Ricerche Sul Rigonfiamento di Piccola Ampiezza in Mitocondri Isolati di Pisello

Abstract

Low amplitude swelling in isolated pea mitochondria. — The authors have studied the volume changes of isolated pea internode mitochondria occurring in a medium which allows the oxidative activity to proceed. With succinate as substrate respiratory control ratios as high as 9 have been obtained. They can be taken as an index of a tight coupling of mitochondria. The adding of succinate induces on the other hand a slight but continuous swelling which is strongly enhanced by ADP or ATP. Inhibitors of the respiratory chain like antimycin A and of the phosphorylation reactions like atractylate or oligomycin block completely the ADP or ATP-induced swelling. 2,4-dinitrophenol at 5×10^?6 M concentration exerts a strong inhibitory action on succinate oxidation and on swelling. Both actions of 2,4-DNP can be reversed by ATP. It can be concluded from these findings that the substances which slow down or abolish the oxidative and phosphorylative reactions inhibit also mitochondrial swelling. This type of volume changes appears therefore to be strictly energy-dependent.     

Effects of kaempferol on the oxidative properties of intact plant mitochondria

The effects of kaempferol on the oxidative and phosphorylative properties of plant mitochondria from potato tubers and etiolated mung bean (Phaseolus aureus Roxb.) hypocotyls were investigated. Kaempferol inhibited the state 3 oxidation rate of malate, NADH, and succinate, but was without effect on the ascorbate-tetramethyl p-phenylenediamine oxidation rate. The inhibition was almost the same whether the mitochondria were in state 3 or in an uncoupled state 3. When 180 micromolar kaempferol was added during state 4, the tight coupling of succinate or NADH oxidation was not released. The results obtained indicate that kaempferol inhibits the mitochondrial electron flow at, or just after, the flavoprotein site.     

The effect of hypoxia on oxidative phosphorylation and lipid peroxidation in rat liver mitochondria upon lung inflammation

Hypoxic trainings of rats (maintenance in the test chamber at the "altitude" 4 km above the sea level for 7 hours a day for two weeks) prevent pneumonia-induced activation of peroxidation for lipids of the liver mitochondria. This increases the phosphorylating respiration rate when lipemic serum is used as an oxidation substrate (not succinate). In these experiments the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation (delta ADP/delta O) when either succinate and glutamate or glutamate and malate have been oxidated corresponded to the values typical of intact animals and was higher when lipemic serum was used. It is supposed that rearrangement of energy reactions of mitochondria is connected with intensification of utilization of lipids and conjugation between their oxidation and phosphorylation. This rearrangement is apparently aimed to prevent the energy deficiency in the organism which arises in patients with pneumonia.     

Effects of flavone on the oxidative properties of intact plant mitochondria

The effects of flavone on the oxidative and phosphorylative properties of plant mitochondria from potato tubers and etiolated mung bean hypocotyls were investigated. Flavone inhibited the state 3 oxidation rates of malate, NADH and, to a lesser extent, succinate but was without effect on the ascorbate-TMPD oxidation rate. The inhibition was the same whether the mitochondria were in state 3 or in an uncoupled state 3. When 100 μM flavone was added during the state 4, the tight coupling of succinate or NADH oxidation was not released. In the electron transfer chain, flavone inhibition appeared to be located in the flavoprotein region. All forms of NADH dehydrogenases seemed to be affected but the greatest inhibition appeared when exogenous NADH was used.     

Regulation of nonphosphorylating electron transport pathways in soybean cotyledon mitochondria and its implications for fat metabolism

The respiration of mitochondria isolated from germinating soybean cotyledons was strongly resistant to antimycin and KCN. This oxygen uptake was not related to lipoxygenase which was not detectable in purified mitochondria. The antimycin-resistant rate of O₂ uptake was greatest with succinate as substrate and least with exogenous NADH. Succinate was the only single substrate whose oxidation was inhibited by salicyl hydroxamic acid alone, indicating engagement of the alternative oxidase. Concurrent oxidation of two or three substrates led to greater involvement of the alternative oxidase. Despite substantial rotenone-resistant O₂ uptake with NAD-linked substrates, respiratory control was observed in the presence of antimycin, indicating restriction of electron flow through complex I. Addition of succinate to mitochondria oxidizing NAD-linked substrates in state four stimulated O₂ uptake substantially, largely by engaging the alternative oxidase. We suggest that these properties of soybean cotyledon mitochondria would enable succinate received from the glyoxysome during lipid metabolism to be rapidly oxidized, even under a high cytosolic energy charge.     

