Functional analysis of membranous Fo-a subunit of F1Fo-ATP synthase by in vitro protein synthesis

2012 ◽  
Vol 442 (3) ◽  
pp. 631-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yutetsu Kuruma ◽  
Toshiharu Suzuki ◽  
Sakurako Ono ◽  
Masasuke Yoshida ◽  
Takuya Ueda

The a subunit of F1Fo (F1Fo-ATP synthase) is a highly hydrophobic protein with five putative transmembrane helices which plays a central role in H+-translocation coupled with ATP synthesis/hydrolysis. In the present paper, we show that the a subunit produced by the in vitro protease-free protein synthesis system (the PURE system) is integrated into a preformed Foa-less F1Fo complex in Escherichia coli membrane vesicles and liposomes. The resulting F1Fo has a H+-coupled ATP synthesis/hydrolysis activity that is approximately half that of the native F1Fo. By using this procedure, we analysed five mutations of F1Fo, where the conserved residues in the a subunit (Asn90, Asp112, Arg169, Asn173 and Gln217) were individually replaced with alanine. All of the mutant Foa subunits were successfully incorporated into F1Fo, showing the advantage over conventional expression in E. coli by which three (N90A, D112A, and Q217A) mutant a subunits were not found in F1Fo. The N173A mutant retained full activity and the mutants D112A and Q217A had weak, but detectable, activity. No activity was observed for the R169A and N90A mutants. Asn90 is located in the middle of putative second transmembrane helix and likely to play an important role in H+-translocation. The present study exemplifies that the PURE system provides an alternative approach when in vivo expression of membranous components in protein complexes turns out to be difficult.

2015 ◽  
Vol 290 (34) ◽  
pp. 21032-21041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naman B. Shah ◽  
Thomas M. Duncan

F-type ATP synthases are rotary nanomotor enzymes involved in cellular energy metabolism in eukaryotes and eubacteria. The ATP synthase from Gram-positive and -negative model bacteria can be autoinhibited by the C-terminal domain of its ϵ subunit (ϵCTD), but the importance of ϵ inhibition in vivo is unclear. Functional rotation is thought to be blocked by insertion of the latter half of the ϵCTD into the central cavity of the catalytic complex (F1). In the inhibited state of the Escherichia coli enzyme, the final segment of ϵCTD is deeply buried but has few specific interactions with other subunits. This region of the ϵCTD is variable or absent in other bacteria that exhibit strong ϵ-inhibition in vitro. Here, genetically deleting the last five residues of the ϵCTD (ϵΔ5) caused a greater defect in respiratory growth than did the complete absence of the ϵCTD. Isolated membranes with ϵΔ5 generated proton-motive force by respiration as effectively as with wild-type ϵ but showed a nearly 3-fold decrease in ATP synthesis rate. In contrast, the ϵΔ5 truncation did not change the intrinsic rate of ATP hydrolysis with membranes. Further, the ϵΔ5 subunit retained high affinity for isolated F1 but reduced the maximal inhibition of F1-ATPase by ϵ from >90% to ∼20%. The results suggest that the ϵCTD has distinct regulatory interactions with F1 when rotary catalysis operates in opposite directions for the hydrolysis or synthesis of ATP.


2021 ◽  
Vol 129 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly Ferrero ◽  
Jessica M Pfleger ◽  
Kurt Chuprun ◽  
Eric Barr ◽  
Erhe Gao ◽  
...  

