Role of Ca2+ ions in the regulation of intramitochondrial metabolism in rat epididymal adipose tissue. Evidence against a role for Ca2+ in the activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase by insulin.

The sensitivity of rat epididymal-adipose-tissue pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase, NAD+-isocitrate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase to Ca2+ ions was studied both in mitochondrial extracts and within intact coupled mitochondria. It is concluded that all three enzymes may be activated by increases in the intramitochondrial concentration of Ca2+ and that the distribution of Ca2+ across the mitochondrial inner membrane is determined, as in rat heart mitochondria, by the relative activities of a uniporter (which transports Ca2+ into mitochondria and is inhibited by Mg2+ and Ruthenium Red) and an antiporter (which allows Ca2+ to leave mitochondria in exchange for Na+ and is inhibited by diltiazem). Previous studies with incubated fat-cell mitochondria have indicated that the increases in the amount of active non-phosphorylated pyruvate dehydrogenase in rat epididymal tissue exposed to insulin are the result of activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase. In the present studies, no changes in the activity of the phosphatase were found in extracts of mitochondria, and thus it seemed likely that insulin altered the intramitochondrial concentration of some effector of the phosphatase. Incubation of rat epididymal adipose tissue with medium containing a high concentration of CaCl2 (5mM) was found to increase the active form of pyruvate dehydrogenase to much the same extent as insulin. However, the increases caused by high [Ca2+] in the medium were blocked by Ruthenium Red, whereas those caused by insulin were not. Moreover, whereas the increases resulting from both treatments persisted during the preparation of mitochondria and their subsequent incubation in the absence of Na+, only the increases caused by treatment of the tissue with insulin persisted when the mitochondria were incubated in the presence of Na+ under conditions where the mitochondria are largely depleted of Ca2+. It is concluded that insulin does not act by increasing the intramitochondrial concentration of Ca2+. This conclusion was supported by finding no increases in the activities of the other two Ca2+-responsive intramitochondrial enzymes (NAD+-isocitrate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase) in mitochondria prepared from insulin-treated tissue compared with controls.     

Characterization of the effects of Ca2+ on the intramitochondrial Ca2+-sensitive dehydrogenases within intact rat-kidney mitochondria

The regulatory properties of the Ca2+-sensitive intramitochondrial enzymes (pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase, NAD+-isocitrate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase) in extracts of rat kidney mitochondria were found to be essentially similar to those described previously for other mammalian tissues; in particular each enzyme could be activated severalfold by Ca2+ with half-maximal effects (K0.5 values) of about 1 microM and effective ranges of approx. 0.1-10 microM Ca2+. In intact mitochondria prepared from whole rat kidneys incubated in a KCl-based medium containing respiratory substrates, the amount of active, nonphosphorylated pyruvate dehydrogenase could be increased severalfold by increases in extramitochondrial [Ca2+]; these effects could be blocked by ruthenium red. Similarly, Ca2+-dependent activations of NAD+-isocitrate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase could be demonstrated in intact, fully coupled, rat kidney mitochondria by either following O2 uptake (in the presence of ADP) and NAD(P)H reduction (in the absence of ADP) on presentation of non-saturating concentrations of either threo-Ds-isocitrate or 2-oxoglutarate, respectively, under appropriate conditions, or for the latter enzyme only, also by following 14CO2 production from 2-oxo[1-14C]glutarate (in the absence or presence of ADP). Effects of Na+ (as a promoter of egress) and Mg2+ (as an inhibitor of uptake) on Ca2+-transport by rat kidney mitochondria could be readily demonstrated by assaying for the Ca2+-sensitive properties of the intramitochondrial Ca2+-sensitive dehydrogenases within intact rat kidney mitochondria. In the presence of physiological concentrations of Na+ (10 mM) and Mg2+ (2 mM), activation of the enzymes was achieved by increases in extramitochondrial [Ca2+] within the expected physiological range (0.05-5 microM) and with apparent K0.5 values in the approximate range of 300-500 nM. The implications of these results on the role of the Ca2+-transport system of kidney mitochondria are discussed.     

Characterization of the effects of Ca2+ on the intramitochondrial Ca2+-sensitive enzymes from rat liver and within intact rat liver mitochondria.

