Control of mitochondrial respiration by the phosphate potential

The rate of respiration of suspensions of mitochondria in the presence of excess oxygen and substrate is shown to be dependent on the ratio of the concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to the product of the concentrations of adenosine diphosphate and orthophosphate. The mitochondrial respiratory chain is essentially in equilibrium with the reactions for ATP synthesis. The rate of mitochondrial respiration is controlled by the free energy requirement for ATP synthesis and this control is expressed on the rates of the reactions for reduction of the dehydrogenases by substrate and the oxidation of cytochrome $\text{a}{}_3$ by molecular oxygen.     

A sensitive method for the quantitative estimation of cytochromes a and a3 in tissues

A sensitive, low-temperature spectrophotometric method has been developed for independently estimating the quantities of cytochromes a and a₃ in a single, hemoglobin- and/or myoglobin-contaminated tissue homogenate or cell suspension. The concentration dependence of cytochrome absorption at liquid nitrogen temperature and the intensification of the cytochrome absorbance due to light scattering by the frozen hyperosmotic sucrose solution were used for detecting small amounts of cytochromes. The absorbance due to contaminated hemoglobin and myoglobin was cancelled in the difference spectrum by pretreating the sample with CO:O₂ (50:50) mixed gas. The resulting cytochrome $\text{a}{}_3{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{-}\text{CO}$ compound was irreversibly photolyzed at ?196°C, thus permitting us to obtain a fully reduced minus oxidized difference spectrum of the cytochromes. The method depends upon the non-Arrhenius behavior of carboxyhemoglobin and carboxymyoglobin which enables them to recombine with the CO molecule at the temperature of liquid nitrogen. Cytochrome a₃ does not exhibit this extreme non-Arrhenius behavior and hence does not recombine at the low temperature. Two to five picomoles of cytochromes could be estimated by this method.     

The invisible copper of cytochrome c oxidase. pH and ATP dependence of its midpoint potential and its role in the oxygen reaction.

Formation of the CO compound has been studied in intact mitochondria, submitochondrial particles and isolated cytochrome oxidase. The reaction requires the prior reduction of both cytochrome a₃ and one other single-electron acceptor. It is inferred that the second acceptor is the “invisible” copper which is undetectable by both optical and spin resonance spectroscopy. The overall process can be viewed as two single electron steps plus a ligand binding reaction. At high concentrations of CO, when titrations are performed at oxidation-reduction potentials significantly above the midpoints of either cytochrome a₃ or “invisible” copper, appearance of the CO compound follows a strict n = 2 (2-electron) relationship. Its midpoint potential is also dependent on the prevailing concentration of CO and is increased by approx. 30 mV for each tenfold increase in the level of CO. At redox potentials approaching the midpoints of cytochrome a₃ or “invisible” copper, significant deviations from n = 2 behavior are apparent which are readily detectable experimentally using low CO concentrations.A mathematical analysis of this model is presented and the oxidation-reduction properties of the CO compound are utilized to determine the midpoint potential of the “invisible” copper. This value is estimated to be 340 ± 10 mV at pH 7.8, independent of pH and the prevailing $\text{sol}\text{[ATP]}\text{[ADP]}\text{× [}\text{P}{}_1\text{]}$ ratio.By analogy with the observations on CO binding, the primary intermediate in the oxidase reaction with oxygen is concluded to be a bridged a₃²⁺-O₂-Cu¹⁺ complex. The initial reduction of molecular oxygen can then proceed via a thermodynamically favorable two-electron step to form a bridged peroxide intermediate. Subsequent reduction to water may later occur by way of two single-electron steps or one two-electron step.     

Kinetic parameters for the binding of p-nitrophenyl alpha-d-mannopyranoside to concanavalin A.

