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Biomedical subjects

G Palmer

Publications and source records attributed to G Palmer.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

On the oxidation pathways of the mitochondrial bc1 complex from beef heart. Effects of various inhibitors.

We have investigated the oxidation of the reduced ubiquinol:cytochrome c reductase (bc1 complex) isolated from beef heart mitochondria. The oxidation of cytochrome c1 by both potassium ferricyanide and cytochrome c in the ascorbate-reduced bc1 complex is not a first-order process. This is taken as evidence that cytochrome c1 is in rapid equilibrium with the Rieske iron-sulphur center. Among the several inhibitors tested, only 5-n-undecyl-6-hydroxy-4,7-dioxobenzothiazole and stigmatellin are seen to affect this redox equilibrium between the high-potential centers of the beef heart bc1 complex. The oxidation of cytochrome b by cytochrome c in both the succinate-reduced and the fully reduced bc1 complex is blocked by all the inhibitors tested. This inhibition occurs simultaneously with an acceleration in the oxidation of cytochrome c1, even after extraction of the endogenous ubiquinone which is present in the bc1 preparation. Almost complete extraction of ubiquinone from the bc1 complex has no effect upon the rapid phase of cytochrome b oxidation, nor does it alter the inhibition of cytochrome b oxidation by the various inhibitors. The oxidation of cytochrome b by exogenous ubiquinones is stimulated by myxothiazol and partially inhibited by antimycin. However, the addition of both these inhibitors together completely blocks the oxidation of cytochrome b by quinones. In contrast, the simultaneous addition of antimycin and myxothiazol has no such synergistic effect upon the oxidation of cytochrome b by cytochrome c. Our data show that intramolecular electron transfer from cytochrome(s) b to the Rieske iron-sulphur center can take place in the bc1 complex without involvement of endogenous ubiquinone-10. This electron pathway is sensitive to all the inhibitors of the enzyme.

Animals↗

Redox-cycled oxidase. One of the reaction products of reduced cytochrome c, cytochrome c oxidase, and dioxygen.

Pulsed and oxygenated forms of cytochrome c oxidase are believed to be variants of the oxidized enzyme. They were produced as a consequence of one or more reduction-oxidation cycles of the resting form and are characterized by an increase of the alpha band intensity and a red-shift of the Soret absorption band to 428 nm. The rate of decay of these species back to the resting enzyme varies appreciably and appears to depend on the nature of the reductant and/or oxidant used in their preparation. Here we report that if resting oxidase is incubated with either reduced or oxidized cytochrome c and then exposed to dioxygen, an activated form is rapidly produced which appears to be more oxidized than the starting material. This finding suggest some degree of partial reduction of the resting enzyme, but this by itself cannot explain the extent of activation. Our results further question the significance of the optical spectral "signature" of the oxygenated (Okunuki, K., and Sekuzu, I. (1954) Seitaino Kagaka 5, 265-272), pulsed (Antonini, E., Brunori, M., Colosimo, A., Greenwood, C., and Wilson, M. T. (1977) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 74, 3128-3132), and "420 nm" species (Kumar, C., Naqui, A., and Chance, B. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 2073-2076, 11668-11671), which are thought to be activated forms of oxidized cytochrome c oxidase.

Animals↗

Identification of ubiquinone-binding proteins in yeast mitochondrial ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase using an azido-ubiquinone derivative.

An azido-ubiquinone derivative, 3-azido-2-methyl-5-methoxy-6-(3,7-dimethyloctyl)-1,4-benzoquinone, was used to study the ubiquinone-protein interaction and to identify the ubiquinone-binding proteins in yeast mitochondrial ubiquinone-cytochrome c reductase. The phospholipids and Q6 in purified reductase were removed by repeated ammonium sulfate precipitation in the presence of 0.5% sodium cholate. The resulting phospholipid- and ubiquinone-depleted reductase shows no enzymatic activity; activity can be completely restored by the addition of phospholipids and Q6 or Q2. The ubiquinone- and phospholipid-replenished ubiquinonol-cytochrome c reductase is also fully active upon reconstituting with bovine succinate-ubiquinone reductase to form succinate-cytochrome c reductase. When an azido-ubiquinone derivative was added to the ubiquinone and phospholipid-depleted reductase in the dark, followed by the addition of phospholipids, partial reconstitutive activity was restored, while full ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase activity was observed when Q2H2 was used as substrate in the assay mixture. Apparently, the large amount of Q2H2 present in the assay mixture displaces the azido-ubiquinone in the system. Photolysis of the azido-Q-treated reductase with long-wavelength ultraviolet light abolishes about 70% of both the restored reconstitutive activity and Q2H2-cytochrome c reductase activity. The activity loss is directly proportional to the covalent binding of [3H]azido-ubiquinone to the reductase protein. When the photolyzed, [3H]azido-ubiquinone-treated sample was subjected to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by analysis of the distribution of radioactivity among the subunits, the cytochrome b protein and a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 14 000 were heavily labeled. The amount of radioactive labeling in both these proteins was affected by the presence of phospholipids.

Affinity Labels↗

Redox changes in coenzyme Q in the millisecond time range: an approach using rapid quenching and high-performance liquid chromatography.

We have combined a rapid-quenching protocol with HPLC analysis to measure the kinetics of reduction of coenzyme Q in a mitochondrial enzyme complex. The method has a time resolution of several milliseconds and will readily measure 1-20 nmol of the Q derivatives under investigation. By changing the HPLC solvent, either Q6 or Q10 can be studied.

Animals↗

Magnetic circular dichroism studies on the heme and tryptophan components of cytochrome c peroxidase.

We have measured the magnetic circular dichroism of cytochrome c peroxidase and some of its derivatives from 250-350 nm. Comparison of the changes observed on conversion to the catalytic intermediate (cytochrome c peroxidase-I) with spectra obtained from horseradish peroxidase and its derivatives and model compounds of protoheme leads us to the conclusion that the observed changes in the magnetic circular dichroism spectra reflect conversion of the heme to the ferryl state. No evidence was found for modification of tryptophan in cytochrome c peroxidase-I.

Cyanides↗

The interaction of yeast Complex III with some respiratory inhibitors.

We have examined the effects of eight inhibitors of the bovine-heart mitochondrial Complex III on the catalytic activity of the analogous complex from yeast mitochondria. All eight compounds were inhibitory, with potent inhibition being obtained with antimycin, myxothiazol and UHDBT (5-N-undecyl-6-hydroxy-4,7-dioxobenzothiazole). These three inhibitors, and also funiculosin, have been further studied by characterizing their effects on the visible absorbance, magnetic circular dichroism and EPR spectra of the complex and also on the potentiometric properties of the individual metal centers present in the complex. All four inhibitors had little or no effect on either the absorbance or magnetic circular dichroism spectra. Funiculosin produced a change in the EPR lineshape of the iron-sulfur cluster; EPR spectra recorded at 12 K also revealed complete reduction of cytochrome b-562 by ascorbate. UHDBT also changed the lineshape of the iron-sulfur cluster and this change could be partially reversed by myxothiazol. Neither antimycin nor myxothiazol affected the iron-sulfur cluster and produced only small changes in the EPR absorption envelope of the b cytochromes. Both funiculosin and UHDBT raised the midpoint potential of the iron-sulfur cluster, by about 150 and 70 mV, respectively. Only UHDBT changed the potential of c1, lowering it by about 30 mV. Funiculosin raised the potential of b-562 by about 30 mV, while myxothiazol had no effect; the other two compounds produced only small changes. All four compounds had only small effects on the midpoint potential of b-566. The relative contributions of the two b cytochromes to the magnetic circular dichroism amplitudes could be changed by the addition of inhibitors, even though the absolute magnetic circular dichroism spectra of oxidized and reduced complex were unaffected.

Anthraquinones↗

Microcomputer tools for steady-state enzyme kinetics.

Three programs useful for the investigation of steady-state kinetics have been developed. Two provide the solution to the steady-state rate equation; the first of these is a straightforward implementation of the rules developed by Chou. The second is a very efficient procedure for evaluating King-Altman diagrams and can be used for quite large mechanisms. The third program provides the numeric solution for a specific mechanism and set of initial conditions; it is well suited to extremely large models.

Algorithms↗

The reaction of xanthine oxidase with lumazine. Characterization of the reductive half-reaction.

The optical and fluorescence characteristics of lumazine (2, 4-dihydroxypteridine) and violapterin (2,4,6-trihydroxypteridine) are described. The reduction of xanthine oxidase by excess lumazine is markedly biphasic. The initial rapid phase is about 100-fold more rapid than Vmax and reflects the reaction of the enzyme with the first equivalent of lumazine; it is accompanied by the appearance of long wavelength absorbance of the Mo(IV) violapterin charge transfer species together with partial reduction in absorbance at 450 nm, reflecting a partial transfer of electrons from the Mo to the flavin and iron-sulfur center. A loss of substrate fluorescence and a burst of fluorescence due to enzyme bound product also occur during this phase. The second phase is rate-controlled by the dissociation of violapterin from the reduced enzyme. It is accompanied by a variable loss of the charge-transfer band, further reduction of the flavin and iron-sulfur chromophores and of substrate fluorescence, and the appearance of fluorescence of unbound product. This phase correlates well with the steady state parameters. The variation in kinetic behavior with pH is qualitatively explained by a marked decrease in the affinity of the enzyme as the pH is raised; Vmax is almost unaffected by pH. The temporal sequence of kinetic events reveals at least three steps in the reaction of xanthine oxidase with the first equivalent of lumazine.

Anaerobiosis↗

Further characterization of the potentiometric behavior of cytochrome oxidase. Cytochrome alpha stays low spin during oxidation and reduction.

An improved device for potentiometry using magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy has been developed and used to characterize the potentiometric behavior of solubilized beef heart cytochrome oxidase. In the absence of inhibitors, the electron affinity of cytochromes alpha and alpha 3 are indistinguishable and adequately described by the allosteric model of Nicholls and Peterson (Nicholls, P., and Peterson, L. C. (1972) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 357, 462-467). All of the cytochrome alpha can be accounted for as low spin heme throughout the titration. Cytochrome c present at 1:1, 2:1, and 4:1 stoichiometry with cytochrome alpha did not significantly affect the potentiometric behavior of alpha or chondroitinase alpha 3; at the 1:1 ratio the midpoint potential of cytochrome c was lowered by about 30 mV. In the presence of formate, azide and cyanide cytochrome alpha assumed approximately n = 1 behavior. However, the response of alpha 3 differed with each reagent and was particularly complex in the presence of azide. Fluoride produced very small changes in the potentiometric behavior suggesting that it may not be a ligand to cytochrome alpha 3. Possible deficiencies in the allosteric model are examined.

Animals↗

Mössbauer study of beef heart cytochrome oxidase. Comparative study of the bovine enzyme and cytochrome c1aa3 from Thermus thermophilus.

We have studied beef heart cytochrome c oxidase at 4.2 K with Mössbauer spectroscopy using the 57Fe present in natural abundance. The spectra observed are very similar to those of the a- and a3-sites of cytochrome c1aa3 from Thermus thermophilus. Thus, many conclusions derived from studies of the bacterial oxidase (available with enriched 57Fe) also apply to the mammalian enzyme. In the resting (as isolated) state, cytochrome a3 of the mammalian enzyme exhibits a doublet with quadrupole splitting, delta EQ = 1.0 mm/s and isomer shift, delta = 0.48 mm/s. These parameters suggest a high spin ferric heme and rule out an Fe(IV) assignment. The absence of magnetic features in the 4.2 K spectrum is consistent with earlier proposals that cytochrome a3 is spin-coupled to a cupric ion. The absorption lines are rather broad, suggesting that the a3-site is heterogeneous in the resting enzyme. Reduced cytochrome a3 has delta EQ = 1.85 mm/s and delta = 0.93 mm/s, demonstrating that the heme iron is high spin ferrous. The observed value for delta EQ is smaller than those of hemoglobin (2.4 mm/s), myoglobin (2.2 mm/s), and cytochrome a3 from T. thermophilus (2.06 mm/s). The Mössbauer spectra of oxidized cytochrome a3-CN show that the heme iron is low spin ferric and that the ground state has integer spin S greater than or equal to 1, which plausibly results from ferromagnetic coupling of the S = 1/2 heme to an S = 1/2 cupric ion. Reduced cytochrome a is low spin ferrous, with parameters similar to those of cytochrome b5 and cytochrome c.

Animals↗

The oxidation of yeast Complex III. Evidence for a very rapid electron equilibration between cytochrome c1 and the iron-sulfur center.

The reoxidation of reduced cytochrome c1 by potassium ferricyanide follows pseudo-first order kinetics with k = 4 x 10(4) M-1 s-1. However, the reoxidation of this cytochrome in two-electron reduced Complex III does not follow any simple rate law although the overall rate of reaction is essentially unchanged. The observed kinetics can be well fitted with a model in which ferricyanide reacts exclusively with cytochrome c1 together with very rapid electron transfer from the reduced iron-sulfur center to cytochrome c1. Neither removal of coenzyme Q from the complex nor prior incubation with antimycin A had any effect on the observed kinetics of reoxidation.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Potentiometric studies on yeast complex III.

Potentiometric measurements have been performed on Complex III from bakers' yeast. The midpoint potentials for the b and c cytochromes were measured using room-temperature MCD and liquid-helium temperature EPR. A value of 270 mV was obtained for cytochrome c1, regardless of temperature, while the midpoint potentials found for the two species of cytochrome b varied with temperatures, viz., 62 and -20 mV at room temperature (MCD) compared to 116 and -4 mV at about 10 K (EPR). The midpoint potential of the iron-sulfur center obtained by low-temperature EPR was 286 mV. An abrupt conformational change occurred immediately after this center was fully reduced resulting in a change in EPR line shape. The potentials of the two half-reactions of ubiquinone were measured by following the semiquinone radical signal at 110 K and 23 degrees C. Potentials of 176 and 51 mV were found at low temperature, while values of 200 and 110 mV were observed at room temperature. The midpoint potential of cytochrome c1 was found to be pH independent. The potentials of cytochrome b were also independent of pH when titrations were performed in deoxycholate buffers, while a variation of -30 mV per pH unit was observed for both cytochrome c species in taurocholate buffers. These two detergents also produced different MCD contributions of the two b cytochromes. A decrease in Em of greater than 300 mV was found in potentiometric measurements of cytochrome c1 at high ratios of dye to Complex III. Antimycin does not affect the redox potentials of cytochrome c1 but appears to induce a transition of the low-potential b heme to a high-potential species. This transition is mediated by ubiquinone.

Circular Dichroism↗