The Effect of Temperature on Mitochondrial Membrane-linked Reactions

What causes cardiac mitochondrial failure at high environmental temperatures?

Although a mechanism accounting for hyperthermic death at critical temperatures remains elusive, the mitochondria of crucial active excitable tissues (i.e. heart and brain) may well be key to this process. Mitochondria produce ∼90% of the ATP required by cells to maintain cellular integrity and function. They also integrate into biosynthetic pathways that support metabolism as a whole, allow communication within the cell, and regulate cellular health and death pathways. We have previously shown that cardiac and brain mitochondria demonstrate decreases in the efficiency of, and absolute capacity for ATP synthesis as temperatures rise, until ultimately there is too little ATP to support cellular demands, and organ failure follows. Importantly, substantial decreases in ATP synthesis occur at temperatures immediately below the temperature of heart failure, and this suggests a causal role of mitochondria in hyperthermic death. However, what causes mitochondria to fail? Here, we consider the answers to this question. Mitochondrial dysfunction at high temperature has classically been attributed to elevated leak respiration suspected to result from increased movement of protons (H+) through the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM), thereby bypassing the ATP synthases. In this Commentary, we introduce some alternative explanations for elevated leak respiration. We first consider respiratory complex I and then propose that a loss of IMM structure occurs as temperatures rise. The loss of the cristae folds of the IMM may affect the efficiency of H+ transport, increasing H+ conductance either through the IMM or into the bulk water phases of mitochondria. In either case, O2 consumption increases while ATP synthesis decreases.

Enhancing Liver Transplant Outcomes through Liver Precooling to Mitigate Inflammatory Response and Protect Mitochondrial Function

Transplanted organs experience several episodes of ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion. The graft injury resulting from ischemia-reperfusion (IRI) remains a significant obstacle to the successful survival of transplanted grafts. Temperature significantly influences cellular metabolic rates because biochemical reactions are highly sensitive to temperature changes. Consequently, lowering the temperature could reduce the degradative reactions triggered by ischemia. In mitigating IRI in liver grafts, the potential protective effect of localized hypothermia on the liver prior to blood flow obstruction has yet to be explored. In this study, we applied local hypothermia to mouse donor livers for a specific duration before stopping blood flow to liver lobes, a procedure called "liver precooling". Mouse donor liver temperature in control groups was controlled at 37 °C. Subsequently, the liver donors were preserved in cold University of Wisconsin solution for various durations followed by orthotopic liver transplantation. Liver graft injury, function and inflammation were assessed at 1 and 2 days post-transplantation. Liver precooling exhibited a significant improvement in graft function, revealing more than a 47% decrease in plasma aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, coupled with a remarkable reduction of approximately 50% in liver graft histological damage compared to the control group. The protective effects of liver precooling were associated with the preservation of mitochondrial function, a substantial reduction in hepatocyte cell death, and a significantly attenuated inflammatory response. Taken together, reducing the cellular metabolism and enzymatic activity to a minimum level before ischemia protects against IRI during transplantation.

Warm Cells, Hot Mitochondria: Achievements and Problems of Ultralocal Thermometry

Temperature is a crucial regulator of the rate and direction of biochemical reactions and cell processes. The recent data indicating the presence of local thermal gradients associated with the sites of high-rate thermogenesis, on the one hand, demonstrate the possibility for the existence of "thermal signaling" in a cell and, on the other, are criticized on the basis of thermodynamic calculations and models. Here, we review the main thermometric techniques and sensors developed for the determination of temperature inside living cells and diverse intracellular compartments. A comparative analysis is conducted of the results obtained using these methods for the cytosol, nucleus, endo-/sarcoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondria, as well as their biological consistency. Special attention is given to the limitations, possible sources of errors and ambiguities of the sensor's responses. The issue of biological temperature limits in cells and organelles is considered. It is concluded that the elaboration of experimental protocols for ultralocal temperature measurements that take into account both the characteristics of biological systems, as well as the properties and limitations of each type of sensor is of critical importance for the generation of reliable results and further progress in this field.

Ectotherm mitochondrial economy and responses to global warming

Temperature is a key abiotic factor affecting ecology, biogeography, and evolution of species. Alterations of energy metabolism play an important role in adaptations and plastic responses to temperature shifts on different time scales. Mitochondrial metabolism affects cellular bioenergetics and redox balance making these organelles an important determinant of organismal performances such as growth, locomotion, or development. Here I analyze the impacts of environmental temperature on the mitochondrial functions (including oxidative phosphorylation, proton leak, production of reactive oxygen species(ROS), and ATP synthesis) of ectotherms and discuss the mechanisms underlying negative shifts in the mitochondrial energy economy caused by supraoptimal temperatures. Owing to the differences in the thermal sensitivity of different mitochondrial processes, elevated temperatures (beyond the species- and population-specific optimal range) cause reallocation of the electron flux and the protonmotive force (Δp) in a way that decreases ATP synthesis efficiency, elevates the relative cost of the mitochondrial maintenance, causes excessive production of ROS and raises energy cost for antioxidant defense. These shifts in the mitochondrial energy economy might have negative consequences for the organismal fitness traits such as the thermal tolerance or growth. Correlation between the thermal sensitivity indices of the mitochondria and the whole organism indicate that these traits experience similar selective pressures but further investigations are needed to establish whether there is a cause-effect relationship between the mitochondrial failure and loss of organismal performance during temperature change.

