Yeast mitochondrial interactosome model: metabolon membrane proteins complex involved in the channeling of ADP/ATP.

The existence of a mitochondrial interactosome (MI) has been currently well established in mammalian cells but the exact composition of this super-complex is not precisely known, and its organization seems to be different from that in yeast. One major difference is the absence of mitochondrial creatine kinase (MtCK) in yeast, unlike that described in the organization model of MI, especially in cardiac, skeletal muscle and brain cells. The aim of this review is to provide a detailed description of different partner proteins involved in the synergistic ADP/ATP transport across the mitochondrial membranes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and to propose a new mitochondrial interactosome model. The ADP/ATP (Aacp) and inorganic phosphate (PiC) carriers as well as the VDAC (or mitochondrial porin) catalyze the import and export of ADP, ATP and Pi across the mitochondrial membranes. Aacp and PiC, which appear to be associated with the ATP synthase, consist of two nanomotors (F(0), F(1)) under specific conditions and form ATP synthasome. Identification and characterization of such a complex were described for the first time by Pedersen and co-workers in 2003.

Effects of hypobaric hypoxia on adenine nucleotide pools, adenine nucleotide transporter activity and protein expression in rat liver.

AIM: To explore the effect of hypobaric hypoxia on mitochondrial energy metabolism in rat liver. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were exposed to a hypobaric chamber simulating 5,000 m high altitude for 23 h every day for 0 (H0), 1 (H1), 5 (H5), 15 (H15) and 30 d (H30) respectively. Rats were sacrificed by decapitation and liver was removed. Liver mitochondria were isolated by differential centrifugation program. The size of adenine nucleotide pool (ATP, ADP, and AMP) in tissue and mitochondria was separated and measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The adenine nucleotide transporter (ANT) activity was determined by isotopic technique. The ANT total protein level was determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with H0 group, intra-mitochondrial ATP content decreased in all hypoxia groups. However, the H5 group reached the lowest point (70.6%) (P<0.01) when compared to the control group. Intra-mitochondrial ADP and AMP level showed similar change in all hypoxia groups and were significantly lower than that in H0 group. In addition, extra-mitochondrial ATP and ADP content decreased significantly in all hypoxia groups. Furthermore, extra-mitochondrial AMP in groups H5, H15 and H30 was significantly lower than that in H0 group, whereas H1 group had no marked change compared to the control situation. The activity of ANT in hypoxia groups decreased significantly, which was the lowest in H5 group (55.7%) (P<0.01) when compared to H0 group. ANT activity in H30 group was higher than in H15 group, but still lower than that in H0 group. ANT protein level in H5, H15, H30 groups, compared with H0 group decreased significantly, which in H5 group was the lowest, being 27.1% of that in H0 group (P<0.01). ANT protein level in H30 group was higher than in H15 group, but still lower than in H0 group. CONCLUSION: Hypobaric hypoxia decreases the mitochondrial ATP content in rat liver, while mitochondrial ATP level recovers during long-term hypoxia exposure. The lower level of extra-mitochondrial ATP may be related to the decrease of ANT activity during hypoxia exposure.

Focused proteomics: towards a high throughput monoclonal antibody-based resolution of proteins for diagnosis of mitochondrial diseases.

The availability of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the proteins of the oxidative phosphorylation chain (OXPHOS) and other mitochondrial components facilitates the analysis and ultimately the diagnosis of mitochondrially related diseases. mAbs against each of the five complexes and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) are the basis of a rapid and simple immunocytochemical approach [Hanson, B.J., Capaldi, R.A., Marusich, M.F. and Sherwood, S.W., J. Histochem. Cytochem. 50 (2002) 1281-1288]. This approach can be used to detect if complexes have altered assembly in mitochondrial disease due to mutations in nuclear encoded genes, such as in Leigh's disease, or in mitochondrially encoded genes, e.g., MELAS. Other mAbs have recently been obtained that can immunocapture each of the five OXPHOS complexes, PDH and the adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) from very small amounts of tissue such as that obtained from cell culture or needle biopsies from patients. When adapted to a 96-well plate format, these mAbs allow measurement of the specific activity of each of the mitochondrial components individually and analysis of their subunit composition and state of posttranslational modification. The immunocapture protocol should be useful not only in the analysis of genetic mitochondrial diseases but also in evaluating and ultimately diagnosing late-onset mitochondrial disorders including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and late-onset diabetes, which are thought to result from accumulated oxidative damage to mitochondrial proteins such as the OXPHOS chain.

