Dependence of mitochondrial coenzyme A uptake on the membrane electrical gradient

Coenzyme A (CoA) transport was studied in isolated rat heart mitochondria. Uptake of CoA was assayed by determining [3H]CoA associated with mitochondria under various conditions. Various oxidizable substrates including alpha-ketoglutarate, succinate, or malate stimulated CoA uptake. The membrane proton (delta pH) and electrical (delta psi) gradients, which dissipated with time in the absence of substrate, were maintained at their initial levels throughout the incubation in the presence of substrate. Addition of phosphate caused a concentration-dependent decrease of both delta pH and CoA uptake. Nigericin also dissipated the proton gradient and prevented CoA uptake. Valinomycin also prevented CoA uptake into mitochondria. Although the proton gradient was unaffected, the electrical gradient was completely abolished in the presence of valinomycin. Addition of 5 mM phosphate 10 min after the start of incubation prevented further uptake of CoA into mitochondria. A rapid dissipation of the proton gradient upon addition of phosphate was observed. Addition of nigericin or valinomycin 10 min after the start of incubation also resulted in no further uptake of CoA into with mitochondria; valinomycin caused an apparent efflux of CoA from mitochondria. Uptake was found to be sensitive to external pH displaying a pH optimum at pHext 8.0. Although nigericin significantly inhibited CoA uptake over the pHext range of 6.75-8, maximal transport was observed around pHext 8.0-8.25. Valinomycin, on the other hand, abolished transport over the entire pH range. The results suggest that mitochondrial CoA transport is determined by the membrane electrical gradient. The apparent dependence of CoA uptake on an intact membrane pH gradient is probably the result of modulation of CoA transport by matrix pH.     

Factors affecting the reactivation of the mitochondrial adenosine 5'-triphosphatase and the release of ATPase inhibitor protein during and following the reenergization of mitochondria from ischemic cardiac muscle

In the present study we examined three factors affecting the reversal of the ischemia-induced inhibition of the mitochondrial ATPase described by us earlier (W. Rouslin (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 9657-9661). These factors were the pH, the MgATP concentration, and the pCa of the medium in which mitochondria were sonicated following their reenergization in vitro. It was found that the extent of ATPase reactivation, on the one hand, and the extent of inhibitor protein release, on the other, following the reenergization in vitro and subsequent sonication of intact mitochondria isolated from 20-min-ischemic canine cardiac muscle were affected differently by each of the three factors studied. While raising the pH of the medium in which the mitochondria were sonicated subsequent to reenergization from approximately 7.0 to approximately 8.2 resulted in marked parallel increases in both ATPase reactivation and inhibitor protein release, lowering the pH of the medium to approximately 6.4 resulted in a marked decrease in ATPase reactivation but also in the apparent irreversible binding and/or denaturation of a portion of the ATPase inhibitor. Increasing the MgATP concentration of the sonication medium from zero to 2.0 mM resulted in approximately a one-third decrease in ATPase reactivation. The effect upon inhibitor release was more dramatic. MgATP at 2 mM decreased inhibitor release by approximately two-thirds. The pCa of the sonication medium was varied between 9.0 and 3.5 using Ca-ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) buffers. Decreasing the pCa of the medium from 9.0 to 3.5 had a paradoxical effect. It resulted in increases both in ATPase reactivation and in the amount of inhibitor bound to the particles. Such a paradoxical effect may be explained if one assumes the existence of two kinds of inhibitor-enzyme interaction sites, namely, regulatory and nonregulatory binding sites. Thus, decreasing the pCa may decrease interaction at regulatory sites while enhancing interaction at nonregulatory inhibitor binding sites.     