Machine perfusion in liver transplantation

Although liver transplantation is a true success story, many patients still die awaiting an organ. The increasing need for liver grafts therefore remains an unsolved challenge to the transplant community. To address this, transplant donor criteria have been expanded and, for example, more liver grafts with significant steatosis or from donors with circulatory death are being used. These marginal grafts, however, carry an increased risk of graft-associated complications, such as primary nonfunction, delayed graft function, or late biliary injuries. Therefore, reliable assessment of graft viability before use is essential for further success. To achieve this, machine liver perfusion, a procedure developed more than 50 years ago but almost forgotten at the end of the last century, is again of great interest. We describe in this review the clinical most applied machine perfusion techniques, their mechanistic background, and a novel concept of combining immediate organ assessment during hypothermic oxygenated perfusion, followed by an extended phase of normothermic machine perfusion, with simultaneous ex situ treatment of the perfused liver. Such a new approach may allow the pool of usable livers to dramatically increase and improve outcomes for recipients.

Cooling Uncouples Differentially ROS Production from Respiration and Ca2+ Homeostasis Dynamic in Brain and Heart Mitochondria

Hypothermia provides an effective neuro and cardio-protection in clinical settings implying ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R). At the onset of reperfusion, succinate-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, impaired oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and decreased Ca²⁺ retention capacity (CRC) concur to mitochondrial damages. We explored the effects of temperature from 6 to 37 °C on OXPHOS, ROS production, and CRC, using isolated mitochondria from mouse brain and heart. Oxygen consumption and ROS production was gradually inhibited when cooling from 37 to 6 °C in brain mitochondria (BM) and heart mitochondria (HM). The decrease in ROS production was gradual in BM but steeper between 31 and 20 °C in HM. In respiring mitochondria, the gradual activation of complex II, in addition of complex I, dramatically enhanced ROS production at all temperatures without modifying respiration, likely because of ubiquinone over-reduction. Finally, CRC values were linearly increased by cooling in both BM and HM. In BM, the Ca²⁺ uptake rate by the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) decreased by 2.7-fold between 25 and 37 °C, but decreased by 5.7-fold between 25 and 37 °C in HM. In conclusion, mild cold (25-37 °C) exerts differential inhibitory effects by preventing ROS production, by reverse electron transfer (RET) in BM, and by reducing MCU-mediated Ca²⁺ uptake rate in BM and HM.

Tracking the formation and degradation of fatty-acid-accumulated mitochondria using label-free chemical imaging

The mitochondrion is one of the key organelles for maintaining cellular homeostasis. External environmental stimuli and internal regulatory processes may alter the metabolism and functions of mitochondria. To understand these activities of mitochondria, it is critical to probe the key metabolic molecules inside these organelles. In this study, we used label-free chemical imaging modalities including coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering and multiphoton-excited fluorescence to investigate the mitochondrial activities in living cancer cells. We found that hypothermia exposure tends to induce fatty-acid (FA) accumulation in some mitochondria of MIAPaCa-2 cells. Autofluorescence images show that the FA-accumulated mitochondria also have abnormal metabolism of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen, likely induced by the dysfunction of the electron transport chain. We also found that when the cells were re-warmed to physiological temperature after a period of hypothermia, the FA-accumulated mitochondria changed their structural features. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that FA accumulation in mitochondria was observed in live cells. Our research also demonstrates that multimodal label-free chemical imaging is an attractive tool to discover abnormal functions of mitochondria at the single-organelle level and can be used to quantify the dynamic changes of these organelles under perturbative conditions.

Machine Perfusion of Donor Livers for Transplantation: A Proposal for Standardized Nomenclature and Reporting Guidelines

With increasing demand for donor organs for transplantation, machine perfusion (MP) promises to be a beneficial alternative preservation method for donor livers, particularly those considered to be of suboptimal quality, also known as extended criteria donor livers. Over the last decade, numerous studies researching MP of donor livers have been published and incredible advances have been made in both experimental and clinical research in this area. With numerous research groups working on MP, various techniques are being explored, often applying different nomenclature. The objective of this review is to catalog the differences observed in the nomenclature used in the current literature to denote various MP techniques and the manner in which methodology is reported. From this analysis, we propose a standardization of nomenclature on liver MP to maximize consistency and to enable reliable comparison and meta-analyses of studies. In addition, we propose a standardized set of guidelines for reporting the methodology of future studies on liver MP that will facilitate comparison as well as clinical implementation of liver MP procedures.

Dietary Fatty Acids and Temperature Modulate Mitochondrial Function and Longevity in Drosophila

Fluctuations in temperature and resource availability are conditions many organisms contend with in nature. Specific dietary nutrients such as fatty acids play an essential role in reproduction, cold adaptation, and metabolism in a variety of organisms. The present study characterizes how temperature and diet interact to modulate Drosophila physiology and life span. Flies were raised on media containing specific saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated fatty acids supplements at low concentrations and were placed in varied thermal environments. We found that dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids improve chill coma recovery and modulate mitochondrial function. Additionally, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid food supplements were detrimental to life span regardless of temperature, and antioxidants were able to partially rescue this effect. This study provides insight into environmental modulation of Drosophila physiology and life span.