Differential effects of creatine depletion on the regulation of enzyme activities and on creatine-stimulated mitochondrial respiration in skeletal muscle, heart, and brain.

Guanidinopropionic acid (GPA), an analogue of creatine (Cr), is known to inhibit Cr uptake by cells. The metabolic effects of chronic Cr depletion on brain, heart and soleus muscle of rats were studied. In GPA hearts and soleus muscle, total specific creatine kinase (CK) activity was decreased by approx. 40% compared to controls, whereas in brain this same activity was elevated by a factor of two. Immunoblot analysis of soleus mitochondria from GPA rats showed an approximate 4-fold increase in Mi-CK protein and a concomitant 3-fold increase in adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) protein, when compared to control. In GPA-fed rats, the specific activities of adenylate kinase (ADK) and succinate dehydrogenase were significantly higher in brain and soleus (2-fold), but heart remained the same. However, hexokinase (HK) decreased by approx. 50% both in heart and soleus, indicating that muscle and brain follow different strategies to compensate the energy deficit caused by creatine depletion. Skinned muscle fibres from Cr-depleted soleus attained approx. only 70% maximum state 3 respiration with 0.1 M ADP in the presence of 10 mM Cr compared to 100% in control fibres. This defect in Cr stimulated respiration was also seen in isolated heart mitochondria, but was normal in those from brain. The observed deficit of Cr-stimulated respiration, the significant accumulation of Mib-CK and ANT, concomitant with the formation of Mib-CK rich intra-mitochondrial inclusions shown by electron microscopy, indicate that Mib-CK function and coupling to oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), is impaired in these abnormal mitochondria. In addition, our results show tissue-specific metabolic compensations to Cr depletion.

Modulation of mitochondrial transition pore components by thyroid hormone.

Thyroid hormone (TH) modulates metabolic efficiency by controlling the coupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. However, its uncoupling mode of action is still enigmatic. Treatment of Jurkat or GH3 cells with T3 is reported here to result in limited, Cyclosporin A-sensitive mitochondrial depolarization, conforming to low conductance gating of the mitochondrial transition pore (MTP). MTP protein components induced by T3 treatment were verified in T3-treated and hypothyroid rat liver as well as in Jurkat cells. T3 treatment resulted in increase in mitochondrial Bax and Bak together with decreased mitochondrial Bcl2. T3-induced mitochondrial depolarization was aborted by overexpression of Bcl2. In contrast to Bax-Bcl2 family proteins, some other MTP components were either not induced by T3 (e.g. voltage-dependent anion channel) or were induced, but were not involved in Cyclosporin A-sensitive MTP gating (e.g. Cyclophilin D and adenine nucleotide translocase-2) Hence, TH-induced mitochondrial uncoupling may be ascribed to low conductance MTP gating mediated by TH-induced increase in mitochondrial proapoptotic combined with a decrease in mitochondrial antiapoptotic proteins of the Bax-Bcl2 family.

Content of adenine nucleotide translocator mRNA in insulin-producing cells of different functional states.

