Changes in Properties of Barley Leaf Mitochondria Isolated from NaCl-Treated Plants

Treatment of barley (Hordeum vulgare) seedlings with 400 millimolar NaCl for 3 days resulted in a reduction in plant growth and an increase in the leaf content in ions (K⁺ + Na⁺) and proline. Purified mitochondria were successfully isolated from barley leaves. Good oxidative and phosphorylative properties were observed with malate as substrate. Malate-dependent electron transport was found to be only partly inhibited by cyanide, the remaining oxygen uptake being SHAM sensitive. The properties of mitochondria from NaCl-treated barley were modified. The efficiency of phosphorylation was diminished with only a slight decrease in the oxidation rates. In both isolated mitochondria and whole leaf tissue of treated plants, the lower respiration rate was due to a lower cytochrome pathway activity. In mitochondria, the activity of the alternative pathway was not modified by salt treatment, whereas this activity was increased in whole leaf tissue. The possible participation of the alternative pathway in response to salt stress will be discussed.     

Effect of salicylic acid on the metabolic activity of plant mitochondria

The effects of salicylic acid (SA) on mitochondrial respiration and generation of membrane potential across the inner membrane of mitochondria isolated from stored taproots of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) and etiolated seedling cotyledons of yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus L.) were studied. When malate was oxidized in the presence of glutamate, low SA concentrations (lower than 1.0 mM) exerted predominantly uncoupling action on the respiration of taproot mitochondria: they activated the rate of oxygen uptake in State 4 (in the absence of ADP) and did not affect oxidation in State 3 (in the presence of ADP). In contrast, in lupine cotyledon mitochondria these SA concentrations inhibited oxygen uptake in the presence of ADP and much weaker activated substrate oxidation in State 4. Thus, SA (0.5 mM) reduced the respiratory control ratio according to Chance (RCR) by 25% in the taproots and 35% in cotyledons. When the concentration of phytohormone was increased (above 1.0 mM), malate oxidation in State 3 was inhibited and in State 4 — activated independently of the plant material used. In this case, the values of RCR and ADP/O were reduced by 50–60%. The effect of high SA concentrations (2 mM and higher) on malate oxidation depended on the duration of incubation and had a biphasic pattern: the initial activation of oxygen uptake was later replaced by its inhibition. The parallel studying the SA effect on the generation of membrane potential (ΔΨ) at malate oxidation in the mitochondria of beet taproots and lupine cotyledons showed that ΔΨ dissipation was observed because of SA uncoupling and inhibiting action on respiration. The degree of ΔΨ dissipation depended on the phytohormone concentration and duration on mitochondria treatment, especially at its high concentrations. In general, a correlation was found between the effects of SA on mitochondrial respiration and ΔΨ values in the coupling membranes. Furthermore, these results show that the responses of mitochondria to SA were determined not only by its concentration but also by treatment duration and evidently by the sensitivity to the phytohormone of mitochondria isolated from different plant tissues.     

Effects of the Proline Analog l-Thiazolidine-4-carboxylic Acid on Proline Metabolism

The effect of various proline analogs on proline oxidation in mitochondria isolated from etiolated barley (Hordeum vulgare) shoots was investigated. Of the analogs tested, only l-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (T4C) was an effective inhibitor. T4C (1 millimolar) inhibited proline (10 millimolar) -dependent 0₂ uptake an average of 67%. T4C was also oxidized to some degree (12.9 nanoatoms oxygen per minute per milligram protein for 10 millimolar). The effect of T4C on the oxidation of other mitochondrial substrates was also tested. T4C inhibited ¹-pyrrolidine-5-carboxylic acid-dependent oxygen uptake slightly (13%), the oxidation of malate plus pyruvate even less (6%), and stimulated the oxidation of succinate (+11%), exogenous NADH (+19%), and citrate (+20%). Thus, inhibition by T4C in mitochondria is relatively specific to proline oxidation. T4C was found to inhibit proline dehydrogenase and not the transport of proline into the matrix.     

Isolation and properties of flight muscle mitochondria of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris (L.)

This report describes the isolation procedure and properties of tightly coupled flight muscle mitochondria of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris (L.). The highest respiratory control index was observed upon oxidation of pyruvate, whereas the highest respiration rates were registered upon oxidation of a combination of the following substrates: pyruvate + malate, pyruvate + proline, or pyruvate + glutamate. The respiration rates upon oxidation of malate, glutamate, glutamate + malate, or succinate were very low. At variance with flight muscle mitochondria of a number of other insects reported earlier, B. terrestris mitochondria did not show high rates of respiration supported by oxidation of proline. The maximal respiration rates were observed upon oxidation of α-glycerophosphate. Bumblebee mitochondria are capable of maintaining high membrane potential in the absence of added respiratory substrates, which was completely dissipated by the addition of rotenone, suggesting high amount of intramitochondrial NAD-linked oxidative substrates. Pyruvate and α-glycerophosphate appear to be the optimal oxidative substrates for maintaining the high rates of oxidative metabolism of the bumblebee mitochondria.     

Respiration of Mitochondria Isolated from Leaves and Protoplasts of Avena sativa

Mitochondria isolated from mesophyll protoplasts differed from mitochondria isolated directly from leaves of Avena sativa in that protoplast mitochondria (a) had a lower overall respiratory capacity, (b) were less able to use low concentrations of exogenous NADH, (c) did not respond rapidly or strongly to added NAD, (d) appeared to accumulate more oxaloacetate, and (e) oxidized both succinate and tetramethyl-p-phenylene-diamine (an electron donor for cytochrome oxidase) more slowly than did leaf mitochondria. It is concluded that cytochrome oxidase activity was inhibited, the external NADH dehydrogenase had a reduced affinity for NADH, succinate oxidation was inhibited, NAD and oxaloacetate porters were probably inhibited, and accessibility to respiratory paths may have been reduced in protoplast mitochondria. The results also suggest that there was a reduced affinity of a succinate porter for this substrate in oat mitochondria. In addition, all oat mitochondria required salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) as well as cyanide to block malate and succinate oxidation. Malate oxidation that did not appear to saturate the cytochrome pathway was sensitive to SHAM in the absence of cyanide, suggesting that the oat mitochondria studied had concomitant alternative and subsaturating cytochrome oxidase pathway activity.     

The nature and control of the tricarboxylate cycle in beetle flight muscle.

The only exogenous substrates oxidized by mitochondria isolated from the flight muscle of the Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) are proline, pyruvate and glycerol 3-phosphate. The highest rate of oxygen consumption is obtained with proline. The oxidation of proline leads to the production of more NH3 than alanine, indicating a functioning glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.2). Studies of mitochondrial extracts confirm the presence of a very active glutamate dehydrogenase, and this enzyme is found to be activated by ADP and inhibited by ATP. These extracts also show high alanine aminotransferase activity (EC 2.6.1.2) and a uniquely active "malic'' enzyme (EC 1.1.1.39). The "malic'' enzyme is activated by succinate and inhibited by ATP and by pyruvate. It is suggested that the input of tricarboxylate-cycle intermediate from proline oxidation is balanced by the formation of pyruvate from malate, and the complete oxidation of the majority of the pyruvate. Studies of the steady-state concentrations of mitochondrial CoASH and CoA thioesters during proline oxidation show a high succinyl (3-carboxypropionyl)-CoA content which falls on activating respiration with ADP. There is a concomitant rise in CoASH. However, the reverse transition, from state-3 to state-4 respiration, causes only very slight changes in acylation. The reasons for this are discussed. Studies of the mitochondrial content of glutamate, 2-oxoglutarate, malate, pyruvate, citrate and isocitrate during the same phases of proline oxidation give results consistent with control at the level of glutamate dehydrogenase and isocitrate dehydrogenase during proline oxidation, with the possibility of further control at "malic'' enzyme. During the oxidation of pyruvate all of the tricarboxylate-cycle intermediates and NAD(P)H follow the pattern of changes described in the blowfly (Johnson & Hansford, 1975; Hansford, 1974) and isocitrate dehydrogenase is identified as the primary site of control.?2OAuthor     

