Uncoupling of respiration-linked contraction in corn mitochondria

Oxidative phosphorylation in pea cotyledon submitochondrial particles

Mitochondria and submitochondrial particles (SMP) from pea cotyledons were shown to catalyze oxidative phosphorylation as measured by (32)Pi uptake into phosphate esters. ATP synthesis was sensitive to the electron transport inhibitor KCN, the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, and the coupling factor inhibitor oligomycin. Experiments with the adenine nucleotide translocator inhibitor atractyloside indicated the SMP were inside-out. Mersalyl completely inhibited ATP synthesis by SMP, and a separate experiment indicated that mersalyl has a direct effect on the ATPase complex. The kinetics of ATP synthesis indicated a high affinity for phosphate (K(m) = 0.18 millimolar). ADP kinetics gave a biphasic curve with K(m) values of about 4.8 and 160 micromolar. O(2) uptake and ATP synthesis had a pH maximum of 7.6 while the ratio of micromoles phosphate esterified to microatoms O(2) taken up was highest at pH 7.2. Sodium chloride inhibited both ATP synthesis and O(2) uptake but stimulated the ATPase reaction. The SMP also catalyzed a slow ATP-phosphate exchange reaction.

Kaempferol inhibitions of corn mitochondrial phosphorylation

Kaempferol (3, 5, 7, 4'tetrahydroxyflavone) inhibited the rate of state 3 substrate oxidation, but not the state 4 rate. This, along with the kaempferol inhibition of substrate-driven calcium-phosphate deposition, provided evidence that kaempferol was acting specifically on the phosphorylation mechanism and not on electron transfer. Kaempferol, however, did not inhibit ATP-driven contraction while oligomycin did. Comparisons of kaempferol with mersalyl indicated that kaempferol did not inhibit phosphorylation by blocking phosphate transport. Both kaempferol and 2,4-dinitrophenol inhibited calcium-phosphate transport, but kaempferol did not stimulate respiration to the extent that 2,4-dinitrophenol did under acceptorless conditions. Kaempferol had no effect on NADH-driven contraction in a potassium chloride reaction medium. The site of kaempferol effect is thus seen to be unique from oligomycin and more like aurovertin, likely acting before the formation of the phosphorylated high energy intermediate, but not as an uncoupler in the traditional 2,4-dinitrophenol mode.

The Stoichiometry of Respiration-driven Potassium Transport in Corn Mitochondria

Determinations were made for corn (Zea mays L., WF9-Tms x M14) mitochondria of the stoichiometric relationship between K(+) transport and bond energy produced in respiration (K(+)/ approximately ratio). With inward pumping of potassium acetate activated by NADH oxidation, the initial rate of K(+) transported into the sucrose inaccessible space varied between 0.58 and 0.97 K(+)/ approximately , assuming 2 high energy bond equivalents per NADH oxidized. Only small amounts of H(+) were ejected. Valinomycin did not alter the ratio.Efflux pumping of K(+) in KCl media gave a K(+)/ approximately of 0.92. Substituting sucrose for KCl caused a drop in respiration and H(+) ejection, indicating a requirement for cation efflux pumping in acceptorless respiration. Valinomycin added to the KCl medium accelerated passive swelling but did not impair subsequent efflux pumping, although respiration was partially uncoupled.

Necessary conditions for isolation of tightly coupled higher plant mitochondria

A number of parameters associated with the isolation of plant mitochondria were carefully examined in the hope of optimizing the isolation technique. Dark-grown mung bean (Phaseolus aureus var. Jumbo) hypocotyls were used as the source of mitochondria. Necessary conditions for the isolation of tightly coupled plant mitochondria include: (a) gentle tissue disruption; (b) rigorous exclusion of contaminating particles from the mitochondrial fraction; (c) the use of an optimal grinding medium containing a high concentration of mannitol, 10 mm phosphate or triethanolamine buffer to maintain the pH above 7.2, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid at 1 mm level, cysteine at a low concentration (0-5 mm), and a high concentration of bovine serum albumin (0.1-1.0%); and (d) the use of the proper wash and suspending medium consisting of mannitol, buffer, and bovine serum albumin at the same concentration as in the grinding medium.