Characterization of starch breakdown in the intact spinach chloroplast

Starch degradation with a rate of 1 to 2 microgram-atom carbon per milligram chlorophyll per hour was monitored in the isolated intact spinach (Spinacia oleracea) chloroplast which had been preloaded with ¹⁴C-starch photosynthetically from ¹⁴CO₂. Starch breakdown was dependent upon inorganic phosphate and the ¹⁴C-labeled intermediates formed were principally those of the Embden-Meyerhof pathway from glucose phosphate to glycerate 3-phosphate. In addition, isotope was found in ribose 5-phosphate and in maltose and glucose. The appearance of isotope in the intermediates of the Embden-Meyerhof pathway but not in the free sugars was dependent upon the inorganic phosphate concentration. Dithiothreitol shifted the flow of ¹⁴C from triose-phosphate to glycerate 3-phosphate. Iodoacetic acid inhibited starch breakdown and caused an accumulation of triose-phosphate. This inhibition of starch breakdown was overcome by ATP. The inhibitory effect of ionophore A 23187 on starch breakdown was reversed by the addition of magnesium ions. The formation of maltose but not glucose was impaired by the ionophore. The inhibition of starch breakdown by glycerate 3-phosphate was overcome by inorganic phosphate. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and ribose 5-phosphate did not affect the rate of polysaccharide metabolism but increased the flow of isotope into maltose. Starch breakdown was unaffected by the uncoupler (trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone), electron transport inhibitors (rotenone, cyanide, salicylhydroxamic acid), or anaerobiosis. Hexokinase and the dehydrogenases of glucose 6-phosphate and gluconate 6-phosphate were detected in the chloroplast preparations. It was concluded (a) that chloroplastic starch was degraded principally by the Embden-Meyerhof pathway and by a pathway involving amylolytic cleavage; (b) ATP required in the Embden-Meyerhof pathway is generated by substrate phosphorylation in the oxidation of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to glycerate 3-phosphate; and (c) the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway is the probable source of ribose 5-phosphate.     

Importance of the cytochrome pathway of mitochondrial electron transport over the alternative pathway during the Kok effect in leaf discs of pea (Pisum sativum)

The Kok effect refers to the progressive light-induced inhibition of dark respiration at low light intensities, which saturates around the light compensation point. This appears as a sudden break around the light compensation point in the plot of photosynthesis versus light intensity. The magnitude of the break can be considered as a measure of the Kok effect. In the present work, the importance of different components of dark respiration during the Kok effect was investigated by using low concentrations of mitochondrial inhibitors in leaf discs of pea ( Pisum sativum L. cv. Azad P1). The effects of glucose (stimulates respiration) and 0.8 M sorbitol (imposes osmotic stress and inhibits photosynthesis) were also studied for comparison. The magnitude of the break decreased significantly in the presence of antimycin A or oligomycin (inhibitors of cytochrome pathway of mitochondrial electron transport and ATP synthase, respectively). In contrast, there was no significant change with salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM; an inhibitor of alternative pathway of mitochondrial electron transport). The magnitude of the break increased significantly with glucose, and decreased on exposure to osmotic stress. Our results suggest that the Kok effect (inhibition of dark respiration in light) is modulated by inhibitors of cytochrome pathway and ATP synthesis, but not that of the alternative pathway.     

Remote control of photosynthetic genes by the mitochondrial respiratory chain

In this paper, we study whether mitochondrial respiration has an impact on the biogenesis of photosynthetic apparatus in the unicellular alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. When respiration was activated by acetate in the dark, mRNAs of nuclear-encoded photosynthetic genes were induced. This induction did not occur in the cells treated with respiration inhibitors or in respiration mutants. An uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation did not inhibit this mRNA induction; rather, it enhanced it in response to the increase in respiratory electron transport (RET). Plant and algal mitochondria have two RET pathways: the cytochrome pathway and the alternative pathway. Inhibitors of the former pathway inhibited mRNA induction, but inhibitors of the latter enhanced it. Taken together, these indicate that photosynthetic gene mRNAs are induced in response to activation of the cytochrome pathway. This RET-responsive induction is analogous to the photosynthetic electron transport (PET)-responsive induction of photosynthetic gene mRNAs (Matsuo and Obokata, Plant Cell Physiol. 43, 1189). PET-responsive induction occurred in photo-autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions, while RET-responsive induction occurred in mixotrophic and dark heterotrophic conditions. These results indicate that the regulatory system of photosynthetic genes changes between chloroplastic PET-dependent type and mitochondrial RET-dependent type in response to shifts in the dominant energy source between photosynthesis and respiration.     

