Purification of lipoamide dehydrogenase from Ascaris muscle mitochondria and its relationship to NADH:NAD+ transhydrogenase activity

Oxidative stress-induced structural changes in the microtubule-associated flavoenzyme Irc15p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The genome of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a canonical lipoamide dehydrogenase (Lpd1p) as part of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and a highly similar protein termed Irc15p (increased recombination centers 15). In contrast to Lpd1p, Irc15p lacks a pair of redox active cysteine residues required for the reduction of lipoamide and thus it is very unlikely that Irc15p performs a similar dithiol-disulfide exchange reaction as reported for lipoamide dehydrogenases. We expressed IRC15 in Escherichia coli and purified the produced protein to conduct a detailed biochemical characterization. Here, we show that Irc15p is a dimeric protein with one FAD per protomer. Photoreduction of the protein generates the fully reduced hydroquinone without the occurrence of a flavin semiquinone radical. Similarly, reduction with NADH or NADPH yields the flavin hydroquinone without the occurrence of intermediates as observed for lipoamide dehydrogenase. The redox potential of Irc15p was -313 ± 1 mV and is thus similar to lipoamide dehydrogenase. Reduced Irc15p is oxidized by several artificial electron acceptors such as potassium ferricyanide, 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol, 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide, and menadione. However, disulfides such as cystine, glutathione, and lipoamide were unable to react with reduced Irc15p. Limited proteolysis and SAXS-measurements revealed that the NADH-dependent formation of hydrogen peroxide caused a substantial structural change in the dimeric protein. Therefore, we hypothesize that Irc15p undergoes a conformational change in the presence of elevated levels of hydrogen peroxide, which is a putative biomarker of oxidative stress. This conformational change may in turn modulate the interaction of Irc15p with other key players involved in regulating microtubule dynamics.

NADH→NAD⁺ Transhydrogenation in Adult Ascaris suum Mitochondria

Although lacking an NADPH→NAD(+) transhydrogenase system, the essentially energetically anaerobic mitochondria of the adult intestinal nematode Ascaris suum display an inner membrane-associated NADH→NAD(+) transhydrogenation reaction. This reaction is considered to be reflective of a mechanism(s) that acts in catalyzing a transmembrane translocation of reducing equivalents from NADH in the intermembrane space to matrix NAD(+), thereby forming matrix NADH that would serve in electron transport. Ascarid mitochondrial lipoamide dehydrogenase rather than an NADH→NAD(+) transhydrogenase system has been viewed as the predominant source of inner membrane-associated NADH→NAD(+) transhydrogenation activity. However, the present study made apparent yet another source of mitochondrial, inner membrane-associated NADH→NAD(+) activity in A. suum , viz., NADH dehydrogenase. This was made evident via comparisons of the A. suum mitochondrial NADH→NAD(+) transhydrogenation, NADH dehydrogenase, and lipoamide dehydrogenase activities in terms of pH effects, thermal labilities, the involvement of NADH dehydrogenase in the activities of mitochondrial, membrane-associated rotenone-insensitive and rotenone-sensitive NADH-dependent cytochrome c reductases, and mitochondrial membrane versus mitochondrial soluble localizations. Studies of the responses of the NADH→NAD(+) transhydrogenation, rotenone-insensitive and rotenone-sensitive cytochrome c reductases, and lipoamide dehydrogenase activities to inhibition by copper and cadmium lent additional support to the catalysis of an NADH→NAD(+) transhydrogenation activity by NADH dehydrogenase. Collectively, the data presented are consistent with an additional physiological catalysis of an NADH→NAD(+) transhydrogenation in A. suum mitochondria by an inner membrane NADH dehydrogenase component of the rotenone-sensitive cytochrome c reductase system, i.e., the NADH dehydrogenase component of the electron transport system. Comparisons of the A. suum data with those from other essentially anaerobic helminth parasites as well as free-living eukaryotic mitochondrial systems are noted.

Transhydrogenase and the anaerobic mitochondrial metabolism of adult Hymenolepis diminuta

The adult cestode, Hymenolepis diminuta, is essentially anaerobic energetically. Carbohydrate dissimilation results in acetate, lactate and succinate accumulation with succinate being the major end product. Succinate accumulation results from the anaerobic, mitochondrial, 'malic' enzyme-dependent utilization of malate coupled to ATP generation via the electron transport-linked fumarate reductase. A lesser peroxide-forming oxidase is apparent, however, fumarate reduction to succinate predominates even in air. The H. diminuta matrix-localized 'malic' enzyme is NADP-specific whereas the inner membrane (IM)-associated electron transport system prefers NADH. This dilemma is circumvented by the mitochondrial, IM-associated NADPH-->NAD+ transhydrogenase in catalyzing hydride ion transfer from NADPH to NAD+ on the IM matrix surface. Hydride transfer is reversible and phospholipid-dependent. NADP+ reduction occurs as a non energy-linked and energy-linked reaction with the latter requiring electron transport NADH utilization or ATP hydrolysis. With NAD+ reduction, the cestode transhydrogenase also engages in concomitant proton translocation from the mitochondrial matrix to the intermembrane space and supports net ATP generation. Thus, the cestode NADPH-->NAD+ system can serve not only as a metabolic connector, but an additional anaerobic phosphorylation site. Although its function(s) is unknown, a separate IM-associated NADH--> NAD+ transhydrogenation, catalyzed by the lipoamide and NADH dehydrogenases, is noted.

Hymenolepis diminuta: mitochondrial NADH --> NAD transhydrogenation and the lipoamide dehydrogenase system

The occurrence of NADH --> NAD transhydrogenation and lipoamide dehydrogenase activities was demonstrated for cysticercoids of the intestinal cestode, Hymenolepis diminuta. In addition, both activities were catalyzed by the mitochondria of 6-, 10-, and 14-day H. diminuta and by the mitochondria from immature, mature, and pregravid/gravid regions of the adult cestode. A developmentally related increase in NADH --> NAD activity was suggested and the levels of both activities in the immature region of the helminth were consistent with it being a region of high metabolic activity. Adult H. diminuta mitochondrial lipoamide dehydrogenase was purified to homogeneity. The native enzyme was a homodimer with a monomeric and dimeric molecular mass of 47 and 93 kDa, respectively. Spectral analyses revealed that the enzyme contained flavin. More importantly, the purified enzyme catalyzed appreciable NADH --> NAD transhydrogenation activity, a premier finding for the phylum Platyhelminthes. The ratio of NADH --> NAD transhydrogenation to lipoamide reduction was 1:5. Both activities were inhibited by Cu2+ and Cd2+ with the NADH --> NAD activity being more resistant to inhibition. Interestingly, aside from NADH diaphorase activity, the cestode enzyme displayed NADH-ferricyanide reductase and, to a lesser degree, NADPH --> NAD transhydrogenation activities. The partial amino acid sequence of H. diminuta lipoamide dehydrogenase indicated that this enzyme was most similar to the corresponding enzymes of other parasitic helminths. Moreover, the phenylalanine for leucine substitution found in the redox-active disulfide site of the lipoamide dehydrogenases of some anaerobic systems was noted for the H. diminuta enzyme.

Identification of a novel dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase-binding protein in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of the anaerobic parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum

A novel dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase-binding protein (E3BP) which lacks an amino-terminal lipoyl domain, p45, has been identified in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) of the adult parasitic nematode, Ascaris suum. Sequence at the amino terminus of p45 exhibited significant similarity with internal E3-binding domains of dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2) and E3BP. Dissociation and resolution of a pyruvate dehydrogenase-depleted adult A. suum PDC in guanidine hydrochloride resulted in two E3-depleted E2 core preparations which were either enriched or substantially depleted of p45. Following reconstitution, the p45-enriched E2 core exhibited enhanced E3 binding, whereas, the p45-depleted E2 core exhibited dramatically reduced E3 binding. Reconstitution of either the bovine kidney or A. suum PDCs with the A. suum E3 suggested that the ascarid E3 was more sensitive to NADH inhibition when bound to the bovine kidney core. The expression of p45 was developmentally regulated and p45 was most abundant in anaerobic muscle. In contrast, E3s isolated from anaerobic muscle or aerobic second-stage larvae were identical. These results suggest that during the transition to anaerobic metabolism, E3 remains unchanged, but it appears that a novel E3BP, p45, is expressed which may help to maintain the activity of the PDC in the face of the elevated intramitochondrial NADH/NAD+ ratios associated with anaerobiosis.

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes from the equine nematode, Parascaris equorum, and the canine cestode, Dipylidium caninum, helminths exhibiting anaerobic mitochondrial metabolism

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) has been purified to apparent homogeneity from 2 parasitic helminths exhibiting anaerobic mitochondrial metabolism, the equine nematode, Parascaris equorum, and the canine cestode, Dipylidium caninum. The P. equorum PDC yielded 7 major bands when separated by SDS-PAGE. The bands of 72, 55-53.5, 41 and 36 kDa corresponded to E2, E3, E1 alpha and E1 beta, respectively. The complex also contained additional unidentified proteins of 43 and 45 kDa. Incubation of the complex with [2-14C]pyruvate resulted in the acetylation of only E2. These results suggest that the P. equorum PDC lacks protein X and exhibits an altered subunit composition, as has been described previously for the PDC of the related nematode, Ascaris suum. In contrast, the D. caninum PDC yielded only four major bands after SDS-PAGE of 59, 58, 39 and 34 kDa, which corresponded to E3, E2, E1 alpha and E1 beta, respectively. Incubation of the D. caninum complex with [2-14C]pyruvate resulted in the acetylation of E2 and a second protein which comigrated with E3, suggesting that the D. caninum complex contained protein X and had a subunit composition similar to PDCs from other eukaryotic organisms. Both helminth complexes appeared less sensitive to inhibition by elevated NADH/NAD+ ratios than complexes isolated from aerobic organisms, as would be predicted for PDCs from organisms exploiting microaerobic habitats. These results suggest that although these helminths have similar anaerobic mitochondrial pathways, they contain significantly different PDCs.

Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase: functional similarities and divergent evolution of the pyridine nucleotide-disulfide oxidoreductases

Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) is the common component of the three alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes oxidizing pyruvate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and the branched-chain alpha-ketoacids. E3 also participates in the glycine cleavage system. E3 belongs to the enzyme family called pyridine nucleotide-disulfide oxidoreductases, catalyzing the electron transfer between pyridine nucleotides and disulfide compounds. This review summarizes the information available for E3 from a variety of species, from a halophilic archaebacterium which has E3 but no alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes, to mammalian species. Evidence is reviewed for the existence of two E3 isozymes (one for pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex and the other for branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex) in Pseudomonas species and for possible mammalian isozymes of E3, one associated with the three alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complexes and one for the glycine cleavage system. The comparison of the complete amino acid sequences of E3 from Escherichia coli, yeast, pig, and human shows considerable homologies of certain amino acid residues or short stretches of sequences, especially in the specific catalytic and structural domains. Similar homology is found with the limited available amino acid sequence information on E3 from several other species. Sequence comparison is also presented for other member flavoproteins [e.g., glutathione reductase and mercury(II) reductase] of the pyridine nucleotide-disulfide oxidoreductase family. Based on the known tertiary structure of human glutathione reductase it may be possible to predict the domain structures of E3. Additionally, the sequence information may help to better understand a divergent evolutionary relationship among these flavoproteins in different species.

Immunochemical characterization of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in adult Ascaris suum and its developing larvae

Polyclonal antibody was prepared against the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex purified from adult Ascaris suum body wall muscle. The antibody reacted with the E2, X, alpha E1 and beta E1 subunits of the complex in immunoblots of mitochondrial supernatant fractions and homogenates of adult muscle. In addition, the same subunits were observed in immunoblots of homogenates of L3 and L4 ascarid larvae, suggesting that a similar enzyme complex was present in all developmental stages despite their marked differences in energy metabolism. The phosphorylated and dephosphorylated alpha E1 peptides migrated differently during sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and both forms of the enzyme were recognized by the antibody. These results and those obtained with ELISA suggest that both phosphorylated and dephosphorylated forms of the alpha E1 subunit react equally well with the antibody. In immunoblots of adult body wall muscle, the phosphorylated alpha E1 peptide predominated, while immunoblots of L3 larvae contained predominantly the dephosphorylated form. These results reflect the in vivo activity state of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in these two stages and suggest that this technique may be useful for determining the activity state of enzyme complex directly from immunoblots of homogenates A. suum and other helminths.

NADH-dependent tiglyl-CoA reduction in disrupted mitochondria of Ascaris suum

The incubation of 2-methylcrotonyl-CoA with either succinate or NADH and disrupted Ascaris suum mitochondria results in substantial 2-methylbutyrate formation. Both membrane-bound and soluble components are required and the NADH-dependent reduction is rotenone sensitive, suggesting the involvement of the electron-transport chain. Rat liver mitochondria, incubated under similar conditions, did not catalyze 2-methylbutyrate formation. However, the substitution of A. suum mitochondrial membranes for rat liver membranes stimulated 2-methylbutyrate formation, emphasizing the differences in electron-transport in these two organelles.

Regulation of the Ascaris suum pyruvate dehydrogenase complex by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex isolated from 'anaerobic' mitochondria of Ascaris suum has a subunit composition similar to complexes isolated from most other eukaryotic organisms and is regulated by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase activity is stimulated by NADH and a number of physiologically important acyl-CoA intermediates and is inhibited by CoA, propionate, tiglate and pyruvate. It is suggested that the elevated levels of pyruvate observed in the ascarid organelle may be important in maintaining the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in an active state, even in the presence of a reduced pyridine nucleotide pool.

Purification and properties of the Ascaris pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

The pyruvate dehyhdrogenase complex (pyruvate:lipoate oxidoreductase (decarboxylating and acceptor-acetylating), EC 1.2.4.1) has been isolated from Ascaris muscle mitochondria and purified to near homogeneity by differential centrifugation, (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and calcium phosphate gel-cellulose chromatography. It is similar in shape, size and physical characteristics to pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes isolated from mammalian sources. It has an absolute dependence on CoA, NAD+ and pyruvate for activity and is competitively inhibited by acetyl-CoA and NADH. However, much higher NADH/NAD+ ratios are necessary to inhibit activity, suggesting regulation by the more reduced state of the pyridine nucleotide pool in Ascaris mitochondria.