These findings have been interpreted as follows (I) the processes observed at 10 mM Mg²⁺ are due entirety to the relatively small loose couple content of the samples, even in the case of material isolated as 70S tight couples, (2) the processes observed at 2.5 mM Mg²⁺ are due almost entirely to the preponderant tight couple population of the material, and (3) samples isolated as 70S tight couples from sucrose gradients at 5 mM Mg²⁺ spontaneously revert within hours into micro-heterogeneous material containing about 15% loose couples, for both types of ribosomes.     

Monoascorbate free radical-dependent oxidation-reduction reactions of liver Golgi apparatus membranes

Golgi apparatus from rat liver contain an ascorbate free radical oxidoreducatse that oxidizes NADH at neutral pH with monodehydroascorbate as acceptor to generate a membrane potential. At pH 5.0, the reverse reaction occurs from NAD⁺. The electron spin resonance signal of the ascorbate-free radical and its disappearance upon the addition of NADH (pH 7) or NAD⁺ (pH 5.0) confirms monodehydroascorbate involvement. Location of monodehydroascorbate both external to and within Golgi apparatus compartments is suggested from energization provided by inward or outward flux of electrons across the Golgi apparatus membranes. The isolated membranes are sealed, oriented cytoplasmic side out and impermeable to NAD⁺ and ascorbate. NAD⁺ derived through the action of Golgi apparatus β-NADP phosphohydrolase is simultaneously reduced to NADH with monodehydroascorbate present. The response of the NADH- (NAD⁺-) ascorbate free radical oxidoreductase system to pH in Golgi apparatus provides a simple regulatory mechanism to control vesicle acidification.     

Kinetic study on myoglobin refolding monitored by five optical probe stopped-flow methods

The refolding kinetics of horse cyanometmyoglobin induced by concentration jump of urea was investigated by five optical probe stopped-flow methods: absorption at 422 nm, tryptophyl fluorescence at around 340 nm, circular dichroism (CD) at 222 nm, CD at 260 nm, and CD at 422 nm. In the refolding process, we detected three phases with rate constants of > 1 × 10² s^?1, (4.5–9.3) S^?1, and (2–5) × 10^?3 s^?1. In the fastest phase, a substantial amount of secondary structure (40%) is formed within the dead time of the CD stopped-flow apparatus (10.7 ms). The kinetic intermediate populated in the fastest phase is shown to capture a hemindicyanide, suggesting that a “heme pocket precursor” recognized by hemindicyanide must be constructed within the dead time. In the middle phase, most of secondary and tertiary structures, especially around the captured hemindicyanide, have been constructed. In the slowest phase, we detected a minor structural rearrangement accompanying the ligand-exchange reaction in the fifth coordination of ferric iron. We present a possible model for the refolding process of myoglobin in the presence of the heme group. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Primary photochemistry of Photosystem I in chloroplasts. Dynamics of reversible charge separation in open reaction centers at 25 K

The reduction rate of oxidized reaction center chlorophyll of Photosystem I after laser-flash excitation at 25 K has been determined for D-144 subchloroplast fragments and chloroplasts. A maximum of 40% of Photosystem I reaction centers undergo irreversible charge separation (P-700, Cluster A: P-700⁺, Cluster A^?) at 25 K, a percentage which is independent of laser-flash intensity. The remaining reaction centers in chloroplasts and D-144 fragments undergo reversible charge separation with biphasic recombination. Similar amplitudes and time constants (chloroplasts, 49 μs (61%); D-144 fragments, 90 μs (67%)) were obtained for the fast component, while the slower component differed considerably in time (chloroplasts, 2.9 ms; D-144 fragments, 170 ms). It is known that Fe-S Cluster A is photoreduced in less than 1 ms at 25 K. Data obtained support a model for Photosystem I involving a single intermediate in the decay path between the reduced primary electron acceptor (A^?₁) and P-700⁺ and a second intermediate in the decay path between a reduced secondary electron acceptor and P-700⁺. Dual laser-flash experiments to determine rate constants for these processes are included.     

An X-Ray Diffraction Study on Early Structural Changes in Skeletal Muscle Contraction

Structural changes in frog skeletal muscle were studied using x-ray diffraction with a time resolution of 0.53–1.02 ms after a single electrical stimulus at 8°C. Tension began to drop at 6 ms (latency relaxation), reached a minimum at 8 ms, and then twitch tension developed. The intensity of the meridional reflection at 1/38.5 nm⁻¹, from troponin molecules on the thin filament, began to increase at 4–5 ms and reached a maximum at ~12 ms. The meridional reflections based on the myosin 43-nm repeat began to decrease when the tension began to develop. The peak position of the third-order myosin meridional reflection began to shift toward the higher angle at ~5 ms, reached a maximum shift (0.02%) at 10 ms, and then moved toward the lower angle. The intensity of the second actin layer line at 1/18 nm⁻¹ in the axial direction, which was measured at 12°C, began to rise at 5 ms, whereas the latency relaxation started at 3.5 ms. These results suggest that 1), the Ca²⁺-induced structural changes in the thin filament and a structural change in the thick filament have already taken place during latency relaxation; and 2), the Ca²⁺ regulation of the thin filament is highly cooperative.     

The early formation of the photosynthetic apparatus in Rhodospirillum rubrum

The time dependent assembly of the photosynthetic apparatus was studied in Rhodospirillum rubrum after transfer of cells growing aerobically in the dark to low aeration. While bacteriochlorophyll (Bchl) cellular levels increase continuously levels of soluble cytochrome c ₂do not change significantly. Absorption spectra of membranes isolated at different times after transfer reveal that incorporation of carotenoids lags behind incorporation of Bchl. However, a carotenoid fraction exhibiting spectral properties of spirilloxanthin isomers was isolated apart from membranes. This carotenoid fraction even was present in homogenates from Bchl-free, aerobically grown cells. Incorporation of U-¹⁴C-proteinhydrolyzate into membrane proteins showed that proteins are mainly formed which are specific for photosynthetic membranes. Although the proportion of reaction center (RC) Bchl per light harvesting (LH) Bchl does not change the proportions of membrane proteins present in RC and LH preparations change initially. But later on the proportions of the different proteins also reach constant values. Concerning proteins characteristic for cytoplasmic membranes a differential incorporation of label can be observed. The data indicate that the photosynthetic apparatus in Rhodospirillum rubrum is assembled through a sequential mechanism.Abbreviations Bchl bacteriochlorophyll - LH light harvesting - RC reaction center - R. Rhodospirillum - R. Rhodopseudomonas     

Localization of cyanine dye binding to brush-border membranes by quenching of n-(9-anthroyloxy) fatty acid probes

The location and orientation of 3,3'-dipropylthiodicarbocyanine (diS-C3-(5)) binding sites in renal brush-border membrane vesicles was examined from the quenching of n-(9-anthroyloxy) fatty acid (n-AS) fluorescence. Based on previous kinetic studies (Cabrini, G. and Verkman, A.S. (1986) J. Membrane Biol. 90, 163-175) monomeric aqueous diS-C3-(5) binds to brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) by an initial 6 ms association to form bound monomer, a 30-40 ms equilibrium between bound monomer (M) and bound dimer (D), and a 1-1.3 s translocation of D from the outer to inner membrane leaflet. Based on Stern-Volmer and lifetime analyses, M and D quench the fluorescence of the n-AS probes by a collisional mechanism. At low [diS-C3-(5)]/[BBMV] (R), where M predominates, the n-AS quenching efficiencies (Q) are similar (n = 2-16); at high R, where D predominates, Q increases with n (16 greater than 12 much much greater than 6 greater than 2), suggesting that M is oriented parallel, and D perpendicular, to the phospholipid chains deep within the membrane. Mixture of diS-C3-(5) with brush-border membrane vesicles containing n-AS in a stopped-flow apparatus gave a biexponential fluorescence decrease (excitation 390 nm, emission above 450 nm) with time constants 30-40 ms and 1-1.5 s; there was no 6 ms quenching process. These findings are incorporated into a model in which diS-C3-(5) adheres loosely to the outer membrane surface in 6 ms, binds parallel to the membrane phospholipid in 30-40 ms, dimerizes and rotates by 90 degrees in much less than 30 ms, and translocates to the opposite half of the bilayer in 1-15 s.     

On the polyphasic quenching kinetics of chlorophyll a fluorescence in algae after light pulses of variable length

This study reports on kinetics of the fluorescence decay in a suspension of the alga Scenedesmus quadricauda after actinic illumination. These are monitored as the variable fluorescence signal in the dark following light pulses of variable intensity and duration. The decay reflects the restoration of chlorophyll fluorescence quenching of the photosystem II (PSII) antennas and shows a polyphasic pattern which suggests the involvement of different processes. The overall quenching curve after a fluorescence-saturating pulse (SP) of 250-ms duration, commonly used in pulse amplitude modulation applications as the tool for estimating the maximal fluorescence (F _m), has been termed P–O, in which P and O have the same meaning as used in the OJIP induction curve in the light. Deconvolution of this signal shows at least three distinguishable exponential phases with reciprocal rate constants of the order of 10, 10², and 10³ ms. The size of the long (>10³ ms) and moderate (~10² ms) lasting components relative to the complete quenching signal after an SP increases with the duration of the actinic pulse concomitantly with an increase in the reciprocal rate constants of the fast (~10 ms) and moderate quenching phases. Fluorescence responses upon single turnover flashes of 30-μs duration (STFs) given at discrete times during the P–O quenching were used as tools for identifying the quencher involved in the P–O quenching phase preceding the STF excitation. Results are difficult to interpret in terms of a single-hit two-state trapping mechanism with distinguishable quenching properties of open and closed reaction centers only. They give support for an earlier hypothesis on a double-hit three-state trapping mechanism in which the so-called semi-closed reaction centers of PSII are considered. In these trapping-competent centers the single reduced acceptor pair [PheQ _A]^1?, depending on the size of photoelectrochemically induced pH effects on the Q _B-binding site, functions as an efficient fluorescence quencher.