Regulation of the mitochondrial ATP synthase/ATPase complex

The mitochondrial ATP synthase/ATPase (F0F1 ATPase) is perhaps the most complex enzyme known. In animal systems it consists of a minimum of 11 different polypeptide chains, 10 (or more) of which appear to be essential for function, and 1 called the "ATPase inhibitor peptide" which is involved in regulation. Recent studies from a variety of laboratories indicate that the ATP synthase/ATPase complex is regulated by several interrelated factors including the thermodynamic poise of the proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane; the ATPase inhibitor peptide; ADP (and/or ADP and Pi); divalent cations; and perhaps the redox state of SH groups on the F1 molecule. The central focus of this review is the ATPase inhibitor peptide. A model involving four distinct conformational states of F1 seems essential to account for the inhibitor's mode of action. The model depicts the ATPase inhibitor protein as acting at the asymmetric center of the F1 moiety. In addition, it accounts for the "unidirectional" role of the inhibitor peptide as a "down regulator" of ATP hydrolysis and for its binding/debinding dependence on the proton motive force and other regulatory factors. Finally, it is suggested that during any physiological process, where there is an energy demand followed by a resting phase, the F1 molecule may follow a "cyclic" path involving the four distinct conformational states of the enzyme.

Purification and characterization of the reconstitutively active phosphate transporter from rat liver mitochondria

Procedures have been developed for the purification of a nearly homogeneous, highly active phosphate transport system from rat liver mitochondria in either a two-subunit (alpha, beta) or a single subunit (beta) form. Significantly, both forms display a similar high magnitude N-ethylmaleimide (NEM)-sensitive Pi/Pi exchange activity upon incorporation into phospholipid vesicles. The transport system is extracted from hypotonically shocked mitoplasts with Triton X-114 and purified in the presence of cardiolipin by sequential chromatography on hydroxylapatite, DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B, and Affi-Gel 501. Depending on the conditions used to elute the transporter from Affi-Gel 501, preparations are obtained which, when analyzed by high resolution sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis, consist of either a single 33-kDa protein (beta) or a 33-kDa (beta) plus a 35-kDa (alpha) component. In preparations yielding the latter result, both bands display a nearly equivalent Coomassie staining intensity. Furthermore, after alkylation with NEM, the two protein bands co-migrate. Fluorography indicates that the coalesced band contains [3H]NEM. Upon reconstitution of the purified Pi carrier into liposomes, direct measurement of both the initial transport rate and the amount of protein that actually incorporates into the phospholipid vesicles yields a specific transport activity of 22.6 mumol/min/mg of protein. The exchange is characterized by a first order rate constant of 0.85 min-1, a t1/2 of 49 s, and is inhibited by sulfhydryl reagents (i.e., NEM, p-chloromercuribenzoate, and mersalyl). It is also substantially inhibited by diethyl pyrocarbonate, N-acetylimidazole, phenylglyoxal, and 5-dimethylaminoaphthalene-1-sulfonyl chloride. In addition to providing a simple, rapid method for preparing the NEM-sensitive phosphate carrier in nearly homogeneous form, these studies provide new information about the catalytically active species of the carrier, its kinetic properties, and its inhibitor sensitivities.

Solubilization and reassembly of the mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptor

We have solubilized and reassembled the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor, a component of the mitochondrial outer membrane, from rat adrenal gland mitochondria. The ligand binding site of this receptor undergoes denaturation during solubilization in digitonin, Triton X-100, or 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate at detergent concentrations above 0.1%, which is evident from the loss of high-affinity binding of [3H]PK11195, a ligand selective for the mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptor. The conformation of the binding site for PK11195 can be stabilized during solubilization in sodium cholate by relatively low concentrations of supplementary soybean lipid. Drug displacement studies demonstrate that the pharmacological properties of the receptor are preserved under these conditions. Electron micrographs of the solubilized preparation show a heterogeneous population of many small particles (less than 100 A) and some larger membranous aggregates (up to 500 A). Sucrose gradient centrifugation indicates that these lipoprotein complexes are of high buoyant density. They can be incorporated in liposomes via cholate dialysis in the presence of additional supplementary lipid. The behavior of the mitochondrial benzodiazepine receptor during solubilization and reassembly suggests that it is an integral protein of the outer membrane.

