scholarly journals Calcium-dependent opening of a non-specific pore in the mitochondrial inner membrane is inhibited at pH values below 7. Implications for the protective effect of low pH against chemical and hypoxic cell damage

1991 ◽  
Vol 278 (3) ◽  
pp. 715-719 ◽  
Author(s):  
A P Halestrap

1. The rate of opening of the Ca(2+)-induced non-specific, cyclosporin A-inhibited, pore of the mitochondrial inner membrane of rat heart and liver mitochondria at pH 6.0 was less than 10% of that at pH 7.4. 2. The effect could not be explained by inhibition of Ca2+ uptake into the mitochondria, or of the matrix peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase), or of the Ca(2+)-induced conformational change of the adenine nucleotide translocase. 3. It is suggested that the proposed interaction of matrix PPIase with the ‘c’ conformation of the adenine nucleotide carrier in the presence of Ca2+ [Griffiths & Halestrap (1991) Biochem. J. 274, 611-614] is inhibited by low pH. 4. The relevance of this to the protective effect of low pH on hypoxic and chemical-induced cell damage is discussed.

2002 ◽  
Vol 365 (2) ◽  
pp. 391-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidia de BARI ◽  
Anna ATLANTE ◽  
Nicoletta GUARAGNELLA ◽  
Giovanni PRINCIPATO ◽  
Salvatore PASSARELLA

In the present study we investigated whether isolated rat liver mitochondria can take up and metabolize d-lactate. We found the following: (1) externally added d-lactate causes oxygen uptake by mitochondria [P/O ratio (the ratio of mol of ATP synthesized to mol of oxygen atoms reduced to water during oxidative phosphorylation) = 2] and membrane potential (Δψ) generation in processes that are rotenone-insensitive, but inhibited by antimycin A and cyanide, and proton release from coupled mitochondria inhibited by α-cyanocinnamate, but not by phenylsuccinate; (2) the activity of the putative flavoprotein (d-lactate dehydrogenase) was detected in inside-out submitochondrial particles, but not in mitochondria and mitoplasts, as it is localized in the matrix phase of the mitochondrial inner membrane; (3) three novel separate translocators exist to mediate d-lactate traffic across the mitochondrial inner membrane: the d-lactate/H+ symporter, which was investigated by measuring fluorimetrically the rate of endogenous flavin reduction, the d-lactate/oxoacid antiporter (which mediates both the d-lactate/pyruvate and d-lactate/oxaloacetate exchanges) and d-lactate/malate antiporter studied by monitoring photometrically the appearance of the d-lactate counteranions outside mitochondria. The d-lactate translocators, in the light of their different inhibition profiles separate from the monocarboxylate carrier, were found to differ from each other in the Vmax values and in the inhibition and pH profiles and were shown to regulate mitochondrial d-lactate metabolism in vitro. The d-lactate translocators and the d-lactate dehydrogenase could account for the removal of the toxic methylglyoxal from cytosol, as well as for d-lactate-dependent gluconeogenesis.


1987 ◽  
Vol 246 (3) ◽  
pp. 715-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
A M Davidson ◽  
A P Halestrap

1. The matrix pyrophosphate (PPi) content of isolated energized rat liver mitochondria incubated in the presence of ATP, Mg2+, Pi and respiratory substrate was about 100 pmol/mg of protein. 2. After incubation with sub-micromolar [Ca2+], this was increased by as much as 300%. There was a correlation between the effects of Ca2+ on PPi and on the increase in matrix volume reported previously [Halestrap, Quinlan, Whipps & Armston (1986) Biochem. J. 236, 779-787]. Half-maximal effects were seen at 0.3 microM-Ca2+. 3. Coincident with these effects, the total adenine nucleotide content increased in a carboxyatractyloside-sensitive manner. 4. Incubation with 0.2-0.5 mM-butyrate induced similar but smaller effects on mitochondrial swelling and matrix PPi and total adenine nucleotide content. Addition of butyrate after Ca2+, or vice versa, caused Ca2+-induced mitochondrial swelling to stop or reverse, while matrix PPi increased 30-fold. 5. Addition of atractyloside or the omission of ATP from incubations greatly enhanced swelling induced by Ca2+ without increasing matrix PPi. 6. Swelling of mitochondria incubated under de-energized conditions in iso-osmotic KSCN was progressively enhanced by the addition of increasing concentrations of PPi (1-20 mM) or valinomycin. 7. In iso-osmotic potassium pyrophosphate swelling was slow initially, but accelerated with time. This acceleration was inhibited by ADP, whereas carboxyatractyloside induced rapid swelling. Swelling in other iso-osmotic PPi salts showed that the rate of entry decreased in the order NH4+ greater than K+ greater than Na+ greater than Li+, whereas choline, tetramethylammonium and Tris did not enter. It is suggested that the adenine nucleotide translocase transports small univalent cations when PPi is bound and that PPi can also be transported when the transporter is in the conformation induced by carboxyatractyloside. 8. It is concluded that Ca2+ and butyrate cause swelling of energized mitochondria through this effect of PPi on K+ permeability of the mitochondrial inner membrane. 9. Freeze-clamped livers from rats treated with glucagon or phenylephrine show 30-50% increases in tissue PPi. It is proposed that Ca2+-mediated increases in mitochondrial PPi are responsible for the increase in matrix volume and total adenine nucleotide content observed after hormone treatment.


