Mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone Oxidoreductase Research Articles

The antihypertensive drug carvedilol inhibits the activity of mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase.

A study is presented on the interaction of carvedilol with mitochondria isolated from several rat organs. It is shown that carvedilol causes a moderate uncoupling effect under non phosphorylating succinate supported respiration of intact mitochondria, as well as a marked inhibition of coupled respiration with NAD-dependent substrates. The inhibitory effect was also found in the bovine heart purified Complex I as well as in experiments with mitochondrial particles, where the individual redox segments of the respiratory chain were analysed. It is also shown that carvedilol, though exhibiting an intrinsic scavenger activity, caused reactive oxygen species to be produced as a consequence of its inhibitory effect on the steady-state respiration. Under these conditions the pro-oxidant activity of carvedilol appears to prevail over its scavenging activity, and a net generation of ROS is promoted.

A naturally processed mitochondrial self-peptide in complex with thymic MHC molecules functions as a selecting ligand for a viral-specific T cell receptor.

Peptide fragments of self-proteins bound to major histocompatibility complex molecules within the thymus are important for positively selecting T cell receptor (TCR)-bearing CD4(+)CD8(+) double positive (DP) thymocytes for further maturation. The relationship between naturally processed thymic self-peptides and TCR-specific cognate peptides is unknown. Here we employ HPLC purification of peptides released from H-2K(b) molecules of the C57BL/6 thymus in conjunction with mass spectrometry (MS) and functional profiling to identify a naturally processed K(b)-bound peptide positively selecting the N15 TCR specific for the vesicular stomatitis virus octapeptide (VSV8) bound to K(b). The selecting peptide was identified in 1 of 80 HPLC fractions and shown by tandem MS (MS/MS) sequencing to correspond to residues 68-75 of the MLRQ subunit of the widely expressed mitochondrial NADH ubiquinone oxidoreductase (NUbO(68-75)). Of note, the peptide differs at six of its eight residues from the cognate peptide VSV8 and functions as a weak agonist for mature CD8 single positive (SP) N15 T cells, with activity 10,000-fold less than VSV8. In N15 transgenic (tg) recombinase activating gene 2(-/)- transporter associated with antigen processing 1(-/)- fetal thymic organ culture, NUbO(68-75) induces phenotypic and functional differentiation of N15 TCR bearing CD8 SP thymocytes. Failure of NUbO(68-75) to support differentiation of a second K(b)-restricted TCR indicates that its inductive effects are not general.

One-electron reduction of quinones by the neuronal nitric-oxide synthase reductase domain.

Quinones including antitumor quinones undergo facile reduction and oxidation. One-electron reduction of a quinone gives the semiquinone radicals while two-electron reduction gives the hydroquinonel. In 1969-70, Iyanagi and Yamazaki2,3 reported the mechanism of quinone reduction by flavin enzymes, and the reduction of quinones and oxygen by flavin enzymes falls into three mechanistic categories: one-electron, two-electron and mixed-type reactions. NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase(QR), also known as DT-diaphorase contains one FAD as prosthetic group, catalyzes the obligatory two-electron reduction of quinone to hydroquinone. On the other hand, microsomal NADPHcytochrome P450 reductase (P450 reductase) and NADH-cytochome b5 reductase, and mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase, and ferredoxin: NADP+ reductase catalyze typical one electron reduction of bivalent quinones. Xanthine oxidase/ dehydrogenase catalyzes both reactions of one-electron and two-electron. These results have contributed greatly to the study on the formation of free-radicals in biological systems, especially in the quinone-mediated cyotoxicity.

