Effect of temperature on the spectral properties of some ferrocytochromes

Blood cells from Friedreich ataxia patients harbor frataxin deficiency without a loss of mitochondrial function

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder caused by GAA triplet expansions or point mutations in the FXN gene on chromosome 9q13. The gene product called frataxin, a mitochondrial protein that is severely reduced in FRDA patients, leads to mitochondrial iron accumulation, Fe-S cluster deficiency and oxidative damage. The tissue specificity of this mitochondrial disease is complex and poorly understood. While frataxin is ubiquitously expressed, the cellular phenotype is most severe in neurons and cardiomyocytes. Here, we conducted comprehensive proteomic, metabolic and functional studies to determine whether subclinical abnormalities exist in mitochondria of blood cells from FRDA patients. Frataxin protein levels were significantly decreased in platelets and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from FRDA patients. Furthermore, the most significant differences associated with frataxin deficiency in FRDA blood cell mitochondria were the decrease of two mitochondrial heat shock proteins. We did not observe profound changes in frataxin-targeted mitochondrial proteins or mitochondrial functions or an increase of apoptosis in peripheral blood cells, suggesting that functional defects in these mitochondria are not readily apparent under resting conditions in these cells.

Spectral characterization of the recombinant mouse tumor suppressor 101F6 protein

Tumor suppressor protein 101F6, a gene product of the 3p21.3 (human) and 9F1 (mouse) chromosomal region, has recently been identified as a member of the cytochrome b561 (Cyt-b561) protein family by sequence homology. The His(6)-tagged recombinant mouse tumor suppressor Cyt-b561 protein (TSCytb) was recently expressed in yeast and purified, and the ascorbate reducibility was determined. TSCytb is auto-oxidizable and has two distinct heme b centers with redox potentials of approximately 40 and approximately 140 mV. Its split alpha-band in the dithionite-reduced spectrum at both 295 and 77 K is well resolved, and the separation between the two alpha-peaks is approximately 7 nm (approximately 222 cm(-1)). Singular value decomposition analysis of the split alpha-band in the ascorbate-reduced spectra revealed the presence of two major spectral components, each of them with split alpha-band but with different peak separations (6 and 8 nm). Similar minor differences in peak separation were obtained when the split alpha-bands in ascorbate-reduced difference spectra at low (<1 mM) and high (>10 mM) ascorbate concentrations were analysed. According to low-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, the two heme b centers are in the low-spin ferric state with maximum principal g values of 3.61 and 2.96, respectively. These values differ from the ones observed for other members of the Cyt-b561 family. According to resonance Raman spectroscopy, the porphyrin rings are in a relaxed state. The spectroscopic results are only partially in agreement with those obtained earlier for the native chromaffin granule Cyt-b561.

Spectral analysis of the bc(1) complex components in situ: beyond the traditional difference approach

The cytochrome (cyt) bc(1) complex (ubiquinol: cytochrome c oxidoreductase) is the central enzyme of mitochondrial and bacterial electron-transport chains. It is rich in prosthetic groups, many of which have significant but overlapping absorption bands in the visible spectrum. The kinetics of the cytochrome components of the bc(1) complex are traditionally followed by using the difference of absorbance changes at two or more different wavelengths. This difference-wavelength (DW) approach has been used extensively in the development and testing of the Q-cycle mechanism of the bc(1) complex in Rhodobacter sphaeroides chromatophores. However, the DW approach does not fully compensate for spectral interference from other components, which can significantly distort both amplitudes and kinetics. Mechanistic elaboration of cyt bc(1) turnover requires an approach that overcomes this limitation. Here, we compare the traditional DW approach to a least squares (LS) analysis of electron transport, based on newly determined difference spectra of all individual components of cyclic electron transport in chromatophores. Multiple sets of kinetic traces, measured at different wavelengths in the absence and presence of specific inhibitors, were analyzed by both LS and DW approaches. Comparison of the two methods showed that the DW approach did not adequately correct for the spectral overlap among the components, and was generally unreliable when amplitude changes for a component of interest were small. In particular, it was unable to correct for extraneous contributions to the amplitudes and kinetics of cyt b(L). From LS analysis of the chromophoric components (RC, c(tot), b(H) and b(L)), we show that while the Q-cycle model remains firmly grounded, quantitative reevaluation of rates, amplitudes, delays, etc., of individual components is necessary. We conclude that further exploration of mechanisms of the bc(1) complex, will require LS deconvolution for reliable measurement of the kinetics of individual components of the complex in situ.

