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Mitochondrial membrane sensitivity to depolarization in acute myeloblastic leukemia is associated with spontaneous in vitro apoptosis, wild-type TP53, and vicinal thiol/disulfide status.

Nonresponse to remission-induction chemotherapy, which remains a major problem in acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), has been linked to cellular resistance to apoptosis. Because the apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic drugs is mediated by loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP), it was postulated that sensitivity to mitochondrial membrane depolarization might be heterogeneous in AML. Using the uncoupling agent carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (mClCCP), the mitochondrial membrane sensitivity to depolarization (mClCCP concentrations that inhibit 50% of the transmembrane potential [IC(50)]) in AML blasts was measured and demonstrated marked interclonal heterogeneity, with the existence of comparatively sensitive (median mClCCP IC(50), 4 microM) and resistant (median mClCCP IC(50), 10 microM) clones. Furthermore, the mClCCP IC(50) was inversely associated with spontaneous in vitro apoptosis (P =.001). It was high in cases with mutant TP53 and correlated with the total cellular level of the multidrug resistance-associated protein (P =.019) but not of bcl-2, bax, or bcl-x. It was also found that the dithiol oxidant diamide, in contrast to the monovalent thiol oxidant diethyl maleate, increased the sensitivity of mitochondrial membranes to mClCCP. To confirm that TP53 directly affects MTP in leukemic cells and to establish the role of vicinal thiol oxidation in the TP53-dependent pathway, CEM 4G5 leukemia cells with forced, temperature-dependent expression of TP53 were studied. Monobromobimane, which inhibits mitochondrial membrane depolarization by preventing dithiol cross-linking, inhibited depolarization and apoptosis in 4G5 cells. It was concluded that in leukemia, TP53 and vicinal thiol/disulfide status are determinants of mitochondrial membrane sensitivity to depolarization, which is in turn associated with spontaneous apoptosis.

Apoptosis↗

Effects of cellular uncoupling on conduction in anisotropic canine ventricular myocardium.

Experiments were performed on canine superfused ventricular epicardial tissue slices to determine the effects of 1.0-2.0 mM heptanol, an uncoupling agent, on conduction longitudinal and transverse to myocardial fiber orientation. Conduction velocities were measured between proximal and distal pairs of epicardial electrodes oriented transverse and longitudinal to the direction of a conducted wavefront evoked by pacing at a basic cycle length of 2,000 msec from one margin of the tissue before and after the addition of heptanol. In a separate group of tissues, the dual bipolar orthogonal electrode was used to sequentially map epicardial activation at 40 to 45 sites in a 1 cm x 2 cm area before and 30 minutes after the introduction of heptanol. In a third group of tissues, transmembrane potentials were recorded with standard microelectrode techniques to determine the effects of heptanol on action potential characteristics. Heptanol did not significantly effect action potential amplitude or maximum rate of depolarization. After 1.0 mM heptanol, conduction velocity began to decrease in 1-2 minutes and reached a steady state in 15-20 minutes. Conduction velocity in the longitudinal direction decreased from a control value of 0.56 +/- 0.13 to 0.46 +/- 0.10 M/sec (+/- SD) at 30 minutes after heptanol (p = 0.005). In the transverse direction, it decreased from 0.24 +/- 0.09 to 0.17 +/- 0.05 M/sec (p = 0.002). The ratio of longitudinal to transverse conduction velocities increased from 2.54 +/- 1.00 to 2.94 +/- 0.82 (p = 0.042). Thus, heptanol preferentially slowed conduction in the transverse direction. Because heptanol did not greatly influence active membrane properties, we used cable equations to calculate the time course of the change in effective junctional resistivity, which rose from 133.2 omega.cm before heptanol to 312.2 omega.cm 30 minutes after heptanol administration. We conclude that heptanol slows conduction velocity by selectively increasing junctional resistivity. The preferential slowing of conduction in the transverse direction is most likely due to the fact that more junctional resistances are encountered per unit distance in the transverse than in the longitudinal direction.

Action Potentials↗

Conductances and selective permeability of connexin43 gap junction channels examined in neonatal rat heart cells.

