Effect of Bcl-2 overexpression on mitochondrial structure and function

Overexpression of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein enhances the uptake of fluorimetric dyes sensitive to mitochondrial membrane potential, suggesting that Bcl-2 changes the mitochondrial proton gradient. In this study, we performed calibrated measurements of mitochondrial respiration, membrane potential, DeltapH, and intramitochondrial [K+] in digitonin-permeabilized PC12 and GT1-7 neural cells that either do not express human Bcl-2 (control transfectants) or that were transfected with and overexpressed the human bcl-2 gene to evaluate whether Bcl-2 alters mitochondrial inner membrane ion transport. We found that although Bcl-2-overexpressing cells exhibit higher fluorescence responses to membrane potential, pH, and K+-sensitive dyes, this increased response is due to an enhanced accumulation of these dyes and not an increased mitochondrial membrane potential, DeltapH, or [K+]. This result is supported by the presence of equal respiratory rates in Bcl-2+ and Bcl-2- cells. Possible structural alterations in Bcl-2+ mitochondria that could account for increases in fluorescent dye uptake were evaluated using flow cytometry particle sizing and light scattering determinations. These experiments established that Bcl-2-overexpressing mitochondria present both increased volume and structural complexity. We suggest that increased mitochondrial volume and structural complexity in Bcl-2+ cells may be related to many of the effects of this protein involved in the prevention of cell death.27745428024280

Determination of the respiration rate of tomato fruit using flow analysis

A continuous-flow method using a conductometric detector was developed to measure CO2 resulting from respiration tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum var. Santa Clara). The fruit are inserted into a 3.4-1 vessel and the atmosphere in the vessel continuously monitored for CO2, using a closed-loop system. The CO2 produced from fruit respiration diffuses through a Teflon (R) membrane, dissociates in the acceptor stream of deionized water, and the conductivity (mainly of H+ and HCO3-) is monitored. The conductance increase in the acceptor stream is proportional to the carbon dioxide concentration in the gaseous sample. Each determination is performed in 7 min, a time interval short enough to prevent respiration inhibition due to high levels of CO2 inside the respiration vessel. The relative error of measurement is - 3.0% (n = 7) for a CO2 level of 589 ppmv. Average respiration rates for the tomatoes var. Santa Clara of various stages of maturity ranged from 40 to 120 mg kg(-1) h(-1) evolved CO2. These results had low levels of variance between measurements, were consistent between repetitions, and were comparable with published data. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.22324925

Method for monitoring of mitochondrial cytochrome c release during cell death: Immunodetection of cytochrome c by flow cytometry after selective permeabilization of the plasma membrane

Background: Cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytosol is a hallmark of apoptosis and is used to characterize the mutochondria-dependent pathway of this type of cell death. Techniques currently used to measure cytochrome c release, Western blot and fluorescence microscopy of imnumolabeled cells, are time-consuming and inaccurate. and the latter is still limited by sample size. Methods: We developed a rapid and reliable technique to detect cytochrome c release during drug-induced apoptosis, using flow cytometry. Plasma membrane of apoptotic HL-60 cells and thymocytes, treated with staurosporine and dexamethasone. respectively, were selectively permeabilized by digitonin at a low concentration. The released cytochrome c vas quickly washed out from cells and that which remained in the mitochondria was immunolabeled after fixing the cells. Results: The fraction of cells that retained their mitochondrial cytochrome c, or the highly fluorescent cells, gradually decreased so that after 4-8 h of drug treatment almost all the cells lost their cytochrome c and emerged as a population of low fluorescent cells. This was confirmed by parallel fluorescence microscopy of cells immunolabeled for cytochrome c. Conclusions: This technique allows the analysis of cytochrome c release from mitochondria of a large number of apoptotic cells in a short period of time and is proposed as an alternative to the methods Currently used for this same purpose.(c) 2006 International Society for Analytical Cytology.69A651552

Bovine milk powder adulteration with vegetable oils or fats revealed by MALDI-QTOF MS

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-QTOF MS) allowed detection of bovine milk powder adulteration with vegetable oils or fats with high speed and reliability, requiring little sample preparation (n-hexane extraction) and no prior separation procedures. This technique was also able to identify the adulterated employed in this fraud. Hydrogenated soybean oil addition in bovine milk powder sample generate a similar TAG profile to that observed on adulterated milk samples apprehended by the Brazilian Federal Police. In this sense, a robust method for high throughput forensic screening of milk powder adulteration by exogenous oils and fats is showed. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.1312722726Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Mitochondrial permeability transition induced by chemically generated singlet oxygen

