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Scott syndrome, a bleeding disorder caused by defective scrambling of membrane phospholipids.

Normal quescent cells maintain membrane lipid asymmetry by ATP-dependent membrane lipid transporters, which shuttle different phospholipids from one leaflet to the other against their respective concentration gradients. When cells are challenged, membrane lipid asymmetry can be perturbed resulting in exposure of phosphatidylserine [PS] at the outer cell surface. Translocation of PS from the inner to outer membrane leaflet of activated blood platelets and platelet-derived microvesicles provides a catalytic surface for interacting coagulation factors. This process is dramatically impaired in Scott syndrome, a rare congenital bleeding disorder, underscoring the indispensible role of PS in hemostasis. This also testifies to a defect of a protein-catalyzed scrambling of membrane phospholipids. The Scott phenotype is not restricted to platelets, but can be demonstrated in other blood cells as well. The functional aberrations observed in Scott syndrome have increased our understanding of transmembrane lipid movements, and may help to identify the molecular elements that promote the collapse of phospholipid asymmetry during cell activation and apoptosis.

Blood Coagulation Disorders↗

[Mechanisms of cell death in hypoxic stress].

The present article attempts to summarize and introduce the mechanisms of hypoxia-induced cell death. Necrosis is associated with rapid metabolic collapse that leads to cell swelling, early loss of plasma membrane integrity, and ultimate cell rupture, in which cytosolic contents leak from necrotic cells causing injury to and inflammation of the surrounding tissue. In contrast, apoptosis is an energy-requiring, gene-directed process, which results in cell suicide without any injury to surrounding tissues. Although apoptosis and necrosis are conceptually distinct pathways of cell death, recent advances have revealed that hypoxic cell damage can induce both necrosis and apoptosis simultaneously. Loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) precedes the morphological changes in cell death, and overexpression of Bcl-2 or Bcl-XL blocks apoptosis as well as hypoxia-induced necrosis by maintaining MMP. These findings indicate that apoptosis and some types of necrosis share common features in the death signaling pathway. The factors that determine whether cells undergo apoptosis or necrosis are still unclear, but intracellular ATP levels and/or their rate of decline are considered to be one possible determinant of the manifestation of cell death.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

The mechanism of patulin's cytotoxicity and the antioxidant activity of indole tetramic acids.

In LLC-PK1 cells exposed to patulin (50 microM), lipid peroxidation, abrupt calcium influx, extensive blebbing, and total LDH release appeared to be serially connected events with each representing a step in the loss of structural integrity of the plasma membrane. The aforementioned patulin-induced events were prevented by concurrent incubation with butylated hydroxytoluene, deferoxamine, and cyclopiazonic acid, a fungal metabolite. Patulin also caused depletion of nonprotein sulfhydryls, increased 86Rb+ efflux, dome collapse, and eventually the loss of cell viability. These events were not prevented by antioxidants, results consistent with the hypothesis that they were also serially connected but occurring parallel to those previously mentioned. The earliest events observed in patulin-treated cells were the decrease in nonprotein sulfhydryls and increase in 86Rb+ efflux (5 min) which occurred before statistically significant alterations in protein-bound sulfhydryls. The increased potassium efflux (86Rb+ efflux) occurred via a pathway distinct from BaCl2, quinine, or tetraethylammonium sensitive potassium channels. This is the first published report of the antioxidant activity of indole tetramic acids (cyclopiazonic acid and cyclopiazonic acid imine). The protective effect of tetramic acids in LLC-PK1 cells was restricted to indole tetramic acids, and their prevention of lipid peroxidation did not involve iron chelation. The results of this study demonstrate that cyclopiazonic acid is a potent inhibitor of azide-insensitive, ATP-dependent, a23187-sensitive calcium uptake by the lysate of LLC-PK1 cells. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that the endoplasmic reticulum calcium transport ATPase is a sensitive target for cyclopiazonic acid in LLC-PK1 cells. These findings raise the interesting possibility that the antioxidant activity of indole tetramic acids may involve multiple novel mechanisms: surface charge alterations on the cytoplasmic surface of plasma membranes, alterations in calcium permeability in the plasma and endoplasmic reticulum membrane, and inhibition of the calcium-dependent ATPase of the endoplasmic reticulum.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Escherichia coli adenylate cyclase complex: regulation by the proton electrochemical gradient.