The GPCR kinase GRK2 is highly expressed the heart; importantly, during cardiac injury or heart failure (HF) both levels and activity of GRK2 increase. The role of GRK2 during HF is canonically studied upstream of β-adrenergic desensitization. However, GRK2 has a large interactome and noncanonical functions for this kinase are being uncovered. We have discovered that in the heart, GRK2 translocates to mitochondria ( mtGRK2 ) following injury and is associated with negative effects on cardiac metabolism. Thus, we have sought to identify the mechanism(s) by which GRK2 can regulate mitochondrial function. We hypothesize that mtGRK2 interacts with proteins which regulate bioenergetics and substrate utilization, and this never-before-described role may partially explain the altered mitochondrial phenotype seen following cardiac injury or HF. Stress-induced mitochondrial translocation of GRK2 was validated in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, murine heart tissue and a cardiac-derived cell line. Consequently, the GRK2 interactome was mapped basally and under stress conditions in vitro, in vivo , and with tagged recombinant peptides. GRK2-interacting proteins were isolated via immunoprecipitation and analyzed via liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LCMS). Proteomics analysis (IPA; Qiagen) identified mtGRK2 interacting proteins which were also involved in mitochondrial dysfunction. Excitingly, Complexes I, II, IV and V (ATP synthase) of the electron transport chain (ETC) were identified in the subset of mtGRK2-dysfunction partners. Several mtGRK2-ETC interactions were increased following stress, particularly those in Complex V. We further established that mtGRK2 phosphorylates some of the subunits of Complex V, particularly the ATP synthase barrel which is critical for ATP production in the heart. Specific amino acid residues on these subunits have been identified using PTM-LCMS and are currently being validated in a murine model of myocardial infarction. To support these data, we have also determined that alterations in either the levels or kinase activity of GRK2 appear to alter the enzymatic activity of Complex V in vitro , thus altering ATP production. In summary, the phosphorylation of the ATP synthesis machinery by mtGRK2 may be regulating some of the phenotypic effects of injured or failing hearts such as increased ROS production and reduced fatty acid metabolism. Research is ongoing in our lab to elucidate the novel role of GRK2 in regulating mitochondrial bioenergetics and cell death, thus uncovering an exciting, druggable novel target for rescuing cardiac function in patients with injured and/or failing hearts.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yajing Zhao ◽  
Yan Lyu ◽  
Yanli Zhang ◽  
Shuixiu Li ◽  
Yishan Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Invasive fungal infections are a major cause of human mortality due in part to a very limited antifungal drug arsenal. The identification of fungal-specific pathogenic mechanisms is considered a crucial step to current antifungal drug development and represents a significant goal to increase the efficacy and reduce host toxicity. Although the overall architecture of F1FO-ATP synthase is largely conserved in both fungi and mammals, the subunit i/j (Su i/j, Atp18) and subunit k (Su k, Atp19) are proteins not found in mammals and specific to fungi. Here, the role of Su i/j and Su k in Candida albicans was characterized by an in vivo assessment of the virulence and in vitro growth and mitochondrial function. Strikingly, the atp18Δ/Δ mutant showed significantly reduced pathogenicity in systemic murine model. However, this substantial defect in infectivity exists without associated defects in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation or proliferation in vitro. Analysis of virulence-related traits reveals normal in both mutants, but shows cell wall defects in composition and architecture in the case of atp18Δ/Δ. We also find that the atp18Δ/Δ mutant is more susceptible to attack by macrophages than wild type, which may correlate well with the abnormal cell wall function and increased sensitivity to oxidative stress. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in any of these studies for the atp19Δ/Δ. These results demonstrate that the fungal-specific Su i/j, but not Su k of F1FO-ATP synthase may play a critical role in C. albicans infectivity and represent another opportunity for new therapeutic target investigation. Lay Abstract This study aims to investigate biological functions of fungal-specific subunit i/j and subunit k of ATP synthase in C. albicans oxidative phosphorylation and virulence potential. Our results revealed that subunit i/j, and not subunit k, is critical for C. albicans pathogenicity.


2006 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 488-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoko Morinaga ◽  
Kinnosuke Yahiro ◽  
Gen Matsuura ◽  
Masaharu Watanabe ◽  
Fumio Nomura ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB) is a recently identified AB5 subunit toxin produced by Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli. The A subunit is thought to be a subtilase-like, serine protease, whereas the B subunit binds to the toxin receptor on the cell surface. We cloned the genes from a clinical isolate; the toxin was produced as His-tagged proteins. SubAB induced vacuolation at concentrations greater than 1 μg/ml after 8 h, in addition to the reported cytotoxicity induced at a ng/ml level after 48 h. Vacuolation was induced with the B, but not the A, subunit and was dependent on V-type ATPase. The cytotoxicity of SubAB at low concentrations was associated with the inhibition of protein synthesis; the 50% inhibitory dose was ∼1 ng/ml. The A subunit, containing serine 272, which is thought to be a part of the catalytic triad of a subtilase-like serine protease, plus the B subunit was necessary for this activity, both in vivo and in vitro. SubAB did not cleave azocasein, bovine serum albumin, ovalbumin, or synthetic peptides. These data suggest that SubAB is a unique AB toxin: first, the B subunit alone can induce vacuolation; second, the A subunit containing serine 272 plus the B subunit inhibited protein synthesis, both in vivo and in vitro; and third, the A subunit proteolytic activity may have a strict range of substrate specificity.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Buchert ◽  
Benjamin Bailleul ◽  
Pierre Joliot

AbstractThe chloroplast ATP synthase (CF1Fo) contains a specific feature to the green lineage: a γ-subunit redox domain which contains a cysteine couple and interacts with the torque-generating βDELSEED-loop. Based on the recently solved structure of this domain, it was proposed to function as a chock. In vitro, γ-disulfide formation slows down the activity of the CF1Fo at low transmembrane electrochemical proton gradient . Here, we utilize in vivo absorption spectroscopy measurements for functional CF1Fo activity characterization in Arabidopsis leaves. The spectroscopic method allows us to measure the present in dark-adapted leaves, and to identify its mitochondrial sources. Furthermore, we follow the fate of the extra generated by an illumination, including its osmotic and electric components, and from there we estimate the lifetime of the light-generated ATP. In contrast with a previous report [Joliot and Joliot, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1777 (2008) 676-683], the CF1Fo γ-subunit exists mostly in an oxidized form in the dark-adapted state. To study the redox regulation of the CF1Fo, we used thiol agent infiltration in WT and a mutant that does not form the γ-disulfide. The obtained -dependent CF1Fo activity profile in the two γ-redox states in vivo reconciles with previous biochemical in vitro findings [Junesch and Gräber, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 893 (1987) 275-288]. The highest rates of ATP synthesis we measured in the two γ-redox state were similar at high . In the presence of the γ-dithiol, similar rates were obtained at a ~45 mV lower value compared to the oxidized state, which closely resembled the energetic gap of 0.7 ΔpH units reported in vitro.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Chen ◽  
Xiangyu Wei ◽  
Xueyi Wang ◽  
Xuan Zheng ◽  
Bowen Chang ◽  
...  

AbstractNADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] 1 alpha subcomplex, 4-like 2 (NDUFA4L2) is a subunit of Complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, which is important in metabolic reprogramming and oxidative stress in multiple cancers. However, the biological role and molecular regulation of NDUFA4L2 in glioblastoma (GBM) are poorly understood. Here, we found that NDUFA4L2 was significantly upregulated in GBM; the elevated levels were correlated with reduced patient survival. Gene knockdown of NDUFA4L2 inhibited tumor cell proliferation and enhanced apoptosis, while tumor cells initiated protective mitophagy in vitro and in vivo. We used lentivirus to reduce expression levels of NDUFA4L2 protein in GBM cells exposed to mitophagy blockers, which led to a significant enhancement of tumor cell apoptosis in vitro and inhibited the development of xenografted tumors in vivo. In contrast to other tumor types, NDUFA4L2 expression in GBM may not be directly regulated by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, because HIF-1α inhibitors failed to inhibit NDUFA4L2 in GBM. Apatinib was able to effectively target NDUFA4L2 in GBM, presenting an alternative to the use of lentiviruses, which currently cannot be used in humans. Taken together, our data suggest the use of NDUFA4L2 as a potential therapeutic target in GBM and demonstrate a practical treatment approach.


1998 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 306-308
Author(s):  
M. D. Carro ◽  
E. L. Miller

The estimation of rumen microbial protein synthesis is one of the main points in the nitrogen (N)-rationing systems for ruminants, as microbial protein provides proportionately 0.4 to 0.9 of amino acids entering the small intestine in ruminants receiving conventional diets (Russell et al., 1992). Methods of estimating microbial protein synthesis rely on marker techniques in which a particular microbial constituent is related to the microbial N content. Marker : N values have generally been established in mixed bacteria isolated from the liquid fraction of rumen digesta and it has been assumed that the same relationship holds in the total population leaving the rumen (Merry and McAllan, 1983). However, several studies have demonstrated differences in composition between solid-associated (SAB) and fluid-associated bacteria in vivo (Legay-Carmier and Bauchart, 1989) and in vitro (Molina Alcaide et al, 1996), as well in marker : N values (Pérez et al., 1996). This problem could be more pronounced in the in vitro semi-continuous culture system RUSITEC, in which there are three well defined components (a free liquid phase, a liquid phase associated with the solid phase and a solid phase), each one having associated microbial populations.The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of using different bacterial isolates (BI) on the estimation of microbial production of four different diets in RUSITEC (Czerkawski and Breckenridge, 1977), using (15NH4)2 SO4 as microbial marker, and to assess what effects any differences would have on the comparison of microbial protein synthesis between diets.This study was conducted in conjunction with an in vitro experiment described by Carro and Miller (1997). Two 14-day incubation trials were carried out with the rumen simulation technique RUSITEC (Czerkawski and Breckenridge, 1977). The general incubation procedure was the one described by Czerkawski and Breckenridge (1977) and more details about the procedures of this experiment are given elsewhere (Carro and Miller, 1997).


2001 ◽  
Vol 268 (20) ◽  
pp. 5375-5385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda McKendrick ◽  
Simon J. Morley ◽  
Virginia M. Pain ◽  
Rosemary Jagus ◽  
Bhavesh Joshi

2012 ◽  
Vol 80 (6) ◽  
pp. 1948-1957 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brooke L. Deatherage ◽  
Brad T. Cookson

ABSTRACTInteraction of microbes with their environment depends on features of the dynamic microbial surface throughout cell growth and division. Surface modifications, whether used to acquire nutrients, defend against other microbes, or resist the pressures of a host immune system, facilitate adaptation to unique surroundings. The release of bioactive membrane vesicles (MVs) from the cell surface is conserved across microbial life, in bacteria, archaea, fungi, and parasites. MV production occurs not onlyin vitrobut alsoin vivoduring infection, underscoring the influence of these surface organelles in microbial physiology and pathogenesis through delivery of enzymes, toxins, communication signals, and antigens recognized by the innate and adaptive immune systems. Derived from a variety of organisms that span kingdoms of life and called by several names (membrane vesicles, outer membrane vesicles [OMVs], exosomes, shedding microvesicles, etc.), the conserved functions and mechanistic strategies of MV release are similar, including the use of ESCRT proteins and ESCRT protein homologues to facilitate these processes in archaea and eukaryotic microbes. Although forms of MV release by different organisms share similar visual, mechanistic, and functional features, there has been little comparison across microbial life. This underappreciated conservation of vesicle release, and the resulting functional impact throughout the tree of life, explored in this review, stresses the importance of vesicle-mediated processes throughout biology.


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