Superoxide production by cytochrome bc1 complex: a mathematical model.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the pathophysiology of several diseases (e.g. Alzheimer or atherosclerosis) and also in the aging process. The main source of ROS in aerobic organisms is the electron transport chain (ETC) in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Superoxide is produced at complexes I and III of the ETC, starting a complex network of ROS reactions. To achieve a deeper mechanistic understanding of how ROS are generated by complex III, we developed a mathematical model that successfully describes experimental data of complex III activity in various rat tissues, the production of ROS with and without antimycin and ROS generation depending on different values of the membrane potential ∆Ψ. The model also reinforces the idea of ubiquinone acting as a redox mediator between heme bL and oxygen, as proposed earlier.

Mitochondrial dysfunction: an early event in Alzheimer pathology accumulates with age in AD transgenic mice.

Recent evidence suggests mitochondrial dysfunction as a common early pathomechanism in Alzheimer's disease integrating genetic factors related to enhanced amyloid-beta (Ass) production and tau-hyperphosphorylation with aging, as the most relevant sporadic risk factor. To further clarify the synergistic effects of aging and Ass pathology, we used isolated mitochondria of double Swedish and London mutant APP transgenic mice and of non-tg littermates. Pronounced mitochondrial dysfunction in adult Thy-1 APP mice, such as a drop of mitochondrial membrane potential and reduced ATP-levels already appeared at 3 months when elevated intracellular but not extracellular Ass deposits are present. Mitochondrial dysfunction was associated with higher levels of reactive oxygen species, an altered Bcl-xL/Bax ratio and reduction of COX IV activity. We observed significant decreases in state 3 respiration and FCCP-uncoupled respiration in non-tg mice after treatment with extracellular Ass. Similar deficits were seen only in aged Thy-1 APP mice, probably due to compensation within the respiratory chain in young animals. We conclude that Ass dependent mitochondrial dysfunction starts already at 3 months in this AD model before extracellular deposition of Ass and progression accelerates substantially with aging.

The interaction of superoxide with nitric oxide destabilizes hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha.

In renal carcinoma cells (RCC4) hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is constitutively expressed due to a von Hippel Lindau protein deficiency, but can be degraded by calpain, independently of the 26S proteasome, when exposed to hypoxia/nitric oxide (NO). In this study we examined molecular mechanisms to explain calpain activation. The inability of hypoxia/NO to degrade HIF-1alpha in respiratory-deficient RCC4-rho0 cells pointed to the requirement for mitochondria-derived reactive oxygen species. A prerequisite for O(2)(-) in combination with NO to destabilize HIF-1alpha was corroborated in RCC4-rho0 cells, when the redox cycler 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone was used as a source of superoxide. Degradation of HIF-1alpha required intracellular calcium transients and calpain activation. Using uric acid to interfere with signal transmission elicited by NO/O(2)(-) blocked HIF-1alpha degradation and attenuated a calcium increase. We conclude that an oxidative signal as a result of NO/O(2)(-) coformation triggers a calcium increase that activates calpain to degrade HIF-1alpha, independently of the proteasome.

Structure-function relationships in mitochondrial complex I of the strictly aerobic yeast Yarrowia lipolytica.

The obligate aerobic yeast Yarrowia lipolytica has been established as a powerful model system for the analysis of mitochondrial complex I. Using a combination of genomic and proteomic approaches, a total of 37 subunits was identified. Several of the accessory subunits are predicted to be STMD (single transmembrane domain) proteins. Site-directed mutagenesis of Y. lipolytica complex I has provided strong evidence that a significant part of the ubiquinone reducing catalytic core resides in the 49 kDa and PSST subunits and can be modelled using X-ray structures of distantly related enzymes, i.e. water-soluble [NiFe] hydrogenases from Desulfovibrio spp. Iron-sulphur cluster N2, which is related to the hydrogenase proximal cluster, is directly involved in quinone reduction. Mutagenesis of His226 and Arg141 of the 49 kDa subunit provided detailed insight into the structure-function relationships around cluster N2. Overall, our findings suggest that proton pumping by complex I employs long-range conformational interactions and ubiquinone intermediates play a critical role in this mechanism.

Bafilomycins and concanamycins as inhibitors of V-ATPases and P-ATPases.

Bafilomycins and concanamycins, two groups of the plecomacrolide-defined class of macrolide antibiotics, have recently been recognized as important tools for studying the physiological role of vacuolar-type, proton-translocating ATPases (V-ATPases) and ATPases with phosphorylated states (P-ATPases) in animal and plant cells as well as in yeast, fungi and bacteria. The following review will give an account of the classification and function of these antibiotics.

Electrogenic K+ transport by the Kdp-ATPase of Escherichia coli.

Charge translocation by the Kdp-ATPase of Escherichia coli was measured by adsorption of proteoliposomes to a planar lipid membrane. The proteoliposomes were prepared by reconstitution of purified Kdp-ATPase into liposomes prepared from E. coli lipids. The protein was activated by a ATP concentration jump produced by photolysis of a protected derivative of ATP, caged ATP. Charge translocation was measured with a time resolution of 15-40 ms. Stationary currents demonstrated the continuous pumping activity of the enzyme. Control measurements with the potential-sensitive dye DiSC3(5) showed a negative potential inside the proteoliposomes after activation with ATP. The measured electrical signals as well as the dye measurements correspond to the transport of positive charge to the intracellular face of the protein. The electrical signal was increased when K+ was inside the proteoliposomes (K0.5 approximately 50 microM) and was inhibited by vanadate. These experiments demonstrate the electrogeneity of the Kdp-ATPase in a purified reconstituted system.

The Kdp-ATPase of Escherichia coli mediates an ATP-dependent, K+-independent electrogenic partial reaction.

