The oxidation of cytosolic NAD(P)H by external NAD(P)H dehydrogenases in the respiratory chain of plant mitochondria

The respiratory chain of plant mitochondria differs from that in mammalian mitochondria by containing several rotenone-insensitive NAD(P)H dehydrogenases. Two of these are located on the outer, cytosolic surface of the inner membrane. One is specific for NADH, the other for NADPH. Only the latter is inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium (DPI). Both of these enzymes are normally dependent upon Ca²⁺ for activity and this constitutes a potentially important mechanism by which the cell can regulate the oxidation of cytosolic NAD(P)H via the concentration of free Ca²⁺. This and other potential regulatory mechanisms such as the substrate concentration and polyamines are discussed.     

Vanadate-stimulated oxidation of NAD(P)H

Vanadate stimulates the oxidation of NAD(P)H by biological membranes because such membranes contain NAD(P)H oxidases which are capable of reducing dioxygen to O₂⁻ and because vanadate catalyzes the oxidation of NAD(P)H by O₂⁻, by a free radical chain mechanism. Dihydropyridines, such as reduced nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMNH), which are not substrates for membrane-associated NAD(P)H oxidases, are not oxidized by membranes plus vanadate unless NAD(P)H is present to serve as a source of O₂⁻. When [NMNH] greatly exceeds [NAD(P)H], in such reaction mixtures, one can observe the oxidation of many molecules of NMNH per NAD(P)H consumed. This reflects the chain length of the free radical chain mechanism. We have discussed the mechanism and significance of this process and have tried to clarify the pertinent but confusing literature.     

Biphasic oxidation of mitochondrial NAD(P)H

The redox state of mitochondrial pyridine nucleotides is known to be important for structural integrity of mitochondria. In this work, we observed a biphasic oxidation of endogenous NAD(P)H in rat liver mitochondria induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide. Nearly 85% of mitochondrial NAD(P)H was rapidly oxidized during the first phase. The second phase of NAD(P)H oxidation was retarded for several minutes, appearing after the inner membrane potential collapse and mitochondria swelling. It was characterized by disturbance of ATP synthesis and dramatic permeabilization of the inner membrane to pyridine nucleotides. The second phase was completely prevented by 0.5 microM cyclosporin A or 0.2 mM EGTA or was significantly delayed by 25 microM butylhydroxytoluene or trifluoperazine. The obtained data suggest that the second phase resulted from oxidation of the remaining NADH via the outer membrane electron transport system of permeabilized mitochondria, leading to further oxidation of the remaining NADPH in a transhydrogenase reaction.     

Reactivation of NAD(H) biosynthetic pathway by exogenous NAD+ in Nil cells severely depleted of NAD(H)

The culture of Nil hamster fibroblasts in MEM lacking nicotinamide (NAm-MEM) leads to: (1) the rapid loss of intracellular total nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(H)) content in these cells from a level of 150-200 pmoles/10(5) cells to less than 20 pmoles/10(5) cells; (2) the cessation of cell division and inhibition of DNA synthesis; and (3) a reduction of glucose consumption and lactic acid production. In most situations, following nicotinamide starvation, the restoration of intracellular NAD(H) follows rapidly the readdition of NAD+ (oxidized), nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), nicotinamide, or nicotinic acid. Resumption of cell division occurs after only a lag of about 24 hours. Nil cells subcultured for three consecutive times in the absence of nicotinamide (3(0) NAm- cells) exhibit different behavior. These severely starved cells are incapable of quickly restoring their intracellular NAD(H) content to normal levels when provided with any pyridine ring compound except NAD+. One-hour exposure of such cells to NAD+ allows utilization of nicotinamide to rapidly restore intracellular NAD(H). This short incubation with NAD+ does not result in any significant restoration of intracellular NAD(H) or lead to the accumulation of an intracellular pool of some precursor. This function of NAD+ as a stimulatory signal to the NAD(H)-biosynthetic pathway in severely starved Nil cells is a previously unreported role of NAD+, and does not require protein synthesis.     