Parameters for cellular viability and membrane function in chenopodium cells show a specific response of extracellular pH to heat shock with extreme Q10

The effect of brief heat shock on Chenopodium cells was investigated by measuring biochemical parameters for cellular vitality, membrane function and integrity: extracellular pH, release of osmotic compounds, phosphatase, protein and betalain, and cellular reduction of DCPIP and MTT. A threshold temperature was found at 45 degrees C, where release of osmotic compounds, protein and betalain, and reduction of DCPIP and MTT indicate loss of vitality. Extracellular pH and an alkaline phosphatase responded 10-20 degrees C below this threshold, suggesting that extracellular alkalinization, and probably the release of a phosphatase, are part of a specific cellular response to abiotic stress induced by heat shock. The extracellular proton concentration did not increase above 45 degrees C: this may indicate equilibration of gradients driving this process or an inactivation of cellular mechanisms responsible for extracellular alkalinization. The response of extracellular pH to heat shock in Chenopodium cell suspensions was fast, i.e., up to +1 pH in 5 min. Addition of the K+/H+ antiporter nigericin to Chenopodium cells caused an extracellular alkalinization similar to heat shock. The heat shock-induced extracellular alkalinization was characterized by Q10 values for distinct ranges of temperature (Q10 of 56 for 24-31 degrees C, 2.3 for 31-42 degrees C, and 1.0 for 42-50 degrees C). To the author's knowledge, the Q10 of 56 is the highest found up to now. These results suggest that extracellular protons are involved in temperature sensing and signalling in plant cells, probably via a channel-mediated pathway.

Interaction of phthalocyanines with lipid membranes: a spectroscopic and functional study on isolated rat liver mitochondria

Absorption and emission spectroscopic studies on Zn(II)-phthalocyanine (ZnPc) incorporated into unilamellar liposomes of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, sometimes added with cholesterol or cardiolipin, and released to rat liver mitochondria via the three types of liposomal vesicles indicated that: (a) ZnPc predominantly dissolves in all lipid domains of biological membranes with the exception of cardiolipin-containing regions; a partial localization of ZnPc in protein binding sites is also postulated; (b) the spectroscopic properties of ZnPc, although mainly determined by the aggregation state of the dye, are somewhat influenced by the physico-chemical characteristics of the lipid environment; (c) ZnPc-binding lipid domains in mitochondria are mainly localized in the outer membrane; this conclusion is clearly deduced from the trends of Arrhenius plots of the ZnPc fluorescence quantum yield in whole mitochondria and isolated inner or outer membrane in the temperature range -10 degrees C-(+)45 degrees C; (d) the nature of the ZnPc-binding site in mitochondria is not dependent on the chemical composition of the liposome carrier, contrary to what observed for other hydrophobic dyes, such as porphyrins. This has been also confirmed by photosensitization experiments. Actually, illumination of ZnPc-loaded mitochondria by 600-700 nm light causes a decline of the respiratory control ratio, which is essentially dependent on the amount of incorporated photosensitizer, irrespective of the composition of the carrier.

Degree and time sequence of hypothermic protection against experimental ischemic acute renal failure

The purpose of this study was to assess the degree, time sequence, and biochemical correlates of hypothermic protection against ischemic acute renal failure. Rats subjected to 40 minutes of bilateral renal artery occlusion (RAO) were made mildly hypothermic (32 degrees-33 degrees C, by cold saline peritoneal lavage) during the following time periods: 1) RAO only, 2) reperfusion only (beginning at 0, 15, 30, or 60 minutes after RAO and maintained for 45 minutes), or 3) during and after (0-45 minutes) RAO. Continuously normothermic (37 degrees C) RAO rats served as controls. The control rats developed severe acute renal failure (blood urea nitrogen [BUN], 95 +/- 4 mg/dl; creatinine, 2.2 +/- 0.1 mg/dl; and extensive tubular necrosis at 24 hours). Hypothermia confined to RAO was highly protective (BUN, 33 +/- 5 mg/dl; creatinine, 0.62 +/- 0.07 mg/dl; and minimal necrosis). Hypothermia partially preserved ischemic renal adenylate high-energy phosphate (ATP and ADP), increased AMP and inosine monophosphate concentrations, and lessened hypoxanthine/xanthine buildup (assessed at end of RAO). Hypothermia confined to the reflow period (beginning at 0, 15, and 30 minutes) was only mildly protective (e.g., BUN, 58-63 mg/dl); the degree of protection did not differ according to the time of hypothermic onset. Lowering reflow temperature to 26 degrees C had no added benefit. Hypothermia that started at 60 minutes after RAO conferred no protection. Combining ischemic and postischemic hypothermia abolished all renal failure (assessed at 24 hours). This study offers the following conclusions: Mild hypothermia can totally prevent experimental ischemic acute renal failure. Hypothermia is highly effective during ischemia, and it is mildly protective during early reflow; these benefits are additive. During early reflow, hypothermic protection is not critically time dependent. By 60 minutes of reflow, no effect is elicited; this absence of effect possibly signals completion of the reperfusion injury process. Hypothermia's protective effects may be mediated, in part, by improvements in renal adenine nucleotide content and, possibly, by decreasing postischemic oxidant stress.

