EFFECT OF CARBOXYATRACTYLATE ON TRANSMEMBRANE ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL OF PLANT-MITOCHONDRIA IN DIFFERENT METABOLIC STATES

The effects of carboxyatractylate (CAtr) on delta psi in sunflower hypocotyl and pea stem mitochondria were compared. In sunflower mitochondria, (1) CAtr at higher concentration increased delta psi in the presence of palmitate and delta psi in metabolic state 3; (2) ]1 microM CAtr did not prevent delta psi decrease, induced by ADP addition (in contrast to pea mitochondria); (3) The ATP-generated delta psi was small and was insensitive to 40 microM CAtr. Under the same conditions, in pea mitochondria generation of delta psi by ATP was inhibited by 1 microM CAtr

Effect of 6-ketocholestanol on FCCP- and DNP-induced uncoupling in plant mitochondria

Effect of 6-ketocholestanol on FCCP-induced and DNP-induced uncoupling in beef liver and pea stem mitochondria was studied, under experimental conditions at which this steroid abolished the effect of low concentrations of FCCP and other most potent uncouplers in rat mitochondria [Starkov et al. (1994) FEBS Lett., 355, 305\u2013308]. It is shown that, in both types of mitochondria, 6-ketocholestanol prevents or reverses the uncoupling induced by low concentrations of FCCP, but not that caused by high concentrations of FCCP or by any concentration of DNP. Progesterone and male sex hormones, showing recoupling capability in animal mitochondria, appear to be ineffective in the plant system. Cholesterol does not recouple in both animal and plant mitochondria. Plant steroids, such as \u3b2-sitosterol and stigmasterol, are also without effect

Zearalenone-Induced uncoupling in plant mitochondria is sensitive to 6-ketocholestanol

Zearalenone (F-2) is a mycotoxin which acts as a protonophoric uncoupler in plant mitochondria [Macri, F. and Vianello, A., (1990) J. Plant Physiol. 136, 754-757]. In the present paper, the mechanism of F-2-induced uncoupling in pea mitochondria was studied. The uncoupling by F-2 was partially reversed by 6- ketocholestanol (kCh) under conditions in which kCh completely reversed the FCCP-induced uncoupling and almost did not affect the palmitate-induced uncoupling. Recoupling effects of carboxyatractylate, ADP and cyclosporin A were small and could not essentially decrease the kCh-insensitive part of F-2-induced uncoupling. It is suggested that a protein, mediating kCh-sensitive uncoupling, is involved in the F-2 effect in plant mitochondria

The protecting effect of L-carnitine on Ca(2+)-loaded rat liver mitochondria

It is shown that L-carnitine strongly increases the ability of rat liver mitochondria to respond to the train of Ca2+ additions by a transient stimulation of the State-4 respiration rate. Such an effect requires ATP and the L-carnitine efficiency strongly decreases when ATP is omitted. Oleate influences the mitochondria in a fashion opposite to that of L-carnitine. The oleate effect is strongly diminished by L-carnitine. Again, the L-carnitine effect requires ATP, and D-carnitine fails to substitute for L-carnitine. It is suggested that L-carnitine removes, in an ATP-dependent manner, endogenous or added fatty acids, which are involved in oxidative damage of Ca(2+)-loaded mitochondria

[The protective effect of cyclosporine A, carnitine, and Mg(2+) with ADP during calcium(2+)-dependent permeabilization of mitochondria by fatty acids and activation of NADH oxidation by an external pathway]

The ability of cyclosporin A, Mg2+ plus ADP and L-carnitine to enhance energy recoupling in liver mitochondria and to inhibit the induction of the external pathway of NADH oxidation during Ca(2+)-dependent oxidative phosphorylation uncoupling by palmitate has been studied. Cyclosporin A, Mg2+ plus ADP and L-carnitine plus ATP prevent with an equal efficiency the induction of the external pathway of NADH oxidation by palmitate and Ca2+ in mitochondria but differ drastically by their ability to increase the coupling in permeabilized mitochondria. The recoupling effect of cyclosporin is manifested after addition of Mg2+ plus ADP. The protective action of Mg2+ plus ADP is prevented by preincubation with carboxyatractylate. Oxidation of NADH via an external pathway results in delta psi generation, however, only in the presence of the recoupling factors. The role of the cyclosporin-sensitive pore in Ca(2+)-dependent damage of mitochondria as well as in the induction of the external pathway of NADH oxidation is discussed

[Damage to calcium ion-loaded mitochondria by fatty acids and the protective effect of carnitine]

The effect of fatty acids and L-carnitine on Ca2+ retention in rat liver mitochondria have been studied. Ca(2+)-retention was estimated as a sum of consecutive Ca2+ additions which leaded to transient stimulation of respiration coupled with influx of Ca2+ L-carnitine increases the Ca(2+)-retention; such an effect requires ATP. The Ca(2+)-retention was increased in the presence of 50 microM ATP or ADP. In all cases carboxyatractylate prevented the increase in Ca(2+)-retention. Palmitate and FCCP added at concentrations producing similar stimulating effect on respiration inhibit Ca(2+)-retention to about the same degree. The effect of palmitate is strongly diminished by L-carnitine. Again, the L-carnitine effect requires ATP. The data obtained suggest that the protonophoric effect of fatty acid plays a crucial role in Ca(2+)-dependent damage of mitochondria

Sensitive solid-state optical sensible materials for photothermal determination of trace metals

Methods of photothermal (thermal-lens) determination of iron and mercury on the basis of solid polymer matrices with immobilized reagents are developed. These methods combine selective and efficient preconcentration of trace elements to be analyzed on a transparent polymer matrix, the sensitivity of determination with the reliable and traceable photometric procedures and highly sensitive thermal-lens detection (enhanced in polymers compared to solutions). The advantage of this approach is in the use of sensitive organic reagents previously developed for spectrophotometry. In this study, transparent polymethacrylate matrices modified with copper dithizonate and 1,10-phenanthroline were applied to the determination of mercury(II) and iron(II), respectively