Occupancy of phosphorylation sites in pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate complex in rat heart in vivo. Relation to proportion of inactive complex and rate of re-activation by phosphatase.

The [gamma-32P]ATP-back-titration method of estimating occupancy in vivo of the three phosphorylation sites in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was improved in precision by specific analysis with trypsin/formic acid, by more effective prevention of site-2 dephosphorylation during purification with NaF, and by other refinements. Disproportionation of phosphorylated complexes during purification was excluded. With this improved method it was shown that the relationship between occupancy of sites and the proportion of complex in the inactive form in rat heart in vivo is closely similar to that measured directly in heart mitochondria by incorporation of [32P]Pi. In the heart in vivo (as in mitochondria), occupancy of site 1 correlated linearly with the proportion of inactive complex. Occupancy of sites 2 and 3 only approached equivalence to that of site 1 when 99% of the complex was inactive (starved or diabetic rats). When 70% or less of the complex was inactive (resting or exercising fed normal rats), occupancy of sites 2 and 3 was minimal (3 less than 2) relative to site 1. The initial rate of re-activation by phosphatase of phosphorylated complex from hearts of resting or exercising fed normal rats was approximately three times that of complex from 48 h-starved rats.     

Conversion of inactive (phosphorylated) pyruvate dehydrogenase complex into active complex by the phosphate reaction in heart mitochondria is inhibited by alloxan-diabetes or starvation in the rat.

1. The conversion of inactive (phosphorylated) pyruvate dehydrogenase complex into active (dephosphorylated) complex by pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase is inhibited in heart mitochondria prepared from alloxan-diabetic or 48h-starved rats, in mitochondria prepared from acetate-perfused rat hearts and in mitochondria prepared from normal rat hearts incubated with respiratory substrates for 6 min (as compared with 1 min). 2. This conclusion is based on experiments with isolated intact mitochondria in which the pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase reaction was inhibited by pyruvate or ATP depletion (by using oligomycin and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone), and in experiments in which the rate of conversion of inactive complex into active complex by the phosphatase was measured in extracts of mitochondria. The inhibition of the phosphatase reaction was seen with constant concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2+ (activators of the phosphatase). The phosphatase reaction in these mitochondrial extracts was not inhibited when an excess of exogenous pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate was used as substrate. It is concluded that this inhibition is due to some factor(s) associated with the substrate (pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate complex) and not to inhibition of the phosphatase as such. 3. This conclusion was verified by isolating pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate complex, free of phosphatase, from hearts of control and diabetic rats an from heart mitochondria incubed for 1min (control) or 6min with respiratory substrates. The rates of re-activation of the inactive complexes were then measured with preparations of ox heart or rat heart phosphatase. The rates were lower (relative to controls) with inactive complex from hearts of diabetic rats or from heart mitochondria incubated for 6min with respiratory substrates. 4. The incorporation of 32Pi into inactive complex took 6min to complete in rat heart mitocondria. The extent of incorporation was consistent with three or four sites of phosphorylation in rat heart pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. 5. It is suggested that phosphorylation of sites additional to an inactivating site may inhibit the conversion of inactive complex into active complex by the phosphatase in heart mitochondria from alloxan-diabetic or 48h-starved rats or in mitochondria incubated for 6min with respiratory substrates.     

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

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

Phosphorylation sites and inactivation of branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase isolated from rat heart, bovine kidney, and rabbit liver, kidney, heart, brain, and skeletal muscle

Branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex was isolated from rat heart, bovine kidney, and rabbit liver, heart, kidney, brain, and skeletal muscle. Phosphorylation to approximately 1 mol Pi/mol alpha-subunit of the alpha-ketoacid decarboxylase component was linearly associated with 90-95% inactivation. The complex from some tissues (i.e., from rabbit kidney and heart, and rat heart) showed 30-40% more phosphate incorporation for an additional 5-10% inactivation. Reverse-phase HPLC analysis of tryptic digests of 32P-labeled complexes from all of the above tissues revealed two major (peaks 1 and 2) and one minor (peak 3) phosphopeptide which represent phosphorylation sites 1, 2, and a combination of 1 and 2, respectively. These phosphopeptides, numbered according to the order of elution from reverse-phase HPLC, had the same elution time regardless of the tissue or animal source of the complex. The amino acid sequence of site 1 from rabbit heart branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase was Ile-Gly-His-His-Ser(P)-Thr-Ser-Asp-Asp-Ser-Ser-Ala-Tyr-Arg. Regardless of the source of the complex, both sites were almost equally phosphorylated until total phosphorylation was approximately 1 mol Pi/mol of alpha-subunit and the rate of inactivation was correlated with the rate of total, site 1, or site 2 phosphorylation. Phosphorylation beyond this amount was associated with greater site 2 than site 1 phosphorylation. alpha-Chloroisocaproate, a potent inhibitor of branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase activity, greatly reduced total phosphorylation and inactivation; however, phosphorylation of site 2 was almost abolished and inactivation was directly correlated with phosphorylation of site 1. Thus, the complex isolated from different tissues and mammals had an apparent conservation of amino acid sequence adjacent to the phosphorylation sites. Both sites were phosphorylated to a similar extent temporally although site 1 phosphorylation was directly responsible for inactivation.     

Regulation of kinase reactions in pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

1. Pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is inactivated by phosphorylation (MgATP2-) of an alpha-chain of the decarboxylase component. Three serine residues may be phosphorylated, one of which (site 1) is the major inactivating site. 2. The relative rates of phosphorylation are site 1 greater than 2 greater than site 3. 3. The kinetics of the inactivating phosphorylation were investigated by measuring inactivation of the complex with MgATP2-. The apparent Km for the Mg complex of ATP was 25.5 microM; ADP was a competitive inhibitor (Ki 69.8 microM) and sodium pyruvate an uncompetitive inhibitor (Ki 2.8 microM). Inactivation was accelerated by increasing concentration ratios of NADH/NAD+ and of acetyl-CoA/CoA. 4. The kinetics of additional phosphorylations (predominantly site 2 under these conditions) were investigated by measurement of 32P incorporation into non-radioactive pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate containing 3-6% of active complex, and assumed from parrallel experiments with 32P labelling to contain 91% of protein-bound phosphate in site 1 and 9% in site 2. 5. The apparent Km for the Mg complex of ATP was 10.1 microM; ADP was a competitive inhibitor (Ki 31.5 microM) and sodium pyruvate an uncompetitive inhibitor (Ki 1.1 mM). 6. Incorporation was accelerated by increasing concentration ratios of NADH/NAD+ and of acetyl-CoA/CoA, although it was less marked at the highest ratios.     

Role of individual phosphorylation sites in inactivation of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in rat heart mitochondria

1. A method is described using trypsin/formic acid cleavage for unambiguously measuring occupancies of phosphorylation sites in rat heart pyruvate dehydrogenase [³²P]phosphate complexes. 2. In mitochondria oxidizing 2-oxoglutarate+l-malate relative initial rates of phosphorylation were site 1>site 2>site 3. 3. Dephosphorylation and reactivation of fully phosphorylated complex was initiated in mitochondria by inhibiting the kinase reaction. Using dichloroacetate relative rates of dephosphorylation were site 2>(1=3). Using sodium dithionite or sodium pyruvate or uncouplers+sodium arsenite or steady state turnover (³¹P replacing ³²P in inactive complex) relative rates were site 2>site 1>site 3. With dithionite reactivation was faster than site 3 dephosphorylation, i.e. site 3 is apparently not inactivating. 4. The steady state proportion of inactive complex was varied (92–48%) in mitochondria oxidizing 2-oxoglutarate/l-malate by increasing extramitochondrial Ca²⁺ (0–2.6μm). This action of Ca²⁺ induced dephosphorylation (site 3>site 2>site 1). These experiments enable prediction of site occupancies in vivo for given steady state proportions of inactive complexes. 5. The proportion of inactive complex was related linearly to occupancy of site 1. 6. Sodium dithionite (10mm) and Ca²⁺ (0.5μm) together resulted in faster dephosphorylations of each site than either agent alone; relative rates were site 2>(1=3). 7. Dephosphorylation and possibly phosphorylation of sites 1 and 2 was not purely sequential as shown by detection of complexes phosphorylated in site 2 but not in site 1. Estimates of the contribution of site 2 phosphorylation to inactivation ranged from 0.7 to 6.4%. 8. It is concluded that the primary function of site 1 phosphorylation is inactivation, phosphorylation of site 2 is not primarily concerned with inactivation and that phosphorylation of site 3 is non-inactivating.     