In vitro effects of inorganic lead on isolated rat brain mitochondrial respiration

The effects of lead acetate on respiration in cerebral and cerebellar mitochondria from immature and adult rats were studied polarographically. With all substrates low lead concentrations produced an increase in respiration. Higher concentrations produced an inhibition of both this lead-induced respiration and ADP-dependent (State 3) respiration. Lead-induced respiration required inorganic phosphate and was inhibited by oligomycin, suggesting a coupling to oxidative phosphorylation. Inhibition of respiration was produced by much lower lead concentrations with NAD-linked citric acid cycle substrates than with succinate or -glycerophosphate. In partially disrupted mitochondria, NAD-linked substrate oxidation was inhibited at lead concentrations which did not affect NADH oxidation. Thus, in brain mitochondria the NAD-linked dehydrogenases, located in the matrix space, were more sensitive to inhibition by lead than were inner membrane enzymes. All in vitro lead effects on mitochondrial respiration were comparable in cerebral and cerebellar mitochondria isolated from both immature and adult rats.     

Effect of KCl-medium on succinate oxidation and hydrogen peroxide generation in mitochondria of sugar beet taproot

The effect of substitution of KCl for sucrose in the reaction medium on succinate oxidation and hydrogen peroxide generation was investigated in the mitochondria isolated from stored taproots of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). In a sucrose-containing medium, oxidation of succinate was inhibited by oxaloacetate; this inhibition was especially pronounced upon a decrease in substrate concentration and eliminated in the presence of glutamate, which removed oxaloacetate in the course of transamination. Irrespective of succinate concentration, substitution of KCl for sucrose in the medium considerably enhanced suppression of succinate oxidation apparently as a result of slow activation of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) by its substrate. In this case, mitochondria showed the symptoms of uncoupling, lower values of membrane potential (ΔΨ), respiratory control (RC), and ADP/O induced by electrophoretic transport of potassium via K⁺ channel of mitochondria. KCl-dependent suppression of succinate oxidation by taproot mitochondria was accompanied by a considerable inhibition of H₂O₂ production as compared with the sucrose-containing medium. These results indicate that in the presence of potassium ions, ΔΨ dissipates, suppression of succinate oxidation by oxaloacetate increases, and succinate-dependent generation of ROS in sugar beet mitochondria is inhibited. A possible physiological role of oxaloacetate-restricted SDH activity in the suppression of respiration of storage organs protecting mitochondria from oxidative stress is discussed.     

Control of state 3 respiration in liver mitochondria from rats subjected to chronic ethanol consumption

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pair-fed a liquid diet containing 36% of calories as ethanol for at least 31 days. Mitochondria were isolated from the livers and assayed for state 3, state 4 and uncoupled respiration at all three coupling sites. Assay conditions were established that maximized state 3 respiration with each substrate while maintaining a high respiratory control ratio. In mitochondria from ethanol-fed animals, state 3 respiratory rates were decreased at all three coupling sites. The decreased state 3 rate observed at site III was still significantly higher than the state 3 rates observed at site II in mitochondria from either ethanol-fed or control animals. Moreover, the maximal (FCCP-uncoupled) rates with succinate and alpha-ketoglutarate were the same in mitochondria from ethanol-fed and control animals, whereas with glutamate-malate as substrate it was lowered 23% by chronic ethanol consumption. To investigate the role of cytochrome oxidase in modulating the respiratory rate with site I and site II substrates, the effects of cyanide on state 3 and FCCP-uncoupled respiration were determined. When the mitochondria were uncoupled there was no decrease in the rate of succinate oxidation until the rates of ascorbate and succinate oxidation became equivalent. Conversely, parallel inhibition of ascorbate, succinate and glutamate-malate state 3 respiratory rates were observed at all concentrations (1-50 microM) of cyanide utilized. These observations suggest strongly that in coupled mitochondria ethanol-elicited decreases in cytochrome oxidase activity depress the state 3 respiratory rates with site I and II substrates.     

