Effect of enzyme deficiencies on oxidative phosphorylation: from isolated mitochondria to intact tissues. Theoretical studies

The present article briefly summarizes the theoretical studies made by the authors and co-workers on the effect of inborn enzyme deficiencies on oxidative phosphorylation in intact tissues and on the genesis of mitochondrial diseases. The dynamic computer model of oxidative phosphorylation developed previously allowed to extrapolate experimental data (especially: threshold curves describing the dependence of oxygen consumption and ATP turnover on activities/concentrations of particular oxidative phosphorylation enzymes) obtained for isolated muscle mitochondria in state 3 at saturating oxygen concentrations to more physiological conditions prevailing in intact tissues. In particular, theoretical studies demonstrated that the threshold value of the relative activity/concentration of a given mitochondrial complex, below which a significant decrease in the respiration rate takes place, increases with an increase in energy demand. This fact was proposed as a possible explanation of the tissue specificity of mitochondrial diseases. Additionally, a decreased oxygen concentration was shown to increase the threshold value (and flux control coefficient) for cytochrome oxidase. We subsequently developed a model called binary mitochondria heteroplasmy, in which there are only two subpopulations of mitochondria: one wild-type and one containing only defected molecules of a given enzyme. In this model we show that a defect has a pronounced effect on oxidative phosphorylation, significantly increasing the threshold value. It was also proposed that a parallel activation in the ATP supply-demand system during an increased energy demand significantly lessens the effect of enzyme deficiencies on oxidative phosphorylation (decreases the threshold value). Finally, the necessity of substrate activation may lead to an instability in the system and to appearance of a second threshold, below which respiration suddenly drops to zero, which is equivalent to the energetic death of a cell.     

Theoretical studies on the control of the oxidative phosphorylation system.

The dynamic model developed in our previous publications [1,2] was used to calculate the flux control coefficients of oxidation, phosphorylation and proton leak fluxes for isolated mitochondria and for three modes of work of intact cells (hepatocytes). The results obtained were compared with experimental data, especially those measured in the frame of the 'top-down approach' of the metabolic control theory. A good agreement for mitochondria and for intact cells was found. The control of the oxygen consumption flux is shared between the ATP utilization (main controlling factor), substrate dehydrogenation, proton leak and, in some conditions, the ATP/ADP carrier. The phosphorylation subsystem seemed to be controlled mainly by itself, while the proton leak was influenced by all three subsystems. It was also shown that the large relative change in the enzyme activity during inhibitor titration of mitochondria or cells could lead to the overestimation of some flux control coefficient values in experimental measurements. An influence of some hormones (glucagon, vasopressin, adrenaline and others) on the mitochondrial respiration was also simulated. Our results suggest that these hormones stimulate the substrate dehydrogenation as well as the phosphorylation system (ATP usage and, possibly, the ATP/ADP carrier).     

Computer-aided studies on the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation during work transitions

In the present polemic paper the application of computer models of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in heart, skeletal muscle and liver to the studies on the regulation of the bioenergetic system in intact cells during work transitions is discussed. Two groups of such models are compared: group I models that involve only a direct activation of ATP usage by Ca²⁺, and group II models that assume a direct activation by some (probably) Ca²⁺-related mechanism of essentially all steps of the system. It is argued that group II models reproduce much better a broad range of variable values and system properties encountered in experimental studies. The consequences of the theoretical and experimental development of Metabolic Control Analysis, within the framework of which it has been shown that the control over the flux through the oxidative phosphorylation system is shared by essentially all components of this system, are analyzed. In particular, it is argued that in order to increase the flux very significantly, and at the same time to maintain relatively constant concentrations of such intermediate metabolites as ADP, ATP, P_i, PCr and NADH, it is necessary to activate directly many, if not all components of the system (the ‘multi-step parallel activation’ mechanism). Generally, it is suggested that this is not a particular form or complexity of computer models, but rather their agreement with a broad range of experimental data concerning ‘macroscopic’ system properties that really matters.The specificity of the regulation of the energetic system of pancreatic β-cells is discussed.     

High efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation in intact mitochondria

• 1.1. Factors affecting the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation in intact mitochondria were examined. P/O ratios in great excess of the theoretical values were observed under certain conditions with succinate or with glutamate. P/O ratios as high as 3.30 were observed with succinate, and 6.50 with glutamate.
• 2.2. The highest P/O ratios were seen in the first few minutes following addition of hexokinase (EC 2.7.1.1) as the rate of phosphate uptake decreased as a function of time, whereas the respiratory rate was approximately constant.
• 3.3. 50 μM dinitrophenol, 1 mM KCN, and anaerobiosis each completely suppressed phosphate esterfication.
• 4.4. In presence of 1.5 mM amytal P/O ratios exceeding 2 were found with succinate in short term experiments.
• 5.5. The ATP concentration and the presence of F⁻ significantly affected oxidative phosphorylation. The greatest P/O ratios were seen in presence of F⁻ and at high ATP concentrations. F⁻ affected P/O ratios by lessening the respiratory rate to a greater extent than the phosphate uptake. In the absence of F⁻ a rise in ATP concentration stimulated phosphate esterification without affecting oxygen uptake. The time dependence of oxidative phosphorylation was more pronounced in presence of F⁻.
• 6.6. The yield of oxidative phosphorylation was markedly dependent upon the activity of the phosphate acceptor system. P/O ratios exceeding 2 were obtained in the presence of succinate only with a high excess of hexokinase.

     

Regulation of the oxidative phosphorylation rate in the intact cell

The mechanisms that underlie the balance between the consumption and oxidative generation of ATP in the intact cell are not well-defined. Cytosolic inorganic phosphate (Pi) and ADP levels, the cytosolic ATP/ADP ratio, and the cytosolic phosphorylation potential (PP) have all been proposed as major regulatory variables, the latter as a component of a "near-equilibrium" thermodynamic regulatory scheme. Therefore, the potential regulatory roles of these variables in the intact cell were evaluated with 31P NMR and Langendorff perfused rat hearts; in this preparation, the tissue oxygen consumption rate (MVO2) can be varied over a wide range. When the exogenous carbon source was varied, none of the proposed regulatory parameters, i.e., the ATP/ADP ratio, PP, or cytosolic ADP level, were found to be uniquely related to MVO2. Rather, ADP levels at a given MVO2 decreased progressively for the exogenous carbon sources in the following order: glucose, glucose + insulin, palmitate + glucose, lactate, pyruvate + glucose, and octanoate + glucose. In the octanoate and pyruvate groups, MVO2(-1) was linearly dependent upon [ADP]-1 with apparent Km values being in the range previously observed in isolated mitochondria. A similar trend was observed in the MVO2-[Pi] relationship. The present findings suggest that exogenous carbon sources which effectuate deregulation of intramitochondrial NADH generation lower cytosolic ADP and Pi to levels which are limiting to the rate of oxidative phosphorylation. For other carbon sources, the processes controlling the rate of NADH generation also participate in determining the rate of oxidative ATP synthesis. However, this control must be exerted kinetically rather than through a near-equilibrium thermodynamic mechanism as indicated by the present data and prior kinetic studies of the ATP synthetic process in both isolated mitochondria and intact myocardium [La Noue, K. F., et al. (1986) Biochemistry 25, 7667-7675; Kingsley-Hickman, P., et al. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 7501-7510].     

Theoretical studies on control of oxidative phosphorylation in muscle mitochondria at different energy demands and oxygen concentrations

The mathematical dynamic model of oxidative phosphorylation in muscle mitochondria developed previously was used to calculate the flux control coefficients of particular steps of this process in isolated mitochondria at different amounts of hexokinase and oxygen concentrations. The pattern of control was completely different under different conditions. For normoxic concentration, the main controlling steps in state 4, state 3.5 and state 3 were proton leak, ATP usage (hexokinase) and complex III, respectively. The pattern of control in state 4 was not changed at hypoxic oxygen concentration, while in state 3.5 and state 3 much of the control was shifted from other steps to cytochrome oxidase. The implications of the theoretical results obtained for the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation in intact muscle are discussed.     

Regulation of the degree of coupling of oxidative phosphorylation in intact rat liver

The degree of coupling of oxidative phopshorylation q was determined in isolated perfused livers and in livers in vivo from fed and fasted rats. This determination of q was based on a simple nonequilibrium-thermodynamic representation of the major reactions of cytosolic adenine nucleotides, and made use of the measured cytosolic concentrations of adenine nucleotides, phosphate, and lactate/pyruvate ratios in extracted livers. The deviations of the measured values from the theoretically predicted ones at different mass action ratios of the adenylate kinase reaction showed that the basic assumptions of the model, including linearity between flows and thermodynamic forces, were fulfilled in intact liver within the experimental error. The degree of coupling was higher in livers from fed rats than in livers from fasted rats. In particular, the determined values of q were close to the theoretical degrees of coupling qecp and qecf which allow maximization of output power and output flow of oxidative phosphorylation for fed and fasted states, respectively, at optimal efficiency and minimal energy costs. This finding indicates that conductance matching between the load and phosphorylation is fulfilled in vivo. Moreover, it was found that fatty acids lower the degree of coupling in a concentration-dependent manner. This suggested that in livers in the fasted state q is decreased due to elevated fatty-acid levels. Thus fatty acids could act as metabolic regulators of the degree of coupling, enabling the cell to optimize efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation under different metabolic regimes.     