Light modulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase: partial characterization of the light inactivation system and its effects on the properties of the chloroplastic and cytoplasmic forms of the enzyme

Light inactivation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase within the pea (Pisum sativum L.) leaf chloroplast has a narrow pH optimum between 7.2 and 7.4 and is NADP-sensitive. The pH optimum for dark activation is slightly lower. Inactivation apparently results in a simple decrease in maximal velocity of the chloroplastic and cytoplasmic forms of the enzyme with no concomitant change in pH optimum or K_m (glucose 6-phosphate).     

Insulin resistance and the mitochondrial link. Lessons from cultured human myotubes

In order to better understand the impact of reduced mitochondrial function for the development of insulin resistance and cellular metabolism, human myotubes were established from lean, obese, and T2D subjects and exposed to mitochondrial inhibitors, either affecting the electron transport chain (Antimycin A), the ATP synthase (oligomycin) or respiratory uncoupling (2,4-dinitrophenol). Direct inhibition of the electron transport chain or the ATP synthase was followed by increased glucose uptake and lactate production, reduced glycogen synthesis, reduced lipid and glucose oxidation and unchanged lipid uptake. The metabolic phenotype during respiratory uncoupling resembled the above picture, except for an increase in glucose and palmitate oxidation. Antimycin A and oligomycin treatment induced insulin resistance at the level of glucose and palmitate uptake in all three study groups while, at the level of glycogen synthesis, insulin resistance was only seen in lean myotubes. Primary insulin resistance in diabetic myotubes was significantly worsened at the level of glucose and lipid uptake. The present study is the first convincing data linking functional mitochondrial impairment per se and insulin resistance. Taken together functional mitochondrial impairment could be part of the pathophysiology of insulin resistance in vivo.     

Regulation of the cytosolic adenylate ratio as determined by rapid fractionation of mesophyll protoplasts of oat

Adenylate levels in chloroplasts, mitochondria and the cytosol of oat mesophyll protoplasts were determined under light and dark conditions, in the absence and presence of plasmalemma-permeable inhibitors of electron transfer and uncouplers of phosphorylation. This was achieved using a microgradient technique which allowed an integrated homogenization and fractionation of protoplasts within 60 s (Hampp et al. 1982, Plant Physiol. 69, 448–455), under conditions which quench bulk activities of metabolic interconversion in less than 2 s. In illuminated controls, ATP/ADP ratios were found to be 2.1 in chloroplasts, about unity in mitochondria, and 11 in the cytosol; whereas, in the dark, this ratio only showed a large drop in chloroplasts (0.4). None of the compounds used [carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxy-phenylhydrazone (FCCP), antimycin A, dibromothymoquinone (DBMIB), dichlorophenyldi-methylurea (DCMU), or salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM)] affected the stroma adenylate ratio in the dark. Under illumination, however, the ATP/ADP ratios were partly reduced in the presence of antimycin (inhibitor of cyclic photophosphorylation) and of DCMU (inhibitor of linear electron flow), while in the presence of DBMIB, DCMU+ antimycin (inhibition of both cyclic and linear electron flow), and CCCP (uncoupling) the ratio obtained was the same as that occurring in the dark. In contrast, mitochondrial adenylate levels did not exhibit large variations under the various treatments. The cytosolic ATP/ADP ratio, however, showed dramatic changes: in darkened protoplasts, cytosolic values dropped to 0.2 and 0.1 in the presence of uncouplers and antimycin, respectively, while SHAM did not induce any significant alteration. In the light, a similar pronounced decrease in ATP levels was observed only after the application of uncouplers or inhibitors of both mitochondrial and photosynthetic electron transport, whereas selective inhibition of the latter was largely ineffective in reducing the cytosolic ATP/ADP ratio. Thus, the results show that the antimycin-sensitive electron transport is, potentially, equally active in light and darkness. In addition, they indicate that antimycin-insensitive electron transport in mitochondria (alternative pathway) does not significantly contribute to the cytosolic energy state.Abbreviations CCCP carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone - DBMIB dibromothymoquinone (2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropy-p-benzoquinone) - DCMU dichlorophenyldimethylurea - FCCP carbonylcyanide-p-trifluoromethoxy-phenylhydrazone - SHAM sancylhydroxamic acid     

