Tissue-specific differences between heart and liver cytochrome c oxidase

Bovine liver cytochrome c oxidase has been isolated and the subunit structure of this preparation compared with that of the bovine heart enzyme. Of the 10 nuclear-coded subunits, 3 were different in the 2 tissue forms, having different migrations in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, different antigenicities to antibodies made against the heart subunits, and different N-terminal amino acid sequences. Subunit ASA of heart begins with the N-terminal sequence of SSG in liver and is different in 17 of the first 33 residues including a deletion of 2 residues in the liver isoform of this subunit. Subunit CVII of liver differs from its heart counterpart in 6 of the first 37 residues while subunit CIX from liver differs from the heart isoform in 15 of the first 25 residues. No differences between tissue types were observed in partial sequencing of the remaining nuclear-coded subunits. Recently, the major portion of the sequence of subunit CIX from rat liver has been obtained by cloning and sequencing of the cDNA for this polypeptide [Suske, G., Mengel, T., Cordingley, M., & Kadenbach, B. (1987) Eur. J. Biochem. 168, 233-237]. There is a greater sequence homology of the rat and bovine liver forms of CIX than there is between the bovine heart and liver isoforms.     

The subunit structure of the cytochrome c oxidase complex.

The subunit structure of the cytochrome c oxidase complex has been obtained for three preparations each isolated by a different detergent procedure. Six polypeptides were present in all samples with the following molecular weights: subunits I, 36000; II, 22500, III, 17100; IV, 12500; V, 9700; and VI, 5300. These subunits have been purified by gel filtration in sodium dodecyl sulfate or in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride and their amino acid compositions have been determined. Subunit I is hydrophobic in character with a polarity of 35.7%. Subunits II through VI are more hydrophilic with polarities of 45.5, 48.6, 47.8, 49.7, and 53.7%, respectively.     

Relationship between membrane and cytoplasmic domains in cytochrome c oxidase by electron microscopy in media of different density

We have investigated the relative location of the exposed cytoplasmic and membrane domains in cytoehrome c oxidase vesicle crystals by varying the density of the embedding medium in electron microscopy. This gives the connectivity of the domains, revealing a Y-shaped cytoehrome c oxidase monomer. A large domain, the stem of the Y, projects over 50 Å into solution from the side of the crystal membrane corresponding to the cytoplasmic face of the inner mitochondrial membrane. Two smaller domains are embedded in the bilayer and must be largely separated by lipid. The Y-shaped cytochrome c oxidase monomers are compactly paired as dimers.     

Novel antibody-based strategies for the rapid diagnosis of mitochondrial disease and dysfunction

We are developing rapid immunoassays to measure the protein levels, enzymatic activities and post-translational modifications of mitochondrial proteins. These assays can be arrayed in multi-analyte panels for biomarker discovery and they can also be used individually at point of care where the level or activity of a small number proteins or even a single protein is highly informative. For example, we have characterized OXPHOS deficits associated with lipoatrophy, an adverse metabolic side-effect of anti-retroviral therapy, and have shown that OXPHOS deficits observed in vitro are also exhibited not only in clinically affected tissue (peripheral fat) but also in more easily accessible tissue (peripheral blood mononucleated cells). Similarly, we have shown that a small set of assays can be used to identify almost all patients with genetic deficits in OXPHOS complexes I or IV, the most common cause of inherited mitochondrial disease. Finally, we recently reported that Friedreich's Ataxia (FA) patients and carriers can be identified on the basis of a simple dipstick test to measure levels of a single protein, frataxin, an iron regulatory protein whose disrupted expression is the proximal cause of neurodegeneration in FA. Because each of these tests can be performed in an extremely simple, rapid dipstick format using non-invasive samples such as cheek swabs and fingerprick blood, they have potential for use as point of care diagnostics for mitochondrial disease and as front-line screening tools to help guide drug therapies and minimize adverse off-target drug effects.     

