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Higher-plant medium- and short-chain acyl-CoA oxidases: identification, purification and characterization of two novel enzymes of eukaryotic peroxisomal beta-oxidation.

Medium- and short-chain acyl-CoA oxidases were identified in and subsequently purified from dark-grown maize plantlets. The oxidase showing preference for medium-chain fatty acyl-CoAs (C10-C14) was purified to homogeneity. The oxidase showing preference for short-chain fatty acyl-CoAs (C4-C8) was purified over 150-fold. Various catalytic properties confirmed these enzymes to be true acyl-CoA oxidases. They produced trans-2-enoyl-CoA and H2O2 from the saturated acyl-CoA, as verified by various independent assay techniques. They also exhibited FAD-dependent activity; i.e. removal of loosely bound FAD by gel filtration markedly reduced activity, which could be restored upon re-addition of FAD. They showed apparent Km values between 2 and 10 microM for the acyl-CoA substrate giving maximal activity, no activity with the corresponding free fatty acid, high pH optima (8.3-8.6) and a peroxisomal subcellular location. The medium-chain acyl-CoA oxidase was determined to be a monomeric protein with a molecular mass of 62 kDa. The short-chain acyl-CoA oxidase was shown to have a native molecular mass of 60 kDa, but exhibited a labile multimeric structure, as indicated by the elution of multiple peaks of activity during several chromatographic steps, and ultimately by the purification of a subunit of molecular mass 15 kDa. The medium- and short-chain acyl-CoA oxidases were demonstrated to be distinct from the maize equivalent of the cucumber glyoxysomal long-chain acyl-CoA oxidase previously purified and characterized [Kirsch, Loffler and Kindl (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 8570-8575]. The maize long-chain acyl-CoA oxidase was partially purified to permit determination of its substrate specificity; it showed activity with a broad range of acyl-CoAs of chain length greater than C8, and maximal activity with C16. The implications of the existence of multiple acyl-CoA oxidases in the regulation of plant peroxisomal beta-oxidation are discussed.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase↗

Evidence for the existence of a pristanoyl-CoA oxidase gene in man.

In the rat, 2-methyl branched fatty acids and the bile acid intermediates di- and tri-hydroxycoprostanic acids are desaturated by pristanoyl-CoA oxidase and trihydroxycoprostanoyl-CoA oxidase respectively. In the human, these compounds are oxidized by a single enzyme, branched-chain acyl-CoA oxidase, which according to its amino acid sequence is the human homologue of rat trihydroxycoprostanoyl-CoA oxidase. Pristanoyl-CoA oxidase is apparently absent from human tissues as indicated by immunoblot analysis [Van Veldhoven, Van Rompuy, Fransen, de Béthune and Mannaerts (1994) Eur. J. Biochem. 222, 795-801] and Northern-blot analysis [Vanhooren, Fransen, de Béthune, Baumgart, Baes, Torrekens, Van Leuven, Mannaerts and Van Veldhoven (1996) Eur. J. Biochem. 239, 302-309] of human tissues. In this paper we present evidence, however, that at least the gene for pristanoyl-CoA oxidase is present in the human. A human liver cDNA encoding a protein of 700 amino acids, showing 75% amino acid identity with rat pristanoyl-CoA oxidase and harbouring a peroxisomal C-terminal-targeting signal (SKL), was isolated. Bacterial expression of the cDNA resulted in a fusion protein that was cross-reactive with antibodies directed against rat pristanoyl-CoA oxidase and the C-terminal SKL sequence. Screening of a genomic library with the isolated cDNA as a probe resulted in a genomic clone in which four introns were localized. By means of fluorescence in situ hybridization the gene for human pristanoyl-CoA oxidase was mapped at chromosome position 4p15.3. We conclude that a gene for pristanoyl-CoA oxidase is present in the human genome. The gene appears to be expressed to such a low extent in liver that its mRNA cannot be detected by routine Northern-blot analysis and that its product remains undetected by standard immunoblotting or by enzyme activity measurements. We speculate that the gene may be expressed under special (e.g. certain developmental stages) conditions or in certain specialized tissues not examined thus far.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

