Isolation of metabolically-active subcellular particles from etiolated cotton seedling hypocotyls using bovine serum albumin in preparative medium

Oxidative and phosphorylative activities of mitochondria isolated from cotton hypocotyls

Mitochondria isolated from 2 strains of cotton plant hypocotyls (Gossypium hirsutum L. var. Rex smooth leaf and Rex glandless) were examined for their oxidative phosphorylation activities. Bovine serum albumin at a relatively high concentration was essential in the extraction medium for the isolation of oxidatively active mitochondria from both strains of cotton. Phosphorylation was obtained only with Rex glandless cotton mitochondria. This activity was low in comparison to the mitochondria isolated from soybeans (Glycine max L. var. Lee). The endogenous gossypol content was found to be much higher in the Rex smooth leaf tissue than in the Rex glandless tissue. In turn, comparable gossypol differences were found associated with their respective mitochondrial fractions. Exogenous gossypol uncoupled succinate oxidation with active mitochondria isolated from soybeans. Gossypol as a possible uncoupler is discussed and compared to carbonyl cyanide, m-chlorophenyl hydrazone and 2,4-dinitrophenol.

Uncoupling of energy-linked functions of corn mitochondria by linoleic Acid and monomethyldecenylsuccinic Acid

Linoleic acid and monomethyldecenylsuccinic acid were tested as uncoupling agents for energy linked functions of corn mitochondria. 2,4-dinitrophenol was used as a standard for comparison. Both compounds uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation, released oligomycin-blocked respiration, and accelerated adenosine triphosphatase. Linoleic acid uncoupled calcium-activated phosphate accumulation and the increase in light scattering that accompanies the accumulation. Unlike dinitrophenol, linoleic acid at 0.1 mm had a destructive effect on membrane semipermeability. Kinetic studies indicated that dinitrophenol and linoleic acid compete with phosphate for active sites in oxidative phosphorylation.Some linoleic acid is taken up by respiring mitochondria and a major share of the uptake is incorporated into phospholipids. Calcium ion and oligomycin promote the uptake, but coenzyme A does not. It is deduced that fatty acid probably attacks the non-phosphorylated intermediate, I approximately X, producing X approximately acyl. Uncoupling results from breakdown of X approximately acyl, but sufficient X approximately acyl is maintained to serve as a source of activated fatty acid.

Effect of gossypol on some oxidative respiratory enzymes

Gossypol was examined in relation to its effect on certain enzymes and enzyme complexes associated with the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the electron transport system. Succinic dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase activity from sweet potato was completely inhibited by gossypol at 7.5 x 10(-3)m and 2.0 x 10(-3)m, respectively. Succinoxidase activity of the same preparations was fully inhibited at a lower concentration, 2.5 x 10(-4)m. This concentration did not affect either succinic dehydrogenase or cytochrome oxidase, the primary and terminal enzymes of the succinoxidase complex. The nature of the intermediate step or steps inhibited at this concentration is not yet known. Gossypol was further shown to inhibit phosphorylation at concentrations having no appreciable effect on oxidation. Inhibition in general was not reduced by increased substrate concentrations in the enzyme systems examined, with the exception of cytochrome c for cytochrome oxidase. Bovine serum albumin was partially effective in reducing gossypol inhibition, provided that it was present before enzyme exposure to gossypol.

PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF A MITOCHONDRIAL FRACTION FROM WHEAT STEM RUST UREDOSPORES

Ungerminated uredospores of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici Erikss. & Henn. race 15B were disrupted in a buffered sucrose serum albumin solution, using a "Teflon" pestle homogenizer and glass beads 80 μ in diameter. A particulate fraction was sedimented between 2000 and 30,000 × g and its oxidation of Krebs' cycle acids measured manometrically. Endogenous respiration of washed preparations was low or negligible. Oxygen uptake was observed with succinate (40 to 60 μl/hour mg protein), α-ketoglutarate, malate, citrate, and isocitrate (10 to 30 μl/hour mg protein) but not with fumarate or pyruvate. Succinate oxidation was sensitive to heat, cyanide, and malonate.Aspects of the extraction procedure were examined for effects on yield and activity. Serum albumin in the grinding medium, very low grinding speed, and short grinding time favored high activity per mg protein. Glass beads increased the yield with the "Teflon" pestle while an all-glass homogenizer gave preparations of low activity.Oxidatively active particle suspensions reduced Janus green B and were shown by electron microscopy to consist of vesicles and some mitochondria.