Affinity of molecular interactions in the bacteriophage phi29 DNA packaging motor

DNA packaging in the bacteriophage 29 involves a molecular motor with protein and RNA components, including interactions between the viral connector protein and molecules of pRNA, both of which form multimeric complexes. Data are presented to demonstrate the higher order assembly of pRNA together with the affinity of pRNA:pRNA and pRNA:connector interactions, which are used to propose a model for motor function. In solution, pRNA can form dimeric and trimeric multimers in a magnesium-dependent manner, with dissociation constants for multimerization in the micromolar range. pRNA:connector binding is also facilitated by the presence of magnesium ions, with a nanomolar apparent dissociation constant for the interaction. From studies with a mutant pRNA, it appears that multimerization of pRNA is not essential for connector binding and it is likely that connector protein is involved in the stabilization of higher order RNA multimers. It is proposed that magnesium ions may promote conformational change that facilitate pRNA:connector interactions, essential for motor function.     

Crystal structure of axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) liver bile acid-binding protein bound to cholic and oleic acid

The family of the liver bile acid-binding proteins (L-BABPs), formerly called liver basic fatty acid-binding proteins (Lb-FABPs) shares fold and sequence similarity with the paralogous liver fatty acid-binding proteins (L-FABPs) but has a different stoichiometry and specificity of ligand binding. This article describes the first X-ray structure of a member of the L-BABP family, axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) L-BABP, bound to two different ligands: cholic and oleic acid. The protein binds one molecule of oleic acid in a position that is significantly different from that of either of the two molecules that bind to rat liver FABP. The stoichiometry of binding of cholate is of two ligands per protein molecule, as observed in chicken L-BABP. The cholate molecule that binds buried most deeply into the internal cavity overlaps well with the analogous bound to chicken L-BABP, whereas the second molecule, which interacts with the first only through hydrophobic contacts, is more external and exposed to the solvent.     

Oligodeoxyribonucleotide Phosphorothioates: Substantial Reduction of (N-1)-mer Content Through the Use of Trimeric Phosphoramidite Synthons

Abstract

Use of fully protected trimeric phosphoramidite synthons in the synthesis of oligonucleotide phosphorothioate shows a substantial reduction (>85%) in (n-1)-mer content as compared to oligomers synthesized through coupling of standard phosphoramidite monomers. A 20-mer oligodeoxyribonucleotide phosphorothioate which is in phase I clinical trials was chosen as an example for the studies.     

Synthesis of Deoxyribonucleoside Phosphorodithioate Dimers by a Triester Method

Abstract

Modified oligodeoxynucleotides have recently received much attention due to their therapeutic applications. Among the more promising are phosphorodithioates where both nonbridging oxygen atoms in the phosphate diesters are replced by sulfur. Deoxynucleoside phosphorodithioate dimers have been prepared in several ways, using H-phosphonate, phosphordiamidite, phosphoramidite, and thiophosphoramidite methods. Reports have also appeared on the synthesis of oligonucleotides with alternating phosphodiester and dithiophosphodiester linkages, as well as one on ribonucleoside dimers. Of the above methods, the thiophosphoramidite method has been applied successfully for the preparation of mixed base oligonucleotides containing contiguous phosphorodithioate linkages. However, this method gives products which contain varying amounts of phosphorothioate linkages (2 ? 10%) due to factors associated with the involvement of trivalent thiophosphorus compounds. In addition, the thiophosphoramidite synthons are difficult to purify on silica gel column, and have a tendency to dismutate in presence of acidic catalysts such as tetrazole. The thiophosphite intermediate which is formed is also unstable to tetrazole. Similarly in the thio- and dithio-H-phosphonate method, the primary coupling products are unstable to catalysts, pivaloyl chloride and iodine. Recently, Dahl et al reported^1–2 synthesis of dimers and oligomers upto octamer which also leads to formation of small amounts of phosphorothioate linkages. In additon, about 1.2% per phosphorodithioate linkage of the oligomer is cleaved during     

A preliminary method for estimating the age of brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) embryos

Morphological features of a collection of unknown-age wild kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) embryos from early development to point of hatch are described. Using these features, we assign developmental stages to each embryo and compare the progress of development to similar-staged ostrich (Struthio camelus) and chicken (Gallus gallus) embryos. Two ageing schemes for the kiwi embryos are developed by comparing measurements of their hindlimb segments, bills and crown–rump lengths with those of ostrich and chicken embryos at various stages of development. One of the 20 kiwi embryos was of known age. Both the ostrich model and the chicken model gave identical predictions for the marker and four other embryos. Developmental timing of some features differed between all three species, most markedly in the bill, with growth in the kiwi bill being relatively faster to achieve its larger relative and absolute size at hatch.