Sugars such as glucose are transported into Escherichia coli by a coupled phosphorylation mechanism (the phosphoenolpyruvate:sugar phosphotransferase system, PTS). Transport of sugars through the PTS results in inhibition of adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1] activity by a mechanism involving a change in the state of phosphorylation of PTS proteins. Other sugars (e.g., lactose) are transported without modification by a mechanism involving proton cotransport, which requires a proton motive force across the cell membrane. We show here that uptake of sugars through the lactose transport system results in inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity if the proton symport mechanism is also active. The protonophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone also inhibits adenylate cyclase activity. These data suggest that the steady-state electrochemical proton gradient regulates the activity of adenylate cyclase. We propose that sugar-dependent inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity may occur by either of two mechanisms. Sugars transported by the PTS inhibited adenylate cyclase activity by dephosphorylation of a regulatory protein, while sugars transported by the proton motive force system inhibit adenylate cyclase activity as a result of collapse of the proton electrochemical gradient.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Coenzyme q10 prevents apoptosis by inhibiting mitochondrial depolarization independently of its free radical scavenging property.

The permeability transition pore (PTP) is a mitochondrial channel whose opening causes the mitochondrial membrane potential (deltapsi) collapse that leads to apoptosis. Some ubiquinone analogues have been demonstrated previously to modulate the PTP open-closed transition in isolated mitochondria and thought to act through a common PTP-binding site rather than through oxidation-reduction reactions. We have demonstrated recently both in vitro and in vivo that the ubiquitous free radical scavenger and respiratory chain coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) prevents keratocyte apoptosis induced by excimer laser irradiation more efficiently than other antioxidants. On this basis, we hypothesized that the antiapoptotic property of CoQ10 could be independent of its free radical scavenging ability and related to direct inhibition of PTP opening. In this study, we have verified this hypothesis by evaluating the antiapoptotic effects of CoQ10 in response to apoptotic stimuli, serum starvation, antimycin A, and ceramide, which do not generate free radicals, in comparison to control, free radical-generating UVC irradiation. As hypothesized, CoQ10 dramatically reduced apoptotic cell death, attenuated ATP decrease, and hindered DNA fragmentation elicited by all apoptotic stimuli. This was accompanied by inhibition of mitochondrial depolarization, cytochrome c release, and caspase 9 activation. Because these events are consequent to mitochondrial PTP opening, we suggest that the antiapoptotic activity of CoQ10 could be related to its ability to prevent this phenomenon.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Agaric acid induces mitochondrial permeability transition through its interaction with the adenine nucleotide translocase. Its dependence on membrane fluidity.

The effect of agaric acid as inducer of mitochondrial permeability transition was studied. It was found that: (i) agaric acid (AA) promoted efflux of accumulated Ca2+, collapse of transmembrane potential, and mitochondrial swelling; (ii) these effects depend on membrane fluidity; (iii) ADP inhibited the effect of AA on Ca2+ efflux, and (iv) AA blocked binding of the sulfhydryl reagent, eosin-5-maleimide, to the adenine nucleotide translocase. It is proposed that AA induces pore opening through binding of the citrate moiety to the ADP/ATP carrier; this interaction must be stabilized by insertion of the alkyl chain in the lipid milieu of the membrane.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

The Phosphate Transporter from Pea Mitochondria (Isolation and Characterization in Proteolipid Vesicles).