Binding of the chromogenic ligand p-nitrophenyl α-d-mannopyranoside to concanavalin A was studied in a stopped-flow spectrometer. Formation of the protein-ligand complex could be represented as a simple one-step process. No kinetic evidence could be obtained for a ligand-induced change in the conformation of concanavalin A, although the existence of such a conformational change was not excluded. The entire change in absorbance produced on ligand binding occurred in the monophasic process monitored in the stopped-flow spectrometer. The value of the apparent second-order rate constant (k_a) for complex formation (k_a = 54,000 s^?1m^? at 25 °C, pH 5.0, Γ/2 0.5) was independent of the protein concentration when the protein was in the range of 233–831 μm in combining sites and in excess of the ligand. The apparent first-order rate constant (k_?a) for dissociation of the complex was obtained from the rate constant for the decomposition of the complex upon the addition of excess methyl α-d-mannopyranoside (k_?a = 6.2 s^?1 at 25 °C, pH 5.0, Γ/2 0.5). The ratio $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>?</mtext><mtext>a</mtext>}}$ (0.9 × 10₄m^?1) was in reasonable agreement with value of 1.1 ± 0.1 × 10⁴m^?1 determined for the equilibrium constant for complex formation by ultraviolet difference spectrometry. Plots of ln($\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}\text{T}$) and ln($\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}\text{T}$) vs $\text{1}\text{T}$ were linear (T is temperature) and were used to evaluate activation parameters. The enthalpies of activation for formation and dissociation of the complex are 9.5 ± 0.3 and 16.8 ± 0.2 kcal/mol, respectively. The unitary entropies of activation for formation and dissociation of the complex are 2.8 ± 1.1 and 1.3 ± 0.7 entropy units, respectively. These entropy changes are much less than those usually associated with substantial changes in the conformation of proteins.     

The reversal of the myosin and actomyosin ATPase reactions and the free energy of ATP binding to myosin

Evidence is presented that both myosin and actomyosin in presence of Mg²⁺ and KCl catalyze an incorporation of ³²P_i into ATP. The rate with actomyosin is about $\text{1}\text{500}$ the rate of ATP hydrolysis; the rate with myosin is less than $\text{1}\text{100}$ of that with actomyosin. With myosin, but not with actomyosin, an apparent initial “burst” of ³²P_i incorporation into ATP is observed. Actin binding thus promotes ATP dissociation. The data with myosin allow estimation of both the amount of enzyme-bound [³²P]-ATP present and the rate constant, k_?1, for dissociation of the myosin· ATP. From these results and other data a ?ΔG^o for ATP binding to myosin of 12–13 kcal/mole may be estimated, with a much lower ?ΔG^o for hydrolysis of enzyme-bound ATP. Protein conformational change accompanying ATP binding appears to be the principal means of capture of energy from the overall reaction of ATP cleavage.     

EPR study of the effect of formate on cytochrome C oxidase

The addition of formate to oxidized cytochrome $\text{c}$ oxidase (ferrocytochrome $\text{c}$: oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.9.3.1) causes the appearance of a high spin heme signal at g = 6 and a splitting of g = 3 signal to g = 2.98 and 3.07. When formate-cytochrome $\text{c}$ oxidase is reduced, the g = 2.98 signal decreases significantly. The spectrophotometric studies showed that formate is a specific ligand to cytochrome $\text{a}$₃. Data suggest that binding of formate to oxidized cytochrome $\text{c}$ oxidase produces a ligand-$\text{a}$₃ interaction leading to the splitting of g = 3 signal hitherto considered as due to cytochrome $\text{a}$. Thus both cytochrome $\text{a}$ and $\text{a}$₃ contribute to the resonance of g = 3 signal of cytochrome $\text{c}$ oxidase.     

The oxygen dependence of cellular energy metabolism.

