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Superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production by site IQ in complex I of the electron transport chain is conventionally assayed during reverse electron transport (RET) from ubiquinol to NAD. However, S1QELs (specific suppressors of superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production by site IQ) have potent effects in cells and in vivo during presumed forward electron transport (FET). Therefore, we tested whether site IQ generates S1QEL-sensitive superoxide/hydrogen peroxide during FET (site IQf), or alternatively, whether RET and associated S1QEL-sensitive superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production (site IQr) occurs in cells under normal conditions. We introduce an assay to determine if electron flow through complex I is thermodynamically forward or reverse: on blocking electron flow through complex I, the endogenous matrix NAD pool will become more reduced if flow before the challenge was forward, but more oxidised if flow was reverse. Using this assay we show in the model system of isolated rat skeletal muscle mitochondria that superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production by site IQ can be equally great whether RET or FET is running. We show that sites IQr and IQf are equally sensitive to S1QELs, and to rotenone and piericidin A, inhibitors that block the Q-site of complex I. We exclude the possibility that some sub-fraction of the mitochondrial population running site IQr during FET is responsible for S1QEL-sensitive superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production by site IQ. Finally, we show that superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production by site IQ in cells occurs during FET, and is S1QEL-sensitive.

Oxidation of succinate by mitochondria can generate a higher protonmotive force (pmf) than can oxidation of NADH-linked substrates. Fundamentally, this is because of differences in redox potentials and gearing. Biology adds kinetic constraints that tune the oxidation of NADH and succinate to ensure that the resulting mitochondrial pmf is suitable for meeting cellular needs without triggering pathology. Tuning within an optimal range is used, for example, to shift ATP consumption between different consumers. Conditions that overcome these constraints and allow succinate oxidation to drive pmf too high can cause pathological generation of reactive oxygen species. We discuss the thermodynamic properties that allow succinate oxidation to drive pmf higher than NADH oxidation, and discuss the evidence for kinetic tuning of ATP production and for pathologies resulting from substantial succinate oxidation in vivo.

Superoxide produced by mitochondria has been implicated in numerous physiologies and pathologies. Eleven different mitochondrial sites that can produce superoxide and/or hydrogen peroxide (O2.-/H2O2) have been identified in vitro, but little is known about their contributions in vivo. We introduce novel variants of S1QELs and S3QELs (small molecules that suppress O2.-/H2O2 production specifically from mitochondrial sites IQ and IIIQo, respectively, without compromising bioenergetics), that are suitable for use in vivo. When administered by intraperitoneal injection, they achieve total tissue concentrations exceeding those that are effective in vitro. We use them to study the engagement of sites IQ and IIIQo in mice lacking functional manganese-superoxide dismutase (SOD2). Lack of SOD2 is expected to elevate superoxide levels in the mitochondrial matrix, and leads to severe pathologies and death about 8 days after birth. Compared to littermate wild-type mice, 6-day-old Sod2-/- mice had significantly lower body weight, lower heart succinate dehydrogenase activity, and greater hepatic lipid accumulation. These pathologies were ameliorated by treatment with a SOD/catalase mimetic, EUK189, confirming previous observations. A 3-day treatment with S1QEL352 decreased the inactivation of cardiac succinate dehydrogenase and hepatic steatosis in Sod2-/- mice. S1QEL712, which has a distinct chemical structure, also decreased hepatic steatosis, confirming that O2.- derived specifically from mitochondrial site IQ is a significant driver of hepatic steatosis in Sod2-/- mice. These findings also demonstrate the ability of these new S1QELs to suppress O2.- production in the mitochondrial matrix in vivo. In contrast, suppressing site IIIQo using S3QEL941 did not protect, suggesting that site IIIQo does not contribute significantly to mitochondrial O2.- production in the hearts or livers of Sod2-/- mice. We conclude that the novel S1QELs are effective in vivo, and that site IQ runs in vivo and is a significant driver of pathology in Sod2-/- mice.

The rates of formation of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide at different electron-donating sites in isolated mitochondria are critically dependent on the substrates that are added, through their effects on the reduction level of each site and the components of the protonmotive force. However, in intact cells the acute effects of added substrates on different sites of cytosolic and mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide production are unclear. Here we tested the effects of substrate addition on cytosolic and mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide release from intact AML12 liver cells. In 30-min starved cells replete with endogenous substrates, addition of glucose, fructose, palmitate, alanine, leucine or glutamine had no effect on the rate or origin of cellular hydrogen peroxide release. However, following 150-min starvation of the cells to deplete endogenous glycogen (and other substrates), cellular hydrogen peroxide production, particularly from NADPH oxidases (NOXs), was decreased, GSH/GSSH ratio increased, and antioxidant gene expression was unchanged. Addition of glucose or glutamine (but not the other substrates) increased hydrogen peroxide release. There were similar relative increases from each of the three major sites of production: mitochondrial sites I

Barth syndrome (BTHS) is a rare X-linked genetic disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding the transacylase tafazzin and characterized by loss of cardiolipin and severe cardiomyopathy. Mitochondrial oxidants have been implicated in the cardiomyopathy in BTHS. Eleven mitochondrial sites produce superoxide/hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) at significant rates. Which of these sites generate oxidants at excessive rates in BTHS is unknown. Here, we measured the maximum capacity of superoxide/H2 O2 production from each site and the ex vivo rate of superoxide/H2 O2 production in the heart and skeletal muscle mitochondria of the tafazzin knockdown mice (tazkd) from 3 to 12 months of age. Despite reduced oxidative capacity, superoxide/H2 O2 production was indistinguishable between tazkd mice and wild-type littermates. These observations raise questions about the involvement of mitochondrial oxidants in BTHS pathology.