Hexokinase receptor complex in hepatoma mitochondria: evidence from N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-labeling studies for the involvement of the pore-forming protein VDAC

In rapidly growing, highly glycolytic hepatoma cells as much as 65% of the total cell hexokinase is bound to the outer mitochondrial membrane [Parry, D.M., & Pedersen, P.L. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 10904-10912]. In this paper, we describe the purification to apparent homogeneity of a mitochondrial pore-forming protein from the highly glycolytic AS-30D rat hepatoma cell line. The purified protein shows a single 35 000-dalton band in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, an amino acid composition slightly more hydrophobic than that of the rat liver pore protein (also known as VDAC or mitochondrial porin), and a channel-forming activity of 136 channels min-1 (microgram of protein)-1. In addition to displaying the properties characteristic of VDAC (single-channel conductance, voltage dependence, and preference for anions), we observe that the AS-30D VDAC protein is one of only three mitochondrial proteins that bind [14C]dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) at relatively low dosages (2 nmol of DCCD/mg of mitochondrial protein). Significantly, treatment of intact mitochondria isolated from either rat liver or the AS-30D hepatoma with DCCD results in an almost complete inhibition of their ability to binding hexokinase. Fifty percent inhibition of binding occurs at less than 2 nmol of DCCD/mg of mitochondrial protein. In contrast to DCCD, water-soluble carbodiimides are without effect on hexokinase binding. These results suggest that the pore-forming protein of tumor mitochondria forms at least part of the hexokinase receptor complex. In addition, they indicate that a carboxyl residue located within a hydrophobic region of the receptor complex may play a critical role in hexokinase binding.

Diethylstilbestrol. A novel F0-directed probe of the mitochondrial proton ATPase

At low concentrations, diethylstilbestrol (DES) is shown to be a potent F0-directed inhibitor of the F0F1-ATPase of rat liver mitochondria. In analogy to other F0-directed inhibitors, DES inhibits both the ATPase and ATP-dependent proton-translocation activities of the purified and membrane bound enzyme. When added at low concentrations with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), a covalent inhibitor, DES acts synergistically to inhibit ATPase activity of the complex. At higher concentrations, DES restores DCCD-inhibited ATPase activity. However, there is no restoration of ATP-dependent proton translocation. Under these conditions DCCD remains covalently bound to the F0F1-ATPase complex and F1 remains bound to Fo. Significantly, when the F0F1-ATPase is inhibited by the Fo-directed inhibitor venturicidin rather than DCCD, DES is also able to restore ATPase activity. In contrast, DES is unable to restore ATPase activity to F0F1 preparations inhibited by the Fo-directed inhibitors oligomycin or tricyclohexyltin. However, combinations of [DES + DCCD] or [DES + venturicidin] can restore ATPase activity to F0F1 preparations inhibited by either oligomycin or tricyclohexyltin. Results presented here indicate that the F0 moiety of the rat liver mitochondrial proton ATPase contains a distinct binding site for DES. In addition, they suggest that at saturating concentrations simultaneous occupancy of the DES binding site and sites for either DCCD or venturicidin promote "uncoupled" ATP hydrolysis.

The peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor. Localization to the mitochondrial outer membrane

We have investigated the subcellular localization of the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor in rat adrenal gland using the high affinity ligand 3H-labeled 1-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-(1-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinoline carboxamide ([3H]PK11195). The autoradiographic pattern of [3H]PK11195 binding sites in tissue sections of adrenal gland is similar to the histochemical distribution of the mitochondrial marker enzymes, cytochrome oxidase and monoamine oxidase, which are present in high concentrations only in the cortex. Subcellular fractionation studies of homogenates of adrenal gland indicate that the recovery and enrichment of [3H]PK11195 binding sites in the nuclear, mitochondrial, microsomal, and soluble fractions correlate closely with cytochrome oxidase activity, but not with markers for the nuclei, lysosomes, peroxysomes, endoplasmic reticulum, plasma membrane, or cytoplasm, indicating an association of the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor with the mitochondrial compartment. Titration of isolated mitochondria with digitonin results in the simultaneous release of the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor and of monoamine oxidase, but not cytochrome oxidase, indicating association of the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor with the mitochondrial outer membrane. Scatchard analysis and drug displacement studies of the binding of [3H] PK11195 to intact mitochondria and to the outer membrane-enriched digitonin extract further confirm the localization of the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor to the mitochondrial outer membrane.