Myocytes from neonatal rat hearts were used to assess the conductive properties of gap junction channels by means of the dual voltage-clamp method. The experiments were carried out on three types (groups) of preparations: (1) induced cell pairs, (2) preformed cell pairs with few gap junction channels (1 to 3 channels), and (3) preformed cell pairs with many channels (100 to 200 channels) after treatment with uncoupling agents such as SKF-525A (75 micromol/L), heptanol (3 mmol/L), and arachidonic acid (100 micromol/L). In group 1, the first opening of a newly formed channel was slow (20 to 65 ms) and occurred 7 to 25 minutes after physical cell contact. The rate of channel insertion was 1.3 channels/min. Associated with a junctional voltage gradient (Vj), the channels revealed multiple conductances, a main open state [gamma(j)(main state)], several substates [gamma(j)(substates)], and a residual state [gamma(j)(residual state)]. On rare occasions, the channels closed completely. The same phenomena were observed in groups 2 and 3. The existence of gamma(j)(residual state) provides an explanation for the incomplete inactivation of the junctional current (Ij) at large values of Vj in cell pairs with many gap junction channels. The values of gamma(j)(main state) and gamma(j)(residual state) gained from groups 1, 2, and 3 turned out to be comparable and hence were pooled. The fit of the data to a Gaussian distribution revealed a narrow single peak for both conductances. The values of gamma(j) were dependent on the composition of the pipette solution. Solutions were as follows: (1) KCl solution, gamma(j)(main state)=96 pS and gamma(j)(residual state)=23 pS; (2) Cs+ aspartate solution, gamma(j)(main state)=61 pS and gamma(j)(residual state)=12 pS; and (3) tetraethylammonium+ aspartate solution, gamma(j)(main state)=19 pS and gamma(j)(residual state)=3 pS. The respective gamma(j)(main state)-to-gamma(j)(residual state) ratios were 4.2, 5.1, and 6.3. This indicates that the residual state restricts ion permeation more efficiently than does the main state. Transitions of Ij between open states (main open state, substates, and residual state) were fast (<2 ms), and transitions involving the closed state and an open state were slow (15 to 65 ms). This implies the existence of two gating mechanisms. The residual state may be regarded as the ground state of electrical gating controlled by Vj; the closed state, as the ground state of chemical gating.

Animals↗

Potentiated depression of indirectly evoked twitch tension of rat soleus muscle following arterial blood occlusion in the presence of ketamine.

The presence of ketamine, in a dose insufficient to depress the indirectly evoked twitch tension of soleus muscle, was shown to significantly potentiate the depression of the indirectly evoked twitch tension following a 10-min occlusion of the arterial blood to this muscle. Since ketamine was known to be an uncoupling agent in oxidative phosphorylation, it was possible that its uncoupling property potentiated the effect of the 10-min blood occlusion to depress the indirectly evoked twitch tension of soleus muscle.

Animals↗

The mitochondrial uncoupler 2,4-dinitrophenol attenuates tissue damage and improves mitochondrial homeostasis following transient focal cerebral ischemia.

Ischemic stroke is caused by acute neuronal degeneration provoked by interruption of cerebral blood flow. Although the mechanisms contributing to ischemic neuronal degeneration are myriad, mitochondrial dysfunction is now recognized as a pivotal event that can lead to either necrotic or apoptotic neuronal death. Lack of suitable 'upstream' targets to prevent loss of mitochondrial homeostasis has, so far, restricted the development of mechanistically based interventions to promote neuronal survival. Here, we show that the uncoupling agent 2,4 dinitrophenol (DNP) reduces infarct volume approximately 40% in a model of focal ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat brain. The mechanism of protection involves an early decrease in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species formation and calcium uptake leading to improved mitochondrial function and a reduction in the release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm. The observed effects of DNP were not associated with enhanced cerebral perfusion. These findings indicate that compounds with uncoupling properties may confer neuroprotection through a mechanism involving stabilization of mitochondrial function.

