The effect of formate on cytochrome aa3 and on electron transport in the intact respiratory chain

1. Formate inhibits cytochrome $\text{c}$ oxidase activity both in intact mitochondria and submitochondrial particles, and in isolated cytochrome $\text{aa}{}_3$. The inhibition increases with decreasing pH, indicating that HCOOH may be the inhibitory species.2. Formate induces a blue shift in the absorption spectrum of oxidized cytochrome $\text{aa}{}_3\text{(a}{}^{\mathrm{3+}}\text{a}{}_3{}^{\mathrm{3+}}$) and in the half-reduced species ($\text{a}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{a}{}_3{}^{\mathrm{3+}}$). Comparison with cyanide-induced spectral shifts, towards the red, indicates that formate and cyanide have opposite effects on the $\text{aa}{}_3$ spectrum, both in the fully oxidized and the half-reduced states. The formate spectra provide a new method of obtaining the difference spectrum of $\text{a}{}_3{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$ minus $\text{a}{}_3{}^{\mathrm{3+}}$, free of the difficulties with cyanide (which induces marked high → low spin spectral shifts in cytochrome $\text{a}{}_3{}^{\mathrm{3+}}$) and azide (which induces peak shifts of cytochrome $\text{a}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$ towards the blue in both α- and Soret regions).3. The rate of formate dissociation from cytochrome $\text{a}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{a}{}_3{}^{\mathrm{3+}}\text{-}\text{HCOOH}$ is faster than its rate of dissociation from $\text{a}{}^{\mathrm{3+}}\text{a}{}_3{}^{\mathrm{3+}}\text{-}\text{HCOOH}$, especially in the presence of cytochrome $\text{c}$. The $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ for formate inhibition of respiration is a function of the reduction state of the system, varying from 30 mM (100% reduction) to 1 mM (100% oxidation) at pH 7.4, 30 °C.4. Succinate-cytochrome $\text{c}$ reductase activity is also inhibited by formate, in a reaction competitive with succinate and dependent on [formate]².5. Formate inhibition of ascorbate plus $\text{N,N,N′,N′-}\text{tetramethyl}\text{-p-}\text{phenyl-enediamine}$ oxidation by intact rat liver mitochondria is partially released by uncoupler addition. Formate is permeable through the inner mitochondrial membrane and no differences in ‘on’ or ‘off’ inhibition rates were observed when intact mitochondria were compared with submitochondrial particles.6. NADH-cytochrome $\text{c}$ reductase activity is unaffected by formate in submitochondrial particles, but mitochondrial oxidation of glutamate plus malate is subject both to terminal inhibition at the cytochrome $\text{aa}{}_3$ level and to a slow extra inhibition by formate following uncoupler addition, indicating a third site of formate action in the intact mitochondrion.     

Studies on the mechanism of electron transport in the bc1-segment of the respiratory chain in yeast. II. The binding of antimycin to mitochondrial particles and the function of two different binding sites

1. In mitochondrial particles antimycin binds to two separate specific sites with dissociation constants $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>d</mtext><mtext>1</mtext>}}\text{≦ 4 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?13}}\text{M}$ and $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>d</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 3 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?9}}\text{M}$, respectively.2. The concentrations of the two antimycin binding sites are about equal. The absolute concentration for each binding site is about 100 – 150 pmol per mg of mitochondrial protein.3. Antimycin bound to the stronger site mainly inhibits NADH- and succinate oxidase. Binding of antimycin to the weaker binding site inhibits the electron flux to exogenously added cytochrome c after blocking cytochrome oxidase by KCN.4. Under certain conditions cytochrome b and c₁ are dispensible components for antimycin-sensitive electron transport.5. A model of the respiratory chain in yeast is proposed which accounts for the results reported here and previously. (Lang, B., Burger, G. and Bandlow, W. (1974) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 368, 71–85).     