Post-illumination reduction of plastoquinone pool in ∆ndh tobacco mutants

Nicotiana tabacum chloroplast genome contains 11 genes encoding subunits of the NAD(P)H dehydrogenase complex (NDH) . NDH is homologous to the eubacterial and mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Complex I) in the respiratory chain and has putative NAD(P)H-plastoquinone oxidoreductase activity, but the physiological function in the photosynthetic electron flow is uncertain. Using plastid transformation technique, we have newly established tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi) mutants, ?ndhKJ and ?ndhCKJ, in which ndhK,J and ndhC,K,J were disrupted respectively. These mutants, as well as ?ndhB created previously, lacked the transient increase in chlorophyll fluorescence after termination of actinic light illumination (50 µmol quonta m-2 s-1), an indication of NDH activity. No significant difference was found between the phenotype of mutants and wild type tobacco under the normal growth condition. On the other hand, after the exposure to extremely strong light (>1000 µmol quonta m-2 s-1), all the mutants were susceptible to photoinhibition and photobleached. We also found that apparent Fo of the mutants increased more than that of with wild type after strong light illumination (800 µmol quonta m-2 s-1). This phenomenon suggested that plastoquinone in mutants was more reduced after strong light illumination than wild type. This plastoquinone reduction was more enhanced under water-stress conditions. The physiolosical function of NDH and plastoquinone reduction are discussed.

Inhibition of mitochondrial complex I by haloperidol: the role of thiol oxidation

We have examined the effects of a variety of classical and atypical neuroleptic drugs on mitochondrial NADH ubiquinone oxido-reductase (complex I) activity. Sagittal slices of mouse brain incubated in vitro with haloperidol (10 nM) showed time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of complex I. Similar concentrations of the pyridinium metabolite of haloperidol (HPP +) failed to inhibit complex I activity in this model; indeed, comparable inhibition was obtained only at a10 000-fold higher concentration of HPP + (100 μM). Treatment of brain slices with haloperidol resulted in a loss of glutathione (GSH), while pretreatment of slices with GSH and α-lipoic acid abolished haloperidol-induced loss of complex I activity. Incubation of mitochondria from haloperidol treated brain slices with the thiol reductant, dithiothreitol, completely regenerated complex I activity demonstrating thiol oxidation as a feasible mechanism of inhibition. In a comparison of different neuroleptic drugs, haloperidol was the most potent inhibitor of complex I, followed by chlorpromazine, fluphenazine and risperidone while the atypical neuroleptic, clozapine (100 μM) did not inhibit complex I activity in mouse brain slices. The present studies support the view that classical neuroleptics such as haloperidol inhibit mitochondrial complex I through oxidative modification of the enzyme complex.

Kinetics of transhydrogenase reaction catalyzed by the mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Complex I) imply more than one catalytic nucleotide-binding sites

The steady-state kinetics of the transhydrogenase reaction (the reduction of acetylpyridine adenine dinucleotide (APAD +) by NADH, DD transhydrogenase) catalyzed by bovine heart submitochondrial particles (SMP), purified Complex I, and by the soluble three-subunit NADH dehydrogenase (FP) were studied to assess a number of the Complex I-associated nucleotide-binding sites. Under the conditions where the proton-pumping transhydrogenase (EC 1.6.1.1) was not operating, the DD transhydrogenase activities of SMP and Complex I exhibited complex kinetic pattern: the double reciprocal plots of the velocities were not linear when the substrate concentrations were varied in a wide range. No binary complex (ping-pong) mechanism (as expected for a single substrate-binding site enzyme) was operating within any range of the variable substrates. ADP-ribose, a competitive inhibitor of NADH oxidase, was shown to compete more effectively with NADH ( K i=40 μM) than with APAD + ( K i=150 μM) in the transhydrogenase reaction. FMN redox cycling-dependent, FP catalyzed DD transhydrogenase reaction was shown to proceed through a ternary complex mechanism. The results suggest that Complex I and the simplest catalytically competent fragment derived therefrom (FP) possess more than one nucleotide-binding sites operating in the transhydrogenase reaction.

Molecular characterisation of a NADH ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit 5 from Schistosoma mansoni and inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain function by testosterone.

Complementary DNA, encoding the mitochondrial enzyme NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit 5 (SmND5) of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni was isolated by screening a S. mansoni cDNA library with a human androgen receptor (hAR) cDNA probe. The complete nucleotide and deduced aminoacid sequences of SmND5 were determined. Southern blot analysis revealed the occurrence of a single copy gene for SmND5 and by means of RT-PCR, it was shown that sex- and stage-specific expression of SmND5 occurred. In order to establish a functional relationship between the mitochondrial enzyme and the androgen receptor, the effects of testosterone were compared to those of classical respiratory chain inhibitors, using adult schistosome and beef heart submitochondrial particles. Physiological concentrations of testosterone were able to inhibit the maintenance of proton gradient across the mitochondrial membranes, as well as ATP synthesis. The steroid was found to be cytotoxic to the larvae, but not to adult schistosomes. A model is proposed to explain the observed in vivo testosterone-related differences in worm burdens, in experimental chronic infections.