This study was undertaken to characterize the expression of the gene coding for the adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) in the insulin-producing beta-cell and to study any possible relationship between its expression and the functional state of the beta-cell. Adult and fetal rat pancreatic islets were prepared and cultured under different conditions in vitro. The total RNA from these islets and from the insulin-producing RINm5F cells was isolated and analyzed by the Northern blot technique via a cDNA clone (pAAC-9) coding for the bovine ANT. We found that a 1600-base pair (bp) mRNA hybridizing to the pAAC-9 clone could be detected in RINm5F cells, and a 1450-bp mRNA was similarly observed in the islets. These sizes correspond well to previously reported forms of mRNA for the ANT observed in other tissues. When comparing the intensities of the pAAC-9 hybridizing bands of the different islet groups, it was observed that fetal islets contained less of this mRNA than adult islets. Furthermore, the content of the ANT mRNA in adult islets cultured at a high glucose concentration was increased compared with islets cultured at a low glucose concentration. Finally, streptozocin-treated islets, which display an impaired glucose-sensitive insulin release after 6 days in culture, also contained less of this mRNA than the control islets. We conclude that pancreatic islet cells express an mRNA that appears to be highly homologous to the bovine ANT and that the contents of this mRNA increases with the functional status of the beta-cell. It is furthermore suggested that defects in the expression of this gene may be associated with impaired glucose sensitivity.

Cold exposure differently influences mitochondrial energy efficiency in rat liver and skeletal muscle.

This study deals with mitochondrial energy efficiency in liver and skeletal muscle mitochondria in 15 days cold exposed rats. Cold exposure strongly increases the sensitivity to uncoupling by added palmitate of skeletal muscle but not liver mitochondria, while mitochondrial energy coupling in the absence of fatty acids is only slightly affected by cold in liver and skeletal muscle. In addition, uncoupling protein 3 content does not follow changes in skeletal muscle mitochondrial coupling. It is therefore concluded that skeletal muscle could play a direct thermogenic role based on fatty acid-induced mild uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.

Expression of human ANT2 gene in highly proliferative cells: GRBOX, a new transcriptional element, is involved in the regulation of glycolytic ATP import into mitochondria.

The adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) is the most abundant mitochondrial inner membrane protein which catalyses the exchange of ADP and ATP between cytosol and mitochondria. The human ANT protein has three isoforms encoded by three differentially regulated nuclear genes. The ANT gene expression was examined in several human cells. The gene encoding the ANT2 isoform was found specifically induced in Simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed, tumoral and mtDNA lacking rho degrees cell lines. Moreover, the ANT2 gene was preferentially expressed under a glycolytic metabolism. Functional complementation of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutant revealed that the human ANT2 protein specifically restores yeast cell growth under anaerobic conditions. Sequence analysis of the ANT2 proximal promoter in comparison to that of the third yeast adenine nucleotide translocator (AAC3) led us to identify a new motif termed GRBOX. Promoter-deletion transfection and mobility gel-shift assays revealed that this motif is recognized by a negative transcriptional regulator. This transcription factor might be involved in a molecular mechanism which selects the import of the glycolytic ATP in the mitochondrial matrix. This ATP import is required in highly proliferative cells, such as tumour cells, which depend strongly on glycolysis for ATP synthesis.

Why are some mitochondria more powerful than others: insights from comparisons of muscle mitochondria from three terrestrial vertebrates.

We studied the molecular composition of muscle mitochondria to evaluate whether the contents of cytochromes or adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) or phospholipid acyl compositions reflect differences in mitochondrial oxidative capacities. We isolated mitochondria from three vertebrates of similar size and preferred temperature, the rat (Rattus norvegicus), the cane toad (Bufo marinus) and the bearded dragon lizard (Pogona vitticeps). Mitochondrial oxidative capacities were higher in rats and cane toads than in bearded dragon, whether rates were expressed relative to protein, cytochromes or ANT. Inter-specific differences were least pronounced when rates were expressed relative to cytochrome A, a component of cytochrome C oxidase (CCO), or ANT. In mitochondria from rat and cane toad, cytochrome A was more abundant than C followed by B and then C(1), while in bearded dragon mitochondria, the cytochromes were present in roughly equal levels. Analysis of correlations between mitochondrial oxidative capacities and macromolecular components revealed that cytochrome A explained at least half of the intra- and inter-specific variability in substrate oxidation rates. ANT levels were an excellent correlate of state 3 rates while phospholipid contents were correlated with state 4 rates. As the % poly-unsaturation and the % 20:4n-6 in mitochondrial phospholipids were equivalent in toads and rats, and exceeded the levels in lizards, they may contribute to the inter-specific differences in oxidative capacities. We suggest that the numbers of CCO and ANT together with the poly-unsaturation of phospholipids explain the higher oxidative capacities in muscle mitochondria from rats and cane toads.