The phosphate transporter from mitochondria will exchange matrix phosphate for cytosolic phosphate and facilitate either phosphate/proton symport or phosphate/hydroxyl ion antiport. The phosphate transported into the matrix by this carrier is either used for ATP synthesis or exchanges back out to the cytosol on the dicarboxylate transporter, permitting entry of malate and succinate into the matrix. The phosphate transporter was solubilized from etiolated pea (Pisum sativum L. cv Alaska) mitochondrial membranes with Triton X-114, purified approximately 500-fold by hydroxylapatite chromatography, and reconstituted into azolectin vesicles that were preloaded with 0.1 or 10 mM phosphate. Phosphate transport was measured as the exchange of preloaded phosphate for external [32P]phosphate. Phosphate/phosphate exchange occurred for over 40 min at room temperature with an apparent K0.5 of 1.6 mM and a maximum velocity of over 700 nmol (mg protein)-1 min-1. Diethyl pyrocarbonate was used as an inhibitor-stop reagent. Transport was inhibited by p-hydroxyphenylglyoxal, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, pyridoxal 5-phosphate, and dansyl chloride but was insensitive to sulfate, nitrate, and N-ethylmaleimide, the standard inhibitor for the mammalian phosphate transporter. Phosphate/hydroxyl exchange was stimulated when the proton gradient was collapsed with carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, but phosphate/phosphate exchange was unaffected by the uncoupler.

Journal Article↗

Expression of the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor and apoptosis induction in hepatic stellate cells.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) transformation and proliferation play an important role in liver fibrogenesis, and HSC apoptosis may be involved in the termination of this response. METHODS: Expression of the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) and PBR-ligand-induced apoptosis were studied in cultured rat liver HSC. RESULTS: Transformation of HSC led to a transient expression of PBR at the messenger RNA and protein level, which was maximal after about 3 and 7 days of culture, respectively, and declined thereafter. Immunoreactive PBR showed a punctate staining and colocalized with mitochondrial manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase and adenine nucleotide translocator 1. The selective PBR ligands 1-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-N-(1-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinolinecarboxamide (PK11195) and 4' chlorodiazepam (Ro5-4864), but not the centrally acting benzodiazepine ligand clonazepam, induced dose-dependent apoptosis in HSC. The apoptotic potency of PK11195 paralleled the level of PBR expression. PK11195 induced dephosphorylation of protein kinase B/Akt and Bad and a downregulation of Bcl-2. Collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential preceeded PBR-ligand-induced apoptosis. No apoptosis was induced by PK11195 in parenchymal cells, despite the presence of PBR, and PK11195 had no effect in these cells on Bad phosphorylation and Bcl-2 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Transformation of HSC leads to a transient expression of PBR and renders the cells sensitive to PBR-ligand-induced apoptosis, involving protein kinase B/Akt and Bad-dependent mechanisms.

Animals↗

[Pleural symphysis with tetracyclines for pneumothorax. The value of thoracic peridural analgesia].

The aim of this study was to assess the value of peridural thoracic analgesia (ATP) to prevent pain observed during pleural symphysis with tetracycline (STP) for pneumothorax (PNO). 12 patients (age 27 +/- 6 years) having a spontaneous PNO benefited from 13 SPT (1 gm, tetracycline diluted in 60 cc of normal saline) under cover of an APT (at the D5-D6 level) with Fentanyl (0.1 mg) and Bupivacaine 0.5% adrenalin (1 mg/kg). The protocol was used on three successive days. Repeated determinations of blood bupivacaine levels were performed in 9 patients on the first day. No patient had an intolerable pain which required injection of parenteral morphine and/or an interruption of the protocol. For two patients (one of them having a right symphysis and then a left symphysis one month later) the treatment sessions to achieve a symphysis were totally painless. 10 patients experienced moderate pain, mainly on the first day, which was relieved by reinjection of peridural bupivacaine (25 mg) (n = 9) or by the parenteral injection of non morphine analgesia (n = 1). No patient had a respiratory depression, collapse or bradycardia. The blood bupivacaine levels were always significantly less than the toxic levels (1.6 mg). The results observed suggest that APT, (Fentanyl and Bupivacaine) is an effective method, non toxic and well tolerated for the prevention of intolerable pain which is seen in SPT for PNO.