Determination of microgram quantities of protein in the presence of milligram levels of lipid with amido black 10B

A method which is capable of accurately determining low amounts of protein (i.e., 2-24 micrograms) in the presence of very high levels of lipid (i.e., 20-40 mg) has been developed. The procedure was developed from the original amido black 10B protein assay of Schaffner and Weissmann (W. Schaffner and C. Weissmann, 1973, Anal. Biochem. 56, 502-514) and incorporates several critical modifications that enable the assay to be performed with lipid-containing samples without interference. The modifications include a substantial increase in the assay volume (thereby decreasing the final lipid concentration) as well as the sodium dodecyl sulfate and trichloroacetic acid concentrations. Under these conditions, a linear standard curve is obtained with 2-24 micrograms of bovine serum albumin in both the absence and the presence of lipid (20 mg). Moreover, the assay is unaffected by as much as 40 mg of lipid in the original sample. Linearity as well as noninterference by lipid (20 mg) is also demonstrated with a sample of mitochondrial protein (i.e., a mixture of hydrophilic and hydrophobic proteins). Additionally, we show that in the presence of protein (20 micrograms) and lipid (20 mg), high concentrations of various buffers, salts, and nonionic detergents do not interfere with the assay. Finally, the enhanced ability of this new method to tolerate high lipid levels without interference relative to several existing protein estimation methods is demonstrated. This procedure should prove widely useful for measuring protein in reconstituted systems involving proteoliposomes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Isolation and reconstitution of the n-butylmalonate-sensitive dicarboxylate transporter from rat liver mitochondria

The mitochondrial dicarboxylate carrier has been substantially purified from rat liver mitoplasts by extraction with Triton X-114 in the presence of cardiolipin followed by chromatography on hydroxylapatite. Upon incorporation of the hydroxylapatite eluate into phospholipid vesicles, an n-butylmalonate-sensitive malonate/malate exchange has been demonstrated. This exchange activity is enhanced 226-fold relative to the starting material (i.e. detergent-extracted mitoplasts). Silver-stained sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gradient gels verify the high purity of this fraction relative to the starting material. Nonetheless, the banding pattern indicates that several protein species are still present. As isolated, the dicarboxylate transporter is rather unstable but can be stabilized either by the addition of 10% ethylene glycol and subsequent storage at -20 degrees C or by incorporation into phospholipid vesicles in the presence of malate followed by freezing in liquid nitrogen. Such proteoliposomes catalyze a [14C]malonate uptake which is characterized by a first order rate constant of 1.02 min-1 and a t 1/2 of 41 s. This uptake can be inhibited by dicarboxylates (e.g. succinate, malate, unlabeled malonate) but not by either alpha-ketoglutarate or by tricarboxylates (e.g. citrate, threo-Ds-isocitrate). Furthermore, the reconstituted malonate transport is dependent on internal malate and can be inhibited by n-butylmalonate, mersalyl, p-chloromercuribenzoate, and Pi, but not by N-ethylmaleimide. It is concluded that this highly purified fraction contains a reconstitutively active dicarboxylate transporter which, based on its substrate specificity and inhibitor sensitivity, appears to be identical to the native dicarboxylate transport system found in intact rat liver mitochondria.

Adenine nucleotide and phosphate transport systems of mitochondria. Relative location of sulfhydryl groups based on the use of the novel fluorescent probe eosin-5-maleimide

Eosin-5-maleimide is impermeable to the inner mitochondrial membrane, exhibiting essentially no reactivity with matrix glutathione or with beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase located on the matrix surface of the inner membrane. In intact mitochondria, eosin-5-maleimide is unreactive with the ADP/ATP antiporter even under conditions which promote maximal labeling by N-[3H]ethylmaleimide (i.e., ADP present). However, eosin-5-maleimide readily labels the ADP/ATP antiporter in "inverted" inner membrane vesicles even in the presence of N-ethylmaleimide. Labeling is prevented if the vesicles are prepared from mitochondria pretreated with carboxyatractyloside. In contrast to the ADP/ATP antiporter, essential sulfhydryl groups of the Pi/H+ symporter are accessible to eosin-5-maleimide in intact mitochondria with optimal inhibition of phosphate transport being observed at 25 degrees C. Eosin-5-maleimide also prevents labeling of the Pi/H+ symporter by N-[3H]ethylmaleimide. These results show that essential sulfhydryl groups of the ADP/ATP antiporter and the Pi/H+ symporter have differing reactivities and locations in functionally intact mitochondria. With respect to eosin-5-maleimide, sulfhydryl groups of the ADP/ATP carrier occur in two distinct classes, both of which are inaccessible in intact mitochondria. Only one class, depending on conditions, can be exposed in submitochondrial particles. In contrast, sulfhydryl group(s) of the Pi/H+ symporter behave as a single reactive class which is readily accessible in mitochondria at 25 degrees C.

