Cytochrome-c-assisted escape of cardiolipin from a model mitochondrial membrane

Cytidine diphosphate diacylglycerol synthase is essential for mitochondrial structure and energy production in Arabidopsis thaliana

Cytidine diphosphate diacylglycerol (CDP-DAG), an important intermediate for glycerolipid biosynthesis, is synthesized under the catalytic activity of CDP-DAG synthase (CDS) to produce anionic phosphoglycerolipids such as phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and cardiolipin (CL). Previous studies showed that Arabidopsis CDSs are encoded by a small gene family, termed CDS1-CDS5, the members of which are integral membrane proteins in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and in plastids. However, the details on how CDP-DAG is provided for mitochondrial membrane-specific phosphoglycerolipids are missing. Here we present the identification of a mitochondrion-specific CDS, designated CDS6. Enzymatic activity of CDS6 was demonstrated by the complementation of CL synthesis in the yeast CDS-deficient tam41Δ mutant. The Arabidopsis cds6 mutant lacking CDS6 activity showed decreased mitochondrial PG and CL biosynthesis capacity, a severe growth deficiency finally leading to plant death. These defects were rescued partly by complementation with CDS6 or supplementation with PG and CL. The ultrastructure of mitochondria in cds6 was abnormal, missing the structures of cristae. The degradation of triacylglycerol (TAG) in lipid droplets and starch in chloroplasts in the cds6 mutant was impaired. The expression of most differentially expressed genes involved in the mitochondrial electron transport chain was upregulated, suggesting an energy-demanding stage in cds6. Furthermore, the contents of polar glycerolipids in cds6 were dramatically altered. In addition, cds6 seedlings lost the capacity for cell proliferation and showed a higher oxidase activity. Thus, CDS6 is indispensable for the biosynthesis of PG and CL in mitochondria, which is critical for establishing mitochondrial structure, TAG degradation, energy production and seedling development.

Composition of the Cytochrome c Complex with Cardiolipin by Thermal Lens Spectrometry

Thermal lens spectrometry along with spectrophotometric titration were used to assess the composition of the complex of oxidized cytochrome c (ferricytochrome c) with 1,1′,2,2′-tetraoleyl cardiolipin, which plays a key role in the initiation of apoptosis. Spectrophotometric titration was carried out for micromolar concentrations at which the complex is mainly insoluble, to assess the residual concentration in the solution and to estimate the solubility of the complex. Thermal lens spectrometry was used as a method of molecular absorption spectroscopy, which has two advantages over conventional optical transmission spectroscopy: the higher sensitivity of absorbance measurements and the possibility of studying the light absorption by chromophores and heat transfer in complex systems, such as living cells or tissues. Thermal lens measurements were carried out at nanomolar concentrations, where the complex is mainly in solution, i.e., under the conditions of its direct measurements. From the thermal lens measurements, the ratios of cytochrome c and cardiolipin in the complex were 50 at pH 7.4; 30 at pH 6.8; and 10 at pH 5.5, which fit well to the spectrophotometric data. The molecular solubility of the complex at pH 6.8–7.4 was estimated as 30 µmol/L.

Acylcarnitines at the Membrane Surface: Insertion Parameters for a Mitochondrial Leaflet Model

Excessive accumulation of acylcarnitines (ACs), often caused by metabolic disorders, has been associated with obesity, arrhythmias, cardiac ischemia, insulin resistance, etc. Mechanisms whereby elevated ACs might contribute to pathophysiological effects remain largely unexplored. We have aimed to gain insight into AC interactions with the mitochondrial inner membrane. To model its outer leaflet, Langmuir monolayers and cushioned supported bilayers were employed. Their interactions with ACs were monitored with epifluorescence microscopy, which revealed a local leaflet expansion upon exposure to elevated concentrations of a long-chain AC, plausibly caused by its insertion. To assess the AC insertion parameters, constant-pressure insertion assays were performed. A value of 21 ± 3 Å² was obtained for the AC insertion area, which is roughly the same as the cross-sectional area of an acyl chain. By contrast, the carnitine moiety was found to require an area of 37 ± 3 Å². The AC insertion has thus been concluded to involve solely the AC acyl chain. This mode of insertion implies that the carnitine moiety, with its nontitratable positive charge, is left dangling at the membrane surface, which is likely to alter the surface electrostatics of the outer leaflet. The extrapolation of these findings has enabled us to hypothesize that, by altering the morphology and surface electrostatics of the outer leaflet, the insertion of ACs, in particular their long-chain counterparts, may trigger a nonspecific activation of signaling pathways in the inner mitochondrial membrane, thereby modulating its function and potentially leading to pathophysiological responses.