Adult↗

D-(+)-glucose rescue against 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium toxicity through anaerobic glycolysis in neuroblastoma cells.

The active neurotoxin of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), exerts its lethal effect by inhibiting Complex I of the electron transport chain (ETC). MPP+ shuts down aerobic oxidative phosphorylation and ETC-mediated ATP synthesis. The present investigation examines anaerobic survival during MPP+ toxicity in murine neuroblastoma cells Neuro 2-A (N2-A). MPP+ addition to the cells resulted in a reduction in cell viability, mitochondrial O(2) consumption (MOC) and ATP concentration in a dose-dependent manner. However, the addition of 10 mM of D-(+)-glucose prevented MPP+ toxicity, attenuated the loss of ATP, but did not reverse the complete inhibition of MOC, indicating substrate level phosphorylation and explicit anaerobic survival. Glucose addition prevented MPP+-mediated drop in DeltaPsim, endoplasmic reticulum and intracellular organelle membrane potential tantamount to an increase of cell viability. Secondly, we examined the metabolic regulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT) activities during glucose rescue. These enzymes exert control over acetyl CoA reservoirs in the mitochondria during aerobic metabolism. DL-6,8-Thioctic acid (PDH prosthetic group) and insulin slightly augmented metabolic rate, resulting in enhanced vulnerability to MPP+ in a glucose-limited environment. Additional glucose prevented these effects. Amiodarone (CPT inhibitor) and glucagon did not hamper or potentiate glucose rescue against MPP+. These data support strict anaerobic glucose utilization in the presence of toxic levels of MPP+. Moreover, the findings indicate that MPP+ exerts two distinct modes of toxicity (fast and slow death). With MPP+ (<1 mM), anaerobic glycolysis is operational, and toxicity is strictly dependent upon glucose depletion. MPP+ (1-10 mM) initiated acute metabolic collapse, with failure to sustain or switch to anaerobic glycolysis. In conclusion, overcoming energy failure against MPP+ may involve targeting rate-limiting controls over anaerobic energy pathways.

1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium↗

Electrical potential dissipation induced by free fatty acids in pea stem mitochondria.

Linolenic, linoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acids (FFA) collapse the electrical potential of pea stem mitochondria in the absence or in the presence of 0.5 mM Mg2+. Higher concentrations of this cation (5 mM) lower the rate of dissipation caused by linoleic, oleic and palmitic acids, while abolishing that induced by stearic acid. Carboxyatractyloside and ADP do not reverse the FFA-induced collapse both in the presence or absence of Mg2+. EDTA, EGTA or BHT do not influence the dissipation caused by FFA that, in addition, is not linked to lipid peroxidation evaluated as malondialdehyde or conjugated diene formation. Only linolenic acid sustains a peroxidation which, however, appears to be caused by its own oxidation catalysed by lipoxygenases rather than by membrane lipoperoxidation induced by this free fatty acid. These results suggest that neither the ATP/ADP exchanger nor lipid peroxidation appear to be involved in FFA-induced uncoupling in pea stem mitochondria.

Cations, Divalent↗

Uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria by general anesthetics.

The general anesthetics chloroform and halothane inhibit ATP synthesis in rat liver mitochondria, in the millimolar concentration range (1-12 mM), in parallel with a reduction of respiratory control and the ratio of ATP produced to oxygen consumed. In these effects, halothane and chloroform are similar to classical, protonophoric, uncouplers. The rate of ADP-stimulated respiration or the rate of uncoupler-stimulated respiration is not affected. Like classical uncouplers, halothane and chloroform also stimulate mitochondrial ATPase activity. However, the extent of stimulation by these agents is larger than by protonophoric uncouplers and, more significantly, ATPase activity stimulated by carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone is further stimulated by these agents. In the presence of the Ca2+ chelator EGTA, halothane and chloroform have no measurable effect on the magnitude of the proton electrochemical potential, delta mu H. In the absence of EGTA these anesthetics have a small effect on delta mu H, apparently due to stimulation of Ca2+ cycling. Under these conditions the membrane potential is decreased while delta pH is increased, but the total value of delta mu H is only slightly decreased. The uncoupling activity of the anesthetics is the same in the presence of absence of EGTA. Thus, in contrast to protonophoric uncouplers, the uncoupling effect of general anesthetics does not depend on the collapse of delta mu H. In the same concentration range in which anesthetics uncouple oxidative phosphorylation both halothane and chloroform increase membrane fluidity, as measured by the partitioning of the hydrophobic spin probe 5-doxyldecane. These findings suggest a role for intramembrane processes in energy conversion that is not dependent on the bulk delta mu H.

Animals↗

Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation enzyme-1 as a target for neuroprotection in acute central nervous system injury.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1) protects the genome by functioning in the DNA damage surveillance network. In response to stresses that are toxic to the genome, PARP-1 activity increases substantially, an event that appears crucial for maintaining genomic integrity. Massive PARP-1 activation, however, can deplete the cell of NAD(+) and ATP, ultimately leading to energy failure and cell death. The discovery that cell death may be suppressed by PARP inhibitors or by deletion of the parp-1 gene has prompted a great deal of interest in the process of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation. Suppression of PARP-1 is capable of protecting against cerebral and cardiac ischemia, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced parkinsonism, traumatic spinal cord injury, and streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The secondary damage of initially surviving neurons in brain stroke accounts for most of the volume of the infarcted area and the subsequent loss of brain function. Microglial migration is strongly controlled in living brain tissue by expression of the integrin CD11a, which is regulated in turn by PARP-1, proposing that PARP-1 downregulation may therefore be a promising strategy in protecting neurons from this secondary damage, as well. As PARP-1 is now recognised as playing a role also in the regulation of gene transcription, this further increases the intricacy of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation in the control of cell homeostasis and challenges the notion that energy collapse is the sole mechanism by which poly(ADP-ribose) formation contributes to cell death. PARP(s) might regulate cell fate as essential modulators of death and survival transcriptional programs with relation to NF-kappaB and p53, proposing that inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation could therefore prevent the deleterious consequences of neuroinflammation by reducing NF-kappaB activity.

Acute Disease↗

Microtubules and associated microfilaments in the tentacles of the suctorian Heliophrya erhardi Matthes.

At the ultrastructural level length changes accompanying linear movements of resting (non-feeding) tentacles of the suctorian Heliophrya involve not only altered microtubule numbers, but also marked changes in the specific microtubule pattern of cross-sectioned tentacles. These changes in number and pattern indicate a sliding between axonemal microtubules. The visualization of microfilaments in the cytoplasm at the tentacle base and in the knob region could shed new light on the problem of whether microtubular sliding is an active or passive process. At the tentacle base, microfilaments are either arranged in a ring-shaped configuration around the axoneme, or they run parallel to the axonemal microtubules, whereas at the tentacle tip during the resting state, microfilaments are closely associated with the plasma membrane of the knob. They form a filamentous reticular layer, which is continuous at the anchorage site of axonemal microtubules with the dense epiplasmic layer of the tentacle shaft. Obiously, this filamentous layer is engaged in positioning the haptocysts at the plasma membrane and in holding the membrane itself under tension. The putative contractile nature of microfilaments and the epiplasmic layer is argued from ATP-sensitive glycerol models of tentacles and from the results of halothane treatment of native tentacles. Halothane treatment of resting tentacles also gave indications of the presence of differentially stable intermicrotubule-bridges. The role of micro-filaments and halothane-resistant dynein-like inter-row bridges in tentacle movement is discussed. As soon as the plasma membrane of the knob is 'sealed' with the prey pellicle during feeding, the microtubules of the sleeve region slide into the knob where they bend back and outwards. The microtubules now appear decorated and sometimes cross-connected by microfilaments which adhere closely to the plasma membrane- now acting as a peritrophic membrane-lining the prey cytoplasm against the microtubules of the inner tube. These microfilaments which show a close association with the microtubules of the active knob area, are thought to be engaged in microtubular bending and stretching during feeding. They may also be involved in the transport of the peritrophic membrane in distal tentacle regions. Microinematographically recorded oscillations in tentacle diameter in these regions are in agreement with the electron-microscopic findings of various states of collapsed tentacle axonemes. These observations, as well as the occurrence of helically twisted tentacles during feeding, suggest microfilament mediated sequential back and forth movements of sleeve microtubules in the knob region which generate a proximally migrating helical wave.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Folding and stability of a tryptophan-containing mutant of ubiquitin.