Inhibitor peptide of mitochondrial proton adenosine triphosphatase. Neutralization of its inhibitory action by calmodulin

In the presence of ATP and Mg2+, the homogeneous ATPase peptide inhibitor of rat liver mitochondria markedly inhibits the proton ATPase from this source (Cintrón N. M., and Pedersen, P. L. (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 3439-3443). Under these conditions, calmodulin prevents the inhibitor peptide from inhibiting the liver H+-ATPase. About 1.5 mol of calmodulin/mol of inhibitor is necessary to effect a half-maximal response (apparent Km = 0.5 microM calmodulin). The capacity of calmodulin to neutralize the action of the ATPase inhibitor peptide appears highly specific. This effect is not produced by insulin, trypsin inhibitor, lysozyme, ribonuclease, myoglobin, cytochrome c, ovalbumin, or bovine albumin. Only polyglutamate was found to mimic the action of calmodulin. However, when added together with calmodulin, polyglutamate failed to elicit an additive effect indicating that its site of interaction on the ATPase inhibitor peptide differs from that of calmodulin. Calcium is not essential in the assay medium for calmodulin to neutralize the action of the ATPase inhibitor peptide. The neutralization effect produced by calmodulin is also source-independent, with preparations of calmodulin from bovine brain and rat testes being equally competent. Calmodulin has no direct effect on the ATPase activity of the proton ATPase, nor does it affect the capacity of the enzyme to participate in either ATP synthesis or the ATP-dependent transhydrogenase reaction. Moreover, calmodulin fails to reverse inhibition of the H+-ATPase to which ATPase inhibitor peptide is already bound. Overall, these results indicate that calmodulin interacts in a direct and highly specific manner with the "free" ATPase peptide inhibitor of rat liver mitochondria.

Contributions of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation to adenosine 5'-triphosphate production in AS-30D hepatoma cells

The AS-30D rat hepatoma cell line is characteristic of that class of rapidly growing tumors which exhibit high rates of aerobic glucose utilization and lactic acid production (Bustamante, E., Morris, H.P., and Pedersen, P.L., J. Biol. Chem., 256: 8699-8704, 1981). In this study, we have examined the coupling properties of the mitochondria in intact AS-30D hepatoma cells and the relative contributions of cytoplasmic (glycolytic) and mitochondrial compartments to total cellular ATP production in the presence of glucose and glutamine. All respiration in AS-30D cells was inhibited by inhibitors of mitochondrial electron transport, ruling out significant rates of respiration from other cellular components. Moreover, cellular respiration was found to be coupled to phosphorylation of ADP, as demonstrated by its inhibition by oligomycin and aurovertin, inhibitors of the mitochondrial ATP synthetase (F0F1-ATPase). When intact cells were supplied with glucose as the only added energy source, it was estimated that about 60% of the total cell ATP was derived from glycolysis and 40% from oxidative phosphorylation. Addition of physiological concentrations of glutamine in the presence of glucose had little effect on the relative contributions of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation to total cellular ATP production. In the absence of added glucose, glutamine alone could maintain the same ATP production rates by supporting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. It is concluded that, in the AS-30D hepatoma cell line, glucose is the preferred energy source, with the larger portion of ATP production being supplied by glycolytic reactions. Although oxidative substrates such as glutamine can replace glucose in maintaining total cell ATP production, they do not appear to be the major fuel sources when hepatoma AS-30D cells are exposed to concentrations of substrates which occur in vivo.

A scanning-slit x-ray videoabsorptiometric technique for bone mineral measurement

An x-ray videoabsorptiometric technique was developed for measurement of bone mineral content (BMC) in vivo. The principle utility of this technique is the precise measurement of commonly fractured bones, such as the femoral neck, that are difficult to measure by other techniques because of repositioning problems. Scanning slits reduce scattered radiation and improve linearity of measurements. Heavily filtered, high-kVp beams are used to minimize errors from beam hardening, and data renormalization is employed to compensate for spatial nonuniformities of the beam and detector. Linearity of measured BMC over the range 0.8 to 5 g/cm2 is very good (r = 0.998) and compares well to single- and dual-photon absorptiometry. A 1.6% change in measured BMC is observed for a 10% change (approximately 2 cm) in tissue thickness while a 10% change in marrow type causes a 0.6%-0.8% change in BMC. Manual repositioning of a femur phantom revealed a variation of 0.84% over ten measurements when femur values were referenced to standards. A computer repositioning algorithm provides much easier identification of the region for analysis and yields comparable variation (0.9%).