Charge transport by the K+ transporting Kdp-ATPase from Escherichia coli was investigated using planar lipid membranes to which liposomes reconstituted with the enzyme were adsorbed. To study reactions in the absence of K+, given some contamination of solutions with K+, we used a mutant of Kdp whose affinity for K+ was 6 mM instead of the wild-type whose affinity is 2 microM. Upon rapid release of ATP from caged ATP, a transient current occurred in the absence of K+. In the presence of K+, a stationary current was seen. On the basis of their structural similarity, we propose a kinetic model for the Kdp-ATPase analogous to that of the Na+K+-ATPase. In this model, the first, K+-independent step is electrogenic and corresponds to the outward transport of a negative charge. The second, K+-translocating step is probably also electrogenic and corresponds to transport of positive charge to the intracellular side of the protein.

Semisynthetic derivatives of concanamycin A and C, as inhibitors of V- and P-type ATPases: structure-activity investigations and developments of photoaffinity probes.

V-type ATPases are inhibited by the plecomacrolides bafilomycin and concanamycin, which exert their inhibitory potential at nanomolar concentrations. In addition, some P-type ATPases are inhibited at micromolar concentrations. We initiated intensive structure-activity investigations with semisynthetic concanamycin derivatives to approach the following two questions: (i) What is the pharmacophor, the structural key element, of the plecomacrolides that leads to their inhibitory potential against V- and P-type ATPases? (ii) Where is the binding site within these two different types of ATPases? In a first step, we examined where chemical modifications (O-acylations, substitutions, eliminations) could be placed without seriously affecting the inhibitory potential of the macrolides. In a second step, we used the knowledge of these structure-activity investigations to introduce traceable elements (fluorescent or radioactive) or nitrene-generating azido or carbene-generating diazirine-groups able to bind the inhibitors to their target covalently. These studies led finally to the synthesis of two photoaffinity probes that were used in labeling experiments with the purified plasma membrane V-type ATPase of Manduca sexta (described in a following paper, Huss, M., Gassel, M., Ingenhorst, G., Dröse, S., Zeeck, A., Altendorf, K., Wieczorek, H., manuscript submitted).

Replacement of glycine 232 by aspartic acid in the KdpA subunit broadens the ion specificity of the K(+)-translocating KdpFABC complex.

Replacement of glycine residue 232 with aspartate in the KdpA subunit of the K(+)-translocating KdpFABC complex of Escherichia coli leads to a transport complex that has reduced affinity for K(+) and has lost the ability to discriminate Rb(+) ions (, J. Biol. Chem. 270:6678-6685). This glycine residue is the first in a highly conserved GGG motif that was aligned with the GYG sequence of the selectivity filter (P- or H5-loop) of K(+) channels (, Nature. 371:119-122). Investigations with the purified and reconstituted KdpFABC complex using the potential sensitive fluorescent dye DiSC(3)(5) and the "caged-ATP/planar bilayer method" confirm the altered ion specificity observed in uptake measurements with whole cells. In the absence of cations a transient current was observed in the planar bilayer measurements, a phenomenon that was previously observed with the wild-type enzyme and with another kdpA mutant (A:Q116R) and most likely represents the movement of a protein-fixed charge during a conformational transition. After addition of K(+) or Rb(+), a stationary current could be observed, representing the continuous pumping activity of the KdpFABC complex. In addition, DiSC(3)(5) and planar bilayer measurements indicate that the A:G232D Kdp-ATPase also transports Na(+), Li(+), and H(+) with a reduced rate. Similarities to mutations in the GYG motif of K(+) channels are discussed.

Inhibitory effect of modified bafilomycins and concanamycins on P- and V-type adenosinetriphosphatases.

Various ATPases have been tested for their sensitivity to naturally occurring unusual macrolides and their chemically modified derivatives, which are structurally related to bafilomycin A1 (1), the first specific inhibitor of vacuolar ATPases. The structure-activity study showed that in general the concanamycins, 18-membered macrolides, are better and more specific inhibitors than the bafilomycins of this class of membrane-bound ATPases. The additional carbohydrate residue is not responsible for the improved activity. The importance of an intact hemiketal ring, which is part of an intramolecular hydrogen-bonding network, and the effects of the size of the macrolactone ring are discussed. The structurally related elaiophylin (13), a C2-symmetric macrodiolide antibiotic, proved to be inactive on vacuolar ATPases but still retained its inhibitory effect on P-type ATPases.

Structure and function of the Kdp-ATPase of Escherichia coli.

The kdpFABC operon of Escherichia coli consists of the four structural genes kdpF, kdpA, kdpB, and kdpC. Expression of the kdpF gene was demonstrated using minicells of E. coli. In addition, it was shown that the KdpF subunit remains associated with the purified complex. Although KdpF is not essential in vivo, the purified complex lacking KdpF exhibits hardly any K(+)-stimulated ATPase activity. This clearly demonstrates that the KdpF subunit is stabilizing the transport complex. Charge translocation by the purified Kdp-ATPase was measured with the potential-sensitive dye DiSC3(5) using proteoliposomes. Upon addition of ATP a fluorescence quench was observed indicating the buildup of a negative potential inside the proteoliposomes. Using the Kdp-ATPase derived from a mutant strain, in which the K(m) value for K+ (1,2 mM) was almost identical to that of Rb+ (1.4 mM), the same fluorescence quench was observed when K+ or Rb+ were present in the lumen of the proteoliposomes. These data clearly indicate that the Kdp-ATPase transports K+ in an electrogenic manner. In order to identify the binding site(s) for the inhibitor concanamycin A within the Kdp complex, concanamycin A was synthesized. Using this compound labeling of KdpA and KdpB, but not of KdpC, could be shown with the purified complex. When everted vesicles were used only KdpB could be labeled.