NADH oxidase signaling induces cyclooxygenase-2 expression during lipopolysaccharide stimulation in cardiomyocytes.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is induced in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). However, the signaling mechanisms of LPS-induced COX-2 expression in cardiomyocytes are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of gp91(phox)-containing NADH oxidase signaling pathway in LPS-induced COX-2 expression in cardiomyocytes. Cultured neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes showed basal COX-2 expression and PGE2 production. In response to LPS, COX-2 expression and PGE2 production increased by two- to four-fold, which were completely blocked by a selective COX-2 inhibitor NS398. LPS also increased NADH oxidase (gp91(phox) and p47(phox) subunits) expression and superoxide generation. Deficiency of gp91(phox) or suppression of p22(phox) expression decreased NADH oxidase activity and down-regulated COX-2 expression and PGE2 production stimulated by LPS. Pharmacological inhibitors of NADH oxidase prevented LPS-induced COX-2 expression and PGE2 production. The effect of NADH oxidase was mediated through MAPK activation, since inhibition of NADH-oxidase activity prevented phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38, and JNK1/2, as well as selective inhibition of each subfamily of MAPK by siRNAs and a dominant negative mutant of JNK1 decreased COX-2 expression and completely abrogated PGE2 production in response to LPS. Furthermore, LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation was decreased by inhibition of NADH oxidase, ERK1/2 or JNK1/2 activation, suggesting that LPS increases NF-kappaB activity and COX-2 expression via NADH oxidase-dependent activation of ERK1/2 and JNK1/2. In conclusion, NADH oxidase signaling represents a novel pathway leading to COX-2 expression via MAPK/NF-kappaB-dependent mechanisms in cardiomyocytes during LPS stimulation. Our study suggests that gp91(phox)-containing NADH oxidase is a potential therapeutic target of sepsis.

Adenoviridae↗

An unusual cytochrome o'-type cytochrome c oxidase in a Bacillus cereus cytochrome a3 mutant has a very high affinity for oxygen.

Bacillus cereus strain PYM1 is a mutant unable to synthesize haem A or spectrally detectable cytochromes aa3 or caa3. The nature of the remaining oxidase(s) catalysing oxygen uptake has been studied. Respiratory oxidase activities and the levels of cytochromes b and c increased 2.6- to 4.2-fold on transition from exponential growth, in either of two media, to sporulation stage III, as previously observed for the parent wild-type strain. NADH oxidase activity at both stages of culture was several-fold higher than ascorbate plus tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) oxidase activity, consistent with the TMPD- phenotype of strain PYM1. Oxidase activity with ascorbate as substrate was significant even in the absence of TMPD as electron mediator, suggesting that the terminal oxidase receives electrons from a cytochrome c. Carbon monoxide (CO) difference spectra of membranes were obtained using various reductants (ascorbate +/- TMPD, NADH, dithionite) and revealed a haemoprotein resembling cytochrome o'. The CO complex of this cytochrome was photodissociable: the photodissociation spectrum (photolysed minus CO-ligated) exhibited a trough at 416 nm and a peak at 436 nm, together with minor features in the alpha/beta region of the spectrum, consistent with the presence of a cytochrome o'-like pigment. CO recombination occurred at -85 to -95 degrees C. No other haemoproteins showing photoreversible CO binding under these conditions were detected. Evidence that this pigment was the oxidase responsible for substrate oxidation was obtained by photodissociating the CO complex at subzero temperatures in the presence of oxygen; this resulted in faster ligand recombination, attributed to oxygen binding, and extensive oxidation of cytochromes c and b. The oxygen affinity of the oxidase was determined by using the deoxygenation of oxyleghaemoglobin as a sensitive reporter of dissociated oxygen concentration. A single oxidase was revealed with a K(m) for oxygen of about 8 nM; this is one of the highest affinities yet reported for a terminal oxidase.

Bacillus cereus↗

Genotypic variation in cytokinin oxidase from phaseolus callus cultures.

Genotypic variation in cytokinin oxidase has been detected in enzyme preparations from Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv Great Northern and Phaseolus lunatus L. cv Kingston callus cultures. Although cytokinin oxidase preparations from Great Northern and Kingston callus tissues appear to have very similar substrate specificities, the cytokinin oxidase activities from the two callus tissues were found to differ in a number of other properties. The cytokinin oxidase from P. vulgaris cv Great Northern callus tissue exhibited a pH optimum of 6.5 (bisTris) and had a strong affinity for the lectin concanavalin A. The cytokinin oxidase from P. lunatus cv Kingston callus tissue exhibited a pH optimum of 8.4 (Taps) and did not bind to concanavalin A. The two enzymes also differed in position of elution when chromatographed on DEAE-cellulose. Both cytokinin oxidase activities exhibited enhanced activity and lower pH optima in the presence of copper-imidazole complexes, but the optimum copper-imidazole ratio and the magnitude of enhancement differed for the two activities. In both callus tissues, transient increases in the supply of exogenous cytokinins induced increases in cytokinin oxidase activity. The differences in pH optima and in glycosylation (as evidenced by the observed difference in lectin affinity) of the cytokinin oxidases from Great Northern and Kingston callus tissues suggest that the compartmentation of cytokinin oxidase may differ in the two callus tissues. The possibility that enzyme compartmentation and isozyme variation in cytokinin oxidase may play a role in the regulation of cytokinin degradation in plant tissues is discussed in relation to known differences in the rates of cytokinin degradation in Great Northern and Kingston callus tissues.

Journal Article↗

The terminal oxidases of Paracoccus denitrificans.

Three distinct types of terminal oxidases participate in the aerobic respiratory pathways of Paracoccus denitrificans. Two alternative genes encoding subunit I of the aa3-type cytochrome c oxidase have been isolated before, namely ctaDI and ctaDII. Each of these genes can be expressed separately to complement a double mutant (delta ctaDI, delta ctaDII), indicating that they are isoforms of subunit I of the aa3-type oxidase. The genomic locus of a quinol oxidase has been isolated: cyoABC. This protohaem-containing oxidase, called cytochrome bb3, is the only quinol oxidase expressed under the conditions used. In a triple oxidase mutant (delta ctaDI, delta ctaDII, cyoB::KmR) an alternative cytochrome c oxidase has been characterized; this cbb3-type oxidase has been partially purified. Both cytochrome aa3 and cytochrome bb3 are redox-driven proton pumps. The proton-pumping capacity of cytochrome cbb3 has been analysed; arguments for and against the active transport of protons by this novel oxidase complex are discussed.

Aerobiosis↗

Structural and functional analysis of aa3-type and cbb3-type cytochrome c oxidases of Paracoccus denitrificans reveals significant differences in proton-pump design.

In Paracoccus denitrificans the aa3-type cytochrome c oxidase and the bb3-type quinol oxidase have previously been characterized in detail, both biochemically and genetically. Here we report on the isolation of a genomic locus that harbours the gene cluster ccoNOOP, and demonstrate that it encodes an alternative cbb3-type cytochrome c oxidase. This oxidase has previously been shown to be specifically induced at low oxygen tensions, suggesting that its expression is controlled by an oxygen-sensing mechanism. This view is corroborated by the observation that the ccoNOOP gene cluster is preceded by a gene that encodes an FNR homologue and that its promoter region contains an FNR-binding motif. Biochemical and physiological analyses of a set of oxidase mutants revealed that, at least under the conditions tested, cytochromes aa3, bb3 and cbb3 make up the complete set of terminal oxidases in P. denitrificans. Proton-translocation measurements of these oxidase mutants indicate that all three oxidase types have the capacity to pump protons. Previously, however, we have reported decreased H+/e- coupling efficiencies of the cbb3-type oxidase under certain conditions. Sequence alignment suggests that many residues that have been proposed to constitute the chemical and pumped proton channels in cytochrome aa3 (and probably also in cytochrome bb3) are not conserved in cytochrome cbb3. It is concluded that the design of the proton pump in cytochrome cbb3 differs significantly from that in the other oxidase types.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Reconstitution of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase activity with menadione in membrane vesicles from the menaquinone-deficient Bacillus subtilis aro D. Relation between electron transfer and active transport.

Membrane vesicles from the menaquinone-deficient Bacillus subtilis aro D contain a low content of menaquinone and consequently oxidaze reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) at low rate. Supplementation of the membrane vesicles suspension with the menaquinone-analogue menadione, results in an incorporation of menadione in the membranes. The incorporated menadione increases with the external menadione concentration up to a maximum of 7 nmol of menadione bound per mg membrane protein. The NADH oxidase activity of the membrane vesicles increases linearly with the menadione content and a 35-fold stimulation is obtained in fully reconstituted membrane vesicles; this maximal NADH oxidase activity is about two-fold higher than the NADH oxidase activity in membrane vesicles from wild-type B.subtilis W23. Supplementation of membrane vesicles from B.subtilis W23 with menadione also results in a stimulation of the NADH oxidase activity but only a stimulation of 1.6-fold is maximally obtained. The NADH oxidase activities in reconstituted B.subtilis aro D and B.subtilis W23 membrane vesicles are similarly affected by respiratory chain inhibitors, indicating that menadione occupies physiological sites of menaquinone. NADH and the non-physiological electron donor ascorbate + phenazine methosulphate are the best energy sources for active amino acid transport in membrane vesicles from B.subtilis W23. Membrane vesicles from B.subtilis aro D accumulate amino acids in the presence of acorbate + phenazine methosulphate, but not with NADH. However, membrane vesicles from this mutant, reconstituted with menadione, demonstrate NADH-driven transport activity. This activity increases linearly with the NADH oxidase activity, but maximal transprt activities are reached under conditions where the NADH oxidase activity is not yet maximal. These results indicate that the rate of energy supply is the limiting factor for transport at low NADH oxidase activities and that the transport system itself becomes the limiting factor for transport at low NADH oxidase activities and that the transport system itself becomes the limiting factor under conditions of high NADH oxidase activities. Under energy-limiting conditions 135-235 molecules of NADH have to be oxidized in order to transport one molecule of amino acid. At all levels of energy supply a competition by the different amino acid transport systems for the available energy could not be observed. These observations indicate that only a fraction of the energy, generated by the respiratory chain, is used for the transport of an amino acid and that the bulk of the energy dissipates via other channels in the membrane vesicles.

Bacillus subtilis↗

The interactions of cytochrome c and porphyrin cytochrome c with cytochrome c oxidase. The resting, reduced and pulsed enzymes.

Cytochrome c oxidase forms tight binding complexes with the cytochrome c analog, porphyrin cytochrome c. The behaviour of the reduced and pulsed forms of the oxidase with porphyrin cytochrome c have been followed as functions of ionic strength; this behaviour has been compared with that of the resting oxidase [Kornblatt, Hui Bon Hoa and English (1984) Biochemistry 23, 5906-5911]. All forms of the cytochrome oxidase studied bind one porphyrin cytochrome c per 'functional' cytochrome oxidase (two heme a); it appears as though porphyrin cytochrome c and cytochrome c compete for the same site on the oxidase. The resting enzyme binds cytochrome c 8 times more strongly than porphyrin cytochrome c; the reduced enzyme, in contrast, binds the two with almost equal affinity. In all three cases, resting, pulsed and reduced, the heme-to-porphyrin distance is estimated to be about 3 nm. The tight-binding complexes formed between cytochrome oxidase and porphyrin cytochrome c can be dissociated by salt. Debye-Hückel analysis of salt titrations indicate that the resting enzyme and the reduced enzyme are similar in that the product of the interaction charges on the two proteins is about -14. The product of the charges for the pulsed enzyme is -25, indicating that on average another positive and negative charge take part in the interaction of the two proteins. While there is one tight binding site for cytochrome c per two heme a, cytochrome c is able to 'communicate' with four heme a. In the absence of cytochrome c, electron transfer from tetramethylphenylenediamine to the oxidase to oxygen results in the conversion of the resting form to the 'oxygenated'; in the presence of cytochrome c, the same electron transfer results in the appearance of the 'pulsed' form. Cytochrome c titrations of the enzyme show that a ratio of only one cytochrome c to four heme a is sufficient to convert all the oxidase to the 'pulsed' form. Porphyrin cytochrome c, like cytochrome c, catalyzes the same conversion with the same stoichiometry. The binding data and salt effects indicate that major structural alterations occur in the oxidase as it is converted from the resting to the partially reduced and subsequently to the pulsed form.