Occupancy of sites of phosphorylation in inactive rat heart pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate in vivo.

1. Inactive pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate complexes were partially purified from hearts of fed, starved or alloxan-diabetic rats by using conditions that prevent phosphorylation or dephosphorylation. 2. Unoccupied sites of phosphorylation were assayed by incorporation of 32P from [gamma-32P]ATP into the complexes. Total sites of phosphorylation were assayed by the same method after complete reactivation, and thus dephosphorylation, of complexes by incubation with pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase. Occupancy is assumed from the difference (total sites--unoccupied sites). Percentage incorporation into individual sites was measured by high-voltage electrophoresis after tryptic digestion. 3. Values (means +/- S.E.M., in nmol of phosphate/unit of inactive complex) for total sites, occupied sites and percentage occupancies, with numbers of observations in parentheses were: fed, 2.1 +/- 0.04, 1.15 +/- 0.04, 54.8 +/- 1.6% (39); starved, 2.05 +/- 0.03, 1.85 +/- 0.03, 90.2 +/- 1.4% (28); alloxan-diabetic, 1.99 +/- 0.03, 1.72 +/- 0.03, 86.4 +/- 1.4% (68%). 4. Values (means +/- S.E.M. for percentage occupancy) for individual sites of phosphorylation in pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate given in the order sites 1, 2 and 3 were : fed, 100 +/- 2.7, 27.8 +/- 1.6, 33.9 +/- .9; starved, 100 +/- 1.4, 76.2 +/- 2.0, 92.4 +/- 1.5; alloxan-diabetic, 100 +/- 1.2, 64.0 +/- 1.7, 94.6 +/- 1.4. 5. It is concluded that starvation or alloxan-diabetes leads to a 2--3-fold increase in the occupancy of phosphorylation sites 2 and 3 in pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate in rat heart in vivo.     

Studies on the incorporation of [32P]phosphate into pyruvate dehydrogenase in intact rat fat-cells. Effects of insulin.

1. Intact rat epididymal fat-cells were incubated with 32Pi, and the intracellular proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. One of the separated bands of phosphorylated proteins had an apparent subunit mol.wt. of 42 000, which is the same as that of the alpha-subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. By using a combination of subcellular fractionation, immunoprecipitation with antiserum raised against pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and two-dimensional electrophoresis it was apparent that the incorporation into alpha-subunits accounted for 35--45% of the total incorporation into this band of phosphoproteins. 2. The increase in the initial activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase that follows brief exposure of fat-cells to insulin was shown to be associated with a decrease in the steady-state incorporation of 32P into the alpha-subunits of pyruvate dehydrogenase. 3. Tryptic peptide analysis of pyruvate dehydrogenase [32P]phosphate, labelled in intact fat-cells, indicated that three serine residues on the alpha-subunit were phosphorylated, corresponding to the three sites phosphorylated when purified pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase was incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP. The relative phosphorylation of all three serine residues appeared to be similar in 32P-labelled alpha-subunits in both control and insulin-treated fat-cells.     

Regulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase in rat heart. Mechanism of regulation of proportions of dephosphorylated and phosphorylated enzyme by oxidation of fatty acids and ketone bodies and of effects of diabetes: role of coenzyme A, acetyl-coenzyme A and reduced and oxidized nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide.