2,4-Dinitrophenol↗

Oscillations of redox states in synchronously dividing cultures of Acanthamoeba castellanii and Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

The redox state of the mitochondria of Acanthamoeba castellanii and Schizosaccharomyces pombe was assessed with a flying-spot fluorometer (Chance et al. 1978. Am. J. Physiol. 235:H 809) that provides excitation appropriate for oxidized flavoprotein or reduced pyridine nucleotide. Fluorescence signals could be resolved from the thin films of cultures that were only one cell deep. In both organisms anoxia was associated with an increased pyridine nucleotide and decreased flavoprotein fluorescence. The addition of mitochondrial uncoupling agents increased the flavoprotein fluorescence and the fluorometer was able to resolve uncoupler-sensitive and uncoupler-insensitive fractions of S. pombe cultures. In both synchronous and asynchronous cultures of A. castellanii and S. pombe the mitochondrial redox state oscillates with a period of 4.5 +/- 1.0 min. Oscillations with much longer period, of the order of an hour, are observed in synchronous cultures and these oscillations correlate with similar oscillations in respiratory rate, uncoupler sensitivity, and adenine nucleotide pool sizes. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that synchronous cultures of A. castellanii and S. pombe oscillate between the ADP-limited (state 4) and ADP-sufficient (state 3) respiratory states, i.e., exhibit in vivo respiratory control.

Amoeba↗

Entacapone does not induce conformational changes in liver mitochondria or skeletal muscle in vivo.

Entacapone and tolcapone, novel catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT) inhibitors, have been developed for the treatment of Parkinson's disease in combination with levodopa. Three fatal cases of drug-induced hepatitis, one with hepatic necrosis and mitochondrial changes have been reported in clinical use of tolcapone. In vitro tolcapone has been shown to induce uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. Liver and skeletal muscle tissues from an oral rat toxicity study were used to investigate the influence of entacapone, tolcapone (300 and 500 mg/kg/day) or a known uncoupling agent, 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), (20 mg/kg/ day) on the cell morphology. Centrolobular hypertrophy was revealed in the histopathology of the liver in tolcapone-treated rats. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the liver and skeletal muscle tissue, revealed mitochondrial swelling and reduced matrix density with deformation of cristae in the tolcapone and DNP groups. Intermyofibrillar edema was characteristic of the skeletal muscle tissue of DNP- and tolcapone-exposed animals. In the tolcapone group, also the sarcomeres were prominent. Treatment-related light microscopic or TEM findings were not observed either in entacapone-treated or control animals. The similarity of structural damages induced by both tolcapone- and DNP suggests that uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation may contribute to the toxicity of tolcapone in the rat.

2,4-Dinitrophenol↗

Uncoupling of intestinal mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and inhibition of cyclooxygenase are required for the development of NSAID-enteropathy in the rat.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of NSAID-induced gastrointestinal damage is believed to involve a nonprostaglandin dependent effect as well as prostaglandin dependent effects. One suggestion is that the nonprostaglandin mechanism involves uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. AIMS: To assess the role of uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in the pathogenesis of small intestinal damage in the rat. METHODS: We compared key pathophysiologic events in the small bowel following (i) dinitrophenol, an uncoupling agent (ii) parenteral aspirin, to inhibit cyclooxygenase without causing a 'topical' effect and (iii) the two together, using (iv) indomethacin as a positive control. RESULTS: Dinitrophenol altered intestinal mitochondrial morphology, increased intestinal permeability and caused inflammation without affecting gastric permeability or intestinal prostanoid levels. Parenteral aspirin decreased mucosal prostanoids without affecting intestinal mitochondria in vivo, gastric or intestinal permeability. Aspirin caused no inflammation or ulcers. When dinitrophenol and aspirin were given together the changes in intestinal mitochondrial morphology, permeability, inflammation and prostanoid levels and the macro- and microscopic appearances of intestinal ulcers were similar to indomethacin. CONCLUSIONS: These studies allow dissociation of the contribution and consequences of uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and cyclooxygenase inhibition in the pathophysiology of NSAID enteropathy. While uncoupling of enterocyte mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation leads to increased intestinal permeability and low grade inflammation, concurrent decreases in mucosal prostanoids appear to be important in the development of ulcers.

Animals↗

Motility of Bacillus subtilis during growth and sporulation.

