Dual Electron Microscopic Localization of Mitochondrial Creatine Kinase in Brain Mitochondria

Mitochondrial creatine kinase in brain mitochondria appears to be located at two different intramitochondrial sites. By using immunogold-labeling techniques, a peripheral immunoreactivity was localized between the two boundary membranes, while an additional, central immunoreactivity was found at the crista surface. The peripheral enzyme was accessible to the antibodies after treatment of the brain mitochondria with 100-300 μg digitonin/mg mitochondrial protein, which left 75% of the activity bound to the membranes. Electron microscopic analyses revealed that 43% of the labeled, peripheral creatine kinase was bound at those places where outer membrane vesicles remained attached to the inner envelope membrane, suggesting that the enzyme is in involved in contact formation between outer and inner mitochondrial membranes. Postembedding staining of mitochondria on thin sections of brain tissue or in the isolated state led to the observation of a second location of creatine kinase inside the mitochondria, along the cristae, which was not accessible to the antibodies in isolated, digitonin-treated mitochondria.     

Mitochondrial Creatine Kinase: Properties and Function

This review describes properties of mitochondrial creatine kinase from heart and skeletal muscle studied in the author's group at the Department of Biochemistry of Moscow State University. The results are compared to the data in the literature. The author's point of view on the physiological role of mitochondrial creatine kinase is presented.     

Kinetics of Chemical Modification of Arginine Residues in Mitochondrial Creatine Kinase from Bovine Heart: Evidence for Negative Cooperativity

The kinetics of chemical modification of arginine residues in mitochondrial creatine kinase (mit-CK) from beef heart by 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenylglyoxal (HNPG) have been studied with simultaneous registration of enzyme inactivation. Experiments showed that complete inactivation of mit-CK corresponded to modification of two arginine residues per mit-CK monomer. The data on the modification kinetics can be described by the sum of two exponential terms and suggest strong negative cooperativity in the binding of HNPG to arginine residues. The rate constants for the fast and slow phases of modification differ by a factor of about 50. The corresponding rate constants for inactivation differ by a factor of about 30. The rate constant for the slow stage of inactivation is twice as large as that for the rate constant for the slow stage of modification, i.e., the inactivation process is ahead of the modification process.     

Mitochondrial Creatine Kinase Binding to Phospholipid Monolayers Induces Cardiolipin Segregation

It is well established that the octameric mitochondrial form of creatine kinase (mtCK) binds to the outer face of the inner mitochondrial membrane mainly via electrostatic interactions with cardiolipin (CL). However, little is known about the consequences of these interactions on membrane and protein levels. Brewster angle microscopy investigations provide, for the first time to our knowledge, images indicating that mtCK binding induced cluster formation on CL monolayers. The thickness of the clusters (10-12 nm) corresponds to the theoretical height of the mtCK-CL complex. Protein insertion into a condensed CL film, together with monolayer stabilization after protein addition, was observed by means of differential capacity measurements. Polarization modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy showed that the mean orientation of α-helices within the protein shifted upon CL binding from 30° to 45° with respect to the interface plane, demonstrating protein domain movements. A comparison of data obtained with CL and phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine/CL (2:1:1) monolayers indicates that mtCK is able to selectively recruit CL molecules within the mixed monolayer, consolidating and changing the morphology of the interfacial film. Therefore, CL-rich domains induced by mtCK binding could modulate mitochondrial inner membrane morphology into a raft-like organization and influence essential steps of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.     

Inactivation of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase 2 by Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species

Reactive oxygen species are byproducts of mitochondrial respiration and thus potential regulators of mitochondrial function. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 2 (PDHK2) inhibits the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, thereby regulating entry of carbohydrates into the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Here we show that PDHK2 activity is inhibited by low levels of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) generated by the respiratory chain. This occurs via reversible oxidation of cysteine residues 45 and 392 on PDHK2 and results in increased pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity. H₂O₂ derives from superoxide (O₂^˙̄), and we show that conditions that inhibit PDHK2 also inactivate the TCA cycle enzyme, aconitase. These findings suggest that under conditions of high mitochondrial O₂^˙̄ production, such as may occur under nutrient excess and low ATP demand, the increase in O₂^˙̄ and H₂O₂ may provide feedback signals to modulate mitochondrial metabolism.     

