Structure function studies on the lipoate-acetyltransferase--component-X-core assembly of the ox heart pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

Characterization of the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase of the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from potato and comparisons with similar enzymes in diverse plant species

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (mPDC) from potato (Solanum tuberosum cv. Romano) can be disassociated in 1 M NaCl and 0.1 M glycine into a large dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2) complex and smaller pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) and dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) complexes. The E2 complex consists of 55 and 78-kDa polypeptides which are reversibly radiolabelled to a similar degree in the intact mPDC by [2-14C]pyruvate. Affinity-purified antibodies against the 55-kDa protein do not cross-react with the 78-kDa protein and the two proteins show different peptide patterns following partial proteolysis. The 78 and 55-kDa proteins are present in approximately equal abundance in the E2 complex and incorporate a similar amount of [14C] on incubation with [2-14C]pyruvate. Native mPDC and the E2 complex have sedimentation coefficients of 50S and 30S, respectively. Titration of electro-eluted polypeptides against the intact mPDC and E2 complex revealed that each mg of mPDC contains 0.4 mg of E1, 0.4 mg of E2 and 0.2 mg of E3. Labelling of partially purified mPDC from potato, pea, cauliflower, maize and barley, with [2-14C]pyruvate, suggest that a 78-kDa acetylatable protein is only found in the dicotyledonous species, while all plant species tested contained a smaller 52-60 kDa acetylatable protein.

Characterization of the autoantibody responses to recombinant E3 binding protein (protein X) of pyruvate dehydrogenase in primary biliary cirrhosis

Autoantibodies to the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) are present in the serum of more than 95% of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), the major epitope being the inner lipoyl domain of the E2 component. Immunoblotting suggests a similar prevalence of antibodies to a tightly associated lipoic acid-containing protein, E3 binding protein (E3BP). Attempts to resolve E3BP from E2 have been unsuccessful, restricting study of the nature and significance of antibody responses to the individual proteins. In particular, it is unclear (1) whether there is true cross-reactivity between E3BP and E2 and, if so, which is the originating response and (2) whether autoantibodies preferentially bind a lipoylated epitope on E3BP as is the case with PDC-E2. In this study, complementary DNAs encoding rE2, full-length rE3BP, its single lipoyl domain (rLip), and core domain (rE3BPCore) were cloned, and the proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli. Sera from 47 PBC patients were studied by immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against rE2, rE3BP, rE3BPCore, and both unlipoylated (U) and lipoylated (L) rLip. All sera were reactive by ELISA to some degree with all recombinant proteins except rE3BPCore, to which only 6 of 47 showed any reactivity. Significant correlations (P <.0001) were observed when comparing absorbance values for rE3BP with both rLip (U) (r = 0.793) and (L) (r = 0.963). The mean absorbance for rLip (U, 0.26 +/- 0.05) was, however, significantly lower than the absorbance for rLip (L) (0.78 +/- 0.12; P <.0001). After probing by immunoblotting and elution of antibodies from rE2 and rE3BP, subsequent reprobing against the components in whole PDC revealed true cross-reactivity. In summary, the response to E3BP is primarily directed against the lipoylated domain of the protein. It still remains unclear, however, whether the initial breakdown of tolerance is to E2 or E3BP.

Stoichiometry, organisation and catalytic function of protein X of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from bovine heart

Mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) contains a subunit, protein X, which mediates high-affinity binding of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3)to the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2) core. Precise stoichiometric determinations on bovine heart PDC, by means of two approaches, indicate the presence of 12 mol protein X/mol PDC and 60 mol E2/mol PDC. Studies of the organisation of collagenase-modified PDC by means of covalent cross-linking of N,N'-1,2-phenylenedimaleimide to lipoamide thiols on protein X, reveal that the main cross-linked products have Mr values corresponding to homodimers of protein X. However, significant formation of higher-Mr aggregates indicates that lipoyl domains of protein X can form an interacting network independent of E2 lipoyl domains. These data suggest that either 12 interacting X monomers or 6 interacting X dimers are involved in the binding of six E3 homodimers to the E2/X core. The presence of 60 E2 subunits/complex also supports proposals for a non-integrated external position of protein X. Collagenase-treated PDC possesses residual activity (15 %), indicating that protein-X-linked lipoamide groups can substitute for the lipoyl domains of E2 in overall complex catalysis. Protein-X-mediated diacetylation of dihydrolipoamide moieties is also performed by the modified complex which raises the possibility of a unique catalytic function for protein X.

Mitochondrial antigens, molecular mimicry and autoimmune disease

The immune system is normally tolerant to mitochondrial self-antigens, but responsive against bacteria. Low-titre anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA) might be involved in this discrimination. Tolerance is broken in diseases characterised by high titre AMA. Some of these AMA, against cardiolipin, cross-react with DNA. The best studied AMA are those characterising primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). These are directed against E2 subunits of the oxo-acid dehydrogenase complexes, and also against subunits E1 alpha, E1 beta and X of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. AMA of PBC patients also react with bacterial E2s. Reactivities are primarily peptide-specific but with cross-reactivity between mitochondrial and microbial antigens and between E2s of respective complexes. Immunodominant epitopes, for anti E2 AMA, include the conserved sequence flanking the site of lipoyl attachment. It is proposed that the initial stimulus for antibody production is chronic urinary tract infection. AMA themselves are not pathogenic, but CD4+ T-cells would be primed, recognising the lipoyl domain epitope in association with class II HLA. Inappropriate expression of class II antigens on bile duct epithelia, (as found in PBC), might lead to presentation of a particular fragment of HLA-DR alpha, known to be a major MHC presented self-peptide in the mouse. That sequence strongly mimics the lipoyl domain and might be recognised by primed T-cells, initiating the autoimmune cascade. In the mouse, a peptide of ND1 of Complex I is presented in association with class I MHC. Cells exhibiting somatic mutation of such a peptide might thus be subject to attack by CD8+ T-cells. If such peptides were presented by class II HLA, autoimmune diseases might arise, related to mimicry between such peptides and microbial sequences and/or self-antigens. These considerations might apply in Leber's disease and in age-related pathology.