The regulatory properties of the Ca2+-sensitive intramitochondrial enzymes (pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase, NAD+-isocitrate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase) in extracts of rat liver mitochondria appeared to be essentially similar to those described previously for other mammalian tissues. In particular, the enzymes were activated severalfold by Ca2+, with half-maximal effects at about 1 microM-Ca2+ (K0.5 value). In intact rat liver mitochondria incubated in a KCl-based medium containing 2-oxoglutarate and malate, the amount of active, non-phosphorylated, pyruvate dehydrogenase could be increased severalfold by increasing extramitochondrial [Ca2+], provided that some degree of inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (e.g. by pyruvate) was achieved. The rates of 14CO2 production from 2-oxo-[1-14C]glutarate at non-saturating, but not at saturating, concentrations of 2-oxoglutarate by the liver mitochondria (incubated without ADP) were similarly enhanced by increasing extramitochondrial [Ca2+]. The rates and extents of NAD(P)H formation in the liver mitochondria induced by non-saturating concentrations of 2-oxoglutarate, glutamate, threo-DS-isocitrate or citrate were also increased in a similar manner by Ca2+ under several different incubation conditions, including an apparent 'State 3.5' respiration condition. Ca2+ had no effect on NAD(P)H formation induced by beta-hydroxybutyrate or malate. In intact, fully coupled, rat liver mitochondria incubated with 10 mM-NaCl and 1 mM-MgCl2, the apparent K0.5 values for extramitochondrial Ca2+ were about 0.5 microM, and the effective concentrations were within the expected physiological range, 0.05-5 microM. In the absence of Na+, Mg2+ or both, the K0.5 values were about 400, 200 and 100 nM respectively. These effects of increasing extramitochondrial [Ca2+] were all inhibited by Ruthenium Red. When extramitochondrial [Ca2+] was increased above the effective ranges for the enzymes, a time-dependent deterioration of mitochondrial function and ATP content was observed. The implications of these results on the role of the Ca2+-transport system of the liver mitochondrial inner membrane are discussed.     

Studies on the interactions of Ca2+ and pyruvate in the regulation of rat heart pyruvate dehydrogenase activity. Effects of starvation and diabetes.

1. Previous studies showed that the activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase within intact rat heart mitochondria of pyruvate is much diminished in mitochondria from starved or diabetic animals [see Kerbey, Randle, Cooper, Whitehouse, Pask & Denton (1976) Biochem. J. 154, 327-348]. In the present study, diminished responses to added Ca2+ and ADP were also found in these mitochondria. 2. Starvation or diabetes did not affect the mitochondrial respiratory control ratio of the ATP content. Moreover, starvation and diabetes did not alter the response of the intramitochondrial Ca2+-sensitive enzyme, 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, to changes in the extramitochondrial concentration of Ca2+ and 2-oxoglutarate, thus indicating that there were no appreciable changes in the distribution of Ca2+ and H+ across the mitochondrial inner membrane. 3. Pyruvate, Ca2+ and ADP were found to have synergistic effects on pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, particularly in mitochondria from starved and diabetic rats. 4. The results suggest that the effects of diabetes and starvation on pyruvate dehydrogenase are not brought about by changes in the distribution of these effectors across the mitochondrial inner membrane or by changes in the intrinsic sensitivity of the kinase or phosphatase of the pyruvate dehydrogenase system to pyruvate, Ca2+ or ADP; rather it is probably that there is an increase in the maximum activity of kinase relative to that of the phosphatase. 6. The results also lend further support to the hypothesis that adrenaline may bring about the activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase in the rat heart by an increase in the intramitochondrial concentration of Ca2+.     