A Refined Analysis of Superoxide Production by Mitochondrial sn-Glycerol 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase

The oxidation of sn-glycerol 3-phosphate by mitochondrial sn-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (mGPDH) is a major pathway for transfer of cytosolic reducing equivalents to the mitochondrial electron transport chain. It is known to generate H₂O₂ at a range of rates and from multiple sites within the chain. The rates and sites depend upon tissue source, concentrations of glycerol 3-phosphate and calcium, and the presence of different electron transport chain inhibitors. We report a detailed examination of H₂O₂ production during glycerol 3-phosphate oxidation by skeletal muscle, brown fat, brain, and heart mitochondria with an emphasis on conditions under which mGPDH itself is the source of superoxide and H₂O₂. Importantly, we demonstrate that a substantial portion of H₂O₂ production commonly attributed to mGPDH originates instead from electron flow through the ubiquinone pool into complex II. When complex II is inhibited and mGPDH is the sole superoxide producer, the rate of superoxide production depends on the concentrations of glycerol 3-phosphate and calcium and correlates positively with the predicted reduction state of the ubiquinone pool. mGPDH-specific superoxide production plateaus at a rate comparable with the other major sites of superoxide production in mitochondria, the superoxide-producing center shows no sign of being overreducible, and the maximum superoxide production rate correlates with mGPDH activity in four different tissues. mGPDH produces superoxide approximately equally toward each side of the mitochondrial inner membrane, suggesting that the Q-binding pocket of mGPDH is the major site of superoxide generation. These results clarify the maximum rate and mechanism of superoxide production by mGPDH.     

Light Modulation of Enzyme Activity in Chloroplasts: Generation of Membrane-bound Vicinal-Dithiol Groups by Photosynthetic Electron Transport

Inhibitor experiments indicate that photosynthetic electron transport is required for light activation of the pea (Pisum sativum) leaf chloroplast enzymes NADP-linked glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, NADP-linked malic dehydrogenase, ribulose-5-phosphate kinase and sedoheptulose-1,7-diphosphate phosphatase, and for inactivation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Modulation of the activity of the dehydrogenases and kinase apparently involves a component preceding ferredoxin in the photosynthetic electron transport chain; activation of the phosphatase involves an electron transport component at the level of ferredoxin. Modulation of enzyme activity can be obtained in a broken chloroplast system consisting of membrane fragments and stromal extract. The capacity for light regulation in this system is reduced or eliminated when the membrane fraction is exposed to arsenite in the light or to sulfite in light or dark. Light-generated vicinal-dithiols seem therefore to be involved in modulation of the activity of the enzymes included in this study.     

Glucose dehydrogenase (hexose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and the microsomal electron transport system. Evidence supporting their possible functional relationship.

The ability of a microsomal enzyme, glucose dehydrogenase (hexose 6-phosphate dehydrogenease) to supply NADPH to the microsomal electron transport system, was investigated. Microsomes could perform oxidative demethylation of aminopyrine using microsomal glucose dehydrogenase in situ as an NADPH generator. This demethylation reaction had apparent Km values of 2.61 X 10(-5) M for NADP+, 4.93 X 10(-5) m for glucose 6-phosphate, and 2.14 X 10(-4) m for 2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate, a synthetic substrate for glucose dehydrogenase. Phenobarbital treatment enhanced this demethylation activity more markedly than glucose dehydrogenase activity itself. Latent activity of glucose dehydrogenase in intact microsomes could be detected by using inhibitors of microsomal electron transport, i.e. carbon monoxide and p-chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB), and under anaerobic conditions. These observations indicate that in microsomes the NADPH generated by glucose dehydrogenase is immediately oxidized by NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, and that glucose dehydrogenase may be functioning to supply NADPH.     

