Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D A Harris

Publications and source records attributed to D A Harris.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Promotion and inhibition of catalytic cooperativity of the Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity of spinach chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF1).

ATP- and ITP-stimulation of the Ca2+-dependent hydrolysis of low concentrations of [gamma-32P]ATP was used as a direct demonstration of catalytic cooperativity in CF1. CF1 activated by epsilon-subunit removal or dithiothreitol, or by the presence of ethanol in the ATPase assay medium, shows pronounced catalytic cooperativity, with maximal stimulation of [gamma-32P]ATP hydrolysis at about 20 microM CaATP. Catalytic cooperativity is diminished by the presence of the epsilon-subunit or by pretreatment of either untreated or epsilon-depleted CF1 with azide (C1/2=30 microM). Both activated and untreated forms of CF1 also exhibit hydrolysis of CaATP by a high-affinity, low-capacity mode of turnover, which is unaffected by any of the preceding treatments and shows normal Michaelis-Menten behaviour. We propose that this high-affinity mode represents unisite catalysis, and that the endogenous inhibitor, epsilon, and the exogenous inhibitor, azide, both act exclusively on cooperative interactions between the catalytic sites.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Regulation of the mitochondrial ATP synthase in intact rat cardiomyocytes.

The ATP synthase capacity of rat heart myocytes can be measured in sonicated cell suspensions and in sonicated preparations of cultured cardiomyocytes. This procedure allows the rapid measurement of mitochondrial function in response to changes in the metabolic status of the cell. In cultured myocytes, transitions in ATP synthase capacity (with no detectable change in cellular ATP concentration) accompany a change to anoxia or electrically stimulated contraction (rise of 70%). These changes are reversed on returning to the original conditions. Exposure of myocytes to low pH has little effect on basal ATP synthase capacity (down to values less than pH 6), but markedly affects cellular ATP levels and the response of the cells to anoxia and reoxygenation, possibly mimicking changes seen in ischaemic heart. Similar effects are seen in suspensions of freshly prepared myocytes, but these preparations are less stable and more pH-sensitive than are cells in culture. It is proposed that mitochondria in vivo are directly regulated at the level of the ATP synthase, and that a regulator protein, the naturally occurring inhibitor protein from mitochondria, may be responsible for this regulation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Control of mitochondrial ATP synthase in heart cells: inactive to active transitions caused by beating or positive inotropic agents.

STUDY OBJECTIVE - The aim of the study was to measure variations in ATP synthase capacity in cultured cardiomyocytes under conditions of metabolic stimulation. DESIGN - ATP synthase activity was measured in cultured rat cardiomyocytes using a procedure which allowed rapid measurement of mitochondrial function during changes in metabolic state. EXPERIMENTAL MATERIAL - Calcium tolerant cardiomyocytes were prepared from male Wistar rats, weight 250-300 g, n = 6-22 per experiment. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS - Electrical stimulation of cardiomyocytes led to an approximate doubling of ATP synthase capacity within 1-2 min, and was rapidly reversible. Activation was reduced when extracellular calcium was lowered and abolished in presence of the calcium entry blocker ruthenium red. Exposure of cardiomyocytes to isoprenaline or to an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase III also led to a large increase in ATP synthase capacity, which was abolished in presence of ruthenium red. However, the response of cells to isoprenaline depended on their pretreatment: activation of ATP synthase was abolished after 20 min anoxia prior to isoprenaline treatment but regained after a subsequent 30 min reoxygenation. This may reflect down regulation of beta receptors on the cell surface during anoxia. CONCLUSIONS - ATP synthase is directly controlled in vivo by a non-allosteric mechanism. Activation of ATP synthase is a response to intramitochondrial Ca2+ concentration.

Animals↗

Defects in regulation of mitochondrial ATP synthase in cardiomyocytes from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Control of mitochondrial ATP synthase capacity was investigated in cultured cardiomyocytes from normotensive (Wistar-Kyoto) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats. The basal ATP synthase capacity in quiescent cardiomyocytes was raised in the hypertensive rats (2.9 +/- 0.1 mumol.min-1.mg protein-1) compared with normotensive rats (2.2 +/- 0.1 mumol.min-1.mg-1). However, this high value is restored to normal after treatment of the cells with verapamil or ruthenium red; agents that do not affect ATP synthase capacity in normal cells. It is concluded that abnormally high intramitochondrial Ca2+ levels, or an abnormal mitochondrial response to Ca2+ concentration, are responsible for ATP synthase activation in quiescent SHR cells. Cardiomyocytes from normotensive rats respond to increased energy demand (caused by electrical stimulation or treatment with positive inotropic agents) by increasing their ATP synthase capacity up to twofold. Cells from SHR rats are unable to control their ATP synthase in this way. It is concluded that some defect in regulation of the mitochondrial ATP synthase occurs in myocytes from hypertensive rats.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Reversible modulation of the mitochondrial ATP synthase with energy demand in cultured rat cardiomyocytes.

The ATP synthase capacity of rat heart myocytes can be measured in sonicates of cultured cardiomyocytes. In these cells, transitions in ATP synthase capacity occur on changing to the anoxic or uncoupled state (drop in ATP synthase capacity of over 40%) or on electrically stimulating the cells to contract (rise of 70%). These changes occur rapidly (half time less than 1 min) and are completely reversed on returning to the original conditions. It is proposed that mitochondria in vivo are directly regulated at the level of the ATP synthase. The naturally occurring inhibitor protein from mitochondria may be responsible for this regulation.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Azide as a probe of co-operative interactions in the mitochondrial F1-ATPase.

(1) The hydrolytic activity of the isolated mitochondrial ATPase (F1) is strongly inhibited by azide. However, at very low ATP concentration (1 microM or less), no inhibition by azide is observed. (2) The azide-insensitive ATPase activity represents a high-affinity, low-capacity mode of turnover of F1. This is identified with the low Km, low Vmax component seen in steady-state kinetic studies in the absence of azide. (3) The azide-insensitive ATPase activity shows simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with Km = 3.2 microM, and Vmax = 1.1 mumol/min per mg (6 s-1). It is unaffected by anions such as sulphite, or by increasing pH in the range 7 to 8, both of which stimulate the maximal activity of F1. (4) Both the azide-insensitive and azide-sensitive components of F1-ATPase activity are equally inhibited by labelling the enzyme with 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzofurazan, by binding the natural inhibitor protein, or by cold denaturation of the enzyme. (5) It is concluded that azide-insensitive ATP hydrolysis represents catalysis by F1 involving a single catalytic site, and that azide acts by abolishing intersubunit cooperativity between the three catalytic sites of F1. Azide-sensitivity is thus a useful probe for events which affect the active site of F1 directly.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Differential activation of myotube nuclei following exposure to an acetylcholine receptor-inducing factor.

A glycoprotein purified from chick brain, of relative molecular mass 42,000, increases the rate of appearance of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) on the surface of chick myotubes. RNase protection assays have shown that this AChR-inducing activity (ARIA) increases the amount of mRNA encoding the alpha-subunit of the AChR, with little or no effect on the amounts of gamma- and delta-mRNAs2. Here, we report that the mRNAs encoding the alpha- and gamma-subunits of the receptor detected by in situ hybridization are concentrated around nuclei in cultured myotubes. Consistent with previous results, ARIA selectively increased the amount of alpha-subunit mRNA, but we now find that all nuclei were not activated to the same extent, with a substantial number not responding at all. Assuming that ARIA is released by motor nerve terminals, our results indicate that only a subset of muscle nuclei are capable of contributing to the accumulation of AChRs at developing neuromuscular junctions.

Actins↗

Kinetics of the release of the mitochondrial inhibitor protein. Correlation with synthesis and hydrolysis of ATP.

(1) The kinetics of the release of the mitochondrial inhibitor protein (IF1) is studied in bovine heart submitochondrial vesicles supplemented with 125I-labelled IF1, using a method for rapidly 'freezing' the state of F1-IF1 interaction. It is shown that generation of a protonmotive force leads to release of IF1 from F1 into solution, following an exponential process. (2) In one set of experiments the rate of IF1 release, in IF1 supplemented vesicles generating a protonmotive force, is correlated with the induction of ATP hydrolytic capacity. It is found that, even under different metabolic states (phosphorylating and non-phosphorylating conditions), both processes follow the same time-course (half-time of around 40 s) and that there is a direct correlation between induced ATPase capacity and IF1 released. This finding rules out the possibility of a non-inhibitory binding site for IF1 on the membrane. (3) In a second set of experiments, also using IF1 supplemented vesicles, the induction of the ATP hydrolytic capacity after energisation is correlated with the induction of the ATP synthetic capacity. Initial rates of both processes are monitored using firefly luciferase, keeping the assay systems as similar as possible. It is shown that the induction of each capacity follows an exponential time-course, with a half-time of around 40 s. This is in good agreement with the half-times obtained for the induction of ATP hydrolytic capacity and the rate of IF1 release, using the quench-stop method. (4) If the induction of ATP hydrolytic and synthetic capacities is followed in untreated submitochondrial vesicles, i.e., vesicles not supplemented with IF1, the extent and time-course of the change in both hydrolytic and synthetic capacities remain correlated, but the half-time of the transient falls to around 10 s. It is suggested that the length of the transient, observed in IF1 supplemented vesicles, results from partial loss of coupling during repeated centrifugations. (5) These results demonstrate that energy-dependent release of IF1 from F1 into solution results in a concomitant increase in both ATP synthetic and hydrolytic capacities of the ATP synthase complex, and that the time-course of this process is sensitive to the degree of coupling of the vesicles.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

The binding and release of the inhibitor protein are governed independently by ATP and membrane potential in ox-heart submitochondrial vesicles.

(1) The effects of membrane potential (delta psi) and nucleotides on the interaction between the F1-ATP synthase and its natural inhibitor protein (IF1) are studied in ox-heart submitochondrial vesicles. (2) Membrane potential causes displacement of IF1 from submitochondrial vesicles, as shown by measuring both delta psi-dependent stimulation of ATPase capacity and release of 125I-labelled IF1 from the vesicles. These effects are abolished if ATP is included in the incubation. (3) There is a linear increase in the steady-state ATPase capacity of oxidising vesicles as delta psi is increased from 100 mV to 135 mV. Increasing delta psi above 140 mV leads to no further change. (4) At a constant membrane potential, ATP suppresses the increase in ATPase capacity, with a concentration for half maximal effect of 140 microM. This value is close to the Km for ATP hydrolysis by membrane-bound F1. This suppression is related to ATP concentration rather than to delta Gp or ATP/ADP ratio. (5) The unidirectional on- and off-rates of IF1 were measured separately. The off-rate of IF1 is increased by membrane potential but unaffected by ATP. The on-rate, conversely, is increased by ATP. Thus, the suppression of the potential-dependent net release of IF1 from submitochondrial vesicles by ATP results from an increase of the IF1 on-rate above the off-rate.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

The mitochondrial ATP synthase inhibitor protein binds near the C-terminus of the F1 beta-subunit.

The specific, mitochondrial ATP synthase protein (IF1) was covalently cross-linked to its binding site on the catalytic sector of the enzyme (F1-ATPase). The cross-linked complex was selectively cleaved, leaving IF1 intact to facilitate the subsequent purification of the F1 fragment to which IF1 was cross-linked. This fragment was identified by sequence analysis as comprising residues 394-459 on the F1 beta-subunit, near the C-terminus. This finding is discussed in the light of secondary structure predictions for both IF1 and the F1 beta-subunit, and sequence homologies between mitochondrial and other ATP synthases.

