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The recent development of tailored cytochrome enzymes has enabled "new‐to‐nature" reactivities, such as the biocatalytic formation of carbon‐silicon bonds using the cytochrome c from Rhodothermus marinus. To maximise the potential of this remarkable biocatalyst by increasing its turnover numbers (TON) and to enable its reusability in continuous processes, we report the use of the SpyTag/SpyCatcher bioconjugation system to immobilise this enzyme. We successfully modified the enzyme with a SpyTag without significant effects on its catalytic activity. Even after immobilization on microparticles the enzyme retained 60 % activity. When the immobilized enzyme was used in sequential batch or continuous flow to produce an organosilicon, we observed up to 6‐fold higher turnover numbers over a total period of 10 days compared to the free enzyme reaction, however we observed a drop in stereoselectivity under these conditions. This is the first report on the successful immobilisation of a carbon‐silicon bond forming enzyme for the continuous, biocatalytic production of organosilicons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural microbes employing c‐type cytochromes (c‐Cyts) for extracellular electron transport (EET) were greatly valuable to develop redox‐based bioelectrochemical applications. However, low levels of c‐Cyt expression limited the phylogenetically diverse Gram‐positive species to be used in bioelectrochemical devices. This work reported the remarkable finding that a high level of c‐Cyts was expressed in the cells of the Gram‐positive strain Lysinibacillus varians GY32. c‐Cyts in Lysinibacillus varians GY32 cells were expressed at a level close to those in Shewanella oneidensis. These c‐Cyts were found to cluster in cytoplasmic membrane and periplasmic space, along the length of Lysinibacillus varians GY32 cell. With voltammetry and spectroelectrochemical titration, phenazine methosulfate‐mediated electron transfer between the c‐Cyts and an electrode was proved. These results expanded the accessible natural models of EET and suggested a new microbial platform for developing bioelectrochemical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrode‐immobilized Met80Ala variant of yeast iso‐1 cytochrome c in mixed water/dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solutions up to 60 % v/v DMSO shows thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of electron exchange and electrocatalytic properties towards O2 reduction fully comparable to those in water. This is the result of moderate protein conformational changes thanks to immobilization that, to a certain extent, preserves protein structure, possibly due to the constraints on protein mobility/flexibility induced by the electrostatic interactions with the electrode‐coating SAM. Upon increasing the DMSO content of the mixed solution beyond 60 %, a much larger perturbation occurs that leads to the progressive loss of the electrocatalytic ability. Therefore, under these conditions, the organic solvent remarkably affects the structure and properties of the protein probably involving major conformational changes or even the replacement of the 6th axial hydroxide ligand of the heme iron with a strong protein ligand, possibly a lysine residue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic microorganisms of the Geobacter genus are effective electron sources for the synthesis of nanoparticles, for bioremediation of polluted water, and for the production of electricity in fuel cells. In multistep reactions, electrons are transferred via iron/heme cofactors of c‐type cytochromes from the inner cell membrane to extracellular metal ions, which are bound to outer membrane cytochromes. We measured electron production and electron flux rates to 5×105 e s−1 per G. sulfurreducens. Remarkably, these rates are independent of the oxidants, and follow zero order kinetics. It turned out that the microorganisms regulate electron flux rates by increasing their Fe2+/Fe3+ ratios in the multiheme cytochromes whenever the activity of the extracellular metal oxidants is diminished. By this mechanism the respiration remains constant even when oxidizing conditions are changing. This homeostasis is a vital condition for living systems, and makes G. sulfurreducens a versatile electron source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoheme c‐type cytochromes are important electron transporters in all domains of life. They possess a common fold hallmarked by three α‐helices that surround a covalently attached heme. An intriguing feature of many monoheme c‐type cytochromes is their capacity to form oligomers by exchanging at least one of their α‐helices, which is often referred to as 3D domain swapping. Here, the crystal structure of NirC, a c‐type cytochrome co‐encoded with other proteins involved in nitrite reduction by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has been determined. The crystals diffracted anisotropically to a maximum resolution of 2.12 Å (spherical resolution of 2.83 Å) and initial phases were obtained by Fe‐SAD phasing, revealing the presence of 11 NirC chains in the asymmetric unit. Surprisingly, these protomers arrange into one monomer and two different types of 3D domain‐swapped dimers, one of which shows pronounced asymmetry. While the simultaneous observation of monomers and dimers probably reflects the interplay between the high protein concentration required for crystallization and the structural plasticity of monoheme c‐type cytochromes, the identification of conserved structural motifs in the monomer together with a comparison with similar proteins may offer new leads to unravel the unknown function of NirC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review focuses on the unique spectroscopic features of the blue copper active sites. These reflect a novel electronic structure that activates the site for rapid long-range electron transfer in its biological function. The role of the protein in determining the geometric and electronic structure of this site is defined, as is its contribution to function. This has been referred to as the entatic/rack-induced state. These concepts are then extended to cytochrome c, which is also determined to be in an entatic state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu2+-immobilized magnetic poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate- N-methacryloyl-( l)-histidinemethylester) (mPHEMAH) nanoparticles were prepared by surfactant-free emulsion polymerization for cytochrome C (cyt C) purification from rat liver. Elemental analysis, atomic force microscopy, zeta sizer, and vibrating sample magnetometer were used to characterize mPHEMAH nanoparticles. In addition to these characterization steps, surface area, average particle size, and size distribution of mPHEMAH nanoparticles were determined. Quantity of immobilized Cu2+ was measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. N-Methacryloyl-( l)-histidinemethylester and Cu2+ content of mPHEMAH nanoparticles were 0.18 mmol/g polymer and 0.11 mmol/g polymer, respectively. Specific surface area of Cu2+-immobilized mPHEMAH nanoparticles was 1180 m2/g. Effect of initial cyt C concentration, pH, temperature, and ionic strength on cyt C adsorption onto Cu2+-immobilized mPHEMAH nanoparticles was investigated. Maximum cyt C adsorption capacity of Cu2+-immobilized mPHEMAH nanoparticles was 311.9 mg/g polymer. Maximum adsorption was obtained at pH 8.0 and 4 °C. Cu2+-immobilized mPHEMAH nanoparticles were used ten times with 4.1% decrease in adsorption capacity. In the last stage, Cu2+-immobilized mPHEMAH nanoparticles were used to purify cyt C from rat liver tissue, and the purity of desorbed fractions was controlled by