bongkrekic-acid and malonic-acid

Leak of protons into the mitochondrial matrix during substrate oxidation partially uncouples electron transport from phosphorylation of ADP, but the functions and source of basal and inducible proton leak in vivo remain controversial. In the present study we describe an endogenous activation of proton conductance in mitochondria isolated from rat and mouse skeletal muscle following addition of respiratory substrate. This endogenous activation increased with time, required a high membrane potential and was diminished by high concentrations of serum albumin. Inhibition of this endogenous activation by GDP [classically considered specific for UCPs (uncoupling proteins)], carboxyatractylate and bongkrekate (considered specific for the adenine nucleotide translocase) was examined in skeletal muscle mitochondria from wild-type and Ucp3-knockout mice. Proton conductance through endogenously activated UCP3 was calculated as the difference in leak between mitochondria from wild-type and Ucp3-knockout mice, and was found to be inhibited by carboxyatractylate and bongkrekate, but not GDP. Proton conductance in mitochondria from Ucp3-knockout mice was strongly inhibited by carboxyatractylate, bongkrekate and partially by GDP. We conclude the following: (i) at high protonmotive force, an endogenously generated activator stimulates proton conductance catalysed partly by UCP3 and partly by the adenine nucleotide translocase; (ii) GDP is not a specific inhibitor of UCP3, but also inhibits proton translocation by the adenine nucleotide translocase; and (iii) the inhibition of UCP3 by carboxyatractylate and bongkrekate is likely to be indirect, acting through the adenine nucleotide translocase.

Topics: Animals; Atractyloside; Bongkrekic Acid; Energy Metabolism; Female; Ion Channels; Male; Malonates; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Mitochondria, Muscle; Mitochondrial ADP, ATP Translocases; Mitochondrial Proteins; Muscle, Skeletal; Nitrogen Oxides; Palmitates; Proton Pumps; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Serum Albumin, Bovine; Time Factors; Uncoupling Agents; Uncoupling Protein 3

Changes in mitochondrial integrity, reactive oxygen species release and Ca2+ handling are proposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of many neurological disorders including methylmalonic acidaemia and Huntington's disease, which exhibit partial mitochondrial respiratory inhibition. In this report, we studied the mechanisms by which the respiratory chain complex II inhibitors malonate, methylmalonate and 3-nitropropionate affect rat brain mitochondrial function and neuronal survival. All three compounds, at concentrations which inhibit respiration by 50%, induced mitochondrial inner membrane permeabilization when in the presence of micromolar Ca2+ concentrations. ADP, cyclosporin A and catalase prevented or delayed this effect, indicating it is mediated by reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial permeability transition (PT). PT induced by malonate was also present in mitochondria isolated from liver and kidney, but required more significant respiratory inhibition. In brain, PT promoted by complex II inhibition was stimulated by increasing Ca2+ cycling and absent when mitochondria were pre-loaded with Ca2+ or when Ca2+ uptake was prevented. In addition to isolated mitochondria, we determined the effect of methylmalonate on cultured PC12 cells and freshly prepared rat brain slices. Methylmalonate promoted cell death in striatal slices and PC12 cells, in a manner attenuated by cyclosporin A and bongkrekate, and unrelated to impairment of energy metabolism. We propose that under conditions in which mitochondrial complex II is partially inhibited in the CNS, neuronal cell death involves the induction of PT.

Topics: Animals; Antimycin A; Bongkrekic Acid; Brain; Calcimycin; Calcium; Catalase; Cell Survival; Cyclosporins; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Interactions; Electron Transport Complex II; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; In Vitro Techniques; Ionophores; Malonates; Membrane Potentials; Methylmalonic Acid; Mitochondria; NADP; Neurons; Nitro Compounds; Oxygen Consumption; PC12 Cells; Permeability; Propionates; Rats; Rotenone; Tacrolimus; Tetrazolium Salts; Thiazoles; Uncoupling Agents