Vanadate-dependent NAD(P)H oxidation by microsomal enzymes

Vanadate-dependent NAD(P)H oxidation, catalyzed by rat liver microsomes and microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (P450 reductase) and NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase (b5 reductase), was investigated. These enzymes and intact microsomes catalyzed NAD(P)H oxidation in the presence of either ortho- or polyvanadate. Antibody to P450 reductase inhibited orthovanadate-dependent NADPH oxidation catalyzed by either purified P450 reductase or rat liver microsomes and had no effect on the rates of NADH oxidation catalyzed by b5 reductase. NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase catalyzed orthovanadate-dependent NADPH oxidation five times faster than NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase catalyzed NADH oxidation. Orthovanadate-dependent oxidation of either NADPH or NADH, catalyzed by purified reductases or rat liver microsomes, occurred in an anaerobic system, which indicated that superoxide is not an obligate intermediate in this process. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibited orthovanadate, but not polyvanadate-mediated, enzyme-dependent NAD(P)H oxidation. SOD also inhibited when pyridine nucleotide oxidation was conducted anaerobically, suggesting that SOD inhibits vanadate-dependent NAD(P)H oxidation by a mechanism independent of scavenging of O2-.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of NAD(P) H at mediator-modified electrodes

A review is presented dealing with electrocatalytic NADH oxidation at mediator-modified electrodes, summarising the history of the topic, as well as the present state of the art.     

The regulation of exogenous NAD(P)H oxidation in spinach (Spinacia oleracea) leaf mitochondria by pH and cations.

Essentially chlorophyll-free mitochondria were isolated from green leaves of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L. cv. Viking II). Uncoupled oxidation of exogenous NADPH (1 mM) to oxygen had an optimum at pH 6.0, and activity was relatively low at pH 7.0, even in the presence of 1 mM-CaCl2. There was a proportional increase in the apparent Km for NADPH with decreasing H+ concentrations, suggesting that NADPH protonated on the 2'-phosphate group was the true substrate. Exogenous NADH was oxidized by oxygen with an optimum at pH 6.9. Under low-cation conditions, EGTA or EDTA (both 1 mM) had no effect on the Vmax. of NADH oxidation, although the removal of bivalent cations from the membrane surface by the chelators could be observed by use of 9-aminoacridine fluorescence. In contrast, under high-cation conditions, chelators lowered the Vmax. by about 50%, probably due to a better approach of the negatively charged chelators to the negative membrane surface than under low-cation conditions. In a low-cation medium, the Vmax. of NADH oxidation was increased by about 50% by the addition of cations. This was caused by a lowering of the size of the negative surface potential through charge screening. In contrast with other cations, La3+ inhibited NADH oxidation, possibly through binding to lipids essential for NADH oxidation. The apparent Km for NADH varied 6-fold in response to changes in the size of the surface potential, suggesting that the approach of the negatively charged NADH to the active site is hampered by the negative surface potential. The results demonstrate that the spinach leaf cell can regulate the mitochondrial NAD(P)H oxidation through several mechanisms: the pH; the cation concentration in general; and the concentration of Ca2+ in particular. The results also emphasize the importance of electrostatic considerations when investigating the kinetic behaviour of membrane-bound enzymes.     

The energetic growth yields of the yeast Candida parapsilosis

The energetic growth yields of Candida parapsilosis were compared with those of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a function of the energy source in the presence or absence of antimycin A, an inhibitor of the second phosphorylation site. When glycerol was used as energy source, the energetic growth yields were quite similar in C. parapsilosis and S. cerevisiae. On the other hand, when experiments were carried out with glucose as energy source, although three phosphorylation sites were available, glucose was found to be a poor energy source for C. parapsilosis. When C. parapsilosis was grown in the presence of antimycin A, on glucose: YGluS = 3YGlu + AS and on glycerol: YGlyS = 2 YGly + AS. It was concluded that growth in the presence of antimycin A could occur due to the functioning of the third phosphorylation site. This result agrees with previous works indicating that in C. parapsilosis the alternative pathway merges into the main respiratory chain at the cytochrome c level. Although the doubling time of C. parapsilosis was much less temperature-sensitive than that of S. cerevisiae, the energetic growth yield was the same at 13 degrees C and 28 degrees C, and consequently, the secondary pathway did not seem to be thermogenic.     