Lipid and temperature dependence of the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for active amino acid transport in Escherichia coli K1060

The influence of membrane physical state on the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for the active transport systems for two amino acids has been investigated in Escherichia coli K1060, an unsaturated fatty acid auxotrophic mutant. The apparent Michaelis constant (Km) for the uptake of L-[14C]glutamine (0.05 to 0.08 microM) or L-[14C]proline (1 microM approx.) is invariant with temperature for this mutant grown on elaidate (18:1t), palmitelaidate (16:1t), oleate (18:1c), palmitoleate (16:1c) and linoleate (18:2c,c). Arrhenius plots of the maximum velocities (Vmax) for L-glutamine transport in cells grown on 16:1t, 18:1c and 16:1c are biphasic within a limited temperature range peculiar to each UFA supplementation. Above an upper temperature limit also displayed by 18:1t and 18:2c,c-cells, Vmax decreases with temperature. A characteristic temperature (Tb) marks the point of intersection of the biphasic slope of the Arrhenius plots, and activation energy (Ea) is lower above than below Tb. Differential thermal analysis considered with membrane lipid fatty acyl profiles indicates that the upper temperature limit is governed by both membrane lipid acyl chain fluidity and heterogeneity, while Tb is governed by fluidity alone. Data on L-proline transport Vmax are similar, but the upper temperature limit and Tb are each shifted to lower temperatures relative to L-glutamine. We suggest that membrane defects related to energy-coupling and caused by abnormal fluidity and physical state are responsible for the peculiar temperature dependences of Vmax for these active transport processes.

Temperature dependence of mitochondrial oligomycin-sensitive proton transport ATPase

The temperature dependence of the oligomycin-sensitive ATPase (complex V) kinetic parameters has been investigated in enzyme preparations of different phospholipid composition. In submitochondrial particles, isolated complex V, and complex V reconstituted in dimyristoyl lecithin vesicles, the Arrhenius plots show discontinuities in the range 18-28 degrees C, while no discontinuity is detected with dioleoyl lecithin recombinant. Van't Hoff plots of Km also show breaks in the same temperature interval, with the exception of the dioleoyl-enzyme vesicles, where Km is unchanged. Thermodynamic analysis of the ATPase reaction shows that DMPC-complex V has rather larger values of activation enthalpy and activation entropy below the transition temperature (24 degrees C) than those of the other preparations, while all enzyme preparations show similar free energies of activation (14.3-18.5 kcal/mol). The results indicate that temperature and lipid composition influence to a different extent both kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of ATP hydrolysis catalyzed by the mitochondrial ATPase.

Phase transitions in combined rabbit muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum lipids by Raman spectroscopy

Using Raman spectroscopy, we found that the sarcoplasmic reticulum lipids of combined muscles from rabbit leg undergo at least two reversible temperature phase changes, centered at about -15 and 13 degrees C. Below the first transition, the lipid Raman CH st region is characteristic of the hexagonal lamellar gel phase. Above the second transition, the Raman CH stretch region is that of a "melted" lamellar phase, somewhat more rigid than a monophasic lipid system. The composition of the lipids was determined and the possibility of a relation between the major head group types and the phase transitions is discussed. Since SR Ca2+ATPase activity is enhanced at about 14-19 degrees C, the Raman studies suggest that ATPase activity is enhanced when the 13 degrees C transition is complete.

Breaks in arrhenius plots of reactions involving membrane-bound and solubilized sialyltransferases, due to temperature dependence of kinetic parameters

Temperature dependence of asialomucin-sialyltransferase (CMP-N-acetylneuraminate:D-galactosyl-glycoprotein N-acetylneuraminyltransferase, EC 2.4.99.1) activity is investigated. Discontinuities in Arrhenius plots are observed, whether the enzyme is membrane-associated or solubilized. These discontinuities cannot be firmly correlated with the phase-transition temperatures of either endogenous or exogenous phospholipids. Arrhenius plots of the kinetic parameters also exhibit sharp discontinuities, so that it is concluded that a significant change in Km and Vmax values occurs with varying temperature. Our results suggest that the biphasic behavior of Arrhenius plots may be attributed to the temperature dependence of the kinetic parameters for both membrane-associated and solubilized sialyltransferase activities.

Temperature dependence of membranous and solubilized sialyltransferase activities in the presence of 1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine and fatty acids

The temperature dependence of sialyltransferase (CMP-N-acetylneuraminate: D-galactosyl-glycoprotein N-acetyl-neuraminyltrasferase, EC 2.4.99.1) inhibition is described when 1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine, or a saturated fatty acid (lauric, myristic or palmitic acid) or an equimolar mixture of the two components are added. Lysophospholipid and fatty acids have no appreciable effect on the optimal temperature for sialyltransferase activity. In the presence of lysophospholipid, the membranous sialyltransferase activity is decreased for all the temperature range tested. In contrast, the solubilized sialyltransferase activity is decreased for temperatures exceeding 29 degrees C. In the presence of saturated fatty acids, the membranous activity is decreased above a chain-length dependent temperature: 22 degrees, 25 degrees and 30 degrees C for lauric, myristic and palmitic acids, respectively. In contrast, the solubilized activity remains unchanged. In the presence of equimolar mixtures of lysophospholipid and fatty acid, the membranous activity is decreased above the same critical temperature as that described for fatty acids added alone. In contrast, the solubilized activity is decreased above 29 degrees C. From these observations, it is suggested that lysophospholipid inhibits the solubilized enzyme when the temperature exceeds the critical micellar temperature of this lipid. The fatty acids inhibit the microsomal enzyme probably by incorporating into the membrane. It is also suggested that equimolar mixtures of lysophospholipid and fatty acid give rise to molecular analogs of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine.