The underlying causes of aging remain elusive, but may include decreased intestinal homeostasis followed by disruption of the intestinal barrier, which can be mimicked by nutrient‐rich diets. S3QELs are small‐molecule suppressors of site IIIQo electron leak; they suppress superoxide generation at complex III of the mitochondrial electron transport chain without inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation. Here we show that feeding different S3QELs to Drosophila on a high‐nutrient diet protects against greater intestinal permeability, greater enterocyte apoptotic cell number, and shorter median lifespan. Hif‐1α knockdown in enterocytes also protects, and blunts any further protection by S3QELs. Feeding S3QELs to mice on a high‐fat diet also protects against the diet‐induced increase in intestinal permeability. Our results demonstrate by inference of S3QEL use that superoxide produced by complex III in enterocytes contributes to diet‐induced intestinal barrier disruption in both flies and mice., Animals fed a high‐nutrient diet exhibit decreased intestinal integrity over time, which coincides with a decreased lifespan. S3QELs inhibit superoxide production specifically from site IIIQo of complex III in mitochondria. Treatment of animals on a high‐nutrient diet with S3QELs increases intestinal integrity resulting in an increased lifespan potentially by decreasing ER stress and Hif‐1α signaling.

Mitochondria are important sources of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in cell signaling and disease. In particular, superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production during reverse electron transport from ubiquinol to NAD+ though Complex I is implicated in several physiological and pathological processes. S1QELs are small molecules that suppress superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production at Complex I without affecting forward electron transport. Their mechanism of action is disputed. To test different mechanistic models, we compared the effects of two inhibitors of Complex I electron transport (piericidin A and rotenone) and two S1QELs from different chemical families on superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production and electron transport by Complex I in isolated mitochondria. Piericidin A and rotenone (and S1QEL1.1 at higher concentrations) prevented superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production from sites IQ and IF in Complex I by inhibiting reverse electron transport into the complex. S1QELs decreased the potency of electron transport inhibition by piericidin A and rotenone, suggesting that S1QELs bind directly to Complex I. S1QEL2.1 (and S1QEL1.1 at lower concentrations) suppressed site IQ without affecting reverse electron transport or site IF, showing that sites IQ and IF are distinct, and that S1QELs do not work simply by decreasing reverse electron transport to site IF (or site IQ). S1QELs did not affect the reduction of NAD+ or the rate of site IF driven by reverse electron transport, therefore they do not alter the driving forces for reverse electron transport and that is not how they suppress site IQ. We conclude that S1QELs bind to Complex I to influence the conformation of the piericidin A and rotenone binding sites and directly suppress superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production at site IQ, which is a separate site from site IF.

Superoxide produced by mitochondria has been implicated in numerous physiologies and pathologies. Eleven different mitochondrial sites that can produce superoxide and/or hydrogen peroxide (O

Elevated mitochondrial matrix superoxide and/or hydrogen peroxide concentrations drive a wide range of physiological responses and pathologies. Concentrations of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in the mitochondrial matrix are set mainly by rates of production, the activities of superoxide dismutase-2 (SOD2) and peroxiredoxin-3 (PRDX3), and by diffusion of hydrogen peroxide to the cytosol. These considerations can be used to generate criteria for assessing whether changes in matrix superoxide or hydrogen peroxide are both necessary and sufficient to drive redox signaling and pathology: is a phenotype affected by suppressing superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production; by manipulating the levels of SOD2, PRDX3 or mitochondria-targeted catalase; and by adding mitochondria-targeted SOD/catalase mimetics or mitochondria-targeted antioxidants? Is the pathology associated with variants in SOD2 and PRDX3 genes? Filtering the large literature on mitochondrial redox signaling using these criteria highlights considerable evidence that mitochondrial superoxide and hydrogen peroxide drive physiological responses involved in cellular stress management, including apoptosis, autophagy, propagation of endoplasmic reticulum stress, cellular senescence, HIF1α signaling, and immune responses. They also affect cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and the cell cycle. Filtering the huge literature on pathologies highlights strong experimental evidence that 30-40 pathologies may be driven by mitochondrial matrix superoxide or hydrogen peroxide. These can be grouped into overlapping and interacting categories: metabolic, cardiovascular, inflammatory, and neurological diseases; cancer; ischemia/reperfusion injury; aging and its diseases; external insults, and genetic diseases. Understanding the involvement of mitochondrial matrix superoxide and hydrogen peroxide concentrations in these diseases can facilitate the rational development of appropriate therapies.