Role of Amino Acid Residues on the GS Region of Stichopus Arginine Kinase and Danio Creatine Kinase

Stichopus arginine kinase (AK) is a unique enzyme in that it evolved not from the AK gene but from the creatine kinase (CK) gene: the entire amino acid sequence is homologous with other CKs apart from the guanidine specificity region (GS region), which is identical in structure to that of AK. Ten independent mutations were introduced around the GS region in Stichopus AK. When an insertion or deletion was introduced near the GS region, the Vmax of the mutant enzyme was dramatically decreased to less than 0.1% of the wild type, suggesting that the length of the GS region is crucial for the recognition of the guanidine substrate. Replacement of Phe63 and Leu65 to Gly in the Stichopus enzyme caused a remarkable increase in the Kmarg. This indicates that Phe63 and Leu65 are associated with the arginine substrate-binding affinity. The hydrogen bond formed between the Asp62 and Arg193 residues is thought to play a key role in stabilizing the closed substrate-bound structure of AK. Mutants that eliminated this hydrogen bond had a considerably decreased Vmax, accompanied by a threefold increase in Kmarg. It is noted that the value of the Kmarg of the mutants became very close to the Kdarg value of the wild type. Six independent mutations were introduced in the GS region of Danio M-CK. Almost equivalent values of Kmcr and Kdcr in all of the mutants indicated that a typical synergism was completely lost. The results suggested that the Ile69 to Gly mutant, displaying a high Kmcr and a low Vmax, plays an important role in creatine-binding. This is consistent with the observation that in the structure of Torpedo CK, Ile69 provides a hydrophobic pocket to optimize creatine-binding.     

人类线粒体肌酸激酶uMtCK的底物结合位点分析

研究人类线粒体肌酸激酶u Mt CK的结合位点,将其与底物肌酸和ATP结合有关的关键氨基酸进行突变,并对突变体进行酶动力学和圆二色谱数据分析,探讨这些关键氨基酸在底物识别和催化过程中的作用。结果显示,与野生酶相比,突变体Q313A和R336A的K_m~(Cr)分别提高了2.6和2.9倍,k_(cat)下降了19%和55%;同样地,与ATP结合相关的突变体R125A和R287A分别使得K_m~(ATP)升高了3.2和4.2,k_(cat)下降了72%和38%。以上结果表明突变体R125A、R287A、Q313A和R336A影响对底物的结合,同时也降低了酶促反应的速度。利用圆二色谱比较野生酶与不同突变体的二级结构并无明显变化,但进一步的结构模拟表明底物结合位点氨基酸在与底物之间的氢键对底物的识别和酶催化过程中发挥着重要作用。     

Oxidative Myocytes of Heart and Skeletal Muscle Express Abundant Sarcomeric Mitochondrial Creatine Kinase

Sarcomeric mitochondrial creatine kinase catalyzes the reversible transfer of a high energy phosphate between ATP and creatine. To study cellular distribution of the kinase, we performed immunocytochemical studies using a peptide antiserum specific for the kinase protein. Our results demonstrated that the sarcomeric mitochondrial creatine kinase gene is abundantly expressed in heart and skeletal muscle, with no protein detected in other tissues examined, including brain, lung, liver, spleen, kidney, bladder, testis, stomach, intestine, and colon. RNA blot study showed that there is no detectable expression of the kinase mRNA in the thymus gland. In heart and skeletal muscle, the kinase protein is expressed in atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes and a subpopulation of skeletal myofibres. In skeletal muscle, fast myosin heavy chain co-localization studies demonstrated that the sarcomeric mitochondrial creatine kinase is highly expressed in type 1, slow-oxidative and type 2A, fast-oxidative-glycolytic myofibres. We conclude that the kinase gene is abundantly expressed in oxidative myocytes of heart and skeletal muscle and may contribute to oxidative capacity of these cells.     

