On the nature of electron and energy transport in mitochondria. I. Multiple inhibition of mitochondrial respiration

1. A series of eight classical respiratory-chain inhibitors was studied. The slopes of State-3 respiratory rate versus dose plots are convex for antimycin, 2-n-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide (HOQNO), rotenone and sulfide, and concave for malonate, Amytal, cyanide and azide.

2. Plots of ADP: O ratio versus dose indicate uncoupling effects at higher concentrations of antimycin, HOQNO, cyanide and azide. On the other hand, sulfide and rotenone have no effect on the phosphorylating efficiency. Malonate increases the ADP: O ratio.

3. Two inhibitors can be combined in such a way that the total inhibition should be equal to the inhibition caused by the single inhibitors if each inhibitor affects respiration independently (additivity of inhibition). In practice, however, antagonism and synergism are also found.

4. Additivity of combined inhibition occurs where both inhibitors act on the same enzyme.

5. Antagonism is observed where the two inhibitors act on different enzymes of the same chain.

6. Synergism is found where the two inhibitors act on enzymes in different branches of a forked chain. This turns into normal additivity when the electron flow through both branches is made equal.

7. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that respiratory enzymes are arranged in chains. The possibility that the chains may be cross-linked or branched is discussed.     

Multiple sites of inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport by local anesthetics

Local anesthetics and alcohols were found to inhibit mitochondrial electron transport at several points along the chain. The anesthetics employed were the tertiary amines procaine, tetracaine, dibucaine, and chlorpromazine, and the alcohols were n-butanol, n-pentanol, n-hexanol, and benzyl alcohol. Uncoupled sonic submitochondrial particles from beef heart and rat liver were studied. We report the following: (1) All of the anesthetics were found to inhibit each of the segments of the electron transport chain assayed; these included cytochrome c oxidase, durohydroquinone oxidase, succinate oxidase, NADH oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase, succinate-cytochrome c oxidoreductase, and NADH-cytochrome c oxidoreductase. (2) NADH oxidase and NADH-cytochrome c oxidoreductase required the lowest concentrations of anesthetic for inhibition, and cytochrome c oxidase required the highest concentrations. (3) We conclude that there are several points along the chain at which inhibition occurs, the most sensitive being in the region of Complex I (NADH dehydrogenase). (4) Beef heart submitochondrial particles are less sensitive to inhibition than are rat liver particles. (5) Low concentrations of several of the anesthetics gave enhancement of electron transport activity, whereas higher concentrations of the same agents caused inhibition. (6) The concentrations of anesthetics (alcohol and tertiary amine) which gave 50% inhibition of NADH oxidase were lower than the reported concentrations required for blockage of frog sciatic nerve.     

Multiple sites of inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport by chloramphenicol in Neurospora crassa

Abstract The effects in vitro of chloramphenicol on the mitochondrial electron transport of Neurospora crassa were investigated under phosphorylating, non-phosphorylating and uncoupled conditions. The antibiotic acted at more than one site of the respiratory chain: exogenous NADH dehydrogenase, Complex I, the rotenone-resistant by-pass and the alternative oxidase, although an unspecific effect could not be totally excluded.     

Specific inhibition by macrocyclic polyethers of mitochondrial electron transport at site I

The macrocyclic polyethers dibenzo-18-crown-6 (XXVIII) and dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 (XXXI) inhibit the valinomycin-mediated K⁺ accumulation energized by glutamate, -ketoglutarate, malate plus pyruvate or isocitrate but not that promoted by succinate, ascorbate plus TMPD or ATP. The polyethers inhibit the oxidation of the former group of substrates without preventing either the oxidation of succinate or ascorbate plus TMPD or the hydrolysis of ATP.The substrate oxidation inhibited by the macrocyclic polyethers is relieved in intact mitochondria by increasing the concentration of K⁺ in the medium. It is also completely reverted by supplementing the medium with valinomycin, Cs⁺ and phosphate, or else by the addition of vitamin K₃.In submitochondrial sonic particles the macrocyclic polyethers inhibit the oxidation of NADH as well as the ATP-driven reversal of electron flow at the site I of the electron transport chain. They also block the oxidation of NADH in non-phosphorylating Keilin-Hartree particles as well as in Hatefi's NADH-coenzyme Q reductase. The polyethers do not inhibit electron transport in mitochondria from the yeast which lack the first coupling site.The inhibition of electron transport by the polyethers do not require of the addition of alkali metal cations such as K⁺ in intact mitochondria or other membrane preparations.It is established that the macrocyclic polyethers XXVIII and XXXI, already characterized as mobile carrier molecules for K⁺ in model lipid membranes, inhibit electron transport at site I of the electron transport chain from mitochondrial membranes.It is suggested that the ability of the polyethers to coordinate alkali metal cations in aqueous versus lipid environments, but not K⁺ transportper se, is related to their rotenone-like induced inhibition of electron flow in mitochondrial membranes.Supported in part by a Grant from the Research Corporation.     