SDS-PAGE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorylation of tyrosine 48 of cytochrome c is related to a wide range of human diseases due to the pleiotropic role of the heme-protein in cell life and death. However, the structural conformation and physicochemical properties of phosphorylated cytochrome c are difficult to study as its yield from cell extracts is very low and its kinase remains unknown. Herein, we report a high-yielding synthesis of a close mimic of phosphorylated cytochrome c, developed by optimization of the synthesis of the non-canonical amino acid p-carboxymethyl- L-phenylalanine ( pCMF) and its efficient site-specific incorporation at position 48. It is noteworthy that the Y48 pCMF mutation significantly destabilizes the FeMet bond in the ferric form of cytochrome c, thereby lowering the p Ka value for the alkaline transition of the heme-protein. This finding reveals the differential ability of the phosphomimic protein to drive certain events. This modified cytochrome c might be an important tool to investigate the role of the natural protein following phosphorylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports the development of a unique class of Cytochrome C (CytC)-loaded cross-beta amyloid nanohybrids. The peroxidase activity of the bound CytC increased up to two orders of magnitude in organic solvents compared to the activity of unbound CytC in water. The amyloid sequences used in the study feature the nucleating core 17LVFF21 of the beta amyloid (Aβ), which assembled to form homogenous fibers and nanotubes. The morphology and exposed surface of the amyloid nanohydrids critically modulated the CytC activity. A CytC-Ac-KLVFFAE-NH2 hybrid featuring nanofiber morphology showed 308-fold higher activity than unbound CytC in water, which increased to 450-fold with the nanotube morphology of CytC-Ac-KLVFFA L-NH2. Notably, activity declined substantially when the exposed surface charge was detuned by replacing lysine with histidine, thus underpinning the importance of surface charge. This enzyme-amyloid nanohybrid system could facilitate the technological application of enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C-type cytochromes located on the outer membrane (OMCs) of genus Shewanella act as the main redox-active species to mediate extracellular electron transfer (EET) from the inside of the outer membrane to the external environment: the central challenge that must be met for successful EET. The redox states of OMCs play a crucial role in dictating the rate and extent of EET. Here, we report that the surface wettability of the electrodes strongly influences the EET activity of living organisms of Shewanella loihica PV-4 at a fixed external potential: the EET activity on a hydrophilic electrode is more than five times higher than that on a hydrophobic one. We propose that the redox state of OMCs varies significantly at electrodes with different wettability, resulting in different EET activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondria, the major source of cellular energy in the form of ATP, respond to changes in substrate availability and bioenergetic demands by employing rapid, short-term, metabolic adaptation mechanisms, such as phosphorylation-dependent protein regulation. In mammalian cells, an intramitochondrial CO2-adenylyl cyclase (AC)-cyclic AMP (cAMP)-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway regulates aerobic energy production. One target of this pathway involves phosphorylation of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) subunit 4-iso-form 1 (COX4i1), which modulates COX allosteric regulation by ATP. However, the role of the CO2-sAC-cAMP-PKA signalosome in regulating COX activity and mitochondrial metabolism and its evolutionary conservation remain to be fully established. We show that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, normoxic COX activity measured in the presence of ATP is 55% lower than in the presence of ADP. Moreover, the adenylyl cyclase Cyrl activity is present in mitochondria, and it contributes to the ATP-mediated regulation of COX through the normoxic subunit Cox5a, homologue of human COX4i1, in a bicarbonate-sensitive manner. Furthermore, we have identified 2 phosphorylation targets in Cox5a (T65 and S43) that modulate its allosteric regulation by ATP. These residues are not conserved in the Cox5b-containing hypoxic enzyme, which is not regulated by ATP. We conclude that across evolution, a CO2-sAC-cAMP-PKA axis regulates normoxic COX activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced catalysis! Urea‐unfolded wild‐type cytochrome c and its variants immobilized on kaolinite show peroxidase activity that is significantly higher than that of the folded wild‐type protein. The accessibility of the substrate to the metal center and the influence of strategic amino acidic residues on the surface of the protein are discussed. This approach sheds light on the factors affecting the catalytic activity of a new versatile biocatalytic interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel biosensor was developed by entrapping cytochrome c (Cyt c) in thin films of the room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) containing nanocomposites of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)-graphene nanosheets-gold nanoparticles (PDDA-Gp-AuNPs) at a 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid-6-mercapto-1-hexanol modified gold electrode. The synthesized PDDA-Gp-AuNPs hybrid nanocomposites were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The PDDA-Gp-AuNPs nanocomposites could increase the effective surface of the electrode, enhance the fixed amount of Cyt c on the electrode surface, promote the electron transfer and facilitate the catalytic activity of Cyt c. The RTIL could provide a biocompatible microenvironment to keep Cyt c biological activities, act as an effective mediator to immobilize a large number of Cyt c on the electrode and have good conductivity to improve electron transfer. Therefore, the resultant electrode exhibited good electrochemical performance and electrocatalytic activity. It could be used for electrochemical detection of H2O2 with rapid response, high sensitivity, wide linear range and low detection limit, as well as good stability, repeatability and selectivity. The sensor might be promising for practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytochromes c are central proteins in energy transduction processes by virtue of their functions in electron transfer in respiration and photosynthesis. They have heme covalently attached to a characteristic CXXCH motif via protein-catalyzed post-translational modification reactions. Several systems with diverse constituent proteins have been identified in different organisms and are required to perform the heme attachment and associated functions. The necessary steps are translocation of the apocytochrome polypeptide to the site of heme attachment, transport and provision of heme to the appropriate compartment, reduction and chaperoning of the apocytochrome, and finally, formation of the thioether bonds between heme and two cysteines in the cytochrome. Here we summarize the established classical models for these processes and present recent progress in our understanding of the individual steps within the different cytochrome c biogenesis systems. © 2013 IUBMB Life, 65(3):209-216, 2013 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Heme attachment to c-type cytochromes in bacteria requires cysteine thiols in the CXXCH motif of the protein. The involvement of the periplasmic disulfide generation system in this process remains unclear. We undertake a systematic evaluation of the role of DsbA and DsbD in cytochrome c biogenesis in Escherichia coli and