Ultrastructural Cytochemistry of Some Oxidative Enzymes

Author(s):  
Arnold M. Seligman

The membrane-bound enzymes of the succinic oxidase chain of electron transport on the cristae of mitochondria have been the target of ultrastructural cytochemical research for a number of years. Methods for succinic dehydrogenase have been improved by the continuous design and synthesis of better tetrazolium salts. The most recent is BSPT, which is not osmiophilic, but yields an osmiophilic, lipophobic, insoluble formazan. The terminal triplet of the chain of electron transport or cytochrome oxidase, consisting of cytochrome c, a and a3 has been demonstrated very well via cytochrome c with diaminobenzidine (DAB). The localization of these two reaction products specifically on the outer surface of the inner mitochondrial membrane, lends some support to speculation concerning the mechanism of transfer of oxidative energy for ATP synthesis.

1971 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 1175-1182 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ishaque ◽  
A. Donawa ◽  
M. I. H. Aleem

The respiratory chain system of heterotrophically grown Pseudomonas saccharophila contained cytochromes of the b, c, a, and o types and also the NADH and succinate oxidase enzyme systems. Cell-free extracts catalyzed phosphorylation coupled to the oxidation of NADH, succinate, and ascorbate (plus cytochrome c). The P/O ratios were in the range of 1.00 for generated NADH, 0.29 for added NADH, 0.50 for succinate, and 0.25 for ascorbate (plus cytochrome c).The oxidative phosphorylation was uncoupled by 2,4-dinitrophenol, 2,6-dibromophenol, pentachlorophenol, m-chlorocarbonyl cyanide phenylhydrazone, and dicumarol without any inhibition of oxygen consumption. Phosphorylation coupled to NADH oxidation was completely inhibited by the flavoprotein inhibitors such as rotenone, amytal, and atabrine; these inhibitors had no effect, however, on the ATP synthesis associated with succinate oxidation. Antimycin A or 2-n-nonyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide as well as cyanide or azide at low concentrations completely inhibited the phosphate esterification coupled to the oxidation of NADH or succinate, but had little or no effect on the oxygen consumption. Relatively higher concentrations of oligomycin were required for a complete inhibition of the electron-transport-linked ATP formation.


2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 517-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan C Parrish ◽  
J Guy Guillemette ◽  
Carmichael JA Wallace

Cytochrome c is a small electron-transport protein whose major role is to transfer electrons between complex III (cytochrome reductase) and complex IV (cytochrome c oxidase) in the inner mitochondrial membrane of eukaryotes. Cytochrome c is used as a model for the examination of protein folding and structure and for the study of biological electron-transport processes. Amongst 96 cytochrome c sequences, residue 85 is generally conserved as either isoleucine or leucine. Spatially, the side chain is associated closely with that of the invariant residue Phe82, and this interaction may be important for optimal cytochrome c activity. The functional role of residue 85 has been examined using six site-directed mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae iso-1 cytochrome c, including, for the first time, kinetic data for electron transfer with the principle physiological partners. Results indicate two likely roles for the residue: first, heme crevice resistance to ligand exchange, sensitive to both the hydrophobicity and volume of the side chain; second, modulation of electron-transport activity through maintenance of the hydrophobic character of the protein in the vicinity of Phe82 and the exposed heme edge, and possibly of the ability of this region to facilitate redox-linked conformational change.Key words: protein engineering, cytochrome c, structure-function relations, electron transfer, hydrophobic packing.


1999 ◽  
Vol 181 (13) ◽  
pp. 4076-4080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Ide ◽  
Sebastian Bäumer ◽  
Uwe Deppenmeier

ABSTRACT The membrane-bound H2:heterodisulfide oxidoreductase system of the methanogenic archaeon Methanosarcina mazeiGö1 catalyzed the H2-dependent reduction of 2-hydroxyphenazine and the dihydro-2-hydroxyphenazine-dependent reduction of the heterodisulfide of HS-CoM and HS-CoB (CoM-S-S-CoB). Washed inverted vesicles of this organism were found to couple both processes with the transfer of protons across the cytoplasmic membrane. The maximal H+/2e− ratio was 0.9 for each reaction. The electrochemical proton gradient (ΔμH+ ) thereby generated was shown to drive ATP synthesis from ADP plus Pi, exhibiting stoichiometries of 0.25 ATP synthesized per two electrons transported for both partial reactions. ATP synthesis and the generation of ΔμH+ were abolished by the uncoupler 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidenemalononitrile (SF 6847). The ATP synthase inhibitorN,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide did not affect H+ translocation but led to an almost complete inhibition of ATP synthesis and decreased the electron transport rates. The latter effect was relieved by the addition of SF 6847. Thus, the energy-conserving systems showed a stringent coupling which resembles the phenomenon of respiratory control. The results indicate that two different proton-translocating segments are present in the H2:heterodisulfide oxidoreductase system; the first involves the 2-hydroxyphenazine-dependent hydrogenase, and the second involves the heterodisulfide reductase.