The proportion of active (dephosphorylated) pyruvate dehydrogenase in perfused rat heart was decreased by alloxan-diabetes or by perfusion with media containing acetate, n-octanoate or palmitate. The total activity of the dehydrogenase was unchanged. 2. Pyruvate (5 or 25mM) or dichloroacetate (1mM) increased the proportion of active (dephosphorylated) pyruvate dehydrogenase in perfused rat heart, presumably by inhibiting the pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase reaction. Alloxan-diabetes markedly decreased the proportion of active dehydrogenase in hearts perfused with pyruvate or dichloroacetate. 3. The total activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase in mitochondria prepared from rat heart was unchanged by diabetes. Incubation of mitochondria with 2-oxo-glutarate plus malate increased ATP and NADH concentrations and decreased the proportion of active pyruvate dehydrogenase. The decrease in active dehydrogenase was somewhat greater in mitochondria prepared from hearts of diabetic rats than in those from hearts of non-diabetic rats. Pyruvate (0.1-10 mM) or dichloroacetate (4-50 muM) increased the proportion of active dehydrogenase in isolated mitochondria presumably by inhibition of the pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase reaction. They were much less effective in mitochondria from the hearts of diabetic rats than in those of non-diabetic rats. 4. The matrix water space was increased in preparations of mitochondria from hearts of diabetic rats. Dichloroacetate was concentrated in the matrix water of mitochondria of non-diabetic rats (approx. 16-fold at 10 muM); mitochondria from hearts of diabetic rats concentrated dichloroacetate less effectively. 5. The pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase activity of rat hearts and of rat heart mitochondria (approx. 1-2 munit/unit of pyruvate dehydrogenase) was not affected by diabetes. 6. The rate of oxidation of [1-14C]pyruvate by rat heart mitochondria (6.85 nmol/min per mg of protein with 50 muM-pyruvate) was approx. 46% of the Vmax. value of extracted pyruvate dehydrogenase (active form). Palmitoyl-L-carnitine, which increased the ratio of [acetyl-CoA]/[CoA] 16-fold, inhibited oxidation of pyruvate by about 90% without changing the proportion of active pyruvate dehydrogenase.     

Bioenergetic studies of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation using 31phosphorus NMR

The relationship between phosphorylation ratio [( ATP])/[ADP][Pi], phosphocreatine (PCr)/Pi, and ATPase activity was determined for isolated rat heart mitochondria, and the use of phosphorylation ratio and/or PCr/Pi as bioenergetic indices (Chance, B., Eleff, S., Leigh, J. S., Sokolow, D., and Sapega, A. (1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78, 6714-6718) was evaluated. Isolated rat heart mitochondria were suspended at low concentration (0.5-2.0 mg of protein/ ml) in oxygenated KCl/sucrose/4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid medium at 25 degrees C and pyruvate, malate, PCr, ATP, Pi, and Mg2+ were added. Changes in extramitochondrial phosphorus compounds were followed by 31P NMR. The ATPase activity was varied by the addition of potato apyrase. It was found that the logarithm of steady state PCr/Pi decreased linearly with increasing ATPase rate with a PCr/Pi intercept of 32.8 at 0 ATPase rate. The log phosphorylation ratio was also linearly related to the ATPase rate with an extrapolated maximum value of 6.87 at 0 ATPase rate, corresponding to a phosphorylation ratio of 7.41 X 10(6) M(-1) and a delta GATP of -16.3 kcal. The phosphorylation ratio in these experiments (for state 4 respiration) was greater by 1 or 2 orders of magnitude than previously reported for either isolated mitochondria or for whole tissue.     

Phosphorylation of additional sites on pyruvate dehydrogenase inhibits its re-activation by pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase.

The phosphorylation of sites additional to an inactivating site inhibits the formation of active pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from inactive pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate complex by pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase.     