Hippocampal Subcellular Organelle Proteomic Alteration of Copper-Treated Mice

Copper neurotoxicity has been implicated in multiple neurological diseases. However, there is a lack of deep understanding on copper neurotoxicity, especially for low-dose copper exposure. In this study, we investigated the effects of chronic, low-dose copper treatment (0.13 ppm copper chloride in drinking water) on hippocampal mitochondrial and nuclear proteome in mice by 2-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis coupled with MALDI-TOF-MS/MS. Behavioral tests revealed that low-dose copper caused spatial memory impairment, DNA oxidative damage as well as loss of synaptic proteins. Proteomic analysis revealed modulation of 31 hippocampal mitochondrial proteins (15 increased and 16 decreased), and 46 hippocampal nuclear proteins (18 increased and 28 decreased) in copper-treated versus untreated mice. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that these differentially expressed proteins are mainly involved energy metabolism (NDUV1, COX5B, IDH3A, and PGAM1), synapses (complexin-2, synapsin-2), DNA damage (PDIA3), apoptosis (GRP75), and oxidative stress (SODC, PRDX3). Among these differentially expressed proteins, synapsin-2, a synaptic-related protein, was found to be significantly decreased as confirmed by Western-blot analysis. In addition, we found that superoxide dismutase [Cu-Zn] (SODC), a copper ion target protein, was identified to be decreased in copper-treated mice versus untreated mice. We also found that stathmin (STMN1), a microtubule-destabilizing neuroprotein, was significantly decreased in hippocampal nuclei of copper-treated mice versus untreated mice. Taken together, we conclude that low-dose copper exposure causes spatial memory impairment and perturbs multiple biological/pathogenic processes by dysregulating the mitochondrial and nuclear proteome, particularly the proteins related to respiratory chain, synaptic vesicle fusion, axonal/neurtic integrity, and oxidative stress. The change of STMN1 and SODC may represent early novel biomarkers of copper neurotoxicity.

Regulation by nitric oxide on mitochondrial permeability transition of peaches during storage

Mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pores (MPTP) play important roles in mitochondrial function. There are many chemicals in the mitochondria that can act as signal molecules to affect the membrane permeability of mitochondria and mediate to release various enzymes. As a signaling molecule, nitric oxide (NO) is a key player in fruit growth and development. However, the specific mechanism through NO regulates MPTP, and how exogenous NO prolongs fruit storage time are both unclear. In this study, Feicheng peaches were treated with different concentrations of exogenous NO (5, 15 and 30 μmol L^-1) and c-PTIO to determine the changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), hexokinase II activity, the contents of cytochrome C and Ca²⁺ in mitochondria, as well as the effects of voltage-dependent anion channels (VDAC) and phosphate carrier (PiC) proteins on MPTP during storage. The results showed that NO could form a 1:1 complex either with VDAC or PiC, which proved that NO could react with the protein of PiC or VDAC. Treatment with 15 μmol L^-1 NO maintained stable mitochondrial Ca²⁺ content, and high potential and permeability of the mitochondrial membrane, while decreased cytochrome C content and increased hexokinase activity. When NO was removed, the opposite result appeared. These results indicated that exogenous NO could stabilize MMP and participate in MPTP regulation of peaches during storage.