Ethylmalonic Acid Inhibits Mitochondrial Creatine Kinase Activity from Cerebral Cortex of Young Rats in Vitro

Short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (SCAD) deficiency is an inherited metabolic disorder biochemically characterized by tissue accumulation of predominantly ethylmalonic acid (EMA) and clinically by neurological dysfunction. In the present study we investigated the in vitro effects of EMA on the activity of the mitochondrial (Mi-CK) and cytosolic (Cy-CK) creatine kinase isoforms from cerebral cortex, skeletal muscle, and cardiac muscle of young rats. CK activities were measured in the mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions prepared from whole-tissue homogenates of 30-day-old Wistar rats. The acid was added to the incubation medium at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 mM. EMA had no effect on Cy-CK activity, but significantly inhibited the activity of Mi-CK at 1.0 mM and higher concentrations in the brain. In contrast, both Mi-CK and Cy-CK from skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle were not affected by the metabolite. We also evaluated the effect of the antioxidants glutathione (GSH), ascorbic acid, and a-tocopherol and the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME on the inhibitory action of EMA on cerebral cortex Mi-CK activity. We observed that the drugs did not modify Mi-CK activity per se, but GSH and ascorbic acid prevented the inhibitory effect of EMA when co-incubated with the acid. In contrast, L-NAME and -tocopherol could not revert the inhibition provoked by EMA on Mi-CK activity. Considering the importance of CK for brain energy homeostasis, it is proposed that the inhibition of Mi-CK activity may be associated to the neurological symptoms characteristic of SCAD deficiency.     

聚焦色谱法测定肌型肌酸激酶亚型

报道了测定CK-MM亚型的聚焦色谱法,此法简单,快速,结果可靠,线性范围宽,最低检测限（8U／L）较正常参考值低,比国外报道的类似方法高6倍以上,分离度亦有改进.测定了20例健康人血清亚型分布,与文献报道结果相近.该法自动化程度高,已在急性心梗的诊断中实际应用.     

Mitochondrial and Nucleolar Localization of Cysteine Desulfurase Nfs and the Scaffold Protein Isu in Trypanosoma brucei

Trypanosoma brucei has a complex life cycle during which its single mitochondrion is subjected to major metabolic and morphological changes. While the procyclic stage (PS) of the insect vector contains a large and reticulated mitochondrion, its counterpart in the bloodstream stage (BS) parasitizing mammals is highly reduced and seems to be devoid of most functions. We show here that key Fe-S cluster assembly proteins are still present and active in this organelle and that produced clusters are incorporated into overexpressed enzymes. Importantly, the cysteine desulfurase Nfs, equipped with the nuclear localization signal, was detected in the nucleolus of both T. brucei life stages. The scaffold protein Isu, an interacting partner of Nfs, was also found to have a dual localization in the mitochondrion and the nucleolus, while frataxin and both ferredoxins are confined to the mitochondrion. Moreover, upon depletion of Isu, cytosolic tRNA thiolation dropped in the PS but not BS parasites.     

Structure of the Transmembrane Cysteine Residues in Phospholamban

Phospholamban, a 52-residue membrane protein, associates to form a pentameric complex of five long α-helices traversing the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane of cardiac muscle cells. The transmembrane domain of the protein is largely hydrophobic, with only three cysteine residues having polar side chains, yet it functions as a Ca²⁺-selective ion channel. In this report, infrared spectroscopy is used to probe the conformation of the three cysteine side chains and to establish whether the free S-H groups form intrahelical hydrogen bonds in the pentameric complex. Vibrational spectra of a transmembrane peptide were obtained which corresponded to the transmembrane domain of wild-type phospholamban and three peptides each containing a cysteine ⇒ alanine substitution. The observed S-H frequencies argue that each of the sulfhydryl groups is hydrogen-bonded to an i-4 backbone carbonyl oxygen. Electrostatic calculations on a model of phospholamban based on molecular dynamics and mutagenesis studies, show that the sulfhydryl groups may significantly contribute to the electrostatic potential field of the protein. Received: 22 July 1996/Revised: 10 October 1996     

Inactivation of Rabbit Muscle Creatine Kinase by Hydrogen Peroxide

The effects of xanthine + xanthine oxidase-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) on rabbit muscle creatine kinase (CK) were studied. Xanthine (0.1 mM) + xanthine oxidase (30 mU/ml) inhibited activity of rabbit muscle CK (1.2mU/ml). Catalase (100/ml), but not SOD (100 U/ml), deferoxamine (100μM) or mannitol (20 mM), protected CK from inactivation; suggesting that H₂O₂ was responsible for inactivation. These results were different from previously reported findings on bovine heart CK that superoxide radicals inactivate the enzyme. Thus, enzymes with homologous structures may have different reactivities to different ROS. H₂O₂-induced inactivation of rabbit muscle CK was accompanied by a decrease in its thiol group content, whereas no significant changes in the protein structure were detected by SDS-PAGE or carbonyl content. These results suggest that oxidation of -SH groups by H₂O₂ seems to be a major mechanism of activation of rabbit muscle CK by xanthine + xanthine oxidase. Such inactivation of CK by H₂O₂ may be important in ROS-induced pathology.     