Control of state 3 respiration in liver mitochondria from rats subjected to chronic ethanol consumption

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pair-fed a liquid diet containing 36% of calories as ethanol for at least 31 days. Mitochondria were isolated from the livers and assayed for state 3, state 4 and uncoupled respiration at all three coupling sites. Assay conditions were established that maximized state 3 respiration with each substrate while maintaining a high respiratory control ratio. In mitochondria from ethanol-fed animals, state 3 respiratory rates were decreased at all three coupling sites. The decreased state 3 rate observed at site III was still significantly higher than the state 3 rates observed at site II in mitochondria from either ethanol-fed or control animals. Moreover, the maximal (FCCP-uncoupled) rates with succinate and -ketoglutarate were the same in mitochondria from ethanol-fed and control animals, whereas with glutamate-malate as substrate it was lowered 23% by chronic ethanol consumption. To investigate the role of cytochrome oxidase in modulating the respiratory rate with site I and site II substrates, the effects of cyanide on state 3 and FCCP-uncoupled respiration were determined. When the mitochondria were uncoupled there was no decrease in the rate of succinate oxidation until the rates of ascorbate and succinate oxidation became equivalent. Conversely, parallel inhibition of ascorbate, succinate and glutamate-malate state 3 respiratory rates were observed at all concentrations (1–50 μM) of cyanide utilized. These observations suggest strongly that in coupled mitochondria ethanol-elicited decreases in cytochrome oxidase activity depress the state 3 respiratory rates with site I and II substrates.     

Oxidation processes and ubiquinone localization in the branched respiratory system of mi-1 mutant of Neurospora crassa.

1. Stimulation of succinate oxidation in mi-1 mitochondria by Mg2+ and Pi is abolished on uncoupling, which points to the energy-linked activation of succinate oxidation. 2. Mitochondria exhibited respiratory control with succinate and NADH when the cyanide-insensitive oxidation was inhibited by salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM). SHAM lowered the oxidation rate with NADH and succinate to the same level, though the NADH oxidation rate was 2.5 times as high as with succinate. 3. Despite the high stimulation of succinate oxidation via the SHAM-sensitive pathway in the active and controlled state of mitochondria, the redox state of UQ in all metabolic states remains unchanged. On inhibition of the cyanide-insensitive pathway, UQ reduction is greatly increased only in the controlled and active state. With NADH as a substrate, UQ does not respond to the metabolic states of mitochondria. 4. The redox changes of cytochrome c parallel those of UQ. 5. Branching of the respiratory chain in mi-1 mitochondria is discussed.     

States of succinate dehydrogenase in the organism: Dormant vs. hyperactive (pushed out of equilibrium)

Using an original cytobiochemical method to study oxidation in mitochondria, preserving their native network organization within cells in a blood smear, we have revealed a hyperactive state of succinate dehydrogenase that arises in the organism under physiological stress. This is generally consistent with the notion of non-equilibrium state of enzymes during their activity. The mechanism moderating the succinate dehydrogenase hyperactivity is based on full-fledged functioning of α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, sup-ported by oxidation of isocitrate.     

Respiratory properties and malate metabolism in Percoll-purified mitochondria isolated from pineapple, Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. cv. smooth cayenne

An investigation was made of the respiratory properties and the role of the mitochondria isolated from one phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK)-CAM plant Ananas comosus (pineapple) in malate metabolism during CAM phase III. Pineapple mitochondria showed very high malate dehydrogenase (MDH), and low malic enzyme (ME) and glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) activities. The mitochondria readily oxidized succinate and NADH with high rates and coupling, while they only oxidized NADPH in the presence of Ca(2+). Pineapple mitochondria oxidized malate with low rates under most assay conditions, despite increasing malate concentrations, optimizing pH, providing cofactors such as coenzyme A, thiamine pyrophosphate, and NAD(+), and supplying individually external glutamate or GOT. However, providing glutamate and GOT simultaneously strongly increased the rates of malate oxidation. The OAA easily permeated the mitochondrial membranes to import into or export out of pineapple mitochondria during malate oxidation, but the mitochondria did not consume external Asp or alpha-KG. These results suggest that OAA played a significant role in the mitochondrial malate metabolism of pineapple, in which malate was mainly oxidized by active mMDH to produce OAA which could be exported outside the mitochondria via a malate-OAA shuttle. Cytosolic GOT then consumed OAA by transamination in the presence of glutamate, leading to a large increase in respiration rates. The malate-OAA shuttle might operate as a supporting system for decarboxylation in phase III of PCK-CAM pineapple. This shuttle system may be important in pineapple to provide a source of energy and substrate OAA for cytosolic PCK activity during the day when cytosolic OAA and ATP was limited for the overall decarboxylation process.     