Proton ATPase of rat liver mitochondria: a rapid procedure for purification of a stable, reconstitutively active F1 preparation using a modified chloroform method

A method is described for the purification of rat liver F1-ATPase by a modification of the chloroform extraction procedure originally described by Beechey et al. (Biochem. J. (1975) 148, 533). Purified liver membrane vesicles are extracted with chloroform in the presence of ATP and EDTA. The procedure yields pure F1 in only 2-3 h without the necessity of ion-exchange chromatography. The enzyme exhibits the alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and epsilon bands characteristic of F1-ATPase. It has a high ATPase specific activity, and is reconstitutively active, catalyzing high rates of ATP synthesis. Significantly, it can be readily crystallized. If desired, the enzyme can be passed over a gel filtration column to place it in a stabilizing phosphate-EDTA buffer, lyophilized and stored indefinitely at -20 degrees C.

Intracellular localization of rat kidney hexokinase. Evidence for an association with low density mitochondria

The subcellular location of hexokinase was investigated in rat kidney. Both soluble and particulate locations are indicated by differential centrifugation. The particulate form is predominant, representing about 80% of the total activity. None of the activity is latent. Density gradient centrifugation followed by marker enzyme analysis reveals the presence of two populations of mitochondria with distinct densities. Hexokinase is associated primarily with the mitochondrial population having the lower density. Association of hexokinase with brush border, plasma membrane, lysosomes, and endoplasmic reticulum is considered unlikely on the basis of density gradient centrifugation and enzyme analysis. About 95% of the hexokinase activity associated with the mitochondrial fraction can be released in soluble form by repeated incubations with glucose 6-phosphate. An incubation time of about 4 min at 30 degrees C is required to achieve a maximal solubilizing effect. Release is accomplished without disrupting the mitochondrial compartments. Hexokinase is released also by treatment of the mitochondrial fraction with increasing concentrations of digitonin. This technique disrupts and differentially releases the mitochondrial compartments. As observed with liver, but in contrast to that observed with tumor (Parry, D. M., and Pedersen, P. L. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 10904-10912), the release of hexokinase from the mitochondrial fraction of kidney does not correlate with the release of enzymes known to mark the mitochondrial membranes or compartments. These studies provide the first critical evidence about the subcellular location of hexokinase in kidney. They show that in this tissue hexokinase is associated primarily with low density mitochondria, a finding that adds credibility to the existence of this discrete population of mitochondria in vivo. Significantly, this association of hexokinase with kidney mitochondria appears unique in that its release on submitochondrial fractionation does not correlate with the release of known mitochondrial marker enzymes. These results are directly relevant to those cells in the kidney which utilize glucose as an energy source. It is suggested that the enhanced glycolytic capacity of these cells may be due, at least in part, to an association of hexokinase with low density mitochondria.

Proton ATPase of rat liver mitochondria. Preparation and visualization of a functional complex using the novel zwitterionic detergent 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate

The proton ATPase of rat liver mitochondria has been purified by a simple procedure which involves the use of the novel, zwitterionic detergent 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate to solubilize the membrane-bound complex. The purified enzyme has a high, oligomycin-sensitive ATPase activity (11.3 +/- 2.9 mumol/min/mg) in the absence of added phospholipids. It shows, in four different gel electrophoretic systems, the five bands characteristic of the F1 portion of the complex and three additional Coomassie blue-stainable bands which have apparent molecular weights of 28,000, 19,000, and 13,600. A fourth Coomassie blue-stainable component of about 10,000-12,500 daltons comigrates with the delta subunit, whereas a fifth component, detectable only by absorption at 280 nm, is observed between the dye front and the 10,000-dalton species. The enzyme complex has been reconstituted into liposomal vesicles of asolectin. Under these conditions the enzyme catalyzes an ATP-Pi exchange reaction and is capable of translocating protons in an ATP-dependent manner as assayed by quenching of 9-amino-6-chloro-2-methoxyacridine. Both activities are inhibited by the addition of oligomycin, uncoupler, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, and cadmium. At high detergent concentration, the complex appears in negative stain electron microscopy in a dispersed state. The tripartite structure is clearly visible in monomeric, dimeric, or trimeric forms of the molecule. At the low detergent concentration, the proton ATPase tends to cluster into densely packed arrays. This represents the first report of the properties of a functionally active proton ATPase solubilized and purified in the presence of a zwitterionic detergent.