The mitochondrial ND8 gene from Crithidia oncopelti is not pan-edited

RNA editing in trypanosomatid mitochondria is a process involving the insertion and deletion of uridine residues within the coding region of maxicircle messenger RNA transcripts. Twelve of the 17 known genes need editing to produce functional molecules. We have analyzed the predicted editing sites for the Crithidia oncopelti mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit 8 (ND8) gene based on known mRNAs from other trypanosomatid species. All studied ND8 mRNAs undergo editing throughout the coding (and 3′ non-coding) sequences (pan-editing). The 5′ part of the C. oncopelti ND8 gene undergoes editing (like in Leishmania tarentolae and Trypanosoma brucei) while the 3′ part of the pre-edited gene corresponds to the 3′ part of edited ND8 mRNAs from other organisms. The organization of the ND8 gene in C. oncopelti mitochondrial DNA differs from all organisms investigated so far – this gene is not pan-edited. We have also localized the guide RNA for cytochrome b between 9S rRNA and the ND8 gene. This RNA shows high homology to the gCYb-II gene of L. tarentolae and the gCyb gene of Crithidia fasciculata. A hypothetical editing pattern for the cytochrome b gene in C. oncopelti maxicircles is proposed.

Identification of a Glycoprotein from Rat Liver Mitochondrial Inner Membrane and Demonstration of Its Origin in the Endoplasmic Reticulum

Employing antisera against various subfractions of rat liver mitochondria (mitoplast, inner membrane, intermembrane, and matrix) as well as metabolically radiolabeled BRL-3A rat liver cells, we undertook a search for the presence of glycoproteins in this major cellular compartment for which little information in regard to glycoconjugates was available. Subsequent to [35S]methionine labeling of BRL-3A cells, a peptide:N-glycosidase-sensitive protein (45 kDa) was observed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the inner membrane immunoprecipitate, which was reduced to a molecular mass of 42 kDa by this enzyme. The 45-kDa protein was readily labeled with [2-3H]mannose, and indeed the radioactivity of the inner membrane immunoprecipitate was almost exclusively present in this component. Moreover, antisera directed against mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) or F1F0-ATPase (complex V) also precipitated a 45-kDa protein from BRL-3A cell lysates as the predominant mannose-radiolabeled constituent. Endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase completely removed the radiolabel from this glycoprotein, and the released oligosaccharides were of the partially trimmed polymannose type (Glc1Man9GlcNAc to Man8GlcNAc). Cycloheximide as well as tunicamycin resulted in total inhibition of radiolabeling of the inner membrane glycoprotein, and moreover, pulse-chase studies employing metrizamide density gradient centrifugation demonstrated that the glycoprotein was initially present in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and subsequently appeared in a mitochondrial location. Early movement of the glycoprotein to the mitochondria after synthesis in the ER was also evident from the limited processing undergone by its N-linked oligosaccharides; this stood in contrast to lysosomal glycoproteins in which we noted extensive conversion to complex oligosaccharides. Our findings suggest that the 45-kDa glycoprotein migrates from ER to mitochondria by the previously observed contact sites between the two organelles. Furthermore, the presence of this glycoprotein in at least two major mitochondrial multienzyme complexes would be consistent with a role in mitochondrial translocations.

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Mitochondrial Phosphoprotein, MIPP65, from Rat Liver

A novel 65-kDa protein (designated MIPP65), which was phosphorylated by PKNin vitroin a manner highly dependent on arachidonic acid, was partially purified from the heat-stable proteins extracted from a 30,000gprecipitate of rat liver. The cDNA clones were obtained by polymerase chain reaction using oligonucleotides based on partial amino acid sequences. The complete amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNAs contained two homologous regions with the mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase 9-kDa subunit precursor at the amino- and carboxyl-termini, whereas the central region was not related to any known proteins and contained a serine cluster. Northern blotting and immunoblotting analyses indicated that MIPP65 was expressed ubiquitously in rat tissues. Immunofluorescence analysis of the endogenous MIPP65 using polyclonal antiserum against MIPP65 showed a predominantly mitochondrial localization in C6 glioma cells. The recombinant MIPP65 expressed in COS7 cells showed a similar pattern of localization to that in C6 glioma cells. On the other hand, deletion of the amino-terminal region of MIPP65 abrogated such localization, indicating that the amino-terminal region contained a mitochondrial-targeting signal. From [32P]orthophosphate-labeled C6 glioma cells, the endogenous MIPP65 could be immunoprecipitated as a phosphoprotein with antiserum against MIPP65. These results suggest that MIPP65 is a novel mitochondrial phosphoprotein that is a candidate substrate for PKN.