Interaction of cytochrome bd with carbon monoxide at low and room temperatures: evidence that only a small fraction of heme b595 reacts with CO

Azotobacter vinelandii is an obligately aerobic bacterium in which aerotolerant dinitrogen fixation requires cytochrome bd. This oxidase comprises two polypeptide subunits and three hemes, but no copper, and has been studied extensively. However, there remain apparently conflicting reports on the reactivity of the high spin heme b(595) with ligands. Using purified cytochrome bd, we show that absorption changes induced by CO photodissociation from the fully reduced cytochrome bd at low temperatures demonstrate binding of the ligand with heme b(595). However, the magnitude of these changes corresponds to the reaction with CO of only about 5% of the heme. CO binding with a minor fraction of heme b(595) is also revealed at room temperature by time-resolved studies of CO recombination. The data resolve the apparent discrepancies between conclusions drawn from room and low temperature spectroscopic studies of the CO reaction with cytochrome bd. The results are consistent with the proposal that hemes b(595) and d form a diheme oxygen-reducing center with a binding capacity for a single exogenous ligand molecule that partitions between the hemes d and b(595) in accordance with their intrinsic affinities for the ligand. In this model, the affinity of heme b(595) for CO is about 20-fold lower than that of heme d.

Uneven distribution of mitochondrial DNA mutation in MERRF dizygotic twins

A new family of myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRF) was studied at clinical, histological, biochemical and molecular genetic levels. There was a remarkable variation in the age of onset, the clinical presentation and the severity of symptoms. Multiple defects affecting respiratory chain complexes I, III and IV were detected in 2 patients. The point mutation at 8344 of the mitochondrial genome was found in all the maternal lineage with a relatively narrow range of variation in the percentage of mutant mitochondrial genomes. The one exception was represented by a set of dizygotic twins, one clinically affected and showing high proportions of mutant mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs) in blood cells, while the other was asymptomatic and showed very small amounts of mutant mt-DNAs in blood and skin. This could suggest an early segregation of the mitochondrial genome during ovogenesis.

Respiratory chain abnormalities in skeletal muscle from patients with Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is one of the commonest neurodegenerative disorders in Western society. Although the neuropathological changes have been well documented, the underlying biochemical defect is unknown. Toxins may play a part in the aetiology of this disorder. It has been shown that 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) produces a Parkinson-like syndrome in both man and primates and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine (MPP+), a metabolite of MPTP, inhibits NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. We studied mitochondrial respiratory chain function in skeletal muscle from patients with Parkinson's disease because, like brain, it has a high dependence on oxidative metabolism. Our results show low activity in all complexes studied (I, II and IV). The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the aetiology of Parkinson's disease.

Multiple defects of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in a mitochondrial encephalopathy (MERRF): a clinical, biochemical and molecular study

We describe a young man with a progressive neurological disorder including myoclonus, mental retardation, muscle weakness and a mitochondrial myopathy (myoclonus epilepsy and ragged red fibres--MERRF). Multiple abnormalities of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in skeletal muscle are shown by direct measurement of the flux through the individual complexes, low-temperature redox spectroscopy and decreased immunodetectable subunits of complexes I and IV by immunoblotting. No abnormality of mitochondrial DNA was found. This is the first report of combined defects of complexes I, III and IV as a cause of this clinical syndrome. However, we propose that the occurrence of multiple respiratory chain defects may be more common than previously recognised and that this particular combination of defects, involving complexes I, III and IV, may be the predominant biochemical abnormality in MERRF.

Impaired mitochondrial beta-oxidation in a patient with an abnormality of the respiratory chain. Studies in skeletal muscle mitochondria

Defects of complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain are important causes of neurological disease. We report studies that demonstrate a severe deficiency of complex I activity with less severe abnormalities of complexes III and IV (less than 5, 63, and 30% of control values, respectively) in a skeletal muscle mitochondrial fraction from a 22-yr-old female with weakness, lactic acidemia, and the deposition of intramuscular neutral lipid. The observation that lipid accumulates in this and other patients with complex I deficiency suggests impaired mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. To investigate this mechanism we have shown impaired flux through beta-oxidation [( U-14C]hexadecanoate oxidation was 66% of control rate) and accumulation of specific acyl-CoA ester intermediates. The changes in fatty acid metabolism in complex I deficiency are secondary to the reduced state within the mitochondrial matrix with low NAD+/NADH ratios.