Isolation and characterisation of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex of anaerobically grown Enterococcus faecalis NCTC 775

In this contribution the isolation and some of the structural and kinetic properties of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) of anaerobically grown Enterococcus faecalis are described. The complex closely resembles the PDC of other Gram-positive bacteria and eukaryotes. It consists of four polypeptide chains with apparent molecular masses on SDS/PAGE of 97, 55, 42 and 36 kDa, and these polypeptides could be assigned to dihydrolipoyl transacetylase (E2), lipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) and the two subunits of pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1 alpha and E1 beta), respectively. The E2 core has an icosahedral symmetry. The apparent molecular mass on SDS/PAGE of 97 kDa of the E2 chain is extremely high in comparison with other Gram-positive organisms (and eukaryotes) and probably due to several lipoyl domains associated with the E2 chain. NADH inhibition is mediated via E3. The mechanism of inhibition is discussed in view of the high PDC activities in vivo that are found in E. faecalis, grown under anaerobic conditions.

Familial intermittent ataxia due to a defect of the E1 component of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

Disturbances of pyruvate metabolism have been implicated in the aetiology of several neurological disorders including Leigh's disease and familial ataxia. We have re-investigated a patient whose initial description documented intermittent ataxia, a presumed disorder of pyruvate metabolism and an X-linked pattern of inheritance. Recent studies showed he had slow oxidation of pyruvate, low pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) activity and immunochemical evidence of E1 deficiency in skeletal muscle mitochondria. This is consistent with the recent finding that the gene for E1 alpha is on the X chromosome.

Component X of mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex: structural and functional relationship to the lipoate acetyltransferase (E2) component

The lipoate acetyltransferase (E2, Mr 70,000) and protein X (Mr 51,000) subunits of the bovine pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (PDC) core assembly are antigenically distinct polypeptides. However comparison of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the E2 and X polypeptides reveals significant homology between the two components. Selective tryptic release of the 14C-labelled acetylated lipoyl domains of E2 and protein X from native PDC generates stable, radiolabelled 34 and 15 kDa fragments, respectively. Thus, in contrast to E2 which contains two tandemly-arranged lipoyl domains, protein X appears to contain only a single lipoyl domain located at its N-terminus.

Antimitochondrial autoantibodies in primary biliary cirrhosis recognize cross-reactive epitope(s) on protein X and dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

Antimitochondrial autoantibodies are characteristically present in sera of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. The antimitochondrial autoantibodies recognize four major antigens from beef heart mitochondria at relative molecular weights of 74, 56, 52 and 48 kD. In the present study, we report that the 56 kD antigen is the protein X of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and that it possesses cross-reactive antimitochondrial autoantibody epitope(s) with the 74 kD antigen, the acetyltransferase (E2) of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. This was demonstrated by comparing the specificities of primary biliary cirrhosis sera with a protein X-specific rabbit antiserum and by absorbing primary biliary cirrhosis sera with recombinant pyruvate dehydrogenase-E2 fusion protein. In the two-dimensional gel analysis, primary biliary cirrhosis sera and protein X-specific rabbit antiserum reacted to the same two isoelectric point polypeptides at 56 kD molecular weight. The absorption of primary biliary cirrhosis sera with the human recombinant pyruvate dehydrogenase-E2 removed reactivity toward both the 74 and 56 kD antigens. Furthermore, analysis of 82 antimitochondrial autoantibody-positive primary biliary cirrhosis sera by immunoblotting did not reveal any sera which reacted solely against either the 74 or 56 kD antigen. Finally, primary biliary cirrhosis sera recognized protein X from human, bovine and porcine sources but not protein X from rat or mouse origin. The identification of protein X as another major target of the autoimmune response in primary biliary cirrhosis suggests that the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex may have a central role in the induction of this enigmatic disease.

Identification and analysis of the major M2 autoantigens in primary biliary cirrhosis

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized by the presence of antimitochondrial antibodies in the serum. It is possible that the PBC-specific immunoreactive trypsin-sensitive antigens on the inner mitochondrial membrane, termed M2, are important in the pathogenesis of this autoimmune disease. We have previously shown that a major M2"a" antigen is the E2 component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex located within mitochondria. Analysis of the primary structure of the E2 components of all three 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complexes reveals a high degree of homology with a similar highly segmented structure including lipoyl domains, E3-binding domains, C-terminal catalytic domains, and interdomain linker sequences. Immunoblotting of PBC patients' sera against purified E2 protein from 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex and branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex reveals that these polypeptides are also autoantigens in this disease. Sera from 29 of 40 (72.5%) PBC patients gave a positive response against bovine 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex E2 and from 25 of 40 (62.5%) PBC patients gave a positive response against bovine branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex E2. All 40 PBC patients (100%) have autoantibodies directed against at least one of the E2 components of the family of 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complexes. Identification of these M2 mitochondrial autoantigens and detailed knowledge of their structure will allow important questions concerning this autoimmune disease to be addressed.