A competitive inhibition of the mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Complex I) by ADP-ribose

Considerable quantitative variations in the competitive inhibition of NADH oxidase activity of bovine heart submitochondrial particles (SMP) by different samples of NAD + were observed. ADP-ribose (ADPR) was identified as the inhibitory contaminating substance responsible for variations in the inhibition observed. ADPR competitively inhibits NADH oxidation with K i values (25°C, pH 8.0) of 26 μM, 30 μM, and 180 μM for SMP, purified Complex I and three-subunit NADH dehydrogenase (FP), respectively. ADPR decreases NADH-induced flavin reduction and prolongs the cyclic bleaching of FP during aerobic oxidation of NADH. K i for inhibition of the rotenone-sensitive NADH oxidase in SMP by ADPR does not depend on Δ μ ̄ H + . The initial rate of the energy-dependent NAD + reduction by succinate is insensitive to ADPR. The inhibitor increases the steady-state level of NAD + reduction reached during aerobic succinate-supported reverse electron transfer catalyzed by tightly coupled SMP. The results obtained are consistent with the proposal on different nucleotide-binding sites operating in the direct and reverse reactions catalyzed by the mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone reductase.

Renal cell carcinoma and normal kidney protein expression.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a human kidney cancer from the proximal tubular epithelium, accounts for about 3% of adult malignancies. Molecular and cytogenetic analysis have highlighted deletions, translocations, or loss of heterozygosity in the 3p21-p26, a putative RCC locus, as well as in 6q, 8p, 9pq, and 14pq. Studies on phenotypic expression of human kidney tissue and on post-translational modifications in RCC have not yet provided a marker for early renal cell carcinoma diagnosis. Current diagnostic methods do not help to detect the tumor before advanced stages. We therefore used two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) to study normal and tumor kidney tissues in ten patients suffering from RCC. A human kidney protein map in the SWISS-2DPAGE database accessible through the ExPASy WWW Molecular Biology Server was established. Of 2789 separated polypeptides, 43 were identified by gel comparison, amino acid analysis, N-terminal sequencing, and/or immunodetection. The comparison between normal and tumor kidney tissues showed four polypeptides to be absent in RCC. One of them was identified as ubiquinol cytochrome c reductase (UQCR), whose locus has elsewhere been tentatively assigned to chromosome 19p12 or chromosome 22. A second polypeptide was identified as mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxido-reductase complex I whose locus is located on chromosome 18p11.2 and chromosome 19q13.3. These result suggest that the lack of UQCR and of mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase complex I expression in RCC may be caused by unknown deletions, or by changes in gene transcription or translation. It might indicate that mitochondrial disfunction plays a major role in RCC genesis or evolution.

Metabolism of simple quinones in guinea pig and rat cardiac tissue

1. 1. The metabolism of the benzoquinone 2,5-dimethylbenzoquinone and of the naphthoquinone 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone was studied in subcellular fractions isolated from cardiac tissue of guinea pig and rat. 2. 2. In both species the benzoquinone was mainly metabolized through the mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinoneoxidoreductase, whereas the naphthoquinone was metabolized to approximately equal extents by mitochondrial reductase and by soluble DT-diaphorase. 3. 3. Guinea pig heart metabolized 3 times more naphthoquinone than rat heart. 4. 4. As a consequence of quinone metabolism, marked amounts of O 2: were generated; naphthoquinoneinduced O 2+: generation was about 4-fold higher in guinea pig than in rat heart.