Comparison of the effect of temperature on kidney cortex mitochondria from rabbit, dog, pig, and human: Arrhenius plots of ADP-stimulated respiration

The effect of temperature on the rate of ADP-stimulated respiration of mitochondria from dog, rabbit, pig, and human kidney cortex mitochondria was plotted according to the Arrhenius relationship. The temperature at which the plot demonstrated a break was at 15 degrees C for mitochondria from dog, pig, and human kidneys. The discontinuity occurred at 10 degrees C or less for mitochondria from rabbit kidneys. This difference suggests that mitochondria from rabbit kidneys undergo a lipid-phase transition at lower temperatures than for other species commonly used in experimental renal preservation. The implications of this difference suggest caution in using results obtained with rabbit kidneys for comparison to results obtained from hypothermic renal preservation of other species kidneys. Apparent fluidization of dog kidney mitochondrial membranes with adamantine abolished the discontinuity in the Arrhenius plot.

Dietary lipid modulation of rat liver mitochondrial succinate: cytochrome c reductase

Diets supplemented with high levels of either saturated fatty acids or unsaturated fatty acids were fed to adult rats for a period of 9 weeks and changes in the liver mitochondrial membrane phospholipid fatty acid composition and thermal behaviour of succinate: cytochrome c reductase were determined. The dietary treatment induced a change in the omega 6 to omega 3 unsaturated fatty acid ratio in the membrane lipids, with the ratio being highest with the unsaturated fatty acid and lowest with the saturated fatty acid diet. Arrhenius plots of succinate: cytochrome c reductase activity exhibited differences in both critical temperature (Tf) and Arrhenius activation energy (Ea) depending on the type of dietary treatment. The Tf was elevated from 23 degrees C in control to 32 degrees C in the saturated fatty acid-supplemented group. No significant effect on the Tf was observed in the unsaturated fatty acid-supplemented group however higher Ea values were observed due to the unsaturated fatty acid diet. The changes in succinate: cytochrome c reductase are probably due to changes in the lipid-protein interactions in the membrane, induced by the dietary lipid supplementation.

Transport of ascorbate into guinea pig liver mitochondria

The amount of ascorbate associated with guinea pig liver mitochondria was estimated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Incubation of mitochondria with ascorbate revealed a time-dependent and temperature-dependent accumulation of the vitamin. A steady-state level of ascorbate was obtained in the mitochondria after about 20 min of incubation at 37 degrees C, whereas no accumulation was observed at 0 degrees C. The matrix concentration of ascorbate was highly correlated to the concentration of ascorbate in the incubation medium. The initial rate of accumulation (about 7 pmol/mg protein per min at 10 degrees C) was three orders of magnitude less than for compounds that are transported across the mitochondrial inner membrane by specific carriers. Experiments with the enzyme ascorbate oxidase demonstrated that the mitochondrial membrane is also permeable to dehydroascorbate, and that the accumulated dehydroascorbate is stable in the mitochondria. There was no effect of the energy state of the mitochondrial membrane of the initial transport rate of ascorbate. Electrostatic binding of ascorbate to the membrane was excluded from experiments performed in isosmotic potassium chloride medium. Diffusion of ascorbate across the mitochondrial inner membrane accounts for the experimental findings.

Effect of Mg2+ on membrane fluidity and K+ transport in rat liver mitochondria

1. The effects of Mg2+ on the fluidity and on the transport properties of mitochondrial inner membrane were compared in parallel experiments. The fluidity was measured by intercalated fatty acid spin probes. Valinomycin-induced K+ uptake was followed using an ion-selective electrode. 2. The rotational diffusion rate of lipids was very slightly affected by Mg2+, whereas the ordering of the probed region of the inner membrane increased considerably above 30 degrees C in the presence of Mg2+. Mg2+ strongly inhibited K+ transport, particularly above 30 degrees C. 3. In the presence of different concentration of MgCl2 (0--30 mM) the order parameter showed no significant variation, whereas the rotational correlation time had essentially biphasic character with a minimum (i.e., faster diffusion rate) at 10 mM MgCl2. 4. We conclude that Mg2+ induces structural changes in the mitochondrial inner membrane and concomitant changes in its functional properties. The term 'fluidity' is inadequate for the interpretation of the data, since changes in the order parameter and in the characteristic correlation time of the inner membrane upon addition of Mg2+ did not show parallel tendencies.

Exercise and mitochondrial calcium transport in the BIO 14.6 hamster

To examine the effects of exhaustive swimming in normal and myopathic hamsters on muscle mitochondrial Ca2+ metabolism, sedentary normal and BIO 14.6 dystrophic Syrian hamsters swam individually in 35 degree C water until exhaustion occurred. Although the normal hamsters swam three times longer than did the BIO 14.6 hamsters, both swimming groups had a comparable two-fold increase in blood lactate. Contrary to exhaustive running, exhaustive swimming did not significantly affect mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake in either cardiac or skeletal muscle, regardless of the disease state. However, in general, the coefficients of variation for mitochondrial Ca2+ metabolism increased as a function of exercise, with the BIO 14.6 swimmers more variable than the normal swimmers. This suggests that the mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake process may be affected in some manner by exhaustive swimming, so that deviations from the norm are more apparent. The results provide further evidence that mitochondrial Ca2+ metabolism adapts to the specific type of exercise utilized to produce exhaustion.