Aerobiosis↗

Isolation and Characterization of a Catabolite Repression-Insensitive Mutant of a Methanol Yeast, Candida boidinii A5, Producing Alcohol Oxidase in Glucose-Containing Medium.

Mutants exhibiting alcohol oxidase (EC 1.1.3.13) activity when grown on glucose in the presence of methanol were found among 2-deoxyglucose-resistant mutants derived from a methanol yeast, Candida boidinii A5. One of these mutants, strain ADU-15, showed the highest alcohol oxidase activity in glucose-containing medium. The growth characteristics and also the induction and degradation of alcohol oxidase were compared with the parent strain and mutant strain ADU-15. In the parent strain, initiation of alcohol oxidase synthesis was delayed by the addition of 0.5% glucose to the methanol medium, whereas it was not delayed in mutant strain ADU-15. This showed that alcohol oxidase underwent repression by glucose. On the other hand, degradation of alcohol oxidase after transfer of the cells from methanol to glucose medium (catabolite inactivation) was observed to proceed at similar rates in parent and mutant strains. The results of immunochemical titration experiments suggest that catabolite inactivation of alcohol oxidase is coupled with a quantitative change in the enzyme. Mutant strain ADU-15 was proved to be a catabolite repression-insensitive mutant and to produce alcohol oxidase in the presence of glucose. However, it was not an overproducer of alcohol oxidase and, in both the parent and mutant strains, alcohol oxidase was completely repressed by ethanol.

Journal Article↗

Isolation and characterization of Rhodobacter capsulatus mutants affected in cytochrome cbb3 oxidase activity.

The facultative phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus contains only one form of cytochrome (cyt) c oxidase, which has recently been identified as a cbb3-type cyt c oxidase. This is unlike other related species, such as Rhodobacter sphaeroides and Paracoccus denitrificans, which contain an additional mitochondrial-like aa3-type cyt c oxidase. An extensive search for mutants affected in cyt c oxidase activity in R. capsulatus led to the isolation of at least five classes of mutants. Plasmids complementing them to a wild-type phenotype were obtained for all but one of these classes from a chromosomal DNA library. The first class of mutants contained mutations within the structural genes (ccoNOQP) of the cyt cbb3 oxidase. Sequence analysis of these mutants and of the plasmids complementing them revealed that ccoNOQP in R. capsulatus is not flanked by the oxygen response regulator fnr, which is located upstream of these genes in other species. Genetic and biochemical characterizations of mutants belonging to this group indicated that the subunits CcoN, CcoO, and CcoP are required for the presence of an active cyt cbb3 oxidase, and unlike in Bradyrhizobium japonicum, no active CcoN-CcoO subcomplex was found in R. capsulatus. In addition, mutagenesis experiments indicated that the highly conserved open reading frame 277 located adjacent to ccoNOQP is required neither for cyt cbb3 oxidase activity or assembly nor for respiratory or photosynthetic energy transduction in R. capsulatus. The remaining cyt c oxidase-minus mutants mapped outside of ccoNOQP and formed four additional groups. In one of these groups, a fully assembled but inactive cyt cbb3 oxidase was found, while another group had only extremely small amounts of it. The next group was characterized by a pleiotropic effect on all membrane-bound c-type cytochromes, and the remaining mutants not complemented by the plasmids complementing the first four groups formed at least one additional group affecting the biogenesis of the cyt cbb3 oxidase of R. capsulatus.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Cytochrome c oxidase purified from a mercury-resistant strain of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans volatilizes mercury.