Effect of the oxidation of glycine and Krebs cycle substrates on cytochrome activity and alternative pathways of mitochondria from leaves of Pisum sativum L

Isolated mitochondria from adult leaves of Pisum sativum had the capacity to oxidize simultaneously glycine and several substrates of the Krebs cycle (e.g. malate, succinate, citrate, 2-oxo-glutarate), either in the presence of ADP (state three) or in the absence of ADP (state four). The sensitivity of the mitochondrial respiration to inhibitors of the cytochrome (e.g. antimycin A) and the alternative (e.g. salicylhydroxamic acid, SHAM, and tetraethylthiuram disulfide, disulfiram) pathways varied depending on the substrate(s) being used. For instance, the rate of oxygen uptake resistant to antimycin A, which is an estimate of the capacity of the alternative pathway, varied depending on whether glycine was added or not to a medium with malate and succinate. The state four rate of oxygen consumption in the presence of malate or succinate was greatly stimulated by the addition of glycine, and vice versa. This stimulation was apparently mediated by the alternative pathway. The results suggest that part of the electron transport capacity (including the alternative pathway) of these mitochondria is specifically associated with glycine oxidation, and therefore with photo-respiration.     

Cyanide-Resistant Respiration in Suspension Cultured Cells of Nicotiana glutinosa L

The respiration of dark-grown Nicotiana glutinosa L. cells in liquid suspension culture was found to be highly cyanide resistant and salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) sensitive, indicative of an active alternative respiratory pathway. This was especially true during the lag and logarithmic phases of the 14-day growth cycle. Mitochondria isolated from logarithmically growing cells exhibited active oxidation of malate, succinate, and exogenous NADH. Oxidation of all three substrates had an optimum pH of 6.5 and all were highly resistant to inhibited by cyanide and sensitive to SHAM. Respiratory control was exhibited by all three substrates but only if SHAM was present to block the alternative pathway and divert electrons to the phosphorylating cytochrome pathway. The cyanide-resistant oxidation of exogenous NADH has previously only been associated with Arum spadix mitochondria. Coemergence during evolution of the alternative respiratory pathway and the exogenous NADH dehydrogenase in plant mitochondria as a possible mechanism for removal of cytoplasmic NADH is proposed. Evidence is presented which suggests that mitochondrial assays should be performed at pH 6.5.     

Reduction of superoxide production by mitochondria oxidizing NADH in the presence of organic acids

Effects of multiple substrates on oxygen uptake and superoxide production by mitochondria isolated from the pericarp tissue of green bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) were studied. Mitochondria isolated from peppers stored at 4 °C for 5 and 6 days had higher rates of oxygen uptake and were less sensitive to cyanide than mitochondria isolated from freshly harvested peppers. Succinate enhanced state 2 and state 4 rates of oxygen uptake with exogenous NADH in the absence of cytochrome path inhibitors, but not state 3 rates by mitochondria isolated from either freshly harvested or cold-stored bell peppers. The sensitivity of NADH oxidation to cyanide was reduced by both malate and succinate in mitochondria from cold-stored bell peppers, whereas only succinate was effective in mitochondria from freshly harvested peppers.Mitochondria isolated from both freshly harvested peppers and those stored at 4 °C for 5 and 6 days produced superoxide in the absence of exogenous substrates. Superoxide production by mitochondria from freshly harvested bell peppers increased when the mitochondria were supplied with malate, succinate or NADH, but only NADH enhanced superoxide production by mitochondria from cold-stored peppers. Both succinate and malate reduced the production of superoxide by mitochondria isolated from cold-stored bell peppers. Succinate and malate as second substrates also reduced the production of superoxide with NADH by mitochondria from both freshly harvested and cold-stored bell peppers. Malonate, a competitive inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase, was inhibitory to oxygen uptake and to superoxide production.Mitochondria isolated from cold-stored bell peppers converted succinate to pyruvate at 25 °C at considerably higher rates than those of mitochondria from freshly harvested bell peppers. Since pyruvate has been shown to activate the alternative oxidase and the presence of pyruvate is essential for continued alternative oxidase activity, we suggest that pyruvate limits superoxide production by enhancing the flow of electrons through the alternative path. A direct scavenging of superoxide by succinate, malate and pyruvate, however, cannot be ruled out.     

