Electron Microscopic Tomography of Cellular Organelles: Chemical Fixation Vs. Cryo-Substitution of Rat-Liver Mitochondria

1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (S2) ◽  
pp. 430-431
Author(s):  
C.A. Mannella ◽  
K. Buttle ◽  
K. Tessitore ◽  
B.K. Rath ◽  
C. Hsieh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rat Liver ◽  
3D Structure ◽  
Design Feature ◽  
Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Rat Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Low Contrast ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
Cellular Organelles

Electron microscopic tomography is proving to be a valuable tool for investigating the 3D structure and organization of cellular organelles. Important progress is being made in the application of the technique to frozen-hydrated material, but it is likely that success with thick specimens will be limited by the low contrast and beam sensitivity of naked biological material. Thus, optimizing procedures for fixing, embedding, staining, and selectively labelling cells for 3D electron microscopy remains a priority.Tomography of chemically fixed and plastic-embedded rat-liver tissue and isolated mitochondria has shown that the cristae (the invaginations of the mitochondrial inner membrane) are pleiomorphic and connected to each other and to the surface of the inner membrane by tubular regions 30-40 nm in diameter. This basic design feature has important implications for the microcompartmentation of ions and molecules within this organelle.

scholarly journals ‘Pore’ formation is not required for the hydroperoxide-induced Ca2+ release from rat liver mitochondria

1992 ◽  
Vol 285 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Schlegel ◽  
M Schweizer ◽  
C Richter
Keyword(s):  
Rat Liver ◽  
Pore Formation ◽  
Permeability Transition Pore ◽  
Permeability Transition ◽  
Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Rat Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
Specific Permeability ◽  
Specific Pathway

It has recently been suggested by several investigators that the hydroperoxide- and phosphate-induced Ca2+ release from mitochondria occurs through a non-specific ‘pore’ formed in the mitochondrial inner membrane. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether ‘pore’ formation actually is required for Ca2+ release. We find that the t-butyl hydroperoxide (tbh)-induced release is not accompanied by stimulation of sucrose entry into, K+ release from, and swelling of mitochondria provided re-uptake of the released Ca2+ (‘Ca2+ cycling’) is prevented. We conclude that (i) the tbh-induced Ca2+ release from rat liver mitochondria does not require ‘pore’ formation in the mitochondrial inner membrane, (ii) this release occurs via a specific pathway from intact mitochondria, and (iii) a non-specific permeability transition (‘pore’ formation) is likely to be secondary to Ca2+ cycling by mitochondria.

scholarly journals Cholesterol increase in mitochondria: its effect on inner-membrane functions, submitochondrial localization and ultrastructural morphology

1993 ◽  
Vol 289 (3) ◽  
pp. 703-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Echegoyen ◽  
E B Oliva ◽  
J Sepulveda ◽  
J C Díaz-Zagoya ◽  
M T Espinosa-García ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Atpase Activity ◽  
Succinate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Outer Membrane ◽  
Rat Liver ◽  
Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Rat Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Ultrastructural Morphology ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane

The effect of cholesterol incorporation on some functions of the mitochondrial inner membrane and on the morphology of rat liver mitochondria was studied. Basal ATPase and succinate dehydrogenase activities remained unchanged after cholesterol was incorporated into the mitochondria; however, uncoupled ATPase activity was partially inhibited. The presence of several substrates and inhibitors did not change the amount of cholesterol incorporated, which was localized mostly in the outer membrane. Electron-microscope observations revealed the presence of vesicles between the outer and inner membranes; these vesicles increased in number with the amount of cholesterol incorporated. The data suggest that cholesterol induces the formation of vesicles from the outer membrane, and modifies the activity of stimulated ATPase.

Electron Microscopic Tomography of Whole, Frozen-Hydrated Rat-Liver Mitochondria at 400 kv

1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (S2) ◽  
pp. 416-417
Author(s):  
C.A. Mannella ◽  
C.-E Hsieh ◽  
M. Marko
Keyword(s):  
Rat Liver ◽  
Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Rat Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Peripheral Compartment ◽  
Collection System ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Automated Data Collection ◽  
Outer Membranes ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
Structural Preservation

Electron microscopic tomography is providing important new insights about the internal structure of the mitochondrion. In particular, the infoldings of the mitochondrial inner membrane (cristae), which are usually rendered as lamelliform baffles, are revealed to have considerable tubular nature. Rather than opening wide to the peripheral compartment (between the inner and outer membranes), the cristae connect to the outside and to each other through narrow (20-30 nm) tubular segments, which can be hundreds of nanometers long. This suggests that diffusion of ions, metabolites and proteins between the intracristal and intermembrane spaces may be restricted.The earlier tomographic reconstructions were done on conventionally prepared, plastic-embedded specimens, which raises the usual concerns about structural preservation. More recently, we have undertaken tomography of isolated rat-liver mitochondria that have been embedded in vitreous ice (by plunge-freezing in iso-osmotic buffer without chemical fixatives or stains). These frozen hydrated specimens are imaged with a JEOL 4000FX equipped with a Gatan cryo-transfer holder and a Tietz automated data collection system, with a Ik × Ik CCD. For 3D reconstructions, images were recorded at a dose of 5 e−Å2 at 2° increments over the range +/− 60°.

scholarly journals d-Lactate transport and metabolism in rat liver mitochondria

2002 ◽  
Vol 365 (2) ◽  
pp. 391-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidia de BARI ◽  
Anna ATLANTE ◽  
Nicoletta GUARAGNELLA ◽  
Giovanni PRINCIPATO ◽  
Salvatore PASSARELLA
Keyword(s):  
Lactate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Rat Liver ◽  
Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Rat Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Lactate Metabolism ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Inside Out

In the present study we investigated whether isolated rat liver mitochondria can take up and metabolize d-lactate. We found the following: (1) externally added d-lactate causes oxygen uptake by mitochondria [P/O ratio (the ratio of mol of ATP synthesized to mol of oxygen atoms reduced to water during oxidative phosphorylation) = 2] and membrane potential (Δψ) generation in processes that are rotenone-insensitive, but inhibited by antimycin A and cyanide, and proton release from coupled mitochondria inhibited by α-cyanocinnamate, but not by phenylsuccinate; (2) the activity of the putative flavoprotein (d-lactate dehydrogenase) was detected in inside-out submitochondrial particles, but not in mitochondria and mitoplasts, as it is localized in the matrix phase of the mitochondrial inner membrane; (3) three novel separate translocators exist to mediate d-lactate traffic across the mitochondrial inner membrane: the d-lactate/H+ symporter, which was investigated by measuring fluorimetrically the rate of endogenous flavin reduction, the d-lactate/oxoacid antiporter (which mediates both the d-lactate/pyruvate and d-lactate/oxaloacetate exchanges) and d-lactate/malate antiporter studied by monitoring photometrically the appearance of the d-lactate counteranions outside mitochondria. The d-lactate translocators, in the light of their different inhibition profiles separate from the monocarboxylate carrier, were found to differ from each other in the Vmax values and in the inhibition and pH profiles and were shown to regulate mitochondrial d-lactate metabolism in vitro. The d-lactate translocators and the d-lactate dehydrogenase could account for the removal of the toxic methylglyoxal from cytosol, as well as for d-lactate-dependent gluconeogenesis.

scholarly journals Biochemical effects of the hypoglycaemic compound diphenyleneiodonium. Catalysis of anion–hydroxyl ion exchange across the inner membrane of rat liver mitochondria and effects on oxygen uptake

1972 ◽  
Vol 129 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Holland ◽  
H. S. A. Sherratt
Keyword(s):  
Rat Liver ◽  
Indirect Evidence ◽  
Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Rat Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
Hydroxyl Ion ◽  
Respiration Of Mitochondria ◽  
Free Media ◽  
Stimulation Of

1. The hypoglycaemic compound diphenyleneiodonium causes rapid and extensive swelling of rat liver mitochondria suspended in 150mm-NH4Cl, and in 150mm-KCl in the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol and valinomycin. This indicates that diphenyleneiodonium catalyses a compulsory exchange of OH-for Cl-across the mitochondrial inner membrane. Br-and SCN-were the only other anions found whose exchange for OH-is catalysed by diphenyleneiodonium. 2. Diphenyleneiodonium inhibited state 3 respiration of mitochondria and slightly stimulated state 4 respiration with succinate or glutamate as substrate in a standard Cl--containing medium. 3. Diphenyleneiodonium did not inhibit state 3 respiration significantly in two Cl--free media (based on glycerol 2-phosphate or sucrose) but caused some stimulation of state 4. 4. In Cl--containing medium diphenyleneiodonium only slightly inhibited the 2,4-dinitrophenol-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase and it had little effect in the absence of Cl-. 5. The inhibition of respiration in the presence of Cl-is dependent on the Cl-–OH-exchange. 2,4-Dichlorodiphenyleneiodonium is ten times as active as diphenyleneiodonium both in causing swelling of mitochondria suspended in 150mm-NH4Cl and in inhibiting state 3 respiration in Cl--containing medium. Indirect evidence suggests that the Cl-–OH-exchange impairs the rate of uptake of substrate anions. 6. It is proposed that stimulation of state 4 respiration in the absence of Cl-depends, at least in part, on an electrogenic uptake of diphenyleneiodonium cations. 7. Tripropyl-lead acetate, methylmercuric iodide and nine substituted diphenyleneiodonium derivatives also catalyse Cl-–OH-exchange across the mitochondrial membrane. 8. Diphenyleneiodonium is compared with the trialkyltin compounds, which are also known to mediate Cl-–OH-exchange and which have in addition strong oligomycin-like effects on respiration. It is concluded that diphenyleneiodonium is specific for catalysing anion–OH-exchange and will be a useful reagent for investigating membrane-dependent systems.