Azide inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport I. The aerobic steady state of succinate oxidation

The azide inhibition of the succinate oxidase activity of rat-liver mitochondria is specific for active (State 3) respiration with no observable inhibition of resting (State 4) respiration. In the range of azide concentrations which inhibit State 3 to rates less than those of State 4, a negative control of respiration by ADP and inorganic phosphate is observed. The inhibition is specific for a site between cytochromes a and a₃, causing a crossover between these two cytochromes with cytochrome a becoming reduced and cytochrome a₃ remaining highly oxidized. Trapped steady-state difference spectra at liquid nitrogen temperatures show that the reduced cytochrome a in the azide-inhibited system has an band at 596 mμ, 6 m μ displaced from its usual position at 602 mμ.

The azide inhibition is released by uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation such that the uncoupled respiration requires up to ten times as much azide as does coupled (State 3) respiration for comparable inhibition. The release of inhibition by uncouplers occurs with no change in the steady-state concentration of reduced cytochrome a₅₉₆ and the increased respiration is attributed to an increased rate of oxidation of the cytochrome a₅₉₆. This cytochrome is postulated to be either an intermediate in electron transport and energy conservation reactions or an azide compound of such an intermediate.     

Trifluoperazine inhibition of electron transport and adenosine triphosphatase in plant mitochondria

Trifluoperazine inhibits ADP-stimulated respiration in mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) mitochondria when either NADH, malate, or succinate serve as substrates (IC50 values of 56, 59, and 55 microM, respectively). Succinate:ferricyanide oxidoreductase activity of these mitochondria was inhibited to a similar extent. The oxidation of ascorbate/TMPD was also sensitive to the phenothiazine (IC50 = 65 microM). Oxidation of exogenous NADH was inhibited by trifluoperazine even in the presence of excess EGTA [ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid] (IC50 = 60 microM), indicating an interaction with the electron transport chain rather than with the dehydrogenase itself. In contrast, substrate oxidation in Voodoo lily (Sauromatum guttatum) mitochondria was relatively insensitive to the phenothiazine. The results suggest the bc1 complex to be a major site of inhibition. The membrane potential of energized mung bean mitochondria was depressed by micromolar concentrations of trifluoperazine, suggesting an effect on the proton-pumping capability of these mitochondria. Membrane-bound and soluble ATPases were equally sensitive to trifluoperazine (IC50 of 28 microM for both), implying the site of inhibition to be on the F1. Inhibition of the soluble ATPase was not affected by EGTA, CaCl2, or exogenous calmodulin. Trifluoperazine inhibition of electron transport and phosphorylation in plant mitochondria appears to be due to an interaction with a protein of the organelle that is not calmodulin.     

On the mechanism of oligomycin inhibition of Ca-induced mitochondrial respiration

The addition of oligomycin in the presence of Ca²⁺ increased the ADP pool in mitochondrial suspension. It is suggested that oligomycin inhibition of Ca²⁺-induced mitochondrial respiratory activation is the function of the increased endogenous ADP pool. Low ADP concentrations (5–20 μM) produce the same inhibitory effect as oligomycin. The increase of ADP levels in the presence of glucose plus hexokinase resulted in the inhibition of Ca²⁺-induced respiration, while the addition of phosphoenol pyruvate plus pyruvate kinase followed by a reduction in ADP levels, reversed the oligomycin inhibitory effect. One of the essential stages of ADP accumulation in mitochondrial suspensions in the presence of oligomycin and Ca²⁺ is proposed to be the formation of ADP from AMP and ATP, effected by adenylate kinase.     

Reverse electron flow-mediated ROS generation in ischemia-damaged mitochondria: Role of complex I inhibition vs. depolarization of inner mitochondrial membrane

Background

The reverse electron flow-induced ROS generation (RFIR) is decreased in ischemia-damaged mitochondria. Cardiac ischemia leads to decreased complex I activity and depolarized inner mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ) that are two key factors to affect the RFIR in isolated mitochondria. We asked if a partial inhibition of complex I activity without alteration of the ΔΨ is able to decrease the RFIR.

Methods

Cardiac mitochondria were isolated from mouse heart (C57BL/6) with and without ischemia. The rate of H₂O₂ production from mitochondria was determined using amplex red coupled with horseradish peroxidase. Mitochondria were isolated from the mitochondrial-targeted STAT3 overexpressing mouse (MLS-STAT3E) to clarify the role of partial complex I inhibition in RFIR production.

Results

The RFIR was decreased in ischemia-damaged mouse heart mitochondria with decreased complex I activity and depolarized ΔΨ. However, the RFIR was not altered in the MLS-STAT3E heart mitochondria with complex I defect but without depolarization of the ΔΨ. A slight depolarization of the ΔΨ in wild type mitochondria completely eliminated the RFIR.

Conclusions

The mild uncoupling but not the partially decreased complex I activity contributes to the observed decrease in RFIR in ischemia-damaged mitochondria.

General significance

The RFIR is less likely to be a key source of cardiac injury during reperfusion.     

