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PubMed2004

Subcellular compartmentalization of ceramide metabolism: MAM (mitochondria-associated membrane) and/or mitochondria?

Recent studies by our group and others have disclosed the presence of ceramides in mitochondria, and the activities of ceramide synthase and reverse ceramidase in mitochondria have also been reported. Since a possible contamination with the ER (endoplasmic reticulum)-related compartment MAM (mitochondria-associated membrane) could not be ruled out in previous studies, we have re-investigated the presence of the enzymes of ceramide metabolism in mitochondria and MAM highly purified from rat liver. In the present paper, we show that purified mitochondria as well as MAM are indeed able to generate ceramide in vitro through both ceramide synthase or reverse ceramidase, whereas the latter enzyme activity is barely detectable in microsomes. Moreover, ceramide synthase activities were recovered in outer mitochondrial membranes as well as in inner mitochondrial membranes. Using radiolabelled sphingosine as a substrate, mitochondria could generate ceramide and phytoceramide. However, the in vitro sensitivity of ceramide synthase toward FB1 (fumonisin B1) in mitochondria as well as in MAM was found to depend upon the sphingoid base: whereas dihydrosphingosine N-acyltransferase was inhibited by FB1 in a concentration-dependent manner, FB1 actually activated the ceramide synthase when using sphingosine as a substrate. Acylation of sphingosine 1-phosphate and dihydrosphingosine 1-phosphate, generating ceramide 1-phosphate, was also shown with both subcellular fractions. Moreover, the same difference in sensitivity towards FB1 for the ceramide synthase activities was seen between the two phosphorylated sphingoid bases, raising the possibility that distinct base-specific enzymes may be involved as ceramide synthases. Collectively, these results demonstrate the involvement of mitochondria in the metabolism of ceramides through different pathways, thereby supporting the hypothesis that topology of ceramide formation could determine its function.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Transport of proteins into mitochondria. Posttranslational transfer of ADP/ATP carrier into mitochondria in vitro.

The mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier is an integral transmembrane protein of the inner membrane. It is synthesized on cytoplasmic ribosomes. Kinetic data suggested that this protein is transferred into mitochondria in a posttranslational manner. The following results provide further evidence for such a mechanism and provide information on its details. 1. In homologous and heterologous translation systems th newly synthesized ADP/ATP carrier protein is present in the postribosomal supernatant. 2. Analysis by density gradient centrifugation and gel filtration shows, that the ADP/ATP carrier molecules in the postribosomal fraction are present as soluble complexes with apparent molecular weights of about 120 000 and 500 000 or larger. The carrier binds detergents such as Triton X-100 and deoxycholate forming mixed micelles with molecular weights of about 200 000-400 000. 3. Incubation of a postribosomal supernatant of a reticulocyte lysate containing newly synthesized ADP/ATP carrier with mitochondria isolated from Neurospora spheroplasts results in efficient transfer of the carrier into mitochondria. About 20-30% of the transferred carrier are resistant to proteinase in whole mitochondria. The authentic mature protein is also largley resistant to proteinase in whole mitochondria and sensitive after lysis of mitochondria with detergent. Integrity of mitochondria is a preprequisite for translocation into proteinase resistant position. 4. The transfer in vitro into a proteinase-resistant form is inhibited by the uncoupler carbonyl-cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone but not the proteinase-sensitive binding. These observations suggest that the posttranslational transfer of ADP/ATP carrier occurs via the cytosolic space through a soluble oligomeric precursor form. This precursor is taken up by intact mitochondria into an integral position in the membrane. These findings are considered to be of general importance for the intracellular transfer of insoluble membrane proteins. They support the view that such proteins can exist in a water-soluble form as precursors and upon integration into the membrane undergo a conformational change. Uptake into the membrane may involve the cleavage of an additional sequence in some proteins, but this appears not to be a prerequisite as demonstrated by the ADP/ATP carrier protein.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1985

Calcium accumulating ability of mitochondria from bovine coronary artery. Comparison with aortic mitochondria.

