Biogenetic autonomy of mitochondria

Biogenesis of Mitochondria: Analysis of Deletion of Mitochondrial Antibiotic Resistance Markers in Petite Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Yeast strains carrying markers in several mitochondrial antibiotic resistance loci have been employed in a study of the retention and deletion of mitochondrial genes in cytoplasmic petite mutants. An assessment is made of the results in terms of the probable arrangement and linkage of mitochondrial genetic markers. The results are indicative of the retention of continuous stretches of the mitochondrial genome in most petite mutants, and it is therefore possible to propose a gene order based on co-retention of different markers. The order par, mik1, oli1 is suggested from the petite studies in the case of three markers not previously assigned an unambiguous order by analysis of mitochondrial gene recombination. The frequency of separation of markers by deletion in petites was of an order similar to that obtained by recombination in polar crosses, except in the case of the ery1 and cap1 loci, which were rarely separated in petite mutants. The deletion or retention of the locus determining polarity of recombination (omega) was also demonstrated and shown to coincide with deletion or retention of the ery1, cap1 region of the mitochondrial genome. Petites retaining this region, when crossed with rho(+) strains, display features of polarity of recombination and transmission similar to the parent rho(+) strain. By contrast a petite determined to have lost the omega(+) locus did not show normal polarity of marker transmission. Differences were observed in the relative frequency of retention of markers in a number of strains and also when comparing petites derived spontaneously with those obtained after ultraviolet light mutagenesis. By contrast, a similar pattern of marker retention was seen when comparing spontaneous with ethidium bromide-induced petites.

Brief antecedent anoxia preserves mitochondrial function after sustained undersupply: a subcellular correlate to ischemic preconditioning?

BACKGROUND

There is increasing evidence that mitochondria - owning a high degree of autonomy within the cell - might represent the target organelles of the myocardial protection afforded by ischemic preconditioning. It was the aim of the study to investigate a possible subcellular correlate to ischemic preconditioning at the mitochondrial level. In addition, we tested whether this protection depends on mitochondrial ATP-dependent potassium channels (K (ATP)) and an might involve an attenuation of mitochondrial ATP hydrolysis during sustained anoxia.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Sustained anoxia (A, 14 min) and reoxygenation (R) completely inhibited state 3 and state 4 respiration of isolated ventricular mitochondria from Wistar rats. An antecedent brief anoxic incubation (4 min) followed by reoxygenation (2 min) prevented this loss of mitochondrial function. The protection afforded by anoxic preconditioning could be mimicked by the K (ATP) opener diazoxide (30 micromol/l) and was completely inhibited by the K (ATP) blocker 5-hydroxydecanoic acid (300 micromol/l). Structural mitochondrial integrity, as estimated from externalization of the mitochondrial enzymes creatine kinase and glutamateoxalacetate transaminase, remained unchanged between the groups, as did mitochondrial ATP loss during anoxia.

CONCLUSION

For the first time, we provide direct evidence for a subcellular preconditioning-like functional mitochondrial adaptation to sustained anoxia. This effect apparently depends on opening of K(ATP) but is independent of ATP preservation.

Induction of petite mutants in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by the anticancer drug dequalinium

Dequalinium (DEQ), a drug with both antimicrobial and anticancer activity, induced the formation of petite (respiration-deficient) mutants in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. DEQ was found to be approximately 50-fold more potent than ethidium bromide (EB) at inducing petites. Analysis of the DEQ-induced petite mutants indicated a complete loss of mitochondrial DNA (<1 copy/cell). Prior to the loss of mtDNA, DEQ caused cleavage of the mtDNA into a population of fragments 30-40kbp in size suggesting that this drug causes petites by inducing a breakdown of mtDNA. The selective effect of DEQ on yeast mtDNA may underlie the antifungal activity of this chemotherapeutic agent.

Peptide deformylase: a target for novel antibiotics?

Peptide deformylase (PDF) catalyses the hydrolytic removal of the N-terminal formyl group from nascent ribosome-synthesised polypeptides. Its activity is essential and it is present in all eubacteria. It is also present in the organelles of some eukaryotes. PDF represents a novel class of mononuclear iron protein, utilising an Fe(2+) ion to catalyse the hydrolysis of an amide bond. Due to its extreme lability, isolation and characterisation of PDF was not possible until very recently. This review will discuss the recent progress in the elucidation of the the structure and function of PDF, evaluating its suitability as a target for antibiotic design and summarising the current approaches to designing drugs that target PDF.

Induction of mitochondrial mutations in human cells by methotrexate

Inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase by the folate analog, methotrexate (MTX) results in a depletion of tetrahydrofolate dependent one carbon transfer reactions in amino acid and nucleic acid biosynthesis. When human cells (either HeLa or normal skin fibroblasts) are exposed to MTX in a defined medium containing dialyzed fetal calf serum, essential and non-essential amino acids, and purine source, the thymidylate pools alone are depleted. Under these conditions exposure to 10(-6) M MTX induces mitochondrial mutagenesis, measured as an increase in the frequency of chloramphenicol resistant (CAPR) colonies, without altering the rate of nuclear mutation monitored by determining the frequency of 6-thioguanine resistance (TGr). The occurrence of CAPR mutations is time, and MTX concentration dependent and the frequency of CAPR can be decreased quantitatively by adding thymidine to the culture medium. This mitochondrial specific mutagenesis can also be achieved using the thymidylate synthetase inhibitor, 5-fluorodeoxyuridine further implicating thymidylate pools as the mediator of this effect. During the course of exposure to 10(-6) M MTX the thymidine kinase deficient HeLa BU25 cell line exhibits a progressive depletion and degradation of mitochondrial DNA suggesting that the mutagenesis and DNA degradation represent portions of a progressive process. The basis for the selective sensitivity of the mitochondrial genome to thymidylate depletion mutagenesis may be the consequence of its differences from the nuclear genome in mechanisms of DNA replication or repair.

The 3'-terminal sequence of the small subunit ribosomal RNA from hamster mitochondria

The 220 3'-terminal nucleotides of the small ribosomal subunit RNA (13S) of hamster (BHK-21) cell mitochondria have been sequenced and the positions of post-transcriptionally methylated residues within this sequence have been established. Also, we have derived the secondary structure of the 3'-terminus of mitochondrial 13S rRNA by 1) searching nucleotide sequences of 13S rRNA, procaryotic 16S rRNA and eucaryotic 18S rRNA for common secondary structures and 2) using single-strand specific endonucleases to map secondary interactions in 13S rRNA. The pyrimidine tract CCUCC in E. coli 16S rRNA, which participates in base-pairing with bacterial mRNA, is absent in mitochondrial 13S rRNA. We believe that the binding of mRNA to mammalian mitochondrial ribosomes is not mediated by a conventional Shine-Dalgarno interaction.

Partial characterization of the plasma membrane ATPase from a rho0 petite strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Crude membrane preparations of a rho0 mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae exhibit Mg2+-dependent ATPase activity. Over the optimal pH range, 5.0-6.75, the apparent Vmax of the enzyme equals 590 nmoles of ATP hydrolyzed per minute per milligram protein, with an apparent Km for ATP of 1.3 mM. ATP hydrolysis is insensitive to ouabain, venturicidin, aurovertin, and the protein inhibitor described by Pullman and Monroy; inhibited by oligomycin (at high concentrations) and sodium orthovanadate, and it is sensitive to dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, hydroxylamine, sodium fluoride, and sodium iodoacetate. The pH optimum and the inhibitor pattern distinguish the plasma membrane enzyme from the mitochondrial F1 ATPase still present in these cells (this activity is sensitive to efrapeptin, aurovertin, and the protein inhibitor, but resistant to DCCD). In addition, the activity of the plasma membrane enzyme and its affinity for ATP are responsive to changes in the composition of the growth medium, with the highest activity observed in cells grown on methyl-alpha-D-glucoside, a sugar which results not only in partial release from catabolite repression but also requires the induction of an active transport system for growth.

Effect of mitochondrial functions on synthesis of yeast cytochrome c

The effects of the mitochondrial protein synthesis inhibitor chloramphenicol and the mitochondrial F0 adenosine triphosphatase inhibitor oligomycin on the synthesis of nucleus-encoded cytochrome c protein were studied. Both inhibitors stimulated cytochrome c protein synthesis in the derepressed state (growth in media containing 2% raffinose) but had no effect on the synthesis of the cytochrome c protein in the repressed state (growth in media containing 5% glucose). Oligomycin uncoupled the synthesis of the apoprotein from its processing into the hemoprotein. Neither antibiotic had a significant effect on the rate of glucose repression of cytochrome protein synthesis. The kinetics of cytochrome c derepression and the effects of these two antibiotics on these kinetics were also studied. Cells were derepressed by transfer from glucose- to faffinose-containing media, and the rate of cytochrome c synthesis increased from the repressed to the derepressed level during the second hour of derepression. Chloramphenicol delayed this derepression, but after 5 h the rate of cytochrome c protein synthesis increased to twice the rate of synthesis in uninhibited cells. On the other hand, oligomycin inhibited derepression of cytochrome c. These results are discussed with respect to the effects of mitochondrial function in the derepressed and repressed states and during the processes of repression and derepression of cytochrome c.

