scholarly journals Kinetic analysis of the mitochondrial quinol-oxidizing enzymes during development of thermogenesis in Arum maculatum L

1996 ◽  
Vol 317 (1) ◽  
pp. 313-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme R. LEACH ◽  
Klaas KRAB ◽  
David G. WHITEHOUSE ◽  
Anthony L. MOORE

The dependence of the rate of oxygen uptake upon the ubiquinone (Q)-pool reduction level in mitochondria isolated during the development of thermogenesis of Arum maculatum spadices has been investigated. At the α-stage of development, the respiratory rate was linearly dependent upon the reduction level of the Q-pool (Qr) both under state-3 and -4 conditions. Progression through the β/γ to the Δ-stage resulted in a non-linear dependence of the state-4 rate on Qr. In the Δ-stage of development, both state-3 and -4 respiratory rates were linearly dependent upon Qr due to a shift in the engagement of the alternative oxidase to lower levels of Qr. Western blot analysis revealed that increased alternative oxidase activity could be correlated with expression of a 35 kDa protein. Respiratory control was only observed with mitochondria in the α-stage of development. At the β/γ-stage of development, the addition of ADP resulted in a significant oxidation of the Q-pool which was accompanied by a decrease in the respiratory rate. This was due either to decreased contribution of the alternative pathway to the overall respiratory rate under state 3 or by deactivation of succinate dehydrogenase activity by ADP. Cold-storage of the spadices at the β-stage of development led to increased activity of both the cytochrome pathway and succinate dehydrogenase, without any change in alternative oxidase activity. Results are discussed in terms of how changes in the activation level of the alternative oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase influence the activity and engagement of the quinol-oxidizing pathways during the development of thermogenesis in A. maculatum.

1985 ◽  
Vol 228 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
C J Kay ◽  
J M Palmer

Selective solubilization of cyanide- and antimycin-insensitive duroquinol oxidase activity from cuckoo-pint (Arum maculatum) mitochondria was achieved using taurocholate. Inhibitor-sensitivities and water-forming DQH2 (tetramethyl-p-hydroquinone, reduced form): O2 stoichiometry were the same for the alternative oxidase of intact Arum mitochondria. Cyanide-insensitive oxidation of DQH2 by intact and solubilized mitochondria was stimulated by up to four-fold by high concentrations of anions high in the Hofmeister series, such as phosphate, sulphate or citrate. Optimal (0.7 M) sodium citrate increased Vmax. for DQH2 oxidation by the solubilized preparation from 450 to 2400 nmol of O2 X min-1 X mg of protein-1 and decreased the apparent Km for DQH2 from 0.53 to 0.38 mM. Inhibition of solubilized DQH2 oxidase activity by CLAM (m-chlorobenzhydroxamic acid) and SHAM (salicylhydroxamic acid) was mixed competitive/non-competitive, with apparent inhibition constants for CLAM of 25 microM (Ki) and 81 microM (KI) and for SHAM of 53 microM (Ki) and 490 microM (KI). Propyl gallate and UHDBT were non-competitive inhibitors with respect to DQH2 (apparent Ki = 0.3 microM and 12 nM respectively). Low concentrations of C18 fatty acids selectively inhibited cyanide-insensitive oxidation by intact and solubilized mitochondria, and inhibition was reversed by 1% (w/v) bovine serum albumin. Inhibition was competitive with DQH2, suggesting that fatty acids interfere reversably with the binding of DQH2 to the oxidase. These results tend to support the view that quinol oxidation by the alternative pathway of Arum maculatum mitochondria is catalysed by a quinol oxidase protein, rather than by a non-enzymic mechanism involving fatty acid peroxidative reaction. [Rustin, Dupont & Lance (1983) Trends Biochem. Sci. 8, 155-157; (1983) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 225, 630-639].


2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 375-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Zhang ◽  
Dongmei Xi ◽  
Jian Wang ◽  
Dongfang Zhu ◽  
Xingqi Guo

Mitochondrial AOX (alternative oxidase) is the terminal oxidase of the CN (cyanide)-resistant alternative respiratory pathway in plants. To investigate the role of the tobacco AOX gene (NtAOX1a) (where Nt is Nicotiana tabacum) under deleterious conditions which could induce ROS (reactive oxygen species) accumulation, we generated and characterized a number of independent transgenic tobacco (N. tabacum) lines with altered NtAOX1a gene expression and AP (alternative pathway) capacity. AOX efficiently inhibited the production of low-temperature-induced H2O2 and might be a major enzyme for scavenging H2O2 at low temperature. Furthermore, NtAOX1a may act as a regulator of KCN-induced resistance to TMV (tobacco mosaic virus) through the regulation of H2O2. Notably, a moderate accumulation of H2O2 under the control of NtAOX1a was crucial in viral resistance. Analysis of seed germination indicated an important role for NtAOX1a in germination under H2O2-induced oxidative stress when the CP (cytochrome pathway) was inhibited. These results demonstrate that NtAOX1a is necessary for plants to survive low temperature, pathogen attack and oxidative stress by scavenging ROS under these adverse conditions when the CP is restricted.