We suggested in our previous study that the plasma membrane cytochrome c oxidase of the mercury-resistant iron-oxidizing bacterial strain Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, SUG 202, is involved in Fe2+-dependent mercury volatilization. To study the involvement of A. ferrooxidans cytochrome c oxidase in mercury reduction, the cytochrome c oxidase was extracted from mercury-resistant and mercury-sensitive strains and purified. The Fe2+-dependent mercury volatilization activities of the oxidases from these strains were compared. The cytochrome c oxidase from strain SUG 2-2 volatilized 39% of the total Hg2+ (7 nmol) that had been added to a 10-ml reaction mixture (pH 3.8) in the presence of 10 micromol of Fe2+ after a 7-d incubation period at 30 degrees C. In contrast, the enzyme purified from the mercury-sensitive strain AP19-3 volatilized 3.5% of the total mercury under the same conditions. The boiled SUG 2-2 oxidase did not exhibit activity to volatilize mercury. Fe2+ reduced the oxidase from SUG 2-2 and Hg2+ oxidized the reduced enzyme. The purified SUG 2-2 oxidase is composed of three protein subunits with apparent molecular weights of 56,000 Da (alpha), 24,000 Da (beta), and 19,000 Da (gamma). The amount of mercury bound to the purified SUG 2-2 oxidase was 6.2 microg/mg protein and those bound to alpha-, beta- and gamma-subunits of the cytochrome c oxidase were 3.5, 2.6 and 0.7 microg/mg protein, respectively.

Journal Article↗

[Respiratory oxidases: the enzymes which use most of the oxygen which living things breathe].

The respiratory oxidases are the last enzymes of the aerobic respiratory chain. They catalize the reduction of molecular oxygen to water, with generation of an electrochemical gradient useful for the energy demanding cellular processes. Most of the oxidases belong to the heme-copper superfamily. They possess a heme-copper center, constituted of a high spin heme and a CuB center, where the reduction of oxygen takes place and probably where the link to proton pumping is located. The superfamily is divided in two classes: the quinol- and the cytochrome c-oxidases. The latter are divided in the aa3 and the cbb3-type cytochrome c oxidases. The main difference between quinol- and the aa3-type cytochrome c-oxidases is the CuA center, which is absent in the quinol oxidases. The cbb3-type cytochrome oxidases have the binuclear center, but lack the CuA center. They also does not have the classical subunits II and III. These differences seem not to affect the oxygen reduction or the proton pumping. Probably the oxidases have evolved from some denitrification enzymes and prior the photosynthetic process. Also is possible that the cbb3-type cytochrome oxidases or others very similar have been the first oxidases to appear.

Aerobiosis↗

Molecular cloning, sequencing, and physiological characterization of the qox operon from Bacillus subtilis encoding the aa3-600 quinol oxidase.