Characterization of the β-adrenergic receptors of hamster white fat cells: Evidence against an important role for the α2-receptor subtype in the adrenergic control of lipolysis

The binding characteristics of the β-adrenergic antagonist, [³H]dihydroalprenolol, to hamster white adipocyte membranes were studied. This binding occurred at two classes of sites, one having high affinity ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>d</mtext>}}\text{= 1.6±1.3}\text{nM}$) but low capacity ($\text{32±17}\text{fmol/mg}$ membrane protein) and one having low affinity but high binding capacity. While the binding at the high-affinity sites was competitively and stereoselectively displaced by both β-antagonists and β-agonists, competition at the low-affinity sites occurred only with β-antagonists and was non-stereoselective. Thus, the β-agonist (?)-isoproterenol was further used to define nonspecific binding. Under these conditions, saturation studies showed a single class of high-affinity ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>d</mtext>}}\text{= 1.6±0.5}\text{nM}$) binding sites with a binding capacity of $\text{53 ± 13}\text{fmol/mg}$ membrane protein (corresponding to $\text{4000 ± 980}$ sites per cell), and independent kinetic analysis provided a $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>d</mtext>}}$ value of 1.9 nM. Competition experiments showed that these binding sites had the characteristics of a $\text{β}{}_1\text{-}\text{receptor}$ subtype, yielding $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>d</mtext>}}$ values in good agreement with the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>act</mtext>}}$ and the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ values found for agonist-stimulation and for antagonist-inhibition of adenylate cyclase in membranes and of cyclic AMP accumulation and lipolysis in intact cells. Furthermore, the ability of β-agonists to compete with this binding was severely depressed by p[NH]ppG. These results thus support the contention that the specific [³H]dihydroalprenolol binding sites defined as the binding displaceable by (?)-isoproterenol represent the physiologically relevant β-adrenergic receptors of hamster white adipocytes. Finally, studies of the lipolytic response of these cells to (?)-norepinephrine showed that the inhibitory effect of the $\text{α}{}_2\text{-}\text{component}$ of this catecholamine was apparent only when the effects of endogenous adenosine were suppressed, a result which argues against an important regulatory role for the $\text{α}{}_2\text{-}\text{receptors}$ in the adrenergic control of lipolysis in hamster white adipocytes.     

Effect of para-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid and temperature on cell water osmotic permeability of proximal straight tubules

The apparent Arrhenius energy of activation ($\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}$) of the water osmotic permeability ($\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>os</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}$) of the basolateral plasma cell membrane of isolated rabbit proximal straight tubules has been measured under control conditions and after addition of 2.5 mM of the sulfhydryl reagent, para-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid (pCMBS), of mersalyl and of dithiothreitol. $\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}$ (kcal/mol) was $\text{3.2 ± 1.4}$ (controls) and $\text{9.2 ± 2.2}$ (pCMBS), while $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>os</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}$ decreased with pCMBS to $\text{0.26 ± 0.17}$ of its control value. Mersalyl also decreased $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>os</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}$ both in vitro and in vivo (using therapeutical doses). These actions of pCMBS and mersalyl were quickly reverted with 5 mM dithiothreitol and prevented by 0.1 M thiourea. $\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}$ for free viscous flow is 4.2 and greater than 10 for non-pore-containing lipid membranes. By analogy with these membranes and with red blood cells, where similar effects of pCMBS on $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>os</mtext>}}$ are observed, it is concluded that cell membranes of the proximal tubule are pierced by aqueous pores which are reversibly shut by pCMBS. Part of the action of mercurial diuretics can be explained by their action on $\text{P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>os</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}$.     