The change of motility and the presence of flagella were followed throughout growth and sporulation in a standard sporulating strain and in 19 cacogenic sporulation mutants of Bacillus subtilis. For the standard strain, the fraction of motile cells decreased during the developmental period to less than 10% at T4. Motility was lost well before the cells lose their flagella. Conditions reducing the decrease of motility also reduced sporulation: motile cells never contained spores. The decrease of motility was not coupled with a decrease in the cellular concentration of adenosine 5'-triphosphate or a decline in oxygen consumption, but an uncoupling agent immediately destroyed motility at any time. Apparently, motility decreased during development because it became increasingly uncoupled from the energy generating systems of the cell. The motility of sporulation mutants decreased after the end of growth at the same time as or earlier than the motility of the standard strain; the early decrease of motility in an aconitase mutant, but not that in an alpha-ketoglurate dehydrogenase mutant, could be avoided by addition of L-glutamate. Sporulation or related events such as extracellular antibiotic or protease production were not needed for the motility decline.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Inhibition of rat heart mitochondrial respiration by cadmium chloride.

Mitochondria were isolated from hearts obtained from adult male Sprague-Dawley rats by two-part differential centrifugation of heart homogenates. Time-dependent (0-120 sec) and concentration-dependent (0-10 microM CdCl2) effects of cadmium on pyruvate-malate-supported state 3 and state 4 respiration were measured in a constant temperature reaction chamber at 37 degrees C, according to established procedures. The ID50 for cadmium chloride on state 3 respiration was determined to be 4.2 microM. The inhibition produced by cadmium chloride in heart mitochondria was compared, using identical procedures, to the effects induced by two compounds, sodium atractyloside and potassium cyanide, which are known to alter mitochondrial respiration at specific sites. The calculated ID50 values for these agents in heart mitochondria were 1.8 and 16 microM, respectively. The concentration-dependent inhibition of mitochondrial respiration induced by either cadmium chloride or potassium cyanide was maintained in the presence of 50 microM carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), a known uncoupling agent. In contrast, sodium atractyloside did not block the uncoupling effect of 50 microM CCCP. In addition cadmium chloride was also shown to inhibit CCCP-uncoupled mitochondrial respiration. The cadmium-induced inhibition of mitochondrial respiration was reversed partially by cysteine and completely by 2,3-dimercaptopropanol. The results of the present study indicate that, at all concentrations, cadmium chloride acted solely as an inhibitor of rat heart pyruvate-malate-supported mitochondrial respiration. These findings suggest a possible mechanism for the reported disturbances in myocardial metabolism and function that occur in conjunction with acute and chronic cadmium exposure in humans and experimental animals.

Animals↗

Uncoupling of energy-linked functions of corn mitochondria by linoleic Acid and monomethyldecenylsuccinic Acid.

Linoleic acid and monomethyldecenylsuccinic acid were tested as uncoupling agents for energy linked functions of corn mitochondria. 2,4-dinitrophenol was used as a standard for comparison. Both compounds uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation, released oligomycin-blocked respiration, and accelerated adenosine triphosphatase. Linoleic acid uncoupled calcium-activated phosphate accumulation and the increase in light scattering that accompanies the accumulation. Unlike dinitrophenol, linoleic acid at 0.1 mm had a destructive effect on membrane semipermeability. Kinetic studies indicated that dinitrophenol and linoleic acid compete with phosphate for active sites in oxidative phosphorylation.Some linoleic acid is taken up by respiring mitochondria and a major share of the uptake is incorporated into phospholipids. Calcium ion and oligomycin promote the uptake, but coenzyme A does not. It is deduced that fatty acid probably attacks the non-phosphorylated intermediate, I approximately X, producing X approximately acyl. Uncoupling results from breakdown of X approximately acyl, but sufficient X approximately acyl is maintained to serve as a source of activated fatty acid.

Journal Article↗

Effects of entacapone and tolcapone on mitochondrial membrane potential.

Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) inhibitors, entacapone and tolcapone, are used as an adjunctive treatment to L-dopa in Parkinson's disease. Based on their catechol structure, both inhibitors are potential uncoupling agents, but only tolcapone shows this effect in vitro at clinically relevant concentrations. This study was designed to evaluate the direct uncoupling effects of the two COMT inhibitors in vitro and in vivo. In isolated rat liver mitochondria, entacapone had no effect on the membrane potential at therapeutical concentrations, but both tolcapone and the reference compound 2,4-dinitrophenol disrupted the potential at low microM concentrations. Since protein binding is speculated to decrease the uncoupling effects in vivo, the COMT inhibitory effect of entacapone and tolcapone as a surrogate for the overall activity of these inhibitors was evaluated in vitro with or without serum. The COMT inhibitory activity of entacapone was reduced to half, while tolcapone had only about 1/10 of its activity left in the presence of serum. Further, uncoupling is known to induce an increase in the body temperature in vivo, and these effects were evaluated in the rat by a possible hyperthermic response to the treatment with entacapone or tolcapone in combination with L-dopa (10 mg/kg) and carbidopa (20 mg/kg). This combination with entacapone (400 mg/kg) had no effect on the rectal body temperature. In contrast, tolcapone (50 mg/kg) caused an elevation in the body temperature together with L-dopa and carbidopa (P < 0.01). Both in vitro and in vivo results indicate that entacapone does not impair energy metabolism related to uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation.

Animals↗

Adrenergic regulation of intercellular communications between cultured striatal astrocytes from the mouse.

The permeability of gap junctions in cultured striatal astrocytes was investigated by the scrape-loading/dyetransfer technique. Prolonged application of norepinephrine (NE) (10 microM) reduced by half the extent of dye (Lucifer yellow) spread. This effect was linked to the activation of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors since it was mimicked by methoxamine and antagonized by prazosin. The adenosine agonist 2-chloroadenosine (10 microM), which potentiates the NE-evoked activation of phospholipase C (PLC) in striatal astrocytes, also potentiated the NE-evoked closure of gap junctions, the effect being as important as that observed with the uncoupling agent octanol. Measurements of inositol phospholipid turnover performed in identical experimental conditions revealed a close relationship between the extent of PLC activation and the magnitude of the uncoupling process. The effect of NE was mimicked by both phorbol ester and arachidonic acid, suggesting that biochemical events linked to PLC stimulation such as protein kinase C activation and/or eicosanoid production are likely involved in the NE-induced uncoupling. In addition, in the presence of a cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor, the stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors by isoproterenol (10 microM) led to a large increase in cAMP accumulation correlated with an extension of dye diffusion. This observation suggests that junctional permeability could also be controlled by a cAMP-dependent mechanism. Altogether these results indicate that intercellular communication between cultured astrocytes can be regulated by different second messenger pathways as a result of the action of neurotransmitters on their receptors.

Animals↗

Receptor-independent activation of atrial muscarinic potassium channels in the absence of nucleotides.

The removal of nucleotides from the solution bathing the inner face of excised patches of frog atrial membranes was found to activate muscarinic K+ channels in the absence of agonists. Channel activation was also observed in Mg2+-free solutions and blocked by low (0.1-10 microM) concentrations of GDP or GTP. After full activation was achieved, channel openings were abolished by the application of GDP-bound Galphai2 but were not affected by exogenous Gbetagamma dimers, suggesting that effector activation is a consequence of the liberation of betagamma subunits from endogenous G proteins. The process of channel activation in the absence of nucleotides seems to be receptor-independent, because it is not influenced by muscarinic receptor agonists and antagonists or by treatment with uncoupling agents such as pertussis toxin or N-ethyl maleimide. Taken together, these results suggest that the loss of GDP from the G protein nucleotide binding site promotes its uncoupling from receptors and destabilizes the Galpha(empty)betagamma heterotrimer. Therefore, the nucleotide-free form of G proteins has some of the characteristics of the GTP-bound, activated form.

Animals↗

The presence of H+ and Na+ -linked Ca2+ extruding systems in Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum.

The effects of monovalent cations (Na+, K+ and choline+) and the uncoupler 3,3',4',5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCS) were tested on 45Ca2+ uptake by non-energized cells of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum. 45Ca2+ uptake was stimulated by the addition of K+ and (less) by choline+ while Na+ slowed down and even reversed it, thereby mimicking the energization of cells. The uncoupler agent, TCS, suppressed 45Ca2+ uptake in non-energized cells in the presence or absence of Na+ but in cells energized in an atmosphere of CO2+H2 it exerted a stimulating effect. Uncoupled 45Ca2+ efflux was measured in cells pre-loaded with 45Ca2+ by means of the divalent ionophore A23187 following its washing out by buffer containing serum albumin. The efflux was temperature-dependent and was stimulated by external 40Ca2+ and Na+. In the absence of Na+, the uncoupled efflux was completely inhibited by TCS, whereas in the presence of Na+, TCS was without any effect. The results are in agreement with the model in which the Ca2+ influx pathway is represented by a membrane potential-driven uniport whereas Ca2+ efflux is mediated by two transport systems - Na+/Ca2+ and H+/Ca2+ antiporters - whose participation in the total efflux is dependent on the energy of the corresponding gradients of driving ions.

