Effect of 6-ketocholestanol on FCCP- and DNP-induced uncoupling in plant mitochondria

Nd(III)-induced rice mitochondrial dysfunction investigated by spectroscopic and microscopic methods

The production capacity and yield of neodymium (Nd) in China have ranked the first in the world. Because of its unique biophysical and biochemical properties, Nd compounds have entered into the agricultural environment greatly to promote plant growth. Mitochondria play a crucial role in respiration and metabolism during the growth of plants. However, little is known about the mechanism by which Nd act at the mitochondrial level in plant cells. In this study, rice mitochondrial swelling, collapsed transmembrane potential and decreased membrane fluidity were examined to be important factors for mitochondria permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening induced by Nd(III). The protection of cyclosporin A (CsA) and dithiothreitol (DTT) could confirm that Nd(III) could trigger mPTP opening. Additionally, mitochondrial membrane breakdown observed by TEM and the release of cytochrome c (Cyt c) could also elucidate the mPTP opening from another point of view. At last, the study showed that Nd(III) could restrain the mitochondrial membrane lipid peroxide, so it might interact with anionic lipid too. This detection will be conductive to the safe application of Nd compounds in agriculture and food industry.

High concentration of gadolinium ion modifying isolated rice mitochondrial biogenesis

Mitochondria play an important role in plant growth and development, cooperating with the endoplasmic reticulum and nucleus. Gadolinium, one of the rare earth elements, is an inhibitor of stretch-activated calcium channels located on the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane and has no effect on nuclear calcium variation in plant cells. We analyzed the effects of Gd3+ on mitochondria function by monitoring mitochondrial swelling, changes of membrane fluidity, and transmembrane potential collapse and by observing mitochondrial ultrastructure. We found that high concentration of Gd3+ induces rice mitochondrial dysfunction through mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT). The protection of DTT and EDTA demonstrate that Gd3+ blocks the inner membrane ion channel through thiol chelation.

Microcalorimetric studies of the effect of cerium (Ш) on isolated rice mitochondria fed by pyruvate

Mitochondria were isolated from the hybrid rice Xiangzaoxian 31, then the effects of low and high concentrations of Ce (Ш) on metabolism of mitochondria fed by pyruvate were investigated respectively, by microcalorimetry and oxygen electrode method The thermogenic curve of mitochondria without Ce (Ш) could be divided into three parts: activity recovery phase, stationary phase and decline phase. And the thermokinetic parameters have been calculated through the metabolic thermogenic curves. With addition of different concentrations of Ce (Ш), the results demonstrated that low levels of cerium ion stimulated the metabolic activity of energized mitochondria and the inhibition was discovered with high concentrations of Ce (Ш). At the same time, it is shown that the effect in respiration correspond to the effect on mitochondrial metabolism on addition of different concentrations of Ce (Ш). Moreover, the addition of low and high concentrations of Ce (Ш) had no obvious effect on the total heat output (Q). The concentration-dependent effect of Ce (Ш) on metabolism of mitochondria is similar to plant growth response to rare earth elements (Hormesis effect).

Ce(III)-induced rice mitochondrial permeability transition investigated by spectroscopic and microscopic studies

Cerium has been widely used as fertilizer and feed additives in agriculture, but it might finally impair human health by food chain accumulation with its dosage increased in environmental and crops samples. To resolve the conflict, we investigated the effects of Ce(III) on isolated rice mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) by examining mitochondrial swelling, transmembrane potential, membrane fluidity with spectroscopy, and observing the mitochondrial ultrastructure, meanwhile, the interaction site(s) and mechanism between Ce(III) and mitochondria were also studied. The results showed that the low level of Ce(III) had little effect on rice MPT, however, the higher level of Ce(III) could induce rice MPT, and the thiol (-SH) groups of membrane proteins (defined as "S" site) matched by Ce(III)-triggered rice MPT pore opening.

BMAP-28, an antibiotic peptide of innate immunity, induces cell death through opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore

BMAP-28, a bovine antimicrobial peptide of the cathelicidin family, induces membrane permeabilization and death in human tumor cell lines and in activated, but not resting, human lymphocytes. In addition, we found that BMAP-28 causes depolarization of the inner mitochondrial membrane in single cells and in isolated mitochondria. The effect of the peptide was synergistic with that of Ca(2+) and inhibited by cyclosporine, suggesting that depolarization depends on opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. The occurrence of a permeability transition was investigated on the basis of mitochondrial permeabilization to calcein and cytochrome c release. We show that BMAP-28 permeabilizes mitochondria to entrapped calcein in a cyclosporine-sensitive manner and that it releases cytochrome c in situ. Our results demonstrate that BMAP-28 is an inducer of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and that its cytotoxic potential depends on its effects on mitochondrial permeability.

