Stabilization of Partially Folded States of Cytochrome C in Aqueous Surfactant:  Effects of Ionic and Hydrophobic Interactions†

A synthetic polyanion composed of styrene, maleic anhydride, and methacrylic acid (molar ratio 56:37:7) significantly inhibited the respiration of isolated rat liver mitochondria in a time-dependent fashion that correlated with 1) collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential and 2) high amplitude mitochondrial swelling. The process is apparently Ca2+ dependent. Since it is blocked by cyclosporin A, the process is ascribed to induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition. In mitoplasts, i.e., mitochondria lacking their outer membranes, the polyanion rapidly blocked respiration. After incubation of rat liver mitochondria with the polyanion, cytochrome c was released into the incubation medium. In solution, the polyanion modified by conjugation with fluorescein formed a complex with cytochrome c. Addition of the polyanion to cytochrome c-loaded phosphatidylcholine/cardiolipin liposomes induced the release of the protein from liposomal membrane evidently due to coordinated interplay of Coulomb and hydrophobic interactions of the polymer with cytochrome c. We conclude that binding of the polyanion to cytochrome c renders it inactive in the respiratory chain due to exclusion from its native binding sites. Apparently, the polyanion interacts with cytochrome c in mitochondria and releases it to the medium through breakage of the outer membrane as a result of severe swelling. Similar properties were demonstrated for the natural polyanion, tobacco mosaic virus RNA. An electron microscopy study confirmed that both polyanions caused mitochondrial swelling. Exposure of cerebellar astroglial cells in culture to the synthetic polyanion resulted in cell death, which was associated with nuclear fragmentation.

Download Full-text

Cytochrome c impaled: investigation of the extended lipid anchorage of a soluble protein to mitochondrial membrane models

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj20070459 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 407 (2) ◽

pp. 179-187 ◽

Cited By ~ 103

Author(s):

Erta Kalanxhi ◽

Carmichael J. A. Wallace

Keyword(s):

Cytochrome C ◽

Conformational Changes ◽

Tertiary Structure ◽

Hydrophobic Interactions ◽

Mechanistic Model ◽

Acyl Chain ◽

Two Dimensions ◽

Structural Factors ◽

Cyt C ◽

Membrane Models

Cyt c (cytochrome c) has been traditionally envisioned as rapidly diffusing in two dimensions at the surface of the mitochondrial inner membrane when not engaged in redox reactions with physiological partners. However, the discovery of the extended lipid anchorage (insertion of an acyl chain of a bilayer phospholipid into the protein interior) suggests that this may not be exclusively the case. The physical and structural factors underlying the conformational changes that occur upon interaction of ferrous cyt c with phospholipid membrane models have been investigated by monitoring the extent of the spin state change that result from this interaction. Once transiently linked by electrostatic forces between basic side chains and phosphate groups, the acyl chain entry may occur between two parallel hydrophobic polypeptide stretches that are surrounded by positively charged residues. Alteration of these charges, as in the case of non-trimethylated (TML72K) yeast cyt c and Arg91Nle horse cyt c (where Nle is norleucine), led to a decline in the binding affinity for the phospholipid liposomes. The electrostatic association was sensitive to ionic strength, polyanions and pH, whereas the hydrophobic interactions were enhanced by conformational changes that contributed to the loosening of the tertiary structure of cyt c. In addition to proposing a mechanistic model for the extended lipid anchorage of cyt c, we consider what, if any, might be the physiological relevance of the phenomenon.

Download Full-text

Nucleic Acid Molecules Prepared by Monolayer Techniques

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100094140 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 30 ◽

pp. 178-179

Author(s):

Dimitrij Lang

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Standard Deviation ◽

Nucleic Acid ◽

Cytochrome C ◽

Nucleic Acids ◽

Contour Length ◽

Sample Standard Deviation ◽

Molecular Weights ◽

Length Measurements ◽

Protein Monolayer

The success of the protein monolayer technique for electron microscopy of individual DNA molecules is based on the prevention of aggregation and orientation of the molecules during drying on specimen grids. DNA adsorbs first to a surface-denatured, insoluble cytochrome c monolayer which is then transferred to grids, without major distortion, by touching. Fig. 1 shows three basic procedures which, modified or not, permit the study of various important properties of nucleic acids, either in concert with other methods or exclusively:1) Molecular weights relative to DNA standards as well as number distributions of molecular weights can be obtained from contour length measurements with a sample standard deviation between 1 and 4%.

Download Full-text

Activation of cytochrome c to a peroxidase compound I-type intermediate by H2O2: relevance to redox signalling in apoptosis

Biochemical Society Symposium ◽

10.1042/bss0710097 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 71 ◽

pp. 97-106 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Mark Burkitt ◽

Clare Jones ◽

Andrew Lawrence ◽

Peter Wardman

Keyword(s):

Cytochrome C ◽

Hydroxyl Radical ◽

Redox Regulation ◽

Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽

Tyrosyl Radical ◽

Compound I ◽

Definitive Evidence ◽

Enhanced Production ◽

Physico Chemical

The release of cytochrome c from mitochondria during apoptosis results in the enhanced production of superoxide radicals, which are converted to H2O2 by Mn-superoxide dismutase. We have been concerned with the role of cytochrome c/H2O2 in the induction of oxidative stress during apoptosis. Our initial studies showed that cytochrome c is a potent catalyst of 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin oxidation, thereby explaining the increased rate of production of the fluorophore 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein in apoptotic cells. Although it has been speculated that the oxidizing species may be a ferryl-haem intermediate, no definitive evidence for the formation of such a species has been reported. Alternatively, it is possible that the hydroxyl radical may be generated, as seen in the reaction of certain iron chelates with H2O2. By examining the effects of radical scavengers on 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin oxidation by cytochrome c/H2O2, together with complementary EPR studies, we have demonstrated that the hydroxyl radical is not generated. Our findings point, instead, to the formation of a peroxidase compound I species, with one oxidizing equivalent present as an oxo-ferryl haem intermediate and the other as the tyrosyl radical identified by Barr and colleagues [Barr, Gunther, Deterding, Tomer and Mason (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 15498-15503]. Studies with spin traps indicated that the oxo-ferryl haem is the active oxidant. These findings provide a physico-chemical basis for the redox changes that occur during apoptosis. Excessive changes (possibly catalysed by cytochrome c) may have implications for the redox regulation of cell death, including the sensitivity of tumour cells to chemotherapeutic agents.

Download Full-text