The use of the Ca2(+)-sensitive intramitochondrial dehydrogenases and entrapped fura-2 to study Sr2+ and Ba2+ transport across the inner membrane of mammalian mitochondria

In extracts of rat heart mitochondria, Sr2+ mimicked the activatory effects of Ca2+ on the Ca2(+)-sensitive intramitochondrial enzymes, pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase, isocitrate dehydrogenase (NAD+), and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, but at about tenfold higher concentrations (effective range approximately 1-100 muM) in each case. Ba2+ had no effect on extracted phosphatase, but did mimic the effect of Ca2+ on the other two enzymes with effective concentration ranges similar to those of Sr2+; as with Ca2+ and Sr2+, effective Ba2+ ranges were slightly (2-3-fold) raised by increases in ATP/ADP. In intact uncoupled rat heart mitochondria, the effects of Sr2+ and Ba2+ on the pyruvate and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenases were essentially similar to their effects in extracts. In fully coupled rat heart or liver mitochondria, the effective concentration ranges of extramitochondrial Sr2+, leading to activation of the matrix enzymes, were always approximately tenfold higher than those for Ca2+ under all conditions. Ba2+ did not affect pyruvate dehydrogenase in coupled mitochondria, but was shown to activate 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase in heart or liver mitochondria, and also isocitrate dehydrogenase (NAD+) in the latter; effective concentration ranges for extramitochondrial Ba2+ were approximately 100-fold greater than those for Ca2+, and like those for Ca2+ and Sr2+, were affected markedly by Mg2+ and spermine (which inhibit and promote mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, respectively) but, in contrast to Ca2+ and Sr2+, they were hardly affected at all by Na+ (which promotes mitochondrial Ca2+ egress). Ba2+ effects were also blocked by ruthenium red (an inhibitor of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake), but not so effectively as its blockage of the effects of Sr2+ and Ca2+. Ba2+ and Sr2+ both mimicked the inhibitory effects of extramitochondrial Ca2+ on the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, but only Sr2+ could mimic Ca2+ in exchanging for internal Ca2+ by this mechanism. Both Sr2+ and Ba2+ changed the fluorescent properties of fura-2 or indo-1 in a similar manner to Ca2+, but with higher kd values. In fura-2-loaded rat heart mitochondria, increases in matrix Sr2+ and Ba2+ and the effects of the transport effectors could be readily demonstrated.     

Role of calcium ions in the regulation of intramitochondrial metabolism. Effects of Na+, Mg2+ and ruthenium red on the Ca2+-stimulated oxidation of oxoglutarate and on pyruvate dehydrogenase activity in intact rat heart mitochondria.

1. In uncoupled rat heart mitochondria, the kinetic parameters for oxoglutarate oxidation were very close to those found for oxoglutarate dehydrogenase activity in extracts of the mitochondria. In particular, Ca2+ greatly diminished the Km for oxoglutarate and the k0.5 value (concentration required for half-maximal effect) for this effect of Ca2+ was close to 1 microM. 2. In coupled rat heart mitochondria incubated with ADP, increases in the extramitochondrial concentration of Ca2+ greatly stimulated oxoglutarate oxidation at low concentrations of oxoglutarate, but not at saturating concentrations of oxoglutarate. The k0.5 value for the activation by extramitochondrial Ca2+ was about 20 nM. In the presence of either Mg2+ or Na+ this value was increased to about 90 nM, and in the presence of both to about 325 nM. 3. In coupled rat heart mitochondria incubated without ADP, increases in the extramitochondrial concentration of Ca2+ resulted in increases in the proportion of pyruvate dehydrogenase in its active non-phosphorylated form. The sensitivity to Ca2+ closely matched that found to affect oxoglutarate oxidation, and Mg2+ and Na+ gave similar effects. 4. Studies of others have indicated that the distribution of Ca2+ across the inner membrane of heart mitochondria is determined by a Ca2+-transporting system which is composed of a separate uptake component (inhibited by Mg2+ and Ruthenium Red) and an efflux component (stimulated by Na+). The present studies are entirely consistent with this view. They also indicate that the intramitochondrial concentration of Ca2+ within heart cells is probably about 2--3 times that in the cytoplasm, and thus the regulation of these intramitochondrial enzymes by Ca2+ is of likely physiological significance. It is suggested that the Ca2+-transporting system in heart mitochondria may be primarily concerned with the regulation of mitochondrial Ca2+ rather than cytoplasmic Ca2+; the possible role of Ca2+ as a mediator of the effects of hormones and neurotransmitters on mammalian mitochondrial oxidative metabolism is discussed.     

Role of calcium ions in the regulation of intramitochondrial metabolism. Properties of the Ca2+-sensitive dehydrogenases within intact uncoupled mitochondria from the white and brown adipose tissue of the rat.