The functional compartmentation of mitochondrial hexokinase

These studies examined the functional relationship between rat hepatic mitochondria and associated hexokinase (ATP: d-hexose-6-phosphotransferase, 2.7.1.1) to determine whether the binding of hexokinase to mitochondria might provide a privileged interaction with sites of ATP production.Initial kinetic analysis followed the sequential flow of phosphate through ATP generated by the mitochondria into glucose-6-phosphate catalyzed by the bound hexokinase. Kinetics were compared with an identical bound hexokinase-mitochondrial system using externally supplied ATP. The hexokinase had lower apparent K_m values for ATP generated in the mitochondria from supplied ADP than for ATP provided. Respiratory inhibitors blocked both the ADP- and ATP-mediated reactions. Tracer studies further documented that the mitochondrial hexokinase initially and preferentially utilized the internally generated nucleotide.These studies demonstrate that the active site of bound hexokinase is relatively inaccessible to extramitochondrial ATP. They provide evidence that bound hexokinase can sequentially accept mitochondrially generated ATP in a kinetically advantageous way. Finally, they support the assumption that mitochondrial binding of this acceptor enzyme may play a propitious role in cellular energy economy.     

Factors affecting the glucose 6-phosphate inhibition of hexokinase from cerebral cortex tissue of the guinea pig

1. The inhibition of hexokinase by glucose 6-phosphate has been investigated in crude homogenates of guinea-pig cerebral cortex by using a sensitive radio-chemical technique for the assay of hexokinase activity. 2. It was observed that 44% of cerebral-cortex hexokinase activity did not sediment with the microsomal or mitochondrial fractions (particulate fraction), and this is termed soluble hexokinase. The sensitivities of soluble and particulate hexokinase, and hexokinase in crude homogenates, to the inhibitory actions of glucose 6-phosphate were measured; 50% inhibition was produced by 0.023, 0.046 and 0.068mm-glucose 6-phosphate for soluble, particulate and crude homogenates respectively. 3. The optimum Mg(2+) concentration for the enzyme was about 10mm, and this appeared to be independent of the ATP concentration. In the presence of added glucose 6-phosphate, raising the Mg(2+) concentration to 5mm increased the activity of hexokinase, but above this concentration Mg(2+) potentiated the glucose 6-phosphate inhibition. When present at a concentration above 1mm, Ca(2+) ions inhibited the enzyme in the presence or absence of glucose 6-phosphate. 4. When the ATP/Mg(2+) ratio was 1.0 or below, variations in the ATP concentration had no effect on the glucose 6-phosphate inhibition; above this value ATP inhibited hexokinase in the presence of glucose 6-phosphate. ATP had an inhibitory effect on soluble hexokinase similar to that on a whole-homogenate hexokinase, so that the ATP inhibition could not be explained by a conversion of particulate into soluble hexokinase (which is more sensitive to inhibition by glucose 6-phosphate). It is concluded that ATP potentiates glucose 6-phosphate inhibition of cerebral-cortex hexokinase, whereas the ATP-Mg(2+) complex has no effect. Inorganic phosphate and l-alpha-glycerophosphate relieved glucose 6-phosphate inhibition of hexokinase; these effects could not be explained by changes in the concentration of glucose 6-phosphate during the assay. 5. The inhibition of hexokinase by ADP appeared to be independent of the glucose 6-phosphate effect and was not relieved by inorganic phosphate. 6. The physiological significance of the ATP, inorganic phosphate and alpha-glycerophosphate effects is discussed in relation to the control of glycolysis in cerebral-cortex tissue.     

Mitochondria from human term placenta. II. Characterization of respiratory pathways and coupling mechanisms

Pathways of electron transport utilized for respiration in human term placental mitochondrial preparations were differentiated and characterized through the use of classical respiratory chain inhibitors and multiple sources of reducing equivalents. Mechanisms of associated energy conservation and utilization were examined in these preparations with uncouplers and inhibitors of phosphorylation.

Inhibition by rotenone, antimycin A and cyanide established the classical electron transport chain as the major pathway of respiration with glutamate and succinate as substrates. Approximately 20% of glutamate-supported respiration was insensitive to inhibitors and may proceed by the cytochrome P-450 linked pathway of electron transport. Approximately 50% of ascorbate-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine supported respiration was insensitive to 10⁻³ M cyanide and must utilize an undefined by-pass of cytochrome oxidase. A rotenone- and antimycin-insensitive, exterior pathway for NADH oxidation was demonstrated which could be artificially linked by exogenous cytochrome c to the cytochrome oxidase region of the classical electron transport system. Glycerol 3-phosphate also supported oxidative phosphorylation yielding ADP/O ratios of 2.

Respiration of placental mitochondria was stimulated by 2,4- dinitrophenol and gramicidin. With succinate, dinitrophenol-stimulated respiration exceeded that obtain-red in the presence of ADP. Oligomycin and atractyloside prevented the stimulation of respiration by ADP. Thus, respiration appeared coupled through normal mechanisms to ATP formation and ion transport. A preferential coupling of respiration to the energy-utilizing processes of steroid hormone biosynthesis may exist.     

Photophosphorylation Associated with Photosystem II: III. Characterization of Uncoupling, Energy Transfer Inhibition, and Proton Uptake Reactions Associated with Photosystem II Cyclic Photophosphorylation

A number of uncouplers and energy transfer inhibitors suppress photosystem II cyclic photophosphorylation catalyzed by either a proton/electron or electron donor. Valinomycin and 2,4-dinitrophenol also inhibit photosystem II cyclic photophosphorylation, but these compounds appear to act as electron transport inhibitors rather than as uncouplers. Only when valinomycin, KCl, and 2,4-dinitrophenol were added simultaneously to phosphorylation reaction mixtures was substantial uncoupling observed. Photosystem II noncyclic and cyclic electron transport reactions generate positive absorbance changes at 518 nm. Uncoupling and energy transfer inhibition diminished the magnitude of these absorbance changes. Photosystem II cyclic electron transport catalyzed by either p-phenylenediamine or N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine stimulated proton uptake in KCN-Hg-NH₂OH-inhibited spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) chloroplasts. Illumination with 640 nm light produced an extent of proton uptake approximately 3-fold greater than did 700 nm illumination, indicating that photosystem II-catalyzed electron transport was responsible for proton uptake. Electron transport inhibitors, uncouplers, and energy transfer inhibitors produced inhibitions of photosystem II-dependent proton uptake consistent with the effects of these compounds on ATP synthesis by the photosystem II cycle. These results are interpreted as indicating that endogenous proton-translocating components of the thylakoid membrane participate in coupling of ATP synthesis to photosystem II cyclic electron transport.     

Isolation and characterization of a thylakoid membrane module showing partial light and dark reactions

A functional thylakoid membrane module of photosynthesis was isolated from cell free extracts of Anacystis nidulans by stepwise sequential ultracentrifugation. The thylakoid membrane fractions sedimenting at 40,000×g, followed by 90,000×g and finally at 150,000×g were collected. These fractions had all the components of electron transport chain, ATP synthase, phycobiliproteins, ferredoxin-NADP reductase but no ferredoxin. Five sequential enzymes of Calvin cycle viz phosphoriboisomerase, phosphoribulokinase, RuBP carboxylase, 3-PGA kinase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase were found to be associated with thylakoid membranes. Among the three different thylakoid fractions, the 150,000×g fraction showed highest activities of these enzymes and also higher rate of whole chain electron transport activity on chlorophyll basis. An important finding was that the 150,000×g fraction showed appreciably higher rate of R-5-P+ADP+Pi dependent CO₂ fixation in light compared to the other two fractions, indicating the efficiency of this fraction in utilizing ATP for Calvin cycle. This thylakoid membrane fraction represents a fully functional module exhibiting a synchronized system of light and dark reactions of photosynthesis. Most of the components of this module remained together even after sucrose density gradient centrifugation. This is the first report on the isolation of a photosynthetic module involving membrane and soluble proteins.     

Mitochondria from human term placenta. II. Characterization of respiratory pathways and coupling mechanisms.

