Further analysis of the polypeptide subunits of yeast cytochrome c oxidase. Isolation and characterization of subunits III, V, and VII

Cox16 protein is physically associated with Cox1p assembly intermediates and with cytochrome oxidase

Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase (COX) catalyzes the last step in the respiratory pathway. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, this inner membrane complex is composed of 11 protein subunits. Expression of COX is assisted by some two dozen ancillary proteins that intercede at different stages of the assembly pathway. One such protein, Cox16p, encoded by COX16, was shown to be essential for the activity and assembly of COX. The function of Cox16p, however, has not been determined. We present evidence that Cox16p is present in Cox1p assembly intermediates and in COX. This is based on the finding that Cox16p, tagged with a dual polyhistidine and protein C tag, co-immunopurified with Cox1p assembly intermediates. The pulldown assays also indicated the presence of Cox16p in mature COX and in supercomplexes consisting of COX and the bc₁ complex. From the Western signal strengths, Cox16p appears to be substoichiometric with Cox1p and Cox4p, which could indicate that Cox16p is only present in a fraction of COX. In conclusion, our results indicate that Cox16p is a constituent of several Cox1p assembly intermediates and of COX.

Comparison of the mechanisms of cataract development involving differences in Ca2+ regulation in lenses among three hereditary cataract model rats

We previously found that the increases in Ca2+ content in the lenses of three hereditary cataract model rats, UPL rat (UPLR), Shumiya cataract rat (SCR) and Ihara cataract rat (ICR), are inhibited by aminoguanidine, a selective inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase, and that the mechanisms of Ca2+ enhancement in these rat models differ. In this study, we compare the mechanisms for dysfunction in Ca2+ regulation in UPLR, SCR and ICR. Decreases in the activity of Ca2+-ATPase were found in the lenses of SCR and ICR concurrent with cataract development. In contrast, the Ca2+-ATPase activity in UPLR with opaque lenses was higher than in those with transparent lenses. On the other hand, ATP levels were markedly decreased in UPLR with opaque lenses. The expression of cytochrome c oxidase (CCO)-1 mRNA and CCO activity in UPLR lenses was found to decrease during cataract development. The nitric oxide (NO) and lipid peroxide levels were also increased in the lenses of UPLR, SCR and ICR with opaque lenses. In UPLR, excessive NO may cause damage to the mitochondrial genome, resulting in a decrease in ATP production and increase in Ca2+-ATPase activity. The decrease in ATP content may cause the decrease in Ca2+-ATPase function resulting in the elevation in lens Ca2+. In SCR and ICR, excessive NO may cause an enhancement of lipid peroxidation resulting in the oxidative inhibition of Ca2+-ATPase. The decrease in Ca2+-ATPase activity may cause the elevation in the level of lens Ca2+, thus leading to lens opacification. Our findings show that the Ca2+ contents in the cataractous lenses of all three model rats are increased, the mechanisms for this Ca2+ enhancement is different in each rat model.

Adverse effects of excessive nitric oxide on cytochrome c oxidase in lenses of hereditary cataract UPL rats

The UPL rat is a newly developed hereditary cataract model. We previously found that the ATP content in UPL rat lenses decreases during cataract development, and the decrease in ATP content causes Ca(2+)-ATPase dysfunction resulting in an elevation in Ca(2+) and cataract development. In addition, we reported that the oral administration of disulfiram and aminoguanidine ameliorates the decrease in ATP content and the elevation in Ca(2+) content in UPL rat lenses. In this study, we demonstrate the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the expression and activity of cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) in normal and UPL rat lenses during cataract development. We also determined the effects of the oral administration of disulfiram and aminoguanidine on the mRNA expression and activity of CCO and NO production in UPL rat lenses. The expression of CCO-1 mRNA in UPL rat lenses, determined by a quantitative real-time RT-PCR method, decreased during cataract development. CCO activity in UPL rat lenses also decreased with aging. On the other hand, the oral administration of disulfiram and aminoguanidine attenuated the decrease in CCO-1 mRNA expression and CCO activity. These results suggest that excessive NO causes the decrease in CCO-1 mRNA expression and CCO activity, and that the decrease in CCO may cause the decrease in ATP production in UPL rat lenses. Disulfiram and aminoguanidine may attenuate the decrease in ATP production, resulting in a delay in cataract development.