To provide a fluorescence probe for equilibrium and kinetic folding studies on ubiquitin, cassette mutagenesis in an Escherichia coli expression plasmid was used to replace the largely buried Phe 45 by a tryptophan. Under native conditions, the tryptophan fluorescence spectrum of this F45W mutant exhibits a blue-shifted emission maximum at 336 nm indicative of a largely solvent-shielded tryptophan environment. In contrast, the unfolded protein in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) shows a 4-fold more intense emission band at 353 nm matching that of free tryptophan. The two-dimensional 1H NMR spectrum of F45W ubiquitin was assigned by comparison with published assignments of the wild type. The mutation results in only limited chemical shift changes for residues in the immediate vicinity of residue 45. The structural similarity of F45W with wild-type ubiquitin was confirmed by a preliminary analysis of the nuclear Overhauser spectrum. NMR and circular dichroism measurements of the reversible GuHCl-induced unfolding transition show that the F45W mutation lowers the stability of the folded ubiquitin structure by less than 0.4 kcal/mol. The biological activity of the mutant was found to be indistinguishable from that of wild-type in terms of its reaction with the ubiquitin activating enzyme E1 and an in vitro assay of ATP-dependent protein degradation. The kinetics of folding and unfolding of F45W ubiquitin was studied at two temperatures (8 and 25 degrees C) in a series of fluorescence-detected stopped-flow measurements over a wide range of GuHCl concentrations (0.5-6 M). The measurements at 25 degrees C are consistent with a two-state model with strongly denaturant-dependent folding and unfolding rates above about 2 M GuHCl. However, at lower denaturant concentrations, the rate of the major folding phase becomes GuHCl-independent, and up to 60% of the total fluorescence change occurs during the 2-ms dead time of the stopped-flow measurement. These observations provide clear evidence for the formation of an early folding intermediate during the first few milliseconds of refolding with a partially developed hydrophobic core involving Trp 45. The sigmoid denaturant dependence of the initial amplitude with an apparent midpoint of 1.3 M GuHCl suggests the presence of a discrete state that is destabilized at higher denaturant concentrations. In contrast, there is no evidence for an early intermediate in the folding kinetics at 8 degrees C. The destabilization of the intermediate at low temperature is consistent with a collapsed state stabilized primarily by hydrophobic interactions.

Animals↗

Cardioprotective effects of adenosine A1 and A3 receptor activation during hypoxia in isolated rat cardiac myocytes.