The calcium accumulating ability of mitochondria isolated both from bovine coronary artery and aorta was investigated. Coronary artery and aorta were pretreated with 0.1% collagenase. Cytochrome c oxidase activities of mitochondria isolated from coronary artery and aorta showed 25-fold and 19-fold increases, respectively, as compared with those of each homogenate, whereas NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, potassium-phosphatase and Na+-K+ ATPase activities increased less than 2-fold. This suggests that the isolation procedure is capable of obtaining a subcellular fraction highly enriched with mitochondria. Mitochondrial calcium uptake activity of the coronary artery was approximately 250 nmoles Ca2+/mg protein/10 min, and was markedly depressed with metabolic inhibitors such as NaN3, ruthenium red and 2,4-dinitrophenol. Calcium uptake activity of bovine aortic mitochondria showed similar activity and a similar trend in sensitivity to metabolic inhibitors. By contrast, the onset of the calcium binding reaction of the aortic mitochondria was slower and the azide-sensitivity of the mitochondria to magnesium ATPase activity was lower than those for coronary artery mitochondria. The present study has provided a method for isolation of mitochondria with a high capacity of calcium uptake activity, which may prove meaningful for future physiological and pharmacological evaluation of mitochondrial calcium accumulation in vascular smooth muscle.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1967

Properties of Higher Plant Mitochondria. I. Isolation and Some Characteristics of Tightly-coupled Mitochondria from Dark-grown Mung Bean Hypocotyls.

The mitochondria isolated from dark-grown mung bean hypocotyls oxidize succinate, l-malate, and externally added reduced nicotine adenine dinucleotide (NADH) with good respiratory control. While the pattern of respiration resembles that of animal mitochondria, there are 4 basic differences between the respiratory properties of mung bean and animal mitochondria: A) the ability to oxidize NADH, B) the pattern of succinate and malate oxidation, C) the rate of oxygen uptake, and D) the adenosine-5'-diphosphate to oxygen ratios.The apparent ;Km' for malate of mung bean mitochondria is about one order higher than that expected from malic dehydrogenase in animal mitochondria, whereas the affinity for phosphate is about 5 times higher with plant mitochondria than rat-liver mitochondria. While the half-maximal stimulation of respiration by adenosine-5'-diphosphate is practically identical to that of animal mitochondria, higher concentrations of adenosine-5'-diphosphate cause some decrease in its stimulating action.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1983

Ketogenesis in mitochondria isolated from liver biopsies of normal and starved dogs: comparison with rat-liver mitochondria.

Fatty acid oxidation and ketogenesis were studied in isolated dog-liver mitochondria in order to investigate whether the absence of hyperketonemia in fasting dogs results from a low capacity of hepatic ketogenesis. Isolated rat-liver mitochondria were used as reference. The results indicate that: (a) Dog-liver mitochondria oxidize long-chain fatty acids and produce ketone bodies at about equal rates as rat-liver mitochondria. No differences were detected in the regulation of ketogenesis. (b) Rates of oxidation of medium-chain fatty acids are significantly lower in dog-liver mitochondria than in rat-liver mitochondria. (c) Fasting does not influence the capacity of liver mitochondria for fatty acid oxidation but their ketogenic capacity is slightly enhanced in both species. The regulation of the energy metabolism in the fasting dog is discussed and compared with that in other mammalian species.

Animals↗
PubMed1973

Biogenesis of mitochondria. The effects of altered membrane lipid composition on cation transport by mitochondria of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

1. The fatty acid composition of the membrane lipids of a fatty acid desaturase mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was manipulated by growing the organism in a medium containing defined fatty acid supplements. 2. Mitochondria were obtained whose fatty acids contain between 20% and 80% unsaturated fatty acids. 3. Mitochondria with high proportions of unsaturated fatty acids in their lipids have coupled oxidative phosphorylation with normal P/O ratios, accumulate K(+) ions in the presence of valinomycin and an energy source, and eject protons in an energy-dependent fashion. 4. If the unsaturated fatty acid content of the mitochondrial fatty acids is lowered to 20%, the mitochondria simultaneously lose active cation transport and the ability to couple phosphorylation to respiration. 5. The loss of energy-linked reactions is accompanied by an increased passive permeability of the mitochondria to protons. 6. Free fatty acids uncouple oxidative phosphorylation in yeast mitochondria and the effect is reversed by bovine serum albumin. 7. The free fatty acid contents of yeast mitochondria are unaffected by depletion of unsaturated fatty acids, and free fatty acids are not responsible for the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation in organelles depleted in unsaturated fatty acids. 8. It is suggested that the loss of energy-linked reactions in yeast mitochondria that are depleted in unsaturated fatty acids is a consequence of the increased passive permeability to protons, and is caused by a change in the physical properties of the lipid phase of the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Biological Transport↗
PubMed1978

Assays of the metabolic viability of single giant mitochondria. Experiments with intact and impaled mitochondria.

Single giant mitochondria isolated from mice fed cuprizone were assayed for their metabolic viability. Two tests were devised. One test optically detected the accumulation of calcium phosphate within the mitochondria under massive loading conditions (including the presence of succinate and ATP). The accumulation corresponds to a test of energy coupling from either electron transport or the hydrolysis of ATP since it is blocked by either antimycin A or oligomycin. The other assay tested for the production of ATP from ADP and Pi, using myofibrils. Myofibrils prepared from glycerinated rabbit psoas muscle contract only in the presence of ATP and not in the presence of ADP. Myofibrillar contraction is unaffected by the presence of antimycin A or oligomycin. However, myofibrils in the presence of mitochondria that are phosphorylating ADP to ATP do contract. This contraction is blocked by antimycin A and/or oligomycin. Hence, the ATP which causes myofibrillar contraction is produced by oxidative phosphorylation. At low mitochondrial concentration, only the myofibrils in close proximity with mitochondria contract in the presence of ADP. Therefore the assay can be used to test the viability of individual mitochondria. Individual giant mitochondria were found to be viable, using both of these assays. Comparable results were obtained in mitochondria impaled with microelectrodes. The potentials and resistances were unaffected by concomitant calcium phosphate accumulation or oxidative phosphorylation.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1970

The respiratory chain of plant mitochondria. IV. Oxidation rates of the respiratory carriers of mung bean mitochondria in the presence of cyanide.

The half-time for oxidation of cytochrome b(557) in mitochondria from etiolated mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) hypocotyls is 5.8 milliseconds at 24 Celsius in the absence or presence of 0.3 mm KCN, when the oxidation is carried out by injecting a small amount of oxygenated medium into a suspension of mitochondria made anaerobic in the presence of succinate plus malonate. Since oxygen is consumed by the alternate, cyanide-insensitive respiratory pathway of these mitochondria, cycles of oxidation and reduction can be obtained with the oxygen pulses when cyanide is present. Reduced cytochromes (a + a(3)) also become oxidized at nearly the uninhibited rate under these conditions, a(3) completely and a partially. The half-time for oxidation of c(547) is also unaffected by 0.3 mm KCN, but c(549) has a half-time equal to that of c(547) in the presence of KCN, compared to the shorter one observed in the absence of inhibitor. The maximum extent of oxidation of the cytochromes c is about 70% in the presence of 0.3 mm KCN; this oxidation is rapidly followed by an extensive reduction which is synchronous with the reduction of cytochrome a observed under the same conditions. In the presence of cyanide, it appears likely that the cytochromes c and b(557) are oxidized by cytochrome oxidase in oxygen pulse experiments, rather than by the alternate oxidase. The oxidation of cytochrome b(553) is partially inhibited by KCN, but complete oxidation is attained in the aerobic steady state with excess oxygen. If the oxygen pulse experiment is carried out in the presence of sufficient malonate so that entry of reducing equivalents into the respiratory chain occurs at a rate negligible compared to inter-carrier electron transport, the half-time for flavoprotein oxidation is unaffected by 0.3 mm KCN while that for ubiquinone oxidation is but 2-fold larger. The observed net oxidation rate of these two carriers in mung bean mitochondria is more sensitive to the entry rate of reducing equivalents, as set by succinate concentration and malonate to succinate ratio, then it is in skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) mitochondria. These observations are interpreted in terms of a respiratory carrier Y, placed between flavoprotein plus ubiquinone and the cytochromes, which is the fork in the split respiratory pathway to the two terminal oxidases and which has lower electron transport capacity in mung bean mitochondria than in skunk cabbage mitochondria.

Cyanides↗
PubMed1986

Translocation of proteins into rat liver mitochondria. The precursor polypeptides of a large subunit of succinate dehydrogenase and ornithine aminotransferase and their imports into their own locations of mitochondria.

The precursor polypeptides of a large subunit of succinate dehydrogenase and ornithine aminotransferase (the enzymes which are located in the mitochondrial inner membrane and matrix respectively) were synthesized as a larger molecular mass than their mature subunits, when rat liver RNA was translated in vitro. These precursor polypeptides were also detected in vivo in ascites hepatoma cells (AH-130 cells). When the 35S-labeled precursor polypeptides were incubated with isolated rat liver mitochondria at 30 degrees C in the presence of an energy-generating system, these two precursors were converted to their mature size and the 35S-labeled mature-size polypeptides associated with mitochondria. Furthermore, these mature-size polypeptides were recovered from their own locations, the inner mitochondrial membrane and the matrix. The precursor of ornithine aminotransferase incubated with rat liver mitochondria at 0 degree C was specifically and tightly bound to the surface of the mitochondria even in the presence of an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation. This precursor, bound to the mitochondria, was imported into the matrix when the mitochondria were reisolated and incubated at 30 degrees C in the presence of an energy-generating system, suggesting that a specific receptor may be involved in the binding of the precursor. The processing enzyme for both precursor polypeptides seemed to be located in the mitochondrial matrix and was partially purified from the mitochondria. A metal-chelating agent strongly inhibited the processing enzyme and the inhibition was recovered by the addition of Mn2+ or Co2+.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Method for measuring ATP production in isolated mitochondria: ATP production in brain and liver mitochondria of Fischer-344 rats with age and caloric restriction.

The production of ATP is vital for muscle contraction, chemiosmotic homeostasis, and normal cellular function. Many studies have measured ATP content or qualitative changes in ATP production, but few have quantified ATP production in vivo in isolated mitochondria. Because of the importance of understanding the energy capacity of mitochondria in biology, physiology, cellular dysfunction, and ultimately, disease pathologies and normal aging, we modified a commercially available bioluminescent ATP determination assay for quantitatively measuring ATP content and rate of ATP production in isolated mitochondria. The bioluminescence assay is based on the reaction of ATP with recombinant firefly luciferase and its substrate luciferin. The stabilities of the reaction mixture as well as relevant ATP standards were quantified. The luminescent signals of the reaction mixture and a 0.5 microM ATP standard decreased linearly at rates of 2.16 and 1.39% decay/min, respectively. For a 25 microM ATP standard, the luminescent signal underwent a logarithmic decay, due to intrinsic deviations from the Beer-Lambert law. Moreover, to test the functionality of isolated mitochondria, they were incubated with 1 and 5 mM oligomycin, an inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation. The rate of ATP production in the mitochondria declined by 34 and 83%, respectively. Due to the sensitivity and stability of the assay and methodology, we were able to quantitatively measure in vivo the effects of age and caloric restriction on the ATP content and production in isolated mitochondria from the brain and liver of young and old Fischer-344 rats. In both tissues, neither age nor caloric restriction had any significant effect on the ATP content or the rate of ATP production. This study introduces a highly sensitive, reproducible, and quick methodology for measuring ATP in isolated mitochondria.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1988

Coupling of heme attachment to import of cytochrome c into yeast mitochondria. Studies with heme lyase-deficient mitochondria and altered apocytochromes c.

Cytochrome c is synthesized in the cytoplasm as apocytochrome c, lacking heme, and then imported into mitochondria. The relationship between attachment of heme to the apoprotein and its import into mitochondria was examined using an in vitro system. Apocytochrome c transcribed and translated in vitro could be imported with high efficiency into mitochondria isolated from normal yeast strains. However, no import of apocytochrome c occurred with mitochondria isolated from cyc3- strains, which lack cytochrome c heme lyase, the enzyme catalyzing covalent attachment of heme to apocytochrome c. In addition, amino acid substitutions in apocytochrome c at either of the 2 cysteine residues that are the sites of the thioether linkages to heme, or at an immediately adjacent histidine that serves as a ligand of the heme iron, resulted in a substantial reduction in the ability of the precursor to be translocated into mitochondria. Replacement of the methionine serving as the other iron ligand, on the other hand, had no detectable effect on import of apocytochrome c in this system. Thus, covalent heme attachment is a required step for import of cytochrome c into mitochondria. Heme attachment, however, can occur in the absence of mitochondrial import since we have detected CYC3-encoded heme lyase activity in solubilized yeast extracts and in an Escherichia coli expression system. These results suggest that protein folding triggered by heme attachment to apocytochrome c is required for import into mitochondria.

Apoproteins↗
PubMed1982

Studies on rat liver mitochondria. II. Formation of lipid peroxides in mitochondria preserved at 0-4 degrees C.

Levels of lipid peroxides were monitored in freshly isolated rat liver mitochondria, aged mitochondria, and preserved mitochondria by reaction with TBA (2-thiobarbituric acid) and spectrophotometric absorption at 233 nm. In aged mitochondria, the levels of lipid peroxides increased gradually during 120 hr, while in preserved mitochondria they increased rapidly up to 24-48 hr. Under such conditions, the respiratory control coefficients and the levels of total Pi were about 40% those of fresh mitochondria, and the decrease of the levels of lipid peroxides followed the decrease of the respiratory control coefficients and levels of total Pi. These results suggest that stimulation of the formation of lipid peroxides occurs when the vital activity of mitochondria is preserved.

Animals↗
PubMed1969

The Respiratory Chain of Plant Mitochondria. III. Oxidation Rates of the Cytochromes c and b in Mung Bean Mitochondria Reduced With Succinate.

Oxidation rates of the 2 cytochromes c and the 3 cytochromes b in mitochondria from the hypocotyls of etiolated mung beans (Phaseolus aureus) have been measured with a rapid mixing flow apparatus coupled to a dual wavelength spectrophotometer. The mitochondria were depleted with uncoupler and ADP prior to starting the experiments to minimize the complications caused by energy-linked processes on electron transport. The half-time for oxidation and absorbance change at a given wavelength for the rapidly oxidized cytochromes was plotted as a function of wavelength, with 570 mmu as reference, to yield a spectrum in which absorbance maxima and half-times were correlated. The 2 cytochrome c components have oxidation half-times of 2 milliseconds for c(549) and 3 milliseconds for c(547). (The subscripts refer to the difference absorbance maxima observed for these cytochromes in reduced-minus-oxidized difference spectra obtained at -196 degrees . The maxima observed at room temperature are 550 mmu for c(547) and 552 mmu for c(549).) Cytochrome b(557) (room temperature maximum 560 mmu) was oxidized with a half-time of 8 milliseconds, while b(553) (room temperature maximum 556 mmu) was oxidized relatively slowly with a half-time of 0.5 sec. Cytochrome b(562) (room temperature maximum 565 mmu) was oxidized with half-times in the range 15 to 35 milliseconds, depending on mitochondrial preparation. It was shown that b(562) is only partially reduced by succinate in anaerobic mitochondria previously depleted with uncoupler and ADP; this cytochrome can be fully reduced by succinate in coupled mitochondria under conditions where endogenous pyridine nucleotide is also reduced. Both b(553) and b(557) in depleted mitochondria are reduced in anaerobiosis by succinate. With ascorbate plus N,N'-tetramethylphenylenediamine as substrate, b(553) is only partially reduced in anaerobiosis, while b(557) is completely reduced in depleted mitochondria. This observed difference in ease of reducibility provides another method for differentiating the 3 cytochromes b of mitochondria isolated from plant tissues.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

The rapid mode of calcium uptake into heart mitochondria (RaM): comparison to RaM in liver mitochondria.

A mechanism of Ca(2+) uptake, capable of sequestering significant amounts of Ca(2+) from cytosolic Ca(2+) pulses, has previously been identified in liver mitochondria. This mechanism, the Rapid Mode of Ca(2+) uptake (RaM), was shown to sequester Ca(2+) very rapidly at the beginning of each pulse in a sequence [Sparagna et al. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 27510-27515]. The existence and properties of RaM in heart mitochondria, however, are unknown and are the basis for this study. We show that RaM functions in heart mitochondria with some of the characteristics of RaM in liver, but its activation and inhibition are quite different. It is feasible that these differences represent different physiological adaptations in these two tissues. In both tissues, RaM is highly conductive at the beginning of a Ca(2+) pulse, but is inhibited by the rising [Ca(2+)] of the pulse itself. In heart mitochondria, the time required at low [Ca(2+)] to reestablish high Ca(2+) conductivity via RaM i.e. the 'resetting time' of RaM is much longer than in liver. RaM in liver mitochondria is strongly activated by spermine, activated by ATP or GTP and unaffected by ADP and AMP. In heart, RaM is activated much less strongly by spermine and unaffected by ATP or GTP. RaM in heart is strongly inhibited by AMP and has a biphasic response to ADP; it is activated at low concentrations and inhibited at high concentrations. Finally, an hypothesis consistent with the data and characteristics of liver and heart is presented to explain how RaM may function to control the rate of oxidative phosphorylation in each tissue. Under this hypothesis, RaM functions to create a brief, high free Ca(2+) concentration inside mitochondria which may activate intramitochondrial metabolic reactions with relatively small amounts of Ca(2+) uptake. This hypothesis is consistent with the view that intramitochondrial [Ca(2+)] may be used to control the rate of ADP phosphorylation in such a way as to minimize the probability of activating the Ca(2+)-induced mitochondrial membrane permeability transition (MPT).

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1989

Mouse zygotes injected with mitochondria develop normally but the exogenous mitochondria are not detectable in the progeny.

A microinjection procedure to introduce "paternal" mitochondria from a source other than spermatozoa into fertilized mouse eggs is described. When a mitochondrial suspension isolated from the testes or liver of Mus molossinus mice was microinjected into fertilized eggs of CD1 mice, the microinjected zygotes survived, developed normally, and offspring were produced. Mus molossinus mitochondrial DNA can be distinguished from CD1 mitochondrial DNA by Southern blot analyses using restriction enzymes such as Eco R1, Xba 1, or Spe 1. Although up to 120 viable mitochondria were injected, no exogenous mitochondrial DNA was detected in fetal samples or in the brain, liver, heart, testis, or ovary of the mature progeny. Under the experimental conditions used, similar results were obtained when mitochondria from the testes of New Zealand black mice or from testes of Syrian hamsters were microinjected into fertilized CD1 mouse eggs. Failure to detect the exogenous mitochondrial DNA under our assay conditions suggests that microinjected mitochondria from testis or liver did not selectively replicate during embryonic development. The "foreign" mitochondria appear to have the same fate during early embryogenesis as the mitochondria of the spermatozoon.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Helium-neon laser irradiation of rat liver mitochondria gives rise to a new subpopulation of mitochondria: isolation and first biochemical characterization.

