RNA editing of the barley (Hordeum vulgare) mitochondrial ATP synthase subunit 9

1. Single Comb White Leghorn adult cockerels were fed on 50 g/kg protein diet, 200 g/kg protein diet or 50 g/kg protein diet plus urea and in vitro ammoniagenesis from urea and uric acid in the caeca was determined. 2. Four-fold protein intake caused about 4.6-fold increase in caecal ammonia production from urea (P < 0.05), and tended to increase it from uric acid as compared with 50 g/kg protein-fed birds. 3. Dietary urea significantly increased caecal ammonia production from urea and uric acid by about 2 and 3 times as much as those of control birds, respectively (P < 0.05). 4. It is concluded that increased protein intake and the feeding of urea are able to induce ammoniagenesis from urea and uric acid in the caeca of fowls.     

Characterization of the import pathway of the F(A)d subunit of mitochondrial ATP synthase into isolated plant mitochondria

The synthetic precursor of the F(A)d subunit of mitochondrial ATP synthase was imported into isolated soybean cotyledon mitochondria. Import of the F(A)d precursor was accompanied by processing to a lower molecular weight mature form. The F(A)d precursor displayed the following import characteristics not seen before with plant mitochondria: efficient import in the absence of external ATP and import of wheat germ-translated precursor. Pretreatment of the F(A)d precursor with NEM did not inhibit import. Taken together with the lack of a requirement for external ATP, this indicates that this precursor does not require extramitochondrial ATP-dependent factors for import. Binding studies indicated that the F(A)d precursor bound to a proteinaceous component of the mitochondrial outer membrane. Inhibitor studies indicated that processing was most likely via the general mitochondrial processing peptidase. The results suggest that import of this subunit occurs via a pathway different from the general import pathway described for the majority of precursor proteins.     

The subunit f of mitochondrial yeast ATP synthase--characterization of the protein and disruption of the structural gene ATP17

The subunit f of the yeast F1F0ATP synthase has been isolated from the purified enzyme. Amino acid composition, protein and peptide sequencing were performed. The data are in agreement with the sequence of the predicted product of the gene D9481.21 identified on the Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome IV. A 303-bp open reading frame encoding a 101-amino acid polypeptide is described. The deduced amino acid sequence from the ATP17 gene is 6 amino acids longer than the mature protein, which displays a molecular mass of 10567 Da. The protein is basic with a short hydrophobic segment located in the C-terminal part of the subunit. Subunit f remained associated with other F0 subunits upon sodium bromide treatment of the whole enzyme. A null mutant was constructed. The disrupted strain was unable to grow on glycerol medium and the mutation was recessive; rho- cells arose spontaneously. The null mutant mitochondria were devoid of oligomycin-sensitive ATPase, but still contained an active F1, while the subunits f, 6 and 8 were absent.     

Topography of the yeast ATP synthase F0 sector

The interaction between the hydrophilic C-terminal part of subunit 4 (subunit b) and OSCP, which are two components of the connecting stalk of the yeast ATP synthase, was shown after reconstitution of the two over-expressed proteins and by the two-hybrid method. The organization of a part of the F0 sector was studied by the use of mutants containing cysteine residues in a loop connecting the two N-terminal postulated membrane-spanning segments. Labelling of the mutated subunits 4 by a maleimide fluorescent probe revealed that the sulfhydryl groups were modified upon incubation of intact mitochondria. In addition, non-permeant maleimide reagents labeled subunit 4D54C, thus showing a location of this residue in the intermembrane space. Cross-linking experiments revealed the proximity of subunits 4 and f. In addition, a disulfide bridge between subunit 4D54C and subunit 6 was evidenced, thus demonstrating near-neighbor relationships of the two subunits and a location of the N-terminal part of the mitochondrially-encoded subunit 6 in the intermembrane space.     

Isolation of supernumerary yeast ATP synthase subunits e and i. Characterization of subunit i and disruption of its structural gene ATP18

Two subunits of the yeast ATP synthase have been isolated. Subunit e was found loosely associated to the complex. Triton X-100 at a 1% concentration removed this subunit from the ATP synthase. The N-terminal sequencing of subunit i has been performed. The data are in agreement with the sequence of the predicted product of a DNA fragment of Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome XIII. The ATP18 gene encodes subunit i, which is 59 amino acids long and corresponds to a calculated mass of 6687 Da. Its pI is 9.73. It is an amphiphilic protein having a hydrophobic N-terminal part and a hydrophilic C-terminal part. It is not apparently related to any subunit described in other ATP synthases. The null mutant showed low growth on nonfermentable medium. Mutant mitochondria display a low ADP/O ratio and a decrease with time in proton pumping after ATP addition. Subunit i is associated with the complex; it is not a structural component of the enzyme but rather is involved in the oxidative phosphorylations. Similar amounts of ATP synthase were measured for wild-type and null mutant mitochondria. Because 2-fold less specific ATPase activity was measured for the null mutant than for the wild-type mitochondria, we make the hypothesis that the observed decrease in the turnover of the mutant enzyme could be linked to a proton translocation defect through F0.     

Isolation and characterization of the mitochondrial ATP synthase from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. cDNA sequence and deduced protein sequence of the alpha subunit

We have isolated the F0F1-ATP synthase complex from oligomycin-sensitive mitochondria of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. A pure and active ATP synthase was obtained by means of sonication, extraction with dodecyl maltoside and ion exchange and gel permeation chromatography in the presence of glycerol, DTT, ATP and PMSF [corrected]. The enzyme consists of 14 subunits as judged by SDS-PAGE. A cDNA clone encoding the ATP synthase alpha subunit has been sequenced. The deduced protein sequence contains a presequence of 45 amino acids which is not present in the mature protein. The mature protein is 58-70% identical to corresponding mitochondrial proteins from other organisms. In contrast to the ATP synthase beta subunit from C. reinhardtii (Franzen and Falk, Plant Mol Biol 19 (1992) 771-780), the protein does not have a C-terminal extension. However, the N-terminal domain of the mature protein is 15-18 residues longer than in ATP synthase alpha subunits from other organisms. Southern blot analysis indicates that the protein is encoded by a single-copy gene.     

Cloning and functional expression analysis of the alpha subunit of mouse ATP synthase

The alpha subunit of the mitochondrial ATP synthase is part of the F1 enzymatic complex known to bind ADP, phosphate and ATP and is at the heart of the mitochondrial energy-producing mechanism. The mouse embryonal carcinoma variant of the alpha subunit cDNA was cloned and the complete nucleotide sequences of two different lengths of clones were determined. Two distinct polyadenylation sites in the cDNA sequence were detected and two sizes of mRNAs were confirmed by Northern blot hybridization. Two putative ATP-binding motifs - A and B, have been hypothesized for this enzyme based on previous NMR work on another ATP-binding enzyme, adenylate kinase. We have constructed four deletion mutants of the alpha subunit of the mouse F1-ATP synthase to examine the putative role of these domains. The resulting recombinant proteins were expressed and purified. Functional studies with the immobilized mutants proved the significance of both sites for ATP binding.     

Rate of accumulation of Luxol Fast Blue staining material and mitochondrial ATP synthase subunit 9 in motor neuron degeneration mice

The rate of accumulation of Luxol Fast Blue staining material in the hippocampus of motor neuron degeneration (mnd/mnd) mice, a model of Batten Disease, was quantitated. Stained material increased linearly up to 8 months of age. A quantitative immunoassay was used to measure levels of mitochondrial ATP synthase subunit 9 in brain and liver of mnd/mnd mice. Levels of subunit 9 increased progressively throughout the lifespan of mnd/mnd mice reaching levels approximately 5-fold higher than in control animals. The rate of accumulation of subunit 9 is not consistent with any simple complete or partial degradation defect that is constant throughout the animal's life. Two more complicated models are discussed which are consistent with the observed accumulation rate of subunit 9.     

Specific delay in the degradation of mitochondrial ATP synthase subunit c in late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis is derived from cellular proteolytic dysfunction rather than structural alteration of subunit c