2008 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 349-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wieslawa Jarmuszkiewicz ◽  
Nina Antos-Krzeminska ◽  
Danuta Drachal-Chrul ◽  
Karolina Matkovic ◽  
Wioletta Nobik ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was establishing the basic energetic parameters of amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii mitochondria respiring with malate and their response to oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of Fe(2+) ions. It appeared that, contrary to a previous report (Trocha LK, Stobienia O (2007) Acta Biochim Polon 54: 797), H(2)O(2)-treated mitochondria of A. castellanii did not display any substantial impairment. No marked changes in cytochrome pathway activity were found, as in the presence of an inhibitor of alternative oxidase no effects were observed on the rates of uncoupled and phosphorylating respiration and on coupling parameters. Only in the absence of the alternative oxidase inhibitor, non-phosphorylating respiration progressively decreased with increasing concentration of H(2)O(2), while the coupling parameters (respiratory control ratio and ADP/O ratio) slightly improved, which may indicate some inactivation of the alternative oxidase. Moreover, our results show no change in membrane potential, Ca(2+) uptake and accumulation ability, mitochondrial outer membrane integrity and cytochrome c release for 0.5-25 mM H(2)O(2)-treated versus control (H(2)O(2)-untreated) mitochondria. These results indicate that short (5 min) incubation of A. castellanii mitochondria with H(2)O(2) in the presence of Fe(2+) does not damage their basic energetics.


1979 ◽  
Vol 182 (2) ◽  
pp. 437-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jos Vanderleyden ◽  
Jochen Kurth ◽  
Hubert Verachtert

Mitochondria and submitochondrial particles of the osmophilic yeast-like fungus Moniliella tomentosa may respire by means of two pathways: a normal cytochrome pathway, sensitive to cyanide and antimycin A, and an alternative pathway, which is insensitive to these inhibitors but is specifically inhibited by salicylhydroxamic acid. The affinities of both oxidases for succinate and NADH as substrates, for O2 as terminal electron acceptor, and for AMP as stimulator of the alternative oxidase were determined. 1. Submitochondrial particles of M. tomentosa may also respire by means of a cyanide-sensitive and/or cyanide-insensitive system. 2. The activities of both oxidases as compared with the total activity are roughly the same in submitochondrial particles as in the original mitochondria. 3. The terminal oxidase of the cyanide-insensitive pathway requires a 10-fold higher O2 concentration for saturation than does cytochrome c oxidase. 4. The apparent Km for succinate is about 3 times higher for the alternative than for the normal oxidase when measured in mitochondria, and 4–10 times higher when measured in submitochondrial particles. The apparent Km for NADH is roughly the same for both oxidases. 5. The apparent Km values of both oxidases for succinate are always lower in submitochondrial particles than in mitochondria. 6. The apparent Km for AMP, acting as a stimulator of the alternative oxidase, is the same (25μm) in mitochondria as in sub-mitochondrial particles. These results are discussed in the light of the structure and localization of the components of the alternative oxidase.


2001 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 729-737 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Jarmuszkiewicz ◽  
O Fraczyk ◽  
L Hryniewiecka

Mitochondria of amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii in addition to the conventional cytochrome pathway possess, like plant mitochondria, a cyanide-resistant alternative quinol oxidase. In mitochondria isolated from amoeba batch culture grown temporarily at low temperature (6 degrees C), higher respiration was accompanied by lower coupling parameters as compared to control culture (grown at 28 degrees C). In the presence of benzohydroxamate, respiratory rates and coupling parameters were similar in both types of mitochondria indicating that growth in cold conditions did not disturb the cytochrome pathway. Increased contribution of alternative oxidase in total mitochondrial respiration in low-temperature-grown amoeba cells was confirmed by calculation of its contribution using ADP/O measurements. Furthermore, in mitochondria from low-temperature- grown cells the content of the alternative oxidase was increased and correlated with the increase in the unstimulated and GMP-stimulated cyanide-resistant respiratory activity. A possible physiological role of higher activity of alternative oxidase as response to growth at a low temperature in unicellular organisms, such as amoeba, is discussed.


1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 129-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. Bridge ◽  
Helmut Bertrand

Mutant strains of Neurospora crassa were used to investigate the effects of the inhibitor azide upon respiration mediated by either the cyanide-insensitive alternative mitochondrial respiratory pathway or the "standard" cyanide-sensitive cytochrome pathway. The use of appropriate cytochrome-oxidase-deficient and alternative-oxidase-deficient mutants permitted respiration to be restricted to the pathway of choice. In addition to its known effect upon cytochrome oxidase, azide was found to inhibit the alternative pathway of Neurospora with half-maximal inhibition occurring at 1.3 mM azide. This finding indicates that the activities of at least some of the "novel" azide-sensitive oxidases that have been discovered recently in organisms with inducible or constitutive cyanide-insensitive respiratory systems might be attributable to the "standard" salicylhydroxamate-sensitive mitochondrial alternative pathway.