Characterization of a mitochondrial inorganic pyrophosphatase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have studied a mitochondrial inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPase) in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The uncoupler FCCP (carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone) and the ionophores valinomycin and nigericin stimulate the PPase activity of repeatedly washed yeast mitochondria 2-3-fold. We have previously cloned a yeast gene, PPA2, encoding the catalytic subunit of a mitochondrial PPase. Uncouplers stimulate the PPase activity several-fold in mitochondria from both cells that overexpress PPA2 from a high copy number plasmid and cells with normal expression. These results indicate that the PPA2 polypeptide functions as an energy linked and membrane associated PPase. The stimulation of mitochondrial PPase activity by FCCP, but not by valinomycin and nigericin, was greatly enhanced by the presence of DTT. The antibiotics Dio-9, equisetin and the F0F1-ATPase inhibitor oligomycin also increase mitochondrial PPase activity several fold. This stimulation is much higher, whereas basal PPase activity is lower, in isotonic than in hypotonic solution, which indicates that intact membranes are a prerequisite for maximal effects.     

The interaction of glucagon treatment and uncoupler concentration on ATPase activity of rat liver mitochondria

Mitochondria isolated from livers of rats treated briefly with glucagon show an increased ATPase activity in the presence of appropriate concentrations of protonophoric uncouplers (Yamazaki, R. K., Sax, R.D., and Hauser, M.A. (1977) FEBS Lett. 75, 295-299). With the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) the effect of glucagon treatment was most evident at concentrations of uncoupler higher than required for maximal stimulation of ATPase in control mitochondria. In this range of FCCP concentrations that produced the greatest contrast in ATPase activity of control and hormone-stimulated mitochondria, there were no significant differences in delta pH, delta psi, or delta p between the two groups. The presence of added succinate in the ATPase assay system mimicked the effect of glucagon treatment, permitting greater activity at high concentrations of uncoupler without significantly affecting delta p. No significant effect of glucagon treatment or uncoupler concentrations on mitochondrial volumes was observed. Following treatment with glucagon, the mitochondria retained a greater content of Mg+ and K+ throughout the range of FCCP concentrations tested. In the upper range of FCCP concentrations there was appreciable loss of K+ from the mitochondria which was greater in control mitochondria than in mitochondria from glucagon-treated rats or in mitochondria assayed in the presence of succinate. The activity of the uncoupler-dependent ATPase was greatly stimulated by increased concentrations of potassium chloride in the assay medium without significantly diminishing the hormone effect. It is proposed that the intrinsic peptide inhibitor of ATPase is dissociated from the enzyme to an increased degree following glucagon treatment and that high levels of uncoupler inhibit by causing an increased association of the enzyme and its inhibitor.     

Calcium ion transport in higher plant mitochondria (Helianthus tuberosus)

A study on Ca²⁺ transport by mitochondria isolated from Jerusalem artichoke ( Helianthus tuberosus L. cv. OB1) tubers is presented. By following the distribution of Ca²⁺ under respiratory conditions, we have been able to show that Ca²⁺ accumulation into the matrix space depends on membrane potential (ΔΨ) since the uptake is not affected by the protonophore nigericin but fully blocked by valinomycin and carbonyl cyanide- p -trifluoromethoxy phenylhydrazone (FCCP). Ca²⁺ uptake requires phosphate (P_i) and is inhibited by mersalyl and by ruthenium red (RR). In addition to a Ca²⁺ influx route, mitochondria from H. tuberosus possess an RR-insensitive Ca²⁺ efflux pathway which is not stimulated by external Na⁺, Ca²⁺ is rapidly released from Ca²⁺-loaded mitochondria in the presence of ionophores such as A23187 and valinomycin and of the uncoupler FCCP. The P_i-transport inhibitor mersalyl also induces a massive Ca²⁺ release through reversal of the uptake route, the latter process being blocked by RR. Thus Jerusalem artichoke mitochondria possess a Ca²⁺ cycling mechanism which is different from that of animal mitochondria and certain other plant species.     