scholarly journals Partial purification and properties of rat liver mitochondrial polynucleotide phosphorylase

1972 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. P. See ◽  
P. S. Fitt
Keyword(s):  
Rat Liver ◽  
Kinase Activity ◽  
Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Partial Purification ◽  
Rat Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Polynucleotide Phosphorylase ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
Purification And Properties ◽  
Exchange Activity

1. Polynucleotide phosphorylase was partially purified from the inner membrane of rat liver mitochondria. 2. The partially purified particulate enzyme catalyses phosphorolysis of poly(A), poly(C), poly(U) and RNA to nucleoside diphosphates. 3. It is devoid of nucleoside diphosphate-polymerization activity. 4. Variable amounts of ADP/Pi-exchange activity are associated with the polynucleotide phosphorylase and are probably due to a different enzyme. 5. ADP is the preferred substrate for exchange, and little or no reaction occurs with other nucleoside diphosphates, but ATP/Pi-exchange takes place at one-third the rate observed with ADP. 6. The partially purified enzyme is free from the phosphatases found in the crude mitochondrial inner membrane, but is associated with an endonuclease activity and some adenylate kinase activity; no cytidylate kinase activity analogous to the latter was detectable.

scholarly journals The distribution and chemical nature of radioactive folates in rat liver cells and rat liver mitochondria

1979 ◽  
Vol 178 (3) ◽  
pp. 651-659 ◽  
Author(s):  
R J Cook ◽  
J A Blair
Keyword(s):  
Oral Administration ◽  
Rat Liver ◽  
Subcellular Fractionation ◽  
Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Liver Cells ◽  
Rat Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
Rat Liver Cells ◽  
Cell Cytosol

Subcellular fractionation of rat liver cells revealed that a mixture of 14C- and 3H-labelled folic acid was distributed approximately equally between the mitochondria and cytosol 2, 24, 48 and 72 h after oral administration. Subfractionation of liver mitochondria 48 h after oral administration showed that the radioactivity was mainly associated with the inner membrane (27.7%) and matrix (51.5%). Hot-ascorbate extraction of the cell cytosol, mitochondrial inner membrane and matrix showed the majority of folates were present as polyglutamates. Acid treatment of isolated folates from cytosol, inner membrane and matrix produced breakdown products consistent with scission of tetrahydrofolates. The folates isolated in the mitochondrial matrix were bound to protein that had an estimated mol. wt. of 90,000.

scholarly journals The calcium conductance of the inner membrane of rat liver mitochondria and the determination of the calcium electrochemical gradient

1976 ◽  
Vol 156 (3) ◽  
pp. 635-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
G M Heaton ◽  
D G Nicholls
Keyword(s):  
Rat Liver ◽  
Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Ruthenium Red ◽  
Rat Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Electrochemical Gradient ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane ◽  
Rate Limiting ◽  
Maximum Conductance