Mutants in yeast affecting ethidium bromide induced rho- formation and their effects on transmission and recombination of mitochondrial genes

A series of mutants called ebi, less inducible by ethidium bromide than the parental strain for the rho+ leads to rho- mutation have been isolated after E.M.S. mutagenesis. Some of the ebi mutants also show an important accumulation of rho- cells, in the absence of ethidium bromide. Ebi mutations are nuclearly inherited as shown by meiotic segregation. The effects of these mutants on the transmission and recombination of mitochondrial genes among the diploid progeny of crosses have been studied. Some of the ebi mutants show a non coordinated transmission of the oli1 mitochondrial marker with respect to other mitochondrial markers unexpected for homosexual crosses. This bias which is independent from omega will be discussed in relation to the segregation and recombination. No significant decrease of the frequency of recombinants has been detected.

Isolation and characterization of yeast mutants auxotrophic for 2'-deoxythymidine 5'-monophosphate

Mutant strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae auxotrophic for deoxythymidine monophosphate (dTMP) were isolated and characterized. Two distinct classes of auxotrophs were obtained. One class had a simple requirement for dTMP and was analogous to thymine-requiring bacteria. The second class required dTMP, adenine, histidine and methionine and this complex nutritional phenotype was due to defects in folate metabolism. The dTMP-dependent growth of respiratory-competent grande auxotrophs was found to be markedly affected by media composition and carbon source. In the absence of dTMP thymineless death occurred in both mutant classes.

Nuclear mutants of Neurospora crassa temperature-sensitive for the synthesis of cytochrome aa3. I. Isolation and preliminary characterization

Three nuclear mutants of Neurospora crassa, temperature-sensitive for the synthesis of cytochrome aa3 have been isolated. When grown at 41 degrees C the mutants have large amounts of KCN-insensitive respiration, reduced amounts of cytochrome aa3 and cytochrome c oxidase activity, and grow more slowly than wild-type cultures grown at the same temperature. When the mutants are grown at 23 degrees C, they are virtually indistinguishable from wild-type strains. The mutants were selected on the basis of their slow growth at 41 degrees C in medium containing salicylhydroxamic acid, and by their inability to reduce 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride at 41 degrees c. The selecttion technique was designed to eliminate mutants that did not carry thermolabile electron transport chain components. However, studies on the thermolability of the cytochrome oxidase activity in isolated mitochondria indicate that the enzyme of the mutants is no more susceptible to heat denaturation than is the enzyme in wild-type mitochondria. This suggests that the synthesis or assembly of cytochrome aa3 may be altered in the mutants at the restrictive temperature.

Physical mapping of genes on yeast mitochondrial DNA: localization of antibiotic resistance loci, and rRNA and tRNA genes

We have physically mapped the loci conferring resistance to antibiotics that inhibit mitochondrial protein synthesis (erythromycin, chloramphenicol and paromomycin) or respiration (oligomycin I and II), as well as the 21s and 14s rRNA and tRNA genes on the restriction map of the mitochondrial genome of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The mitochondrial genes were localized by hybridization of labeled RNA probes to restriction fragments of grande (strain MH41-7B) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) generated by endonucleases EcoRI, HpaI, BamHI, HindIII, SalI, PstI and HhaI. We have derived the HhaI restriction fragment map of MH41-7B mit DNA, to be added to our previously reported maps for the six other endonucleases. The antibiotic resistance loci (antR) were mapped by hybridization of 3H-cRNA transcribed from single marker petite mtDNA's of low kinetic complexity to grande restriction fragments. We have chosen the single Sal I site as the origin of the circular physical map and have positioned the antibiotic loci as follows: C (99.5-1.Ou)--P (27-36.Ou)--OII (58.3-62u--OI (80-84u)--E (94.4-98.4u). The 21s rRNA is localized at 94.4-99.2u, and the 14s rRNA is positioned between 36.2-39.8u. The two rRNA species are separated by 36% of the genome. Total mitochondrial tRNA labeled with 125I hybridized primarily to two regions of the genome, at 99.5-11.5u and 34-44u. A third region of hybridization was occasionally detected at 70--76u, which probably corresponds to seryl and glutamyl tRNA genes, previously located to this region by petite deletion mapping.