Animals↗

Acetylcholine receptor-inducing factor from chicken brain increases the level of mRNA encoding the receptor alpha subunit.

A 42-kDa glycoprotein isolated from chicken brain, referred to as acetylcholine receptor-inducing activity (ARIA), that stimulates the rate of incorporation of acetylcholine receptors into the surface of chicken myotubes may play a role in the nerve-induced accumulation of receptors at developing neuromuscular synapses. Using nuclease-protection assays, we have found that ARIA causes a 2- to 16-fold increase in the level of mRNA encoding the alpha subunit of the receptor, with little or no change in the levels of gamma- and delta-subunit messengers. ARIA also increases the amount of a putative nuclear precursor of alpha-subunit mRNA, consistent with an activation of gene transcription. These results suggest that the concentration of alpha subunit may limit the rate of biosynthesis of the acetylcholine receptors in chicken myotubes. They also indicate that neuronal factors can regulate the expression of receptor subunit genes in a selective manner. Tetrodotoxin, 8-bromo-cAMP, and forskolin also increase the amount of alpha-subunit mRNA, with little change in the amount of gamma- and delta-subunit mRNAs. Unlike, ARIA, however, these agents have little effect on the concentration of the alpha-subunit nuclear precursor.

Animals↗

Evaluation of hypothalamic dysfunction in growth hormone (GH)-deficient patients using single versus multiple doses of GH-releasing hormone (GHRH-44) and evidence for diurnal variation in somatotroph responsiveness to GHRH in GH-deficient patients.

To examine the efficacy of multiple doses of GHRH-44 to enhance GH secretion and to determine the number of GHRH-44 doses required to exclude hypothalamic dysfunction, 12 doses of GHRH-44 were administered iv every 2 h to 4 GH-deficient patients beginning in the morning (group A) and to 4 GH-deficient patients beginning in the evening (group B). Five additional GH-deficient patients (group C) were given 4-18 GHRH-44 doses. The first and last doses were 5 micrograms/kg; all others were 1 microgram/kg. Higher GH responses were attained by 9 of the 13 patients after multiple GHRH-44 doses than after the initial GHRH-44 dose. After the first GHRH-44 dose, the peak plasma GH concentrations were less than 7 micrograms/L in 9 patients; 4 of 9 achieved GH concentrations above 7 micrograms/L after 5-7 GHRH-44 doses; 2 had measurable levels below 7 micrograms/L. GH concentrations remained undetectable in 3 older patients in group C. In the patients who had detectable GH levels after GHRH-44 treatment, serum somatomedin-C concentrations increased from 0.67 +/- 0.14 (+/- SEM) to 0.79 +/- 0.14 U/mL after 6 GHRH-44 doses (P less than 0.01; n = 10) then to 1.00 +/- 0.14 (+/- SEM) U/mL after an additional 4-6 GHRH-44 doses (P less than 0.05; n = 9). After 6 GHRH-44 doses in groups A and B, the integrated GH concentrations between 2000 and 0800 h were greater than the integrated GH concentrations between 0800 and 2000 h (P less than 0.02). These findings indicate that a hypothalamic defect cannot be excluded on the basis of an impaired response to a single dose of GHRH-44, that the number of GHRH doses required to stimulate GH release in GH-deficient patients is variable, and that in addition to the possibility of genetically determined GHRH insensitivity some non-responding patients have developed severe acquired resistance to GHRH. Evidence for diurnal variation in the responsiveness of somatotropes to GHRH-44 in GH-deficient patients was also found.

Adolescent↗

Interaction between the soluble F1 ATPase and its naturally occurring inhibitor protein. Studies using hydrophilic high-performance liquid chromatography and immunoelectron microscopy.