Behavior of beef-heart cytochrome c oxidase in reconstituted proteovesicles. A systemtic evaluation of the influence of phospholipid polar headgroup and fatty-acyl side chains

1. Phospholipid-depleted cytochrome c oxidase is incorporated in vesicles, built up of phospholipids of known polar headgroup and fatty-acyl side chains. 2. Maximal reactivation is obtained only when the fatty-acyl side chains provide a fluid environment. 3. Fluid zwitterionic phospholipids are found to be more efficient reactivators than fluid anionic ones. 4. Irrespective of the polar headgroup type, two narrow ranges of activation energies for the enzymatic reaction are calculated from the Arrhenius plots: 81--92 kJ/mol in solid and 51--61 kJ/mol in fluid conditions. 5. Cytochrome c oxidase is also incorporated in a series of vesicles, each built up of an equimolar amount of two phospholipids which differ in their polar headgroup type and/or their fatty-acyl side chain characteristics. From the localization of the enzyme activity profiles, obtained with these mixtures, tentative deductions are made about the preference of cytochrome c oxidase for different phospholipid molecules.

The effect of temperature and membrane lipid composition on the rate of beta-oxidation by Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli, strain D-1ML, was grown to mid-exponential phase at 14, 30 or 43 degrees C. Membrane fractions were prepared from cells grown at each temperature and analyzed with respect to the unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio and the effect of temperature on the rate of catalysis by succinate dichlorophenol reductase and the membrane-bound acyl-CoA synthetase. The ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids increased from 0.72 : 1.00 in cells grown at 43 degrees C to 1.46 : 1.00 in cells grown at 14 degrees C. The specific activity of succinate dichlorophenol reductase was increased by greater than two-fold in cells grown at 43 degrees C relative to the specific activity of the reductase from cells grown at 14 degrees C. In addition the activity of succinate dichlorophenol reductase responded to thermal phase transitions that were characteristic of membranes isolated from cells grown at the three different temperatures. In contrast the specific activity of acyl-CoA synthetase exhibited little or no variation as a function of the fatty acid composition of the membrane and the activity of the synthetase was not subject to thermal phase transitions. Comparison of Arrhenius plots of the oxidation of [U-14C]palmitoleate by whole cells and acyl-CoA synthetase activity with palmitoleate as substrate demonstrated that the two exhibited virtually identical Arrhenius activation energies and temperature optima. The Arrhenius plots of other soluble beta-oxidation enzymes do not resemble the provile of beta-oxidation. These data strongly suggest that the acyl-CoA synthetase which catalyzes the transport of fatty acids into E. coli by group translocation mechanism is the rate-limiting step in beta-oxidation in E. coli.

Studies on the mobilization of iron from ferritin by isolated rat liver mitochondria

Rat liver mitochondria and rat liver mitoplasts mobilize iron from ferritin by a mechanism which depends on a respiratory substrate (preferentially succinate), a small molecular weight electron mediator (FMN, phenazine methosulphate or methylene blue) and (near) anaerobic conditions. The release process under optimized conditions (approx. 50 mumol/1 FMN, 1 mmol/l succinate, 0.35 mmol/1 Fe(III) (as ferritin iron), 37 degrees C and pH 7.40) amounts to 0.9--1.2 nmol iron/mg protein per min. The results suggest that ferritin might function as an intermediate in the cytosolic transport of iron to the mitochondria.

Effect of temperature on the pathways of NADH-oxidation in broad-bean mitochondria

1. Respiration rates of broad-bean (Vicia faba) mitochondria were studied as a function of temperature. Arrhenius plots of all membrane-bound enzymes, as obtained with saturating substrate concentrations, revealed a break in the lower temperature range. That break was considered to indicate a phase transition of membrane phospholipids, characteristic for chilling-sensitive plants. A second discontinuity at 30°C occurred only with activities linked to energy conservation. - 2. The activation energies for the oxidation of NAD(+)-linked substrates differ between states 3 and 4. State 3 respiration of NAD(+)-linked substrates is the result a superimposition of two branches of electron transport, which can be separated by different sensibilities to rotenone. A characteristic temperature dependency of the respiratory control, as well as a shift of the low temperature break in the Arrhenius plot toward a higher temperature after state 4 to state 3 transition, are calculated to be caused by the superimposition of the two branches. - 3. The temperature dependency of the oxidation of extra-mitochondrial NADH and of succinate differs remarkably from that of the oxidation of matrix-NADH. It has been concluded that the rotenone-resistant oxidation of matrix-NADH and the oxidation of external NADH are mediated via different pathways with individual regulation sites.