Suspensions of cultured C 1300 neuroblastoma cells, sarcoma 180 ascites tumor cells, and Tetrahymena pyriformis cells were used to study the oxygen dependence of cellular energy metabolism. Cellular respiration was found to be almost independent of oxygen tension to values of less than 20 μm with an apparent K_m for oxygen of less than 1 μm. In contrast, the reduction of mitochondrial cytochrome c was found to be dependent on oxygen tension at all values from 240 μm downward. Oxygen dependence was also observed in terms of cellular energy metabolism expressed as adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate concentrations. These data provide direct evidence that in intact cells mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation is oxygen dependent throughout the physiological range of oxygen tension (air saturation and below). The respiratory rate is maintained constant when the oxygen tension is lowered by decreasing values of the cytosolic $\text{[ATP]}\text{[ADP]}\text{[P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}\text{]}$ and intramitochondrial $\text{[NAD]}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{]}\text{[NADH]}$ because these regulatory parameters adjust to maintain a constant rate of ATP synthesis. The lack of oxygen dependence in the respiratory rate means that the rate of cellular ATP utilization is essentially oxygen independent until the mitochondria can no longer synthesize ATP at the required rate and $\text{[ATP]}\text{[ADP]}\text{[P}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}\text{]}$.     

Nucleotide exchange and control of ATPase activity in Rhodospirillum rubrum chromatophores

(1) Light-activated ‘dark’ ATPase in Rhodospirillum rubrum chromatophores is inhibited by preincubation with ADP or ATP (in the absence of Mg²⁺). I₅₀ values were 0.5 and 6 μM, respectively, after 20 s of preincubation. (2) In the absence of MgATP, the rate constant for dissociation of ADP or ATP from the inhibitory site was less than 0.2 min^?1 in deenergized membranes. Illumination in the absence of MgATP caused an increase of over 60-fold in both rate constants. (3) In some experiments hydrolysis was performed in the presence of 10 μM Mg²⁺ and 0.2 mM MgATP. Under these conditions, the ADP or ATP inhibition was reversed within about 20 or about 80 s, respectively, after the onset of hydrolysis. This suggests that recovery from ADP or ATP inhibition (i.e., release of tightly bound ADP or ATP) in the dark is induced by MgATP binding to a second nucleotide-binding site on the enzyme. (4) Results obtained with variable concentrations of uncoupler suggest that in the absence of bound Mg²⁺ (see below), MgATP-induced release of tightly bound ADP or ATP does not require a transmembrane . This, together with the inhibitor/substrate ratios prevalent during hydrolysis, suggests that these reactivation reactions involve MgATP binding to a high-affinity binding site (Kd < 2 μM). (5) At high concentrations of uncoupler, a time-dependent inhibition of hydrolysis occurred in the control chromatophores as well as in the nucleotide-pretreated chromatophores. This deactivation was dependent on Mg²⁺. In addition, MgATP-dependent reversal of ADP inhibition in the dark was inhibited by Mg²⁺ at concentrations above 20–30 μM. By contrast, MgATP-dependent reversal of ADP inhibition occurs within 3–4 s, despite the presence of high concentrations of Mg²⁺ if the chromatophores are illuminated during contact with the nucleotides. Uncoupler abolishes the effect of illumination. A reaction scheme incorporating these findings is proposed. (6) The implications of these findings for the mechanism of lightactivation of ATP hydrolysis (Slooten, L. and Nuyten, A., (1981) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 638, 305–312) are discussed.     

Maintenance of microsomal cytochromes b5 and P-450 in primary cultures of parenchymal liver cells on collagen membranes

In previous reports from various laboratories, the levels of the microsomal cytochromes b₅ and P-450 in hepatocytes in primary culture have been found to be very low and difficult to measure. The studies reported in this paper demonstrate that cytochromes b₅ and P-450 in hepatocytes cultured on floating collagen membranes for periods of at least 10 days are maintained at levels readily measured by conventional techniques and comparable to those of liver $\text{in}$$\text{vivo}$. Addition of high levels of hydrocortisone (10^?4M) to the culture medium for periods up to 10 days resulted in further increases in the levels of these cytochromes. Cells cultured in the presence of hydrocortisone exhibited the appearance of cytochrome P-448, in contrast to the cells cultured in the absence of hydrocortisone, where cytochrome P-450 was maintained.     