Previously we indicated that a specific delay in subunit c degradation causes the accumulation of mitochondrial ATP synthase subunit c in lysosomes from the cells of patients with the late infantile form of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL). To explore the mechanism of lysosomal storage of subunit c in patient cells, we investigated the mechanism of the lysosomal accumulation of subunit c both in cultured normal fibroblasts and in in vitro cell-free incubation experiments. Addition of pepstatin to normal fibroblasts causes the marked lysosomal accumulation of subunit c and less accumulation of Mn(2+)-superoxide dismutase (SOD). In contrast, E-64-d stimulates greater lysosomal storage of Mn(2+)-SOD than of subunit c. Incubation of mitochondrial-lysosomal fractions from control and diseased cells at acidic pH leads to a much more rapid degradation of subunit c in control cells than in diseased cells, whereas other mitochondrial proteins, including Mn(2+)-SOD, beta subunit of ATP synthase, and subunit i.v. of cytochrome oxidase, are degraded at similar rates in both control and patient cells. The proteolysis of subunit c in normal cell extracts is inhibited markedly by pepstatin and weakly by E-64-c, as in the cultured cell experiments. However, there are no differences in the lysosomal protease levels, including the levels of the pepstatin-sensitive aspartic protease cathepsin D between control and patient cells. The stable subunit c in mitochondrial-lysosomal fractions from patient cells is degraded on incubation with mitochondrial-lysosomal fractions from control cells. Exchange experiments using radiolabeled substrates and nonlabeled proteolytic sources from control and patient cells showed that proteolytic dysfunction, rather than structural alterations such as the posttranslational modification of subunit c, is responsible for the specific delay in the degradation of subunit c in the late infantile form of NCL.     

BTN1, a yeast gene corresponding to the human gene responsible for Batten''s disease, is not essential for viability, mitochondrial function, or degradation of mitochondrial ATP synthase

AIMS: To define a retinoinvasive phenotype of uveal melanoma based on an informative case and survey of literature. METHODS: A 65-year-old woman developed a circumscribed mixed cell type melanoma of the ciliary body that was locally excised. After 6 years, secondary glaucoma evolved. Three years later a ring melanoma was diagnosed and the eye was enucleated. The histopathological material was analysed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: A spindle cell type ring melanoma infiltrated the iris and ciliary body diffusely, and extended through the aqueous outflow channels and iridocyclectomy flap extrasclerally. The choroid was uninvolved. Instead, tumour cells spread to the vitreous and along the ciliary epithelium, adhered to the hyaloid face and retinal surface, and extensively invaded the neuroretina, the retrobulbar optic nerve, and perineural space. They were labelled for S-100 protein, vimentin, and in the neuroretina for cytokeratins 8 and 18. No evidence of systemic disease is evident 5 years after enucleation. Three identical tumours of the iris and ciliary body that extensively infiltrated the neuroretina and retrobulbar optic nerve were identified from previous literature. CONCLUSION: Retinoinvasive melanoma is a rare but distinct phenotype of uveal melanoma, different from circumscribed and most diffuse melanomas that may erode the overlying retina and infiltrate the optic nerve that do not invade non-adjacent retina. Retinoinvasive tumours tend to evolve from a ring melanoma and they grow slowly, which may favour emergence of tumour clones able to migrate, adhere to, and invade into the neuroretina, analogous to the metastatic cascade. Frequent secondary angle closure glaucoma may promote invasion into the optic nerve.     

Characterization of two homologous yeast genes that encode mitochondrial iron transporters

Two different yeast genes were identified that when overexpressed suppressed the low iron growth defect of a mutation in the endoplasmic reticulum iron binding enzyme methyl sterol oxidase. These genes were determined to be novel and highly related. The deduced amino acid sequences indicated that both were membrane proteins having two identical histidine-rich motifs. The predicted proteins, while not ABC transporters, are homologous to a widely distributed family of transition metal transporters present in all kingdoms. Subcellular fractionation and fluorescence microscopy localized these gene products to mitochondria. Based on this result we term these genes Mitochondrial Fe Transporters (MFT). Cells with disruptions in both genes show a growth defect on low iron medium, suggesting that these genes have redundant function and can affect cytosolic iron levels. Measurement of mitochondrial iron in cells grown in iron-rich medium overexpressing MFT1 or MFT2 show a 2-5-fold increase in iron compared with mitochondria from control cells. These results suggest that the mitochondria may act as a reservoir for iron that can be mobilized and used for cytosolic purposes.     