show unequivocally that DsbA is not essential for holocytochrome production under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. We also prove that DsbD is important but not essential for maturation of c-type cytochromes. We discuss the findings in the context of a model in which heme attachment to, and oxidation of, the apocytochrome are competing processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The covalent attachment of heme to mitochondrial cytochrome c is catalysed by holocytochrome c synthase (HCCS, also called heme lyase). How HCCS functions and recognises the substrate apocytochrome is unknown. Here we have examined HCCS recognition of a chimeric substrate comprising a short mitochondrial cytochrome c N-terminal region with the C-terminal sequence, including the CXXCH heme-binding motif, of a bacterial cytochrome c that is not otherwise processed by HCCS. Heme attachment to the chimera demonstrates the importance of the N-terminal region of the cytochrome. A series of variants of a mitochondrial cytochrome c with amino acid replacements in the N-terminal region have narrowed down the specificity determinants, providing insight into HCCS substrate recognition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

DNA barcoding is a molecular method that rapidly identifies an individual to a known taxon or its closest relative based on a 650-bp fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). In this study, DNA barcodes of members of the family Accipitridae, including Haliastur indus (brahminy kite), Haliaeetus leucogaster (white-bellied sea eagle), Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus (grey-headed fish eagle), Spilornis holospilus (crested serpent-eagle), Spizaetus philippensis (Philippine hawk-eagle), and Pithecophaga jefferyi (Philippine eagle), are reported for the first time. All individuals sampled are kept at the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City, Philippines. Basic local alignment search tool results demonstrated that the COI sequences for these species were unique. The COI gene trees constructed using the maximum-likelihood and neighbour-joining (NJ) methods supported the monophyly of the booted eagles of the Aquilinae and the sea eagles of the Haliaeetinae but not the kites of the Milvinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: It is known that the vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA) could induce apoptosis. However, the mechanism remained to be elucidated. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of Bcl family of proteins (Bcl-2 and Bax) and the mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) in VacA-induced apoptosis of AGS cells. METHODS: Plasmid pGBKT7-VacA p58 was constructed and transfected into the AGS cells. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to determine the expressions of cytochrome c, caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2 and VDAC1 mRNA and proteins. RESULTS: VacA p58 can induce cytochrome c release and activate caspase-3 in AGS cells. It up-regulated the expressions of Bax and VDAC1 mRNA and proteins, and decreased the expression of Bcl-2 in AGS cells. CONCLUSION: VacA p58 induces apoptosis in AGS cells. This apoptotic process is associated with the up-regulation of Bax/VDAC1 and downregulation of Bcl-2. These findings suggest that the release of cytochrome c by VacA p58 is mainly through VDAC-dependent and Bcl-2 family-dependent pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

c-Type cytochromes require specific post-translational protein systems, which vary in different organisms, for the characteristic covalent attachment of heme to the cytochrome polypeptide. Cytochrome c biogenesis System II, found in chloroplasts and many bacteria, comprises four subunits, two of which (ResB and ResC) are the minimal functional unit. The ycf5 gene from Helicobacter pylori encodes a fusion of ResB and ResC. Heterologous expression of ResBC in Escherichia coli lacking its own biogenesis machinery allowed us to investigate the substrate specificity of System II. ResBC is able to attach heme to monoheme c-type cytochromes c550 from Paracoccus denitrificans and c552 from Hydrogenobacter thermophilus, both normally matured by System I. The production of holocytochrome is enhanced by the addition of exogenous reductant. Single-cysteine variants of these cytochromes were not efficiently matured by System II, but System I was able to produce detectable amounts of AXXCH variants; this adds to evidence that there is no obligate requirement for a disulfide-bonded intermediate for the latter c-type cytochrome biogenesis system. In addition, System II was able to mature an AXXAH-containing variant into a b-type cytochrome, with implications for both heme supply to the periplasm and substrate recognition by System II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pathway for cytochrome c maturation (Ccm) in bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes (mitochondria) requires the genes encoding eight membrane proteins (CcmABCDEFGH). The CcmABCDE proteins are proposed to traffic haem to the cytochrome c synthetase (CcmF/H) for covalent attachment to cytochrome c by unknown mechanisms. For the first time, we purify pathway complexes with trapped haem to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of haem binding, trafficking and redox control. We discovered an early step in trafficking that involves oxidation of haem (to Fe3+), yet the final attachment requires reduced haem (Fe2+). Surprisingly, CcmF is a cytochrome b with a haem never before realized, and in vitro, CcmF functions as a quinol:haem oxidoreductase. Thus, this ancient pathway has conserved and orchestrated mechanisms for trafficking, storing and reducing haem, which assure its use for cytochrome c synthesis even in limiting haem (iron) environments and reducing haem in oxidizing environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the mitochondrial impacts of insecticidal formate esters in insecticide-resistant and insecticide-susceptible Drosophila melanogaster. It notes that the capability of formic acid to induce mitochondrial disruption was verified when formic acid and three positive control treatments such as rotenone, antimycin A, and sodium cyanide have induced a cytochrome c release. Further, it states that insecticidal formate esters have significant mitochondrial impacts and implies association between respiratory inhibition, mitochondrial disruption, and formate-ester-induced neurotoxicity.

The principal physiological role of mitochondrial cytochrome c is electron transfer during oxidative phosphorylation. c-Type cytochromes are almost always characterized by covalent attachment of heme to protein through two thioether bonds between the heme vinyl groups and the thiols of cysteine residues in a Cys-Xxx-Xxx-Cys-His motif. Uniquely, however, members of the evolutionarily divergent protist phylum Euglenozoa, which includes Trypanosoma and Leishmania species, have mitochondrial cytochromes c with heme attached through only one thioether bond [to an (A/F)XXCH motif]; the implications of this for the cytochrome structures are unclear. Here we present the 1.55 Å resolution X-ray crystal structure of cytochrome c from the trypanosomatid Crithidia fasciculata. Despite the fundamental difference in heme attachment and in the cytochrome c biogenesis machinery of the Euglenozoa, the structure is remarkably similar to that of typical (CXXCH) mitochondrial cytochromes c, both in overall fold and, other than the missing thioether bond, in the details of the heme attachment. Notably, this similarity includes the stereochemistry of the covalent heme attachment to the protein. The structure has implications for the maturation of c-type cytochromes in the Euglenozoa; it also hints at a distinctive redox environment in the mitochondrial intermembrane space of trypanosomes. Surprisingly, Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytochrome c heme lyase (the yeast cytochrome c biogenesis system) cannot efficiently mature Trypanosoma brucei cytochrome c or a CXXCH variant when expressed in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli, despite their great structural similarity to yeast cytochrome c, suggesting that heme lyase requires specific recognition features in the apocytochrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eukaryotic cytochrome c oxidase (COX), the last enzyme of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, is a multimeric enzyme of dual genetic origin, whose assembly is a complicated and highly regulated process. COX displays a concerted accumulation of its constitutive subunits. Data obtained from studies performed with yeast mutants indicate that most catalytic core unassembled subunits are posttranslationally degraded. Recent data obtained in the yeast Saccharomycescerevisiae have revealed another contribution to the stoichiometric accumulation of subunits during COX biogenesis targeting subunit 1 or Cox1p. Cox1p is a mitochondrially encoded catalytic subunit of COX which acts as a seed around which the full complex is assembled. A regulatory mechanism exists by which Cox1p synthesis is controlled by the availability of its assembly partners. The unique properties of this regulatory mechanism offer a means to catalyze multiple-subunit assembly. New levels of COX biogenesis regulation have been recently proposed. For example, COX assembly and stability of the fully assembled enzyme depend on the presence in the mitochondrial compartments of two partners of the oxidative phosphorylation system, the mobile electron carrier cytochrome c and the mitochondrial ATPase. The different mechanisms of regulation of COX assembly are reviewed and discussed. © 2008 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 60(9): 557–568, 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischaemic pre-conditioning has a powerful protective potential against ischaemia-induced cell death, and acidosis is an important feature of ischaemia and can lead to apoptosis. Here we tested whether pre-conditioning with acidosis, that is, acidic pre-conditioning (APC), may protect coronary endothelial cells (EC) against apoptosis induced by simulated ischaemia. For pre-conditioning, EC were exposed for 40 min. to acidosis (pH 6.4) followed by a 14-hrs recovery period (pH 7.4) and finally treated for 2 hrs with simulated ischaemia (glucose- free anoxia at pH 6.4). Cells undergoing apoptosis were visualized by chromatin staining or by determination of caspase-3 activity. Simulated ischaemia in untreated EC increased caspase-3 activity and the number of apoptotic cell (31.3 ± 1.3% versus 3.9 ± 0.6% in control). APC significantly reduced the rate of apoptosis (14.2 ± 1.3%) and caspase-3 activity. Western blot analysis exploring the underlying mechanism leading to this protection revealed suppression of the endoplasmic reticulum- (reduced cleavage of caspase-12) and mitochondria-mediated (reduced cytochrome C release) pathways of apoptosis. These effects were associated with an over-expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL 14 hrs after APC, whereas no effect on the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, Bak, procaspase-12, reticulum-localized chaperones (GRP78, calreticulin), HSP70, HSP32 and HSP27 could be detected. Knock-down of Bcl-xL by siRNA-treatment prevented the protective effect of APC. In conclusion, short acidic pre-treatment can protect EC against ischaemic apoptosis. The mechanism of this protection consists of suppression of the endoplasmic reticulum- and mitochondria-mediated pathways. Over-expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL is responsible for the increased resistance to apoptosis during ischaemic insult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Programmed cell death (PCD) plays a vital role in plant development and is involved in defence mechanisms against biotic and abiotic stresses. Different forms of PCD have been described in plants on the basis of the cell organelle first involved. In sycamore ( Acer pseudoplatanus L.) cultured cells, the phytotoxin fusicoccin (FC) induces cell death. However, only a fraction of the dead cells shows the typical hallmarks of animal apoptosis, including cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation and release of cytochrome c from the mitochondrion. In this work, we show that the scavenging of nitric oxide (NO), produced in the presence of FC, by 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (cPTIO) and rutin inhibits cell death without affecting DNA fragmentation and cytochrome c release. In addition, we show that FC induces a massive depolymerization of actin filaments that is prevented by the NO scavengers. Finally, the addition of actin-depolymerizing drugs induces PCD in control cells and overcomes the inhibiting effect of cPTIO on FC-induced cell death. Vice versa, the addition of actin-stabilizing drugs to FC-treated cells partially inhibits the phytotoxin-induced PCD. These results suggest that besides an apoptotic-like form of PCD involving the release of cytochrome c, FC induces at least another form of cell death, likely mediated by NO and independent of cytochrome c release, and they make it tempting to speculate that changes in actin cytoskeleton are involved in this form of PCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a new hypothesis for the molecular mechanism by which neuroglobin exerts its protective effect in hypoxia-induced cell death. Our recent observation of a very rapid electron-transfer reaction between ferrous neuroglobin and ferric cytochrome c is central to this hypothesis. In contrast to previously suggested roles for neuroglobin, related to its putative but unlikely oxygen storage/transport properties or its ability to react with nitrogen oxides, we suggest that ferrous neuroglobin exerts its protective effect via modulation of the early events in the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. We suggest this is achieved by the rapid reduction of cytosolic ferric cytochrome c by neuroglobin. The maintenance of cytochrome c in the nonapoptotic ferrous oxidation state and the concomitant generation of ferric neuroglobin in this reaction fit well with known feedback processes in the early events of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Our hypothesis also fits well with a number of previously uncorrelated findings, including the localization of neuroglobin in close proximity to mitochondria, the high concentration of neuroglobin in cells whose basal rates of aerobic metabolism are extremely high, and the cell types which are subject to large calcium ion fluxes in their normal physiology. © 2008 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 60(6): 398–401, 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial cytochromes c and c1 are present in all eukaryotes that use oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor in the respiratory chain. Maturation of c-type cytochromes requires covalent attachment of the heme cofactor to the protein, and there are at least five distinct biogenesis systems that catalyze this post-translational modification in different organisms and organelles. In this study, we use biochemical data, comparative genomic and structural bioinformatics investigations to provide a holistic view of mitochondrial c-type cytochrome biogenesis and its evolution. There are three pathways for mitochondrial c-type cytochrome maturation, only one of which is present in prokaryotes. We