1. Increasing concentrations of both Ca2+ and Sr2+ (generated by using EGTA buffers) resulted in 4-fold increases in the initial activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase within intact uncoupled mitochondria from rat epididymal adipose tissue incubated in the presence of the ionophore A23187, ATP, Mg2+ and oligomycin. The k0.5 values (concentrations required for half-maximal effects) for Ca2+ and Sr2+ were 0.54 and 7.1 microM respectively. In extracts of the mitochondria, pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase activity was stimulated about 4-fold by Ca2+ and Sr2+, with k0.5 values of 1.08 and 6.4 microM respectively. 2. NAD+-isocitrate dehydrogenase and oxoglutarate dehydrogenase appeared to be rate-limiting in the oxidation of threo-Ds-isocitrate and oxoglutarate by uncoupled mitochondria from brown adipose tissue of cold-adapted rats. Ca2+ (and Sr2+) diminished the Km for the oxidation of both threo-Ds-isocitrate and oxoglutarate. The kinetic constants for these oxidations were very similar to those obtained for the activities of NAD+-isocitrate dehydrogenase and oxoglutarate dehydrogenase in extracts of the mitochondria. In particular, the k0.5 values for Ca2+ were all in the range 0.2--1.6 microM and Sr2+ was found to mimic Ca2+, but with k0.5 values about 10 times greater. 3. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate that the activities of pyruvate dehydrogenase, NAD+-isocitrate dehydrogenase and oxoglutarate dehydrogenase may all be increased by Ca2+ and Sr2+ within intact mitochondria. In all cases the k0.5 values are close to 1 and 10 microM respectively, as found for the separated enzymes. Experiments on brown-adipose-tissue mitochondria incubated in the presence of albumin suggest that it may be possible to use the sensitivity of the dehydrogenases to Ca2+ as a means of assessing the distribution of Ca2+ across the mitochondrial inner membrane.     

Dependence of cardiac mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase activity on intramitochondrial free Ca2+ concentration.

(1) The free Ca2+ concentration of the matrix of rat heart mitochondria ([Ca2+]m) was determined from the fluorescence of internalized indo-1. The value of the Kd of indo-1-Ca2+ in the mitochondrial matrix was determined to be 95 nM, on the basis of equilibration of [Ca2+]m with the extramitochondrial free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]o) in the presence of rotenone, nigericin, valinomycin and Br-A23187. (2) [Ca2+]m responded to energization/de-energization protocols, the inhibition of Ca2+-uptake by Ruthenium Red and the potentiation of Ca2+-efflux by Na+ in a manner which was consistent with the known kinetic properties of the mitochondrial Ca2+-transport processes. (3) The concentration gradient [Ca2+]m/[Ca2+]o was found to be near unity (0.82 +/- 0.18) when mitochondria were incubated in media containing 10 mM-Na+; the additional presence of 1 mM-Mg2+ reduced the gradient to values below unity (0.26 +/- 0.03). The polyamine spermine increased the Ca2+ concentration gradient in the presence of 1 mM-Mg2+. (4) The fraction of pyruvate dehydrogenase in the active form (PDHA) was found to increase with [Ca2+]m, with a K0.5 for activation of approximately 300 nM-Ca2+. This value of the activation constant was not affected by conditions, e.g. addition of Mg2+, which changed the [Ca2+]m/[Ca2+]o concentration gradient, and the presence of different oxidizable substrates, which changed the [NADH/NAD+]m concentration ratio. Thus pyruvate dehydrogenase interconversion responds directly to changes in [Ca2+]m, as inferred in earlier work.     

Effects of spermine on mitochondrial Ca2+ transport and the ranges of extramitochondrial Ca2+ to which the matrix Ca2+-sensitive dehydrogenases respond.