Thyroid hormone action: effect of triiodothyronine on mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocase in vivo and in vitro.

Adenine nucleotide translocase (AdNT) levels were measured as the exchange of extramitochondrial against intramitochondrial adenosine diphosphate (ADP) in liver, spleen, and testes mitochondria isolated from normal and hypothyroid rats using the "back-exchange" and atractyloside-stop method of Pfaff and Klingenberg. The results provide confirmation of previous reports that mitochondria from hypothyroid rats show a markedly diminished AdNT activity, which is restored to normal levels within 72 hours by intraperitoneal injection of 10 to 20 micrograms triiodothyronine (T3)/100 g body weight. The latter dose was found in dose-response studies to result in maximal stimulation of AdNT in liver mitochondria. Qualitatively similar results on AdNT activity were obtained in liver mitochondria within 30 to 60 minutes following intravenous injection into hypothyroid rats of a more physiological dose of T3 (40 ng/100 g body weight). AdNT in mitochondria isolated from spleen and testes (organs that do not exhibit a calorigenic response after administration of thyroid hormone to the whole animal) failed to respond to thyroidectomy and to administration of T3. More recently, we have observed that in vitro replacement of T3 also stimulates AdNT activity in hypothyroid liver mitochondria. The enzyme adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase was examined as another possible candidate for direct hormonal stimulation of mitochondria. Simultaneous determinations on the same rats after intraperitoneal injection of T3 (20 micrograms/100 g body weight) showed little or no effect on ATP synthase until after 37 to 85 hours, whereas enhanced activity of the translocator was regularly observed at 17 hours.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Fluorometric detection of ADP/ATP carrier deficiency in human muscle.

Defects in mitochondrial energy metabolism lead to severe disorders in humans referred to as mitochondriocytopathies. Most of them have been reported to result from deficiencies of one or more complexes of the respiratory chain and, more rarely, from mitochondrial transmembrane metabolite carrier defects. Dysfunctioning of the ADP/ATP carrier, which catalyses the export of matrix ATP in exchange for cytosolic ADP, has been demonstrated to induce myopathies in mouse and in humans. To screen for ADP/ATP carrier deficiency in patients suffering from mitochondriocytopathy with no defined etiology, we have set up a fluorometric assay to quantify the ADP/ATP carrier in small muscle homogenates, without preliminary isolation of mitochondria. The assay is based on the use of a fluorescent derivative of atractyloside, namely naphthoyl-atractyloside, a highly specific inhibitor of ADP/ATP transport. Here, we describe analysis of healthy and pathological muscle samples, and characterization of ADP/ATP carrier deficiencies in two patients, one displaying an absence of the carrier and the second one containing a limited amount of the carrier with altered binding properties.

Thyroid hormone action: identification of the mitochondrial thyroid hormone receptor as adenine nucleotide translocase.

A preliminary report from our laboratory suggested that the thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3) is bound with an association constant (Ka) approximating 2 x 10(11) M-1 by adenine nucleotide translocase (AdNT) purified from beef heart mitochondria. We now report that [125I]T3 is capable of photoaffinity labeling not only purified AdNT but also the carrier in intact beef heart mitochondria. Photoaffinity labeling in intact mitochondria was appreciably greater than that observed with purified AdNT. The covalently labeled AdNT was identified by 2-dimensional electrophoresis with pI of 10 on electrofocusing and M(r) of 31,000 on SDS gel. Identification of the covalently labeled protein as authentic AdNT was substantiated by its interaction with a specific monoclonal antibody preparation.

Functional analysis of autoantibodies against ADP/ATP carrier from dilated cardiomyopathy.