analyze the evolutionary distribution of these biogenesis systems, which include the Ccm system (System I) and the enzyme heme lyase (System III). We conclude that heme lyase evolved once and, in many lineages, replaced the multicomponent Ccm system (present in the proto-mitochondrial endosymbiont), probably as a consequence of lateral gene transfer. We find no evidence of a System III precursor in prokaryotes, and argue that System III is incompatible with multi-heme cytochromes common to bacteria, but absent from eukaryotes. The evolution of the eukaryotic-specific protein heme lyase is strikingly unusual, given that this protein provides a function (thioether bond formation) that is also ubiquitous in prokaryotes. The absence of any known c-type cytochrome biogenesis system from the sequenced genomes of various trypanosome species indicates the presence of a third distinct mitochondrial pathway. Interestingly, this system attaches heme to mitochondrial cytochromes c that contain only one cysteine residue, rather than the usual two, within the heme-binding motif. The isolation of single-cysteine-containing mitochondrial cytochromes c from free-living kinetoplastids, Euglena and the marine flagellate Diplonema papillatum suggests that this unique form of heme attachment is restricted to, but conserved throughout, the protist phylum Euglenozoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable atomic point charges are of key importance for a correct description of the electrostatic interactions when performing classical, force field based simulations. Here, we present a systematic procedure for point charge derivation, based on quantum mechanical methodology suited for the systems at hand. A notable difference to previous procedures is to include an outer region around the actual system of interest. At the cost of increasing the system sizes, here up to 265 atoms, including the surroundings achieves near-neutrality for the systems as well as structural stability, important factors for reliable charge distributions. In addition, the common problem of converting between C&bond;H bonds and C&bond;C bonds at the border vanishes. We apply the procedure to the four redox-active metal centers of cytochrome c oxidase: CuA, haem a, haem a3, and CuB. Several relevant charge and ligand states are considered. Charges for two different force fields, CHARMM and AMBER, are presented. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In mitochondrial apoptosis, the formation of cytochrome c–cardiolipin complex ([CL-cyt c]) with peroxidase properties is an early event in the cascade of reactions that leads to cell death. Herein, we report the synthesis of a new prodrug, (2-hydroxyamino-vinyl)-triphenyl-phosphonium (HVTP), which compartmentalizes exclusively into mitochondria, undergoes a [CL-cyt c]-catalyzed bioactivation to nitric oxide (NO), inhibits peroxidase activity, and protects cells from apoptosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Recombinant allergens are required for component-resolved diagnosis/therapy of allergic disorders. The study was aimed to express and characterize an allergenic protein from Curvularia lunata and study its cross-reactivity. Methods: A clone encoding a 12-kDa protein screened from the cDNA library of C. lunata was sequenced and expressed in pET22b+ vector. The purified protein was characterized by biophysical and immunological methods. Results: The sequence of gene encoding a 12-kDa protein showed homology to cytochrome c. It was expressed in Escherichia coli yielding 0.5 mg protein/l culture and designated as Cur l 3. The absorption and circular dichroism spectrum of Cur l 3 were similar to horse cytochrome c and the protein reacted with cytochrome c antibody. ELISA with different fungal-positive patients’ sera showed ≥ 3 times specific IgE to Cur l 3 compared with healthy controls. Mice anti-Cur l 3 reacted with tropical and temperate grass extracts. Protein also reacted with grass-positive patients’ sera. In vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from C. lunata, fungi or grass-positive patients with it released significant levels of Th2 cytokines. In vivo testing of this protein in allergic patients showed marked positive skin reactivity in 60% fungal and 43% grass-positive cases. Cross inhibition assays (EC50) demonstrated allergenic cross-reactivity of Cur l 3 with fungi and grasses. Conclusions: Cytochrome c, a major allergen from C. lunata was cloned, sequenced and expressed. It was identified as a cross-reactive allergen among fungi and grasses and has potential for clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural and histochemical studies carried out in a series of seven cases (from five families) with isolated cytochrome c oxidase (COX) deficiency caused by mutations in the SCO2 gene ( 1, 2 ) disclosed changes concentrated in the nervous system, skeletal muscle and myocardium. In five patients homozygous for the E140K mutation, the phenotype was predominantly neuromuscular and the average life span ranged between 9 and 15 months. In two cases, the course was more rapid (death at 7 and 11 weeks of life) and featured marked cardiac hypertrophy (3- and 4-fold increase in heart weight). This predominantly cardiomyopathic phenotype was associated with compound heterozygosity (E140K with another nonsense mutation) in the SCO2 gene. Polioencephalopathy with neurodegeneration and neuronal drop out was present in all cases with evidence that retinal neurons might be seriously affected too. Involvement of spinal motoneurons together with cytochrome c oxidase deficiency in muscle represents a “double hit” for the skeletal muscle. The mitochondrial population was not found to be significantly increased or structurally altered, with the exception of two compound heterozygotes in which the cardiac mitochondria were increased in number and size. Our report extends knowledge of the pathology of COX deficiency caused by mutations in the SCO2 gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondria play central roles in acute brain injury; however, little is known about mitochondrial function following traumatic brain injury (TBI) to the immature brain. We hypothesized that TBI would cause mitochondrial dysfunction early (<4 h) after injury. Immature rats underwent controlled cortical impact (CCI) or sham injury to the left cortex, and mitochondria were isolated from both hemispheres at 1 and 4 h after TBI. Rates of phosphorylating (State 3) and resting (State 4) respiration were measured with and without bovine serum albumin. The respiratory control ratio was calculated (State 3/State 4). Rates of mitochondrial H2O2 production, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex enzyme activity, and cytochrome c content were measured. Mitochondrial State 4 rates (ipsilateral/contralateral ratios) were higher after TBI at 1 h, which was reversed with bovine serum albumin. Four hours after TBI, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity and cytochrome c content (ipsilateral/contralateral ratios) were lower in TBI mitochondria. These data demonstrate abnormal mitochondrial function early (≤4 h) after TBI in the developing brain. Future studies directed at reversing mitochondrial abnormalities could guide neuroprotective interventions after pediatric TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cytochrome c nitrite reductase is a multicenter enzyme that uses a five-coordinated heme to perform the six-electron reduction of nitrite to ammonium. In the sulfate reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 27774, the enzyme is purified as a NrfA2NrfH complex that houses 14 hemes. The number of closely-spaced hemes in this enzyme and the magnetic interactions between them make it very difficult to study the active site by using traditional spectroscopic approaches such as EPR or UV–Vis. Here, we use both catalytic and non-catalytic protein film voltammetry to simply and unambiguously determine the reduction potential of the catalytic heme over a wide range of pH and we demonstrate that proton transfer is coupled to electron transfer at the active site. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Flavonoids exist extensively in plants, and several biological effects of them have been demonstrated. Wogonin is an important flavonoid compound. In this study, wogonin showed obvious growth inhibition on Bel-7402 cells. The major mechanisms of inhibition included cell apoptosis and cytotoxic effects. Wogonin-induced cell death showed characteristics of apoptosis including DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation, appearance of apoptotic bodies, and an increase in hypodiploid cells. However, the percentage of necrosis cells also increased with the increase of wogonin concentration. Furthermore, treatment with wogonin caused changes of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potentials (ΔΨm, MMP), the decrease of the ratio of reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG), cytochrome c release and activation of caspase-9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: FSK88, a forskolin derivative, was extracted and purified from cultured tropical plant roots, Coleus forskohlii. Our previous studies have demonstrated that FSK88 can inhibit HL-60 cell proliferation and induce the differentiation of HL-60 cells to monocyte macrophages. In this study, we showed that FSK88 can induce apoptotic death of human gastric cancer BGC823 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Results showed that FSK88-induced apoptosis was accompanied by the mitochondrial release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase-3 in BGC823 cells. Furthermore, treatment with caspase-3 inhibitor (z-DEVD-fmk) was capable of preventing the FSK88-induced caspase-3 activity and apoptosis. FSK88-induced apoptosis in human gastric cancer BGC823 cells was also accompanied by the up-regulation of Bax, Bad and down-regulation of Bcl-2. Theses results clearly demonstrated that the induction of apoptosis by FSK88 involved multiple cellular and molecular pathways and strongly suggest that pro- and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family genes, mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ m), cytochrome c, and caspase-3, participate in the FSK88-induced apoptotic process in human gastric cancer BGC823 cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: N-Methyl-d-aspartate-mediated neurotoxicity is known to involve nitric oxide production and to be augmented in an environment of reactive oxygen species. We used TUNEL staining and homogenous cytosolic immunoreactivity of cytochrome c in an acute brain slice preparation to investigate the influence of edaravone (3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one), a free radical scavenger, on N-methyl-d-aspartate-induced apoptosis. Cerebrocortical slices were obtained from parietal lobes of 7-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats, superfused with well-oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid, and metabolically recovered. Subsequent 30-min exposures to 10μM N-methyl-d-aspartate in treated and untreated slices were followed by 4h of recovery superfusion with oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid. Outcomes were compared for three groups of slices: “the N-methyl-d-aspartate-only group”; “the edaravone treatment group”, which had 20μM edaravone present throughout and subsequent to N-methyl-d-aspartate exposure; the “control group”, in which slices were superfused only with oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid. At the conclusion of recovery (t =4h), the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells in the edaravone treatment group (7.0±3.3%) was significantly reduced from the percentage for the N-methyl-d-aspartate-only group (21.9±4.1%), and insignificantly greater than the percentage for the control group (3.4±2.1%). Percentages of cytochrome c positive cells at t =1h were significantly increased (p <0.01) in the N-methyl-d-aspartate-only group (30.6±1.9%) compared to percentages for both the control group (11.4±2.6%) and the edaravone treatment group (15.2±2.1%). Edaravone''s reduction in TUNEL staining and cytochrome c release provides evidence of reactive oxygen species mechanisms and antioxidant benefits in cytochrome c-mediated apoptosis during N-methyl-d-aspartate excitotoxicity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Previously identified, potentially neuroprotective reactions of neuroglobin require the existence of yet unknown redox partners. We show here that the reduction of ferric neuroglobin by cytochrome b 5 is relatively slow (k =6×102 M−1 s−1 at pH 7.0) and thus is unlikely to be of physiological significance. In contrast, the reaction between ferrous neuroglobin and ferric cytochrome c is very rapid (k =2×107 M−1 s−1) with an apparent overall equilibrium constant of 1μM. Based on this data we propose that ferrous neuroglobin may well play a role in preventing apoptosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bcl-2 inhibits apoptosis by regulating the release of cytochrome c and other proteins from mitochondria. Oligomerization of Bax promotes cell death by permeabilizing the outer mitochondrial membrane. In transfected cells and isolated mitochondria, Bcl-2, but not the inactive point mutants Bcl-2-G145A and Bcl-2-V159D, undergoes a conformation change in the mitochondrial membrane in response to apoptotic agonists such as tBid and Bax. A mutant Bcl-2 with two cysteines introduced at positions predicted to result in a disulfide bond that would inhibit the mobility of α5–α6 helices (Bcl-2-S105C/E152C) was only active in a reducing environment. Thus, Bcl-2 must change the conformation to inhibit tBid-induced oligomerization of integral membrane Bax monomers and small oligomers. The conformationally changed Bcl-2 sequesters the integral membrane form of Bax. If Bax is in excess, apoptosis resumes as Bcl-2 is consumed by the conformational change and in complexes with Bax. Thus, Bcl-2 functions as an inhibitor of mitochondrial permeabilization by changing conformation in the mitochondrial membrane to bind membrane-inserted Bax monomers and prevent productive oligomerization of Bax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cytochrome c nitrite reductase ( cNiR) isolated from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough is a membrane-bound complex formed of NrfA and NrfH subunits. The catalytic subunit NrfA is a soluble pentahaem cytochrome c that forms a physiological dimer of about 120 kDa. The electron-donor subunit NrfH is a membrane-anchored tetrahaem cytochrome c of about 18 kDa molecular weight and belongs to the NapC/NirT family of quinol dehydrogenases, for which no structures are known. Crystals of the native cNiR membrane complex, solubilized with dodecylmaltoside detergent (DDM), were obtained using PEG 4K as precipitant. Anomalous diffraction data were measured at the Swiss Light Source to 2.3 Å resolution. Crystals belong to the orthorhombic space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 79.5, b = 256.7, c = 578.2 Å. Molecular-replacement and MAD methods were combined to solve the structure. The data presented reveal that D. vulgaris cNiR contains one NrfH subunit per NrfA dimer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have isolated a minor soluble green-colored heme protein (GHP) from the purple sulfur bacterium, Halochromatium salexigens, which contains a c-type heme. A similar protein has also been