Effects of quercetin and F1 inhibitor on mitochondrial ATPase and energy-linked reactions in submitochondrial particles

Quercetin (3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) shares certain properties with the mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor protein. At low concentrations it inhibits both soluble and particulate mitochondrial ATPase and has no effect on oxidative phosphorylation in submitochondrial particles. Unlike the mitochondrial inhibitor protein quercetin inhibits the ATP-dependent reduction of NAD⁺ by succinate in fully reconstituted submitochondrial particles. A comparison of various flavones indicates that the hydroxyl groups at the 3′ and perhaps 3 position are important for the inhibition of ATPase activity.     

Effect of anions on the ATPase activity of submitochondrial particles

The effects of anions on the ATPase activity of submitochondrial particles from mouse liver cells were investigated. Thiocyanite decreased the ATP hydrolysis, acting as a competitive inhibitor with respect to sulfite. All the anions tested changed the ATPase activity noncompetitively towards Mg-ATP. The hydrolysis of CTP, GTP, ITP and UTP was insensitive to sulfite and thiocyanate. In the presence of Mn2+, Ca2+, Co2+, Zn2+ and Ba2+ an anion-dependent hydrolysis of ATP took place. It was assumed that the anions control the rate of the limiting step of the ATPase reaction, since sulfite and thiocyanate change the activation energy of ATP hydrolysis. The data obtained are discussed in terms of a previously proposed mechanism of the anions effect on the activity of mitochondrial ATPase.     

Effect of pH on cytochromes b in ATP-Mg submitochondrial particles

Addition of ATP to anaerobic, succinate-reduced phosphorylating submitochondrial particles (ATP-Mg particles) causes reduction of cytochromes b absorbing at 558 and 566 nm in the pH range 5.5–9.0. The extent of the reduction of both cytochromes induced by ATP is maximal at pH 7.4–7.5. On the other hand, addition of ATP to anaerobic, NADH-reduced particles causes oxidation of b₅₆₂ at high pH, while it causes reduction of cytochromes absorbing at 558 and 566 nm at low pH. The optimal pH for the oxidation of cytochromes b is in the region 8.5–9.0. Partial reduction of the cytochromes absorbing at 558 and 566 nm can be brought about non-energetically by lowering the potential of the substrate redox couple or by making the reaction mixture alkaline. Addition of the electron-transfer mediator, phenazine methosulphate, to anaerobic, NADH-reduced particles causes complete reduction of cytochromes b absorbing at 558 and 566 nm in the pH range 5.5–9.0. The findings are interpreted in terms of a pH-induced removal of an accessibility barrier (structural or kinetic) that interferes with the redox equilibrium between NADH and cytochrome b.     

Energy-linked swelling of EDTA submitochondrial particles

The osmotic properties of EDTA submitochondrial particles have been studied by means of light-scattering measurements and radioisotopic determination of water distribution. It is shown that EDTA particles exhibit a respiration-linked swelling which: (i) requires oligomycin and NO₃^?; (ii) is promoted by nigericin and inhibited by valinomycin in the presence of K⁺ but not in the presence of Na⁺; and (iii) is reversed by FCCP. It is concluded that the energy-linked swelling of EDTA particles is caused by energy-linked influx of salts.     

The adenosine triphosphatase-inhibitor content of bovine heart submitochondrial particles. Influence of the inhibitor on adenosine triphosphate-dependent reactions.

1. The activity of the ATPase (adenosine triphosphatase) of phosphorylating particles prepared by sonication of bovine heart mitochondria in the presence of MgCl2 and ATP is influenced by the isolation method for the mitochondria used in the preparation of particles. Type-I particles, made from mitochondria isolated in a medium lacking succinate, have a lower ATPase activity than to Type-II particles, which are prepared from mitochondria isolated in a medium containing succinate. 2. Centrifugation under appropriate energized conditions increases the ATPase activity of Type-I particles almost to that of the Type-II particles. The ATPase activity of Type-II particles was only slightly stimulated by this procedure. These data are interpreted as indicating a higher content of the ATPase-inhibitor protein in the Type-I particles. 3. A comparison was made of the ATP-driven enhancement of 8-anilinonaphthalene-1-sulphonate fluorescence and the exchange of the endogenous tightly bound nucleotides of the ATPase in Type-I and Type-II particles. The effect of exogenous inhibitor protein on both these reactions was also studied. 4. The time-scale on which the inhibitor protein can exchange between ATPase molecules is discussed.