2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 4051-4062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle R. Gallas ◽  
Mary K. Dienhart ◽  
Rosemary A. Stuart ◽  
Roy M. Long

Many mitochondrial proteins are encoded by nuclear genes and after translation in the cytoplasm are imported via translocases in the outer and inner membranes, the TOM and TIM complexes, respectively. Here, we report the characterization of the mitochondrial protein, Mmp37p (YGR046w) and demonstrate its involvement in the process of protein import into mitochondria. Haploid cells deleted of MMP37 are viable but display a temperature-sensitive growth phenotype and are inviable in the absence of mitochondrial DNA. Mmp37p is located in the mitochondrial matrix where it is peripherally associated with the inner membrane. We show that Mmp37p has a role in the translocation of proteins across the mitochondrial inner membrane via the TIM23-PAM complex and further demonstrate that substrates containing a tightly folded domain in close proximity to their mitochondrial targeting sequences display a particular dependency on Mmp37p for mitochondrial import. Prior unfolding of the preprotein, or extension of the region between the targeting signal and the tightly folded domain, relieves their dependency for Mmp37p. Furthermore, evidence is presented to show that Mmp37 may affect the assembly state of the TIM23 complex. On the basis of these findings, we hypothesize that the presence of Mmp37p enhances the early stages of the TIM23 matrix import pathway to ensure engagement of incoming preproteins with the mtHsp70p/PAM complex, a step that is necessary to drive the unfolding and complete translocation of the preprotein into the matrix.


1975 ◽  
Vol 148 (3) ◽  
pp. 527-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
D R Fayle ◽  
G J Barritt ◽  
F L Bygrave

The effect of the local anaesthetic, butacaine, on adenine nucleotide binding and translocation in rat liver mitochondria partially depleted of their adenine nucleotide content was investigated. The range of butacaine concentrations that inhibit adenine nucleotide translocation and the extent of the inhibition are similar to the values obtained for native mitochondria. Butacaine does not alter either the total number of atractyloside-sensitive binding sites of depleted mitochondria, or the affinity of these sites for ADP or ATP under conditions where a partial inhibition of the rate of adenine nucleotide translocation is observed. The data are consistent with an effect of butacaine on the process by which adenine nucleotides are transported across the mitochondrial inner membrane rather than on the binding of adenine nucleotides to sites on the adenine nucleotide carrier. The results are briefly discussed in relation to the use of local anaesthetics in investigations of the mechanism of adenine nucleotide translocation.


1992 ◽  
Vol 285 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Schlegel ◽  
M Schweizer ◽  
C Richter

It has recently been suggested by several investigators that the hydroperoxide- and phosphate-induced Ca2+ release from mitochondria occurs through a non-specific ‘pore’ formed in the mitochondrial inner membrane. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether ‘pore’ formation actually is required for Ca2+ release. We find that the t-butyl hydroperoxide (tbh)-induced release is not accompanied by stimulation of sucrose entry into, K+ release from, and swelling of mitochondria provided re-uptake of the released Ca2+ (‘Ca2+ cycling’) is prevented. We conclude that (i) the tbh-induced Ca2+ release from rat liver mitochondria does not require ‘pore’ formation in the mitochondrial inner membrane, (ii) this release occurs via a specific pathway from intact mitochondria, and (iii) a non-specific permeability transition (‘pore’ formation) is likely to be secondary to Ca2+ cycling by mitochondria.


1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1873-1881
Author(s):  
S M Glaser ◽  
B R Miller ◽  
M G Cumsky

We have examined the import and intramitochondrial localization of the precursor to yeast cytochrome c oxidase subunit Va, a protein of the mitochondrial inner membrane. The results of studies on the import of subunit Va derivatives carrying altered presequences suggest that the uptake of this protein is highly efficient. We found that a presequence of only 5 amino acids (Met-Leu-Ser-Leu-Arg) could direct the import and localization of subunit Va with wild-type efficiency, as judged by several different assays. We also found that subunit Va could be effectively targeted to the mitochondrial inner membrane with a heterologous presequence that failed to direct import of its cognate protein. The results presented here confirmed those of an earlier study and showed clearly that the information required to "sort" subunit Va to the inner membrane resides in the mature protein sequence, not within the presequence per se. We present additional evidence that the aforementioned sorting information is contained, at least in part, in a hydrophobic stretch of 22 amino acids residing within the C-terminal third of the protein. Removal of this domain caused subunit Va to be mislocalized to the mitochondrial matrix.


2001 ◽  
Vol 114 (21) ◽  
pp. 3915-3921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan J. Kerscher ◽  
Andrea Eschemann ◽  
Pamela M. Okun ◽  
Ulrich Brandt

Alternative NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductases are single subunit enzymes capable of transferring electrons from NADH to ubiquinone without contributing to the proton gradient across the respiratory membrane. The obligately aerobic yeast Yarrowia lipolytica has only one such enzyme, encoded by the NDH2 gene and located on the external face of the mitochondrial inner membrane. In sharp contrast to ndh2 deletions, deficiencies in nuclear genes for central subunits of proton pumping NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductases (complex I) are lethal. We have redirected NDH2 to the internal face of the mitochondrial inner membrane by N-terminally attaching the mitochondrial targeting sequence of NUAM, the largest subunit of complex I. Lethality of complex I mutations was rescued by the internal, but not the external version of alternative NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase. Internal NDH2 also permitted growth in the presence of complex I inhibitors such as 2-decyl-4-quinazolinyl amine (DQA). Functional expression of NDH2 on both sides of the mitochondrial inner membrane indicates that alternative NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase requires no additional components for catalytic activity. Our findings also demonstrate that shuttle mechanisms for the transfer of redox equivalents from the matrix to the cytosolic side of the mitochondrial inner membrane are insufficient in Y. lipolytica.


1978 ◽  
Vol 172 (3) ◽  
pp. 557-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
R N Johnson ◽  
B E Volcani

1. To gain insight into a putative role for mitochondria in silicon metabolism, mitochondrial uptake (by which it is meant the removal from the medium) of silicic acid [Si(OH)4] was studied under conditions minimizing SI(OH)4 polymerization. 2. Measurements of mitochondrial respiration and swelling indicated indirectly a significant uptake of Si(OH)4 as a weak acid, but this was not confirmed when 31Si(OH)4 was used as a tracer. 31Si(OH)4 occupied a mitochondrial volume similar to that of 3H2O and was relatively unaffected by mitochondrial energy status and by the pH gradient across the mitochondrial inner membrane. 3. Uptake was directly proportional to Si(OH)4 concentration in the range 0-3 mM. 4. The uptake consisted of two components: under all conditions examined, the greater quantity, amounting to 1-2nmol of Si(OH)4/mg of mitochondrial protein, was bound, a major portion of it external to the inner membrane, with the lesser quantity free within the matrix space. 5. Equilibration of 31Si(OH)4 between medium and matrix was a slow process, having a half-time of approx. 10 min at 22 degrees C. 6. Mersalyl and N-ethylmaleimide inhibited the uptake by preferentially lowering the amount of Si(OH)4 bound. Their action was somewhat variable, depending on the precise nature of the suspending medium, and suggesting that the bound material may represent polymerized forms of Si(OH)4. 7. It is concluded that Si(OH)4 may penetrate the mitochondrial inner membrane by a simple diffusion mechanism.


2000 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 1146-1154 ◽  
Author(s):  
H L A Vieira ◽  
D Haouzi ◽  
C El Hamel ◽  
E Jacotot ◽  
A-S Belzacq ◽  
...  

2001 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 431-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Langer ◽  
M. Käser ◽  
C. Klanner ◽  
K. Leonhard

An ubiquitous and conserved proteolytic system regulates the stability of mitochondrial inner membrane proteins. Two AAA proteases with catalytic sites at opposite membrane surfaces form a membrane-integrated quality control system and exert crucial functions during the biogenesis of mitochondria. Their activity is modulated by another membrane-protein complex that is composed of prohibitins. Peptides generated upon proteolysis in the matrix space are transported across the inner membrane by an ATP-binding cassette transporter. The function of these conserved components is discussed in the present review.


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