The pH dependence of peptide hydrolysis by nitrocarboxypeptidase A

Hydrolysis of benzyloxycarbonyl-GlyGlyPhe by nitro(Tyr 248)carboxypeptidase A over the pH range 4.88–8.04 has been examined. The nitroenzyme retains appreciable activity near pH 6.5, and the limiting value of K_m is scarcely affected. The peptidase activity has a pH dependence characterized by the following parameters: pK_E1 of 6.37 ± 0.19 and pK_E2 of 6.60 ± 0.17 in $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>cat</mtext>}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{m}}$, and apparent pK of 5.59 ± 0.06 in K_cat. A spectroscopic pK of 6.75 ± 0.01, attributable to the nitro-Tyr 248 residue, has been determined. This correlates with the base-limb pK_E2 in the $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>cat</mtext>}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{m}}$ profile, which appears to be shifted from a higher value, pK_E2 of 9.0, for the native enzyme. The single (acid-limb) pK which characterizes the k_cat profile of the native enzyme is also found to be perturbed to a lesser extent by nitration. A kinetically competent reverse protonation mechanism, based on chemical modification and crystallographic evidence for the enzyme, is described.     

Characterization of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in a membranous preparation from the optic ganglion of the squid (Loligo pealei)

(1) A membrane fraction enriched in $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ (EC 3.6.1.3) was obtained from optic ganglia of the squid (Loligo pealei) by density gradient fractionation of membranes followed by treatment with either SDS or Brij-58. The resulting membrane had an $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ specific activity of approx. 2 units/mg and was $\text{>95\%}$ ouabain-sensitive. (2) The $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ had a $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ for ATP of $\text{0.42 ± 0.04}\text{mM}$ and a pH optimum of 7.0. It was inhibited by ouabain with a $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ of $\text{0.32 ± 0.04 μ}\text{M}$. (3) Optimum monovalent cation concentrations were: 240 mM NaCl, 60 mM KCl, tested with $\text{NaCl + KCl}\text{= 300}\text{mM}$. (4) The Mg²⁺ dependence of hydrolysis varied with the absolute ATP concentration. At 3 mM ATP, the$\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ for Mg²⁺ was $\text{0.86 ± 0.10}\text{mM}$, and at 6 mM ATP, the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ was $\text{1.86 ± 0.44}\text{mM}$. High levels of Mg²⁺ caused inhibition of hydrolysis. (5) The interactions of Na⁺ and K⁺ were examined over a range of conditions. K⁺ levels caused modulations in the Na⁺ dependence in the range of 1–150 mM. (6) The $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ prepared from squid optic ganglion displays properties similar to those of the sodium pump in injected nerves.     

Sucrose transport by Streptococcus mutans. Evidence for multiple transport systems

The transport of sucrose by selected mutant and wild-type cells of Streptococcus mutans was studied using washed cocci harvested at appropriate phases of growth, incubated in the presence of fluoride and appropriately labelled substrates. The rapid sucrose uptake observed cannot be ascribed to possible extracellular formation of hexoses from sucrose and their subsequent transport, formation of intracellular glycogen-like polysaccharide, or binding of sucrose or extracellular glucans to the cocci. Rather, there are at least three discrete transport systems for sucrose, two of which are $\text{phospho}\text{enol}\text{pyruvate-dependent}$ phosphotransferases with relatively low apparent $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ values and the other a non-phosphotransferase (non-PTS) third transport system (termed TTS) with a relatively high apparent $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$. For strain 6715-13 mutant 33, the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ values are 6.25·10^?5 M, 2.4·10^?4 M, and 3.0·10^?3 M, respectively; for strain NCTC-10449, the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ values are 7.1·10^?5 M, 2.5·10^?4 M and 3.3·10^?3 M, respectively. The two lower $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ systems could not be demonstrated in mid-log phase glucose-adapted cocci, a condition known to repress sucrose-specific phosphotransferase activity, but under these conditions the highest $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ system persists. Also, a mutant devoid of sucrose-specific phosphotransferase activity fails to evidence the two high affinity (low apparent $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$) systems, but still has the lowest affinity (highest $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$) system. There was essentially no uptake at 4°C indicating these processes are energy dependent. The third transport system, whose nature is unknown, appears to function under conditions of sucrose abundance and rapid growth which are known to repress $\text{phospho}\text{enol}\text{pyruvate-dependent}$ sucrose-specific phosphotransferase activity in S. mutans. These multiple transport systems seem well-adapted to S. mutans which is faced with fluctuating supplies of sucrose in its natural habitat on the surfaces of teeth.     

Opposite modulation by uncoupling and electron transport limitation of the Kmapp of ADP for photophosphorylation

The $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{m}}{}^{\mathrm{(app)}}$ of ADP for photophosphorylation in lettuce chloroplasts was measured both at various light intensities and in the presence of various uncoupler (nigericin + K⁺) concentrations. Lowering the light intensity results in both, a decrease in the rate of phosphorylation and a several fold $\text{decrease}$ in the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{m}}{}^{\mathrm{(app)}}$ of ADP for the reaction. However, when increasing concentrations of the uncoupler nigericin + K⁺ are employed, the rate of photophosphorylation is decreased but a several-fold $\text{increase}$ in the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{m}}{}^{\mathrm{(app)}}$ of ADP for the reaction is observed. The results are discussed in terms of the chemiosmotic hypothesis. It is suggested that these effects might indicate the existence of a mechanism controlling the rate of ATP formation which is different than the formation of the electrochemical gradient.     

Bovine fibrinogens: Reversible polymer formation

Reversible flbrinogen polymer formation was examined at pH 6.6 and Γ/2 0.3. The equilibrium fraction of fibrinogen present as polymer, (P_mf)_e, was determined by gel filtration for fibrinogen concentrations, F_O, from 48 to 166 μm. Using F_O in molarity, the experimental relation is ln [F_O(P_mf)_e] = 3.53 ln[F_O(1 ? (P_mf)_e)] + 23.73. This relation and attendant confidence limits are examined assuming, during filtration, that the original polymer population is either stable or selected polymer species dissociate to monomer. The possibility that all polymers are open is excluded since the calculated microscopic association constant would then increase with F_O. Acceptable models are based on the assumptions that polymers are open, with association constant K_a, until restricted by closure, with association constant K_r, at an integral degree of polymerization, n. Values are selected on the basis that interaction parameters are independent of F_O and that the required molar decrease in free energy is a minimum. Assuming polymer stability, the experimental relation at 273 °K gives $\text{n = 4,}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{a}}\text{= 1.2 m,}\text{and}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{a}}$ = 736 m^?1. Temperature dependence gives $\text{ΔH= ?16.9 kcal/mol}\text{and}\text{ΔS}{}^{\mathrm{O}}{}_{\mathrm{a}}$ = ?48.8 e.u. $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{a}}$ indicates a relation between changes in entropy. The probability is >0.90 that $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{a}}\text{? 56 m}$, which indicates a greater loss of degrees of freedom on closure than on association. Conclusions are not altered by the assumption that only the closed polymer species is stable. As ionic strength is decreased at pH 6.6, K_a increases. The clotting time of an otherwise constant system decreases as system P_mf is increased.     

Respiration-driven proton translocation with nitrite and nitrous oxide in Paracoccus denitrificans

(1) $\text{H}$⁺/electron acceptor ratios have been determined with the oxidant pulse method for cells of denitrifying Paracoccus denitrificans oxidizing endogenous substrates during reduction of O₂, NO^?₂ or N₂O. Under optimal H⁺-translocation conditions, the ratios $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{O}$, $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{N}{}_2\text{O}$, $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{NO}{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_2$ for reduction to N₂ and $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{NO}{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_2$ for reduction to N₂O were 6.0–6.3, 4.02, 5.79 and 3.37, respectively. (2) With ascorbate/N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine as exogenous substrate, addition of NO^?₂ or N₂O to an anaerobic cell suspension resulted in rapid alkalinization of the outer bulk medium. $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{N}{}_2\text{O}$, $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{NO}{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_2$ for reduction to N₂ and $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{NO}{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_2$ for reduction to N₂O were ?0.84, ?2.33 and ?1.90, respectively. (3) The $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{oxidant}$ ratios, mentioned in item 2, were not altered in the presence of $\text{valinomycin}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ and the triphenylmethylphosphonium cation. (4) A simplified scheme of electron transport to O₂, NO^?₂ and N₂O is presented which shows a periplasmic orientation of the nitrite reductase as well as the nitrous oxide reductase. Electrons destined for NO^?₂, N₂O or O₂ pass two H⁺-translocating sites. The $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{electron}$ acceptor ratios predicted by this scheme are in good agreement with the experimental values.     