Catalytic activity of cytochromes c and c1 in mitochondria and submitochondrial particles

1. Beef heart mitochondria have a cytochrome c₁ : c : aa₃ ratio of 0.65 : 1.0 : 1.0 as isolated; Keilin-Hartree submitochondrial particles have a ratio of 0.65 : 0.4 : 1.0. More than 50% of the submitochondrial particle membrane is in the ‘inverted’ configuration, shielding the catalytically active cytochrome c. The ‘endogenous’ cytochrome c of particles turns over at a maximal rate between 450 and 550 s^?1 during the oxidation of succinate or ascorbate plus TMPD; the maximal turnover rate for cytochrome c in mitochondria is 300–400 s^?1, at 28° – 30°C, pH 7.4.2. Ascorbate plus N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylene diamine added to antimycin-treated particles induces anomalous absorption increases between 555 and 565 nm during the aerobic steady state, which disappear upon anaerobiosis; succinate addition abolishes this cycle and permits the partial resolution of cytochrome c₁ and cytochrome c steady states at 552.5–547 nm and 550–556.5 nm, respectively.3. Cytochrome c₁ is rather more reduced than cytochrome c during the oxidation of succinate and of ascorbate+N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylene diamine in both mitochondria and submitochondrial particles; a near equilibrium condition exists between cytochromes c₁ and c in the aerobic steady state, with a rate constant for the c₁ → c reduction step greater than 10³ s^?1.4. The greater apparent response of the $\text{c}\text{aa}{}_3$ electron transfer step to salts, the hyperbolic inhibition of succinate oxidation by azide and cyanide, and the kinetic behaviour of the succinate-cytochrome c reductase system, are all explicable in terms of a near-equilibrium condition prevailing at the $\text{c}{}_1\text{c}$ step. Endogenous cytochrome c of mitochondria and submitochondrial particles is apparently largely bound to cytochrome aa₃ units in situ. Cytochrome c₁ can either reduce the cytochrome c-cytochrome aa₃ complex directly, or requires only a small extra amount of cytochrome c to carry the full electron transfer flux.     

Human complex-forming glycoprotein, heterogeneous in charge: the primary structure around the cysteine residues and characterization of a disulfide bridge

L-929 cell surface membranes have been assayed in vitro and found to contain significant protein kinase activity. A steady-state kinetic analysis indicated that at least two distinct protein kinases were present. Plots of reaction velocity (v) against substrate (ATP) concentration were distinctly biphasic, as were Lineweaver-Burk plots of $\text{1}\text{v}$ versus $\text{1}\text{ATP}$. Michaelis constants of the two enzymes were calculated to be 22 and 173 μm, respectively. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel analysis of the phosphorylated membrane proteins provided additional support for the existence of more than one protein kinase. Different endogenous proteins were phosphorylated at 1 μm ATP compared to 1 μm ATP. Further studies of the low K_m (22 μm) enzyme suggested that it is a typical cyclic 3′,5′-AMP-independent protein kinase. Its activity was dependent on the presence of Mg²⁺, but it was not affected by cyclic 3′,5′-AMP, cyclic 3′,5′-GMP, or the heat-stable inhibitor of cyclic 3′,5′-AMP-dependent protein kinases. ATP and GTP, but not other nucleoside triphosphates, could serve as phosphoryl donor and maximum kinase activity was expressed at pH 7.0. Phosvitin and casein were superior to histones as exogenous substrates for the low K_m enzyme.     

A thermodynamic characterisation of the cytochromes of chromatophores from Rhodopseudomonas capsulata

1. The cytochromes of chromatophores from photosynthetically grown Rhodopseudomonas capsulata have been characterised both spectrally, using the carotenoid free mutant Ala Pho⁺, and thermodynamically, using the technique of redox titrations. Five cytochromes were present; two cytochromes b, E′₀ = 60 mV at pH 7.0; and three cytochromes c, E′₀ = 340 mV, $\text{E}\text{t}\text{?}{}_0\text{= 120}\text{mV}$, E′₀ = 0 mV at pH 7.0.2. Redox titrations at different values of pH indicated that the mid point potentials of all the cytochromes varied with pH over some parts of the range between pH 6 and 9, with the possible exception of cytochrome c₃₄₀.3. The effects of succinate and NADH on the steady state reduction of the cytochromes are reported. Succinate could reduce cytochromes c₃₄₀, c₁₂₀ and b₆₀; NADH could reduce cytochromes c₃₄₀, c₁₂₀, b₆₀ and b_?25. Cytochrome c₀ could be reduced by dithionite but not by the other substrates tested.     