Malate metabolism in Hoya carnosa mitochondria and its role in photosynthesis during CAM phase III

This study investigated the respiratory properties and the role of the mitochondria isolated from one phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK)-CAM plant, Hoya carnosa, in malate metabolism during CAM phase III. The mitochondria showed high malate dehydrogenase (mMDH) and aspartate amino transferase (mAST), and a significant amount of malic enzyme (mME) activities. H. carnosa readily oxidized malate via mME and mMDH in the presence of some cofactors such as thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), coenzyme A (CoA) or NAD(+). A high respiration rate of malate oxidation was observed at pH 7.2 with NAD(+) and glutamate (Glu). Providing AST and Glu simultaneously into the respiratory medium strongly increased the rates of malate oxidation, and this oxidation was gradually inhibited by an inhibitor of alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-KG) carrier, pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP). The mitochondria readily oxidized aspartate (Asp) or alpha-KG individually with low rates, while they oxidized Asp and alpha-KG simultaneously with high rates, and this simultaneous oxidation was also inhibited by PLP. By measuring the capacity of the mitochondrial shuttle, it was found that the OAA produced via mMDH seemed not to be transported outside the mitochondria, but mAST interconverted OAA and Glu to Asp and alpha-KG, respectively, and exported them out via a malate-aspartate (malate-Asp) shuttle. The data in this research suggest that during phase III of PCK-CAM, H. carnosa mitochondria oxidized malate via both mME and the mMDH systems depending on metabolic requirements. However, malate metabolism by the mMDH system did not operate via a malate-OAA shuttle similarly to Ananas comosus mitochondria, but it operated via a malate-Asp shuttle similarly to Kalancho? daigremontiana mitochondria.     

Loss of Sensitivity to Helminthosporium maydis Race T Toxin during Aging of Mitochondria Isolated from Texas Cytoplasm Corn

Helminthosporium maydis Race T toxin caused the expected changes in freshly isolated mitochondria from T cytoplasm corn, namely complete uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, pronounced stimulation of succinate and NADH respiration, complete inhibition of malate respiration, and increased mitochondrial swelling. In contrast, identical toxin treatments of the mitochondria after 12 hours aging on ice resulted in partial uncoupling, much lower stimulation of succinate and NADH respiration, no inhibition of malate respiration, and no mitochondrial swelling. Almost all of the toxin sensitivity was lost by 6 hours aging. At this stage, the mitochondria were 208× and 66× less sensitive to toxin-induced changes in coupling of malate respiration and state 4 malate respiration rates, respectively. Loss of toxin sensitivity did not occur when the mitochondria were aged under nitrogen or in the presence of 5 millimolar dithiothreitol. This suggested that the aging effect was due to oxidation, possibly of sulfhydryl groups in one or more mitochondrial membrane proteins.     

Respiratory properties and malate metabolism in Percoll-purified mitochondria isolated from pineapple, Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. cv. smooth cayenne

An investigation was made of the respiratory properties and the role of the mitochondria isolated from one phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK)-CAM plant Ananas comosus (pineapple) in malate metabolism during CAM phase III. Pineapple mitochondria showed very high malate dehydrogenase (MDH), and low malic enzyme (ME) and glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) activities. The mitochondria readily oxidized succinate and NADH with high rates and coupling, while they only oxidized NADPH in the presence of Ca(2+). Pineapple mitochondria oxidized malate with low rates under most assay conditions, despite increasing malate concentrations, optimizing pH, providing cofactors such as coenzyme A, thiamine pyrophosphate, and NAD(+), and supplying individually external glutamate or GOT. However, providing glutamate and GOT simultaneously strongly increased the rates of malate oxidation. The OAA easily permeated the mitochondrial membranes to import into or export out of pineapple mitochondria during malate oxidation, but the mitochondria did not consume external Asp or alpha-KG. These results suggest that OAA played a significant role in the mitochondrial malate metabolism of pineapple, in which malate was mainly oxidized by active mMDH to produce OAA which could be exported outside the mitochondria via a malate-OAA shuttle. Cytosolic GOT then consumed OAA by transamination in the presence of glutamate, leading to a large increase in respiration rates. The malate-OAA shuttle might operate as a supporting system for decarboxylation in phase III of PCK-CAM pineapple. This shuttle system may be important in pineapple to provide a source of energy and substrate OAA for cytosolic PCK activity during the day when cytosolic OAA and ATP was limited for the overall decarboxylation process.     