The temperature dependence of State IV respiration, the calcium uptake system, and the activity of the calcium ionophore A23187 in mitochondria from endo- and ectothermic animals

1. Arrhenius plots of State IV respiratory activity of liver mitochondria from both rainbow trout and rat were linear over the temperature range 5-35 degrees C. 2. Calcium uptake was monitored by stimulation of oxygen consumption and by calcium electrode recording, with quite comparable results. Rainbow trout gave the usual linear Arrhenius plot but this plot for rat mitochondria exhibited two well-defined inflections or discontinuities. 3. The temperature dependence of the activity of the ionophore A23187 was investigated by measuring the increase in oxygen uptake following a sub-maximal dose of this drug. Again a linear relation was found for rainbow trout, but in this case the rat curves showed only a single inflection point. 4. These results are discussed in relation to other work on the effects of lipid phase transitions on mitochondrial membrane-associated systems.

Some biochemical properties of mitochondria isolated from Euglena gracilis

Mitochondria were isolated from Euglena gracilis strain Z by pressure-breakage of the cells and sucrose-cushion centrifugation. Multiple peaks (2-4) were observed in the rate of phosphorylation with Mg-ADP-phosphate concentration curves. The phosphorylative and oxidative activities were highest with NADH as the substrate, moderate with succinate, and lowest with glutamate. Inhibition of phosphorylation with 2,4-dinitrophenol and carbonyl cyanide, m-chlorophenylhydrazone gave sigmoidal concentration curves, with the extent of inhibition by DNP depending on the substrate used. Inhibition of phosphorylation by valinomycin, atractyloside, or carboxyatractyloside was only approximately 60%. Oligomycin inhibited phosphorylation in 2 phases at low and high concentrations; it inhibited Mg-ATPase in a sigmoidal fashion. Both phosphorylation and oxidation had discontinuities in Arrhenius plots at 34 C and 18 C. The relative Mg2+-dependent nucleoside triphosphatase activity was: 1 for ATP and GTP, 0.6 for ITP, 0.15 for CTP and UTP; with Ca2+ in place pf Mg2+ this activity was 0.35. Both DNP and CCCP stimulated the Mg-ATPase 50-200%. The optimal pH for the stimulation was approximately 7 regardless of the uncoupler used, and approximately 8 without the uncouplers. The few differences observed between mitochodria from Euglena and those from other sources are probably due to the fragmentation of the reticular mitochondrial structure during isolation and not to unique characteristics of these mitochondria.

Calorimetric and freeze fracture analysis of lipid phase transitions and lateral translational motion of intramembrane particles in mitochondrial membranes

Differential scanning calorimetry combined with freeze fracture electron microscopy reveals that thermotropic lipid phase transitions and lateral translational motion of intramembrane particles occur in both membranes of whole, intact rat liver mitochondria and in isolated inner and outer membranes. The onset temperature of the liquid crystalline to gel state lipid phase transition in whole mitochondria and in the isolated outer membrane fraction is biphasic with an initial transition exotherm occurring at 9 degrees C. The onset temperature of the transition exotherm of the isolated inner membrane occurs at -4 degrees C. The onset temperature of the lipid transition endotherm is -15 degrees C for whole mitochondria, the inner membrane, ane the outer membrane fractions. These calorimetric analyses reveal that the bilayer lipid in the inner, energy transducing membrane is more fluid than in the outer membrane. Mitochondrial membranes cooled to temperatures in the region of their transition exotherms and then frozen reveal striking lateral separations between smooth, intramembrane particle-free regions (rich in gel state lipid) and particle-dense regions (rich in integral proteins) in their hydrophobic fracture faces. Such thermotropic lipid-protein lateral separations are completely reversible. These freeze fracture observations suggest that both mitochondrial membranes are naturally fluid to the extent that the integrat membrane proteins can diffuse laterally in the bilayer lipid.

Activation parameters of the adenosine triphosphatase of Micrococcus lysodeikticus. A comparison of the soluble and membrane-bound forms of the enzyme

The Arrhenius plots for the membrane-bound ATPase and its soluble form purified from Micrococcus lysodeikticus, presented discontinuities near 30 degrees C at pH 7.5. Glycerol-containing lipids were not responsible for these discontinuities. The values of the enthalpies of activation were 12 (soluble) and 22 (membrane-bound) kcal/mol (50.2 and 92.0 kJ/mol) above 30 degrees C and 42 (soluble) and 29 (membrane-bound) kcal/mol (175.7 and 121.3 kJ/mol) below that temperature. The results suggested that both molecular forms of the ATPase were able to adopt at least two different structures, above and below the critical temperature. Of the two, only the high-temperature structure seemed to be enzymically active. In the case of lipid-dependent ATPases, such as the Escherichia coli enzyme, the transition between both enzyme structures probably occurred with simultaneous "melting" of their lipid microenvironment.

Protein-liposome interactions and their relevance to the structure and function of cell membranes

Recent studies on the interactions of soluble proteins, membrane proteins and enzymes with phospholipid model membranes are reviewed. Similarities between the properties of such systems and the behavior of biomembranes, such as alterations in the redox potential of cytochrome c after binding to membranes and effects of phospholipid fluidity on (Na+K) ATPase activity, are emphasized. The degree of correspondence between the behavior of model systems and natural membranes encourages the continuing use of model membranes in studies on protein-lipid interactions. However, some of the data on the increase of surface pressure of phospholipid monolayers by proteins and increases in the permeability of liposomes indicate that many soluble proteins also have a capability to interact hydrophobically with phospholipids. Thus a sharp distinction between both peripheral and integral membrane proteins and non-membrane proteins are not seen by these techniques. Cautious use of such studies, however, should lead to greater understanding of the molecular basis of cell membrane structure and function in normal and pathological states. Studies implicating protein-lipid interactions and (Na+K) ATPase activity in membrane alterations in disease states are also briefly discussed.