Regulation of the mitochondrial adenosine 5'-triphosphatase in situ during ischemia and in vitro in intact and sonicated mitochondria from slow and fast heart-rate hearts

In the present study we examined the regulation of the cardiac muscle mitochondrial ATPase both in situ and in vitro in intact and sonicated mitochondria from rabbit, pigeon, and rat. We chose to study these three species because each is representative of one of the three classes into which all species thus far studied may be placed with respect to the in situ activity of their cardiac muscle mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor and with respect to the amount of ATPase inhibitor present in their cardiac muscle mitochondria (1). Class A species (rabbit) contain a full complement of ATPase inhibitor and show a marked ATPase inhibition during ischemia. Class B species (pigeon) also contain a full complement of inhibitor but exhibit only a low level of ATPase inhibition in situ. Class C species (rat) contain only low levels of inhibitor and, like class B species, don't appear to utilize the inhibitor they possess during ischemia in situ. We found that, while hearts from all three species developed a marked cytosolic acidosis during ischemia, only rabbit exhibited a marked ATPase inhibition in situ. In in vitro experiments in which matrix pH values close to 6.2 and delta psi values close to zero were measured in intact mitochondria from all three species, matrix pH appeared to be an important factor regulating ATPase inhibition in rabbit, but it had little effect upon ATPase--inhibitor interaction in pigeon and rat despite the lack of membrane potential. However, a pH-dependent further release of ATPase inhibitor was observed in sonicated pigeon heart mitochondria only. This latter observation suggests that, while slow heart-rate heart mitochondria appear to be designed for ATPase down regulation during ischemia by inhibitor binding to the ATPase, fast heart-rate heart mitochondria appear to be designed primarily for ATPase up regulation by a further release of inhibitor from the enzyme.     

Control of respiration in proteoliposomes containing cytochrome aa3. I. Stimulation by valinomycin and uncoupler.

1. Both valinomycin and p-trifluoromethoxy carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone (FCCP) are required for full release of respiration by cytochrome c oxidase-containing proteoliposomes (prepared by sonicating beef heart cytochrome aa3 in salt solution with 4 parts phosphatidylcholine, 4 parts phosphatidylethanolamine and 2 parts cardiolipin) in the presence of external ascorbate and cytochrome c. In the absence of valinomycin the response to FCCP is rather sluggish, as reported by Wrigglesworth et al. (1976) (Abstracts, 10th Int. Congr. Biochem., No. 06-6-230). 2. The Km for cytochrome c in 67 mM, pH 7.4, phosphate buffer with ascorbate as substrate, was 9 micrometer in both absence and presence of valinomycin and FCCP. Energization thus acts non-competitively towards cytochrome c oxidation. 3. The apparent Km for oxygen is greater in the energized than in the deenergized state; double reciprocal plots of respiration rate versus oxygen concentration are concave downward in the absence of uncouplers, as found with intact mitochondria. Energization thus acts "competitively" towards oxygen. 4. Despite the lack of a functional ATPase system, all the kinetic features of energization found in intact mitochondria can be mimicked in the reconstituted liposomes. This supports the chemiosmotic idea that electrical and perhaps H+ gradients modify the oxidase activity in reconstituted vesicles.     

Inhibition by valinomycin of atractyloside binding to the membrane-bound ADP/ATP carrier: Counteracting effect of cations

The atractyloside binding capacity of rat heart mitochondria, but not the binding affinity, was markedly decreased by preincubation of the mitochondria with valinomycin in isotonic KCl medium. Maximum inhibition was attained with 5 ng of valinomycin per mg of mitochondrial protein; it corresponded to a 40% decrease of the atractyloside binding capacity. The inhibitory effect of valinomycin was maximal between pH 7.0 and 7.5. It was more marked for heart mitochondria than for liver mitochondria. Valinomycin inhibition of atractyloside binding to heart mitochondria was counteracted by nigericin and FCCP, by sublytic concentrations of cationic surfactants such as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, and by low concentrations of trivalent and divalent metal ions at acidic pH's still compatible with atractyloside binding, i.e., down to pH 5.5; trivalent metal ions were more effective than divalent metal ions. The effect of valinomycin was also counteracted by exceedingly high concentrations of K+ (more than 300 mM), resulting in a substantial increase in the ionic strength. These results were discussed in terms of the relation between the atractyloside binding capacity of the inner mitochondrial membrane and the surface potential of this membrane.     