1. A method is described for establishing steady-state conditions of calcium transport across the inner membrane of rat liver mitochondria and for determining the current of Ca2+ flowing across the membrane, together with the Ca2+ electrochemical gradient across the native Ca2+ carrier. These parameters were used to quantify the apparent Ca2+ conductance of the native carrier. 2. At 23 degrees C and pH7.0, the apparent Ca2+ conductance of the carrier is close to 1 nmol of Ca2+-min-1-mg of protein-1 mV-1. Proton extrusion by the respiratory chain, rather than the Ca2+ carrier itself, may often be rate-limiting in studies of initial rates of Ca2+ uptake. 3. Under parallel conditions, the endogenous H+ conductance of the membrane is 0.3 nmol of H+-min-1-mg of protein-1-mV-1. 4. Ruthenium Red and La3+ both strongly inhibit the Ca2+ conductance of the carrier, but are without effect on the H+ conductance of the membrane. 5. The apparent Ca2+ conductance of the carrier shows a sigmoidal dependence on the activity of Ca2+ in the medium. At 23 degrees C and pH7.2, half-maximum conductance is obtained at a Ca2+ activity of 4.7 muM. 6. The apparent Ca2+ conductance and the H+ conductance of the inner membrane increase fourfold from 23 degrees to 38 degrees C. The apparent Arrhenius activation energy for Ca2+ transport is 69kJ/mol. The H+ electrochemical gradient maintained in the absence of Ca2+ transport does not vary significantly with temperature. 7. The apparent Ca2+ conductance increases fivefold on increasing the pH of the medium from 6.8 to 8.0. The H+ conductance of the membrane does not vary significantly with pH over this range. 8. Mg2+ has no effect on the apparent Ca2+ conductance when added at concentration up to 1 mM. 9. Results are compared with classical methods of studying Ca2+ transport across the mitochondrial inner membrane.

3d Structure Of Periodic Cubic-Phase Inner Membranes In Mitochondria of Chaos Carolinensis

1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (S2) ◽  
pp. 432-433
Author(s):  
Y. Deng ◽  
M. Mieczkowski ◽  
M. Marko ◽  
K. Buttle ◽  
B.K. Rath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Phosphorylation ◽  
Detailed Analysis ◽  
Thin Section ◽  
3D Structure ◽  
Design Feature ◽  
Cubic Phase ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Cubic Surfaces ◽  
Mitochondrial Inner Membrane

The mitochondrial inner membrane contains the machinery of oxidative phosphorylation. This membrane has invaginations called cristae which vary widely in shape between organisms and between tissues in the same organism. Electron microscopic tomography indicates that, despite this pleiomorphism, there is a common design feature, namely, the cristal membranes connect to each other and to the periphery of the inner membrane by tubular regions 30-40 nm in diameter. This finding has important implications for the internal diffusion of ions, metabolites and macromolecules within mitochondria.In some types of mitochondria, the cristae exhibit periodicity.1 In the case of the amoeba Chaos carolinensis, detailed analysis and modeling of thin-section images of mitochondria in starved cells indicate that the highly curved cristae correspond to periodic cubic surfaces. We are undertaking electron microscopic tomographic and crystallographic approaches to more thoroughly characterize these membrane phases and, in particular, establish the continuity of the internal compartments which they define.

scholarly journals LOCALIZATION OF THE ENZYMES OF KETOGENESIS IN RAT LIVER MITOCHONDRIA

1973 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 284-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. John Chapman ◽  
Leonard R. Miller ◽  
Joseph A. Ontko
Keyword(s):  
Rat Liver ◽  
Ketone Body ◽  
Ketone Bodies ◽  
Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Rat Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Intermembrane Space ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Inner Membrane ◽  
Body Formation ◽  
Membrane Matrix

The localization of the enzymes of ketogenesis in isolated rat liver mitochondria has been investigated. Mitochondrial subfractions were isolated after disruption of this subcellular organelle by (a) hypotonic lysis in water, which permitted the ultracentrifugal separation of the soluble and membranous compartments of the mitochondrion, or by (b) a procedure involving swelling, contraction, and ultrasonic treatment, which permitted the isolation from discontinuous sucrose gradients of subfractions rich in intermembrane space protein, outer membrane, and inner membrane-matrix particles. Two membrane subfractions were invariably present as distinct bands at the lower interface of the discontinuous gradient. The upper of these two bands was found to be a highly purified preparation of outer mitochondrial membrane. Subfractions rich in matrix and in inner membrane were isolated from inner membrane-matrix particles after hypotonic treatment. The content of the various mitochondrial compartments in all subfractions was assessed from their enzymic and electron microscopic characteristics. The ketogenic activity of each subfraction was determined by measuring its capacity to form ketone bodies from acetyl CoA. The activity of this process was markedly enhanced by dithiothreitol. These measurements of ketone body formation, together with assays of individual enzymes of the ketogenic pathway, show that thiolase, HMGCoA synthase, and HMGCoA cleavage enzyme are localized in the matrix of the inner membrane-matrix particles. The rates of ketone body formation indicate that the HMGCoA synthase is the rate-limiting enzyme of the pathway in subfractions of high matrix content. Studies with sodium chloride indicate that a large portion of the HMGCoA synthase, which remains present in membrane subfractions derived from water-treated mitochondria, is bound by ionic interaction to component(s) of the membrane.

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