Pure singlet molecular oxygen (O-1(2)) generated by thermal decomposition of the 3,3'-(1,4-naphthylidene) dipropionate endoperoxide (NDPO2), inhibited respiration of isolated rat liver mitochondria supported by NADH-linked substrates or succinate, but not by N,N,N,N-tetramehyl-p-phenylene-diamine (TMPD)/ascorbate. Under the latter conditions, mitochondria treated with 2.7 mM NDPO2 exhibited a decrease in transmembrane potential (DeltaPsi) in manner dependent on NDPO2 exposure time. This process was sensitive to the mitochondrial permeability transition inhibitors EGTA, dithiothreitol, ADP, and cyclosporin A. The presence of deuterium oxide (D2O), that increases O-1(2) lifetime, significantly enhanced NDPO2-promoted mitochondrial permeabilization. In addition, NDPO2-induced mitochondrial permeabilization was accompanied by DTT or ADP-sensitive membrane protein thiol oxidation. Taken together, these results provide evidence that mitochondrial permeability transition induced by chemically generated singlet oxygen is mediated by the oxidation of membrane protein thiols.34315716

Statins induce calcium-dependent mitochondrial permeability transition

Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors) are used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemic patients to reduce risk of cardiovascular diseases because of their cholesterol lowering action. Other lipid independent protective actions of statins have been reported. However, some adverse side effects have, also, been described. We report, here, that liver mitochondria isolated from hypercholesterolemic LDL receptor knockout mice treated during 15 days with therapeutic doses (100 mg/kg, p.o.) of lovastatin presented a higher susceptibility to develop membrane permeability transition (MPT). In experiments in vitro, lovastatin-induced MPT in a dose-dependent manner (10-80 mu M) by a mechanism sensitive to cyclosporin A (cyclophilin sequestrant), dithiothreitol (reducing agent), adenine nucleotide carrier inhibitor (ADP), catalase (H2O2 reductant) and EGTA (calcium chelator). In agreement with the inhibition of the mitochondrial swelling by dithiothreitol, lovastatin, also, decreased the content of total mitochondrial membrane protein thiol groups. Simvastatin had similar effects on mitochondria; however, pravastatin, a hydrophilic statin, had a weaker effect in inducing MPT. In conclusion, statins can act directly on mitochondria either in vivo or in vitro inducing permeability transition, which is a process involved in cell death. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.2194169912413

Stimulation of potato tuber respiration by cold stress is associated with an increased capacity of both plant uncoupling mitochondrial protein (PUMP) and alternative oxidase

The CO2 evolution of intact potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum, L., var. 'Bintje') was analyzed during a 10-day period of their warm (25+/-2degreesC) or cold (5+/-1degreesC) storage, to evaluate cold-stress effects on expression and activities of plant uncoupling mitochondrial protein (PUMP) and alternative oxidase (AOX). CO2 evolution rates were analyzed at 20degreesC, to reflect their possible capacities. The 20degreesC CO2 production declined from 13 to 8 mg kg(-1) h(-1) after 2 days of warm storage and then (after 3 to 7 days) decreased from 8 to 6.5 mg kg(-1) h(-1). In contrast, 20degreesC CO2 evolution did not change after the first day of cold storage, increased up to 14.5 mg kg(-1) h(-1) after 2 days, and decreased to about 12 mg kg(-1) h(-1) after 3 to 7 days of cold storage. Cold storage increased PUMP expression as detected by Western blots and led to elevated capacities of both PUMP (44%) and CN-resistant AOX (10 times), but not the cytochrome pathway. Since we found that cold storage led to about the same mitochondrial respiration of 40 nmol O-2 min(-1) mg(-1) attributable to each of the respective proteins, we conclude that both AOX and PUMP equally contribute to adaptation of potato tubers to cold.35321122

Fingerprinting and aging of ink by easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Using easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI-MS), fast and non-destructive fingerprinting identification and aging of ballpoint pen ink writings have been performed directly from paper surfaces under ordinary ambient conditions. EASI-MS data obtained directly from the ink lines showed that pens from different brands provide typical ink chemical profiles. Accelerated ink aging has also been monitored by EASI-MS revealing contrasting degradation behaviors for six different common ink dyes. As demonstrated for Basic Violet 3, some dyes display a cascade of degradation products whose abundances increase linearly with time thus functioning as 'chemical clocks' for ink aging. Analysis of questionable documents has confirmed the ink aging capabilities of EASI-MS. The order of superimposition at a crossing point has also been determined by EASI-MS. For two superimposed ink lines, continuous EASI-MS analysis has also shown that the EASI spray is able to penetrate through the layers and therefore both ink layers could be characterized.1354745750Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES