A specific uncoupler-binding protein in Tetrahymena pyriformis and Paracoccus denitrificans

A protet-based model that can account for energy coupling in oxidative and photosynthetic phosphorylation

Two-stage (e.g. light-dark) phosphorylation experiments showed that there is a stored 'high-energy' intermediate linking electron transport and phosphorylation. Large, artificial electrochemical proton gradients (protonmotive forces or pmfs) can also drive phosphorylation, a fact seen as strongly supportive of the chemiosmotic coupling hypothesis that a pmf is the 'high-energy' intermediate. However, in such experiments there is an experimental threshold (pmf >170 mV, equivalent to ΔpH ∼2.8) below which no phosphorylation is in fact observed, and 220 mV are required to recreate in vivo rates. This leads to the correct question, which is then whether those values of the pmf generated by electron transport are large enough. Even the lower ones as required for any phosphorylation (leave alone those required to explain in vivo rates) are below the threshold [1, 2], whether measured directly with microelectrodes or via the use of membrane-permeant ions and/or acids/bases (which are always transporter substrates [3], so all such measurements are in fact artefactual). The single case that seemed large enough (220 mV) is now admitted to be a diffusion potential artefact [4]. Many other observables (inadequate bulk H+ in 'O2-pulse'-type experiments, alkaliphilic bacteria, dual-inhibitor titrations, uncoupler-binding proteins, etc.) are consistent with the view that values of the pmf, and especially of Δψ, are actually very low. A protet-based charge separation model [2], a protonic version analogous to how energy may be stored in devices called electrets, provides a high-energy intermediate that can explain the entire literature, including the very striking demonstration [5] that close proximity is required between electron transport and ATP synthase complexes for energy coupling between them to allow phosphorylation to occur. A chief purpose of this article is thus to summarise the extensive and self-consistent literature, much of which is of some antiquity and rarely considered by modern researchers, despite its clear message of the inadequacy of chemiosmotic coupling to explain these phenomena.

A protet-based, protonic charge transfer model of energy coupling in oxidative and photosynthetic phosphorylation

Textbooks of biochemistry will explain that the otherwise endergonic reactions of ATP synthesis can be driven by the exergonic reactions of respiratory electron transport, and that these two half-reactions are catalyzed by protein complexes embedded in the same, closed membrane. These views are correct. The textbooks also state that, according to the chemiosmotic coupling hypothesis, a (or the) kinetically and thermodynamically competent intermediate linking the two half-reactions is the electrochemical difference of protons that is in equilibrium with that between the two bulk phases that the coupling membrane serves to separate. This gradient consists of a membrane potential term Δψ and a pH gradient term ΔpH, and is known colloquially as the protonmotive force or pmf. Artificial imposition of a pmf can drive phosphorylation, but only if the pmf exceeds some 150-170mV; to achieve in vivo rates the imposed pmf must reach 200mV. The key question then is 'does the pmf generated by electron transport exceed 200mV, or even 170mV?' The possibly surprising answer, from a great many kinds of experiment and sources of evidence, including direct measurements with microelectrodes, indicates it that it does not. Observable pH changes driven by electron transport are real, and they control various processes; however, compensating ion movements restrict the Δψ component to low values. A protet-based model, that I outline here, can account for all the necessary observations, including all of those inconsistent with chemiosmotic coupling, and provides for a variety of testable hypotheses by which it might be refined.

Uncoupler-resistant mutants of bacteria

The chemiosmotic model of energy transduction offers a satisfying and widely confirmed understanding of the action of uncouplers on such processes as oxidative phosphorylation; the uncoupler, by facilitating the transmembrane movement of protons or other compensatory ions, reduces the electrochemical proton gradient that is posited as the energy intermediate for many kinds of bioenergetic work. In connection with this formulation, uncoupler-resistant mutants of bacteria that neither exclude nor inactivate these agents represent a bioenergetic puzzle. Uncoupler-resistant mutants of aerobic Bacillus species are, in fact, membrane lipid mutants with bioenergetic properties that are indeed challenging in connection with the chemiosmotic model. By contrast, uncoupler-resistant mutants of Escherichia coli probably exclude uncouplers, sometimes only under rather specific conditions. Related phenomena in eucaryotic and procaryotic systems, as well as various observations on uncouplers, decouplers, and certain other membrane-active agents, are also briefly considered.

Studies on lysine:N6-hydroxylation by cell-free systems of Aerobacter aerogenes 62-1

Electron microscopic examination has revealed the vesicular nature of the membrane component, of the cell-free system of Aerobacter aerogenes 62-1, which catalyses lysine: N6-hydroxylation. Regardless of the orientation of the vesicles, N-hydroxylation process is still stimulated by pyruvate. Both pyruvate oxidation and lysine: N6-hydroxylation were inhibited by protonophores and Gramicidin S.

