Localization at Complex I and Mechanism of the Higher Free Radical Production of Brain Nonsynaptic Mitochondria in the Short-Lived Rat Than in the Longevous Pigeon

Free radical production and leak of brain nonsynaptic mitochondria were higher with pyruvate/malate than with succinate in rats and pigeons. Rotenone, antimycin A, and myxothiazol maximally stimulated free radical production with pyruvate/malate but not with succinate. Simultaneous treatment with myxothiazol plus antimycin A did not decrease the stimulated rate of free radical production brought about independently by any of these two inhibitors with pyruvate/malate. Thenoyltrifluoroacetone did not increase free radical production with succinate. No free radical production was detected at Complex IV. Free radical production and leak with pyruvate/malate were higher in the rat (maximum longevity 4 years) than in the pigeon (maximum longevity 35 years). These differences between species disappeared in the presence of rotenone. The results localize the main free radical production site of nonsynaptic brain mitochondria at Complex I. They also suggest that the low free radical production of pigeon brain mitochondria is due to a low degree of reduction of Complex I in the steady state in this highly longevous species.     

Effect of Short-Term Caloric Restriction on H2O2 Production and Oxidative DNA Damage in Rat Liver Mitochondria and Location of the Free Radical Source

Oxygen free radicals (ROS) of mitochondrial origin seem to be involved in aging. Whereas in other tissues complexes I or III of the respiratory chain contain the ROS generators, in this study we find that rat liver mitochondria generate oxygen radicals at complexes I, II, and III. Short-term (6 weeks) caloric restriction significantly decreased H₂O₂ production in rat liver mitochondria. This decrease in ROS production was located at complex I because it occurred with complex I-linked substrates (pyruvate/malate), but did not reach statistical significance with the complex II-linked substrate succinate. The mechanism responsible for the lowered ROS production was not a decrease in oxygen consumption. Instead, the mitochondria of caloric-restricted animals released less ROS per unit electron flow. This was due to a decrease in the degree of reduction of the complex I generator. Furthermore, oxidative damage to mitochondrial and nuclear DNA was also decreased in the liver by short-term caloric restriction. The results agree with the idea that caloric restriction delays aging, at least in part, by decreasing the rate of mitochondrial ROS generation and thus the rate of attack to molecules, like DNA, highly relevant for the accumulation of age-dependent changes.     

Mitochondrial Oxygen Radical Generation and Leak: Sites of Production in States 4 and 3, Organ Specificity, and Relation to Aging and Longevity

Studies in heart and nonsynaptic brain mitochondria from two mammals and three birds showthat complex I generates oxygen radicals in heart and nonsynaptic brain mitochondria in States4 and 3, whereas complex III does it only in heart mitochondria and only in State 4. Theincrease in oxygen consumption during the State 4 to 3 transition is not accompanied by aproportional increase in oxygen radical generation. This will protect mitochondria and tissuesduring bursts of activity. Comparisons between young and old rodents do not show a consistentpattern of variation in mitochondrial oxygen radical production during aging. However, allthe interspecies comparisons performed to date between different mammals, and betweenmammals and birds, agree that animals with high maximum longevities have low rates ofmitochondrial oxygen radical production, irrespective of the value of their basal specificmetabolic rate. The sites and mechanisms allowing this, the recently described low degree ofmembrane fatty acid unsaturation of longevous animals, and their relation to longevity andaging are discussed.     

Studies on the Effects of Antioxidants and Inhibitors of Radical Generation on Free Radical Production in the Reperfused Rat Heart Using Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy

Reperfusion of the heart after a period of ischaemia can precipitate ventricular arrhythmias and lead to an exacerbation of tissue injury. Direct evidence to suggest the involvement of free radicals has been obtained using electron spin resonance (esr) spectroscopy and the spin trap N-tert. butyl-α-phenyl nitrone (PBN). In the present study, we have used esr spectroscopy and PBN to examine the individual effects of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase. allopurinol or desferal on radical production in the isolated. reperfused rat heart. A burst of radical production was observed in the control group during the first 5 minutes of reperfusion; the peak occurred during the first minute, when signal intensity had increased by almost 300%. but returned to the baseline by 15 minutes of reperfusion. The esr signals were consistent with the trapping of either alkoxyl or carbon-centered radicals (a_N = 13.6 and a_H = 1.56G). In the desferal-treated group, a burst of radical production was observed during the first five minutes of reperfusion; this was maximal during the second minute, when signal intensity had increased by almost 200%, but had returned to the baseline value by 30 minutes of reperfusion. In the SOD-treated group, a burst of radical production was observed during the first 10 minutes of reperfusion; signal intensity was maximal during the tenth minute of reperfusion, when signal intensity had increased by almost 200%. but had returned to the baseline value by 30 minutes of reperfusion. In the allopurinol- and catalase-treated groups, no significant burst of radical production could be detected. These data further support the concept that cytotoxic, oxygen-derived species are formed upon reperfusion and that hydrogen peroxide and/or hy-droxyl radicals, are likely to be involved.     

ECS1参与调节CO2诱导的拟南芥气孔关闭和H2O2积累

CO2浓度升高可以诱导植物叶片气孔关闭,提高植物对高浓度CO2的适应性.但植物如何感知CO2浓度变化并启动气孔关闭反应的分子机制至今仍不十分清楚.利用高通量、非侵入的远红外成像技术,建立了拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)气孔对CO2浓度变化反应相关的突变体筛选技术,筛选出对环境CO2浓度敏感的拟南芥突变体ecs1.遗传学分析表明,ecs1 为单基因隐性突变体,突变基因ECS1编码一个跨膜钙离子转运蛋白.与野生型拟南芥相比,360 μL·L-1CO2可引起ecs1突变体叶片温度上升和气孔关闭,ecs1突变体对900 μL·L-1CO2长时间处理具有较强的适应性.进一步的实验表明,360 μL·L-1CO2即可诱导ecs1突变体叶片积累较高浓度的H2O2,而900 μL·L-1CO2才能够诱导野生型拟南芥叶片积累H2O2.因此,ECS1可能参与调节高浓度CO2诱导的拟南芥气孔关闭和H2O2产生,H2O2可能作为第二信号分子介导CO2诱导拟南芥气孔关闭的反应.