Cyanide-resistant respiration in roots and leaves. Measurements with intact tissues and isolated mitochondria

A comparison was made between the oxygen uptake of roots and leaves and of mitochondria isolated from the same tissues. Ten species were included in this study: three legumes, one C3-monocotyledon, one C4-monocotyledon, the rest non-leguminous C3-dicotyledons. Root and leaf respiration in all species examined displayed substantial resistance to KCN (0.1–1.0 mM) and the cyanide-resistant respiration was completely inhibited by salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM; 10–20 mM). SHAM alone inhibited oxygen uptake to varying degrees, depending on the species. Mitochondria were isolated from roots and leaves of many of the species examined and also displayed cyanide-resistant oxygen uptake, which was sensitive to both SHAM and tetraethylthiuram disulfide (disulfiram). Concentrations of SHAM greater than 2 mM caused inhibition of the cytochrome path as well as of the alternative path in isolated mitochondria. Respiration rates of intact roots and leaves in the presence of varying concentrations of SHAM alone were plotted against those obtained in the presence of both SHAM and KCN. This plot showed that in vivo the cytochrome pathway was not affected by 10 or 20 mM SHAM in the external solution. We conclude that the activity of the alternative pathway in intact roots and leaves can be reliably estimated by comparing SHAM-sensitivity and cyanide-resistance of respiration.     

On the Function of Mitochondrial Metabolism during Photosynthesis in Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Leaves (Partitioning between Respiration and Export of Redox Equivalents and Precursors for Nitrate Assimilation Products)

The functioning of isolated spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) leaf mitochondria has been studied in the presence of metabolite concentrations similar to those that occur in the cytosol in vivo. From measurements of the concentration dependence of the oxidation of the main substrates, glycine and malate, we have concluded that the state 3 oxidation rate of these substrates in vivo is less than half of the maximal rates due to substrate limitation. Analogously, we conclude that under steady-state conditions of photosynthesis, the oxidation of cytosolic NADH by the mitochondria does not contribute to mitochondrial respiration. Measurements of mitochondrial respiration with glycine and malate as substrates and in the presence of a defined malate:oxaloacetate ratio indicated that about 25% of the NADH formed in vivo during the oxidation of these metabolites inside the mitochondria is oxidized by a malate-oxaloacetate shuttle to serve extramitochondrial processes, e.g. reduction of nitrate in the cytosol or of hydroxypyruvate in the peroxisomes. The analysis of the products of the oxidation of malate indicates that in the steady state of photosynthesis the activity of the tricarboxylic acid cycle is very low. Therefore, we have concluded that the mitochondrial oxidation of malate in illuminated leaves produces mainly citrate, which is converted via cytosolic aconitase and NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase to yield 2-oxoglutarate as the precursor for the formation of glutamate and glutamine, which are the main products of photosynthetic nitrate assimilation.     

Effect of salicylic acid on the alternative pathway of yellow lupine respiration

The effects of salicylic acid (SA) on the rate of respiration and the activity of cyanide-resistant sensitive to salicylhydroxamic acid oxidation pathway in detached etiolated cotyledons of yellow lupine (Lupinus luteus L.) and mitochondria isolated from these cotyledons were studied. Cotyledon treatment with 1 mM SA for 12 h increased the rate of oxygen uptake predominantly due to the activation of cyanide-resistant respiration (CRR) and alternative pathway of mitochondrial oxidation. It was established that the lupine genome encodes at least two isoforms of alternative oxidase (AO), LuAOX1 and LuAOX2, with the mol wt of about 35 kD. These proteins are always present in the mitochondria of etiolated lupine cotyledons, but their level increased rapidly after cotyledon treatment with SA, probably by increasing the mRNA content of the corresponding genes. SA-induced expression of Aox genes was correlated with the activation of CRR and an increase in the maximal activity (capacity) of AO in both detached yellow lupine cotyledons and mitochondria isolated from them.     