Oxysterols: modulators of cholesterol metabolism and other processes

Oxygenated derivatives of cholesterol (oxysterols) present a remarkably diverse profile of biological activities, including effects on sphingolipid metabolism, platelet aggregation, apoptosis, and protein prenylation. The most notable oxysterol activities center around the regulation of cholesterol homeostasis, which appears to be controlled in part by a complex series of interactions of oxysterol ligands with various receptors, such as the oxysterol binding protein, the cellular nucleic acid binding protein, the sterol regulatory element binding protein, the LXR nuclear orphan receptors, and the low-density lipoprotein receptor. Identification of the endogenous oxysterol ligands and elucidation of their enzymatic origins are topics of active investigation. Except for 24, 25-epoxysterols, most oxysterols arise from cholesterol by autoxidation or by specific microsomal or mitochondrial oxidations, usually involving cytochrome P-450 species. Oxysterols are variously metabolized to esters, bile acids, steroid hormones, cholesterol, or other sterols through pathways that may differ according to the type of cell and mode of experimentation (in vitro, in vivo, cell culture). Reliable measurements of oxysterol levels and activities are hampered by low physiological concentrations (approximately 0.01-0.1 microM plasma) relative to cholesterol (approximately 5,000 microM) and by the susceptibility of cholesterol to autoxidation, which produces artifactual oxysterols that may also have potent activities. Reports describing the occurrence and levels of oxysterols in plasma, low-density lipoproteins, various tissues, and food products include many unrealistic data resulting from inattention to autoxidation and to limitations of the analytical methodology. Because of the widespread lack of appreciation for the technical difficulties involved in oxysterol research, a rigorous evaluation of the chromatographic and spectroscopic methods used in the isolation, characterization, and quantitation of oxysterols has been included. This review comprises a detailed and critical assessment of current knowledge regarding the formation, occurrence, metabolism, regulatory properties, and other activities of oxysterols in mammalian systems.

Further studies on the recoupling effect of 6-ketocholestanol upon oxidative phosphorylation in uncoupled liver mitochondria

The effect of 6-ketocholestanol was studied on CCCP-induced uncoupling in liver mitochondria, submitochondrial particles and cytochrome oxidase proteoliposomes. It was found that 6-ketocholestanol prevents and reverses uncoupling induced by nM concentrations of CCCP on the three systems assayed. As it was reported on kidney mitochondrial membranes [Chavez et al. (1996) FEBS Lett. 379, 305-308], the recoupling effect caused by 6-ketocholestanol on submitochondrial particles and proteoliposomes could be due to a diminution of membrane fluidity.

Regulation of the energy coupling in mitochondria by some steroid and thyroid hormones

Male sex hormones [dihydrotestosterone (DTS), and testosterone] and progesterone, when added to the isolated rat liver mitochondria before or after some protonophores, lower the respiration rate and increase the delta psi level, i.e., reverse the protonophore-induced uncoupling. Such a recoupling ability shows specific structural requirements correlating with hormonal activity of steroids studied. For instance, epiandrosterone, a DTS isomer of very low hormonal activity, and deoxycorticosterone, differing from progesterone by additional OH-group and possessing quite different hormonal activity, as well as female sex hormones (estron and estradiol) show no recoupling effect. Like 6-ketocholestanol (kCh), male sex hormones and progesterone recouple mitochondria uncoupled by low concentrations of SF6847, FCCP and CCCP, but not by high concentration of these uncouplers or by any concentration of DNP, palmitate and gramicidin. In contrast to recoupling by kCh, hormonal recoupling requires addition of serum albumin and is inhibited by low concentrations of palmitate. Recoupling can also be shown on the heart and skeletal muscle mitochondria, being absent from the heart muscle submitochondrial particles, the bacterial chromatophores and the cytochrome oxidase proteoliposomes. In mitochondria it does not depend upon the oxidation substrate used (succinate or PMS + ascorbate were tested). Pronounced seasonal effect upon the DTS recoupling degree was revealed. The recoupling is maximal in January, February and from June to November, being minimal in the spring months and in December. In spring, the in vivo administration of thyroxine, di- or triiodothyronine improves the recoupling ability of DTS. 2 x 10 - 6 M. Thyroxine, when added in vitro, does not affect energy coupling if SF6847 was absent. In the presence of small amounts of SF6847, thyroxine stimulates the uncoupling in a DTS-sensitive fashion, di- and triiodothyronines being less effective. Addition of thyroxine to azide-inhibited mitochondria (oligomycin is present) stimulates respiration and normalizes the delta psi level. In this system, triiodothyronine is much less effective, whereas diiodothyronine is not effective at all. In the intact cells (thymocytes and the Krebs-II cells were tested), DTS lowers the respiration rate stimulated by low concentrations of SF6846 or FCCP. In this case, serum albumin is not required. It is suggested that recoupling effects of male sex hormones and progesterone are involved in their anabolic action just as uncoupling takes part in the catabolic activity of thyroid hormones.