Bigenomic functional regulation of all 13 cytochrome c oxidase subunit transcripts in rat neurons in vitro and in vivo

Cytochrome c oxidase is a multisubunit, bigenomically encoded inner mitochondrial membrane protein. Its enzymatic activity and amount in the brain vary with metabolic demands, but the precise regulation of all 13 subunits to form a functional holoenzyme in a 1:1 stoichiometry is not well understood. To determine if all 13 subunit transcripts were coordinately regulated by functional alteration in neurons, cultured primary neurons were depolarized by potassium chloride for 5-24 h, or tetrodotoxin inactivated for 2-6 days. In vivo studies were done on rats monocularly enucleated for 4 days to 2 weeks. Expressions of cytochrome c oxidase subunit mRNAs were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results showed that in vitro, all 13 transcripts were significantly up-regulated after 5 h of depolarizing stimulation. With tetrodotoxin blockade, however, the three mitochondrial-encoded transcripts were down-regulated earlier than the 10 nuclear ones (2 days versus 4 days). In vivo, all three mitochondrial-encoded subunit mRNAs were also down-regulated earlier than the nuclear ones in deprived visual cortex (4 days versus 1 week after monocular enucleation). Cytochrome c oxidase activity and protein levels were significantly decreased in parallel after 4 days of deprivation in vitro and 1 week in vivo. Our results are consistent with a coordinated mechanism of up-regulation of all 13 transcripts in response to functional stimulation, but an earlier and more severe down-regulation of the mitochondrial transcripts than the nuclear ones in response to functional deprivation. Thus, the mitochondrial subunits may play a more important role in regulating cytochrome c oxidase protein amount and activity in neurons. Our results also point to the need of all 13 subunits to form a functional holoenzyme.

Selective photoaffinity labelling of one mitochondrial protein in living cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with the fluorescent probe APMC. Identification of the target protein as subunit I of cytochrome c oxidase

The lipophilic, cationic fluorochrome azopentylmethylindocarbocyanine (APMC) specifically stains the mitochondria in living yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae WT X 2180). It contains a photosensitive diazirine ring and is suitable for photoaffinity labelling. By combining photoaffinity labelling, micro-gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and detection of the APMC fluorescence with a microfluorimeter, we established a highly sensitive procedure for determining the apparent molecular weight of the APMC-labelled proteins in yeast cells. On vital staining at 0.1 microM APMC for 30 min, only one mitochondrial protein with an apparent molecular weight of 40 kDa is labelled with high intensity. At increased dye concentrations proteins of 47 and 49 kDa are labelled too, however not until all binding sites of the 40 kDa protein are occupied. Obviously, the APMC cations have a pronounced affinity for this protein. It was shown by fractional centrifugation that the labelled 40 kDa protein is a constituent of the inner mitochondrial membrane. One driving force for the accumulation of the APMC cations is the trans-membrane potential (TMP) across the inner mitochondrial membrane. Consequently, uncouplers like dinitrophenol (DNP) and carbonylcyanidechlorophenyl-hydrazone (CCCP), ionophores (valinomycin, gramicidin), and inhibitors of the respiratory chain (myxothiazol, KCN), which decrease the TMP, also diminish the APMC accumulation and labelling. And conversely, drugs, which hyperpolarize the inner membrane (nigericin, atractyloside), favour APMC labelling. Another driving force of APMC accumulation is the dye's lipophilicity, which facilitates dye accumulation by hydrophobic interaction with the very lipophilic proteins of the inner mitochondrial membranes. This was shown by competitive double staining experiments. Thiamine strongly inhibits APMC labelling. Obviously, the transport of the APMC cations is facilitated by the thiamine carrier, and thiamine competes for the same binding sites, which are occupied by the dye cations. Chloramphenicol is an inhibitor of the mitochondrial protein synthesis without affecting the TMP. On preincubation, chloramphenicol completely quenches the signal of the 40 kDa protein. Therefore, this protein must be encoded on the mtDNA. The only 40 kDa protein with adequate properties is the subunit I of cytochrome c oxidase. Obviously, it is the preferred target of the APMC cations on photoaffinity labelling. This assignment agrees with the strong hydrophobicity of the labelled 40 kDa protein, which was tested with various detergents. It also agrees with the solvatochromism of the protein-bound APMC label, and finally with the paralellism of the labelled protein with cytochrome c oxidase on fractional ammonium sulfate precipitation.