Structural Organization and Chromosomal Localization of the Human Nuclear Gene (NDUFV2) for the 24-kDa Iron-Sulfur Subunit of Complex I in Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain

The structural organization of the entire human nuclear encoded gene for the 24-kDa iron-sulfur subunit of mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Complex I) and its chromosomal localization were determined. The gene contains 8 exons spanning 31.5 kb. The 5′ flanking region sequenced lacks typical CAAT and TATA boxes but contains three putative GC boxes and there is one GC box at the beginning of the first intron. The sequences matching completely with the NRF-1 binding site and Mt elements were not identified in the flanking region. This gene was assigned to human chromosome 18 at region p11.3, by fluorescent in situ hybridization.

Diphenyleneiodonium inhibits reduction of iron-sulfur clusters in the mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Complex I).

Diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) inhibits the mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Complex I) on the substrate side of the Fe-S clusters. In the inhibited NADH-supplemented state all of the Fe-S clusters are oxidized, whereas the reduced minus oxidized difference spectrum of the protein-bound FMN can be visualized. It is characterized by troughs at 370 and 450 nm and a small increase of absorbance in the 500-700-nm region. DPI probably reacts irreversibly with FMN, because oxidation of FMN is blocked even after its extraction from the enzyme. Inhibition requires preincubation of enzyme in the presence of NADH and DPI. The lower the NADH/NAD+ ratio or the pH, or the higher the NAD+/DPI ratio, the more DPI is required for inhibition. NAD+ and DPI apparently compete for a common site. Both ubiquinone and dichlorophenolindophenol reductase activities are fully blocked by DPI, whereas the ferricyanide reductase activity is inhibited by 75%. Similar results were found with Complex I and two rotenone-insensitive preparations, subcomplex I lambda and the flavoprotein fraction. DPI also inhibits NADH oxidation by bacterial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase-1 (NDH-1) in membranes of Paracoccus denitrificans and Escherichia coli.

Kinetics of the mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase interaction with hexammineruthenium(III)

The steady-state kinetics of the NADH dehydrogenase activities of the mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase in the presence of one-electron acceptors, ferricyanide and hexammineruthenium(III), were studied. Similar to ferricyanide, hexammineruthenium was found to be an efficient electron acceptor for the enzyme in inside-out submitochondrial particles and isolated Complex I, but not in intact mitochondria. Qualitatively the same results were obtained using submitochondrial particles or isolated Complex I. Both hexammineruthenium(III) and ferricyanide reduction was rotenone-insensitive and showed no stimulation by the uncouplers in tightly coupled submitochondrial particles. In contrast to the NADH-ferricyanide oxidoreductase reaction which exhibits a double substrate inhibition behaviour, no inhibition of the reaction by either NADH or the electron acceptor was revealed in the NADH-hexammineruthenium(III) reductase reaction. The double-reciprocal plots 1 v vs. 1 [ NADH] at various hexammineruthenium(III) concentrations gave a series of straight lines intercepting in the third quadrant, thus supporting the mechanism of the overall reaction in which the reduced enzyme-NAD + complex is oxidized by the electron acceptor before NAD + dissociation. The apparent K NADH s values equal to 1 · 10 −5 and 4 · 10 −5 M for submitochondrial particles and Complex I, respectively (27°C, pH 8.0), were determined from the secondary K NADH m vs. V (at different acceptor concentrations) plot. The K i values for the competitive inhibition of NADH oxidation by NAD + were 1 · 10 −3 M and 2 · 10 −3 M for the respective enzyme preparations. The results obtained suggest that hexammineruthenium(III) interacts with the NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase at a single reaction site different from that for fericyanide.

Cloning and transcription analysis of the ndh(A-I-G-E) gene cluster and the ndhD gene of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803

The plastid DNA of higher plants contains eleven reading frames that are homologous to subunits of the mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I). The genes are expressed, but a plastid NAD(P)H dehydrogenase has not yet been isolated and the function of the enzyme in plastid metabolism is unknown. Cyanobacteria also contain a NADH dehydrogenase that is homologous to the mitochondrial complex I. The enzyme is sensitive to rotenone and is located on the cytoplasmic and the thylakoid membrane. We report here the sequence of five subunits (ndhA, -I, G, -E and -D) of the NADH dehydrogenase from the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. As in plastid DNA, the genes ndh(A-I-G-E) are clustered and probably constitute an operon. The ndhD gene is associated with a gene encoding an iron-sulphur protein of photosystem I (psaC) as in plastid DNA. In contrast to the situation in plastids, psaC and ndhD are not cotranscribed but transcribed from opposite strands. The deduced amino acid sequence of the cyanobacterial polypeptides is more similar to the corresponding plastid (40-68% identity) than to the corresponding mitochondrial subunits (17-39% identity). Thus, the cyanobacterial NADH-dehydrogenase provides a prokaryotic model system which is more suitable to genetic analysis than the enzyme of plastids.

