scholarly journals In vitro reconstitution reveals major differences between human and bacterial cytochrome c synthases

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly C Sutherland ◽  
Deanna L Mendez ◽  
Shalon E Babbitt ◽  
Dustin E Tillman ◽  
Olga Melnikov ◽  
...  

Cytochromes c are ubiquitous heme proteins in mitochondria and bacteria, all possessing a CXXCH (CysXxxXxxCysHis) motif with covalently attached heme. We describe the first in vitro reconstitution of cytochrome c biogenesis using purified mitochondrial (HCCS) and bacterial (CcsBA) cytochrome c synthases. We employ apocytochrome c and peptide analogs containing CXXCH as substrates, examining recognition determinants, thioether attachment, and subsequent release and folding of cytochrome c. Peptide analogs reveal very different recognition requirements between HCCS and CcsBA. For HCCS, a minimal 16-mer peptide is required, comprised of CXXCH and adjacent alpha helix 1, yet neither thiol is critical for recognition. For bacterial CcsBA, both thiols and histidine are required, but not alpha helix 1. Heme attached peptide analogs are not released from the HCCS active site; thus, folding is important in the release mechanism. Peptide analogs behave as inhibitors of cytochrome c biogenesis, paving the way for targeted control.

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (9) ◽  
pp. 602-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woon Ki Pair ◽  
Young-Bong Cho ◽  
Blaise Frost ◽  
Sangduk Kim

In this review, protein methylation is outlined in general terms, highlighting the major amino acids that are methylated and some of the proteins in which they are found. The majority of the review examines the methylation of cytochrome c at Lys-77 of lower eukaryotes as a possible model for methylation studies. Early work involving the purification and characterization of the methyltransferase responsible for this methylation indicated cytochrome c was methylated posttranslationally, yet prior to import into the mitochondria. Methylation in vitro occurred only at the in vivo methylation site and only on cytochrome c. Later studies using in vitro translated apocytochrome c revealed that methylated, as compared with unmethylated, apocytochrome c was imported preferentially into yeast, but not rat liver, mitochondria. Efforts to discover the reasons for this preference have shown that methylation of apocytochrome c dramatically lowers its isoelectric point (against a predicted increase) and decrease its Stokes radius. A possible mechanism for these differences involving the disruption of hydrogen bonds is presented here with space-filling models. Finally, the in vivo significance of this modification is also discussed.Key words: yeast iso-1-apocytochrome c, enzymatic methylation, in vitro translation, protein methylase III, pI change.


2005 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 792-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Stevens ◽  
T. Uchida ◽  
O. Daltrop ◽  
S.J. Ferguson

Haem (Fe-protoporphyrin IX) is a cofactor found in a wide variety of proteins. It confers diverse functions, including electron transfer, the binding and sensing of gases, and many types of catalysis. The majority of cofactors are non-covalently attached to proteins. There are, however, some proteins in which the cofactor binds covalently and one of the major protein classes characterized by covalent cofactor attachment is the c-type cytochromes. The characteristic haem-binding mode of c-type cytochromes requires the formation of two covalent bonds between two cysteine residues in the protein and the two vinyl groups of haem. Haem attachment is a complex post-translational process that, in bacteria such as Escherichia coli, occurs in the periplasmic space and involves the participation of many proteins. Unexpectedly, it has been found that the haem chaperone CcmE (cytochrome cmaturation), which is an essential intermediate in the process, also binds haem covalently before transferring the haem to apocytochromes. A single covalent bond is involved and occurs between a haem vinyl group and a histidine residue of CcmE. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have provided insight into the function of this protein and into the overall process of cytochrome c biogenesis.


1981 ◽  
Vol 45 (03) ◽  
pp. 290-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter H Levine ◽  
Danielle G Sladdin ◽  
Norman I Krinsky

SummaryIn the course of studying the effects on platelets of the oxidant species superoxide (O- 2), Of was generated by the interaction of xanthine oxidase plus xanthine. Surprisingly, gel-filtered platelets, when exposed to xanthine oxidase in the absence of xanthine substrate, were found to generate superoxide (O- 2), as determined by the reduction of added cytochrome c and by the inhibition of this reduction in the presence of superoxide dismutase.In addition to generating Of, the xanthine oxidase-treated platelets display both aggregation and evidence of the release reaction. This xanthine oxidase induced aggreagtion is not inhibited by the addition of either superoxide dismutase or cytochrome c, suggesting that it is due to either a further metabolite of O- 2, or that O- 2 itself exerts no important direct effect on platelet function under these experimental conditions. The ability of Of to modulate platelet reactions in vivo or in vitro remains in doubt, and xanthine oxidase is an unsuitable source of O- 2 in platelet studies because of its own effects on platelets.


