Synchronized transcriptional gene expression of H+-ATP synthase subunits in different tissues of Fischer 344 rats of different ages

Nuclear and mitochondrial subunits from the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei F(0)F(1) ATP-synthase complex: cDNA sequence, molecular modeling, and mRNA quantification of atp9 and atp6

We studied for the first time the ATP-synthase complex from shrimp as a model to understand the basis of crustacean bioenergetics since they are exposed to endogenous processes as molting that demand high amount of energy. We analyzed the cDNA sequence of two subunits of the Fo sector from mitochondrial ATP-synthase in the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. The nucleus encoded atp9 subunit presents a 773 bp sequence, containing a signal peptide sequence only observed in crustaceans, and the mitochondrial encoded atp6 subunit presents a sequence of 675 bp, and exhibits high identity with homologous sequences from invertebrate species. ATP9 and ATP6 protein structural models interaction suggest specific functional characteristics from both proteins in the mitochondrial enzyme. Differences in the steady-state mRNA levels of atp9 and atp6 from five different tissues correlate with tissue function. Moreover, significant changes in the mRNA levels of both subunits at different molt stages were detected. We discussed some insights about the enzyme structure and the regulation mechanisms from both ATP-synthase subunits related to the energy requirements of shrimp.

Regulation of mitochondrial morphology and cell survival by Mitogenin I and mitochondrial single-stranded DNA binding protein

We found that a mouse homolog of human DNA polymerase delta interacting protein 38, referred to as Mitogenin I in this paper, and mitochondrial single-stranded DNA-binding protein (mtSSB), identified as upregulated genes in the heart of mice with juvenile visceral steatosis, play a role in the regulation of mitochondrial morphology. We demonstrated that overexpression of Mitogenin I or mtSSB increased elongated or fragmented mitochondria in mouse C2C12 myoblast cells, respectively. On the other hand, the silencing of Mitogenin I or mtSSB by RNA interference led to an increase in fragmented or elongated mitochondria in the cells, respectively, suggesting that Mitogenin I and mtSSB are involved in the processes of mitochondrial fusion and fission, respectively. In addition, we showed that the silencing of Mitogenin I resulted in an increase in the number of trypan blue-positive cells and the silencing of mtSSB resulted in an enhancement of the sensitivity of the cells to apoptotic stimulation by etoposide. The present results demonstrated that these proteins play a role in cell survival.

Investigation of Differentially Expressed Genes in the Ventricular Myocardium of Senescent Rats

Aging alters a variety of physiological functions of the heart. The molecular basis of the age-related functional changes has not been fully understood. Differential gene expression provides the basis for many fundamental cellular processes associated with development and aging. The identification and cloning of genes whose expression is modulated by aging can be of importance for our better understanding of these age-related phenomena. In order to isolate and characterize gene products differentially expressed in senescent hearts, we applied a differential display method for screening those genes in rat ventricular myocardium. Total RNAs were isolated from 2-month-old (young) and 24-month-old rat (senescent) ventricles by the acid-guanidium-phenol-chloroform method. The first-strand synthesis of the cDNAs from each RNA was carried out with oligo-d(T) primers. The differential display screening was performed with three arbitrary primers and eight anchor primers, and the products were isolated on a 6% denaturing polyacrylamide gel. The bands showing differential expression were excised and subcloned into T-vector. We selected 19 upregulated clones and 66 downregulated clones in aged rat hearts. The differential expression of those candidate genes was confirmed by reverse Northern blot analysis. The selected genes were sequenced by dye-terminator methods. Among 31 clones, 15 clones were unknown. The known products included alpha-myosin heavy chain, cytochrome oxidase subunit, H(+)-transporting ATP synthase F0 complex subunit c isoform 3 (ATP5G3), and Na(+)-K(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter. The RT-PCR differential display method effectively identified genes differentially expressed in senescent hearts, and may be a useful tool for investigating factors responsible for age-related physiological changes.

Identification of three isoforms for mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocator in the pufferfish Takifugu rubripes

Three adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) genes were identified through in silico data mining of the Fugu genome database along with isolation of their corresponding cDNAs in vivo from the pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes). As a result of phylogenetic analysis, the ANT gene on scaffold_254 corresponded to mammalian ANT1, whereas both of those on scaffold_6 and scaffold_598 to mammalian ANT3. The ANT gene encoded by scaffold_6 was expressed ubiquitously in various tissues, whereas the ANT genes encoded by scaffold_254 and scaffold_598 were predominantly expressed in skeletal muscle and heart, respectively.

CDNA cloning and expression of ATP synthase subunit b from the fire-bellied frog Bombina orientalis (Anura: Discoglossidae)

We cloned the Bombina orientalis adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase subunit b gene from a B. orientalis oviduct cDNA library. The transcript was 997 bp long and encoded 250 amino acid residues. It showed high similarity to amphibian (84-85%), mammalian (56-62%) and invertebrate (46-50%) sequences. In phylogenetic analyses, it clustered with other amphibian sequences. This gene was highly expressed in brain, intestine and oviduct but not in muscle and liver. In this paper, we report the basic characteristics of B. orientalis ATP synthase subunit b gene.

Changes of carp FoF1-ATPase in association with temperature acclimation

Previously we have shown, using two-dimensional electrophoresis, that mitochondrial ATP synthase (F(o)F(1)-ATPase) beta-subunit is the 55-kDa protein increased in cold-acclimated carp Cyprinus carpio (Kikuchi K, Itoi S, and Watabe S. Fisheries Sci 65: 629-636, 1999). To clarify the coordinate expression in various subunits of carp F(o)F(1)-ATPase with temperature acclimation, we examined the differences in mRNA levels of mitochondrial proteins encoded by both nuclear and mitochondrial genes in fast muscle of carp acclimated to 10 and 30 degrees C. The mRNA levels of nuclear genes per unit weight of total RNA were nearly twofold higher in the 10 degrees C- than 30 degrees C-acclimated carp. However, the transcripts of mitochondrial genes for the 10 degrees C-acclimated carp in terms of the same comparing unit were six to seven times as much as those for the 30 degrees C-acclimated carp. The F(o)F(1)-ATPase activities measured at 10, 25, and 30 degrees C were nearly twofold higher for the cold-acclimated fish than their warm-acclimated counterparts. Such quantitative and qualitative changes in carp F(o)F(1)-ATPase may contribute to extra ATP production required to compensate for energy balance at suboptimal temperatures.