Control of respiration in proteoliposomes containing cytochrome aa3. I. Stimulation by valinomycin and uncoupler

1. Both valinomycin and p-trifluoromethoxy carbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone (FCCP) are required for full release of respiration by cytochrome c oxidase-containing proteoliposomes (prepared by sonicating beef heart cytochrome aa₃ in salt solution with 4 parts phosphatidylcholine, 4 parts phosphatidylethanolamine and 2 parts cardiolipin) in the presence of external ascorbate and cytochrome c. In the absence of valinomycin the response to FCCP is rather sluggish, as reported by Wrigglesworth et al. (1976) (Abstracts, 10th Int. Congr. Biochem., No. 06-6-230).2. The K_m for cytochrome c in 67 mM, pH 7.4, phosphate buffer with ascorbate as substrate, was 9 μM in both absence and presence of valinomycin and FCCP. Energization thus acts non-competitively towards cytochrome c oxidation.3. The apparent K_m for oxygen is greater in the energized than in the deenergized state; double reciprocal plots of respiration rate versus oxygen concentration are concave downward in the absence of uncouplers, as found with intact mitochondria. Energization thus acts “competitively” towards oxygen.4. Despite the lack of a functional ATPase system, all the kinetic features of energization found in intact mitochondria can be mimicked in the reconstituted liposomes. This supports the chemiosmotic idea that electrical and perhaps H⁺ gradients modify the oxidase activity in reconstituted vesicles.     

Evidence that an ATPase functions in the maintenance of the acidic pH of the hamster sperm acrosome

The hamster sperm acrosome exhibits a transmembrane proton concentration gradient (inside acidic). The gradient was dissipated by valinomycin and the proton ionophore carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) together, but not by either alone. Several anion transport inhibitors, when utilized in the presence of FCCP, also eliminated the proton gradient. These experiments demonstrate that a modified Donan-type equilibrium dependent upon selective permeability of membranes to protons has no role in maintenance of the acidic pH of the acrosome. N,N'-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofuran, inhibitors of the mitochondrial proton-translocating ATPase, dissipated the proton concentration gradient when FCCP was present. Oligomycin and ouabain had no effect, either in the presence or absence of FCCP. Our experimental evidence suggests that an ATP-dependent proton pump is functioning in the maintenance of the acidic pH of the hamster sperm acrosome.     

Patterns of electrochemical proton gradient formation by membrane vesicles from an obligately acidophilic bacterium

Isolated membrane vesicles from the obligately acidophilic bacterium Bacillus acidocaldarius generated an electrochemical gradient of protons (delta mu- H+) upon energization with ascorbate-phenazine methosulfate at pH 6.0 or 3.0. At pH 6.0, there was little or no transmembrane pH gradient (delta pH), but a transmembrane electrical potential (delta psi) of ca. -77 mV, positive out, was observed. At pH 3.0, a delta pH equivalent to - 100 mV, acid out, and a delta psi of -73 mV, positive out, were observed upon energization. The total magnitude of the delta mu- H+ was higher than that of whole cells at acid pH, but the very large delta pHs and the reversed delta psi s, i.e., inside positive, that are typical of acidophile cells were not observed in the vesicles. The vesicles exhibited energy-dependent accumulation of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid that was inhibited by both nigericin and valinomycin (plus K+) at pH 3.0 but was inhibited little by nigericin at pH 6.0.     