1980 ◽  
Vol 188 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
A C Stewart ◽  
D S Bendall

1. A cell-free preparation of membrane fragments was prepared from the thermophilic blue-green alga Phormidium laminosum by lysozyme treatment of the cells followed by osmotic shock to lyse the spheroplasts. The membrane fragments showed high rates of photosynthetic electron transport and O2 evolution (180-250 mumol of O2/h per mg of chlorophyll a with 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinone as electron acceptor). O2-evolution activity was stable provided that cations (e.g. 10mM-Mg2+ or 100mM-Na+) or glycerol (25%, v/v) were present in the suspending medium. 2. The components of the electron-transport chain in P. laminosum were similar to those of other blue-green algae: the cells contained Pigment P700, plastocyanin, soluble high-potential cytochrome c-553, soluble low-potential cytochrome c-54 and membrane-bound cytochromes f, b-563 and b-559 (both low- and high-potential forms). The amounts and midpoint potentials of the membrane-bound cytochromes were similar to those in higher-plant chloroplasts. 3. Although O2 evolution in P. laminosum spheroplasts was resistant to high temperatures, thermal stability was not retained in the cell-free preparation. However, in contrast with higher plants, O2 evolution in P. laminosum membrane fragments was remarkably resistant to the non-ionic detergent Triton X-100.


1960 ◽  
Vol 198 (4) ◽  
pp. 740-744 ◽  
Author(s):  
John P. Hannon

The effect of 3–4 weeks exposure to 5° ± 1°C on the activity of enzymes associated with the electron transport system of rat liver and gastrocnemius muscle was investigated. The enzymes included lactic, succinic and malic dehydrogenase, DPNH-cytochrome c reductase and cytochrome oxidase. Cold exposure led to increased activities on the part of succinic and malic dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase. Muscle tissue exhibited a greater response in these components than liver tissue. Lactic dehydrogenase and DPNH-cytochrome c reductase activities were unaffected by cold exposure in either liver or muscle. Thyroxine, 2,4-dinitrophenol, phosphate and hexokinase-glucose stimulated the activity of succinic dehydrogenase activities of liver tissue, with hexokinase-glucose producing the greatest effect. The degree of stimulation by these agents was the same, however, for tissue from cold exposed animals as it was for controls. It was concluded that the increased tissue oxygen consumption in the cold-acclimatized rat was attributable to at least three mechanisms: a) an increased enzyme concentrations; b) a stimulation of latent enzyme activity; and c) an uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 519a
Author(s):  
Minh D. Phan ◽  
Keel Yong Lee ◽  
Hanyu Wang ◽  
James F. Browning ◽  
Sushil K. Satija ◽  
...  

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 197
Author(s):  
Stephanie Gladyck ◽  
Siddhesh Aras ◽  
Maik Hüttemann ◽  
Lawrence I. Grossman

Oxidative phosphorylation is a tightly regulated process in mammals that takes place in and across the inner mitochondrial membrane and consists of the electron transport chain and ATP synthase. Complex IV, or cytochrome c oxidase (COX), is the terminal enzyme of the electron transport chain, responsible for accepting electrons from cytochrome c, pumping protons to contribute to the gradient utilized by ATP synthase to produce ATP, and reducing oxygen to water. As such, COX is tightly regulated through numerous mechanisms including protein–protein interactions. The twin CX9C family of proteins has recently been shown to be involved in COX regulation by assisting with complex assembly, biogenesis, and activity. The twin CX9C motif allows for the import of these proteins into the intermembrane space of the mitochondria using the redox import machinery of Mia40/CHCHD4. Studies have shown that knockdown of the proteins discussed in this review results in decreased or completely deficient aerobic respiration in experimental models ranging from yeast to human cells, as the proteins are conserved across species. This article highlights and discusses the importance of COX regulation by twin CX9C proteins in the mitochondria via COX assembly and control of its activity through protein–protein interactions, which is further modulated by cell signaling pathways. Interestingly, select members of the CX9C protein family, including MNRR1 and CHCHD10, show a novel feature in that they not only localize to the mitochondria but also to the nucleus, where they mediate oxygen- and stress-induced transcriptional regulation, opening a new view of mitochondrial-nuclear crosstalk and its involvement in human disease.


1974 ◽  
Vol 140 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
David F. Wilson ◽  
Marion Stubbs ◽  
Richard L. Veech ◽  
Maria Erecińska ◽  
Hans A. Krebs

1. The redox state of cytochrome c, cytochrome a and the mitochondrial NAD couple, and the phosphorylation state of the adenine nucleotides, were measured in suspensions of isolated rat liver cells. 2. The ΔG for the transfer of two electrons from the mitochondrial NAD to the cytochrome c couple is calculated to be 104kJ (24.8kcal). 3. The ΔG associated with the synthesis of ATP at the measured phosphorylation state is calculated to be 95kJ (22.7kcal)/2mol of ATP. 4. The near equality of ΔG of the electron-transport process and ΔG required for ATP synthesis indicates near-equilibrium between the mitochondrial respiratory chain and the extramitochondrial phosphorylation state. 5. The existence of near-equilibrium in the coupled reactions implies that the respiratory activity depends on the ratio [ATP]/[ADP][Pi] and not on the concentrations of the individual reactants. 6. If the overall system of oxidative phosphorylation is at near-equilibrium, all intermediary reactions must also be at equilibrium. Hence if the intramitochondrial and extramitochondrial phosphorylation states are indeed different, it follows that any differences in the activities of ATP, ADP and Pi must be coupled to ion gradients and/or potentials across the inner mitochondrial membrane in such a way that translocation occurs without loss of free energy. 7. The metabolic state of the mitochondria in the cell can be defined by the turnover number of the cytochromes, the cytoplasmic phosphorylation state, and the oxidation–reduction potential of the NAD couple, rather than by the availability of ADP, substrate and O2.


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