The Respiratory Chain of Plant Mitochondria: XI. Electron Transport from Succinate to Endogenous Pyridine Nucleotide in Mung Bean Mitochondria

Energy-linked reverse electron transport from succinate to endogenous NAD in tightly coupled mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) mitochondria may be driven by ATP if the two terminal oxidases of these mitochondria are inhibited, or may be driven by the free energy of succinate oxidation. This reaction is specific to the first site of energy conservation of the respiratory chain; it does not occur in the presence of uncoupler. If mung bean mitochondria become anaerobic during oxidation of succinate, their endogenous NAD becomes reduced in the presence of uncoupler, provided that both inorganic phosphate (P_i) and ATP are present. No reduction occurs in the absence of P_i, even in the presence of ATP added to provide a high phosphate potential. If fluorooxaloacetate is present in the uncoupled, aerobic steady state, no reduction of endogenous NAD occurs on anaerobiosis; this compound is an inhibitor of malate dehydrogenase. This result implies that endogenous NAD is reduced by malate formed from the fumarate generated during succinate oxidation. The source of free energy is most probably the endogenous energy stores in the form of acetyl CoA, or intermediates convertible to acetyl CoA, which removes the oxaloacetate formed from malate, thus driving the reaction towards reduction of NAD.     

Biochemical and evolutionary aspects of anaerobically functioning mitochondria

Mitochondria are usually considered to be the powerhouses of the cell and to be responsible for the aerobic production of ATP. However, many eukaryotic organisms are known to possess anaerobically functioning mitochondria, which differ significantly from classical aerobically functioning mitochondria. Recently, functional and phylogenetic studies on some enzymes involved clearly indicated an unexpected evolutionary relationship between these anaerobically functioning mitochondria and the classical aerobic type. Mitochondria evolved by an endosymbiotic event between an anaerobically functioning archaebacterial host and an aerobic alpha-proteobacterium. However, true anaerobically functioning mitochondria, such as found in parasitic helminths and some lower marine organisms, most likely did not originate directly from the pluripotent ancestral mitochondrion, but arose later in evolution from the aerobic type of mitochondria after these were already adapted to an aerobic way of life by losing their anaerobic capacities. This review will focus on some biochemical and evolutionary aspects of these fermentative mitochondria, with special attention to fumarate reductase, the synthesis of the rhodoquinone involved, and the enzymes involved in acetate production (acetate : succinate CoA-transferase and succinyl CoA-synthetase).     

Synaptosomal bioenergetics. The role of glycolysis, pyruvate oxidation and responses to hypoglycaemia

The bioenergetic interaction between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation in isolated nerve terminals (synaptosomes) from guinea-pig cerebral cortex is characterized. Essentially all synaptosomes contain functioning mitochondria. There is a tight coupling between glycolytic rate and respiration: uncoupler causes a tenfold increase in glycolysis and a sixfold increase in respiration. Synaptosomes contain little endogenous glycolytic substrate and glycolysis is dependent on external glucose. In glucose-free media, or following addition of iodoacetate, synaptosomes continue to respire and to maintain high ATP/ADP ratios. In contrast to glucose, the endogenous substrate can neither maintain high respiration in the presence of uncoupler nor generate ATP in the presence of cyanide. Pyruvate, but not succinate, is an excellent substrate for intact synaptosomes. The in-situ mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi m) is highly dependent upon the availability of glycolytic or exogenous pyruvate; glucose deprivation causes a 20-mV depolarization, while added pyruvate causes a 6-mV hyperpolarization even in the presence of glucose. Inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase by arsenite or pyruvate transport by alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate has little effect on ATP/ADP ratios; however respiratory capacity is severely restricted. It is concluded that synaptosomes are valuable models for studying the control of mitochondrial substrate supply in situ.     

Contracted state as an energy source for ca binding and ca + inorganic phosphate accumulation by corn mitochondria

An investigation has been made of the possibility of utilizing the potential energy of the contracted state of corn mitochondria to drive Ca + inorganic phosphate accumulation. Contraction was obtained with succinate or NADH oxidation. In the succinate experiments the mitochondria were contracted in buffered KCl layered over sucrose in centrifuge tubes and centrifuged down through distinct wash, reactive and isotope exchange layers. In the NADH experiments, ion accumulation was initiated upon exhaustion of the substrate. The results show that mitochondria in the contracted state will actively bind some ⁴⁵Ca, but no real accumulation occurs until inorganic phosphate is available. Substrate powered contraction in the presence of inorganic phosphate also provides a potential for accumulation upon subsequent reaction of the mitochondria with Ca. It is deducted that contraction is due to X~I formation, to which Ca will bind. Subsequent reaction with inorganic phosphate produces CaX~P, which is the transport moiety. When X~P is formed first, Ca also reacts to produce CaX~P. Hence it is immaterial which ion reacts first with the contracted state. Contraction is believed to result from the action of a mechanoenzyme, presumably I~. The stability of CaX~I must be low for the mitochondria swell very rapidly upon exhaustion of NADH or blocking of succinate oxidation by cyanide.     