Key Role of Cysteine Residues in Catalysis and Subcellular Localization of Sulfur Oxygenase-Reductase of Acidianus tengchongensis

Analysis of known sulfur oxygenase-reductases (SORs) and the SOR-like sequences identified from public databases indicated that they all possess three cysteine residues within two conserved motifs (V-G-P-K-V-C³¹ and C¹⁰¹-X-X-C¹⁰⁴; numbering according to the Acidianus tengchongensis numbering system). The thio-modifying reagent N-ethylmaleimide and Zn²⁺ strongly inhibited the activities of the SORs of A. tengchongensis, suggesting that cysteine residues are important. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to construct four mutant SORs with cysteines replaced by serine or alanine. The purified mutant proteins were investigated in parallel with the wild-type SOR. Replacement of any cysteine reduced SOR activity by 98.4 to 100%, indicating that all the cysteine residues are crucial to SOR activities. Circular-dichroism and fluorescence spectrum analyses revealed that the wild-type and mutant SORs have similar structures and that none of them form any disulfide bond. Thus, it is proposed that three cysteine residues, C³¹ and C¹⁰¹-X-X-C¹⁰⁴, in the conserved domains constitute the putative binding and catalytic sites of SOR. Furthermore, enzymatic activity assays of the subcellular fractions and immune electron microscopy indicated that SOR is not only present in the cytoplasm but also associated with the cytoplasmic membrane of A. tengchongensis. The membrane-associated SOR activity was colocalized with the activities of sulfite:acceptor oxidoreductase and thiosulfate:acceptor oxidoreductase. We tentatively propose that these enzymes are located in close proximity on the membrane to catalyze sulfur oxidation in A. tengchongensis.     

Inactivation of Rabbit Muscle Creatine Kinase by Hydrogen Peroxide

The effects of xanthine + xanthine oxidase-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) on rabbit muscle creatine kinase (CK) were studied. Xanthine (0.1 mM) + xanthine oxidase (30 mU/ml) inhibited activity of rabbit muscle CK (1.2mU/ml). Catalase (100/ml), but not SOD (100 U/ml), deferoxamine (100μM) or mannitol (20 mM), protected CK from inactivation; suggesting that H₂O₂ was responsible for inactivation. These results were different from previously reported findings on bovine heart CK that superoxide radicals inactivate the enzyme. Thus, enzymes with homologous structures may have different reactivities to different ROS. H₂O₂-induced inactivation of rabbit muscle CK was accompanied by a decrease in its thiol group content, whereas no significant changes in the protein structure were detected by SDS-PAGE or carbonyl content. These results suggest that oxidation of -SH groups by H₂O₂ seems to be a major mechanism of activation of rabbit muscle CK by xanthine + xanthine oxidase. Such inactivation of CK by H₂O₂ may be important in ROS-induced pathology.     

A Quantitative Approach to Membrane Binding of Human Ubiquitous Mitochondrial Creatine Kinase Using Surface Plasmon Resonance

We have evaluated surface plasmon resonance with avidin-biotin immobilized liposomes tocharacterize membrane binding of ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase (uMtCK). Whilethe sarcomeric sMtCK isoform is well known to bind to negatively charged phospholipids,especially cardiolipin, this report provides the first experimental evidence on the membraneinteraction of an uMtCK isoform. Qualitative measurements showed that liposomes containing16% (w/w) cardiolipin bind octameric as well as dimeric human uMtCK and also cytochromec, but not bovine serum albumin. Quantitative parameters could be derived only for themembrane interaction of octameric human uMtCK using an improved analytical approach.Association and dissociation kinetics of octameric uMtCK fit well to a model for heterogeneousinteraction suggesting two independent binding sites. Rate constants of the two sites differedby one order of magnitude, while their affinity constants were both about 80–100 nM. Thedata obtained demonstrate that surface plasmon resonance with immobilized liposomes is asuitable approach to characterize the binding of peripheral proteins to a lipid bilayer and thatthis method yields consistent quantitative binding parameters.     