Understanding how mitochondria contribute to cellular oxidative stress and drive signaling and disease is critical, but quantitative assessment is difficult. Our previous studies of cultured C2C12 cells used inhibitors of specific sites of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production to show that mitochondria generate about half of the hydrogen peroxide released by the cells, and site IQ of respiratory complex I produces up to two thirds of the superoxide and hydrogen peroxide generated in the mitochondrial matrix. Here, we used the same approach to measure the engagement of these sites in seven diverse cell lines to determine whether this pattern is specific to C2C12 cells, or more general. These diverse cell lines covered primary, immortalized, and cancerous cells, from seven tissues (liver, cervix, lung, skin, neuron, heart, bone) of three species (human, rat, mouse). The rate of appearance of hydrogen peroxide in the extracellular medium spanned a 30-fold range from HeLa cancer cells (3 pmol/min/mg protein) to AML12 liver cells (84 pmol/min/mg protein). The mean contribution of identified mitochondrial sites to this extracellular hydrogen peroxide signal was 30 ± 7% SD; the mean contribution of NADPH oxidases was 60 ± 14%. The relative contributions of different sites in the mitochondrial electron transport chain were broadly similar in all seven cell types (and similar to published results for C2C12 cells). 70 ± 4% of identified superoxide/hydrogen peroxide generation in the mitochondrial matrix was from site IQ; 30% ± 4% was from site IIIQo. We conclude that although absolute rates vary considerably, the relative contributions of different sources of hydrogen peroxide production are similar in nine diverse cell types under unstressed conditions in vitro. Identified mitochondrial sites account for one third of total cellular hydrogen peroxide production (half each from sites IQ and IIIQo); in the mitochondrial matrix the majority (two thirds) of superoxide/hydrogen peroxide is from site IQ.

Barth Syndrome (BTHS) is a rare X-linked genetic disorder caused by mutations in tafazzin and characterized by loss of cardiolipin and severe cardiomyopathy. Mitochondrial superoxide/H2O2production has been implicated in the cardiomyopathy observed in different BTHS models. There are at least 11 mitochondrial sites that produce superoxide/H2O2at significant rates. Which of these sites generate oxidants at excessive rates in BTHS is unknown. Here, we measured the maximum capacity of superoxide/H2O2production from each site in mitochondria isolated from heart and skeletal muscle of the tafazzin knockdown mice (tazkd) at 3, 7 and 12 months of age. Strikingly, the superoxide/H2O2production capacities of these sites were overall indistinguishable between tazkd mice and their wildtype littermates across the time points analyzed. The only exception was site GQin glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase, which was increased in the skeletal muscle of 7 months old tazkd mice. Mitochondrial superoxide/H2O2production was also measuredex vivoduring the oxidation of a complex mixture of substrates mimicking either heart or skeletal muscle cytosol and was found to be indistinguishable between wildtype and tazkd mice. However, we consistently measured decreased FAD-linked respiration in mitochondria isolated from tazkd mice. We conclude that the maximum capacity andex vivorates of superoxide/H2O2production were not increased in mitochondria isolated from heart and skeletal muscle of tazkd mice, despite reduced oxidative capacity. Therefore, it seems unlikely that mitochondrial oxidants contribute to the development of cardiomyopathy in tazkd mice. These observations raise questions about the involvement of mitochondrial oxidants in BTHS pathology.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are early progenitors that can differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes. We hypothesized that osteoblasts and adipocytes utilize distinct bioenergetic pathways during MSC differentiation. To test this hypothesis, we compared the bioenergetic profiles of preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells and calvarial osteoblasts with preadipocyte 3T3L1 cells, before and after differentiation. Differentiated MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts met adenosine triphosphate (ATP) demand mainly by glycolysis with minimal reserve glycolytic capacity, whereas nondifferentiated cells generated ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. A marked Crabtree effect (acute suppression of respiration by addition of glucose, observed in both MC3T3-E1 and calvarial osteoblasts) and smaller mitochondrial membrane potential in the differentiated osteoblasts, particularly those incubated at high glucose concentrations, indicated a suppression of oxidative phosphorylation compared with nondifferentiated osteoblasts. In contrast, both nondifferentiated and differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes met ATP demand primarily by oxidative phosphorylation despite a large unused reserve glycolytic capacity. In sum, we show that nondifferentiated precursor cells prefer to use oxidative phosphorylation to generate ATP; when they differentiate to osteoblasts, they gain a strong preference for glycolytic ATP generation, but when they differentiate to adipocytes, they retain the strong preference for oxidative phosphorylation. Unique metabolic programming in mesenchymal progenitor cells may influence cell fate and ultimately determine the degree of bone formation and/or the development of marrow adiposity. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Mitochondrial 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes oxidize 2-oxoglutarate, pyruvate, branched-chain 2-oxoacids and 2-oxoadipate to the corresponding acyl-CoAs and reduce NAD+ to NADH. The isolated enzyme complexes generate superoxide anion radical or hydrogen peroxide in defined reactions by leaking electrons to oxygen. Studies using isolated mitochondria in media mimicking cytosol suggest that the 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes contribute little to the production of superoxide or hydrogen peroxide relative to other mitochondrial sites at physiological steady states. However, the contributions may increase under pathological conditions, in accordance with the high maximum capacities of superoxide or hydrogen peroxide-generating reactions of the complexes, established in isolated mitochondria. We assess available data on the use of modulations of enzyme activity to infer superoxide or hydrogen peroxide production from particular 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes in cells, and limitations of such methods to discriminate specific superoxide or hydrogen peroxide sources in vivo.