Electrokinetic properties of (Na+, K+)-ATPase vesicles as studied by laser doppler spectroscopy

The technique of laser Doppler electrophoresis was applied for the study of the surface charge properties of (Na⁺,⁺)-ATPase containing microsomal vesicles derived from guinea-pig kidney. The influence of pH, the screening and binding of uni- and divalent cations and the binding of ATP show: (1) one net negative charge per protein unit with a $\text{p}\text{K = 3.9}$; (2) deviation from the Debye relation between surface potential and ionic strength for univalent cations, with no difference in the effect of Na⁺ and K⁺; (3) Mg²⁺ binds with an association constant of $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}\text{= 1.1 · 10}{}^2\text{M}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ while ATP binds with an apparent $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}\text{= 1.1 · 10}{}^4\text{M}{}^{\mathrm{?2}}$ for 1 mM Nacl, 0.2 mM KCI, 0.1 mM MgCl₂, 0.1 mM Tris-HCI (pH 7.3). The binding is weaker at higher Mg²⁺ concentrations. There is no ATP binding in the absence of Mg²⁺. In addition, the average vesicle size derived from the linewidth of the quasi-elastic light scattering spectrum is $\text{203.7 ± 15.2}\text{nm}$. In the presence of ATP a reduction in size is observed.     

Soluble and membrane-bound thiamine-binding proteins from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Previous communications from this laboratory have indicated that there exists a thiamine-binding protein in the soluble fraction of Saccharomyces cerevisiae which may be implicated to participate in the transport system of thiamine in vivo.In the present paper it is demonstrated that both activities of the soluble thiamine-binding protein and thiamine transport in S. cerevisiae are greatest in the early-log phase of the growth and decline sharply with cell growth. The soluble thiamine-binding protein isolated from yeast cells by conventional methods containing osmotic shock treatment appeared to be a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 140 000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The apparent $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>d</mtext>}}$ of the binding for thiamine was 29 nM which is about six fold lower than the apparent $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ (0.18 μM) of thiamine transport. The optimal pH for the binding was 5.5, and the binding was inhibited reversibly by 8 M urea but irreversibly by 8 M urea containing 1% 2-mercaptoethanol. Several thiamine derivatives and the analogs such as pyrithiamine and oxythiamine inhibited to similar extent both the binding of thiamine and transport in S. cerevisiae, whereas thiamine phosphates, 2-methyl-4-amino-5-hydroxymethylpyrimidine and $\text{O-}\text{benzoylthiamine}$ disulfide did not show similarities in the effect on the binding and transport in vivo. Furthermore, it was demonstrated by gel filtration of sonic extract from the cells that a thiamine transport mutant of S. cerevisiae (PT-R₂) contains the soluble binding protein in a comparable amounts to that in the parent strain, suggesting that another protein component is required for the actual translocation of thiamine in the yeast cell membrane. On the other hand, the membrane fraction prepared from S. cerevisiae showed a thiamine-binding activity with apparent $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>d</mtext>}}$ of 0.17μM at optimal pH 5.0 which is almost the same with the apparent $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ for the thiamine transport system. The membrane-bound thiamine-binding activity was not only repressible by exogenous thiamine in the growth medium, but as well as thiamine transport it was markedly inhibited by both pyrithiamine and $\text{O-}\text{benzoylthiamine}$ disulfide. In addition, it was found that membrane fraction prepared frtom PT-R₂ has the thiamine-binding activity of only 3% of that from the parent strain of S. cerevisiae.These results strongly suggest that membrane-bound thiamine-binding protein may be directly involved in the transport of thiamine in S. cerevisiae.     

New experimental approach to the estimation of rate of electron transfer from the primary to secondary acceptors in the photosynthetic electron transport chain of purple bacteria

A method for calculating the rate constant ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>A</mtext><mtext>1</mtext><mtext>A</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$) for the oxidation of the primary electron acceptor (A₁) by the secondary one (A₂) in the photosynthetic electron transport chain of purple bacteria is proposed.The method is based on the analysis of the dark recovery kinetics of reaction centre bacteriochlorophyll (P) following its oxidation by a short single laser pulse at a high oxidation-reduction potential of the medium. It is shown that in Ectothiorhodospira shaposhnikovii there is little difference in the value of $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>A</mtext><mtext>1</mtext><mtext>A</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ obtained by this method from that measured by the method of Parson ((1969) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 189, 384–396), namely: $\text{(4.5±1.4) · 10}{}^3\text{s}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ and $\text{(6.9±1.2) · 10}{}^3\text{s}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$, respectively.The proposed method has also been used for the estimation of the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>A</mtext><mtext>1</mtext><mtext>A</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ value in chromatophores of Rhodospirillum rubrum deprived of constitutive electron donors which are capable of reducing P⁺ at a rate exceeding this for the transfer of electron from A₁ to A₂. The method of Parson cannot be used in this case. The value of $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>A</mtext><mtext>1</mtext><mtext>A</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ has been found to be $\text{(2.7±0.8) · 10}{}^3\text{s}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$.The activation energies for the A₁ to A₂ electron transfer have also been determined. They are 12.4 kcal/mol and 9.9 kcal/mol for E. shaposhnikovii and R. rubrum, respectively.     

A sensitive method for the quantitative estimation of cytochromes a and a3 in tissues

A sensitive, low-temperature spectrophotometric method has been developed for independently estimating the quantities of cytochromes a and a₃ in a single, hemoglobin- and/or myoglobin-contaminated tissue homogenate or cell suspension. The concentration dependence of cytochrome absorption at liquid nitrogen temperature and the intensification of the cytochrome absorbance due to light scattering by the frozen hyperosmotic sucrose solution were used for detecting small amounts of cytochromes. The absorbance due to contaminated hemoglobin and myoglobin was cancelled in the difference spectrum by pretreating the sample with CO:O₂ (50:50) mixed gas. The resulting cytochrome $\text{a}{}_3{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{-}\text{CO}$ compound was irreversibly photolyzed at ?196°C, thus permitting us to obtain a fully reduced minus oxidized difference spectrum of the cytochromes. The method depends upon the non-Arrhenius behavior of carboxyhemoglobin and carboxymyoglobin which enables them to recombine with the CO molecule at the temperature of liquid nitrogen. Cytochrome a₃ does not exhibit this extreme non-Arrhenius behavior and hence does not recombine at the low temperature. Two to five picomoles of cytochromes could be estimated by this method.     

The concept of high- and low-affinity reactions in bovine cytochrome c oxidase steady-state kinetics

(1) Analysis of the data from steady-state kinetic studies shows that two reactions between cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase sufficed to describe the concave Eadie-Hofstee plots ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}\text{? 1 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?8}}\text{M}$ and $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}\text{? 2 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?5}}\text{M}$). It is not necessary to postulate a third reaction of $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}\text{? 10}{}^{\mathrm{?6}}\text{M}$. (2) Change of temperature, type of detergent and type of cytochrome c affected both reactions to the same extent. The presence of only a single catalytic cytochrome c interaction site on the oxidase could explain the kinetic data. (3) Our experiments support the notion that, at least under our conditions (pH 7.8, low-ionic strength), the dissociation of ferricytochrome c from cytochrome c oxidase is the rate-limiting step in the steady-state kinetics. (4) A series of models, proposed to describe the observed steady-state kinetics, is discussed.     

Dopamine-stimulated cyclic AMP and binding of [3H]dopamine in acini from dog pancreas

Dispersed acini from dog pancreas were used to examine the ability of dopamine to increase cyclic AMP cellular content and the binding of [³H]dopamine. Cyclic AMP accumulation caused by dopamine was detected at 1·10^?8 M and was half-maximal at $\text{7.9±3.4·10}{}^{\mathrm{?7}}\text{M}$. The increase at 1·10^?5 M, (7.5-fold) was equal to the half-maximal increase caused by secretin at 1·10^?9 M. Haloperidol, a dopaminergic receptor antagonist inhibited cyclic AMP accumulation caused by dopamine. The IC₅₀ value for haloperidol, calculated from the inhibition of cyclic AMP increase caused by 1·10^?5 M dopamine was $\text{2.3±0.9·10}{}^{\mathrm{?6}}\text{M}$. Haloperidol did not alter basal or secretin-stimulated cyclic AMP content. [³H]Dopamine binding was studied on the same batch of cells as cyclic AMP accumulation. At 37°C, it was rapid, reversible, saturable and stereospecific. The $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>d</mtext>}}$ value for high affinity binding sites was $\text{0.43±0.1·10}{}^{\mathrm{?7}}\text{M}$ and $\text{4.7±1.6·10}{}^{\mathrm{?7}}\text{M}$ for low affinity binding sites. The concentration of drugs necessary to inhibit specific binding of dopamine by 50% was $\text{1.2±0.4·10}{}^{\mathrm{/t-7}}\text{M}$ noradrenaline, 2·10^/t-7 M epinine, $\text{4.1±1.8·10}{}^{\mathrm{/t-6}}\text{M}$ fluphenazine, $\text{8.0±1.6·10}{}^{\mathrm{/t-6}}\text{M}$ haloperidol, $\text{4.2±1.2·10}{}^{\mathrm{?6}}\text{M}$cis-flupenthixol, $\text{2.7±0.4·10}{}^{\mathrm{?5}}\text{M}$trans-flupenthixol, $\text{>1·10}{}^{\mathrm{?5}}\text{M}$ apomorphine, sulpiride, naloxone and isoproterenol.     

Hymenolepis diminuta: The non-saturable component of methionine uptake

Lussier P. E., Podesta R. B. and Mettrick D. F. 1982. Hymenolepis diminuta: the non-saturable component of methionine uptake. International Journal for Parasitoiogy12: 265–270. The concentration dependence of in vitro unidirectional methionine influx by Hymenolepis diminuta was analysed by the relation: $\text{J =}\text{(J}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}\text{C}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>b</mtext>}}\text{)}\text{(K}{}_{\mathrm{t}}\text{+ C}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>b</mtext>}}\text{)}\text{+ K}{}_{\mathrm{d}}\text{(C}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>b</mtext>}}\text{)}$, where J_m is the maximum uptake rate, K_t is the the apparent affinity constant and C_b is the medium substrate concentration. The linear component was separated using an asymptotic least squares curve fitting procedure and the resulting constant, K_d, is thought to be an apparent permeability coefficient. K_d may be a reflection of a simple diffusive component, a second mediated component or a combination of a passive and mediated influx. The low Q₁₀ value of the K_d's for methionine uptake (Q₁₀ = 1.31) indicated that this component is probably a reflection of diffusion within the membrane. However, the decrease in the K_d component in the presence of leucine and glycine, implies that there is also a small, second, mediated component in addition to the diffusive component. K_d derived from the asymptotic portion of the concentration-flux relation was compared with the residual flux of methionine after near complete inhibition of the mediated component with leucine and glycine. The K_d component was found to be pH-sensitive, increasing as the pH decreased and was not affected by external sodium. Results indicate that the mediated component of methionine influx was accelerated by increasing external Na⁺ and H⁺ concentrations.     

