The ASCT/SCS cycle fuels mitochondrial ATP and acetate production in Trypanosoma brucei

Acetate:succinate CoA transferase (ASCT) is a mitochondrial enzyme that catalyzes the production of acetate and succinyl-CoA, which is coupled to ATP production with succinyl-CoA synthetase (SCS) in a process called the ASCT/SCS cycle. This cycle has been studied in Trypanosoma brucei (T. brucei), a pathogen of African sleeping sickness, and is involved in (i) ATP and (ii) acetate production and proceeds independent of oxygen and an electrochemical gradient. Interestingly, knockout of ASCT in procyclic form (PCF) of T. brucei cause oligomycin A-hypersensitivity phenotype indicating that ASCT/SCS cycle complements the deficiency of ATP synthase activity. In bloodstream form (BSF) of T. brucei, ATP synthase works in reverse to maintain the electrochemical gradient by hydrolyzing ATP. However, no information has been available on the source of ATP, although ASCT/SCS cycle could be a potential candidate. Regarding mitochondrial acetate production, which is essential for fatty acid biosynthesis and growth of T. brucei, ASCT or acetyl-CoA hydrolase (ACH) are known to be its source. Despite the importance of this cycle, direct evidence of its function is lacking, and there are no comprehensive biochemical or structural biology studies reported so far. Here, we show that in vitro–reconstituted ASCT/SCS cycle is highly specific towards acetyl-CoA and has a higher k_cat than that of yeast and bacterial ATP synthases. Our results provide the first biochemical basis for (i) rescue of ATP synthase-deficient phenotype by ASCT/SCS cycle in PCF and (ii) a potential source of ATP for the reverse reaction of ATP synthase in BSF.

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First biochemical and structural characterization of mitochondrial ASCT/SCS cycle

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It is essential for mitochondrial acetate/ATP production and T. brucei BSF growth.

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TbASCT/SCS cycle shows higher kcat than that of yeast and bacterial ATP synthases.

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Detailed comparative biochemical analysis between ASCT and human SCOT

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Active site residue and X-CoA binding site determined by site-directed mutagenesis

Acute sources of mitochondrial NAD+ during respiratory chain dysfunction

It is a textbook definition that in the absence of oxygen or inhibition of the mitochondrial respiratory chain by pharmacologic or genetic means, hyper-reduction of the matrix pyridine nucleotide pool ensues due to impairment of complex I oxidizing NADH, leading to reductive stress. However, even under these conditions, the ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (KGDHC) is known to provide succinyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA ligase, thus supporting mitochondrial substrate-level phosphorylation (mSLP). Mindful that KGDHC is dependent on provision of NAD⁺, hereby sources of acute NADH oxidation are reviewed, namely i) mitochondrial diaphorases, ii) reversal of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase, iii) reversal of the mitochondrial isocitrate dehydrogenase as it occurs under acidic conditions, iv) residual complex I activity and v) reverse operation of the malate-aspartate shuttle. The concept of NAD⁺ import through the inner mitochondrial membrane as well as artificial means of manipulating matrix NAD⁺/NADH are also discussed. Understanding the above mechanisms providing NAD⁺ to KGDHC thus supporting mSLP may assist in dampening mitochondrial dysfunction underlying neurological disorders encompassing impairment of the electron transport chain.

Succinate in ischemia: Where does it come from?

During tissue ischemia succinate accumulates. Herein, literature spanning the past nine decades is reviewed leaning towards the far greater role of Krebs cycle's canonical activity yielding succinate through α-ketoglutarate -> succinyl-CoA -> succinate even in hypoxia, as opposed to reversal of succinate dehydrogenase. Furthermore, the concepts of i) a diode-like property of succinate dehydrogenase rendering it difficult to reverse, and ii) the absence of mammalian mitochondrial quinones exhibiting redox potentials in the [-60, -80] mV range needed for fumarate reduction, are discussed. Finally, it is emphasized that a "fumarate reductase" enzyme entity reducing fumarate to succinate found in some bacteria and lower eukaryotes remains to be discovered in mammalian mitochondria.