Mechanisms of gentamicin-induced dysfunction of renal cortical mitochondria: I. Effects on mitochondrial respiration

Because mitochondrial dysfunction occurs relatively early in the course of nephrotoxicity associated with the aminoglycoside antibiotic, gentamicin, the acute in vitro effects of gentamicin on renal cortical mitochondrial respiration were studied. Gentamicin produced stimulation of State 4 rates and inhibition of State 3 and DNP-uncoupled rates with pyruvate-malate or succinate as substrates. The stimulation of State 4 respiration was not blocked by oligomycin. Both the stimulation of State 4 and inhibition of State 3 were profoundly dependent on the Na⁺ and K⁺ contents of the incubation medium, were potentiated by the presence of EDTA, and were reversed by Mg²⁺. These results suggested that gentamicin's effects on mitochondrial respiration were due to alterations in the interaction of Na⁺ and K⁺ with the inner mitochondrial membrane at Mg²⁺-sensitive sites.     

Studies of the mitochondria from Eimeria tenella and inhibition of the electron transport by quinolone coccidiostats.

Intact but fragile mitochondria were isolated from unsporulated oocysts of Eimeria tenella. The mitochondria respired in response to succinate, malate plus pyruvate, and L-ascorbate at rates of 1.00, 0.40, and 0.25 mu1 O2/min/mg protein, respectively. Spectrophotometric analyses of the cytochromes in mitochondria and whole oocysts revealed b-type and o-type cytochromes, at roughly similar levels, but no cytochrome c could be detected. The mitochondrial respiration was inhibited by cyanide, azide, carbon monoxide, antimycin A, and 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide, but was relatively resistant to rotenone and amytal. The quinolone coccidiostats buquinolate, amquinate, methyl benzoquate, and decoquinate were identified as very powerful inhibitiors of succinate and malate plus pyruvate supported respiration in E. tenella mitochondria. None of these four drugs exhibited any inhibitory effect on chicken liver mitochondria. Only 3 pmol of the quinolones per mg mitochondrial protein was needed to achieve 50% inhibition. The inhibition could not be reversed by coenzymes Q6 or Q10. Since the quinolones did not affect L-ascorbate-supported respiration or the activities of submitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase and NADH dehydrogenase, the site of action of the quinolone coccidiostats was tentatively identified as probably near cytochrome b in E. tenella mitochondria. Mitochondria isolated from an E. tenella amquinate-resistant mutant were much less susceptible to quinolone coccidiostats; 50% inhibition was attained by 300 pmol of the drugs/mg mitochondrial protein. The results suggest that the mechanisms of action of quinolone coccidiostats is by inhibiting the cytochrome-mediated electron transport in the mitochondria of coccidia. 2-Hydroxynaphthoquinone coccidiostats were identified as inhibitors of mitochondrial respiration of both E. tenella and chicken liver. They inhibited submitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase and NADH dehydrogenase of E. tenella, and remained equally active against the mitochondrial function of E. tenella amquinolate-resistant mutant.     

Azide inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport II. Spectral changes induced by azide

Azide inhibition of coupled mitochondrial transport is accompanied by spectral changes which indicate that the cytochrome a₃ is oxidized and cytochrome a reduced. The cytochrome a absorption band is shifted to shorter wavelengths in the azideinhibited system. This shift in the absorption band can be reversed by conditions leading to reduction of cytochrome a₃ such as uncouplers and anaerobiosis, or terminal inhibitors such as sulfide, cyanide or CO.

Titrations of the azide-induced spectral changes indicate the binding of one azide molecule in the complex, and that the dissociation constant is experimentally indistinguishable from the uncompetitive inhibitor constants for inhibition of State 3 respiration. The azide inhibition is postulated to involve the formation of a reduced cytochrome a azide compound which is unstable in the presence of reduced cytochrome a₃.     

Sites of inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport in macrophage- injured neoplastic cells

Previous work has shown that injury of neoplastic cells by cytotoxic macrophages (CM) in cell culture is accompanied by inhibition of mitochondrial respiration. We have investigated the nature of this inhibition by studying mitochondrial respiration in CM-injured leukemia L1210 cells permeabilized with digitonin. CM-induced injury affects the mitochondrial respiratory chain proper. Complex I (NADH-coenzyme Q reductase) and complex II (succinate-coenzyme Q reductase) are markedly inhibited. In addition a minor inhibition of cytochrome oxidase was found. Electron transport from alpha-glycerophosphate through the respiratory chain to oxygen is unaffected and permeabilized CM-injured L1210 cells oxidizing this substrate exhibit acceptor control. However, glycerophosphate shuttle activity was found not to occur within CM- injured or uninjured L1210 cells in culture hence, alpha- glycerophosphate is apparently unavailable for mitochondrial oxidation in the intact cell. It is concluded that the failure of respiration of intact neoplastic cells injured by CM is caused by the nearly complete inhibition of complexes I and II of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. The time courses of CM-induced electron transport inhibition and arrest of L1210 cell division are examined and the possible relationship between these phenomena is discussed.