Isoforms of yeast cytochrome c oxidase subunit V affect the binuclear reaction center and alter the kinetics of interaction with the isoforms of yeast cytochrome c

Subunit V, one of the nuclear-coded subunits of yeast cytochrome c oxidase, has two isoforms, Va and Vb. These alter the in vivo intramolecular rates of electron transfer within the holoenzyme (Waterland, R. A., Basu, A., Chance, B., and Poyton, R. O. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 4180-4186). The isozyme with Vb has a higher turnover rate and a higher intramolecular transfer rate than the isozyme with Va. To determine how these isoforms affect catalysis, we have examined their effects on the binuclear reaction center and on the interaction between cytochrome c oxidase and the two isoforms, iso-1 and iso-2, of yeast cytochrome c. Infrared spectroscopy of carbon monoxide liganded to heme a3 has revealed a single conformer for the binuclear reaction center in the isozyme with Vb but two discrete conformers in the isozyme with Va. The kinetics of interaction for all four pairwise combinations of isozymes with each subunit V isoform and the two cytochrome c isoforms are biphasic, with high and low affinity electron transfer reactions. In general, the isoforms of cytochrome c and subunit V do not alter the Km but do affect the TNmax. The TNmax for isozymes carrying Vb are higher at both high and low affinity sites for each cytochrome c isoform. Iso-1-cytochrome c supports a higher TNmax than Iso-2-cytochrome c. Surprisingly, the combinatorial effect of both sets of isoforms on TNmax is minimized with the pairs of isoforms (iso-1-cytochrome c and subunit Va or iso-2 and subunit Vb) that are co-expressed in cells. Together, these findings support the conclusion that the subunit V isoforms modulate catalysis and suggest that they do so by affecting the environment or structure of the binuclear reaction center. They also suggest that the coexpression of the two cytochrome c isoforms with two subunit V isoforms serves to minimize differences in electron transfer rates brought about by the subunit V isoforms.

Comparison of the role of protein kinase C in platelet functional responses induced by three different mechanisms, PAF, ionomycin and arachidonic acid

The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in modulating platelet activation has been examined in platelets pre-incubated with either the PKC activator 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) or the non-specific protein kinase inhibitor, staurosporine. In order to determine where in the signal transduction pathway PKC is exerting its effect platelets were activated either with a receptor-operated stimulus platelet activating factor (PAF) or by direct elevation of [Ca2+]i (ionomycin) or with arachidonic acid which is converted into thromboxane B2 (TxB2). In PAF-stimulated platelets activation of PKC inhibited both [Ca2+]i elevation and TxB2 generation but had no effect on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) release whilst staurosporine increased the duration of [Ca2+]i elevation and potentiated TxB2 generation but inhibited 5-HT release. In ionomycin-stimulated platelets modulation of PKC had no effect on [Ca2+]i elevation but in contrast to PAF-stimulated platelets PKC activation caused potentiation of TxB2 generation and 5-HT release whilst inhibition of PKC caused inhibition of TxB2 generation and 5-HT release. Modulation of PKC did not affect arachidonic acid-induced TxB2 generation. These findings suggest that in receptor activated platelets endogenously activated PKC is exerting a negative feedback role, however, when [Ca2+]i elevation is not modified by PKC activation or inhibition (such as in ionomycin stimulated platelets) the relationship between the state of PKC activation and subsequent platelet functional responses corresponds more closely. The findings from this study suggest a different relationship between PKC and TxB2 generation than between PKC and dense granule release in PAF-stimulated platelets.

Cytochrome c oxidase of Euglena gracilis: purification, characterization, and identification of mitochondrially synthesized subunits

Cytochrome c oxidase was purified from mitochondria of Euglena gracilis and separated into 15 different polypeptide subunits by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. All 15 subunits copurify through various purification procedures, and the subunit composition of the isolated enzyme is identical to that of the immunoprecipitated one. Therefore, the 15 protein subunits represent integral components of the Euglena oxidase. In an in vitro protein-synthesizing system using isolated mitochondria, polypeptides 1-3 were radioactive labeled in the presence of [35S]methionine. This further identifies these polypeptides with the three largest subunits of cytochrome c oxidase encoded by mitochondrial DNA in other eukaryotic organisms. By subtraction, the other 12 subunits can be assigned to nuclear genes. The isolated Euglena oxidase was highly active with Euglena cytochrome c558 and has monophasic kinetics. Using horse cytochrome c550 as a substrate, activity of the isolated oxidase was rather low. These findings correlate with the oxidase activity of mitochondrial membranes. Again, reactivity was low with cytochrome c550 and 35-fold higher with the Euglena cytochrome c558. The data show that the cytochrome c oxidase of the protist Euglena is different from other eukaryotic cytochrome c oxidases in number and size of subunits, and also with regard to kinetic properties and substrate specificity.