Partitioning of ATP generation between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation is central to cellular bioenergetics but cumbersome to measure. We describe here how rates of ATP generation by each pathway can be calculated from simultaneous measurements of extracellular acidification and oxygen consumption. We update theoretical maximum ATP yields by mitochondria and cells catabolizing different substrates. Mitochondrial P/O ratios (mol of ATP generated per mol of [O] consumed) are 2.73 for oxidation of pyruvate plus malate and 1.64 for oxidation of succinate. Complete oxidation of glucose by cells yields up to 33.45 ATP/glucose with a maximum P/O of 2.79. We introduce novel indices to quantify bioenergetic phenotypes. The glycolytic index reports the proportion of ATP production from glycolysis and identifies cells as primarily glycolytic (glycolytic index > 50%) or primarily oxidative. The Warburg effect is a chronic increase in glycolytic index, quantified by the Warburg index. Additional indices quantify the acute flexibility of ATP supply. The Crabtree index and Pasteur index quantify the responses of oxidative and glycolytic ATP production to alterations in glycolysis and oxidative reactions, respectively; the supply flexibility index quantifies overall flexibility of ATP supply; and the bioenergetic capacity quantifies the maximum rate of total ATP production. We illustrate the determination of these indices using C2C12 myoblasts. Measurement of ATP use revealed no significant preference for glycolytic or oxidative ATP by specific ATP consumers. Overall, we demonstrate how extracellular fluxes quantitatively reflect intracellular ATP turnover and cellular bioenergetics. We provide a simple spreadsheet to calculate glycolytic and oxidative ATP production rates from raw extracellular acidification and respiration data.

Mitochondria are important sources of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in cell signaling and disease. In particular, superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production during reverse electron transport from ubiquinol to NAD

Changes in mitochondrial superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production may contribute to various pathologies, and even aging, given that over time and in certain conditions, they damage macromolecules and disrupt normal redox signalling. Mitochondria-targeted antioxidants such as mitoQ, mitoVitE, and mitoTEMPO have opened up the study of the importance of altered mitochondrial matrix superoxide/hydrogen peroxide in disease. However, the use of such tools has caveats and they are unable to distinguish precise sites of production within the reactions of substrate oxidation and the electron transport chain. S1QELs are specific small-molecule Suppressors of site IQElectron Leak and S3QELs are specific small-molecule Suppressors of site IIIQoElectron Leak; they prevent superoxide/hydrogen production at specific sites without affecting electron transport or oxidative phosphorylation. We discuss the benefits of using S1QELs and S3QELs as opposed to mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, mitochondrial poisons, and genetic manipulation. We summarise pathologies in which site IQ in mitochondrial complex I and site IIIQo in mitochondrial complex III have been implicated using S1QELs and S3QELs.

Quantifying total cellular ATP production rate has become easier with recent technology and is essential to understanding energy metabolism in cells and tissues. We review fundamental concepts for determining total cellular ATP production rate from measurements of oxygen consumption and acidification rates and discuss their application to answering biological questions.

The relative contributions of different mitochondrial and cytosolic sources of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in cells are not well established because of a lack of suitable quantitative assays. To address this problem using resting C2C12 myoblasts we measured the effects of specific inhibitors that do not affect other pathways on the rate of appearance of hydrogen peroxide in the extracellular medium. We used inhibitors of NADPH oxidases (NOXs), suppressors of site IQ electron leak (S1QELs) at mitochondrial Complex I, and suppressors of site IIIQo electron leak (S3QELs) at mitochondrial Complex III. Around 40% of net cellular hydrogen peroxide release was from NOXs and approximately 45% was from the two mitochondrial sites; 30% from site IIIQo and 15% from site IQ. As expected, decreasing cytosolic antioxidant capacity by lowering glutathione levels increased the absolute rates from all sites without changing their proportions, whereas decreasing antioxidant defenses in the mitochondrial matrix increased only the absolute and relative contributions of the two mitochondrial sites. These results show directly that mitochondria are a major contributor to cytosolic hydrogen peroxide in resting C2C12 myoblasts, and provide the first direct evidence of superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production from site IQ in unstressed cells.

This review examines the generation of reactive oxygen species by mammalian mitochondria, and the status of different sites of production in redox signaling and pathology. Eleven distinct mitochondrial sites associated with substrate oxidation and oxidative phosphorylation leak electrons to oxygen to produce superoxide or hydrogen peroxide: oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes that feed electrons to NAD+; respiratory complexes I and III, and dehydrogenases, including complex II, that use ubiquinone as acceptor. The topologies, capacities, and substrate dependences of each site have recently clarified. Complex III and mitochondrial glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase generate superoxide to the external side of the mitochondrial inner membrane as well as the matrix, the other sites generate superoxide and/or hydrogen peroxide exclusively in the matrix. These different site-specific topologies are important for redox signaling. The net rate of superoxide or hydrogen peroxide generation depends on the substrates present and the antioxidant systems active in the matrix and cytosol. The rate at each site can now be measured in complex substrate mixtures. In skeletal muscle mitochondria in media mimicking muscle cytosol at rest, four sites dominate, two in complex I and one each in complexes II and III. Specific suppressors of two sites have been identified, the outer ubiquinone-binding site in complex III (site IIIQo) and the site in complex I active during reverse electron transport (site IQ). These suppressors prevent superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production from a specific site without affecting oxidative phosphorylation, making them excellent tools to investigate the status of the sites in redox signaling, and to suppress the sites to prevent pathologies. They allow the cellular roles of mitochondrial superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production to be investigated without catastrophic confounding bioenergetic effects. They show that sites IIIQo and IQ are active in cells and have important roles in redox signaling (e.g. hypoxic signaling and ER-stress) and in causing oxidative damage in a variety of biological contexts.