Suppression of the mitochondrial oxidation of (-)-palmitylcarnitine by the malate-aspartate and alpha-glycerophosphate shuttles.

Palmitylcarnitine oxidation by isolated liver mitochondria has been used to investigate the interaction of fatty acid oxidation with malate, glutamate, succinate, and the malate-aspartate shuttle. Mitochondria preincubated with fluorocitrate were added to a medium containing 2mM ATP and ATPase. This system, characterized by a high energy change, allowed titration of respiration to any desired rate between States 4 and 3 (Chance, B., and Williams, G. R. (1956) Adv. Enzymol. Relat. Areas Mol. Biol. 17, 65-134). When respiration (reference, with palmitylcarnitine and malate as substrates) was set at 75% of State 3, the oxidation of palmitylcarnitine was limited by acetoacetate formation. The addition of malate or glutamate approximately doubled the rate of beta oxidation. Malate circumvented this limitation by citrate formation, but the effect of glutamate apparently was due to enhancement of the capacity for ketogenesis. The rate of beta oxidation was curtailed when malate and glutamate were both present. This curtailment was more pronounced when the malate-aspartate shuttle was fully reconstituted. Among the oxidizable substrates examined, succinate was most effective in inhibiting palmitylcarnitine oxidation. Mitochondrial NADH/NAD+ ratios were correlated positively with suppression of beta oxidation. The degree of suppression of beta oxidation by the malate-aspartate shuttle (NADH oxidation) or by succinate oxidation was dependent on the respiratory state. Both substrates extensively reduced mitochondrial NAD+ and markedly suppressed beta oxidation as respiration approached State 4. Calculations of the rates of flux of hydrogen equivalents through beta oxidation show that the suppression of beta oxidation by glutamate or by the malate-aspartate shuttle is accounted for by increased flux of reducing equivalents through mitochondrial malic dehydrogenase. This increased Flux is accompanied by an increase in the steady state NADH/NAD+ ratio and a marked decrease in the synthesis of citrate. The alpha-glycerophosphate shuttle was reconstituted with mitochondria isolated from rats treated with L-thyroxine. This shuttle was about equal to the reconstructed malate-aspartate shuttle in supression of palmitylcarnitine oxidation. This interaction could not be demonstrated in euthyroid animals owing to the low activity of the mitochondrial alpha-glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase. It is concluded that beta oxidation can be regulated by the NADH/NAD+ ratio. The observed stimulation of flux through malate dehydrogenase both by glutamate and by the malate-aspartate shuttle results in an increased steady state NADH/NAD+ ratio, and is linked to a stoichiometric outward transport of aspartate. We suggest, therefore, that some of the reducing pressure exerted by the malate-aspartate shuttle and by glutamate plus malate is provided through the energy-linked, electrogenic transport of aspartate out of the mitochondria. These results are discussed with respect to the mechanism of the genesis of ethanol-induced fatty liver.     

Glycollate-pathway enzymes in mitochondria from phototrophic,organotrophic and mixotrophic cells of Euglena

Glycollate dehydrogenase and NADFH-glyoxylate reductase are constitutive enzymes in Percoll-purified mitochondria from phototrophic, mixotrophic and organotrophic cells of Euglena gracilis Klebs strain z Pringsheim. Glycollate oxidation by isolated mitochondria is stimulated four-fold by the addition of glutamate but rates of glycine oxidation are low in mitochondria from all cell types, the ratio of malate to glycine oxidation always being greater than 4:1. Measurement of the rate of NADPH oxidation in intact mitochondria and mitoplasts showed that the outer mitochondrial membrane is impermeable to NADPH and in the absence of NADPH-dehydrogenase activity the oxidation of NADPH by mitoplasts is dependent on the presence of glyoxylate for NADPH-glyoxylate-reductase activity. It is concluded that glycollate oxidation in the mitochondrion provides glyoxylate which, in the presence of a suitable amino-donor, can be converted to glycine by glutamate-glyoxylate amino-transferase so providing essential intermediates for biosynthesis. Glycollate oxidation outside the mitochondrion is concerned with photorespiratory metabolism and the inability of mitochondria to oxidise exogenous glycine at appreciable rates means that the separation of photorespiratory metabolism from the biosynthesis of essential intermediates is effected.     