The proton adenosinetriphosphatase complex of rat liver mitochondria. Temperature-dependent dissociation-reassociation of the F1-ATPase subunits

The soluble F1 moiety of the rat liver mitochondrial proton ATPase dissociates into two easily separable fractions when cold treated and then warmed. One fraction is soluble in potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, whereas the other is insoluble. Neither of these two fractions alone can catalyze ATP hydrolysis under assay conditions optimal for the native F1-ATPase. The insoluble fraction when resolved via sodium dodecyl sulfate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is shown to be composed of only alpha and gamma subunits. When this fraction is chromatographed on Sephadex G-75, it is resolved into an alpha gamma complex and into the alpha subunit alone. The soluble fraction when resolved in the same electrophoretic system is shown to contain the remaining subunits, beta, delta, epsilon, and some gamma. This fraction is resolved into two major components by chromatography on Sepharose CL-6B, a beta gamma complex and beta subunit alone. The cold-dissociated enzyme can be readily associated when the temperature is raised to 20 degrees C. In the presence of either ATP or MgATP the enzyme completely regains its original ATPase specific activity. In contrast, Mg2+ is only about 15% effective in restoring ATPase activity. The results presented here define conditions for the dissociation and reassociation of the major subunits comprising the F1-ATPase of rat liver and thus provide a unique system among mammalian enzymes for testing the function of individual subunits. In addition, they strongly indicate that neither the alpha nor beta subunits, nor complexes of these subunits with the gamma subunit, are capable of catalyzing ATP hydrolysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Intracellular localization and properties of particulate hexokinase in the Novikoff ascites tumor. Evidence for an outer mitochondrial membrane location

A detailed investigation concerned with localizing hexokinase in the Novikoff ascites tumor is presented. At least 50% of the total hexokinase activity was shown by differential and density gradient centrifugation techniques to be associated with tumor mitochondria. None of this activity was latent. Fractionation of isolated tumor mitochondria with digitonin revealed an outer membrane location for this enzyme. Treatment of tumor mitochondria with glucose 6-phosphate released about 80 to 85% of the hexokinase activity without disrupting the intermembrane compartment. This suggests that at least this proportion of the activity is bound to the outer surface of the outer membrane. Successive treatments did not remove the remaining hexokinase activity. At 30 degrees C, an incubation time of about 10 min with glucose 6-phosphate was required to achieve maximal release. No solubilization occurred at 0-4 degrees C. The isozymes derived from Novikoff mitochondria were identified by anion exchange chromatography as types I and III. Glucokinase activity was not detectable. Evidence is also presented which indicates that the hexokinase obtained from Novikoff mitochondria binds to the outer membrane of rat liver mitochondria. In contrast, the low endogenous hexokinase activity present in isolated liver mitochondria was found not to fractionate with outer membrane markers, but rather with contaminating microsomal membrane markers. Results described here provide the first direct evidence for the submitochondrial location of hexokinase in a tumor. They reveal an outer membrane location and an involvement of two hexokinase isozymes. Because these findings are characteristic of the hepatoma and not observed in control liver preparations, it is suggested that they may be very relevant to the general property of rapidly growing tumors to catabolize large amounts of glucose.

Isolation and reconstitution of an N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive phosphate transport protein from rat liver mitochondria

An N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive phosphate transport protein has been isolated from rat liver mitochondria, substantially purified, and reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles. Purified inner mitochondrial membrane vesicles depleted of F1-ATPase by urea treatment proved to be the most satisfactory starting material. Treatment of these membrane vesicles with Triton X-100 resulted in solubilization of the phosphate transport protein. Further purification was achieved using hydroxylapatite powder. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified fraction in sodium dodecyl sulfate indicated the presence of two Coomassie blue-staining bands with apparent Mr's of 30,000 and 35,000. Labeling of the 35,000 Mr band by the Pi transport inhibitor diazobenzene sulfonate was reduced markedly by prior treatment of the mitochondria with the inhibitor N-ethylmaleimide. The purified fraction containing both proteins could be reconstituted into liposomes prepared from purified asolectin. Phosphate efflux from these vesicles was inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, by the impermeant mercurial agent, p-chloromercuribenzoate, and by diazobenzene sulfonate. Treatment of the purified fraction with N-ethylmaleimide prior to incorporation into liposomes resulted in a reconstituted system incapable of catalyzing Pi efflux. These studies summarize the first detailed attempt to purify the Pi/H+ transport system from rat liver mitochondria and emphasize the need to commence the purification with purified inner membrane vesicles depleted of F1-ATPase. In addition, these studies show that the final fraction contains a reconstitutively active transport system which when incorporated into phospholipid vesicles has its essential sulfhydryl groups oriented outward. Finally, it is shown that the purified fraction also contains a 30,000 Mr component.