An experiment was performed to isolate the small atypical mitochondria produced during the irradiation of normal mitochondria with an He-Ne laser. Rat liver mitochondria were irradiated with a low-power continuous-wave He-Ne laser (energy dose, 5 J cm-2), followed by isolation using a sucrose gradient. In the irradiated sample, two bands were observed, one corresponding to normal mitochondria and the other to atypical mitochondria. Certain biochemical features of the mitochondria were investigated: mitochondrial enzyme activity and the presence of DNA and RNA were demonstrated. Hybridization experiments carried out with labelled mitochondrial probes, containing the genes for cytochrome oxidase subunit I and 12S rRNA, confirmed the mitochondrial nature of the isolated RNA.

Adenylate Kinase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Old players in a new role: mitochondria-associated membranes, VDAC, and ryanodine receptors as contributors to calcium signal propagation from endoplasmic reticulum to the mitochondria.

In many cell types, IP(3) and ryanodine receptor (IP(3)R/RyR)-mediated Ca(2+) mobilization from the sarcoendoplasmic reticulum (ER/SR) results in an elevation of mitochondrial matrix [Ca(2+)]. Although delivery of the released Ca(2+) to the mitochondria has been established as a fundamental signaling process, the molecular mechanism underlying mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake remains a challenge for future studies. The Ca(2+) uptake can be divided into the following three steps: (1) Ca(2+) movement from the IP(3)R/RyR to the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM); (2) Ca(2+) transport through the OMM; and (3) Ca(2+) transport through the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM). Evidence has been presented that Ca(2+) delivery to the OMM is facilitated by a local coupling between closely apposed regions of the ER/SR and mitochondria. Recent studies of the dynamic changes in mitochondrial morphology and visualization of the subcellular pattern of the calcium signal provide important clues to the organization of the ER/SR-mitochondrial interface. Interestingly, key steps of phospholipid synthesis and transfer to the mitochondria have also been confined to subdomains of the ER tightly associated with the mitochondria, referred as mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs). Through the OMM, the voltage-dependent anion channels (VDAC, porin) have been thought to permit free passage of ions and other small molecules. However, recent studies suggest that the VDAC may represent a regulated step in Ca(2+) transport from IP(3)R/RyR to the IMM. A novel proposal regarding the IMM Ca(2+) uptake site is a mitochondrial RyR that would mediate rapid Ca(2+) uptake by mitochondria in excitable cells. An overview of the progress in these directions is described in the present paper.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

High-polarized (Delta Psi m(HIGH)) mitochondria are spatially polarized in human oocytes and early embryos in stable subplasmalemmal domains: developmental significance and the concept of vanguard mitochondria.

The spatial specificity and stability of subplasmalemmal domains of high-polarized mitochondria (Delta Psi m(HIGH)) in human oocytes and cleavage stage embryos were investigated in instances where changes in pericortical/subplasmalemmal organization resulted in the corresponding cytoplasm becoming translucent and largely devoid of mitochondria, either by experimental manipulation or as a result of spontaneous, stage-specific morphodynamic processes. The developmental significance of high-polarized mitochondria was examined in early embryos where their loss from a cell(s) occurred by elimination into a focal cluster of small extracellular fragments, or by disproportionate segregation between blastomeres. The findings demonstrate that pronounced changes in the organization of the pericortical and subplasmalemmal cytoplasm do not affect these domains, and their displacement under experimental conditions is fully reversible. By contrast, in instances of their significant or complete elimination, the domains of high-polarized mitochondria did not reform and the affected cell(s) remained intact and undivided during culture. The findings (i) support a spatial specificity and stability for high-polarized mitochondria, which in human oocytes and early embryos, represent a very small fraction of the total mitochondrial complement, and (ii) are discussed with respect to their suggested participation in transmembrane and signal transduction processes. It is proposed that Delta Psi(HIGH) mitochondria located in subplasmalemmal domains are 'vanguard' organelles that can sense and respond to regulatory signals of extrinsic and intrinsic origin during early development.

Cell Polarity↗