Structuro-kinetic organization of the tricarboxylic acid cycle in the active functioning of mitochondria

Taking into account structural and functional organization of mitochondrial processes it has been shown that at active work there functions in mitochondria an accelerated mechanism of succinic acid formation via coupling of glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase and alpha-ketoglutaratdehydrogenase. This way is closed up into a cycle with the participation of cytosol transaminases which support influx of glutamate, pyruvate and malic acid into mitochondria. When provision of the mitochondria with the substrate proceeds along the transaminase pathway the initial slow region of the tricarboxylic acid cycle is omitted. Thus at active work a faster course is selected. It permits realization of the advantages of succinate dehydrogenase high activity and of oxidation efficiency of succinic acid generated in mitochondria which is essentially higher than that under oxidation of succinic acid and even more of other substrates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle.     

Effect of chronic ethanol consumption on energy-linked processes associated with oxidative phosphorylation: Proton translocation and ATP-Pi exchange

Male rats were administered an ethanol-containing diet for 31 days during which time they demonstrated fatty liver. Mitochondria and submitochondrial particles were prepared from their livers (ethanol mitochondria, ethanol submitochondrial particles) and from their pair-fed partners (control mitochondria, control submitochondrial particles). The H⁺/coupling site ratio was not significantly different in ethanol and control mitochondria with succinate as electron donor. A 13% decrease in the H⁺/coupling site ratio was observed in ethanol mitochondria, however, when β-hydroxybutyrate was used as substrate. The rate of ATP-P_i exchange was decreased significantly in both ethanol mitochondria and submitochondrial particles as compared to control preparations. These observations demonstrate ethanol-elicited decreases in energy conservation in the site I region of the electron transport chain and in the activity of the ATP synthetase complex.     

On the Mechanism of Respiratory Control

Control of oxidation is the key mechanism in the regulation of energy metabolism. In glycolysis the oxidation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate is controlled by DPNH, which inhibits glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. In oxidative phosphorylation the inhibition of electron flow from DPNH to oxygen, called "respiratory control," is the subject of this paper. After a discussion of the physiological significance of the "tight coupling" between phosphorylation and oxidation, studies on "loosely coupled" submitochondrial particles are reported. These particles are capable of oxidative phosphorylation in the presence of a suitable phosphate acceptor system, but in contrast to controlled, intact mitochondria they oxidize DPNH in the absence of phosphate and ADP. The addition of o-phenanthroline to submitochondrial particles gives rise to an inhibition of respiration, which is partly reversed by phosphate and ADP or by dinitrophenol. The properties of this model system of respiratory control will be described.     

Studies on yeast mitochondria: Some properties of mitochondria isolated from Saccharomyces Carlsbergensis grown in normal glucose medium

1. Mitochondria isolated from Saccharomyces Carlsbergensis are found to have three phosphorylation sites in the respiratory chain for the oxidation of NADH and NAD⁺-linked substrates and two for succinate oxidation. Freshly isolated mitochondria exist in an inhibited state with no respiratory control, but on ageing for 2–3 h a good coupled state is obtained. -Ketogultarate and -glycerophosphate are poorly oxidized in these mitochondria.

2. Exogenous NADH is a very good substrate for yeast mitochondrial respiration and apparently has a very low K_m. However, one-third of the added NADH is not available for oxidation probably due to some form of compartmentation. Studies of both oxygen uptake and the redox changes of cytochrome b show complete oxidation of two-third of the added NADH.

3. Difference spectra of yeast mitochondria at liquid-nitrogen temperatures show all the characteristic peaks of cytochromes a (600 nm), b (558, 525 and 428 nm), c₁ (552 nm) and c (545 and 516 nm).

4. The reduction of cytochrome b by dicumarol in antimycin A inhibited mitochondria provides evidence for an energy conservation site on the substrate side of cytochrome b.

5. In the absence of added ADP, the oxidation of malate and pyruvate occurs in the yeast mitochondria in a new respiratory state (State X) where the oxygen uptake occurs at State 4 rate but the redox level of the flavins, cytochrome b and c are similar to State 3. State X respiration is believed to be due to depletion of the high energy intermediate C I caused by the substrate anions accumulation.

6. The responses of yeast mitochondria to Ca²⁺ are qualitatively similar to those in rat liver mitochondria, particularly with respect to respiratory stimulation, membrane alkalinization and its accumulation in the mitochondria with succinate as the substrate in the presence and absence of acetate.