Regulation of Sodium-Calcium Exchanger Activity by Creatine Kinase under Energy-compromised Conditions

Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger (NCX) is one of the major mechanisms for removing Ca²⁺ from the cytosol especially in cardiac myocytes and neurons, where their physiological activities are triggered by an influx of Ca²⁺. NCX contains a large intracellular loop (NCXIL) that is responsible for regulating NCX activity. Recent evidence has shown that proteins, including kinases and phosphatases, associate with NCX1IL to form a NCX1 macromolecular complex. To search for the molecules that interact with NCX1IL and regulate NCX1 activity, we used the yeast two-hybrid method to screen a human heart cDNA library and found that the C-terminal region of sarcomeric mitochondrial creatine kinase (sMiCK) interacted with NCX1IL. Moreover, both sMiCK and the muscle-type creatine kinase (CKM) coimmunoprecipitated with NCX1 using lysates of cardiacmyocytes and HEK293T cells that transiently expressed NCX1 and various creatine kinases. Both sMiCK and CKM were able to produce a recovery in the decreased NCX1 activity that was lost under energy-compromised conditions. This regulation is mediated through a putative PKC phosphorylation site of sMiCK and CKM. The autophosphorylation and the catalytic activity of sMiCK and CKM are not required for their regulation of NCX1 activity. Our results suggest a novel mechanism for the regulation of NCX1 activity.     

Interpretation of Serum Creatine Kinase in Suspected Myocardial Infarction

Serum creatine kinase (CK) was measured in blood donors, patients admitted to hospital with suspected myocardial infarction, and healthy hospital personnel to investigate the normal range, the daily variation in healthy people, and the effect of intramuscular injections of pentazocine or diamorphine.There was considerable daily variation in the healthy controls, apparently related to exercise. In defining both the normal range and the significance of day-to-day increases in the serum CK account should be taken of this factor. An upper limit of normal of 210 IU/1. Should apply to previously ambulant patients and of 165 IU/1. to patients previously at rest. An increase greater than 85% in successive daily values is uncommon in health.Intramuscular injections of both pentazocine and diamorphine caused a significant rise in the serum CK in six out of 25 patients. The highest rise observed was from 64 IU/1. to 395 IU/1. Caution is therefore urged in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction from the serum CK values when these intramuscular injections have been given.     

Proline Reduces Creatine Kinase Activity in the Brain Cortex of Rats

Type II hyperprolinemia is an inherited disorder caused by a deficiency of ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxilic acid dehydrogenase, whose biochemical hallmark is proline accumulation in plasma and tissues. Although neurological symptoms occur in most patients, the neurotoxicity of proline is still controversial. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of acute and chronic administration of proline on creatine kinase activity of brain cortex of Wistar rats. Acute treatment was performed by subcutaneous administration of one injection of proline to 22-day-old rats. For chronic treatment, proline was administered twice a day from the 6th to the 21st postpartum day. The results showed that creatine kinase activity was significantly inhibited in the brain cortex of rats subjected to acute proline administration. In contrast, this activity was increased in animals subjected to chronic administration. We also measured the in vitro effect of proline on creatine kinase activity in cerebral cortex of 22-day-old nontreated rats. Proline significantly inhibited creatine kinase activity. Considering the importance of creatine kinase forthe maintenance of energy homeostasis in the brain, it is conceivable that an alteration of this enzyme activity in the brain may be one of the mechanisms by which proline might be neurotoxic.     

Recycling of the High Valence States of Heme Proteins by Cysteine Residues of Thimet-Oligopeptidase

The peptidolytic enzyme THIMET-oligopeptidase (TOP) is able to act as a reducing agent in the peroxidase cycle of myoglobin (Mb) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The TOP-promoted recycling of the high valence states of the peroxidases to the respective resting form was accompanied by a significant decrease in the thiol content of the peptidolytic enzyme. EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) analysis using DBNBS spin trapping revealed that TOP also prevented the formation of tryptophanyl radical in Mb challenged by H₂O₂. The oxidation of TOP thiol groups by peroxidases did not promote the inactivating oligomerization observed in the oxidation promoted by the enzyme aging. These findings are discussed towards a possible occurrence of these reactions in cells.