Binding of the isolated ATPase (F1) to its naturally occurring inhibitor protein was studied by two novel, independent techniques. High-pressure gel permeation chromatography revealed one tight binding site (Kd = 0.46 microM) for the inhibitor on F1, and a number of weak, non-specific sites. Use of an antibody directed against a non-binding region of the inhibitor protein demonstrated the formation of inhibitor/F1/immunoglobulin G complexes of 1:1:1 and 2:2:1 stoichiometry, but not of the putatively more stable cyclic 4:2:2 complexes. It was concluded that, despite the presence of three beta-subunits, only one site per F1 molecule is available for binding its inhibitor protein.

Animals↗

Sites of protein-protein interaction on the mitochondrial F1-ATPase inhibitor protein.

We have investigated the structure of the mitochondrial F1-ATPase inhibitor protein from ox heart by using a differential trace-labelling method. This method has also been used to determine sites on the inhibitor protein involved in binding to both the isolated mitochondrial ATPase (F1) and to a specific anti-inhibitor antibody. Native, free inhibitor was trace-labelled on its lysine and serine residues with [14C]acetic anhydride, and inhibitor protein unfolded in guanidinium chloride or specifically bound to another protein, with [3H]acetic anhydride. Exposure/concealment of residues was deduced from the 14C/3H ratios of the peptides in a proteolytic digest of the inhibitor, after separation by h.p.l.c. None of the lysine or serine residues in the native inhibitor are as exposed as in the unfolded form. There is a gradient of reactivity, with residues 54-58 being most concealed and exposure increasing towards either end of the protein. A slight decrease in reactivity is noted in residues 1-3, suggesting that the N-terminus may be in a fairly restricted environment. These findings are discussed in the light of the predicted structure of the inhibitor protein. All but one of the labelled residues increases in reactivity when inhibitor protein binds to F1. The exception, Lys-24, is only slightly concealed. Hence, F1 binding appears not to involve the lysine or serine residues directly. This finding is consistent with the view that the F1-inhibitor interaction is hydrophobic in nature. Complementary information was provided using an anti-inhibitor antibody that binds to a site on the inhibitor different from that at which F1 binds. Binding of this antibody conceals residues 54, 58, and 65 considerably. This confirms that F1 does not interact with these hydrophilic residues on the inhibitor protein.

Acetylation↗

Interaction between F1-ATPase and its naturally occurring inhibitor protein. Studies using a specific anti-inhibitor antibody.

An antibody was raised to cross-linked ox-heart mitochondrial inhibitor protein, which cross-reacts with the free inhibitor but with no other mitochondrial membrane protein. This antibody yields an immunoprecipitate with the cross-linked inhibitor protein, but a soluble antibody-antigen complex with free inhibitor. The antibody binds well to inhibitor protein whether the latter is complexed with F1-ATPase or not. Antibody binding has no effect on the ability of the inhibitor protein to inhibit the ATPase activity of F1. These findings suggest that the antibody does not block the site of interaction between the inhibitor and F1. The inhibitor protein content of submitochondrial membrane preparations was determined by radioimmunoassay, activity measurements and an immunochemical 'back titration' technique. The inhibitor content of the membranes is shown to decrease after energisation, suggesting a loss of inhibitor from the membranes into solution. Binding antibody to the inhibitor protein on submitochondrial particles has no effect on the steady-state rate of phosphorylation, but it increases the lag phase preceding phosphorylation from 30 to 54 s. The rate constant for the approach to the steady state drops from 0.078 to 0.052 s-1. This effect confirms that the lag phase is due to inhibition of phosphorylation by the inhibitor protein. The increase in ATPase activity following energisation takes place by a fast phase (80% maximal activity reached within 90 s) and a slower phase (lasting about 10 min.). The rate constant of the rapid phase (0.017 s-1) is of the same order as that for the activation of phosphorylation. It is concluded that the rapid phase of ATPase induction is fast enough for this process to occur simultaneously with the activation of phosphorylation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