1. Spermine has previously been reported to be an activator of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake [Nicchitta & Williamson (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 12978-12983]. This is confirmed in the present studies on rat heart, liver and kidney mitochondria by using the activities of the Ca2+-sensitive intramitochondrial dehydrogenases (pyruvate, NAD+-isocitrate and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenases) as probes for matrix Ca2+, and also, for the heart mitochondria, by using entrapped fura-2. 2. As also found previously [Damuni, Humphreys & Reed (1984) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 124, 95-99], spermine activated extracted pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase. However, it was found to have no effects at all on the extracted NAD+-isocitrate or 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenases. It also had no effects on activities of the enzymes in mitochondria incubated in the absence of Ca2+, or on the Ca2+-sensitivity of the enzymes in uncoupled mitochondria. 3. Spermine clearly activated 45Ca uptake by coupled mitochondria, but had no effect on Ca2+ egress from mitochondria previously loaded with 45Ca. 4. Spermine (with effective Km values of around 0.2-0.4 mM) caused an approx. 2-3-fold decrease in the effective ranges of extramitochondrial Ca2+ in the activation of the Ca2+-sensitive matrix enzymes in coupled mitochondria from all of the tissues. The effects of spermine appeared to be largely independent of the other effectors of mitochondrial Ca2+ transport, such as Mg2+ (inhibitor of uptake) and Na+ (promoter of egrees). 5. In the most physiological circumstance, coupled mitochondria incubated with Na+ and Mg2+, the presence of saturating spermine (2 mM) resulted in an effective extramitochondrial Ca2+ range for matrix enzyme activation of from about 30-50 nM up to about 800-1200 nM, with half-maximal effects around 250-400 nM-Ca2+. The implications of these findings for the regulation of matrix and extramitochondrial Ca2+ are discussed.     

Evidence that adrenaline activates key oxidative enzymes in rat liver by increasing intramitochondrial [Ca]

The effects of intramitochondrial Ca²⁺ on the activities of the Ca²⁺-sensitive intramitochondrial enzymes, (i) pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) phosphate phosphatase, and (ii) oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDH), were investigated in intact rat liver mitochondria by measuring (i) the amount of active PDH (PDHa) and (ii) the rate of decarboxylation of -[1-¹⁴C]oxoglutarate (at non-saturating [oxoglutarate]), at different concentrations of extramitochondrial Ca²⁺. In the presence of Na²⁺ and Mg²⁺, both PDH and OGDH could be activated by increases in extramitochondrial [Ca²⁺] within the expected physiological range (0.05–5 μM). When liver mitochondria were prepared from rats treated with adrenaline, and then incubated in Na-free media containing EGTA, both PDH and OGDH activities were found to be enhanced. Evidence is presented that the activation of these enzymes by adrenaline is brought about by a mechanism involving increases in intramitochondrial [Ca²⁺].     

Studies on mitochondrial Ca2+-transport and matrix Ca2+ using fura-2-loaded rat heart mitochondria

Rat heart mitochondria were incubated for 5 min at 30 degrees C and at approx. 40 mg protein.ml-1 and in the presence of 10 microM fura-2/AM. This allowed the entrapment of free fura-2 within the mitochondrial matrix and its use as a probe for Ca2+, but without affecting the apparent viability of the mitochondria. Parallel measurements of the activities of the intramitochondrial Ca2+-sensitive enzymes, pyruvate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, allowed an assessment of their sensitivity to measured free Ca2+ within intact mitochondria incubated under different conditions; the enzymes responded to matrix Ca2+ over the approximate range 0.02-2 microM with half-maximal effects at about 0.3-0.6 microM Ca2+. Effectors of Ca2+-transport across the inner membrane (e.g., Na+, Mg2+, Ruthenium red, spermine) did not appear to affect these ranges, but did bring about expected changes in Ca2+ distribution across this membrane. Significantly, when mitochondria were incubated in the presence of physiological concentrations of both Na+ and Mg2+, and at low extramitochondrial Ca2+ (less than 400 nM), there was a gradient of Ca2+ (in:out) of less than unity; at higher extramitochondrial [Ca2+] (but still within the physiological range) the gradient was greater than unity indicating a highly cooperative nature of transmission of the Ca2+ signal into the matrix under such conditions.     

Reversible phosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase in rat skeletal-muscle mitochondria. Effects of starvation and diabetes.