2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Wolf ◽  
J Mukherjee ◽  
A Guha

Introduction: GBMs are resistant to apoptosis induced by the hypoxic microenvironment and standard therapies including radiation and chemotherapy. We postulate that the Warburg effect, a preferential glycolytic phenotype of tumor cells even under aerobic conditions, plays a role in these aberrant pro-survival signals. In this study we quantitatively examined the expression profile of hypoxia-related glycolytic genes within pathologically- and MRI-defined “centre” and “periphery” of GBMs. We hypothesize that expression of hypoxia-induced glycolytic genes, particularly hexokinase 2 (HK2), favours cell survival and modulates resistance to tumour cell apoptosis by inhibiting the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Methods: GBM patients underwent conventional T1-weighted contrast-enhanced MRI and MR spectroscopy studies on a 3.0T GE scanner, prior to stereotactic sampling (formalin and frozen) from regions which were T1-Gad enhancing (“centre”) and T2-positive, T1-Gad negative (“periphery”). Real-time qRT-PCR was performed to quantify regional gene expression of glycolytic genes including HK2. In vitro functional studies were performed in U87 and U373 GBM cell lines grown in normoxic (21% pO2) and hypoxic (< 1%pO2) conditions, transfected with HK2 siRNA followed by measurement of cell proliferation (BrdU), apoptosis (activated caspase 3/7, TUNEL, cytochrome c release) and viability (MTS assay). Results: There exists a differential expression profile of glycolytic enzymes between the hypoxic center and relatively normoxic periphery of GBMs. Under hypoxic conditions, there is increased expression of HK2 at the mitochondrial membrane in GBM cells. In vitro HK2 knockdown led to decreased cell survival and increased apoptosis via the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway, as seen by increased mitochondrial release of cytochrome-C. Conclusions: Increased expression of HK2 in the centre of GBMs promotes cell survival and confers resistance to apoptosis, as confirmed by in vitro studies. In vivo intracranial xenograft studies with injection of HK2-shRNA are currently being performed. HK2 and possibly other glycolytic enzymes may provide a target for enhanced therapeutic responsiveness thereby improving prognosis of patients with GBMs.


Author(s):  
Bhikshapathi D. V. R. N. ◽  
Kanteepan P

Rebamipide, an amino acid derivative of 2-(1H)-quinolinone, is used for mucosal protection, healing of gastroduodenal ulcers, and treatment of gastritis. The current research study aimed to develop novel gastro-retentive mucoadhesive microspheres of rebamipide using ionotropic gelation technique. Studies of micromeritic properties confirmed that microspheres were free flowing with good packability. The in vitro drug release showed the sustained release of rebamipide up to 99.23 ± 0.13% within 12 h whereas marketed product displayed the drug release of 95.15 ± 0.23% within 1 h. The release mechanism from microspheres followed the zero-order and Korsmeyer-Peppas (R2 = 0.915, 0.969), respectively. The optimized M12 formulation displayed optimum features, such as entrapment efficiency 97%, particle size 61.94 ± 0.11 µm, percentage yield 98%, swelling index 95% and mucoadhesiveness was 97%. FTIR studies revealed no major incompatibility between drug and excipients. SEM confirmed the particles were of spherical in shape. Optimized formulation (M12) were stable at 40°C ± 2°C/75% RH ± 5% RH for 6 months. In vivo studies were performed and kinetic parameters like Cmax, Tmax, AUC0-t, AUC0-∞, t1/2, and Kel  were calculated. The marketed product Cmax (3.15 ± 0.05 ng/mL) was higher than optimized formulation (2.58 ± 0.03 ng/mL). The optimized formulation AUC0-t (15.25 ± 1.14 ng.hr/mL), AUC0-∞ (19.42 ± 1.24 ng.hr/mL) was significantly higher than that of marketed product AUC0-t (10.21 ± 1.26 ng.hr/mL) and AUC0-∞ (13.15 ± 0.05 ng.hr/mL). These results indicate an optimized formulation bioavailability of 2.5-fold greater than marketed product.  


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