31P nuclear magnetic resonance studies of effects of some chlorophenols on Escherichia coli and a pentachlorophenol-degrading bacterium

A Flavobacterium sp. that mineralizes pentachlorophenol degrades some, but not all, of the other chlorinated phenols. Whole-cell 31P nuclear magnetic resonance was used to compare and observe transmembrane pH gradients and nucleotide pools in the Flavobacterium sp. and Escherichia coli after pentachlorophenol and 3,4,5-trichlorophenol were added to the cell suspensions. The data suggest that those chlorinated phenols which are not degraded by the Flavobacterium sp. may be resistant to degradation because they act as proton dissipators.

Unique action of a modified weakly acidic uncoupler without an acidic group, methylated SF 6847, as an inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation with no uncoupling activity: possible identity of uncoupler binding protein

The potent weakly acidic uncoupler SF 6847 was modified by methylation of its phenolic OH group, and the effect of the resulting derivative, with no acid-dissociable group, on oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria was examined. The methylated SF 6847 did not induce uncoupling at up to 40 microM, while SF 6847 uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation completely at about 20 nM, indicating that the acid-dissociable group is essential for uncoupling. The O-methylated SF 6847 at 20 microM did, however, inhibit state 3 respiration of mitochondria, although it did not inhibit electron-flow through the respiratory chain, ATPase activated by weakly acidic uncouplers or Pi-ATP exchange. At the same concentration, it also inhibited ATP synthesis in submitochondrial particles. These features are different from those of known inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation. Thus, O-methylated SF 6847 is a unique inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation. The possible identity of the uncoupler binding protein is discussed on the basis of these results.

Isolation and characterization of uncoupler-resistant mutants of Bacillus subtilis

Three mutant strains of Bacillus subtilis were isolated on the basis of their ability to grow in the presence of 5 microM carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). The mutants (AG2A, AG1A3, and AG3A) were also resistant to 2,4-dinitrophenol, and AG2A exhibited resistance to tributyltin and neomycin. The mutants all exhibited (i) elevated levels of membrane ATPase activity relative to the wild type; (ii) slightly elevated respiratory rates, with the cytochrome contents of the membranes being the same as or slightly lower than those of the wild type; (3) a passive membrane permeability to protons that was indistinguishable from that of the wild type in the absence of CCCP and that was increased by addition of CCCP to the same extent as observed with the wild type; and (4) an enhanced sensitivity to valinomycin with respect to the ability of the ionophore to reduce the transmembrane electrical potential. Finally and importantly, starved whole cells of all the mutants synthesized more ATP than the wild type did upon energization in the presence of any one of several agents that lowered the proton motive force. Studies of revertants indicated that the phenotype resulted from a single mutation. Since a mutation in the coupling membrane might produce such pleiotropic effects, an analysis of the membrane lipids was undertaken with preparations made from cells grown in the absence of CCCP. The membrane lipids of the uncoupler-resistant strains differed from those of the wild type in having reduced amounts of monounsaturated C16 fatty acids and increased ratios of iso/anteiso branches on the C15 fatty acids. Correlations between protonophore resistance and the membrane lipid compositions of the wild type, mutants, and revertants were most consistent with the hypothesis that a reduction in the content of monounsaturated C16 fatty acids in the membrane phospholipids is related, perhaps casually, to the ability to synthesize ATP at low bulk transmembrane electrochemical gradients of protons.

Quantitative structure-activity relationship of carbonylcyanide phenylhydrazones as uncouplers of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation

The dependence of the uncoupling activity in the series of 16 carbonylcyanide phenylhydrazones on their physico-chemical properties (partition coefficient, dissociation constant and rate constant for reaction with thiols) is investigated using two physiologically based models, one for protonophoric mechanism of uncoupling and the other assuming the covalent modification of a membrane constituent to be the key step in this process. As indicated by uptake experiments, at the given conditions a lipophilic-hydrophilic equilibrium is attained without any loss of the compounds via chemical reactions. Using this fact to reduce the number of adjustable parameters, a better fit to the data on stimulation of respiration is obtained with the former (protonophoric) model.

Electron spin resonance studies of lipid fluidity changes in membranes of an uncoupler-resistant mutant of Escherichia coli

The fluidity of the lipids in membrane preparations from a mutant of Escherichia coli resistant to the uncoupler CCCP, grown at different temperatures with and without CCCP, was examined by electron spin resonance using the spin probe 5-doxyl stearic acid. The fluidity of the membrane lipids at the growth temperature, as estimated using electron spin resonance, was less in cells grown at lower temperatures. Precise homeoviscous adaptation was not observed. Growth in the presence of CCCP resulted in a decrease in membrane lipid fluidity, particularly in the inner (cytoplasmic) membrane. There was no change in the proportion of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin in the cell envelope. However, there was an increase in the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in membranes from cells grown with uncoupler. This was reflected in the increased fluidity of the lipids extracted from these membranes. This result is contrary to that expected from measurements of the fluidity of the lipid in these membranes. The decreased fluidity of the lipid in these membranes may be a consequence of the observed increase in the ratio of protein to phospholipid.