Kinetic parameters for the binding of p-nitrophenyl alpha-d-mannopyranoside to concanavalin A.

Binding of the chromogenic ligand p-nitrophenyl α-d-mannopyranoside to concanavalin A was studied in a stopped-flow spectrometer. Formation of the protein-ligand complex could be represented as a simple one-step process. No kinetic evidence could be obtained for a ligand-induced change in the conformation of concanavalin A, although the existence of such a conformational change was not excluded. The entire change in absorbance produced on ligand binding occurred in the monophasic process monitored in the stopped-flow spectrometer. The value of the apparent second-order rate constant (k_a) for complex formation (k_a = 54,000 s^?1m^? at 25 °C, pH 5.0, Γ/2 0.5) was independent of the protein concentration when the protein was in the range of 233–831 μm in combining sites and in excess of the ligand. The apparent first-order rate constant (k_?a) for dissociation of the complex was obtained from the rate constant for the decomposition of the complex upon the addition of excess methyl α-d-mannopyranoside (k_?a = 6.2 s^?1 at 25 °C, pH 5.0, Γ/2 0.5). The ratio $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>?</mtext><mtext>a</mtext>}}$ (0.9 × 10₄m^?1) was in reasonable agreement with value of 1.1 ± 0.1 × 10⁴m^?1 determined for the equilibrium constant for complex formation by ultraviolet difference spectrometry. Plots of ln($\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}\text{T}$) and ln($\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}\text{T}$) vs $\text{1}\text{T}$ were linear (T is temperature) and were used to evaluate activation parameters. The enthalpies of activation for formation and dissociation of the complex are 9.5 ± 0.3 and 16.8 ± 0.2 kcal/mol, respectively. The unitary entropies of activation for formation and dissociation of the complex are 2.8 ± 1.1 and 1.3 ± 0.7 entropy units, respectively. These entropy changes are much less than those usually associated with substantial changes in the conformation of proteins.     

Imipramine binding site Temperature dependence of the binding of 3H-labeled imipramine and 3H-labeled paroxetine to human platelet membrane

The characteristics of ³H-labeled imipramine and ³H-labeled paroxetine binding to human platelet membranes were determined at various temperatures between 0 and 37°C. Both paroxetine and imipramine probably bind to the same molecular complex in the platelet membrane, but the binding characteristics are different for the two molecules. The dissociation constant ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>d</mtext>}}$) for imipramine increases from 0.3 nM to 7.0 nM with increasing incubation temperature in a continuous way, whereas $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>d</mtext>}}$ for paroxetine is almost constant, about 0.05 nM, between 0 and 19°C, and first begins to increase from 0.06 nM to 0.16 nM between 20 and 37°C. This suggests that the binding of paroxetine to the binding site induces a conformational change in the molecular complex of the binding site, whereas the binding of imipramine takes place without conformational changes in the binding site.     

Constraint on the substrate cytochrome P-450 binding reaction in bovine adrenocortical microsomes at physiological temperature

The addition of cholate to the microsomes at 37.5°C resulted in a striking decrease in the apparent substrate dissociation constant ($\text{K′}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>s</mtext>}}$) and its temperature dependency. The microsomal membranes depleted of 80% of the lipids preserved the temperature dependency of the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>s</mtext>}}$ and exhibited breaks in the Van't Hoff plot at the characteristic temperature of the lipids phase transition. The results indicate that the cytochrome $\text{P-450}$ is considerably restrained from expressing its maximum substrate binding potential at physiological temperature. In addition, the results indicate that the majority of the lipids apparently do not play a significant role in imposing constraint on the substratecytochrome $\text{P-450}$ binding reaction and in the temperature dependency of the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>s</mtext>}}$.