Bacillus subtilis contains two aa3-type terminal oxidases (caa3-605 and aa3-600) catalyzing cytochrome c and quinol oxidation, respectively, with the concomitant reduction of O2 to H2O (Lauraeus, M., Haltia, T., Saraste, M., and Wikström, M. (1991) Eur. J. Biochem. 197, 699-705). Previous studies characterized only the structural genes of caa3-605 oxidase. We isolated the genes coding for the four subunits of a B. subtilis terminal oxidase from a genomic DNA library. These genes, named qoxA to qoxD, are organized in an operon. Examination of the deduced amino acid sequence of Qox subunits showed that this oxidase is structurally related to the large family of mitochondrial-type aa3 terminal oxidases. In particular, the amino acid sequences are very similar to those of subunits of Escherichia coli bo quinol oxidase and B. subtilis caa3-605 cytochrome c oxidase. We produced, by in vitro mutagenesis, a mutation in the qox operon. From the phenotype of the mutant strain devoid of Qox protein, the study of expression of the qox operon in different growth conditions, and the analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of the subunits, we concluded that Qox protein and aa3-600 quinol oxidase are the same protein. Although several terminal oxidases are found in B. subtilis, Qox oxidase (aa3-600) is predominant during the vegetative growth and its absence leads to important alterations of the phenotype of B. subtilis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The reaction of the electrostatic cytochrome c-cytochrome oxidase complex with oxygen.

The reaction of the electrostatic cytochrome c-cytochrome oxidase complex with oxygen is measured by transient absorption spectroscopy. The oxygen reaction is initiated by photolytic removal of CO from cytochrome oxidase, using a flash-pumped dye laser. The subsequent reaction of the cytochrome c-cytochrome oxidase complex with oxygen is reported at 550, 605, 744, and 830 nm at different cytochrome c:cytochrome oxidase ratios and different oxygen concentrations. In the absence of cytochrome c the time course of the reaction of the oxidase is well described by a triple exponential process at any of the measured wavelengths. The three processes are well resolved at high O2 levels (i.e. greater than 200 microM), where they reach first-order rate limits of 2.4 x 10(4), 7.5 x 10(3), and 650 s-1. When cytochrome c is added the oxidation of cytochrome a and one of the redox active cooper centers (CuA) are interrupted. The maximal effect of cytochrome c on the oxidation of the oxidase occurs at a c:aa3 ratio of 1. Cytochrome c reacts in a biphasic process with rates of up to 7 x 10(3) and 550 s-1 at high oxygen. The fast phase takes up 60% of the process, and this is independent of the cytochrome c:cytochrome oxidase ratio. The results are discussed in the context of a model in which electron entry into cytochrome oxidase from cytochrome c is via CuA, and cytochrome a functions to mediate electron transfer from CuA to the oxygen binding site. The role of CuA as initial electron acceptor in cytochrome c oxidase is related to its physical proximity to cytochrome c is the cytochrome c-cytochrome oxidase complex.

Animals↗

Correlation of the kinetics of electron transfer activity of various eukaryotic cytochromes c with binding to mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase.

1. A detailed study of cytochrome c oxidase activity with Keilin-Hartree particles and purified beef heart enzyme, at low ionic strength and low cytochrome c concentrations, showed biphasic kinetics with apparent Km1 = 5 x 10(-8) M, and apparent Km2 = 0.35 to 1.0 x 10(-6) M. Direct binding studies with purified oxidase, phospholipid-containing as well as phospholiptaining aid-depleted, demonstrated two sites of interaction of cytochrome c with the enzyme, with KD1 less than or equal to 10(-7) M, and KD2 = 10(-6) M. 2. The maximal velocities as low ionic strength increased with pH and were highest above ph 7.5. 3. The presence and properties of the low apparent Km phase of the kinetics were strongly dependent on the nature and concentration of the anions in the medium. The multivalent anions, phosphate, ADP, and ATP, greatly decreased the proportion of this phase and similarly decreased the amount of high affinity cytochrome c-cytochrome oxidase complex formed. The order of effectiveness was ATP greater than ADP greater than P1 and since phosphate binds to cytochrome c more strongly than the nucleotides, it is concluded that the inhibition resulted from anion interaction with the oxidase. 4mat low concentrations bakers' yeast iso-1, bakers' yeast iso-1, horse, and Euglena cytochromes c at high concentrations all attained the same maximal velocity. The different proportions of low apparent Km phase in the kinetic patterns of these cytochromes c correlated with the amounts of high affinity complex formed with purified cytochrome c oxidase. 5. The apparent Km for cytochrome c activity in the succinate-cytochrome c reductase system of Keilin-Hartree particles was identical with that obtained with the oxidase (5 x 10(-8) M), suggesting the same site serves both reactions. 6. It is concluded that the observed kinetics result from two catalytically active sites on the cytochrome c oxidase protein of different affinities for cytochrome c. The high affinity binding of cytochrome c to the mitochondrial membrane is provided by the oxidase and at this site cytochrome c can be reduced by cytochrome c1. Physiological concentrations of ATP decrease the affinity of this binding to the point that interaction of cytochrome c with numerous mitochondrial pholpholipid sites can competitively remove cytochrome c from the oxidase. It is suggested that this effect of ATP represents a possible mechanism for the control of electron flow to the oxidase.