Inhibitory effect of glucose on the maturation of rat liver mitochondria at birth. Phospholipid and oxidative metabolism

(1) The rate of ATP synthesis coupled with succinate oxidation in rat liver mitochondria is low at birth and increases rapidly during the first postnatal hours (Nakazawa, T., Asami, K., Suzuki, H. and Yakawa, O. (1973) J. Biochem. 73, 397-406). A glucose injection given to newborn rats immediately after birth seemed to delay this maturation process. (2) Glucose administration specifically diminished the rate of 32Pi incorporation into phosphatidylcholine both in microsomes and in mitochondria while other phospholipids remained unaffected. (3) In newborn rat liver, 32Pi incorporation into phospholipids can be explained by de novo synthesis of phospholipids in microsomes followed by transfer to mitochondria with two exceptions phosphatidylserine and sphingomyelin. Indeed, after a 20-min incorporation of 32Pi into phospholipids, the specific radioactivity of phosphatidylserine and sphingomyelin was higher in mitochondria than in microsomes. (4) As far as phospholipid synthesis is concerned, no precursor-product relationship could be observed between light and heavy mitochondria.     

Amino acid sequences around the sites of phosphorylation in the pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

1. When pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was phosphorylated to completion with [gamma-32P]ATP by its intrinsic kinase, three phosphorylation sites were observed. The amino acid sequences around these sites were: sequence 1, Tyr-Gly-Met-Gly-Thr-Ser(P)-Val-Glu-Arg; and sequence 2, Tyr-His-Gly-His-Ser(P)-Met-Ser-Asp-Pro-Gly-Val-Ser(P)-Tyr-Arg. 2. When phosphorylated to inactivation by repetitive additions of limiting quantities of [gamma-32P]ATP, phosphate was incorporated mainly (more than 90%) into Ser-5 of sequence 2. Phosphorylation of this site thus results in activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase. 3. If Ser-5 is phosphorylated with ATP and the enzyme then incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP, phosphorylation of the remaining sites occurred. Ser-12 of sequence 2 is phosphorylated about twice as rapidly as Ser-6 of sequence 1. 4. Incubation of pyruvate dehydrogenase with excess [gamma-32P]ATP with termination of phosphorylation at about 50% complete inactivation showed that Ser-5 of sequence 2 was phosphorylated most rapidly, but also that Ser-12 of sequence 2 was significantly (15% of total) phosphorylated. Ser-6 sequence 1 contained about 1% total P. 5. These results suggest that addition of limiting amounts of ATP produces primarily phosphorylation of Ser-5 of sequence 2 (inactivating site). This also occurs during incubation with excess ATP before complete inactivation occurs, but a greater occupancy of other sites also occurs during this treatment.     

Dephosphorylation of pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate complexes by pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase.

1. Pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate complex in which all three sites of phosphorylation were completely phosphorylated was re-activated at a slower rate by phosphatase than complex predominantly phosphorylated in site 1. The ratio of initial rates of re-activation was approx. 1:5 with a comparatively crude preparation of phosphatase and with phosphatase purified by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography. 2. The ratio of apparent first-order rate constants during dephosphorylation of fully phosphorylated complex averaged 1/3.8/1.3 for site 1/site 2/site 3. Only site-1 dephosphorylation was linearly correlated with re-activation of the complex throughout dephosphorylation. Dephosphorylation of site 3 was linearly correlated with re-activation after an initial burst of dephosphorylation. 3. Because dephosphorylation of site 1 was always associated with dephosphorylation of site 2, it is concluded that dephosphorylation cannot be purely random. 4. The ratio of apparent first-order rate constants for dephosphorylation of site 1 (partially/fully phosphorylated complexes) averaged 1.72. This ratio is smaller than the ratio of approx. 5 for the initial rates of re-activation. Possible mechanisms involved in the diminished rate of re-activation of fully phosphorylated complex are discussed.     

Metabolism and transport of glutamine and glucose in vascularly perfused small intestine of the rat