Using metabolic charge production in the tricarboxylic acid cycle (QTCA) to evaluate the extracellular-electron-transfer performances of Shewanella spp

Using an electrochemical cell equipped with carbon felt electrodes (poised at +0.63 V vs. SHE), the current production capabilities of two Shewanella strains-NTOU1 and KR-12-were examined under various conditions with lactate as an electron donor. The metabolic charge produced in the tricarboxylic acid cycle (Q_TCA) was calculated by mass-balance. The data showed a linear relation between the electric coulomb production (Q_EL) and Q_TCA with an R² of 0.65. In addition, a large amount of pyruvate accumulation was observed at pH = 6, rendering Q_TCA negative. The results indicate an occurrence of an undesired cataplerotic reaction. It was also found that Q_TCA provides important information showing the oxygen-boosting TCA cycle and anodic-current generation of Shewanella spp. Linear dependence of the change in charge for biomass growth (4.52FΔn_Cell) on Q_TCA was also found as expressed by 4.52FΔn_Cell = 1.0428 Q_TCA + 0.0442, indicating that these two charge quantities are inherently identical under most of the experimental conditions. In the mediator-spiked experiments, the external addition of the mediators (ferricyanide, anthraquinone-2, 6-disulfonate, and riboflavin) beyond certain concentrations inhibited the activity of the TCA cycle, indicating that the oxidative phosphorylation is deactivated by excessive amounts of mediators, yet Shewanella spp. are constrained with regard to carrying out the substrate-level phosphorylation.

Methylene blue stimulates substrate-level phosphorylation catalysed by succinyl-CoA ligase in the citric acid cycle

Methylene blue (MB), a potential neuroprotective agent, is efficient in various neurodegenerative disease models. Beneficial effects of MB have been attributed to improvements in mitochondrial functions. Substrate-level phosphorylation (SLP) results in the production of ATP independent from the ATP synthase (ATP-ase). In energetically compromised mitochondria, ATP produced by SLP can prevent the reversal of the adenine nucleotide translocase and thus the hydrolysis of glycolytic ATP. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of MB on mitochondrial SLP catalysed by succinyl-CoA ligase. Measurements were carried out on isolated guinea pig cortical mitochondria respiring on α-ketoglutarate, glutamate, malate or succinate. The mitochondrial functions and parameters like ATP synthesis, oxygen consumption, membrane potential, and NAD(P)H level were followed online, in parallel with the redox state of MB. SLP-mediated ATP synthesis was measured in the presence of inhibitors for ATP-ase and adenylate kinase. In the presence of the ATP-ase inhibitor oligomycin MB stimulated respiration with all of the respiratory substrates. However, the rate of ATP synthesis increased only with substrates α-ketoglutarate and glutamate (forming succinyl-CoA). MB efficiently stimulated SLP and restored the membrane potential in mitochondria also with the combined inhibition of Complex I and ATP synthase. ATP formed by SLP alleviated the energetic insufficiency generated by the lack of oxidative phosphorylation. Thus, the MB-mediated stimulation of SLP might be important in maintaining the energetic competence of mitochondria and in preventing the mitochondrial hydrolysis of glycolytic ATP. The mitochondrial effects of MB are explained by the ability to accept electrons from reducing equivalents and transfer them to cytochrome c bypassing the respiratory Complexes I and III.

Succinate, an intermediate in metabolism, signal transduction, ROS, hypoxia, and tumorigenesis

Succinate is an important metabolite at the cross-road of several metabolic pathways, also involved in the formation and elimination of reactive oxygen species. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that its realm extends to epigenetics, tumorigenesis, signal transduction, endo- and paracrine modulation and inflammation. Here we review the pathways encompassing succinate as a metabolite or a signal and how these may interact in normal and pathological conditions.(1).