Passive fluxes of K+ and H+ in wild strain and nystatin-resistant mutant of Rhodotorula gracilis (ATCC 26194)

The passive fluxes of protons and potassium ions have been studied in the obligatory aerobic yeast Rhodotorula gracilis. The cellular energy metabolism was suspended by introducing anaerobic conditions. The H+-permeability of the plasma membrane was modified by adding an uncoupler under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Unfortunately, the plasma membrane of R. gracilis was insensitive to K+-ionophores. The passive flows of H+ and K+ under anaerobic and/or uncoupled conditions were electrically coupled and exhibited a constant stoicheiometry of 1:1. The H+ permeability of the plasmalemma was shown to determine the velocity of the passive K+-H+ exchange. The nystatin-resistant mutant M 67 displayed distinctly lower permeability for both H+ and K+, which can explain the observed differences in some transport characteristics of the two strains. In order to account for the properties of passive K+ flows, a membrane-potential-gated channel for K+ has been proposed. Evidence is presented that the inhibitor of the plasmalemma-bound H+-ATPase, N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), reduced at first the permeability for both K+ and H+ and only upon prolonged incubation the ATPase itself. Since DCCD effected an immediate hyperpolarization of the membrane potential, it has been concluded that the H+ does not slip through the H+-ATPase under deenergized conditions.

The effect of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone on steroid transport in membrane vesicles of Pseudomonas testosteroni

The uncoupler carbonyl cyanide chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) was an effective inhibitor of steroid transport in membrane vesicles of Pseudomonas testosteroni between 10 microM and 1 microM CCCP. At these concentrations the inhibition of steroid transport was not due to an inhibition of the 3 beta and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme. CCCP also affected testosterone-dependent oxygen consumption at concentrations up to 100 microM and inhibited respiration at 0.5 and 1 microM. The effect of CCCP on testosterone-dependent oxygen consumption indicated that CCCP was acting as an uncoupler. The concurrent inhibition of testosterone transport and stimulation of testosterone-dependent oxygen consumption at 10-100 microM CCCP supported the conclusion that transport and metabolism were tightly coupled processes. When membrane vesicles were pre-incubated with CCCP for 15 min, CCCP did inhibit transport and the 3 beta and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. However, both transport and enzyme inhibition could be prevented by the addition of NAD+ to the incubation mixture. This indicated that CCCP exhibits the properties of a sulfhydryl reagent under pre-incubated conditions.

The effects of partial uncoupling upon the kinetics of ATP synthesis by vesicles from Paracoccus denitrificans and by bovine heart submitochondrial particles. Implications for the mechanism of the proton-translocating ATP synthase

1. Reduction in the magnitude of the respiration-dependent protonmotive force (proton electrochemical gradient in mV) of vesicles from Paracoccus denitrificans, and of submitochondrial particles, has been found to be paralleled small increases in S50% values for both ADP and Pi. For example, reduction of the protonmotive force of P. denitrificans vesicles from 145 mV to 110 mV was accompanied by an increase of S50% (ADP) from 8 microM to 18 microM, and an increase of S50% (Pi) from 0.33 mM to 1.4 mM. This result was obtained with partial uncoupling quantities of both carbonyl-cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone and of the synergistic combination of nigericin plus valinomycin in the presence of K+. In view of the similar effects of these two different methods of uncoupling it is concluded that the changes in S50% were a consequence of the diminished protonmotive force acting on the ATP synthase rather than of a secondary, direct interaction of the uncouplers with the enzyme. Changes in S50% rather than Km are described because under several sets of conditions double-reciprocal plots were nonlinear. 2. For equivalent attenuations in the rate of ATP synthesis by submitochondrial particles, 2,4-dinitrophenol caused much larger increases in S50% (ATP) than did carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. Therefore it is concluded that the effect of 2,4-dinitrophenol was primarily a consequence of its previously recognized direct interaction with the F1 segment of the mitochondrial ATPase. The concentration range of 2,4-dinitrophenol that raised S50% (ADP) is similar to that which weakens the binding of ADP to a particular type of site on the purified F1 sector of ATP synthase. This correlation is consistent with such a site having a catalytic role during ATP synthesis. 3. A titration of the rate of ATP synthesis by vesicles of P. denitrificans with increasing quantities of carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone showed that the initial titres of the uncoupler caused large decreases in the rate of ATP synthesis for relatively small attenuations in the protonmotive force. Thus the initial 20 mV drop in the protonmotive force was accompanied by a reduction of more than 65% in the rate of ATP synthesis. Over the lowest range of values of protonmotive force that drove detectable rates of ATP synthesis however, the dependence of the rate was a less steep function of the protonmotive force. A plot of the logarithm of the rate of ATP synthesis against protonmotive force reveals a biphasic relationship. There does not appear to be a 'threshold' value of the protonmotive force below which ATP synthesis is blocked by kinetic factors. 4. The relationships of the protonmotive force with S50% values and with the rate of ATP synthesis (at near saturating concentrations of ADP and Pi) are discussed in relation to possible mechanisms for the coupling of proton translocation to ATP synthesis.

The effect of 2,4-dinitrophenol on steroid transport in membrane vesicles of Pseudomonas testosteroni

Steroid transport in Pseudomonas testosteroni membrane vesicles was significantly inhibited by the uncoupled 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP). Inhibition of steroid transport was not due to inhibition of the 3 beta- and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase by concentrations of up to 1 mM DNP. However, inhibition of this membrane-bound enzyme was measured at 10 mM DNP. The solubilized 3 beta- and 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was more sensitive, being inhibited at both 1 and 10 mM DNP indicating a specific inhibition of this enzyme by DNP. Testosterone-dependent oxygen consumption was stimulated slightly at low concentrations of DNP and inhibited at high concentrations. The inhibition of testosterone-dependent oxygen consumption correlated with the inhibition of transport. This indicated that the inhibition of transport by DNP was due to a direct inhibition of metabolism. The existence of an electrochemical gradient is used to explain these results.

The influence of uncouplers on facilitated diffusion of sorbose in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Sorbose uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, strain Delft 1, proceeds via mediated passive transport. In the cell sorbose is distributed in at least two compartments. Efflux studies showed that sorbose uptake in one of these compartments is not readily reversible. Uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation inhibit both transport velocity and steady-state uptake level. It could be shown that these two effects are caused by different modes of action of the uncouplers. None of these two effects could be ascribed to changes of the electrochemical H+ gradient or of the intracellular pH. It is suggested that the inhibition of uptake velocity is caused by binding of the uncoupler to the sorbose translocator, thus lowering the transport activity. The uncoupler binding site is probably located at the intracellular fragment of the carrier. The second effect, reduction of the steady-state uptake level, is probably due to blocking of sorbose influx into the compartment that exhibits poor reversibility.

Adenosine triphosphate synthesis coupled to K+ influx in mitochondria

The influx of K+ into swollen mitochondria in the presence of valinomycin results in the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate in which approximately one H+ disappears per adenosine triphosphate synthesized. The synthesis is blocked by atractyloside but is insensitive to oligomycin and relatively insensitive to uncouplers.

The transport of cations in mitochondria

The present paper has reviewed several factors related to ion transport and examined the properties of cation transport in mitochondria. The analysis suggests that: (1) The concept that a metabolically dependent electrical potential across the mitochondrial membrane plays a role in determining ion fluxes and steady-state concentrations is not justified and the data indicate that such exchanges are generally electroneutral. (2) Generally, the influx and efflux of an ion proceed by the same mechanism with at least one exception. (3) There are indications that some of the steps in transport are common to several cations. (4) The idea that carrier or ionophoric molecules are involved in cation transport has been examined in some detail together with the possible involvement of some known mitochondrial components. In particular, a model has been introduced in which local charge imbalances produced by H+ fluxes serve as the driving force of transport. The molecules of the complex are arranged in series in a tripartite arrangement including a filter or gate, a nonselective channel and an H+-transferring portion linked to either electron transport or the ATPase. Parts of this model have been introduced by other investigators. Models in which different portions of channels have differing functions have been proposed previously for other transport systems.

The hypothesis of localized chemiosmosis is unsatisfactory

The hypothesis of 'localized' chemiosmosis have been put to an experimental test in the system of oxidative phosphorylation by rat liver mitochondria. We find that the variation of the ratio of phosphate potential to delta muH with delta muH does not depend on how delta muH is varied. This is in conflict with hypotheses of localized chemiosmosis. Of all coupling hypotheses, only the parallel-coupling hypothesis can explain the observations, unless variation of the H+/ATP stoichiometry of the ATPase proton pump is accepted. In the latter case. 'macroscopic' chemiosmosis can explain the observations equally well as hypotheses of localized chemiosmosis. It is concluded that either variation of H+/ATP stoichiometries must be accepted, or that the parallel-coupling hypothesis should be reformulated so that it becomes open to experimental tests.