scholarly journals Regulation of COX Assembly and Function by Twin CX9C Proteins—Implications for Human Disease

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.

2007 ◽  
Vol 179 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Bihlmaier ◽  
Nikola Mesecke ◽  
Nadia Terziyska ◽  
Melanie Bien ◽  
Kai Hell ◽  
...  

All proteins of the intermembrane space of mitochondria are encoded by nuclear genes and synthesized in the cytosol. Many of these proteins lack presequences but are imported into mitochondria in an oxidation-driven process that relies on the activity of Mia40 and Erv1. Both factors form a disulfide relay system in which Mia40 functions as a receptor that transiently interacts with incoming polypeptides via disulfide bonds. Erv1 is a sulfhydryl oxidase that oxidizes and activates Mia40, but it has remained unclear how Erv1 itself is oxidized. Here, we show that Erv1 passes its electrons on to molecular oxygen via interaction with cytochrome c and cytochrome c oxidase. This connection to the respiratory chain increases the efficient oxidation of the relay system in mitochondria and prevents the formation of toxic hydrogen peroxide. Thus, analogous to the system in the bacterial periplasm, the disulfide relay in the intermembrane space is connected to the electron transport chain of the inner membrane.


2011 ◽  
pp. 329-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-L. WU ◽  
Q.-P. WU ◽  
Y.-P. PENG ◽  
J.-M. ZHANG

Accumulation of oxidative damage has been implicated to be a major causative factor in the decline in physiological functions that occur during the aging process. The mitochondrial respiratory chain is a powerful source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), considered as the pathogenic agent of many diseases and aging. L-malate, a tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediate, plays an important role in transporting NADH from cytosol to mitochondria for energy production. Previous studies in our laboratory reported L-malate as a free radical scavenger in aged rats. In the present study we focused on the effect of L-malate on the activities of electron transport chain in young and aged rats. We found that mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and the activities of succinate dehydrogenase, NADH-cytochrome c oxidoreductase and cytochrome c oxidase in liver of aged rats were significantly decreased when compared to young control rats. Supplementation of L-malate to aged rats for 30 days slightly increased MMP and improved the activities of NADH-dehydrogenase, NADH-cytochrome c oxidoreductase and cytochrome c oxidase in liver of aged rats when compared with aged control rats. In young rats, L-malate administration increased only the activity of NADH-dehydrogenase. Our result suggested that L-malate could improve the activities of electron transport chain enzymes in aged rats


2014 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 456-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Romero ◽  
James Choun

This activity provides students an interactive demonstration of the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis during aerobic respiration. Students use simple, everyday objects as hydrogen ions and electrons and play the roles of the various proteins embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane to show how this specific process in cellular respiration produces ATP. The activity works best as a supplement after you have already discussed the electron transport chain in lecture but can be used prior to instruction to help students visualize the processes that occur. This demonstration was designed for general college biology for majors at a community college, but it could be used in any introductory college-level or advanced placement biology course.


2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (11) ◽  
pp. 2230-2241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Bartolucci ◽  
Silvia Ravera ◽  
Greta Garbarino ◽  
Paola Ramoino ◽  
Sara Ferrando ◽  
...  

2004 ◽  
Vol 380 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fredrik I. JOHANSSON ◽  
Agnieszka M. MICHALECKA ◽  
Ian M. MØLLER ◽  
Allan G. RASMUSSON

The inner mitochondrial membrane is selectively permeable, which limits the transport of solutes and metabolites across the membrane. This constitutes a problem when intramitochondrial enzymes are studied. The channel-forming antibiotic AlaM (alamethicin) was used as a potentially less invasive method to permeabilize mitochondria and study the highly branched electron-transport chain in potato tuber (Solanum tuberosum) and pea leaf (Pisum sativum) mitochondria. We show that AlaM permeabilized the inner membrane of plant mitochondria to NAD(P)H, allowing the quantification of internal NAD(P)H dehydrogenases as well as matrix enzymes in situ. AlaM was found to inhibit the electron-transport chain at the external Ca2+-dependent rotenone-insensitive NADH dehydrogenase and around complexes III and IV. Nevertheless, under optimal conditions, especially complex I-mediated NADH oxidation in AlaM-treated mitochondria was much higher than what has been previously measured by other techniques. Our results also show a difference in substrate specificities for complex I in mitochondria as compared with inside-out submitochondrial particles. AlaM facilitated the passage of cofactors to and from the mitochondrial matrix and allowed the determination of NAD+ requirements of malate oxidation in situ. In summary, we conclude that AlaM provides the best method for quantifying NADH dehydrogenase activities and that AlaM will prove to be an important method to study enzymes under conditions that resemble their native environment not only in plant mitochondria but also in other membrane-enclosed compartments, such as intact cells, chloroplasts and peroxisomes.


2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 897-904 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.D. Brand

Since it was first realized that biological energy transduction involves oxygen and ATP, opinions about the amount of ATP made per oxygen consumed have continually evolved. The coupling efficiency is crucial because it constrains mechanistic models of the electron-transport chain and ATP synthase, and underpins the physiology and ecology of how organisms prosper in a thermodynamically hostile environment. Mechanistically, we have a good model of proton pumping by complex III of the electron-transport chain and a reasonable understanding of complex IV and the ATP synthase, but remain ignorant about complex I. Energy transduction is plastic: coupling efficiency can vary. Whether this occurs physiologically by molecular slipping in the proton pumps remains controversial. However, the membrane clearly leaks protons, decreasing the energy funnelled into ATP synthesis. Up to 20% of the basal metabolic rate may be used to drive this basal leak. In addition, UCP1 (uncoupling protein 1) is used in specialized tissues to uncouple oxidative phosphorylation, causing adaptive thermogenesis. Other UCPs can also uncouple, but are tightly regulated; they may function to decrease coupling efficiency and so attenuate mitochondrial radical production. UCPs may also integrate inputs from different fuels in pancreatic β-cells and modulate insulin secretion. They are exciting potential targets for treatment of obesity, cachexia, aging and diabetes.


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