Molecular events during the release of delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase from catabolite repression

Transfer of exponential-phase cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, previously grown in 2% glucose, to a derepression medium resulted in a prompt increase in the level of delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase, the rate-limiting enzyme of heme biosynthesis under these conditions. This derepression exhibited a lag of 35 min at 23 degrees C and required the participation of both RNA and protein syntheses. Dissection of the molecular events during this lag period disclosed that RNA synthesis, rnal gene function (messenger RNA transport from nucleus to cytosol), and initiation of protein synthesis were completed within less than 10, 18, and 24 min, respectively. The potential regulation of derepression by mitochondrial gene products and mitochondrial function was probed by means of a series of isogenic, respiration-deficient (rho-, pet-, and mit-) mutants; no such regulation was found.

Genetic damage during thymidylate starvation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Thymidylate starvation in a yeast mutant auxotrophic for dTMP caused cell death and the induction of mutations in the mitochondrial genome. After 24 h of starvation almost all surviving cells were respiratory deficient petites. In addition, shorter episodes of dTMP starvation induced chloramphenicol and erythromycin resistant mutants, indicating the occurrence of mitochondrial point mutations. Suboptimal concentrations of exogenous thymidylate were also found to induce petites and a decline in cell viability and the magnitude of these effects was acutely dependent upon the dTMP concentration. Cesium chloride gradient analysis of DNA from cells undergoing thymineless incubation revealed a progressive loss of mitochondrial DNA, and a decrease in the molecular weight of nuclear DNA.

The action of structural analogues of ethidium bromide on the mitochondrial genome of yeast

We have studied the effects on the yeast mitochondrial genome of four analogues of ethidium bromide, in which the phenyl moieyt has been replaced by linear alkyl chains of lengths varying from seven to fifteen carbon atoms. These analogues are more efficient than ethidium bromide in inducing petite mutants in Saccharomyces cervisiae. The drugs also cause a loss of mtDNA from the cells in vivo; however these analogues are in fact less effective inhibitors of mitochondrial DNA replication per se, as shown by direct in vitro studies. It is concluded that these analogues are more efficient than ethidium bromide in causing the fragmentation of mitochondrial DNA in S. cervisiae.

Regulation of yeast mitochondrial DNA synthesis. I. Analysis of a mutant conditionally deficient in mitochondrial DNA metabolism

A single nuclear gene mutation has been isolated from strain 123.1C of Saccharomyces cerevisiae which is conditionally deficient in mitochondrial DNA metabolism. Growth of the haploid in media containing dextrose, a repressing carbon source, at 36 degrees C causes the rapid cessation of mitochondrial DNA synthesis as analyzed by radioactive 3H-adenine incorporation into mitochondrial DNA. These cells continue to grow and divide giving rise to neutral petites which are devoid of mitochondrial DNA as measured by radioactive incorporation of 3H-adenine at the permissive temperature. Growth of the haploid cells in media containing glycerol, a non-repressing carbon source, at 36 degrees C does not prevent mitochondrial DNA synthesis, however, the population of cells becomes partially petite. When such petites are analyzed, they are found to be suppressive and to contain mitochondrial DNA as measured in the manner described above. The action of this mutated gene appears to involve the sunthetic aspects of mitochondrial DNA metabolism, as haploid cells prelabeled in dextrose media with 3H-adenine show no loss or degradation of mitochondrial DNA at the restrictive temperature of 36 degrees C.

Mitochondrial biogenesis in cultured animal cells. I. Effect of chloramphenicol on morphology and mitochondrial respiratory enzymes

The effects of chloramphenicol on the morphology and respiratory enzymes of BHK-21 cells in spinner culture have been examined with time. Cells treated with chloramphenicol double twice before growth ceases; these cells have increased size as measured by several techniques. Mitochondria are enlarged and appear to degenerate with prolonged treatment. Cytochrome c oxidase and succinate cytochrome c reductase activities are reduced while there is no decrease in the activities of monoamine oxidase, glutamate dehydrogenase or NADPH-cytochrome c reductase. Cytochromes aa3 and b disappear on treatment while cytochromes c + c1 appears to be unaffected. All these effects are reversible if chloramphenicol is removed within a limited period of time.