Purification and characterization of cytochrome C3 (Mr 26,000) isolated from Desulfovibriodesulfuricans Norway strain

An acidic cytochrome c (P_i = 4.8) has been purified from $\text{Desulfovibrio}\text{desulfuricans}$ Norway. Its molecular weight was estimated to be 26,000 but a monomeric form of 13,500 molecular weight has been obtained. The comparison of its amino acid composition and N terminal sequence has characterized this cytochrome as a new cytochrome, different from cytochrome c₃ (Mr 13,000) and cytochrome c_553(550) studied in the same organism. Its optical spectrum was similar to cytochrome c₃ (Mr 13,000) accordingly it has 4 haems per subunit. The absence of absorption at 695 nm indicates that two histidine residues are implicated as fifth and sixth ligand for haem iron. This new cytochrome is homologous to the cytochrome C₃ (Mr 26,000) previously described for $\text{Desulfovibrio}\text{gigas}$ and $\text{Desulfovibrio}\text{vulgaris}$.     

Effect of membrane potential on equilibrium poise between cytochromea and cytochromec in rat liver mitochondria

The object of this work was to test the suggestion that the equilibrium poise between cytochromea and cytochromec in mitochondria might be influenced by the membrane potential.

1. The midpoint potentials of cytochromes (c+c ₁) and cytochromea (CO present) were found to be 250 mV and 245 mV, respectively, by equilibrating rat liver mitochondria with mixtures of ferrocyanide and ferricyanide anaerobically in presence of antimycin A and measuring the redox state of the cytochromes spectrophotometrically. In absence of CO, cytochrome oxidase gave an anomalous redox titration curve with a “midpoint” at about 275 mV.
2. When the mitochondria were equilibrated with ferricyanide/ferrocyanide, the redox poise of cytochromea (CO present) and of cytochromes (a+a ₃) but not of cytochromes (c+c ₁) was dependent on the sign and magnitude of the membrane potential developed by treating the mitochondria as follows: by adding ATP, by chaging the composition of the suspension medium so as to vary the Donnan or Nernst potential, by adding valinomycin in a medium of low K⁺ ion content, or by adding a pulse of acid or alkali when the membrane was made permeable to protons with FCCP.
3. The findings agree with the suggestion that the respiratory chain is arranged across the cristae membrane with cytochromesc ₁ andc in contact with the outer phase and cytochromesa anda ₃ plugged through, so that the equilibrium distribution of electrons between thec anda cytochromes is influenced by the electric field across the membrane.

     

Adenosine triphosphate sulfurylase from Penicillium chrysogenum equilibrium binding, substrate hydrolysis, and isotope exchange studies.