Characterization of phosphate efflux pathways in rat liver mitochondria

ATP hydrolysis catalysed by the H+-ATPase of intact mitochondria can be induced by addition of ATP in the presence of valinomycin and KCl. This leads to an increase in intramitochondrial Pi and therefore allows investigation of potential Pi efflux pathways in intact mitochondria. Combining this approach with the direct measurement of both internal and external Pi, we have attempted to determine whether Pi efflux occurs via an atractyloside-sensitive transporter, by the classical operation of the Pi/H+ and Pi/dicarboxylate carriers, and/or by other mechanisms. Initial experiments re-examined the evidence that led to the current view that one efflux pathway for Pi is an atractyloside-sensitive ATP/ADP,0.5Pi transporter. No evidence was found in support of this efflux pathway. Rather, atractyloside-sensitivity of the low rate of Pi efflux observed in previous studies (oligomycin present) was accounted for by ATP entry on the well known ATP/ADP transport system followed by hydrolysis of ATP and subsequent Pi efflux. Thus, under these conditions, where ATP hydrolysis is not completely inhibited, Pi efflux becomes atractyloside sensitive most likely because this inhibitor blocks ATP entry, not because it directly inhibits Pi efflux. Substantial efflux of Pi from rat liver mitochondria is observed on generation of high levels of matrix Pi by ATP hydrolysis induced by valinomycin and K+ (oligomycin absent). A portion of this efflux can be inhibited by thiol-specific reagents at concentrations that normally inhibit the Pi/H+ and Pi/dicarboxylate carriers. However, a significant fraction of efflux continues even in the presence of p-chloromercuribenzoate, N-ethylmaleimide plus n-butylmalonate or mersalyl. The mersalyl-insensitive Pi efflux, which is also insensitive to carboxyatractyloside, is a saturable process, thus suggesting carrier mediation. During this efflux the mitochondrial inner membrane retains considerable impermeability to other low-molecular-weight anions (i.e., malate, 2-oxoglutarate). In conclusion, results presented here rule out an atractyloside-sensitive ATP/ADP,0.5Pi transport system as a mechanism for Pi efflux in rat liver mitochondria. Rather Pi efflux appears to occur on the classical Pi/H+ transport system as well as via a mersalyl-insensitive saturable process. The inhibitor-insensitive Pi efflux may occur on a portion of the Pi/H+ carrier molecules that exist in a state different from that normally catalysing Pi influx. Alternatively, a separate Pi efflux carrier may exist.

Structure of the mitochondrial F1 ATPase at 9-A resolution

The soluble portion (F1 ATPase) of the mitochondrial ATP-synthesizing system is a multisubunit enzyme of molecular weight 380,000. It is composed of five different subunits, alpha, beta, gamma, and epsilon. The subunit stoichiometry is not known but there are strong suggestions that it is alpha 3 beta 3 gamma delta epsilon. We have determined the three-dimensional structure of the F1 ATPase of rat liver mitochondria to 9-A resolution by using x-ray diffraction techniques. The molecule appears to be formed by two equivalent halves, each formed by three regions of approximately equal size. These regions form a distorted hexagonal or octahedral arrangement. None of the regions form closed symmetrical trimers in the complex. It is proposed that, if the subunit stoichiometry is alpha 3 beta 3 gamma delta epsilon, the major subunits exist in at least two different environments in the complex. In this arrangement, the different copies of the major subunits are functionally not equivalent. This observation appears to offer a natural explanation of the complicated binding and labeling data of F1 ATPases.

Perturbation by clofibrate of mitochondrial levels in animal cells. Implications for a model of mitochondrial genesis

Dietary treatment of rats for 2 weeks with clofibrate (ethyl 2-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-methylproprionate), a hypolipidemic drug, increased the ratio of mitochondrial protein to cellular DNA by 2-fold, yet the recovery, purity, and structural integrity of mitochondria from treated livers were identical with the controls. Apparent half-lives of total protein in control and treated mitochondria were measured using [14C]bicarbonate as an amino acid precursor and were found to be the same. In a double label study, the relative half-lives of total mitochondrial proteins or mitochondrial inner membrane, matrix, or outer compartment proteins were compared in control and treated livers. In no case did drug treatment alter the apparent rates of degradation of protein. Coulter counting of the mitochondrial fraction revealed a 2-fold increase in counts relative to cellular DNA but counts per mg of mitochondrial protein were the same as control. Cytochrome spectra of mitochondria or purified inner membranes were not qualitatively different in control versus treated preparations. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoretic patterns of mitochondria or submitochondrial fractions were very similar for control and treated livers. Inner compartment marker enzymes were unchanged in specific activity, but monoamine oxidase, an outer compartment marker, was decreased in specific activity. Clofibrate treatment appears to result in an increased synthesis of the majority of mitochondrial protein. The effects of clofibrate are consistent with a model of mitochondrial turnover in which the control of outer compartment synthesis and degradation is different from that of the inner compartment. A model is proposed for mitochondrial genesis and degradation in normal and clofibrate-treated livers.