6-Ketocholestanol is a recoupler for mitochondria, chromatophores and cytochrome oxidase proteoliposomes

The effect of 6-ketocholestanol (kCh) on various natural and reconstituted membrane systems has been studied. 6-ketocholestanol (5 alpha-Cholestan-3 beta-ol-6-one), a compound increasing the membrane dipole potential, completely prevents or reverses the uncoupling action of low concentrations of the most potent artificial protonophore SF6847. This effect can be shown in the rat liver and heart muscle mitochondria, in the intact lymphocytes, in the Rhodobacter sphaeroides chromatophores, and in proteoliposomes with the heart muscle or Rh. sphaeroides cytochrome oxidase. The recoupling effect of kCh disappears within a few minutes after the kCh addition and cannot be observed at all at high SF6847 concentrations. Almost complete recoupling is also shown with FCCP, CCCP, CCP and platanetin. With 2,4-dinitrophenol, fatty acids and gramicidin, kCh is ineffective. With TTFB, PCP, dicoumarol, and zearalenone, low kCh concentrations are ineffective, whereas its high concentrations recouple but partially. The kCh recoupling is more pronounced in mitochondria, lymphocytes and proteoliposomes than in chromatophores. On the other hand, mitochondria, lymphocytes and proteoliposomes are much more sensitive to SF6847 than chromatophores. A measurable lowering of the electric resistance of a planar bilayer phospholipid membrane (BLM) are shown to occur at SF6847 concentrations which are even higher than in chromatophores. In BLMs, kCh not only fails to reverse the effect of SF6847, but even enhances the conductivity increase caused by this uncoupler. It is assumed that action of low concentrations of the SF6847-like uncouplers on coupling membranes involves cytochrome oxidase and perhaps some other membrane protein(s) as well. This involvement is inhibited by the asymmetric increase in the membrane dipole potential, caused by incorporation of kCh to the outer leaflet of the membrane.

Review of progress in sterol oxidations: 1987-1995

Material dealing with the chemistry, biochemistry, and biological activities of oxysterols is reviewed for the period 1987-1995. Particular attention is paid to the presence of oxysterols in tissues and foods and to their physiological relevance.

Role of uncoupled and non-coupled oxidations in maintenance of safely low levels of oxygen and its one-electron reductants

To proceed at a high rate, phosphorylating respiration requires ADP to be available. In the resting state, when the energy consumption is low, the ADP concentration decreases so that phosphorylating respiration ceases. This may result in an increase in the intracellular concentrations of O2as well as of one-electron O2reductants such asThese two events should dramatically enhance non-enzymatic formation of reactive oxygen species, i.e. of, and OHׁ, and, hence, the probability of oxidative damage to cellular components. In this paper, a concept is put forward proposing that non-phosphorylating (uncoupled or non-coupled) respiration takes part in maintenance of low levels of both O2and the O2reductants when phosphorylating respiration fails to do this job due to lack of ADP.

In particular, it is proposed that some increase in the H+leak of mitochondrial membrane in State 4 lowers, stimulates O2consumption and decreases the level ofwhich otherwise accumulates and serves as one-electron O2reductant. In this connection, the role of natural uncouplers (thyroid hormones), recouplers (male sex hormones and progesterone), non-specific pore in the inner mitochondrial membrane, and apoptosis, as well as of non-coupled electron transfer chains in plants and bacteria will be considered.

On the mechanism by which 6-ketocholestanol protects mitochondria against uncoupling-induced Ca2+ efflux

This work shows that 6-ketocholestanol (kCh) inhibits the effect of carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCP) on mitochondrial Ca2+ efflux. Such an effect proved to be caused by diminution of membrane fluidity, therefore, it is affected by the incubation temperature. Furthermore, kCh reversed CCP-induced Ca2+ efflux depending on the accumulation of phosphate. It is also shown that kCh enhances the effect of carboxyatractyloside on membrane permeability transition.

Effect of cyclosporin A on energy coupling in pea stem mitochondria

Effect of cyclosporin A on energy coupling in pea stem mitochondria is studied. It is found that incubation of mitochondria with 100 nM FCCP and/or CAtr, oligomycin, CaCl2, palmitate and ADP results, after some lag phase, in a collapse of delta psi generated by succinate oxidation in the presence of rotenone. Cyclosporin A (0.2-0.8 nmol/mg mitochondrial protein) markedly increases the lag phase. The cyclosporin A effect requires dithioerythritol to be added to the isolated medium. Metabisulphite fails to substitute for dithioerythritol. The relationships between these effects and cyclosporin A-sensitive mitochondrial permeability transition in animal mitochondria are discussed.