Pathways of electron transport utilized for respiration in human term placental mitochondrial preparations were differentiated and characterized through the use of classical respiratory chain inhibitors and multiple sources of reducing equivalents. Mechanisms of associated energy conservation and utilization were examined in the preparations with uncouplers and inhibitors of phosphorylation. Inhibition by rotenone, antimycin A and cyanide established the classical electron transport chain as the major pathway of respiration with glutamate and succinate as substrates. Approximately 20% of glutamate-supported respiration was insensitive to inhibitors and may proceed by the cytochrome P-450 linked pathway of electron transport. Approximately 50% of ascorbate-N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine supported respiration was insensitive to 10-3 M cycanide and must utilize an undefined by-pass of cytochrome oxidase. A rotenone- and antimycin-insensitive, exterior pathway for NADH oxidation was demonstrated which could be artificially linked by exogenous cytochrome c to the cytochrome oxidase region of the classical electron transport system. Glycerol 3-phosphate also supported oxidative phosphorylation yielding ADP/O ratios of 2. Respiration of placental mitochondria was stimulated by 2,4-dinitrophenol and gramicidin. With succinate, dinitrophenol-stimulated respiration exceeded that obtained in the presence of ADP. Oligomycin and atractyloside prevented the stimulation of respiration by ADP. Thus, respiration appeared coupled through normal mechanisms to ATP formation and ion transport. A preferential coupling of respiration to the energy-utilizing processes of steroid hormone biosynthesis may exist.     

Functioning of mitochondria-bound hexokinase in rat brain in accordance with generation of ATP inside the organelle.

The function of mitochondria-bound hexokinase, the enzymatic form peculiar to the brain, in utilization of ATP generated inside the organelles, was examined by incubating rat brain mitochondrial fraction with [14C]glucose under various conditions. Addition of succinate and ADP to the incubation medium increased glucose 6-phosphate formation by the mitochondrial hexokinase and caused a smaller increase in ATP concentration in the mitochondria. The glucose phosphorylation was markedly inhibited by the addition of dinitrophenol, potassium cyanide, and oligomycin, and the ATP concentration was decreased. On the other hand, addition of atractyloside suppressed the glucose phosphorylation without affecting the mitochondrial hexokinase activity, whereas addition of antiserum against the mitochondrial hexokinase inhibited both glucose 6-phosphate formation and hexokinase activity. A part of both the glucose phosphorylation and hexokinase activities, however, remained even in the presence of the maximum dose of the anti-hexokinase serum and atractyloside. These results indicate the active utilization of intrinsically generated ATP by the mitochondria-bound hexokinase, a part of which may be located away from the surface of the mitochondrial membrane.     

Internal regulation of ATP turnover, glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation in rat hepatocytes.

Previously [Ainscow, E.K. & Brand, M.D. (1999) Eur. J. Biochem. 263, 671-685], top-down control analysis was used to describe the control pattern of energy metabolism in rat hepatocytes. The system was divided into nine reaction blocks (glycogen breakdown, glucose release, glycolysis, lactate production, NADH oxidation, pyruvate oxidation, mitochondrial proton leak, mitochondrial phosphorylation and ATP consumption) linked by five intermediates (intracellular glucose 6-phosphate, pyruvate and ATP levels, cytoplasmic NADH/NAD ratio and mitochondrial membrane potential). The kinetic responses (elasticities) of reaction blocks to intermediates were determined and used to calculate control coefficients. In the present paper, these elasticities and control coefficients are used to quantify the internal regulatory pathways within the cell. Flux control coefficients were partitioned to give partial flux control coefficients. These describe how strongly one block of reactions controls the flux through another via its effects on the concentration of a particular intermediate. Most flux control coefficients were the sum of positive and negative partial effects acting through different intermediates; these partial effects could be large compared to the final control strength. An important result was the breakdown of the way ATP consumption controlled respiration: changes in ATP level were more important than changes in mitochondrial membrane potential in stimulating oxygen consumption when ATP consumption increased. The partial internal response coefficients to changes in each intermediate were also calculated; they describe how steady state concentrations of intermediates are maintained. Increases in mitochondrial membrane potential were opposed mostly by decreased supply, whereas increases in glucose-6-phosphate, NADH/NAD and pyruvate were opposed mostly by increased consumption. Increases in ATP were opposed significantly by both decreased supply and increased consumption.     