Chronic administration of the oral hypoglycaemic agent diphenyleneiodonium to rats. An animal model of impaired oxidative phosphorylation (mitochondrial myopathy)

Daily subcutaneous administration of the oral hypoglycaemic agent, diphenyleneiodonium at a low dose (1.5 mg/kg body weight) over a 4-5 week period resulted in a normoglycaemic stable animal model of impaired oxidative phosphorylation in the rat. Diphenyleneiodonium specifically inhibits NAD-linked mitochondrial oxidation [Bloxham, Biochem. Soc. Trans. 7, 103 (1979)], and in isolated mitochondrial preparations from heart, soleus and gastrocnemius muscle and liver from treated animals NAD-linked respiration was reduced by 40% or more of mean control values. Brain and kidney mitochondria isolated from the treated group had similar rates of NAD-linked respiration to their respective control values. The activity of NADH-ferricyanide reductase was significantly reduced in all tissues tested, even in the isolated brain and kidney mitochondria where the activity in these tissues was 60-75% of control values. This suggests that at least 40% of Complex I activity must be inhibited before there is a decline in NAD-linked mitochondrial respiration. This paper discusses the use of diphenyleneiodonium as a means of establishing an animal model of the human disease state, termed mitochondrial myopathy.

Identification of b, c, and d cytochromes in the membrane of Vitreoscilla

Cytochromes b, c, d, and o were identified by spectroscopic analysis of respiratory membrane fragments from Vitreoscilla sp., strain C1. Carbon monoxide difference spectra of the reduced membranes had absorption maxima at 416, 534, and 571 nm (ascribed to cytochrome o) and 632 nm (cytochrome d). Derivative spectra of the pyridine hemochromogen spectra of the membranes identified the presence of b- and c-type cytochromes in Vitreoscilla. The cyanide binding curve of the membranes was biphasic with dissociation constants of 2.14 mM and 10.7 which were assigned to cytochrome o and cytochrome d, respectively. Membranes bound carbon monoxide with dissociation constant 3.9 microM, which was assigned to cytochrome o. Cytochrome c556 and a NADH-p-iodonitrotetrazolium violet reductase component were partially purified from Vitreoscilla membranes.

Respiration capacity of mitochondria isolated from unfertilized and fertilized sea urchin eggs

Mitochondria were isolated from unfertilized and fertilized eggs of the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. Both preparations exhibited coupled adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP)-dependent) oxidation of flavin and pyridine-linked substrates and both yielded the expected P:O ratios with these substrates. Highest respiratory control indices (greater than 4.0) were observed when succinate or pyruvate + malate were used as substrates. Mitochondria from unfertilized and fertilized eggs exhibited sensitivity to respiratory and phosphorylation inhibitors and uncouplers and both preparations exhibited cross-over points at sites I, II and III of the respiratory chain. Low-temperature difference spectra revealed a normal complement of cytochromes c, b and aa3, although cytochrome c from unfertilized eggs appears to be more subject to extraction during the course of mitochondrial isolation than does cytochrome c from fertilized eggs. An unidentified pigment absorbing at approx. 570 nm was visible in low-temperature spectra of unfertilized eggs and unfertilized egg mitochondria.

A mitochondrial encephalomyopathy. A combined 31P magnetic resonance and biochemical investigation

A 15-year-old girl presented with recurrent encephalopathic episodes, epilepsy, myopathy and chronic lactic acidosis. A muscle biopsy revealed the presence of ragged red fibres and mitochondria with paracrystalline inclusions. Biochemical studies on freshly isolated skeletal muscle mitochondria demonstrated a deficiency of NADH-CoQ reductase activity. Investigation of her gastrocnemius muscle at rest by phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance displayed a reduced phosphocreatine concentration with elevated levels of inorganic phosphate and ADP. Abnormalities were also apparent in her brain spectrum. It is therefore possible that the mitochondrial defect present in skeletal muscle is also being expressed in the brain.