1. The proportion of active (dephosphorylated) pyruvate dehydrogenase in rat heart mitochondria was correlated with total concentration ratios of ATP/ADP, NADH/NAD+ and acetyl-CoA/CoA. These metabolites were measured with ATP-dependent and NADH-dependent luciferases. 2. Increase in the concentration ratio of NADH/NAD+ at constant [ATP]/[ADP] and [acetyl-CoA]/[CoA] was associated with increased phosphorylation and inactivation of pyruvate dehydrogenase. This was based on comparison between mitochondria incubated with 0.4mM- or 1mM-succinate and mitochondria incubated with 0.4mM-succinate+/-rotenone. 3. Increase in the concentration ratio acetyl-CoA/CoA at constant [ATP]/[ADP] and [NADH][NAD+] was associated with increased phosphorylation and inactivation of pyruvate dehydrogenase. This was based on comparison between incubations in 50 micrometer-palmitotoyl-L-carnitine and in 250 micrometer-2-oxoglutarate +50 micrometer-L-malate. 4. These findings are consistent with activation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase reaction by high ratios of [NADH]/[NAD+] and of [acetyl-CoA]/[CoA]. 5. Comparison between mitochondria from hearts of diabetic and non-diabetic rats shows that phosphorylation and inactivation of pyruvate dehydrogenase is enhanced in alloxan-diabetes by some factor other than concentration ratios of ATP/ADP, NADH/NAD+ or acetyl-CoA/CoA.     

Rates of various reactions catalyzed by ATP synthase as related to the mechanism of ATP synthesis.

The forward and reverse rates of the overall reaction catalyzed by the ATP synthase in intact rat heart mitochondria, as measured with 32P, were compared with the rates of two partial steps, as measured with 18O. Such rates have been measured previously, but their relationship to one another has not been determined, nor have the partial reactions been measured in intact mitochondria. The partial steps measured were the rate of medium Pi formation from bound ATP (in state 4 this also equals the rate of medium Pi into bound ATP) and the rate of formation of bound ATP from bound Pi within the catalytic site. The rates of both partial reactions can be measured by 31P NMR analysis of the 18O distribution in Pi and ATP released from the enzyme during incubation of intact mitochondria with highly labeled [18O]Pi. Data were obtained in state 3 and 4 conditions with variation in substrate concentrations, temperature, and mitochondrial membrane electrical potential gradient (delta psi m). Although neither binding nor release of ATP is necessary for phosphate/H2O exchange, in state 4 the rate of incorporation of at least one water oxygen atom into phosphate is approximately twice the rate of the overall reaction rate under a variety of conditions. This can be explained if the release of Pi or ATP at one catalytic site does not occur, unless ATP or Pi is bound at another catalytic site. Such coupling provides strong support for the previously proposed alternating site mechanism. In state 3 slow reversal of ATP synthesis occurs within the mitochondrial matrix and can be detected as incorporation of water oxygen atoms into medium Pi even though medium [32P]ATP does not give rise to 32Pi in state 3. These data can be explained by lack of translocation of ATP from the medium to the mitochondrial matrix. The rate of bound ATP formation from bound Pi at catalytic sites was over twice the rate of the overall reaction in both states 4 and 3. The rate of reaction at the catalytic site is considerably less sensitive to the decrease in membrane potential and the concentration of medium ADP than is the rate of medium ATP formation. This supports the view that the active catalytic site is occluded and proceeds at a rapid rate which is relatively independent of delta psi m and of media substrates.     

The regulation of branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase of liver, kidney and heart by phosphorylation.

1. Incubation of mitochondria from heart, liver and kidney with [32P]phosphate allowed 32P incorporation into two intramitochondrial proteins, the decarboxylase alpha-subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (mol.wt 42000) and a protein of mol.wt. 48000. 2. This latter protein incorporated 32P more slowly than did pyruvate dehydrogenase, was not precipitated by antibody to pyruvate dehydrogenase and showed behaviour distinct from that of pyruvate dehydrogenase towards high-speed centrifugation and pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase. 3. 32P incorporation into the protein was greatly diminished by the presence of 0.1 mM-4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate, but enhanced by pyruvate (1 mM), hypo-osmotic treatment of mitochondria and, under some conditions, by uncoupler. 4. The activity of branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase was assayed in parallel experiments. Under appropriate conditions the enzyme was inhibited when 32P incorporation was increased and activated when incorporation was decreased. The data suggest that the 48000-mol.wt. phosphorylated protein is identical with the decarboxylase subunit of branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase and that this enzyme may be controlled by a phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle akin to that for pyruvate dehydrogenase. 5. Strict correlation between activity and 32P incorporation was not observed, and a scheme for the regulation of the enzyme is proposed to account for these discrepancies.     

