Synthesis and hydrolysis of ATP and the phosphate-ATP exchange reaction in soluble mitochondrial F1 in the presence of dimethylsulfoxide

The nuclear encoded subunits gamma, delta and epsilon from the shrimp mitochondrial F1-ATP synthase, and their transcriptional response during hypoxia

The mitochondrial FOF1 ATP synthase produces ATP in a reaction coupled to an electrochemical proton gradient generated by the electron transfer chain. The enzyme also hydrolyzes ATP according to the energy requirements of the organism. Shrimp need to overcome low oxygen concentrations in water and other energetic stressors, which in turn lead to mitochondrial responses. The aim of this study was to characterize the full-length cDNA sequences of three subunits that form the central stalk of the F1 catalytic domain of the ATP synthase of the white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei and their deduced proteins. The effect of hypoxia on shrimp was also evaluated by measuring changes in the mRNA amounts of these subunits. The cDNA sequences of the nucleus-encoded ATPγ, ATPδ and ATPε subunits are 1382, 477 and 277 bp long, respectively. The three deduced amino acid sequences exhibited highly conserved regions when compared to homologous sequences, and specific substitutions found in shrimp subunits are discussed through an homology structural model of F1 ATP-synthase that included the five deduced proteins, which confirm their functional structures and specific characteristics from the cognate complex of ATP synthases. Genes expression was evaluated during hypoxia-reoxygenation, and resulted in a generalized down-regulation of the F1 subunits and no coordinated changes were detected among these five subunits. The reduced mRNA levels suggest a mitochondrial response to an oxidative stress event, similar to that observed at ischemia-reperfusion in mammals. This model analysis and responses to hypoxia-reoxygenation may help to better understand additional mitochondrial adaptive mechanisms.

Properties of bound inorganic phosphate on bovine mitochondrial F1F0-ATP synthase

Beef-heart mitochondrial F1F0-ATP synthase contained six molecules of bound inorganic phosphate (Pi). This phosphate exchanged completely with exogenous 32Pi when the enzyme was exposed to 30% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and then returned to a DMSO-free buffer (Beharry and Bragg 2001). Only two molecules were replaced by 32Pi when the enzyme was not pretreated with DMSO. These two molecules of 32Pi were not displaced from the enzyme by the treatment with 1 mM ATP. Similarly, two molecules of bound 32Pi remained on the DMSO-pretreated enzyme following addition of ATP, that is, four molecules of 32Pi were displaced by ATP. The ATP-resistant 32Pi was removed from the enzyme by pyrophosphate. It is proposed that these molecules of 32Pi are bound at an unfilled adenine nucleotide-binding noncatalytic site on the enzyme. Brief exposure of the enzyme loaded with two molecules of 32Pi to DMSO, followed by removal of the DMSO, resulted in the loss of the bound 32Pi and in the formation of two molecules of bound ATP from exogenous ADP. A third catalytic site on the enzyme was occupied by ATP, which could undergo a Pi <--> ATP exchange reaction with bound Pi. The presence of two catalytic sites containing bound Pi is consistent with the X-ray crystallographic structure of F1 (Bianchet, et al., 1998). Thus, five of the six molecules of bound Pi were accounted for. Three molecules of bound Pi were at catalytic sites and participated in ATP synthesis or Pi <--> ATP exchange. Two other molecules of bound Pi were present at a noncatalytic adenine nucleotide-binding site. The location and role of the remaining molecule of bound Pi remains to be established. We were unable to demonstrate, using chemical modification of sulfhydryl groups by iodoacetic acid, any gross difference in the conformation of F1F0 in DMSO-containing compared with DMSO-free buffers.

Phosphate exchange and ATP synthesis by DMSO-pretreated purified bovine mitochondrial ATP synthase

Purified soluble bovine mitochondrial F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase contained 2 mol of ATP, 2 mol of ADP and 6 mol of P(i)/mol. Incubation of this enzyme with 1 mM [(32)P]P(i) caused the exchange of 2 mol of P(i)/mol of F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase. The labelled phosphates were not displaced by ATP. Transfer of F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase to a buffer containing 30% (v/v) DMSO and 1 mM [(32)P]P(i) resulted in the loss of bound nucleotides with the retention of 1 mol of ATP/mol of F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase. Six molecules of [(32)P]P(i) were incorporated by exchange with the existing bound phosphate. Removal of the DMSO by passage of the enzyme through a centrifuged column of Sephadex G-50 resulted in the exchange of one molecule of bound [(32)P]P(i) into the bound ATP. Azide did not prevent this [(32)P]P(i)<-->ATP exchange reaction. The bound labelled ATP could be displaced from the enzyme by exogenous ATP. Addition of ADP to the DMSO-pretreated F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase in the original DMSO-free buffer resulted in the formation of an additional molecule of bound ATP. It was concluded that following pretreatment with and subsequent removal of DMSO the F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase contained one molecule of ATP at a catalytic site which was competent to carry out a phosphate-ATP exchange reaction using enzyme-bound inorganic radiolabelled phosphate. In the presence of ADP an additional molecule of labelled ATP was formed from enzyme-bound P(i) at a second catalytic site. The bound phosphate-ATP exchange reaction is not readily accommodated by current mechanisms for the ATP synthase.