The uptake and extrusion of monovalent cations by isolated heart mitochondria

The factors involved in the movement of monovalent cations across the inner membrane of the isolate heart mitochondrion are reviewed. The evidence suggests that the energy-dependent uptake of K+ and Na+ which results in swelling of the matrix is an electrophoretic response to a negative internal potential. There are no clear cut indications that this electrophoretic cation movement is carrier-mediated and possible modes of entry which do not require a carrier are examined. The evidence also suggests that the monovalent cation for proton exchanger (Na+ greater than K+) present in the membrane may participate in the energy-dependent extrusion of accumulated ions. The two processes, electrophoreti c cation uptake (swelling) and exchange-dependent cation extrusion (contraction) may represent a means of controlling the volume of the mitochondrion within the functioning cell. A number of indications point to the possibility that the volume control process may be mediated by the divalent cations Ca+2 and Mg+2. Studies with mercurial reagents also implicate certain membrane thiol groups in the postulated volume control process.

Alterations in phospholipid-dependent (Na+ +K+)-ATPase activity due to lipid fluidity. Effects of cholesterol and Mg2+

The (Na+ +K+)-activated, Mg2+-dependent ATPase from rabbit kidney outer medulla was prepared in a partially inactivated, soluble form depleted of endogenous phospholipids, using deoxycholate. This preparation was reactivated 10 to 50-fold by sonicated liposomes of phosphatidylserine, but not by non-sonicated phosphatidylserine liposomes or sonicated phosphatidylcholine liposomes. The reconstituted enzyme resembled native membrane preparations of (Na+ +K+)-ATPase in its pH optimum being around 7.0, showing optimal activity at Mg2+:ATP mol ratios of approximately 1 and a Km value for ATP of 0.4 mM. Arrhenius plots of this reactivated activity at a constant pH of 7.0 and an Mg2+: ATP mol ratio of 1:1 showed a discontinuity (sharp change of slope) at 17 degrees C, with activation energy (Ea) values of 13-15 kcal/mol above this temperature and 30-35 kcal below it. A further discontinuity was also found at 8.0 degrees C and the Ea below this was very high (greater than 100 kcal/mol). Increased Mg2+ concentrations at Mg2+:ATP ratios in excess of 1:1 inhibited the (Na+ +K+)-ATPase activity and also abolished the discontinuities in the Arrhenius plots. The addition of cholesterol to phosphatidylserine at a 1:1 mol ratio partially inhibited (Na+ +K+)-ATPase reactivation. Arrhenius plots under these conditions showed a single discontinuity at 20 degrees C and Ea values of 22 and 68 kcal/mol above and below this temperature respectively. The ouabain-insensitive Mg2+-ATPase normally showed a linear Arrhenius plot with an Ea of 8 kcal/mol. The cholesterol-phosphatidylserine mixed liposomes stimulated the Mg2+-ATPase activity, which now also showed a discontinuity at 20 degrees C with, however, an increased value of 14 kcal/mol above this temperature and 6 kcal/mol below. Kinetic studies showed that cholesterol had no significant effect on the Km values for ATP. Since both cholesterol and Mg2+ are known to alter the effects of temperature on the fluidity of phospholipids, the above results are discussed in this context.

The role of phospholipid acyl chains in the activation of mitochondrial ATPase complex

1. The role of length and unsaturation of phospholipid acyl chains in the activation of ATPase complex was studied with synthetic phosphatidylcholines and a phospholipid-dependent preparation obtained after cholate-extraction of submitochondrial particles (Kagawa, Y. and Racker, E. (1966) J. Biol. Chem. 241, 2467--2474). 2. Micelle-forming, short-chain phosphatidylcholines produced activation only at critical micellar concentration. The reactivated complex was cold-stable but the oligomycin sensitivity was low. 3. Bilayer-forming saturated phosphatidylcholines produced activation which was maximal at 9 carbon atoms in each chain but decreased sharply as the chain-length was increased and essentially disappeared at 14 carbon atoms. By contrast the oligomycin-sensitivity increased with the increase in chain length. 4. Activation of ATPase complex reappeared when bilayers were formed with long-chain unsaturated phosphatidylcholines. The activity was oligomycin sensitive. Significant inhibition of activity was observed also after incorporation of cholesterol into the bilayers. 5. By contrast the activation induced by negatively charged liposomes of diacylphosphatidylglycerol was independent on acyl-chain composition and occurred at very low amounts of phospholipid. 6. The discontinuity in the Arrhenius plot of activity of the ATPase complex reactivated with saturated phospholipids was found at temperatures close to the gel-to-liquid crystalline transition of the lipid showing that the activity of ATPase complex was sensitive to the physical state of membrane phospholipids. 7. It is concluded that (a) reactivation of ATPase complex by isoelectric phospholipids is an interfacial activation, the minimum requirement for the lipid effect being micelle formation. (b) In order to gain the properties of the native complex a stable lamellar phase is needed. Both activity and oligomycin sensitivity are regulated by the chain length and degree of unsaturation of phospholipid acyl chains.