The total activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex in rat hind-limb muscle mitochondria was 76.4 units/g of mitochondrial protein. The proportion of complex in the active form was 34% (as isolated), 8-14% (incubation with respiratory substrates) and greater than 98% (incubation without respiratory substrates). Complex was also inactivated by ATP in the presence of oligomycin B and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone. Ca2+ (which activates PDH phosphatase) and pyruvate or dichloroacetate (which inhibit PDH kinase) each increased the concentration of active PDH complex in a concentration-dependent manner in mitochondria oxidizing 2-oxoglutarate/L-malate. Values giving half-maximal activation were 10 nM-Ca2+, 3 mM-pyruvate and 16 microM-dichloroacetate. Activation by Ca2+ was inhibited by Na+ and Mg2+. Mitochondria incubated with [32P]Pi/2-oxoglutarate/L-malate incorporated 32P into three phosphorylation sites in the alpha-chain of PDH; relative rates of phosphorylation were sites 1 greater than 2 greater than 3, and of dephosphorylation, sites 2 greater than 1 greater than 3. Starvation ( 48h ) or induction of alloxan-diabetes had no effect on the total activity of PDH complex in skeletal-muscle mitochondria, but each decreased the concentration of active complex in mitochondria oxidizing 2-oxoglutarate/L-malate and increased the concentrations of Ca2+, pyruvate or dichloracetate required for half-maximal reactivation. In extracts of mitochondria the activity of PDH kinase was increased 2-3-fold by 48 h starvation or alloxan-diabetes, but the activity of PDH phosphatase was unchanged.     

The alpha-adrenergic-mediated activation of Ca2+ influx into cardiac mitochondria. A possible mechanism for the regulation of intramitochondrial free CA2+.

Mitochondria isolated from rat hearts perfused with adrenaline, and from hearts excised from adrenaline-treated rats, showed an enhanced rate of respiration-dependent Ca2+ uptake. Adrenaline pretreatment did not change the activity of the Na+/Ca2+-antiporter of isolated heart mitochondria. Simultaneous measurements of the membrane potential revealed that perfusion with adrenaline has no significant effect on this parameter during Ca2+ accumulation. The activation of Ca2+ uptake was induced also by the alpha-adrenergic agonist, methoxamine, but not by the beta-adrenergic agonist, isoprenaline. Methoxamine pretreatment also increased the sensitivity of alpha-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase in intact mitochondria to 10 nM--300 nM extramitochondrial Ca2+ during steady-state Ca2+ recycling across the inner membrane. Possible implications of these data for the adrenergic regulation of oxidative metabolism are discussed.     

Effect of micromolar concentrations of free Ca2+ ions on pyruvate dehydrogenase interconversion in intact rat heart mitochondria.

1. The mitochondrial content of active (dephospho) pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDHA) was found to be severalfold higher at an extramitochondrial Ca2+ concentration of 2 microM (pCa6) than at pCa7. The nature of the respiratory substrate did not affect this finding. 2. This Ca2+-dependence was shown in state-4 and 50%-state-3 conditions [see Chance & Williams (1956) Adv. Enzymol. 17, 65-134], but was absent in the presence of excess ADP (state 3). 3. Na+ and Mg2+ ions shifted the pCa value required for a maximal PDHA content to lower values. This was attributed to a stimulation of mitochondrial Ca2+ egress and an inhibition of uptake, respectively. Na+ ions diminished pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase activity in mitochondria which had been extensively depleted of Ca2+ ions by incubation with EGTA, raising the possibility of a direct inhibitory effect of Na+ ions, unrelated to Ca2+ movements. 4. Mg2+ ions lowered the mitochondrial PDHA content at pCa 6.24 and 6.48, but had only minimal effects in the presence of EGTA. 5. The effects of P1 and bicarbonate ions on PDHA content were also studied, as possible effectors of mitochondrial Ca2+ transport. Bicarbonate ions abolished the response to Ca2+ ions, by generating maximal values of PDHA content, but such a response was still observed when physiological concentrations of both P1 and bicarbonate were used. 6. The pCa of the medium in the range 6.33 to over 7 affected PDHA content, with only very minor changes in state-4 rates of O2 uptake and no change in [ATP]/[ADP] ratio or in mitochondrial [NADH]/[NAD+] ratio, provided that Mg2+ ions were present. Thus the effect of Ca2+ ions on PDHA content is unlikely to be mediated by changes in [ATP]/[ADP] and [NADH]/[NAD+] ratio and is more likely to be direct. Equally, changes in the [acetyl-CoA]/[CoA] ratio in response to Ca2+ ions when the substrate was pyruvate were the converse of those required to mediate changes in interconversion, and are probably secondary to changes in PDHA content.     