ATP sulfurylase from Penicillium chrysogenum was purified to homogeneity. The enzyme binds 8 mol of free ATP (K_s = 0.53 mM) or AMP (K_s = 0.50 mM) per 440,000 g. The results are consistent with our earlier report that the enzyme is composed of eight identical subunits of M_r 55,000 (J. W. Tweedie and I. H. Segel, 1971, Prep. Biochem. 1, 91–117; J. Biol. Chem. 246, 2438–2446). In the absence of cosubstrates, the purified enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of MgATP (to AMP and MgPP_i) and adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate (APS) (to AMP and SO₄^2?). MgATP hydrolysis is inhibited by nonreactive sulfate analogs such as nitrate, chlorate, and formate (uncompetitive with MgATP). In spite of the hydrolytic reactions it is possible to observe the binding of MgATP and APS to the enzyme in a qualitative (nonequilibrium) manner. Neither inorganic sulfate (the cosubstrate of the forward reaction) nor formate or inorganic phosphate (inhibitors competitive with sulfate) will bind to the free enzyme in detectable amounts in the absence or in the presence of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, free ATP, or a nonreactive analog of MgATP such as Mg-α,β-methylene-ATP. Similarly, inorganic pyrophosphate (the cosubstrate of the reverse reaction) will not bind in the absence or in the presence of Mg²⁺ or Ca²⁺. The induced binding of ³²P_i (presumably to the sulfate site) can be observed in the presence of MgATP. The results are consistent with the obligately ordered binding sequence deduced from the steady-state kinetics (J. Farley et al., 1976, J. Biol. Chem. 251, 4389–4397) and suggest that the subsites for SO^2?₄ or MgPP_i appear only after nucleotide cleavage to form E~AMP · MgPP_i or E~AMP · SO₄ complexes. The suggestion is supported by the relative values of K_ia (ca. 1 mm for MgATP) and K_iq (ca. 1 αm for APS) and by the inconsistent value of k_?1 calculated from $\text{V}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>f</mtext>}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext><mtext>a</mtext>}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext><mtext>A</mtext>}}$ (The value is considerably less than V_r) Purified ATP sulfurylase will also catalyze a Mg³²PP_i-MgATP exchange in the absence of SO₄^2?. A ³⁵SO₄^2?-APS exchange could not be demonstrated in the absence or presence of MgPP_i. This result was not unexpected: The rate of APS hydrolysis (or conversion to MgATP) is extremely rapid compared to the expected exchange rate. Also, the pool of APS at equilibrium is extremely small compared to the sulfate pool. The V values for molybdolysis, APS hydrolysis (in the absence of PP_i), ATP synthesis (from APS + MgPP_i), and Mg³²PP_i-MgATP exchange at saturating sulfate are all about equal (12–19 μmol × min^?1 × mg of enzyme^?1). The rates of Mg³²PP_i-MgATP exchange in the absence of sulfate, APS synthesis (from MgATP + sulfate), and MgATP hydrolysis (in the absence of sulfate) are considerably slower (0.10 – 0.35 μmol × min^?1 × mg of enzyme^?1). These results and the fact that k₄ calculated from $\text{V}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>r</mtext>}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext><mtext>q</mtext>}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext><mtext>Q</mtext>}}$ is considerably larger than V_f suggest that the rate-limiting step in the overall forward reaction is the isomerization reaction E~AMP-SO^2?₄ → EAPS. In the reverse direction the rate-limiting step may be SO^2?₄ release or isomerization of the E~AMP · MgPP_i · SO₄^2? complex. (The reaction appears to be rapid equilibrium ordered.) Reactions involving the synthesis or cleavage of APS are specific for Mg²⁺. Reactions involving the synthesis or cleavage of ATP will proceed with Mg²⁺, with Mn²⁺, and, at a lower rate, with Co²⁺. The results suggest that the enzyme possesses a Mg²⁺-preferring divalent cation (activator) binding site that is involved in APS synthesis and cleavage and is distinct from the MeATP or MePP_i site. The equilibrium binding of about one atom of ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ per subunit (possibly to the activator site) could be demonstrated (K_s = 1.4 mM).     

Heme-linked protonation of HCN, CO, NO and O2 complexes of reduced horseradish peroxidases.

Small reversible changes in the absorption spectra of HCN, CO, NO and O₂ complexes of ferrous diacetyldeuteroperoxidase A, not hitherto observed, were attributed to proton dissociation of a distal amino acid residue. From spectrophotometric titration data the pK_a was measured as 5.5 (HCN), 5.6 (ligand free), 6.0 (CO), 6.55 (NO) and 8.0 (O₂). The value of 8.0 for the pK_a of the O₂ complex was also obtained from a curve of pH dependence of proton uptake in the reaction of the ferrous enzyme with O₂. Absorption bands in the visible region were shifted to longer wavelengths in the order of CO to NO to O₂ which is the decreasing order of the energy of π¹ level of these diatomic ligands.The pK_a values for CO complexes of ferroperoxidases, isoenzymes A and (B+C) were varied with substituents at the 2 and 4 positions of deuterohemin IX, and the $\text{Δp}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}\text{Δp}\text{K}{}_3$ ratio was about 0.3 in both series of isoenzyme preparations, where pK₃ is a measure of basicity of pyrrole nitrogen.The present data support the previous conclusion (Yamada and Yamazaki (1974) Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 165, 728) that the pK_a for ferroperoxidases, measured from small reversible changes in the absorption spectra, represents a proton dissociation constant of a distal amino acid residue and that there is hydrogen bonding between the residue and a ligand atom directly bound to the iron atom.     