Adenosine (ADO) is a well-known regulator of a variety of physiological functions in the heart. In stress conditions, like hypoxia or ischemia, the concentration of adenosine in the extracellular fluid rises dramatically, mainly through the breakdown of ATP. The degradation of adenosine in the ischemic myocytes induced damage in these cells, but it may simultaneously exert protective effects in the heart by activation of the adenosine receptors. The contribution of ADO to stimulation of protective effects was reported in human and animal hearts, but not in rat hearts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of adenosine A1 and A3 receptors (A1R and A3R), in protection of isolated cardiac myocytes of newborn rats from ischemic injury. The hypoxic conditions were simulated by exposure of cultured rat cardiomyocytes (4-5 days in vitro), to an atmosphere of a N2 (95%) and CO2 (5%) mixture, in glucose-free medium for 90 min. The cardiotoxic and cardioprotective effects of ADO ligands were measured by the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) into the medium. Morphological investigation includes immunohistochemistry, image analysis of living and fixed cells and electron microscopy were executed. Pretreatment with the adenosine deaminase considerably increased the hypoxic damage in the cardiomyocytes indicating the importance of extracellular adenosine. Blocking adenosine receptors with selective A1 and A3 receptor antagonists abolished the protective effects of adenosine. A1R and A3R activation during the hypoxic insult delays onset of irreversible cell injury and collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential as assessed using DASPMI fluorochrom. Cardioprotection induced by the A1R agonist, CCPA, was abolished by an A1R antagonist, DPCPX, and was not affected by an A3R antagonist, MRS 1523. Cardioprotection caused by the A3R agonist, Cl-IB-MECA, was antagonized completely by MRS 1523 and only partially by DPCPX. Activation of both A1R and A3R together was more efficient in protection against hypoxia than by each one alone. Our study indicates that activation of either A1 or A3 adenosine receptors in the rat can attenuate myocyte injury during hypoxia. Highly selective A1R and A3R agonists may have potential as cardioprotective agents against ischemia or heart surgery.

Adenosine↗

The role of mild uncoupling and non-coupled respiration in the regulation of hydrogen peroxide generation by plant mitochondria.

The roles of mild uncoupling caused by free fatty acids (mediated by plant uncoupling mitochondrial protein (PUMP) and ATP/ADP carrier (AAC)) and non-coupled respiration (alternative oxidase (AO)) on H(2)O(2) formation by plant mitochondria were examined. Both laurate and oleate prevent H(2)O(2) formation dependent on the oxidation of succinate. Conversely, these free fatty acids (FFA) only slightly affect that dependent on malate plus glutamate oxidation. Carboxyatractylate (CAtr), an inhibitor of AAC, completely inhibits oleate- or laurate-stimulated oxygen consumption linked to succinate oxidation, while GDP, an inhibitor of PUMP, caused only a 30% inhibition. In agreement, CAtr completely restores the oleate-inhibited H(2)O(2) formation, while GDP induces only a 30% restoration. Both oleate and laurate cause a mild uncoupling of the electrical potential (generated by succinate), which is then followed by a complete collapse with a sigmoidal kinetic. FFA also inhibit the succinate-dependent reverse electron transfer. Diamide, an inhibitor of AO, favors the malate plus glutamate-dependent H(2)O(2) formation, while pyruvate (a stimulator of AO) inhibits it. These results show that the succinate-dependent H(2)O(2) formation occurs at the level of Complex I by a reverse electron transport. This generation appears to be prevented by mild uncoupling mediated by FFA. The anionic form of FFA appears to be shuttled by AAC rather than PUMP. The malate plus glutamate-dependent H(2)O(2) formation is, conversely, mainly prevented by non-coupled respiration (AO).

Atractyloside↗

A light-dependent mechanism for massive accumulation of manganese in the photosynthetic bacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

Manganese is an essential micronutrient for many organisms. Because of its unique role in the water oxidizing activity of photosystem II, manganese is required for photosynthetic growth in plants and cyanobacteria. Here we report on the mechanism of manganese uptake in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Cells grown in 9 microM manganese-containing medium accumulate up to 1 x 10(8) manganese atoms/cell, bound to the outer membrane (pool A). This pool could be released by EDTA treatment. Accumulation of manganese in pool A was energized by photosynthetic electron flow. Moreover, collapsing the membrane potential resulted in the immediate release of this manganese pool. The manganese in this pool is mainly Mn(II) in a six-coordinate distorted environment. A distinctly different pool of manganese, pool B ( approximately 1.5 x 10(6) atoms/cell), could not be extracted by EDTA. Transport into pool B was light-independent and could be detected only under limiting manganese concentrations (1 nM). Evidently, manganese uptake in Synechocystis 6803 cells occurs in two steps. First, manganese accumulates in the outer membrane (pool A) in a membrane potential-dependent process. Next, manganese is transported through the inner membrane into pool B. We propose that pool A serves as a store that allows the cells to overcome transient limitations in manganese in the environment.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