Solubilization of a Proline Dehydrogenase from Maize (Zea mays L.) Mitochondria

L-Proline is oxidized to pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid in intact plant mitochondria by a proline dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.3) that is bound to the matrix side of the inner mitochondrial membrane (TE Elthon, CR Stewart [1981] Plant Physiol 67: 780-784). This investigation reports the first solubilization of the L-proline dehydrogenase (PDH) from plant mitochondria. The supernatant from NP-40-treated etiolated shoot mitochondria of maize, Zea mays L., reduced iodonitrotetrazolium violet in a proline dependent manner. The pH optimum for this activity was 8. The apparent K_m for proline was 6.6 millimolar. When supplied with proline, this solubilized PDH activity also synthesized pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid. The PDH activity was inhibited in vitro by 300 millimolar potassium chloride but not by 300 millimolar potassium acetate. The PDH activity had a molecular mass that was greater than 150 kilodaltons. Mitochondria were prepared from etiolated shoots grown in 100% water-saturated vermiculite (control) and 16% water-saturated vermiculite (stress). The specific activity of solubilized PDH from the stress treatment was 11% of the same activity from the control treatment. Oxygen uptake in the presence of proline and ADP (state 3 proline oxidation) by mitochondria from the stress treatment was 25% of the same rate by mitochondria from the control treatment. Mitochondria were also prepared 16 hours after rewatering the seedlings growing in the stress treatment. Both the solubilized PDH specific activity and state 3 proline oxidation returned to the control levels. The specific activities of the NAD⁺-dependent pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase in the solubilized preparations were unaffected by these stress and recovery treatments. Oxygen uptake rates by intact mitochondria in the presence of ADP and NADH, succinate or malate-pyruvate were also unaffected by these treatments.     

Direct oxidation of glutamate by mitochondria from porcine adrenal cortex

1. Mitochondria isolated from porcine adrenal cortex under State 3 conditions oxidized succinate with a rate of 47 +/- 4.48 na oxygen/min/mg/protein and with ADP:O ratio 0.98 +/- 0.09. In the presence of 15 microM deoxycorticosterone the rate of succinate oxidation was 36.8 +/- 3.08 na oxygen/min/mg/protein. 2. Under the same conditions the rate of glutamate oxidation was 22.8 +/- 2.21 and 16.8 +/- 0.65 na oxygen/min/mg/protein, respectively. ADP:O ratio was 1.45 +/- 0.14. 3. Introduction of trace amounts of malate into the mitochondria oxidizing glutamate only slightly increased the rate of O2 uptake. 4. The glutamate dehydrogenase activity in these mitochondria was 12.5 +/- 0.69 nmol/min/mg.     

Phthalonic acid, an inhibitor of alpha-oxoglutarate transport in mitochondria.

Phthalonic acid is a powerful inhibitor of alpha-oxoglutarate transport in mitochondria. This conclusion is based on the following observations: 1. Phthalonic acid inhibits the oxidation of alpha-oxoglutarate but has no effect on the oxidation of glutamate or cis-aconitate. 2. With arsenite present, phthalonic acid inhibits the oxidation of glutamate plus malate and of cis-aconitate plus malate. Under these conditions alpha-oxoglutarate accumulates inside the mitochondria. With glutamate plus malate as substrates the inhibition is competitive with malate with a Ki value of 20 muM. 3. Phthalonic acid inhibits the oxidation of intramitochondrial NAD(P)H by alpha-oxoglutarate plus ammonia. The inhibition is competitive with respect to alpha-oxoglutarate with a Ki of 30 muM. 4. Phthalonic acid inhibits the exchange between extramitochondrial alpha-oxoglutarate and intramitochondrial malate.