Enhanced Dark CO(2) Fixation by Preilluminated Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Anacystis nidulans

The products of short time photosynthesis and of enhanced dark ¹⁴CO₂ fixation (illumination in helium prior to addition of ¹⁴CO₂ in dark) by Chlorella pyrenoidosa and Anacystis nidulans were compared. Glycerate 3-phosphate, phosphoenolpyruvate, alanine, and aspartate accounted for the bulk of the ¹⁴C assimilated during enhanced dark fixation while hexose and pentose phosphates accounted for the largest fraction of isotope assimilated during photosynthesis. During the enhanced dark fixation period, glycerate 3-phosphate is carboxyl labeled and glucose 6-phosphate is predominantly labeled in carbon atom 4 with lesser amounts in the upper half of the C₆ chain and traces in carbon atoms 5 and 6. Tracer spread throughout all the carbon atoms of photosynthetically synthesized glycerate 3-phosphate and glucose 6-phosphate. During the enhanced dark fixation period, there was a slow formation of sugar phosphates which subsequently continued at 5 times the initial rate long after the cessation of ¹⁴CO₂ uptake. To explain the kinetics of changes in the labelling patterns and in the limited formation of the sugar phosphates during enhanced dark CO₂ fixation, the suggestion is made that most of the reductant mediating these effects did not have its origin in the preillumination phase.

It is concluded that a complete photosynthetic carbon reduction cycle operates to a limited extent, if at all, in the dark period subsequent to preillumination.

     

High resolution respirometry analysis of polyethylenimine-mediated mitochondrial energy crisis and cellular stress: Mitochondrial proton leak and inhibition of the electron transport system

Polyethylenimines (PEIs) are highly efficient non-viral transfectants, but can induce cell death through poorly understood necrotic and apoptotic processes as well as autophagy. Through high resolution respirometry studies in H1299 cells we demonstrate that the 25 kDa branched polyethylenimine (25k-PEI-B), in a concentration and time-dependent manner, facilitates mitochondrial proton leak and inhibits the electron transport system. These events were associated with gradual reduction of the mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial ATP synthesis. The intracellular ATP levels further declined as a consequence of PEI-mediated plasma membrane damage and subsequent ATP leakage to the extracellular medium. Studies with freshly isolated mouse liver mitochondria corroborated with bioenergetic findings and demonstrated parallel polycation concentration- and time-dependent changes in state 2 and state 4o oxygen flux as well as lowered ADP phosphorylation (state 3) and mitochondrial ATP synthesis. Polycation-mediated reduction of electron transport system activity was further demonstrated in ‘broken mitochondria’ (freeze-thawed mitochondrial preparations). Moreover, by using both high-resolution respirometry and spectrophotometry analysis of cytochrome c oxidase activity we were able to identify complex IV (cytochrome c oxidase) as a likely specific site of PEI mediated inhibition within the electron transport system. Unraveling the mechanisms of PEI-mediated mitochondrial energy crisis is central for combinatorial design of safer polymeric non-viral gene delivery systems.     

Cyclic electron flow around photosystem I in unicellular green algae

Cyclic electron flow around PSI, or cyclic photophosphorylation, is the photosynthetic process which recycles the reducing equivalents produced by photosystem I in the stroma towards the plastoquinone pool. Through the activity of cytochrome b ₆ f, which also transfers protons across the membrane, it promotes the synthesis of ATP. The literature dealing with cyclic electron flow in unicellular algae is far less abundant than it is for plants. However, in the chloroplast of algae such as Chlorella or Chlamydomonas, an efficient carbohydrate catabolism renders the redox poise much more reducing than in plant chloroplasts. It is therefore worthwhile highlighting the specific properties of unicellular algae because cyclic electron flow is highly dependent upon the accumulation of these stromal reducing equivalents. Such an increase of reducing power in the stroma stimulates the reduction of plastoquinones, which is the limiting step of cyclic electron flow. In anaerobic conditions in the dark, this reaction can lead to a fully reduced plastoquinone pool and induce state transitions, the migration of 80% of light harvesting complexes II and 20% of cytochrome b ₆ f complex from the PSII-enriched grana to the PSI-enriched lamella. These ultrastructural changes have been proposed to further enhance cyclic electron flow by increasing PSI antenna size, and forming PSI-cyt b ₆ f supercomplexes. These hypotheses are discussed in light of recently published data.