Mitochondrial DNA replication in petite mutants of yeast: resistance to inhibition by ethidium bromide, berenil and euflavine

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication in petite mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is generally less sensitive to inhibition by ethidium bromide than in grande (respiratory competent) cells. In every petite that we have examined, which retain a range of different grande mtDNA sequences, this general phenomenon has been demonstrated by measurements of the loss of mtDNA from cultures grown in the presence of the drug. The resistance is also demonstrable by direct analysis of drug inhibition of mtDNA replication in isolated mitochondria. Furthermore, the resistance to ethidium bromide is accompanied, in every case tested, by cross-resistance to berenil and euflavine, although variations in the levels of resistance are observed. In one petite the level of in vivo resistance to the three drugs was very similar (4-fold over the grande parent) whilst another petite was mildly resistant to ethidium bromide and berenil (each 1.6-fold over the parent) and strongly resistant (nearly 8-fold) to inhibition of mtDNA replication by euflavine. The level of resistance to ethidium bromide in several other petite clones tested was found to vary markedly. Using genetic techniques it is possible to identify those petites which display an enhanced resistance to ethidium bromide inhibition of mtDNA replication. It is considered that the general resistance of petites arises because a product of mitochondrial protein synthesis is normally involved in facilitating the inhibitory action of these drugs on mtDNA synthesis in grande cells. The various levels of resistance in petites may be modulated by the particular mtDNA sequences retained in each petite.

Mucidin resistance in yeast. Isolation, characterization and genetic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial mucidin-resistant mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae resistant to the antibiotic mucidin, a specific inhibitor of electron transport between cytochrome b and c, were isolated and divided into three phenotypic groups, as follows. Class 1 mutants were cross-resistant to a variety of mitochondrial inhibitors and exhibited no resistance at the mitochondrial level. Class 2 mutants were specifically resistant to mucidin exhibiting resistance also at the level of isolated mitochondria. Biochemical studies indicated that the mucidin resistance in class 2 mutants involved a modification of mucidin binding of inhibitory sites on the mitochondrial inner membrane without a significance change in the sensitivity of mitochondrial oxygen uptake to antimycin A, 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide, and 2,3-dimercaptopropanol. Class 3 was represented by a mutant which showed a high degree of resistance to mucidin and was cross-resistant to a variety of mitochondrial inhibitors at the cellular level but exhibited only a resistance to mucidin at the mitochondrial level. Genetic analysis of mucidin-resistant mutants revealed the presence of both nuclear and mitochondrial genes determining mucidin resistance/sensitivity in yeast. Resistance to mucidin in class 1 mutants was due to a single-gene nuclear recessive mutation (mucPR) whereas that in class 2 mutants was caused by mutations of mitochondrial genes. Resistance in class 3 mutant was determined both by single-gene nuclear and mitochondrial mutations. In the mitochondrial mutants the mucidin resistance segregated mitotically and the resistance determinant was lost upon induction of petite mutation by ethidium bromide. Allelism tests indicated that the mucidin resistance mutations fell into two genetic loci (MUC1 and MUC2) which were apparently not closely linked in the mitochondrial genome. Recombination studies showed that the two mitochondrial mucidin loci were not allelic with other mitochondrial loci RIB1, RIB2 and OLI1. An extremely high mucidin resistance at the cellular level was shown to arise from synergistic interaction of the nuclear gene mucPR and the mitochondrial mucidin-resistance gene (MR) in a cell. The results suggest that at least two mitochondrial gene products, responsible for mucidin resistance/sensitivity in yeast, take part in the formation of the cytochrome bc1 region of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

Integration and regulation of mitochondrial assembly in yeast

The interactions between the mitochondrial and nucleocytoplasmic systems required for mitochondriogenesis have been investigated at several different levels. Those involved in the formation of functional enzyme complexes have been studied using cytochrome oxidase: this multimeric (2 X 7 and 2 X 6 subunits for enzymes from yeast and beef heart respectively) has been resolved, and the mitochondrial contribution has been shown to be dispensible for catalytic function proper. Using novel mutants, with a mitochondrial mode of inheritance, a mitochondrial gene product localized in the oligomycin-sensitive ATPase has been implicated in the assembly not only of this complex, but of cytochrome oxidase as well. Interactions required for the genetic competence of the mitochondrial system have become apparent as a result of studies in the mechanism of action of the highly effective mitochondrial mutagen ethidium bromide. This agent first becomes covalently inserted into mitochondrial DNA and, after its excision, eventually results in extensive degradation of the macromolecule. The excision reaction has now been shown to be performed by a complex between the oligomycin-sensitive ATPase and a DNA-binding protein presumably involved in recognizing the damage. On the level of replication and expression of the mitochondrial genome studies using thermolabile mutants have demonstrated that these processes appear independent of the replication of nuclear DNA but not of its expression.

Mitochondrial biogenesis: inhibitors of mitochondrial protein synthesis

The effects of erythromycin, chloramphenicol, cycloheximide, pyrimethamine, chromate, cadmium, lead, nickel, 4-nitro-quinoline-1-oxide and thioacetamide on yeast and human cells were studied. Inhibition of the synthesis of mitochondrial proteins resulted in the loss of cytochromes as well as in morphological changes in the cellular membranes and mitotic arrest. The data are discussed.