Coordination of adenylate energy charge and phosphorylation state during ischemia and under physiological conditions in rat liver and kidney

The relation of the adenylate energy charge $\text{(}\text{ATP}\text{+}\text{1}\text{2}\text{ADP/ATP}\text{+}\text{ADP}\text{+}\text{AMP}\text{)}$ to the phosphorylation state (ATP)/(ADP)(HPO₄^2?) in rat liver and kidney was analyzed. Under physiological conditions and in ischemia, the two regulatory parameters, calculated from reported values for adenine nucleotides and inorganic phosphate (P_i) and from new observations, were closely coordinated. Energy charge was an inverse linear function of P_i and -log (1 - energy charge) was a positive linear function of log phosphorylation state. To evaluate experimental data with known energy charge, but unknown P_i, and to determine the theoretical relation between energy charge and phosphorylation state, P_i was estimated from a) the regression equation: P_i, μmol/g wet wt tissue = 1.05 - energy charge/0.073 and b) the empirical relationship: (P_i/2P_a) + energy charge = k, where P_a = σAMP + 2ADP + 3ATP and k = 1. With both estimates, the relation between phosphorylation state and energy charge for the experimental data was, within error, the same as that observed with measured P_i and concordant with theoretical values. Over the physiological range of energy charge (～0.85 – 0.95, log phosphorylation state ～3.3 – 4.3), apparent ΔG_ATP (×2) was closer to the range of ΔG observed by Wilson $\text{et al}$ (Biochem. J. $\text{140}$:57, 1974) for transfer of two electrons from mitochondrial NAD to the cytochrome c couple than the ΔG_ATP (×2) they reported, supporting their conclusion that near-equilibrium exists between the mitochondrial respiratory chain and the cytoplasmic phosphorylation state under physiological conditions. From evidence presented, it is postulated that the phosphorylation state is regulated by the adenylate energy charge.     

Steady-state kinetics of electron transfer through cytochrome chain of uncoupled submitochondrial particles. II. Influence of pH on kinetics of electron transfer

pH Dependences of steady-state kinetic parameters of cytochrome chains of submitochondrial particles have been studied. It has been shown that the lifetimes of activated states (τ) of the pairs of cytochromes b → c₁ and a → a₃ have different pH dependences; those for the c₁ → c and c → a cytochrome pairs being similar. The rate constants for the non-activated state of the respiratory chains decreased for the b → c₁ pair and increased for the a → a₃ pair when the pH value was increased.The values of pK calculated from these dependences for the pairs b → c₁ and a → a₃ were 7.2 and 8.9, respectively. It has been supposed that the ratio of activated to non-activated electron carriers may be controlled by the local pH value in the mitochondrial membrane, the latter being dependent upon the rate of electron transfer. The kinetic model based on this assumption allows one to explain the experimental dependences on pH of the rate constants for cytochromes b → c, and a → a₃.The values of the diffusion rate constants for H⁺ and OH^? ions in the mitochondrial membrane estimated from these kinetic data obtained in this study weree 10⁴–10⁵ s^?1 and 10²–10³ s^?1, respectively.     

Cytochromes in the rat kidney brush border membrane.

Spectrophotometric studies of the brush border membrane fraction of the rat kidney as compared with those of its mitochondria and microsomes were carried out. Occurrence of cytochromes has been demonstrated in the brush border membranes. Either in the brush border membranes and in the mitochondria evidence for the presence of cytochromes of the types $\text{a}\text{,}\text{b}$ and $\text{c}$ was found, whereas in the microsomes only cytochrome $\text{b}$ was demonstrated.