Downmodulation of mitochondrial F0F1 ATP synthase by diazoxide in cardiac myoblasts: a dual effect of the drug

Similar to ischemic preconditioning, diazoxide was documented to elicit beneficial bioenergetic consequences linked to cardioprotection. Inhibition of ATPase activity of mitochondrial F(0)F(1) ATP synthase may have a role in such effect and may involve the natural inhibitor protein IF(1). We recently documented, using purified enzyme and isolated mitochondrial membranes from beef heart, that diazoxide interacts with the F(1) sector of F(0)F(1) ATP synthase by promoting IF(1) binding and reversibly inhibiting ATP hydrolysis. Here we investigated the effects of diazoxide on the enzyme in cultured myoblasts. Specifically, embryonic heart-derived H9c2 cells were exposed to diazoxide and mitochondrial ATPase was assayed in conditions maintaining steady-state IF(1) binding (basal ATPase activity) or detaching bound IF(1) at alkaline pH. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential and uncoupling were also investigated, as well as ATP synthesis flux and ATP content. Diazoxide at a cardioprotective concentration (40 muM cell-associated concentration) transiently downmodulated basal ATPase activity, concomitant with mild mitochondria uncoupling and depolarization, without affecting ATP synthesis and ATP content. Alkaline stripping of IF(1) from F(0)F(1) ATP synthase was less in diazoxide-treated than in untreated cells. Pretreatment with glibenclamide prevented, together with mitochondria depolarization, inhibition of ATPase activity under basal but not under IF(1)-stripping conditions, indicating that diazoxide alters alkaline IF(1) release. Diazoxide inhibition of ATPase activity in IF(1)-stripping conditions was observed even when mitochondrial transmembrane potential was reduced by FCCP. The results suggest that diazoxide in a model of normoxic intact cells directly promotes binding of inhibitor protein IF(1) to F(0)F(1) ATP synthase and enhances IF(1) binding indirectly by mildly uncoupling and depolarizing mitochondria.     

Salt-stimulated Adenosine Triphosphatase from Smooth Microsomes of Turnip

The turnip (Brassica rapa L.) microsome fraction contains both a Mg²⁺-inhibited acid phosphatase and a salt-stimulated Mg²⁺-activated ATPase. However, as the pH optimum of the ATPase was 8.0 to 8.5, the acid phosphatase activity could be eliminated by assaying at or above pH 7.8. The ATPase was concentrated in a fraction equivalent to the smooth microsomal membranes and was not due to fragments of mitochondria. The salt-stimulated activity showed specificity for anions rather than cations. The activity was further stimulated by carbonyl cyanide m-chloro-phenylhydrazone (CCCP), 2,4-dinitrophenol, valinomycin, nigericin, and NH₄Cl. There was a synergistic effect between CCCP and valinomycin. Activity was insensitive to oligomycin phlorizin, ouabain, and atractylate. Based on similarity to the chloroplast ATPase, it was proposed that this ATPase was situated on the outside of the vesicle.     

The control by delta mu H+ of the tonoplast-bound H+-translocating adenosine triphosphatase from rubber-tree (Hevea brasiliensis) latex.

The relationship between tonoplast-bound ATPase activity and the magnitude of the electrochemical proton gradient has been investigated on tightly sealed vesicles prepared from rubber-tree (Hevea brasiliensis) latex. A variety of methods have been used to modify, either alone or together, the two components of the electrochemical proton gradient (delta mu H+). When the delta pH component was decreased either by titration with (NH4)2SO4 or by addition of protonophores or nigericin in the presence of K+, ATPase activity was stimulated. On the other hand, when the delta psi component was decreased either by addition of lipophilic cations or by addition of valinomycin in the presence of K+, ATPase activity decreased. It is concluded that activity of the tonoplast-bound ATPase is regulated by changes in the electrochemical proton gradient across the tonoplast, so that, once the maximum proton gradient is established across the tonoplast, any perturbation of the equilibrium state should result in the increased rate of ATP hydrolysis as the enzyme attempts to re-establish the initial gradient.     