The formation or the reduction of a disulfide bridge on the gamma subunit of chloroplast ATP synthase affects the inhibitory effect of the epsilon subunit

We have studied the change of the catalytic activity of chimeric complexes that were formed by chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF1) -gamma, alpha and beta subunits of thermophilic bacterial F1 after formation or reduction of the disulfide bridge of different gamma subunits modified by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis techniques. For this purpose, three mutant gamma subunits were produced: gamma Delta194-230, here 37 amino acids from Pro-194 to Ile-230 are deleted, gammaC199A, Cys-199 is changed to Ala, and gamma Delta200-204, amino acids from Asp-200 to Lys-204 are deleted. All of the chimeric subunit complexes produced from each of these mutant CF1-gamma subunits and alpha and beta subunits from thermophilic bacterial F1 lost the sensitivity against thiol reagents when compared with the complex containing wild-type CF1-gamma. The pH optimum (pH 8.5-9.0) and the concentration of methanol to stimulate ATPase activities were not affected by these mutations. These indicate that the introduction of the mutations did not change the main features of ATPase activity of the chimeric complex. However, the interaction between gamma subunit and epsilon subunit was strongly influenced by the type of gamma subunit itself. Although the ATPase activity of the chimeric complex that contained gamma Delta200-204 or gammaC199A was inhibited by the addition of recombinant epsilon subunit from CF1 similarly to complexes containing the reduced wild-type gamma subunit, the recombinant epsilon subunit did not inhibit the ATPase of the complex, which contained the oxidized form of gamma subunit. Therefore the affinity of the epsilon subunit to the gamma subunit may be dependent on the state of the gamma subunit or the epsilon subunit may bind to the oxidized form of gamma subunit in a mode that does not inhibit the activity. The ATPase activity of the complex that contains gamma Delta194-230 was not efficiently inhibited by epsilon subunit. These results show that the formation or reduction of the disulfide bond on the gamma subunit may induce a conformational change in the region that directly affects the interaction of this subunit with the adjacent epsilon subunit.     

Asymmetry of the alpha subunit of the chloroplast ATP synthase as probed by the binding of Lucifer Yellow vinyl sulfone

The catalytic portion of the chloroplast ATP synthase (CF1) is structurally asymmetric. Asymmetry of the otherwise symmetrical alpha3beta3 heterohexamer is induced by the presence of tightly bound nucleotides and interactions with the single-copy, smaller subunits. Lucifer Yellow vinyl sulfone (4-amino-N-[3-(vinylsulfonyl)phenyl]naphthalimide-3,6-disulfonic acid) rapidly and covalently binds to lysine 378 on one alpha subunit [Nalin, C. M., Snyder, B., and McCarty, R. E., (1985) Biochemistry 24, 2318-2324] [Shapiro, A. B. (1991) Ph.D. Thesis, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY). The asymmetrical binding of Lucifer Yellow to CF1 provides a method to investigate the cause of asymmetry in the alpha subunits. The reaction of CF1 with Lucifer Yellow was monitored by total fluorescence of bound Lucifer Yellow as well as by quantitative determination of Lucifer Yellow bound to the tryptic peptide that contains lysine 378 of the alpha subunit. The total binding of Lucifer Yellow to CF1 was not affected by the presence of tightly bound nucleotides or nucleotide in the medium. Neither the total binding of Lucifer Yellow to CF1 nor the reaction of alpha-lysine 378 with Lucifer Yellow was changed by the removal of the epsilon subunit, the delta subunit, or both subunits. The extent of incorporation of Lucifer Yellow into lysine 378 of the alpha subunit in (alphabeta)n was about three times that of Lucifer Yellow incorporation into CF1. Reconstitution of (alphabeta)n with gamma restored the binding of one Lucifer Yellow per alpha3beta3gamma. Therefore, the interactions between gamma and the alphabeta heterohexamer are important in conferring asymmetry to the alpha subunits of CF1.     

A column centrifugation method for the reconstitution in liposomes of the mitochondrial F0F1 ATP synthase/ATPase

A method for reconstitution of membrane proteins into unilamellar liposomes is described. The model enzyme was the F0F1 ATP synthase from mitochondria when in complex or free from its inhibitor protein. The enzymes were first solubilized with either of two detergents, i.e., n-dodecyl-beta-D maltoside or lauryldimethylamine oxide. After solubilization, the enzymes were passed through a column of Sepharose-AH using an ADP/sodium cholate selective elution buffer. The enzymes recovered from the column were subsequently passed through a centrifuge column of Sephadex G-50 fine. The eluate contained liposomes in which the F0F1 complex (with and without inhibitor protein) had been reconstituted. The reconstituted enzymes were capable of hydrolyzing ATP with formation of electrochemical H+ gradients. They also catalyzed the ATP-Pi exchange reactions. Thus the F0F1 complex which is formed by 18 subunits can be rapidly reconstituted into liposomes in a fully functional state. Moreover the data show that the interactions between the enzyme and its inhibitor protein are not perturbed in the reconstitution procedure.