Calcium↗

The nature of controlled respiration and its relationship to protonmotive force and proton conductance in blowfly flight-muscle mitochondria.

1. To determine whether controlled (State 4) pyruvate oxidation can support a high energy state, measurements of the redox span NAD-cytochrome c, phosphorylation potential and protonmotive force (the gradient in electrochemical activity of protons across the mitochondrial inner membrane) were made as indices of energy status. For comparison, these three measurements were also made with glycerol 3-phosphate, an alternative substrate. The two substrates gave essentially identical values for the redox span NAD-cytochrome c in State 4, and the phosphorylation potential was of sufficient magnitude to be considered in equilibrium with the redox span over the first two phosphorylation sites. The magnitude of the protonmotive force in State 4 was much less and the implications of this finding are discussed. 2. Measurements made during the controlled (State 4) to active (State 3) transition indicated that with glycerol 3-phosphate as substrate, both the redox span NAD-cytochrome c and the protonmotive force were diminished; the State 4 --> State 3 transition with pyruvate as substrate was accompanied by an increase in the redox span but a decrease in protonmotive force. The contrary behaviour of these two energetic parameters in the presence of pyruvate was ascribed to a transient excess in the flux of protons through the adenosine triphosphatase relative to the protonpumping respiratory chain, in spite of the increased dehydrogenase activity. 3. The lower protonmotive force seen in State 3 relative to State 4 with pyruvate as substrate was due to a diminution of both the electrical (DeltaPsi) and the chemical (DeltapH) components; with glycerol 3-phosphate, the magnitude of the decrease in protonmotive force during the State 4 --> State 3 transition was similar to that seen with pyruvate, but was due to a large decrease in the electrical component (DeltaPsi) and a small rise in the chemical component (DeltapH). The reason for the difference seen in the behaviour of the components of the protonmotive force was investigated but not established. 4. In the presence of oligomycin and ADP, oxidation of pyruvate, but not of glycerol 3-phosphate, supported a greater protonmotive force than in State 4, in keeping with the dehydrogenase activation and increased redox span NAD-cytochrome c found under these conditions. 5. Experiments involving the use of uncoupling agent to stimulate respiration are compared with those in which limiting concentrations of ADP were used. Estimates of the proton conductance of the inner membrane indicate a similar non-linear dependence on uncoupler concentration with the two substrates. 6. A model is proposed as an explanation of the high rates of controlled glycerol 3-phosphate oxidation. The model relies on a high permeability of the inner membrane to protons and other ions being induced by glycerol 3-phosphate oxidation in State 4.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Cytochrome c peroxidase activity of bovine heart cytochrome oxidase incorporated in liposomes and generation of membrane potential.

Cytochrome oxidase vesicles catalyzed the peroxidatic oxidation of ferrocytochrome c. The maximal peroxidase activity in the absence of an uncoupling agent was 9.8 mol ferrocytochrome c oxidized/(s X mol heme a), indicating a 5-fold activation compared with the soluble enzyme system. The peroxidase activity was further enhanced 1.2 to 2.1 times upon addition of an uncoupler, carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl hydrazone. The stoichiometry of the reduction of hydrogen peroxide by ferrocytochrome c was established to be 1 : 2, indicating water formation. Potassium cyanide (0.14 mM) completely inhibited the peroxidase activity. The inhibition by 1 mM CO was 40-77% depending on the energized state of cytochrome oxidase vesicles, but in contrast, 85% inhibition was observed with the soluble enzyme. In the energized state the enzyme showed a slightly lower affinity for CO than in the deenergized state. Coupled with the peroxidase activity, a membrane potential of 72 mV was registered transiently; this may be physiologically significant in relation to the energy transduction mechanism.

Animals↗