The aim of this article is to briefly review the immunological features of the autoantibodies against ADP/ATP carrier from dilated cardiomyopathy and the potential role of the autoantibodies in cardiac tissue injury. The autoantibodies against ADP/ATP carrier were found with very high frequency in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, and had disease- and organ-specificity. The autoantibodies cross-reacted with subunits of the calcium channel on the cardiac cell membrane. There is a close correlation between the autoantibody-titer and the hemodynamic function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. It can be postulated that after an autoimmune response is initiated, the circulating autoantibodies against ADP/ATP carrier disturb myocardial energy metabolism, and enhance calcium influx and calcium overload in cardiac myocytes, resulting in progressive myocyte damage. These findings indicate a new immunopathological mechanism in dilated cardiomyopathy.

Hypertensive hypertrophied myocardium is vulnerable to infarction and refractory to erythropoietin-induced protection.

The objective of this study was to examine the hypothesis that hypertensive hypertrophy is vulnerable to infarction and defective in cytoprotective mechanisms by modification of intracellular signaling and mitochondrial proteins. Myocardial infarction was induced by 20-minute coronary occlusion/reperfusion in spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats (SHR-SPs) and their controls (Wistar-Kyoto rats [WKYs]). Infarct size expressed as a percentage of area-at-risk was larger by 29% in SHR-SPs than in WKYs. Pretreatment with erythropoietin (EPO) significantly limited infarct size in WKYs but not in SHR-SPs. Ca(2+) retention capacity of mitochondria, an index of the threshold for opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, on reperfusion was reduced in SHR-SPs compared with that in WKYs. Suppression of reactive oxygen species by N-(2-mercaptopropionyl)-glycine increased Ca(2+) retention capacity after reperfusion and limited infarct size in SHR-SPs to levels in WKYs. EPO induced phosphorylation of Akt, extracellular signal-related kinase, and glycogen synthase kinase-3ß in the myocardium in both WKYs and SHR-SPs. EPO enhanced interaction of phospho-glycogen synthase kinase-3ß and adenine nucleotide translocase on reperfusion in WKYs, although such an effect of EPO was not detected in SHR-SPs. The results suggest that enhanced opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pores by reactive oxygen species and modification of the signal downstream of phospho-glycogen synthase kinase-3ß in the mitochondria underlie the increased vulnerability to infarction and the lack of anti-infarct tolerance by EPO, respectively, in hypertensive hypertrophied hearts.

Leishmania mexicana amazonensis: plasma membrane adenine nucleotide translocator and chemotaxis.

Leishmania cannot synthesize purines de novo and rely on their host to furnish these compounds. To accomplish this, they possess multiple purine nucleoside and nucleobase transporters. Subcellular fractionation, immunohistochemical localization with anti-adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) antibodies and surface biotinylation show that the mitochondrial ANT is also present in the plasma membrane of both promastigotes and amastigotes. Leishmania, however, do not appear to rely on this transporter to supplement their purine or energy requirements via preformed ATP from its host. Rather, Leishmania appear to use the plasma membrane ANT as part of a chemotaxis response. ATP is a chemorepellant for Leishmania and cells treated with atractyloside, an inhibitor of ANT, no longer exhibit negative chemotaxis for this compound.

X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction at wavelengths near the K-absorption edge of phosphorus.

Phosphorus is an abundant element in living organisms. It is traceable by its X-ray absorption spectrum which shows a strong white line at its K-edge, comparable with that observed for the L(III) edges of rare earth ions. With purple membrane, the variation of the imaginary part of the anomalous dispersion of phosphorus is found to be close to 20 anomalous electron units. Anomalous diffraction experiments at wavelengths near the K-absorption edge of phosphorus confirm this result. The spatial distribution of lipids derived from anomalous diffraction agrees with earlier results from neutron diffraction. Test experiments on single crystals of the carrier protein using 5.76 A photons gave a first low-resolution diffraction pattern. Various techniques of crystal mounting were attempted. In addition, fluorescence measurements on a solution of threonine synthase appear to hint at a change of the phosphate environment of the cofactor upon activator binding.