Mitochondrial protein phosphorylation and cardiomyopathy in genetically diabetic mice: the effect of estrone treatment

The alpha-subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase and succinyl-CoA synthetase are phosphorylated after incubation of cardiac mitochondria from genetically diabetic mice with [gamma-32P]ATP. There is significantly increased incorporation of 32P into pyruvate dehydrogenase from diabetic mice when compared to controls. The enhanced rate of pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphorylation correlates well with the previously reported defective oxidative metabolism and decreased activity of this enzyme from diabetic mice. The relationship between abnormal mitochondrial function and development of cardiomyopathy in the diabetic mice has been studied further by in vivo estrone treatment. The results indicate that ultrastructural alterations of myocardium are closely associated with the defective pyruvate oxidation (via phosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase) and both processes can be prevented by 7-12 weeks estrone treatment.     

Mechanism of activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase by dichloroacetate and other halogenated carboxylic acids

1. Monochloroacetate, dichloroacetate, trichloroacetate, difluoroacetate, 2-chloropropionate, 2,2'-dichloropropionate and 3-chloropropionate were inhibitors of pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase. Dichloroacetate was also shown to inhibit rat heart pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase. The inhibition was mainly non-competitive with respect to ATP. The concentration required for 50% inhibition was approx. 100mum for the three chloroacetates, difluoroacetate and 2-chloropropionate and 2,2'-dichloropropionate. Dichloroacetamide was not inhibitory. 2. Dichloroacetate had no significant effect on the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase when this was maximally activated by Ca(2+) and Mg(2+). 3. Dichloroacetate did not increase the catalytic activity of purified pig heart pyruvate dehydrogenase. 4. Dichloroacetate, difluoroacetate, 2-chloropropionate and 2,2'-dichloropropionate increased the proportion of the active (dephosphorylated) form of pyruvate dehydrogenase in rat heart mitochondria with 2-oxoglutarate and malate as respiratory substrates. Similar effects of dichloroacetate were shown with kidney and fat-cell mitochondria. Glyoxylate, monochloroacetate and dichloroacetamide were inactive. 5. Dichloroacetate increased the proportion of active pyruvate dehydrogenase in the perfused rat heart, isolated rat diaphragm and rat epididymal fat-pads. Difluoroacetate and dichloroacetamide were also active in the perfused heart, but glyoxylate, monochloroacetate and trichloroacetate were inactive. 6. Injection of dichloroacetate into rats starved overnight led within 60 min to activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase in extracts from heart, psoas muscle, adipose tissue, kidney and liver. The blood concentration of lactate fell within 15 min to reach a minimum after 60 min. The blood concentration of glucose fell after 90 min and reached a minimum after 120 min. There was no significant change in plasma glycerol concentration. 7. In epididymal fatpads dichloroacetate inhibited incorporation of (14)C from [U-(14)C]glucose, [U-(14)C]fructose and from [U-(14)C]lactate into CO(2) and glyceride fatty acid. 8. It is concluded that the inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase by dichloroacetate may account for the activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase and pyruvate oxidation which it induces in isolated rat heart and diaphragm muscles, subject to certain assumptions as to the distribution of dichloroacetate across the plasma membrane and the mitochondrial membrane. 9. It is suggested that activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase by dichloroacetate could contribute to its hypoglycaemic effect by interruption of the Cori and alanine cycles. 10. It is suggested that the inhibitory effect of dichloroacetate on fatty acid synthesis in adipose tissue may involve an additional effect or effects of the compound.     

The effect of dichloroacetate on the phosphorylation of mitochondria proteins

Succinyl-CoA synthetase and the alpha-subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase are phosphorylated after incubation of mitochondria from brain, heart, and liver with [gamma-³²P]ATP. Dichloroacetate, a known specific inhibitor for pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, inhibits not only the phosphate incorporation into the alpha-subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase but also the autophosphorylation of succinyl-CoA synthetase. AMP also inhibits the phosphorylation of both proteins. Phosphorylation of the alpha-subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase in liver mitochondria is significantly lower than in mitochondria from other tissues.