Effects of hypoxia and fasting on the cytochrome concentration in intestinal epithelial villous cell mitochondria. Role of changes in the life-span of the cells

The effects of hypoxia in vivo (40.8 kPa barometric pressure up to 120 h) and fasting on the characteristics of intestinal epithelial villous cell mitochondria and the turnover of epithelial villous cells and mitochondria were studied in rats. Using cells and mitochondria isolated in the isotonic mannitol medium, it was found that 24-h hypoxia or fasting did not alter the mitochondrial cytochrome content, but 48-h hypoxia or fasting led to increases of 70% and 37% in the cytochrome aa3 concentration in the hypoxic and fasting animals respectively. The turnover of intestinal epithelial cells was studied by observing the labelling kinetics of the cells with 3H-thymidine and the turnover of the cell and mitochondrial proteins with (guanido-14C)-arginine or 3H-leucine. The decay in thymidine radioactivity obeyed exponential kinetics from which half-lives of 1.15, 1.31 and 1.53 days were calculated in the control, fasting and hypoxic animals respectively. The half-lives for total cellular protein were 1.31, 1.54 and 1.54 days respectively when calculated from the (guanido-14C)-arginine experiments, or 0.69, 0.75 and 0.99 days when calculated from the leucine experiments. The labelling experiments with (guanido-14C)-arginine indicated that the turnover of mitochondrial proteins in intestinal epithelial cells is the same as that of the cells themselves. Since the turnover of mitochondrial proteins in other tissues is shown to be a relatively slow process, the increase in the cytochrome concentration in the intestinal cells of the hypoxic rats must be due to the longer life of the cells, which allows for the synthesis of larger amounts of the mitochondrial components.

Mitochondrial myopathy. Biochemical studies revealing a deficiency of NADH--cytochrome b reductase activity

This paper presents biochemical data upon a young male with a mitochondrial myopathy characterised by weakness, severe exercise intolerance, muscle wasting and exercise-induced lactic acidaemia. Two similar cases have been previously documented (Morgan-Hughes et al. 1979). This report more precisely locates the mitochondrial defect. In vitro mitochondrial studies show markedly decreased respiratory rates with all NAD-linked substrates whilst that with flavin-linked succinate is normal. Oxidative phosphorylation is normally coupled. Mitochondrial cytochrome components as determined by low temperature spectroscopy are normal. NADH-ferricyanide reductase and primary dehydrogenase activities are present at levels far in excess of that required to support normal NAD-linked substrate oxidation rates. Intramitochondrial NAD levels are similar to those found in other mammalian muscle. It is proposed therefore that the mitochondrial defect is situated between NADH dehydrogenase and the CoQ--Cytochrome b complex; possibly being a derangement of a non-haem iron sulphur centre.

A mitochondrial myopathy with a deficiency of respiratory chain NADH-CoQ reductase activity

This paper presents data on two sisters with a mitochondrial myopathy characterised by weakness, marked exercise intolerance and a fluctuating lactic acidaemia. Both patients also experienced episodes of increased weakness which could be brought on by unaccustomed activity, going without food or by taking small quantities of alcohol. Metabolic studies during exercise showed a marked and sudden rise in blood lactate and pyruvate levels. Biochemical studies in one case showed that mitochondrial respiratory rates were markedly decreased with all NAD-linked substrates tested but were normal with succinate and with TMPD + ascorbate. The mitochondrial cytochrome components were normal as determined by low temperature spectroscopy and the addition of uncoupler did not enhance state 3 respiratory rates utilising NAD-linked substrates. It was concluded, therefore, that the mitochondrial lesion was located at the level of the NADH-CoQ reductase complex.

A rapid method for the preparation of relatively pure metabolically competent synaptosomes from rat brain

A rapid (less than 2h) method is described for the preparation of synaptosomes from rat brain by using a discontinuous Ficoll/sucrose gradient by a flotation technique. These synaptosomes are metabolically active and minimally (less than 5%) contaminated with 'free' mitochondria as judged by marker-enzyme assays and electron microscopy.

The anaerobic oxidation of dihydroorotate by Escherichia coli K-12

The oxidation of dihydroorotate under anaerobic conditions has been examined using various mutant strains of Escherichia coli K-12. This oxidation in cells grown anaerobically in a glucose minimal medium is linked via menaquinone to the fumarate reductase enzyme coded for by the frd gene and is independent of the cytochromes. The same dihydroorotate dehydrogenase protein functions in both the anaerobic and aerobic oxidation of dihydroorotate. Ferricyanide can act as an artificial electron acceptor for dihydroorotate dehydrogenase and the dihydroorotate-menaquinone-ferricyanide reductase activity can be solubilised by 2 M guanidine-HCl with little loss of activity.