Characterization of the 25-kilodalton subunit of the energy-transducing NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase of Paracoccus denitrificans: sequence similarity to the 24-kilodalton subunit of the flavoprotein fraction of mammalian complex I

The NADH dehydrogenase complex isolated from Paracoccus denitrificans is composed of approximately 10 unlike polypeptides [Yagi, T. (1986) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 250, 302-311]. Structural genes encoding the subunits of this enzyme complex constitute at least one gene cluster [Xu, X., Matsuno-Yagi, A., & Yagi, T. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 6422-6428]. The 25-kDa subunit (NQO2), which has been isolated from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels, is a polypeptide of this enzyme complex. The partial N-terminal amino acid sequence and amino acid composition of the NQO2 subunit have been determined. On the basis of the amino acid sequence, the NQO2 gene was found to be located 1.7 kilobase pairs upstream of the gene for NADH-binding subunit (NQO1). The complete nucleotide sequence of the NQO2 gene was determined. It is composed of 717 base pairs and codes for 239 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 26,122. The NQO2 subunit is homologous to the Mr 24,000 subunit of the mammalian mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase which bears an electron paramagnetic resonance-visible binuclear iron-sulfur cluster (probably cluster N1b). Comparison of the predicted amino acid sequence of the Paracoccus NQO2 subunit with those of its mammalian counterparts suggests putative binding sites for the iron-sulfur cluster. In addition, nucleotide sequencing shows the presence of two unidentified reading frames between the NQO1 and NQO2 genes. These are designated URF1 and URF2 and are composed of 261 and 642 base pairs, respectively. The possible function of the protein coded for the URF2 is discussed.

Effect of exogenous and endogenous nitric oxide on mitochondrial respiration of rat hepatocytes

Although nitric oxide (.N = O) biosynthesis is inducible in rat hepatocytes (HC), the physiological significance of .N = O production by these cells is unknown. Short exposure of HC to authentic .N = O led to a concentration-dependent inhibition of mitochondrial aconitase, NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase, and succinate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complexes I and II of the mitochondrial electron transport chain). Most susceptible to .N = O inhibition was mitochondrial aconitase, in which a reduction in enzyme activity to 20.2 +/- 1.6% of control was observed. In contrast to mitochondrial aconitase, cytosolic aconitase activity was not inhibited by .N = O. After exposure to a maximal inhibitory concentration of .N = O, mitochondrial aconitase activity recovered completely within 6 h. Complex I did not fully recover within this incubation period. Endogenous .N = O biosynthesis was induced in HC by a specific combination of cytokines and lipopolysaccharide. After 18 h of incubation with these stimuli, a significant inhibition of mitochondrial aconitase activity to 70.8 +/- 2.4% of controls was detected. However, this was due only in part to the action of .N = O. A non- .N = O-dependent inhibition of mitochondrial function appeared to be mediated by tumor necrosis factor.

Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes with special reference to the mechanism of cerebral manifestations

A 29-year-old man with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy caused by partial deficiency of mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Complex I) is described. Clinical manifestations were characterized by generalized convulsion, dementia and stroke-like episodes consisting of hemianopsia, Gerstmann's syndrome and visual hallucination. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid lactate and pyruvate levels were elevated. Biochemical studies on a muscle biopsy specimen revealed partial deficiency of Complex I activity, and decreases in the 75-kDa and the 20-kDa subunits of Complex I by immunoblotting analysis. Serial brain CT scans revealed multiple low-density areas with fluctuating densities. Single photon emission tomographic study revealed preservation of blood circulation where CT scans showed diminished density in acute stage, suggesting the presence of abnormal cellular metabolism rather than vascular occlusion as the basic mechanism of his stroke-like episodes. Pathogenesis of neurological manifestations in MELAS is discussed with reference to the possible involvement of free radicals in inducing brain damage.