Involvement of N1-oxide derivatives of adenine nucleotides in the reactions of the oxidative phosphorylation

Involvement of phosphate-modified ATP analogs in the reactions of oxidative phosphorylation

Various analogs of adenosine 5'-triphosphate with a modified terminal phosphate group have been tested in energy-requiring reactions with intact mitochondria and submitochondrial particles. It is shown that the fluorophosphate analog ATP(gamma F) is a strong inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration and of energy requiring reactions which involve the participation of high energy intermediates, generated aerobically by the respiratory chain. On the other hand, ATP(gamma F) does not affect the ATPase activity of intact or disrupted mitochondria and is less effective in inhibiting ATP-driven reactions. The imidophosphate analog AMP-P(NH)P also inhibits the partial reactions of oxidative phosphorylation, but does not affect ATP synthesis from ADP and Pi. In contrast to ATP(gamma F), it is strong inhibitor of both soluble and membrane-bound mitochondrial ATPases. The biological implication of the complementary effects of ATP(gamma F) and AMP-P(NH)P on mitochondria-catalysed reactions is discussed while suggesting the use of such nucleotide analogs as specific tools for the study of ATP-forming and ATP-utilizing reactions in mitochondria.

Participation of εADP and εATP in the reactions of oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria

The 1,N6-ethenoadenine nucleotide analogs epsilonADP and epsilonATP, contrary to recent findings (1), are shown to be unable to penetrate the inner mitochondrial membrane of intact rat liver mitochondria and can not be used as substrates by the respiratory chain enzymes in oxidative phosphorylation. On the other hand, these analogs are able to participate in transphosphorylation reactions, being good substrates for mitochondrial phosphotransferases located in the intermembrane space, such as nucleosidediphosphate kinase and adenylate kinase.

Structural and enzymatic properties of adenine 1-oxide nucleotides

We decribed the preparation of adenine 1-oxide nucleotides by oxidation of the natural compounds with monopermaleic acid in aqueous solutions at neutral pH, with an overall yield after chromatographic purification between 75 and 80%. If irradiated, the adenine 1-oxide nucleotides undergo a photochemical rearrangement reaction, the main photoproducts in aqueous solution at alkaline pH being the corresponding isoguanine nucleotides. The modified ring vibration pattern of the 1-oxide analogues as well as the 13C chemical shift indicate a loss of aromaticity as compared to the natural compounds. Coupling constant measurements show that the dihedral angle between the 31POC and OC13C planes is around 180degree, i.e., trans, as in the natural adenine nucleotides. The modified adenine nucleotides were tested as potential substrates and/or inhibitors of mitochondrial processes, as substrates of varous phosphotransferases from mitochondria or cytosol, and as allosteric effectors in the reactions catalyzed by glutamate dehydrogenase and phosphofructokinase. Although the adenine 1-oxide nucleotides are not recognized by the translocase system of the inner mitochondrial membrane, they are good substrates for mitochondrial phosphotransferases located in the intermembrane space. Similarly, they participate in the phosphoryl group transfer reactions catalyzed by pyruvate kinase, phosphofructokinase, and hexokinase. As allosteric effectors, the modified nucleotides are less active than the natural compounds, probably because of a lower binding capacity to the allosteric sites of the regulatory enzymes.

Participation of N1-oxide derivatives of adenine nucleotides in the phosphotransferase activity of liver mitochondria

The modified adenine nucleotides ATP-NO, ADP-NO, and AMP-NO were tested as potential substrates and/or inhibitors of mitochondrial phosphotransferases. ADP-NO is not recognized by the translocase system located in the inner mitochondrial membrane; however, it is rapidly phosphorylated to ATP-NO in the outer compartment of mitochondria, by way of the nucleosidediphosphate kinase (EC 2.7.4.6) reaction, provided there is sufficient ATP in the mitochondria. AMP-NO is not phosphorylated by liver mitochondria to the corresponding nucleoside diphosphate; it cannot serve as substrate for adenylate kinase (EC 2.7.4.3). ATP-NO and ADP-NO, however, are substrates of this enzyme. The apparent equilibrium constant for the reaction, ADP-NO + ADP right harpoon over left harpoon ATP-NO + AMP, of 0.908 at pH 7.4 and 5 mM Mg(2+) is significantly higher than that of the reaction with natural nucleotides. Although adenosine N(1)-oxide is easily phosphorylated to AMP-NO by adenosine kinase [Schnebli et al. (1967) J. Biol. Chem. 242, 1997-2004], the formation of corresponding nucleoside triphosphate in vivo seems also to be limited by adenylate kinase; adenosine N(1)-oxide cannot replace adenosine in restoring the normal ATP level in ethionine-treated rats.