Phosphate transport in rat liver mitochondria: location of sulfhydryl groups essential for transport activities

The membrane orientation and symmetry of protein thiol group(s) necessary for transport of Pi in rat liver mitochondria have been assessed by comparing inhibition of transport in intact mitochondria to that in inverted vesicles of purified inner membrane. The permeability characteristics of a variety of inhibitors have been determined under specified conditions. The sensitivities of the uptake pathways in mitochondria and in inverted vesicles appear thus far to be identical. By comparing results with permeant and nonpermeant inhibitors, or sequential treatment with different inhibitors, arguments can be made in favor of a single reorienting site of thiol sensitivity.

Energy metabolism of tumor cells. Requirement for a form of hexokinase with a propensity for mitochondrial binding

Rat liver cytoplasm (postnuclear supernatant) has a low aerobic glycolytic rate in the presence of added glucose, ATP, ADP, Pi, and NAD+, whereas cytoplasm from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells exhibit a high aerobic glycolytic rate which is typical of rapidly proliferating tumor cells. Tumor mitochondria, unlike liver mitochondria, contain bound hexokinase which constitutes about 70% of the total cellular hexokinase activity. The high aerobic glycolytic rate of Ehrlich tumor cytoplasm is reduced markedly if the mitochondria are removed and can be restored almost completely upon addition of the hexokinase-containing tumor mitochondria to tumor cytosol (postmitochondrial supernatant). Addition of tumor mitochondria to liver cytosol can enhance its glycolytic rate to levels approaching those of tumor cytoplasm, whereas added liver mitochondria are without effect on the already low glycolytic rate of liver cytosol. Addition of tumor mitochondria to tumor cytosol increases its glycolytic rate to the level of tumor cytoplasm, as mentioned above, but liver mitochondria added to tumor cytosol actually depress its glycolytic rate to the level of liver cytosol. The stimulatory effect of tumor mitochondria on liver cytosol can be ascribed to its associated hexokinase activity since hexokinase specifically removed from mitochondria of tumor cells can also enhance the glycolytic rate of liver cytosol. The depressing effect of added liver mitochondria on tumor cytosol glycolysis suggests that liver mitochondria can compete more effectively than tumor mitochondria for a common intermediate and/or cofactor. Examination of 12 different tumor cell lines revealed that only those which reached maximum size in 1 month or less, and which have elevated glycolytic activities, had detectable mitochondrially associated hexokinase activity. The studies reported here describe resolution and reconstitution of tumor cytoplasm, supplementation of cytosol with intact mitochondria or mitochondrial hexokinase, and a survey of mitochondrial hexokinase content in various tumors, and provide strong evidence for the view (Bustamante, E., and Pedersen, P. L. (1977) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 74, 3735-3739) that a form of hexokinase with a propensity for mitochondrial binding plays a key role in the high aerobic glycolysis of cancer cells.

Mitochondrial hexokinase of rat hepatoma cells in culture: solubilization and kinetic properties

The highly glucolytic hepatoma cell line H-91 is characterized by a high hexokinase activity to rat liver; 50% of this activity is associated with the mitochondrial fraction [Bustamante, E., & Pederson, P.L. (1977) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 3735--3739]. Treatment of mitochondria from this cell line with adenosine 5'=triphosphate (ATP) or glucose 6-phosphate solubilizes bound hexokinase activity. Solubilization of the enzyme by ATP results in a six- to sevenfold purification. Free ATP, unchelated by Mg ions, induces the release of the enzyme from the membrane, whereas the MgATP complex is ineffective. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) fails to release mitochondrial hexokinase indicating that the enzyme is not attached to the membrane by divalent cations. Energization of mitochondria is not required for ATP to induce solubilization of bound hexokinase. This is evidenced by (a) the ability of the nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue adenylyl imidodiphosphate to solubilize the enzyme, (b) the inability of uncouplers and inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation to either solubilize or prevent the release of mitochondrial hexokinase, and (c) the inability of atractyloside to solubilize or prevent the release of bound hexokinase. The bound and the ATP-solubilized forms of mitochondrial hexokinase from H-91 hepatoma cells are kinetically different. When membrane bound, the enzyme has a significantly higher apparent affinity (Km = 0.25 mM) for its substrate MgATP than when solubilized (Km = 1.2 mM). Free ATP acts as a competitive inhibitor of mitochondrial hexokinase. Both the membrane-bound and the solubilized forms of mitochondrial hexokinase have about the same apparent affinity for glucose (Km = 56 and 83 microM, respectively). The experiments reported here provide the first description of the properties and the nature of binding of mitochondrial hexokinase from a tumor cell line growing in tissue culture.