1987 ◽  
Vol 247 (2) ◽  
pp. 441-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
M O Proudlove ◽  
R B Beechey ◽  
A L Moore

1. Mitochondria isolated from the thermogenic spadices of Arum maculatum and Sauromatum guttatum plants oxidized external NADH, succinate, citrate, malate, 2-oxoglutarate and pyruvate without the need to add exogenous cofactors. 2. Oxidation of substrates was virtually all via the alternative oxidase, the cytochrome pathway constituting only 10-20% of the total activity, depending on the stage of spadix development. 3. During later stages of spadix development, pyruvate oxidation was enhanced by the addition of aspartate. This was caused by acetyl-CoA condensing with oxaloacetate, produced from pyruvate/aspartate transamination, and so decreasing feedback inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase. 4. Pyruvate oxidation was inhibited by the long-chain acid maleimides AM5-11, but not by those with shorter polymethylene side groups, AM1-4. 5. The alpha-cyanocinnamate derivatives UK5099 [alpha-cyano-beta-(1-phenylindol-3-yl)acrylate] and CHCA [alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate] inhibited pyruvate-dependent O2 consumption and the carrier-mediated uptake of pyruvate across the mitochondrial inner membrane. Characteristics of non-competitive inhibition were observed for CHCA, whereas for UK5099 the results were more complex, suggesting a very low rate of dissociation of the inhibitor-carrier complex. 6. A comparison of the values of Vmax. and Km for oxidation and transport suggested that it was the latter which controls the overall rate of pyruvate oxidation by mitochondria from both tissues.


1997 ◽  
Vol 122 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana L. Lange ◽  
Adel A. Kader

Partially ripened avocado [Persea americana (Mill.) cv. Hass] fruit harvested in either June or Aug. 1994 were kept at 10 °C in air (21% O2), 20% CO2 (17% O2, balance N2), or 40% CO2 (13% O2, balance N2) for 7 to 12 days and then were transferred to air at 10 °C for 2 to 3 days. Mitochondrial respiration was stimulated in response to elevated CO2 treatments at 10 °C. A shift to alternative pathway (Alt) respiration occurred on day 4 in experiments using avocados from both harvest dates, with a return to initial levels in only the 20% CO2-treated fruit (June-harvested fruit after return to air). Elevated CO2 at 20 °C decreased the in vitro O2 consumption of isolated mitochondria compared to mitochondria kept in air. The Alt pathway contributed less to the total O2 uptake of CO2-treated mitochondria compared to mitochondria kept in air. The respiratory control ratios of the CO2-treated fruit and mitochondria were higher and lower, respectively, than the air controls. Induction of 33 to 37 kD proteins (corresponding to the size of the alternative oxidase proteins) occurred in avocados after 4 days in 40% CO2. These results indicate that elevated CO2 has various effects depending on concentration, duration and temperature of exposure, and mitochondrial function of avocado fruit, such as increased and altered respiratory oxidation and up-regulation of alternative oxidase proteins.


Author(s):  
Harvey B. Sarnat ◽  
José Marín-García

ABSTRACT:Muscle biopsy provides the best tissue to confirm a mitochondrial cytopathy. Histochemical features often correlate with specific syndromes and facilitate the selection of biochemical and genetic studies. Ragged-red fibres nearly always indicate a combination defect of respiratory complexes I and IV. Increased punctate lipid within myofibers is a regular feature of Kearns-Sayre and PEO, but not of MELAS and MERRF. Total deficiency of succinate dehydrogenase indicates a severe defect in Complex II; total absence of cytochrome-c-oxidase activity in all myofibres correlates with a severe deficiency of Complex IV or of coenzyme-Q10. The selective loss of cytochrome-c-oxidase activity in scattered myofibers, particularly if accompanied by strong succinate dehydrogenase staining in these same fibres, is good evidence of mitochondrial cytopathy and often of a significant mtDNA mutation, though not specific for Complex IV disorders. Glycogen may be excessive in ragged-red zones. Ultrastructure provides morphological evidence of mitochondrial cytopathy, in axons and endothelial cells as well as myocytes. Abnormal axonal mitochondria may contribute to neurogenic atrophy of muscle, a secondary chronic feature. Quantitative determinations of respiratory chain enzyme complexes, with citrate synthase as an internal control, confirm the histochemical impressions or may be the only evidence of mitochondrial disease. Biological and technical artifacts may yield falsely low enzymatic activities. Genetic studies screen common point mutations in mtDNA. The brain exhibits characteristic histopathological alterations in mitochondrial diseases. Skin biopsy is useful for mitochondrial ultrastructure in smooth erector pili muscles and axons; skin fibroblasts may be grown in culture. Mitochondrial alterations occur in many nonmitochondrial diseases and also may be induced by drugs and toxins.


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