The inhibition of exogenous NAD(P)H oxidation in plant mitochondria by chelators and mersalyl as a function of pH

The oxidation of exogenous NADH by Jerusalem artichoke ( Helianthus tuberosus L.) tuber mitochondria was strongly inhibited at pH 7.2 by EDTA, EGTA and mersalyl and by chlorotetracycline in the presence of Ca²⁺. This inhibition disappeared at pH 5.5 where about 50% activity was found as compared to controls at pH 7.2. The rate of oxidation of NADPH at pH 5.5 was the same as for NADH but it was inhibited by 50% by both EDTA and mersalyl.
Mitochondria from Arum maculatum spadices oxidised NADH and NADPH with pH optima of 7.2 and 6.5, respectively. In the presence of EDTA the optima shifted to 6.7 and 5.9, respectively, due to an inhibition at higher pH and a lack of inhibition at lower pH. At pH 6.7 NADH oxidation was completely insensitive to both EDTA and mersalyl whereas the oxidation of NADPH was inhibited by more than 50%. The inhibition of NAD(P)H oxidation by chelators at neutral pH was due to the removal of Ca²⁺ from the membranes in both types of mitochondria. The differences observed in the properties of NADH and NADPH oxidation suggest that two different dehydrogenases are involved. Because of the strong pH-dependence and the changes in chelator-sensitivity in the physiological pH-range 6–8 it is suggested that the properties of NAD(P)H oxidation provide the cell with important means of metabolic regulation.     

NAD(P)H oxidation by hydrogen peroxide in Escherichia coli

A protein fraction from Escherichia Coli soluble extracts contain a NAD(P)H:hydrogen peroxide oxidoreductase activity. This activity is compared to and found to be distinct from well-known E. Coli enzymes involved in the protection from peroxides: hydroperoxidase I (HPI) and its o-dianisidine peroxidase component and the alkyl hydroperoxide reductase.     

Inhibition of microsomal NAD(P)H oxidation by Triton X-100

The non-ionic detergent Triton X-100 is shown to inhibit the spontaneous oxidation of NAD(P)H associated with rat liver microsomes. Advantage of this observation is taken to measure different microsomal NAD(P)H-dependent oxidoreductase activities such as 3-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, dihydrodiol dehydrogenase and various xenobiotic oxidoreductases. This inhibition provides an easy method for the screening of the under-investigated microsomal oxidoreductive metabolism of xenobiotics.     

Superoxide-driven NAD(P)H oxidation induced by EDTA-manganese complex and mercaptoethanol

A purely chemical system for NAD(P)H oxidation to biologically active NAD(P)+ has been developed and characterized. Suitable amounts of EDTA, manganous ions and mercaptoethanol, combined at physiological pH, induce nucleotide oxidation through a chain length also involving molecular oxygen, which eventually undergoes quantitative reduction to hydrogen peroxide. Mn2+ is specifically required for activity, while both EDTA and mercaptoethanol can be replaced by analogs. Optimal molar ratios of chelator/metal ion (2:1) yield an active coordination compound which catalyzes thiol autoxidation to thiyl radical. The latter is further oxidized to disulfide by molecular oxygen whose one-electron reduction generates superoxide radical. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibits both thiol oxidation and oxygen consumption as well as oxidation of NAD(P)H if present in the mixture. A tentative scheme for the chain length occurring in the system is proposed according to stoichiometry of reactions involved. Two steps appear of special importance in nucleotide oxidation: (a) the supposed transient formation of NAD(P). from the reaction between NAD(P)H and thiyl radicals; (b) the oxidation of the reduced complex by superoxide to keep thiol oxidation cycling.     

The second respiratory chain of Candida parapsilosis: a comprehensive study

The yeast C. parapsilosis CBS7157 is strictly dependent on oxidative metabolism for growth since it lacks a fermentative pathway. It is nevertheless able to grow on high glucose concentrations and also on a glycerol medium supplemented with antimycin A or drugs acting at the level of mitochondrial protein synthesis. Besides its normal respiratory chain C. parapsilosis develops a second electron transfer chain antimycin A-insensitive which allows the oxidation of cytoplasmic NAD(P)H resulting from glycolytic and hexose monophosphate pathways functioning through a route different from the NADH-coenzyme Q oxidoreductase described in S. cerevisiae or from the alternative pathways described in numerous plants and microorganisms. The second respiratory chain of C. parapsilosis involves 2 dehydrogenases specific for NADH and NADPH respectively, which are amytal and mersalyl sensitive and located on the outer face of the inner membrane. Since this antimycin A-insensitive pathway is fully inhibited by myxothiazol, it was hypothesized that electrons are transferred to a quinone pool that is different from the classical coenzyme Q-cytochrome b cycle. Two inhibitory sites were evidenced with myxothiazol, one related to the classical pathway, the other to the second pathway and thus, the second quinone pool could bind to a Q-binding protein at a specific site. Elimination of this second pool leads to a fully antimycin A-sensitive NADH oxidation, whereas its reincorporation in mitochondria allows recovery of an antimycin A-insensitive, myxothiazol sensitive NADH oxidation. The third step in this second respiratory chain involves a specific pool of cytochrome c which can deliver electrons either to a third phosphorylation site or to an alternative oxidase, cytochrome 590. This cytochrome is inhibited by high cyanide concentrations and salicylhydroxamates.     

NAD(P)H oxidation elicits anion superoxide formation in radish plasmalemma vesicles

Radish plasmalemma-enriched fractions show an NAD(P)H-ferricyanide or NAD(P)H-cytochrome c oxidoreductase activity which is not influenced by pH in the 4.5-7.5 range. In addition, at pH 4.5-5.0, NAD(P)H elicits an oxygen consumption (NAD(P)H oxidation) inhibited by catalase or superoxide dismutase (SOD), added either before or after NAD(P)H addition. Ferrous ions stimulate NAD(P)H oxidation, which is again inhibited by SOD and catalase. Hydrogen peroxide does not stimulate NADH oxidation, while it does stimulate Fe2+-induced NADH oxidation. NADH oxidation is unaffected by salicylhydroxamic acid and Mn2+, is stimulated by ferulic acid, and inhibited by KCN, EDTA and ascorbic acid. Moreover, NADH induces the conversion of epinephrine to adrenochrome, indicating that anion superoxide is formed during its oxidation. These results provide evidence that radish plasma membranes contain an NAD(P)H-ferricyanide or cytochrome c oxidoreductase and an NAD(P)H oxidase, active only at pH 4.5-5.0, able to induce the formation of anion superoxide, that is then converted to hydrogen peroxide. Ferrous ions, sparking a Fenton reaction, would stimulate NAD(P)H oxidation.     

Purification and properties of the NAD(P)H:nitrate reductase of the yeast Rhodotorula glutinis.

The assimilatory nitrate reductase from the yeast Rhodotorula glutinus has been purified 740-fold, its different catalytic activities have been characterized and some inhibitors studied. The purified enzyme (150 units per mg protein) contains a cytochrome of the b-557 type. An S20,w of 7.9 S was found by the use of sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and a Stokes radius of 7.05 nm was determined by gel filtration. From these values, a molecular weight of 230 000 was estimated for the native enzyme. The purified preparation consisted of two electrophoretically distinguishable proteins, both of which exhibited nitrate reductase activity. The species with the higher electrophoretic mobility which represented the great majority of the total nitrate reductase gave a positive stain for heme and was shown to be composed of subunits with a molecular weight of about 118 000. Thus the molecule contains two subunits of the same size.     

Systematics of yeast species in the Candida parapsilosis group

Summary The systematics ofCandida species that may or may not ferment carbohydrates and which assimilate trehalose, xylose, and mannitol, but do not assimilate lactose, melibiose, raffinose, inositol, dulcitol, or KNO₃ were examined. Included were:C. albicans, C. albicans var.stellatoidea, C. diddensii, C. bogoriensis, C. claussenii, C. lusilaniae, C. natalensis, C. obtusa, C. oregonensis, C. parapsilosis, C. parapsilosis var.querci, C. polymorpha, C. pulcherrima. C. reukaufii, C. solani, C. tropicalis, C. tropicalis var.lambica andC. viswanathii. The species were delimited and a basis for separation established.Contribution No. 800 from the Institute of Marine Science, University of Miami.This material was developed from a portion of a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph. D. degree at the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida.Present address: Dept. of Food Science & Technology, University of California at Davis.     

The antimycin-A-insensitive respiratory pathway of Candida parapsilosis: evidence for a second quinone involved specifically in its functioning

The involvement of a quinone in the antimycin A-insensitive electron transfer from NADH-dehydrogenase to cytochrome c via the alternative respiratory chain of Candida parapsilosis, by-passing complex II, has been studied. After a partial extraction of quinones, the residual respiration was fully antimycin-A-sensitive, but reincorporation of the organic extract partially restored an antimycin A-insensitive respiration. Analysis of quinone content by HPLC, after purification by thin-layer chromatography, evidenced another quinone species in a very low amount. Myxothiazol and stigmatellin were shown to inhibit the alternative pathway but at a higher concentration than required to inhibit the classical pathway. Cytochrome spectra analysis showed that, in the presence of high myxothiazol concentrations, cytochromes c and aa3 were not reduced, while they were in the presence of antimycin A. It is suggested that the secondary pathway of C. parapsilosis involved a specific quinone pool which can be displaced from its binding site by high concentrations of myxothiazol or analogous compounds.