In humans, mutations in dehydrogenase E1 and transketolase domain containing 1 (DHTKD1) are associated with neurological abnormalities and accumulation of 2-oxoadipate, 2-aminoadipate, and reactive oxygen species. The protein encoded by DHTKD1 has sequence and structural similarities to 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, and the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex can produce superoxide/H2O2 at high rates. The DHTKD1 enzyme is hypothesized to catalyze the oxidative decarboxylation of 2-oxoadipate, a shared intermediate of the degradative pathways for tryptophan, lysine and hydroxylysine. Here, we show that rat skeletal muscle mitochondria can produce superoxide/H2O2 at high rates when given 2-oxoadipate. We identify the putative mitochondrial 2-oxoadipate dehydrogenase complex as one of the sources and characterize the conditions that favor its superoxide/H2O2 production. Rates increased at higher NAD(P)H/NAD(P)(+) ratios and were higher at each NAD(P)H/NAD(P)(+) ratio when 2-oxoadipate was present, showing that superoxide/H2O2 was produced during the forward reaction from 2-oxoadipate, but not in the reverse reaction from NADH in the absence of 2-oxoadipate. The maximum capacity of the 2-oxoadipate dehydrogenase complex for production of superoxide/H2O2 is comparable to that of site IF of complex I, and seven, four and almost two-fold lower than the capacities of the 2-oxoglutarate, pyruvate and branched-chain 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes, respectively. Regulation by ADP and ATP of H2O2 production driven by 2-oxoadipate was very different from that driven by 2-oxoglutarate, suggesting that site AF of the 2-oxoadipate dehydrogenase complex is a new source of superoxide/H2O2 associated with the NADH isopotential pool in mitochondria.

Reactive oxygen species are important signaling molecules crucial for muscle differentiation and adaptation to exercise. However, their uncontrolled generation is associated with an array of pathological conditions. To identify and quantify the sources of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in skeletal muscle we used site-specific suppressors (S1QELs, S3QELs and NADPH oxidase inhibitors). We measured the rates of hydrogen peroxide release from isolated rat muscle mitochondria incubated in media mimicking the cytosol of intact muscle. By measuring the extent of inhibition caused by the addition of different site-specific suppressors of mitochondrial superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production (S1QELs for site IQ and S3QELs for site IIIQo), we determined the contributions of these sites to the total signal. In media mimicking resting muscle, their contributions were each 12–18%, consistent with a previous method. In C2C12 myoblasts, site IQ contributed 12% of cellular hydrogen peroxide production and site IIIQo contributed about 30%. When C2C12 myoblasts were differentiated to myotubes, hydrogen peroxide release increased five-fold, and the proportional contribution of site IQ doubled. The use of S1QELs and S3QELs is a powerful new way to measure the relative contributions of different mitochondrial sites to muscle hydrogen peroxide production under different conditions. Our results show that mitochondrial sites IQ and IIIQo make a substantial contribution to superoxide/hydrogen peroxide production in muscle mitochondria and C2C12 myoblasts. The total hydrogen peroxide release rate and the relative contribution of site IQ both increase substantially upon differentiation to myotubes., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • S1QELs, S3QELs and NOX inhibitors report sites of superoxide/H2O2 generation. • Mitochondria and NOXs are the major sources of H2O2 in C2C12 cells. • H2O2 release increases 5-fold during differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts to myotubes. • The relative contribution of site IQ doubles during differentiation. • The relative contributions of site IIIQo and NOXs remain the same.

Oxidative phosphorylation is an important energy-conserving mechanism coupling mitochondrial electron transfer to ATP synthesis. Coupling between respiration and phosphorylation is not fully efficient due to proton leaks. In this chapter, we present a method to measure proton leak activity in isolated mitochondria. The relative strength of a modular kinetic approach to probe oxidative phosphorylation is emphasized.

Superoxide and hydrogen peroxide produced by mitochondria play important roles in various physiological and pathological processes. This chapter describes a plate-based method to measure rates of superoxide and/or hydrogen peroxide production at specific sites in isolated mitochondria.

Measuring respiration rate can be a powerful way to assess energetic function in isolated mitochondria. Current, plate-based methods have several advantages over older, suspension-based systems, including greater throughput and the requirement of only μg quantities of material. In this chapter, we describe a plate-based method for measuring oxygen consumption by isolated adherent mitochondria.

Measuring respiration rate can be a powerful way to assess energetic function in isolated mitochondria. Current, plate-based methods have several advantages over older, suspension-based systems, including greater throughput and the requirement of only μg quantities of material. In this chapter, we describe a plate-based method for measuring oxygen consumption by isolated adherent mitochondria.

Superoxide and hydrogen peroxide produced by mitochondria play important roles in various physiological and pathological processes. This chapter describes a plate-based method to measure rates of superoxide and/or hydrogen peroxide production at specific sites in isolated mitochondria.

Oxidative phosphorylation is an important energy-conserving mechanism coupling mitochondrial electron transfer to ATP synthesis. Coupling between respiration and phosphorylation is not fully efficient due to proton leaks. In this chapter, we present a method to measure proton leak activity in isolated mitochondria. The relative strength of a modular kinetic approach to probe oxidative phosphorylation is emphasized.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) and its phosphorylation are considered essential for oncotransformation, but it is unclear whether cancer cells require PDHC to be functional or silenced. We used specific inhibition of PDHC by synthetic structural analogs of pyruvate to resolve this question. With isolated and intramitochondrial PDHC, acetyl phosphinate (AcPH, KiAcPH = 0.1 μM) was a much more potent competitive inhibitor than the methyl ester of acetyl phosphonate (AcPMe, KiAcPMe = 40 μM). When preincubated with the complex, AcPH also irreversibly inactivated PDHC. Pyruvate prevented, but did not reverse the inactivation. The pyruvate analogs did not significantly inhibit other 2-oxo acid dehydrogenases. Different cell lines were exposed to the inhibitors and a membrane-permeable precursor of AcPMe, dimethyl acetyl phosphonate, which did not inhibit isolated PDHC. Using an ATP-based assay, dependence of cellular viability on the concentration of the pyruvate analogs was followed. The highest toxicity of the membrane-permeable precursor suggested that the cellular action of charged AcPH and AcPMe requires monocarboxylate transporters. The relevant cell-specific transcripts extracted from Gene Expression Omnibus database indicated that cell lines with higher expression of monocarboxylate transporters and PDHC components were more sensitive to the PDHC inhibitors. Prior to a detectable antiproliferative action, AcPH significantly changed metabolic profiles of the investigated glioblastoma cell lines. We conclude that catalytic transformation of pyruvate by pyruvate dehydrogenase is essential for the metabolism and viability of glioblastoma cell lines, although metabolic heterogeneity causes different cellular sensitivities and/or abilities to cope with PDHC inhibition.

Background The rate at which cells acidify the extracellular medium is frequently used to report glycolytic rate, with the implicit assumption that conversion of uncharged glucose or glycogen to lactate − + H + is the only significant source of acidification. However, another potential source of extracellular protons is the production of CO 2 during substrate oxidation: CO 2 is hydrated to H 2 CO 3 , which then dissociates to HCO 3 − + H + . Methods O 2 consumption and pH were monitored in a popular platform for measuring extracellular acidification (the Seahorse XF Analyzer). Results We found that CO 2 produced during respiration caused almost stoichiometric release of H + into the medium. With C2C12 myoblasts given glucose, respiration-derived CO 2 contributed 34% of the total extracellular acidification. When glucose was omitted or replaced by palmitate or pyruvate, this value was 67–100%. Analysis of primary cells, cancer cell lines, stem cell lines, and isolated synaptosomes revealed contributions of CO 2 -produced acidification that were usually substantial, ranging from 3% to 100% of the total acidification rate. Conclusion Measurement of glycolytic rate using extracellular acidification requires differentiation between respiratory and glycolytic acid production. General significance The data presented here demonstrate the importance of this correction when extracellular acidification is used for quantitative measurement of glycolytic flux to lactate. We describe a simple way to correct the measured extracellular acidification rate for respiratory acid production, using simultaneous measurement of oxygen consumption rate. Summary statement Extracellular acidification is often assumed to result solely from glycolytic lactate production, but respiratory CO 2 also contributes. We demonstrate that extracellular acidification by myoblasts given glucose is 66% glycolytic and 34% respiratory and describe a method to differentiate these sources.

The sites and rates of mitochondrial production of superoxide and H2O2 in vivo are not yet defined. At least 10 different mitochondrial sites can generate these species. Each site has a different maximum capacity (e.g. the outer quinol site in complex III (site IIIQo) has a very high capacity in rat skeletal muscle mitochondria, whereas the flavin site in complex I (site IF) has a very low capacity). The maximum capacities can greatly exceed the actual rates observed in the absence of electron transport chain inhibitors, so maximum capacities are a poor guide to actual rates. Here, we use new approaches to measure the rates at which different mitochondrial sites produce superoxide/H2O2 using isolated muscle mitochondria incubated in media mimicking the cytoplasmic substrate and effector mix of skeletal muscle during rest and exercise. We find that four or five sites dominate during rest in this ex vivo system. Remarkably, the quinol site in complex I (site IQ) and the flavin site in complex II (site IIF) each account for about a quarter of the total measured rate of H2O2 production. Site IF, site IIIQo, and perhaps site EF in the β-oxidation pathway account for most of the remainder. Under conditions mimicking mild and intense aerobic exercise, total production is much less, and the low capacity site IF dominates. These results give novel insights into which mitochondrial sites may produce superoxide/H2O2 in vivo.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are early progenitors that can differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes. We hypothesized that osteoblasts and adipocytes utilize distinct bioenergetic pathways during MSC differentiation. To test this hypothesis, we compared the bioenergetic profiles of preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells and calvarial osteoblasts with preadipocyte 3T3L1 cells, before and after differentiation. Differentiated MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts met adenosine triphosphate (ATP) demand mainly by glycolysis with minimal reserve glycolytic capacity, whereas nondifferentiated cells generated ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. A marked Crabtree effect (acute suppression of respiration by addition of glucose, observed in both MC3T3-E1 and calvarial osteoblasts) and smaller mitochondrial membrane potential in the differentiated osteoblasts, particularly those incubated at high glucose concentrations, indicated a suppression of oxidative phosphorylation compared with nondifferentiated osteoblasts. In contrast, both nondifferentiated and differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes met ATP demand primarily by oxidative phosphorylation despite a large unused reserve glycolytic capacity. In sum, we show that nondifferentiated precursor cells prefer to use oxidative phosphorylation to generate ATP; when they differentiate to osteoblasts, they gain a strong preference for glycolytic ATP generation, but when they differentiate to adipocytes, they retain the strong preference for oxidative phosphorylation. Unique metabolic programming in mesenchymal progenitor cells may influence cell fate and ultimately determine the degree of bone formation and/or the development of marrow adiposity. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Several flavin-dependent enzymes of the mitochondrial matrix utilize NAD(+) or NADH at about the same operating redox potential as the NADH/NAD(+) pool and comprise the NADH/NAD(+) isopotential enzyme group. Complex I (specifically the flavin, site IF) is often regarded as the major source of matrix superoxide/H2O2 production at this redox potential. However, the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDH), branched-chain 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase (BCKDH), and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complexes are also capable of considerable superoxide/H2O2 production. To differentiate the superoxide/H2O2-producing capacities of these different mitochondrial sites in situ, we compared the observed rates of H2O2 production over a range of different NAD(P)H reduction levels in isolated skeletal muscle mitochondria under conditions that favored superoxide/H2O2 production from complex I, the OGDH complex, the BCKDH complex, or the PDH complex. The rates from all four complexes increased at higher NAD(P)H/NAD(P)(+) ratios, although the 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes produced superoxide/H2O2 at high rates only when oxidizing their specific 2-oxoacid substrates and not in the reverse reaction from NADH. At optimal conditions for each system, superoxide/H2O2 was produced by the OGDH complex at about twice the rate from the PDH complex, four times the rate from the BCKDH complex, and eight times the rate from site IF of complex I. Depending on the substrates present, the dominant sites of superoxide/H2O2 production at the level of NADH may be the OGDH and PDH complexes, but these activities may often be misattributed to complex I.

p53 Inducible gene 6 (PIG6) encodes mitochondrial proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) and is up-regulated several fold upon p53 activation. Proline dehydrogenase is proposed to generate radicals that contribute to cancer cell apoptosis. However, there are at least 10 mitochondrial sites that can produce superoxide and/or H2O2, and it is unclear whether proline dehydrogenase generates these species directly, or instead drives production by other sites. Amongst six cancer cell lines, ZR75-30 human breast cancer cells had the highest basal proline dehydrogenase levels, and mitochondria isolated from ZR75-30 cells consumed oxygen and produced H2O2 with proline as sole substrate. Insects use proline oxidation to fuel flight, and mitochondria isolated from Drosophila melanogaster were even more active with proline as sole substrate than ZR75-30 mitochondria. Using mitochondria from these two models we identified the sites involved in formation of superoxide/H2O2 during proline oxidation. In mitochondria from Drosophila the main sites were respiratory complexes I and II. In mitochondria from ZR75-30 breast cancer cells the main sites were complex I and the oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex. Even with combinations of substrates and respiratory chain inhibitors designed to minimize the contributions of other sites and maximize any superoxide/H2O2 production from proline dehydrogenase itself, there was no significant direct contribution of proline dehydrogenase to the observed H2O2 production. Thus proline oxidation by proline dehydrogenase drives superoxide/H2O2 production, but it does so mainly or exclusively by providing anaplerotic carbon for other mitochondrial dehydrogenases and not by producing superoxide/H2O2 directly., Graphical abstract, Highlights • Proline dehydrogenase is thought to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer cells and to promote apoptosis. • Isolated mitochondria from Drosophila melanogaster and from a human breast cancer cell line oxidize proline producing superoxide/H2O2 at measurable rates. • Proline oxidation drives superoxide/H2O2 production indirectly at other sites and it is unlikely that proline dehydrogenase produces superoxide/H2O2 itself. • In Drosophila, superoxide/H2O2 arises from sites IF and IIF (the flavin sites from complexes I and II, respectively). • In the breast cancer cell line the main sites are IF and OF (from the oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex).

Mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species is often considered an unavoidable consequence of aerobic metabolism and currently cannot be manipulated without perturbing oxidative phosphorylation. Antioxidants are widely used to suppress effects of reactive oxygen species after formation, but they can never fully prevent immediate effects at the sites of production. To identify site-selective inhibitors of mitochondrial superoxide/H2O2 production that do not interfere with mitochondrial energy metabolism, we developed a robust small-molecule screen and secondary profiling strategy. We describe the discovery and characterization of a compound (N-cyclohexyl-4-(4-nitrophenoxy)benzenesulfonamide; CN-POBS) that selectively inhibits superoxide/H2O2 production from the ubiquinone-binding site of complex I (site I(Q)) with no effects on superoxide/H2O2 production from other sites or on oxidative phosphorylation. Structure/activity studies identified a core structure that is important for potency and selectivity for site I(Q). By employing CN-POBS in mitochondria respiring on NADH-generating substrates, we show that site I(Q) does not produce significant amounts of superoxide/H2O2 during forward electron transport on glutamate plus malate. Our screening platform promises to facilitate further discovery of direct modulators of mitochondrially derived oxidative damage and advance our ability to understand and manipulate mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production under both normal and pathological conditions.

H2O2 production by skeletal muscle mitochondria oxidizing palmitoylcarnitine was examined under two conditions: the absence of respiratory chain inhibitors and the presence of myxothiazol to inhibit complex III. Without inhibitors, respiration and H2O2 production were low unless carnitine or malate was added to limit acetyl-CoA accumulation. With palmitoylcarnitine alone, H2O2 production was dominated by complex II (44% from site IIF in the forward reaction); the remainder was mostly from complex I (34%, superoxide from site IF). With added carnitine, H2O2 production was about equally shared between complexes I, II, and III. With added malate, it was 75% from complex III (superoxide from site IIIQo) and 25% from site IF. Thus complex II (site IIF in the forward reaction) is a major source of H2O2 production during oxidation of palmitoylcarnitine ± carnitine. Under the second condition (myxothiazol present to keep ubiquinone reduced), the rates of H2O2 production were highest in the presence of palmitoylcarnitine ± carnitine and were dominated by complex II (site IIF in the reverse reaction). About half the rest was from site IF, but a significant portion, ~40 pmol H2O2 · min−1 · mg protein−1, was not from complex I, II, or III and was attributed to the proteins of β-oxidation (electron-transferring flavoprotein (ETF) and ETF-ubiquinone oxidoreductase). The maximum rate from the ETF system was ~200 pmol H2O2 · min−1 ~ mg protein−1 under conditions of compromised antioxidant defense and reduced ubiqui-none pool. Thus complex II and the ETF system both contribute to H2O2 production during fatty acid oxidation under appropriate conditions.

Mitochondria constitute an important topic of biomedical enquiry (one paper in every 154 indexed in PubMed since 1998 is retrieved by the keyword 'mitochondria') because of widespread recognition of their importance in cell physiology and pathology. Mitochondrial dysfunction is widely implicated in ageing and in the diseases of ageing, through dysfunction in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis, Ca(2+) homeostasis, central metabolic pathways or radical production. Nonetheless, the mechanisms and regulation of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide formation by mitochondria remain poorly described. Measurement of the capacities of different sites of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production in isolated skeletal muscle mitochondria show that the maximum capacities of sites in complexes I, II and III and in several associated redox enzymes greatly exceed the native rates observed in the absence of respiratory chain inhibitors. In vitro, the native rates and the relative importance of different sites both depend on the substrate being oxidized, with sites IQ, IIF, GPDH, IF and IIIQo each being important with particular substrates. The techniques involved in measuring rates from each site should become applicable to cell cultures and in vivo in the future.

A high membrane potential across the mitochondrial inner membrane leads to the production of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) implicated in aging and age-related diseases. A prototypical drug for the correction of this type of mitochondrial dysfunction is presented. MitoDNP-SUM accumulates in mitochondria in response to the membrane potential due to its mitochondria-targeting alkyltriphenylphosphonium (TPP) cation and is uncaged by endogenous hydrogen peroxide to release the mitochondrial uncoupler, 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP). DNP is known to reduce the high membrane potential responsible for the production of ROS. The approach potentially represents a general method for the delivery of drugs to the mitochondrial matrix through mitochondria targeting and H(2)O(2)-induced uncaging.

Analysis of the cellular mechanisms of metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, is complicated by the large number of reactions and interactions in metabolic networks. Metabolic control analysis with appropriate modularization is a powerful method for simplifying and analyzing these networks. To analyze control of cellular energy metabolism in adherent cell cultures of the INS-1 832/13 pancreatic β-cell model we adapted our microscopy assay of absolute mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔψM) to a fluorescence microplate reader format, and applied it in conjunction with cell respirometry. In these cells the sensitive response of ΔψM to extracellular glucose concentration drives glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Using metabolic control analysis we identified the control properties that generate this sensitive response. Force-flux relationships between ΔψM and respiration were used to calculate kinetic responses to ΔψM of processes both upstream (glucose oxidation) and downstream (proton leak and ATP turnover) of ΔψM. The analysis revealed that glucose-evoked ΔψM hyperpolarization is amplified by increased glucose oxidation activity caused by factors downstream of ΔψM. At high glucose, the hyperpolarized ΔψM is stabilized almost completely by the action of glucose oxidation, whereas proton leak also contributes to the homeostatic control of ΔψM at low glucose. These findings suggest a strong positive feedback loop in the regulation of β-cell energetics, and a possible regulatory role of proton leak in the fasting state. Analysis of islet bioenergetics from published cases of type 2 diabetes suggests that disruption of this feedback can explain the damaged bioenergetic response of β-cells to glucose. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Quality in Diabetes/Obesity and Critical Illness Spectrum of Diseases - edited by P. Hemachandra Reddy.