Calcium transport in membrane vesicles of Streptococcus cremoris

Rightside-out membrane vesicles of Streptococcus cremoris were fused with proteoliposomes containing the light-driven proton pump bacteriorhodopsin by a low-pH fusion procedure reported earlier [Driessen, A.J.M., Hellingwerf, K.J. & Konings, W.N. (1985) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 808, 1-12]. In these fused membranes a proton motive force, interior positive and acid, can be generated in the light and this proton motive force can drive the uptake of Ca2+. Collapsing delta psi with a concomitant increase in delta pH stimulates Ca2+ uptake while dissipation of the delta pH results in a reduced rate of Ca2+ uptake. Also an artificially generated delta pH, interior acid, can drive Ca2+ uptake in S. cremoris membrane vesicles. Ca2+ uptake depends strongly on the presence of external phosphate while Ca2+-efflux-induced proton flux is independent of the presence of external phosphate. Ca2+ accumulation is abolished by the divalent cation ionophore A23187. Calcium extrusion from intact cells is accelerated by lactose. Collapse of the proton motive force by the uncoupler carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone or inhibition of the membrane-bound ATPase by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide strongly inhibits Ca2+ release. Further studies on Ca2+ efflux at different external pH values in the presence of either valinomycin or nigericin suggested that Ca2+ exit from intact cells is an electrogenic process. It is concluded that Ca2+ efflux in S. cremoris is mediated by a secondary transport system catalyzing exchange of calcium ions and protons.     

Energetically distinct early and late stages of HlyB/HlyD-dependent secretion across both Escherichia coli membranes.

The alternative secretion pathway which exports hemolysin across both Escherichia coli membranes into the surrounding medium is directed by an uncleaved C-terminal targeting signal and the membrane translocator proteins HlyD and HlyB. In order to identify stages and intermediates in this unconventional secretion process we have examined the effect of inhibition of the total proton motive force (delta P) and its components during the in vivo HlyB/HlyD-dependent export of a 22.4 kDa secretion competent HlyA C-terminal peptide (Actp). Secretion of Actp was severely inhibited by the proton ionophore carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), which collapses simultaneously membrane potential delta psi and the proton gradient delta pH, and also by valinomycin/K+, a potassium ionophore which disrupts delta psi. The inhibition of secretion by valinomycin/K+ was ameliorated by imposition of a pH gradient, the second component of the delta P, and selective depletion of delta pH by nigericin also blocked secretion. This indicates that, as in the secretion of beta-lactamase to the periplasm, HlyB/D-directed secretion requires delta P itself and not specifically one of its components. However, inhibition of HlyB/D-dependent secretion was only marked when CCCP, valinomycin/K+ or nigericin were present during the early stage of Actp secretion; at a later stage the secretion was not significantly inhibited. HlyB/D-dependent secretion appears therefore to share with conventional secretion across the cytoplasmic membrane an early requirement for delta P, but comprises in addition a late stage which does not require delta P, delta psi or delta pH. The translocation intermediate identified in the delta P-independent late stage of secretion was associated with the membrane fraction. Analysis of the protease accessibility of this intermediate in whole cells and spheroplasts showed that it was not in the periplasm, nor was it exposed on the cell surface or on the periplasmic faces of either the inner or outer membranes. This may reflect its close association with the inner membrane or a membrane translocation complex.     

The effect of the natural protein inhibitor on H+-ATPase hepatoma 22a mitochondria

The uncoupler-induced inactivation of H+-ATPase in hepatoma 22a and mouse liver mitochondria has been studied. The dependence of this process on delta microH, and pH and ATP was established. The inactivated ATPase could be reactivated at alkaline pH values in the absence of ATP. These data indicate that the inactivation is apparently caused by the natural protein inhibitor. ATP- and pH-dependent decrease of ATPase activity is also observed after Lubrol-WX disruption of mitochondria. It can be proposed that practically all ATPase molecules in hepatoma mitochondria are in a catalytically active complex with the protein inhibitor. At low delta microH this complex is inactivated via reversible pH-dependent and irreversible ATP-dependent rearrangements. The pH-dependent rearrangement of the isolated protein inhibitor from hepatoma mitochondria is also observed.     