The reduction of plastocyanin by plastoquinol-1 in the presence of chloroplasts. A dark electron transfer reaction involving components between the two photosystems

The reduction of plastocyanin by plastoquinol-1 was efficiently catalysed by disrupted chloroplasts or etioplasts in the dark. The reaction was inhibited by 2,5-dibromomethylisopropyl-p-benzo-quinone which inhibits photosynthetic electron transport between plastoquinone and cytochrome f. Evidence is presented that the reduction took place via cytochrome f, and that plastoquinone-9 was not involved. Triton X-100 and organic solvents were inhibitory, but partial fractionation was achieved without loss of activity by density gradient centrifugation in the presence of high digitonin concentrations. All active material contained cytochromes b-559LP and b-563 in addition to cytochrome f, but these b-type cytochromes were not directly involved. Other 1-electron acceptors could be used in place of plastocyanin, for instance ferricyanide and Pseudomonas cytochrome c-551. The reaction can be applied to give a sensitive dark assay for active cytochrome f. It is suggested that cytochrome f possesses two sites for interaction with redox reagents: a hydrophilic site with which plastocyanin reacts by electron transfer and a hydrophobic site with which plastoquinol reacts by hydrogen atom transfer.

[Determination of intracapillary HbO2 saturation with a cryo-microphotometric method, applied to the rabbit myocardium (author's transl)]

We succeeded in determining the O2 saturation of Hb in capillaries of the rabbit myocardium with a cryo-microphotometric method. Myocardial samples (2-3 mm) were removed in situ with a pair of nitrogin-cooled copper tongs, and rapidly frozen in Freon 13. The samples were sectioned into 10-12 mum slices in a cryotome at about minus 60 degrees C. Hemoglobin absorption spectra were measured on the capillary sections of the frozen slices at minus 100 degrees C in a vacumm-isolated microscope cooling chamber which we developed for the UMSP 1 (C. Zeiss, Oberkochen). The spectra were subdivided into three basic components (oxygenated Hb, desoxygenated Gb, and desoxygenated dehydrated Hb) with a weighted multi-component analysis (Lübbers and Wodick, 1969). The basic components were measured in Hb solutions. The accuracy of the method was tested both with Hb solutions inserted into glass capillaries, and Hb droplets. O2 saturations of the Hb solutions were measured at room temperature. Subsequently, both test solutions were frozen, HbO2 saturation measured in the glass capillaries at low temperatures agreed well with those recorded at room temperature. HbO2 saturation of the sectioned hemoglobin droplets was found to be systematically increased with low Hb32 saturations as compared with the records made at room temperature. The systematic error was determined and the intracapillary HbO2 saturations were corrected accordingly. Measurements on samples of the rabbit myocardium showed that the histogram of capillary HbO2 saturations has a maximum at saturations of 20-30%. The lowest saturation values were found to be between 0 and 10%, but these values were recorded less frequently. The arterial HbO2 saturation in the femoral artery was about 98%.

Respiration and protein synthesis in Escherichia coli membrane-envelope fragments. 3. Electron microscopy and analysis of the cytochromes

The membranous nature of pellets obtained from broken Escherichia coli spheroplasts by successive centrifugation at 3500 g (P(1)), 20,000 g (P(2)), and 105,000 g (P(3)), has been established by electron microscopy. Spectrophotometric analysis has shown that about 90% of the cytochromes are concentrated in the particulate fractions. The crude ribosomal pellet (P(3)) contained as much of the total cytochromes as did the pellet obtained at 20,000 g (P(2)). The high cytochrome content of P(3) is consistent with its high oxidative activity (1) and the presence of membrane vesicles in this fraction. Analysis at 77 degrees K intensified the optical extinction of all the cytochrome absorption bands, but the degree of intensification was not uniform for each fraction nor for each band within a given fraction. Carbon monoxide had little or no inhibiting effect on NADH oxidation. Reduced plus carbon monoxide difference spectra yielded artifactual absorption bands in the wave length regions where reduced vs. oxidized absorption bands normally occur. Succinate and NADH, either together or separately, reduced nearly all of the cytochromes, indicating that the cytochrome portion of the electron-transport chain is shared by both substrates. A tentative formulation of the electron-transport chain is presented.