Effect of fatty acids and ketones on the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase in skeletal-muscle mitochondria.

The presence of palmitoyl-L-carnitine and acetoacetate (separately) decreased flux through pyruvate dehydrogenase in isolated mitochondria from rat hind-limb muscle. The effect of acetoacetate was dependent on the presence of 2-oxoglutarate and Ca2+. Palmitoylcarnitine, but not acetoacetate, also decreased the mitochondrial content of active dephospho-pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDHA). This effect was large only in the presence of EGTA. Addition of Ca2+-EGTA buffers stabilizing pCa values of 6.48 or lower gave near-maximal values of PDHA content, irrespective of the presence of fatty acids or ketones when mitochondria were incubated under the same conditions used for the flux studies, i.e. at low concentrations of pyruvate. There was, however, a minor decrement in PDHA content in response to palmitoylcarnitine oxidation when the substrate was L-glutamate plus L-malate. Measurement of NAD+, NADH, CoA and acetyl-CoA in mitochondrial extracts in general showed decreases in [NAD+]/[NADH] and [CoA]/[acetyl-CoA] ratios in response to the oxidation of palmitoylcarnitine and acetoacetate, providing a mechanism for both decreased PDHA content and feedback inhibition of the enzyme in the PDHA form. However, only changes in [CoA]/[acetyl-CoA] ratio appear to underlie the decreased PDHA content on addition of palmitoylcarnitine when mitochondria are incubated with L-glutamate plus L-malate (and no pyruvate) as substrate. The effect of palmitoylcarnitine oxidation on flux through pyruvate dehydrogenase and on PDHA content is less marked in skeletal-muscle mitochondria than in cardiac-muscle mitochondria. This may reflect the less active oxidation of palmitoylcarnitine by skeletal-muscle mitochondria, as judged by State-3 rates of O2 uptake. In addition, Ca2+ concentration is of even greater significance in pyruvate dehydrogenase interconversion in skeletal-muscle mitochondria than in cardiac-muscle mitochondria.     

The role of Ca++ in regulation of oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex activity from bovine adrenal cortex

Binding of Ca2+ ions by EGTA is established to increase the oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex K'm for 2-oxoglutarate up to 25 mM in spite of the Mg2+ ions presence in the medium. The maximum reaction rate remains unchanged. Addition, besides EGTA of an equimolar Ca2+ amount to the medium induces a more than 100-fold decrease in K'm. A positive effect of Ca2+ ions is intensified by ADP. Ca2+ counteracts the inhibition of the oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex activity by NADH. When chelating Ca2+ by EGTA with NADH available, a nonhyperbolic dependence of the reaction rate on the 2-oxoglutarate concentration is observed. When Ca2+ is absent, signs of a positive cooperative interaction of the enzyme with ADP and NADH are observed under conditions when 2-oxoglutarate concentration is much lower than the saturating one.     

Effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase within toluene-permeabilized mitochondria.

Mitochondria from rat epididymal white adipose tissue were made permeable to small molecules by toluene treatment and were used to investigate the effects of Mg2+ and Ca2+ on the re-activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate by endogenous phosphatase. Re-activation of fully phosphorylated enzyme after addition of 0.18 mM-Mg2+ showed a marked lag of 5-10 min before a maximum rate of reactivation was achieved. Increasing the Mg2+ concentration to 1.8 mM (near saturating) or the addition of 100 microM-Ca2+ resulted in loss of the lag phase, which was also greatly diminished if pyruvate dehydrogenase was not fully phosphorylated. It is concluded that, within intact mitochondria, phosphatase activity is highly sensitive to the degree of phosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase and that the major effect of Ca2+ may be to overcome the inhibitory effects of sites 2 and 3 on the dephosphorylation of site 1. Apparent K0.5 values for Mg2+ and Ca2+ were determined from the increases in pyruvate dehydrogenase activity observed after 5 min. The K0.5 for Mg2+ was diminished from 0.60 mM at less than 1 nM-Ca2+ to 0.32 mM at 100 microM-Ca2+; at 0.18 mM-Mg2+, the K0.5 for Ca2+ was 0.40 microM. Ca2+ had little or no effect at saturating Mg2+ concentrations. Since effects of Ca2+ are readily observed in intact coupled mitochondria, it follows that Mg2+ concentrations within mitochondria are sub-saturating for pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase and hence less than 0.5 mM.     