DCCD-sensitive Na+-transport in the membrane vesicles of Halobacterium halobium

The effects of N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) and various ionophores on light-induced 22Na+-transport were studied in right-side-out membrane vesicles from Halobacterium halobium R1M1. The light-induced Na+ efflux was inhibited at the same DCCD concentration (greater than 40 nmol/mg protein) as required for inhibition of the Na+-dependent membrane potential (delta phi) formation. This supports our previous indication that the DCCD-sensitive, Na+-dependent transformation of pH-gradient (delta pH) into delta phi is mediated by Na+/H+-antiporter (Murakami, N. and Konishi, T. (1985) J. Biochem. 98, 897-907). FCCP or a combination of valinomycin and triphenyltin (TPT) inhibits the light-induced Na+ efflux in accordance with the notion of protonmotive force (delta mu H+)-driven antiporter. However, a marked lag in initiation of the Na+ efflux occurred in the presence of valinomycin, TPMP+, or a small amount of FCCP, suggesting that a gating step is involved in the Na+ efflux. On the other hand, the delta pH-dissipating ionophore TPT did not cause the lag. A simultaneous determination of delta phi, delta pH, and Na+ efflux rate at the initial stage of illumination revealed that the antiporter is gated by delta phi rather than delta mu H+.     

Ornithine/phosphate antiport in rat kidney mitochondria. Some characteristics of the process

[14C]Ornithine uptake by rat kidney mitochondria has been investigated according to the stop inhibitor method by using praseodimium chloride as an inhibitor. The existence of an ornithine/Pi exchange was found occurring with 1:1 stoichiometry. Both uptake and efflux follow first-order kinetics with a k of 2.4 min-1. Uptake increases with increasing pH. The activation energy for the process is 58.6 kJ/mol and Q10 is 2.6. Ornithine/Pi exchange is electrical and energy-dependent, as suggested by the sensitivity of the process to the ionophores valinomycin and nigericin. Measurements both of proton movement across the mitochondrial membrane and of membrane potential strongly suggest that ornithine uptake into mitochondria is driven by the electrochemical proton gradient via the dependent ornithine/Pi translocator and delta pH-dependent Pi carrier.     

Effect of phosphate and ionophores on (14C)-NEM incorporation in mitochondrial membranes and relationships with phosphate carrier system.

Phosphate transport in mitochondria was investigated with respect to its inhibition by NEM. The reactivity of the Pi carrier SH groups was influenced by phosphate or ionophores during preincubation before the addition of NEM. Furthermore in order to obtain some mitochondrial protein fractions where the typical effects of phosphate and ionophores on [14C]-NEM fixations were observed, mitochondria were submitted to hypotonic treatment and sonication. The following results were obtained: 1. -- Phosphate and grisorixin (a new ionophore of the nigericin group) decreased the inhibition of phosphate transport by NEM. The same effect was observed for [14C]-NEM incorporation. 2. -- Valinomycin increased [14C]-NEM incorporation. The valinomycin effect was abolished by phosphate. ClCCP alone affected [14C]-NEM incorporation slightly. Valinomycin plus ClCCP decreased NEM inhibition of phosphate transport and [14C]-NEM incorporation like grisorixin. 3. -- The variability of SH group reactivity can be interpreted by a control of SH group accessibility by transmembrane delta pH as previously suggested. 4. -- Typical effects of phosphate or ionophores were observed in whole pig heart and rat liver mitochondria. These effects were enhanced in the same supernatant protein fraction resulting from sonication in pig heart mitochondria : phosphate decreased [14C]-NEM incorporation by 1,50 nmoles/mg protein, grisorixin by 0.95 nmoles, whereas valinomycin increased it by 0.75 nmoles. For rat liver mitochondria the phosphate effect and the valinomycin increased it by 0.75 nmoles. For rat liver mitochondria the phosphate effect valinomycin effect on [14C]-NEM incorporation were observed in the subparticular fraction obtained after sonification.