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In the intraerythrocytic stages of malaria parasites, mitochondria lack obvious cristae and are assumed to derive energy through glycolysis. For understanding of parasite energy metabolism in mammalian hosts, we isolated rodent malaria mitochondria from Plasmodium yoelii yoelii grown in mice. As potential targets for antiplasmodial agents, we characterized two respiratory dehydrogenases, succinate:ubiquinone reductase (complex II) and alternative NADH dehydrogenase (NDH-II), which is absent in mammalian mitochondria. We found that P. y. yoelii complex II was a four-subunit enzyme and that kinetic properties were similar to those of mammalian enzymes, indicating that the Plasmodium complex II is favourable in catalysing the forward reaction of tricarboxylic acid cycle. Notably, Plasmodium complex II showed IC(50) value for atpenin A5 three-order of magnitudes higher than those of mammalian enzymes. Divergence of protist membrane anchor subunits from eukaryotic orthologs likely affects the inhibitor resistance. Kinetic properties and sensitivity to 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide and aurachin C of NADH: ubiquinone reductase activity of Plasmodium NDH-II were similar to those of plant and fungus enzymes but it can oxidize NADPH and deamino-NADH. Our findings are consistent with the notion that rodent malaria mitochondria are fully capable of oxidative phosphorylation and that these mitochondrial enzymes are potential targets for new antiplasmodials.

To investigate the energy-conserving function of the NADH:ubiquinone reductase (complex I), we have selected oxonol VI [bis(3-propyl-5-oxoisoxazol-4-yl)pentamethine oxonol] as the most sensitive probe for measuring the reactions of membrane potential generation in submitochondrial particles. Calibration of the oxonol signals with potassium diffusion potentials shows a non-linear response after a threshold around -50 mV. Thermodynamic evaluations indicate that the upper limit of the oxonol response to the potential generated by complex I is around -220 mV, which is close to the maximal protonmotive force in coupled submitochondrial particles. NADH addition to particles in which ubiquinol oxidation is blocked by inhibitors of other respiratory complexes generates oxonol signals corresponding to membrane potentials of -130 to -180 mV. These signals are produced by about four turnovers of the complex reducing endogenous ubiquinone (i.e. non-steady-state conditions) and are equivalent to a charge separation similar to that of the antimycin-sensitive reactions of ubiquinol:cytochrome c reductase (complex III). The transient oxonol signals under non-steady-state conditions are thus informative of crucial steps in the electrogenic reactions catalyzed by complex I. The possible nature of these electrogenic reactions is discussed in relation to proposed mechanisms for complex I.

Cytosolic NADPH-dependent ubiquinone reductase (NADPH-UQ reductase) accounted for about 68% of the total ubiquinone (UQ) reductase activity in rat liver homogenate [Takahashi, T. et al. (1995) Biochem. J. 309, 883-890]. We investigated the effects of various factors on this enzyme activity in rat liver cytosol with the aim of elucidating its physiological roles. The NADPH-UQ reductase in rat liver cytosol catalyzed the reduction of UQ to UQH2 with concomitant oxidation of equimolar NADPH. The optimal pH was around 7.4, and the optimal temperatures were about 28 degrees C for NADH and about 37 degrees C for NADPH. NADH, deamino NADH, and deamino NADPH were much less active hydrogen donors than NADPH, whereas reduced nicotinamide mononucleotide, ascorbate, erythorbate, reduced glutathione, and cysteine were inactive. As the hydrogen acceptor, UQ-9 had the highest Vmax/Km among the long-chain UQ homologues tested. FAD and FMN stimulated the activity. Anionic detergents, Mg2+ and Sr2+ also enhanced the activity. Rotenone, malonic acid, antimycin A, and KCN, which inhibit mitochondrial and microsomal electron transfer enzymes, superoxide dismutase, and acetylated cytochrome c had no effect on the NADPH-UQ reductase activity. These results indicated that the NADPH-UQ reductase in rat liver cytosol is a flavoprotein that reduces UQ-10 by a two-electron reduction mechanism and is distinguishable from known microsomal and mitochondrial enzymes, as well as DT-diaphorase [EC 1.6.99.2].

The site of Na+-dependent activation in the respiratory chain of the marine bacterium, Vibrio alginolyticus, was investigated. The respiratory chain system contained ubiquinones (Q), menaquinones (MK), cytochromes b(560), c(553), d(630), and o(560). The membrane-bound and partially purified NADH dehydrogenase was stimulated 2- to 3-fold by the addition of 0.2 M Na+ or K+ and no specific requirement for Na+ was observed in this reaction step. The cytochrome oxidase showed no requirement for monovalent cations. The respiratory activity (NADH oxidase) of the membrane was lost on removal of the quinones, and the reincorporation of authentic Q-10 or MK-4 restored the activity. The rate of MK-4 reduction by NADH (menaquinone reductase) as measured using MK-4 incorporated membrane was activated by Na+, but only slightly by K+. The apparent Ka for Na+ was 78 mM for both menaguinone reductase and NADH oxidase. The requirement for Na+ of menaquinone reductase was greatly reduced in the presence of 0.2 M K+. Ubiquinone reductase as measured by using Q-10 incorporated membrane was also activated more effectively by Na+ than by K+. These results strongly suggested that the site of Na+-dependent activation in the respiratory chain of marine V. alginolyticus was at the step of NADH; quinone oxidoreductase.