Animals↗

Respiration of bloodstream forms of the parasite Trypanosoma brucei brucei is dependent on a plant-like alternative oxidase.

CoQ links the sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and oxidase components of the cyanide-insensitive, non-cytochrome-mediated respiratory system of bloodstream African trypanosomes. In this and other characteristics, their respiratory system is similar to the alternative oxidase of plants. The parasites contain 206 ng of CoQ9 mg protein-1 which co-sediments with respiratory activity. The redox state of this CoQ responds in a manner consistent with respiratory function: 60% being in the reduced form when substrate is available and the oxidase is blocked; 13% being in the reduced form when the oxidase is functioning and there is no substrate. The addition of CoQ to aceton-extracted cells stimulates salicylhydroxamic acid-sensitive respiration by 56%. After inhibition of respiration by digitonin-mediated dispersal of the electron transport components, liposomes restore 40% of respiratory activity while liposomes containing CoQ restore 66% of this activity. A less hydrophobic analogue, reduced decyl CoQ, serves as a direct substrate for the trypanosome oxidase supporting full salicylhydroxamic acid-sensitive respiration. After digitonin disruption of electron transport, the nonreduced form of this synthetic substrate can reestablish the chain by accepting electrons from dispersed sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and transferring them to the dispersed oxidase. Similarities between the alternative oxidase of plants and the oxidase of the trypanosome respiratory system include: mitochondrial location, lack of oxidative phosphorylation, linkage of a dehydrogenase and an oxidase by CoQ, lack of sensitivity to a range of mitochondrial inhibitors, and sensitivity to a spectrum of inhibitors which selectively block transfer of electrons from reduced CoQ to the terminal oxidase but do not block electron transfer to the cytochrome bc1 complex of the mammalian cytochrome chain.

Animals↗

Total enzymic synthesis of cholesterol from lanosterol. Cytochrome b5-dependence of 4-methyl sterol oxidase.

Methyl sterol oxidase of microsomal synthesis of cholesterol from lanosterol is a mixed-function oxidase that is dependent upon reduced pyridine nucleotide. The methyl sterol oxidase, as well as NADH-cytochrome c reductase, in intact rat liver microsomes are inhibited by anti-cytochrome b5 immunoglobulin, but NADPH-cytochrome c reductase is not affected. There is a decreased time lag prior to onset of reoxidation of steady state levels of reduced cytochrome b5 when 4-methyl sterol oxidase substrates are present. Trypsin treatment of microsomes destroys cytochrome b5 with loss of methyl sterol oxidase activity. Activity is restored by addition of purified cytochrome b5 to trypsin-treated microsomes. Initial attempts to solubilize and purify 4-methyl sterol oxidase have been only partially successful due to the extreme lability of the oxidase. However, DEAE-cellulose column chromatography of a detergent extract of microsomes yields a fraction that contains the oxidase, lipids, and NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase but is free of cytochrome b5. Oxidation of 4 alpha [30-3H] methyl-5 alpha-cholest-7-en-3 beta-ol by methyl sterol oxidase in this isolated fraction can be fully restored by the addition of purified liver microsomal cytochrome b5. These results strongly support the suggestion that membrane-bound cytochrome b5 of rat liver microsomes is an obligatory electron carrier from NADH to 4-methyl sterol oxidase.

Animals↗