Nuclear and mitochondrial revertants of a mitochondrial mutant with a defect in the ATP synthetase complex

Yeast strain 990 carries a mutation mapping to the oli1 locus of the mitochondrial genome, the gene encoding ATPase subunit 9. DNA sequence analysis indicated a substitution of valine for alanine at residue 22 of the protein. The strain failed to grow on nonfermentable carbon sources such as glycerol at low temperature (20 degrees C). At 28 degrees C the strain grew on nonfermentable carbon sources and was resistant to the antibiotic oligomycin. ATPase activity in mitochondria isolated from 990 was reduced relative to the wild-type strain from which it was derived, but the residual activity was oligomycin resistant. Subunit 9 (the DCCD-binding proteolipid) from the mutant strain exhibited reduced mobility in SDS-polyacrylamide gels relative to the wild-type proteolipid. Ten revertant strains of 990 were analyzed. All restored the ability to grow on glycerol at 20 degrees C. Mitotic segregation data showed that eight of the ten revertants were attributable to mitochondrial genetic events and two were caused by nuclear events since they appeared to be recessive nuclear suppressors. These nuclear mutations retained partial resistance to oligomycin and did not alter the electrophoretic behavior of subunit 9 or any other ATPase subunit. When mitochondrial DNA from each of the revertant strains was hybridized with an oligonucleotide probe covering the oli1 mutation, seven of the mitochondrial revertants were found to be true revertants and one a second mutation at the site of the original 990 mutation. The oli1 gene from this strain contained a substitution of glycine for valine at residue 22. The proteolipid isolated from this strain had increased electrophoretic mobility relative to the wild-type proteolipid.

Mitochondrial membrane biogenesis: characterization and use of pet mutants to clone the nuclear gene coding for subunit V of yeast cytochrome c oxidase

A nuclear pet mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is defective in the structural gene for subunit V of cytochrome c oxidase has been identified and used to clone the subunit V gene (COX5) by complementation. This mutant, E4-238 [24], and its revertant, JM110, produce variant forms of subunit V. In comparison to the wild-type polypeptide (Mr = 12,500), the polypeptides from E4-238 and JM110 have apparent molecular weights of 9,500 and 13,500, respectively. These mutations directly alter the subunit V structural gene rather than a gene required for posttranslational processing or modification of subunit V because they are cis-acting in diploid cells; that is, both parental forms of subunit V are produced in heteroallelic diploids formed from crosses between the mutant, revertant, and wild type. Several plasmids containing the COX5 gene were isolated by transformation of JM28, a derivative of E4-238, with DNA from a yeast nuclear DNA library in the vector YEp13. One plasmid, YEp13-511, with a DNA insert of 4.8 kilobases, was characterized in detail. It restores respiratory competency and cytochrome oxidase activity in JM28, encodes a new form of subunit V that is functionally assembled into mitochondria, and is capable of selecting mRNA for subunit V. The availability of mutants altered in the structural gene for subunit V (COX5) and of the COX5 gene on a plasmid, together with the demonstration that plasmid-encoded subunit V is able to assemble into a functional holocytochrome c oxidase, enables molecular genetic studies of subunit V assembly into mitochondria and holocytochrome c oxidase.

Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic purification of subunits of oligomeric membrane proteins. The nuclear coded subunits of yeast cytochrome c oxidase

Reversed-phase chromatography of the subunits of an oligomeric membrane protein such as yeast cytochrome c oxidase requires additional sample handling techniques which are not necessary for soluble proteins. This paper considers these and discusses (1) methods for the removal of ballast material by preliminary batchwise extraction with solvent mixtures similar to those used for reversed-phase elution; (2) the chromatographic heterogeneity induced by partial cysteine oxidation; (3) the removal of tightly bound proteins from the stationary phase; and (4) the generation of an elution system with continuously variable selectivity based on acetonitrile-1-propanol ratios (0.05% triethylamine, 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid). These methods are designed to simplify complex mixtures of hydrophobic proteins prior to chromatography and to purify them chromatographically in high yield.