observed in the purple bacteria Allochromatium vinosum and Rhodopseudomonas cryptolactis. This protein has wavelength maxima at 355, 420, and 540 nm and remains unchanged upon addition of sodium dithionite or potassium ferricyanide, indicating either an unusually low or high redox potential, respectively. The amino-acid sequence indicates one heme per peptide chain of 72 residues and reveals weak similarity to the class I cytochromes. The usual sixth heme ligand methionine in these proteins appears to be replaced by a cysteine in GHP. Only one known cytochrome has a cysteine sixth ligand, SoxA (cytochrome c-551) from thiosulfate-oxidizing bacteria, which is low-spin and has a high redox potential because of an un-ionized ligand. The native size of GHP is 34 kDa, its subunit size is 11 kDa, and the net charge is −12, accounting for its very acidic nature. A database search of complete genome sequences reveals six homologs, all hypothetical proteins, from Oceanospirillum sp., Magnetococcus sp., Thiobacillus denitrificans, Dechloromonas aromatica, Thiomicrospira crunogena and Methylobium petroleophilum, with sequence identities of 35–64%. The genetic context is different for each species, although the gene for GHP is transcriptionally linked to several other genes in three out of the six species. These genes, coding for an RNAse, a protease/chaperone, a GTPase, and pterin-4a-carbinolamine dehydratase, appear to be functionally related to stress response and are linked in at least 10 species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytochrome C has two apparently separable cellular functions: respiration and caspase activation during apoptosis. While a role of the mitochondria and cytochrome C in the assembly of the apoptosome and caspase activation has been established for mammalian cells, the existence of a comparable function for cytochrome C in invertebrates remains controversial. Drosophila possesses two cytochrome c genes, cyt-c-d and cyt-c-p. We show that only cyt-c-d is required for caspase activation in an apoptosis-like process during spermatid differentiation, whereas cyt-c-p is required for respiration in the soma. However, both cytochrome C proteins can function interchangeably in respiration and caspase activation, and the difference in their genetic requirements can be attributed to differential expression in the soma and testes. Furthermore, orthologues of the apoptosome components, Ark (Apaf-1) and Dronc (caspase-9), are also required for the proper removal of bulk cytoplasm during spermatogenesis. Finally, several mutants that block caspase activation during spermatogenesis were isolated in a genetic screen, including mutants with defects in spermatid mitochondrial organization. These observations establish a role for the mitochondria in caspase activation during spermatogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The absolute configuration of haem A, the prosthetic group of cytochrome c oxidase, was determined to be S by analysis of the bond angles surrounding the chiral centre of haem A after refinement with X-PLOR starting from respective initial structures with R and S configurations under absolute configuration constraints at 1.8 Å resolution. The same result was obtained by refinement at 1.8 Å resolution without the absolute configuration constraints. Both of these methods were applicable down to a resolution of about 2.8 Å. The constrained refinement converges more quickly than the unconstrained refinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury results in a variable mixture of apoptotic, necrotic, and normal tissue that depends on both the duration and severity of ischemia. Injury can be abrogated by activation of protective pathways via ischemic and pharmacologic preconditioning. Mitochondria serve as final arbiters of life and death of the cell as these organelles not only are required to generate ATP but also can trigger apoptosis or necrosis. A key mechanism of mitochondrial injury is by the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) that has been shown to occur at reperfusion. The article hypothesizes that ischemia/reperfusion promotes MPT in two phases: (1) MPT priming during ischemia occurs as progressive inner mitochondrial membrane leak is accompanied by depressed electron transport in the setting of fatty acid accumulation and loss of cytochrome c and antioxidants; and (2) Triggering of MPT at reperfusion is determined by the interplay of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) with mitochondrial matrix Ca, reactive oxygen species, and pH. It has been found that strategies that promote mitochondrial recovery such as pharmacologic preconditioning by diazoxide are mediated by K+-dependent regulation of matrix volume and Δψm, resulting in improved efficiency of ATP synthesis as well as prevention of cytochrome c loss. If mitochondria fail to recover, then MPT and hypercontracture can result as Δψm depolarization waves regeneratively cross the cell (0.1 to 0.2 μm/s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model of cytochrome c (Cyt‐c) including the porphyrin ring, a methionine residue (Met), and the imidazole ring of histidine (His), the latter two being situated above and below the iron (Fe) atom of the porphyrin ring, was studied using Density Functional Theory (DFT). The geometries of the model Cyt‐c complex with the Fe atom in two different charge states were fully optimized, i.e., in singlet and triplet states for Fe and in doublet and quartet states for Fe3+. The B3LYP method of DFT along with the 3‐21G* basis set for C, H, N, and O atoms and the Lanl2dz basis set for the Fe atom was used. We found that with Fe3+, the doublet spin state is the ground state and the quartet state lies slightly above it. The geometry of the singlet spin state is similar to that of the doublet and quartet states. However, methionine has different conformations when Fe has zero charge (singlet, triplet states) relative to the situation when Fe has +3 charges (doublet, quartet states). The Met chain is folded instead of remaining extended in going from the singlet or triplet spin state to the doublet or quartet state and the folding is stabilized by an intramolecular CH..O hydrogen bond. The optimized geometrical parameters of the model of Cyt‐c are usually in satisfactory agreement with those observed experimentally. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The multiheme SoxAX proteins are notable for their unusual heme ligation (His/Cys-persulfide in the SoxA subunit) and the complexity of their EPR spectra. The diheme SoxAX protein from Starkeya novella has been expressed using Rhodobacter capsulatus as a host expression system. rSoxAX was correctly formed in the periplasm of the host and contained heme c in similar amounts as the native SoxAX. ESI-MS showed that the full length rSoxA, in spite of never having undergone catalytic turnover, existed in several forms, with the two major forms having masses of 28687±4 and 28718±4Da. The latter form exceeds the expected mass of rSoxA by 31±4Da, a mass close to that of a sulfur atom and indicating that a fraction of the recombinant protein contains a cysteine persulfide modification. EPR spectra of rSoxAX contained all four heme-dependent EPR signals (LS1a, LS1b, LS2, LS3) found in the native SoxAX proteins isolated from bacteria grown under sulfur chemolithotrophic conditions. Exposure of the recombinant SoxAX to different sulfur compounds lead to changes in the SoxA mass profile as determined by ESI while maintaining a fully oxidized SoxAX visible spectrum. Thiosulfate, the proposed SoxAX substrate, did not cause any mass changes while after exposure to dimethylsulfoxide a +112±4Da form of SoxA became dominant in the mass spectrum. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Apoptosis may be initiated in neurons via mitochondrial release of the respiratory protein, cytochrome c. The mechanism of cytochrome crelease has been studied extensively, but little is known about its dynamics. It has been claimed that release is all-or-none, however, this is not consistent with accumulating evidence of cytosolic mechanisms for‘buffering’ cytochrome c. This study has attempted to model an underlying disease pathology, rather than inducing apoptosis directly. The model adopted was diminished activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I, a recognized feature of Parkinson's disease. Titration of rat brain mitochondrial respiratory function, with the specific complex I inhibitor rotenone, caused proportional release of cytochrome cfrom isolated synaptic and non-synaptic mitochondria. The mechanism of release was mediated, at least in part, by the mitochondrial outer membrane component Bak and voltage-dependent anion channel rather than non-specific membrane rupture. Furthermore, preliminary data were obtained demonstrating that in primary cortical neurons, titration with rotenone induced cytochrome crelease that was subthreshold for the induction of apoptosis. Implications for the therapy of neurodegenerative diseases are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minocycline has anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects on cartilage, neurons and periodontal tissues, and both properties are central to the pharmaceutical treatment of liver diseases. We investigated the effects of minocycline on fulminant hepatitis in C57BL/6J mice induced by lethal challenge of the activating anti-Fas antibody, Jo2.Intraperitoneal injection of Jo2 (0.6?µg?g-1) to mice resulted in fulminant hepatitis, as evidenced by increase of serum alanine/aspartate transaminase activities and histopathological alterations in liver sections, as well as animal death. Nevertheless, mice pretreated with three doses of minocycline (5?mg?kg-1) resisted this lethal effect significantly. Minocycline treatment improved the survival kinetics, although to a lesser extent, when mice were challenged simultaneously with Jo2 or even treated 30?min after the lethal challenge.Jo2-induced activation of caspase-3 or -9 in liver tissues was inhibited by minocycline pretreatment, and yet the direct addition of minocycline to liver extracts from Jo2-challenged mice failed to block caspase activation in vitro. Moreover, minocycline efficiently suppressed the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria of the liver tissues from Jo2-challenged mice. In contrast, caspase-8 activation and Bid truncation triggered by Jo2 were not diminished by minocycline pretreatment in mouse livers.Our results suggest that easing of Fas-triggered fulminant hepatitis by minocycline may involve a mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, probably through preventing cytochrome c release and thereby blocking downstream caspase activation.British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 144, 275-282. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706079 Published online 13 December 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the process of apoptosis, it is known that the transition of cytochromecfrom mitochondria into the cytosol occurs, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is one of the molecules responsible for this event. But in the state of hypercytokine induced byd-galactosamine (D-GaIN)/Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the localization of cytochromecis little known.Methods: Rats were administrated with D-GaIN(700 mg/kg)/LPS(200 µg/kg). Blood and tissue samples were collected and examined for levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the apoptosis of liver cells, and the localization of cytochromec.Result: Before administration of D-GaIN/LPS, cytochromecwas definitely localized in the mitochondria. At 2 h after simultaneous administration of D-GaIN/LPS, cytochromechad accumulated in the cytosol following abrupt increases of plasma TNF-α. Massive cell destruction due to apoptosis proved by Terminal deoxynucleo­tidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling staining was observed in liver tissue 4 h later and markedly increased levels of cytochromecwere detected in the plasma 12 h after D-GaIN/LPS administration.Conclusion: Liver injury induced by simultaneous administration of D-GaIN/LPS was closely associated with the production of TNF-α, and also with the dynamic movement of cytochromecfrom the mitochondria into the cytosol, and then into the systemic circulation. The detection of plasma cytochromeclevels may be a useful clinical tool for the detection of apoptosisin vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver function failure is one of the characteristics of critically ill, septic patients and is associated with worse outcome. Our previous studies have demonstrated that heat-shock response protects cells and tissue from subsequent insults and improves survival during sepsis. In this study, we have shown that mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) is one of the major sources of that protective effect. Experimental sepsis was induced by the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) method. Heat-shock treatment was induced in rats by hyperthermia 24 h before CLP operation. The results showed that ATP content of the liver declined significantly, and the enzymatic activity of mitochondrial CCO was apparently suppressed during the late stages of sepsis. The mitochondrial ultrastructure of septic liver showed the deformity, mild swelling and inner membrane budding. Heat-shock treatment led to heat-shock protein 72 overexpression and prevented the downregulation of Grp75 during sepsis. On the contrary, the expression of the enzyme complex and its activity were preserved, associated with the minimization of ultrastructural deformities. In conclusion, the maintenance of mitochondrial function, especially the CCO, may be an important strategy in therapeutic interventions of a septic liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3,3′-Dipropyl-2,2′-thiadicarbocyanine iodide [DiS-C3(5)], often used as a tracer dye to assess the mitochondrial membrane potential, was investigated in detail regarding its effects on the structure and function of isolated mitochondria. As reported previously, DiS-C3(5) had an inhibitory effect on NADH-driven mitochondrial electron transfer. On the contrary, in the presence of inorganic phosphate, DiS-C3(5) showed dose-dependent biphasic effects on mitochondria energized by succinate. At higher concentrations, such as 50 µ m, DiS-C3(5) accelerated mitochondrial oxygen consumption. Measurements of the permeability of DiS-C3(5)-treated mitochondrial membranes to poly(ethylene glycol) and analysis of mitochondrial configuration by transmission electron microscopy revealed that the accelerating effect of DiS-C3(5) on mitochondrial oxygen consumption reflects the induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition (PT). When the mitochondrial PT was induced by DiS-C3(5), release of mitochondrial cytochrome c was observed, as in the case of the PT induced by Ca2+. On the contrary, at a low concentration such as 5 µ m, DiS-C3(5) showed an inhibitory effect on the latent oxygen consumption by mitochondria. This effect was shown to reflect inhibition of the PT induced by a low concentration of Ca2+. Furthermore, in the absence of inorganic phosphate, DiS-C3(5) caused mitochondrial swelling. Under this condition, DiS-C3(5) caused changes in the membrane status of the mitochondria, but did not induce a release of mitochondrial cytochrome c. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]