Hormonal regulation of Gi2 alpha-subunit phosphorylation in intact hepatocytes.

Hepatocytes contain the Gi2 and Gi3 forms of the 'Gi-family' of guanine-nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins), but not Gi1. The anti-peptide antisera AS7 and I3B were shown to immunoprecipitate Gi2 and Gi3 selectively, and the antiserum CS1 immunoprecipitated the stimulatory G-protein Gs. Treatment of intact, 32P-labelled hepatocytes with one of glucagon, TH-glucagon ([1-N-alpha-trinitrophenylhistidine, 12-homoarginine]glucagon), Arg-vasopressin, angiotensin-II, the phorbol ester TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate) and 8-bromo-cyclic AMP elicited a time- and dose-dependent increase in the labelling of the alpha-subunit of immunoprecipitated Gi2 which paralleled the loss of ability of low concentrations of the non-hydrolysable GTP analogue guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppG) to inhibit forskolin-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity ('Gi'-function). The immunoprecipitation of phosphorylated Gi-2 alpha-subunit by the antiserum AS7 was blocked in a dose-dependent fashion by the inclusion of the C-terminal decapeptide of transducin, but not that of Gz (a 'Gi-like' G-protein which lacks the C-terminal cysteine group which is ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin in other members of the Gi family), in the immunoprecipitation assay. No labelling of the alpha-subunits of either Gi3 or Gs was observed. alpha-Gi2 was labelled in the basal state and this did not change over 15 min in the absence of ligand addition. In contrast to the monophasic dose-effect curves seen with vasopressin, angiotensin and TPA, the dose-effect curve for the glucagon-mediated increase in the labelling of alpha-Gi2 was markedly biphasic where the loss of Gi function paralleled the high-affinity component of the labelling of alpha-Gi2 caused by glucagon. TPA, TH-glucagon, angiotensin-II and vasopressin achieved similar maximal increases in the labelling of alpha-Gi2, which was approximately half that found after treatment of hepatocytes with either high glucagon concentrations (1 microM) or 8-bromocyclic AMP. Analysis of the phosphoamino acid content of immunoprecipitated alpha-Gi2 showed the presence of phosphoserine only. Incubation of hepatocyte membranes with [gamma-32P]ATP and purified protein kinase C, but not protein kinase A, led to the incorporation of label into immunoprecipitated alpha-Gi2. This labelling was abolished if membranes were obtained from cells which had received prior treatment with ligands shown to cause the phosphorylation of alpha-Gi2 in intact cells. We suggest that there are two possible sites for the phosphorylation of alpha-Gi2; one for C-kinase and the other for an unidentified kinase whose action is triggered by A-kinase activation.     

Calcium regulation of oxidative phosphorylation in rat skeletal muscle mitochondria

Activation of oxidative phosphorylation by physiological levels of calcium in mitochondria from rat skeletal muscle was analysed using top-down elasticity and regulation analysis. Oxidative phosphorylation was conceptually divided into three subsystems (substrate oxidation, proton leak and phosphorylation) connected by the membrane potential or the protonmotive force. Calcium directly activated the phosphorylation subsystem and (with sub-saturating 2-oxoglutarate) the substrate oxidation subsystem but had no effect on the proton leak kinetics. The response of mitochondria respiring on 2-oxoglutarate at two physiological concentrations of free calcium was quantified using control and regulation analysis. The partial integrated response coefficients showed that direct stimulation of substrate oxidation contributed 86% of the effect of calcium on state 3 oxygen consumption, and direct activation of the phosphorylation reactions caused 37% of the increase in phosphorylation flux. Calcium directly activated phosphorylation more strongly than substrate oxidation (78% compared to 45%) to achieve homeostasis of mitochondrial membrane potential during large increases in flux.     

The effect of ATP on the malate regulation of oxidative phosphorylation in brain mitochondria

Malate was studied for its effect on the oxidative phosphorylation rate in the rat brain mitochondria in the presence and absence of ATP, succinate being used as a substrate of the respiration. It has been found that malate in the 0.05-0.4 mM concentration range increases the oxidation phosphorylation rate. ATP inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation intensifies the malate stimulation. The malate 0.8 mM concentration removes the inhibiting action of ATP. The regulatory effects of malate and ATP are supposed to be realized at the adenine nucleotide translocator step.     

Temporal regulation of connexin phosphorylation in embryonic and adult tissues

Gap junctions, composed of proteins from the connexin family, allow for intercellular communication between cells in tissues and are important in development, tissue/cellular homeostasis, and carcinogenesis. Genome databases indicate that there are at least 20 connexins in the mouse and human. Connexin phosphorylation has been implicated in connexin assembly into gap junctions, gap junction turnover, and cell signaling events that occur in response to tumor promoters and oncogenes. Connexin43 (Cx43), the most widely expressed and abundant gap junction protein, can be phosphorylated at several different serine and tyrosine residues. Here, we focus on the dynamic regulation of Cx43 phosphorylation in tissue and how these regulatory events are affected during development, wound healing, and carcinogenesis. The activation of several kinases, including protein kinase A, protein kinase C, p34cdc2/cyclin B kinase, casein kinase 1, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and pp60src kinase, can lead to the phosphorylation of different residues in the C-terminal region of Cx43. The use of antibodies specific for phosphorylation at defined residues has allowed the examination of specific phosphorylation events both in tissue culture and in vivo. These new antibody tools and those under development will allow us to correlate specific phosphorylation events with changes in connexin function.     

Protamine inhibition of the oxidative phosphorylation in intact, cytochrome c-depleted and restored mitochondria.

On the basis of polarographic data it is shown that protamine has a biphasic effect on the respiration of intact mitochondria. At lower protamine concentrations respiration is stimulated and this combined with a decrease of the respiratory control index; at higher ones respiration is inhibited and respiratory control is lost. In cytochrome c-depleted and restored mitochondria protamine effect on oxidative phosphorylation is only inhibitory. Increasing cytochrome c concentrations restore respiration in protamine-treated cytochrome c depleted mitochondria but not the respiratory control. Binding of cytochrome c to mitochondria is studied by determining from Scatchard plots the number of high affinity binding sites (n) and their stability constants (K). In absence of protamine in intact mitochondria n = 2.7 and K = 4.67-10(6) M-1; in cotochrome c depleted mitochondria n = 4.7 and K = 5.16-10(6) M-1. In both types of mitochondria protamine decreases significantly n as well as K. These data show that protamine may affect oxidative phosphorylation by causing desorption of cytochrome c from the inner mitochondrial membrane.     

Role of intramitochondrial pH in the energetics and regulation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.

The dependence of ATP synthesis coupled to electron transfer from 3-hydroxy-butyrate (3-OH-B) to cytochrome c on the intramitochondrial pH (pHi) was investigated. Suspensions of isolated rat liver mitochondria were incubated at constant extramitochondrial pH (pHe) with ATP, ADP, Pi, 3-OH-B, and acetoacetate (acac) (the last two were varied to maintain [3-OH-B]/[acac] constant), with or without sodium propionate to change the intramitochondrial pH. Measurements were made of the steady-state water volume of the mitochondrial matrix, transmembrane pH difference, level of cytochrome c reduction, concentration of metabolites and rate of oxygen consumption. For each experiment, conditions were used for which transmembrane pH was near maximal and minimal values and the measured extramitochondrial [ATP], [ADP], and [Pi] were used to calculate log[ATP]/[ADP][Pi]. When [3-OH-B]/[acac] and [cyt c2+]/[cyt c3+] were constant, and pHi was decreased from approx. 7.7 to 7.2, log [ATP]/[ADP][Pi] at high pHi was significantly (P less than 0.02) greater than at low pHi. The mean slope (delta log [ATP]/[ADP][Pi] divided by the change in pHi) was 1.08 +/- 0.15 (mean +/- S.E.). This agrees with the slope of 1.0 predicted if the energy available for ATP synthesis is dependent upon the pH at which 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase operates, that is, on the pH of the matrix space. The steady-state respiratory rate and reduction of cytochrome c were measured at different pHi and pHe values. Plots of respiratory rate vs.% cytochrome c reduction at different intra- and extramitochondrial pH values indicated that the respiratory rate is dependent upon pHi and not on pHe. This implies that the matrix space is the source of protons involved in the reduction of oxygen to water in coupled mitochondria.     

The role of adenine nucleotide translocator in the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation in heart mitochondria

The regulatory role of adenine nucleotide translocase in oxidative phosphorylation was determined by titration of respiration of isolated rabbit heart mitochondria with carboxyatractyloside in the creatine phosphokinase ADP-regenerating system, which is not rate-limiting. It was found that the respiration rate is not controlled by adenine nucleotide translocase in states 3 and 4. Within the physiological region of respiration (30-70% of the maximal rate), the control coefficient for ADP/ATP translocase is 0.62-0.75. Thus, translocase plays a key role in the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation.