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The effects of Bax (full-length, FL, and C-terminal truncated, DeltaC) on respiration rate, membrane potential, MgATPase activity and kinetics of regulation of respiration were studied in isolated rat heart mitochondria and permeabilized cardiomyocytes. The results showed that while both Bax-FL and Bax-DeltaC permeabilized the outer mitochondrial membrane, released cytochrome c and reduced the respiration rate, the latter could be fully restored by exogenous cytochrome c only in the case of Bax-DeltaC, but not in presence of Bax-FL. In addition, Bax-FL but not Bax-DeltaC increased the MgATPase activity, and their effects on the mitochondrial membrane potential were quantitatively different. None of these effects was sensitive to cyclosporin A (CsA). It is concluded that Bax-FL affects both the outer and the inner mitochondrial membranes by: (1) opening large pores in the outer membrane; (2) inhibiting some segments of the respiratory chain in the inner membrane; and (3) uncoupling the inner mitochondrial membrane by increasing proton leak without opening the permeability transition pore (PTP).

The intervention of pyruvate in glucose metabolism was investigated during hypoxic stress in tumour cell cultures having respiratory capacities under normoxic conditions. Results obtained with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy showed that, under normoxic conditions, rat glioma C6 and human hepatoma Hep G2 cell cultures metabolised [(13)C(1)]glucose into lactate, alanine, glutamate and other less abundant metabolites, as already known from the literature. In the absence of pyruvate, during hypoxia or cyanide poisoning, both cell types dramatically decreased the label into glutamate and accumulated [(13)C(3)]glycerol-3-phosphate. The compound was further identified by 31P NMR spectroscopy. The accumulation of the label in glycerol-3-phosphate, however, did not occur when the cells were incubated in the presence of pyruvate. The fate of the latter, followed under normoxic conditions by incubating cells with [(13)C(3)]pyruvate and natural glucose, showed that the label was mainly found in alanine, lactate and glutamate. Anoxic conditions increased the label in lactate and reduced that of glutamate. The data show a metabolic effect of pyruvate during mitochondrial blockade due to severe lack of oxygen in tumour cell lines.

This paper recalls the earlier work by Keilin, Margoliash and others at the beginning of the 20th century and shows how their results can be used for the rapid solution of new problems of modern science. It describes a rapid and simple spectrophotometric method for quantitative determination of cytochrome c release from isolated mitochondria or permeabilized cells induced by proapoptotic proteins. For this, the Soret (gamma) peak at 414 nm in the spectrum of cytochrome c is used. The results of spectrophotometric assay of cytochrome c release are in accord with those of oxygraphic determination of cytochrome c-dependent respiration of isolated mitochondria and permeabilized cardiomyocytes.

Twenty four squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) of stage II to IV were evaluated for the expression of potential markers such as oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in drug-resistance behavior. We have analysed the c-myc, c-jun, c-raf and N-ras and p53 expression in total RNA preparation from tumor biopsies obtained before treatment. The patients underwent chemotherapy including 5-fluorouracil and cisplatinum. No significant differences in c-raf and N-ras expression were found in responding or resistant patients. However, resistance to chemotherapy was associated with low expression of c-myc (P < 0.025) or high expression of c-jun (P < 0.001). In addition, p53 mRNA pre-therapeutic level was increased in unresponsive patients to chemotherapy (P < 0.05). Therefore, analysis of the expression of c-myc, c-jun oncogenes and p53 tumor suppressor gene in tumor cells before initiation of therapy may define a subset of patients with potentially better prognosis.

Patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) were treated by continuous infusion of ara-C (100 mg/m2/d x 10 days). During ara-C treatment, cellular arabinofuranosyl cytosine triphosphate (ara-CTP) pharmacokinetics was assessed in the circulating blasts of these patients using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and an associated radioimmunoassay. Since a strong correlation was found between achievement of complete remission and cellular ara-CTP levels, we propose a calculation scheme that allows steady-state adjustment of ara-CTP levels during administration of ara-C. To improve the complete remission rate in patients with low ara-CTP levels, we sought optimum ara-C dosing. In order to achieve an optimal therapeutic response, in vivo ara-CTP formation has to be > 50 microM in leukemic cells. Conversely, using the same pharmacokinetic approach, the infusion rate at which to administer ara-C in order to reach in vivo ara-CTP concentration threshold and to achieve complete remission could be calculated for each patient.