The sequestration of Ca2+ by mitochondria in rat heart cells

Rat heart ventricular cells, purified by Percoll density gradient centrifugation, were incubated in the presence of 1.3 mM CaCl2. After 20 min incubation, samples of the cells were lysed in medium containing 0.3 mM digitonin, ruthenium red and EGTA, and a mitochondrial fraction was isolated at intervals thereafter. Extrapolation of the mitochondrial 45Ca2+ contents to zero time enabled the endogenous 45Ca2+ to be estimated at the time of cell lysis. The lysis conditions yielded essentially complete release of lactate dehydrogenase from the cells, but caused negligible damage to the mitochondria as judged by their retention of glutamate dehydrogenase, and their ability to accumulate and retain Ca2+ in the absence of ruthenium red and EGTA. The data indicate that about 13% of total cell Ca2+ only may be mitochondrial in vivo.     

Regulation of NAD+-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase by Ca2+ ions within toluene-permeabilized rat heart mitochondria. Interactions with regulation by adenine nucleotides and NADH/NAD+ ratios.

1. Toluene-permeabilized rat heart mitochondria have been used to study the regulation of NAD+-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase by Ca2+, adenine and nicotinamide nucleotides, and to compare the properties of the enzymes in situ, with those in mitochondrial extracts. 2. Although K0.5 values (concn. giving half-maximal effect) for Ca2+ of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase were around 1 microM under all conditions, corresponding values for NAD+-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase were in the range 5-43 microM. 3. For both enzymes, K0.5 values for Ca2+ observed in the presence of ATP were 3-10-fold higher than those in the presence of ADP, with values increasing over the ADP/ATP range 0.0-1.0. 4. 2-Oxoglutarate dehydrogenase was less sensitive to inhibition by NADH when assayed in permeabilized mitochondria than in mitochondrial extracts. Similarly, the Km of NAD+-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase for threo-Ds-isocitrate was lower in permeabilized mitochondria than in extracts under all the conditions investigated. 5. It is concluded that in the intact heart Ca2+ activation of NAD+-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase may not necessarily occur in parallel with that of the other mitochondrial Ca2+-sensitive enzymes, 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase and the pyruvate dehydrogenase system.     

Decreased flux through pyruvate dehydrogenase during calcium ion movements induced by vasopressin, alpha-adrenergic agonists and the ionophore A23187 in perfused rat liver.

Vasopressin or alpha-adrenergic agents such as phenylephrine or adrenaline, but not glucagon, elicited an initial decrease in flux through pyruvate dehydrogenase assayed by 14CO2 production from [1-14C]pyruvate in perfused rat liver. This rapid decrease in 14CO2 production was maximal within 1-2 min of exposure, concomitant with a rise in effluent pyruvate concentration: a subsequent return towards initial values in both parameters was completed well before 5 min. This time course was superposed with Ca2+ efflux from perfused liver, maximal (at 116 nmol/min per g wet wt. of liver) at 1-2 min of exposure. The percentage of the active (dephospho) form of pyruvate dehydrogenase was not decreased at 2 min of exposure. The effect on flux through pyruvate dehydrogenase by phenylephrine was abolished by prazosine, phentolamine or phenoxybenzamine. Ionophore A23187 also caused a depression in 14CO2 production from [1-14C]pyruvate and a rise in effluent pyruvate concentration, but this effect was stable for longer times, and it was delayed when Ca2+ was omitted from the perfusion medium. Responses of phenylephrine and A23187 were not additive. The results demonstrate that under the experimental conditions employed in intact perfused liver, the mitochondrial multienzyme system of pyruvate dehydrogenase is sensitive to vasopressin, alpha-adrenergic agents and A23187. The similar time course in Ca2+ efflux may be indicative of the involvement of Ca2+ in mediating this effect.