Activities of NAD-specific and NADP-specific isocitrate dehydrogenases in rat-liver mitochondria. Studies with D-threo-alpha-methylisocitrate.

The contributions of NAD-specific and NADP-specific isocitrate dehydrogenases to isocitrate oxidation in isolated intact rat liver mitochondria were examined using DL-threo-alpha-methylisocitrate (3-hydroxy-1,2,3-butanetricarboxylate) to specifically inhibit flux through NADP-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase. Under a range of conditions tested with respiring mitochondria, the rate of isocitrate oxidation was decreased by about 20--40% by inhibition of NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase, and matrix NADP became more oxidized. (a) For mitochondria incubated with externally added DL-isocitrate and citrate, the rate of isocitrate oxidation obtained by extrapolation to infinite alpha-methylisocitrate concentration was approximately 70% of the uninhibited rate in both state 3 and state 4. (b) With pyruvate plus malate added as substrates of citric acid cycle oxidation and isocitrate generated intramitochondrially, a concentration of alpha-methylisocitrate (400 microM) sufficient for 99.99% inhibition of NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase inhibited isocitrate oxidation in states 4 and 3 by 21 +/- 6% and 19 +/- 11% (mean +/- SEM), respectively. (c) With externally added isocitrate and citrate, the addition of NH4Cl increased isocitrate oxidation by 3--4-fold, decreased NADPH levels by 30--40% and 2-oxoglutarate accumulation by about 40%. The further addition of 600 microM alpha-methylisocitrate decreased the NH4Cl-stimulated isocitrate oxidation by about 40% and decreased NADPH to about 30% of the level prevailing in the absence of NH4Cl; nevertheless, the rate of isocitrate oxidation was still twice as large in the presence of NH4Cl and alpha-methylisocitrate as in their absence. Experiments were also performed with intact mitochondria incubated with respiratory inhibitors to determine additional factors which might affect the flux through the two isocitrate dehydrogenases. (a) In the coupled reduction of acetoacetate by isocitrate, where the rate of reoxidation of reduced pyridine nucleotides is limited by NAD-specific 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, 85--100% of the rate of 3-hydroxybutyrate formation was retained in the presence of 400--900 microM alpha-methylisocitrate. (b) In a system where the rate of isocitrate oxidation is limited by the rate of NADPH reoxidation by glutathione reductase, the rate of glutathione reduction extrapolated to infinite alpha-methylisocitrate concentration was from 20--40% of the uninhibited rate. (c) In the coupled synthesis of glutamate from isocitrate and NH4Cl, where the reoxidation of NADPH and NADH can occur via glutamate dehydrogenase, the rate of glutamate production extrapolated to infinite alpha-methylisocitrate concentration was about 60% of the uninhibited rate.     

Preparation of coenzymic activity of soluble polyethyleneimine-bound NADP+ derivatives.

Alkylation at N-1 of the NADP+ adenine ring with 3,4-epoxybutanoic acid gave 1-(2-hydroxy-3-carboxypropyl)-NADP+. Enzymic reduction of the latter, followed by alkaline Dimroth rearrangement and enzymic reoxidation, gave N6-(2-hydroxy-3-carboxypropyl)-NADP+. On the other hand, bromination at C-8 of the NADP+ adenine ring, followed by reaction with the disodium salt of 3-mercaptroproionic acid, gave 8-(2-carboxyethylthio)-NADP+. Carbodimide coupling of the three carboxylic NADP+ derivatives to polyethyleneimine afforded the corresponding macromolecular NADP+ analogues. The carboxylic and the polyethyleneimine derivatives synthesized have been shown to be co-enzymically active with yeast glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, liver glutamate dehydrogenase and yeast aldehyde dehydrogenase. The degree of efficiency relative to NADP+ with the three enzymes ranged from 17% to 100% for the carboxylic derivatives and from 1% to 36% for the polyethyleneimine analogues. On comparing the efficiences with the three enzymes of the N-1 derivatives to the one of the corresponding N6 anc C-8 analogues, the order of activity was N-1 greater than N6 greater C-8, except in the case of the carboxylic compounds with glutamate dehydrogenase, where this order was inverted. None of these modified cofactors were active with pig heart isocitrate dehydrogenase.     

Synthesis of poly(ethylene glycol)-bound NADP by selective modification at the 6-amino group of NADP

The N-1 position of the adenine ring of NADP was selectively alkylated by the reaction of 2',3'-cyclic NADP with 3-propiolactone to yield 2',3'-cyclic 1-(2-carboxyethyl)-NADP (I). Derivative I was converted to a mixture of the isomers of N6-(2-carboxyethyl)-NADP with their phosphate groups at the 2' or 3' position (IIa and IIb) by chemical reduction, alkaline rearrangement and chemical reoxidation. Carbodiimide coupling of the mixture of IIa and IIb to alpha, omega-diaminopoly(ethylene glycol) gave the 2', 3'-cyclic derivative of poly(ethylene glycol)-bound NADP (III), which was enzymically hydrolyzed to yield poly(ethylene glycol)-bound NADP (PEG-NADP). PEG-NADP has good cofactor activity (16-100% of that of NADP) for NADP-specific and NAD(P)-specific dehydrogenases except isocitrate and glucose dehydrogenases. For NAD-specific enzymes, PEG-NADP has higher cofactor activity than NADP: for horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase, the cofactor activity of PEG-NADP is 40 times that of NADP and 14% of that of NAD. Kinetic studies show that for most of enzymes tested, Km values for PEG-NADP are larger than those for NADP and V values for PEG-NADP are similar to those for NADP. PEG-NADP proved to be applicable in a continuous enzyme reactor, in which reactions of glutamate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were coupled by the recycling of PEG-NADP.     

Regulation of NAD- and NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenases by reduction levels of pyridine nucleotides in mitochondria and cytosol of pea leaves

Regulation of NAD- and NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenases (NAD-ICDH, EC 1.1.1.41, and NADP-ICDH, EC 1.1.1.42) by the level of reduced and oxidized pyridine nucleotides has been investigated in pea (Pisum sativum L.) leaves. The affinities of mitochondrial and cytosolic ICDH enzymes to substrates and inhibitors were determined on partially purified preparations in forward and reverse directions. From the kinetic data, it follows that NADP(+)- and NAD(+)-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenases in mitochondria represent a system strongly responding to the intramitochondrial NADPH and NADH levels. The NADPH, NADP(+), NADH and NAD(+) concentrations were determined by subcellular fractionation of pea leaf protoplasts using membrane filtration in mitochondria and cytosol in darkness and in the light under saturating and limiting CO(2) conditions. The cytosolic NADPH/NADP ratio was about 1 and almost constant both in darkness and in the light. In mitochondria, the NADPH/NADP ratio was low in darkness (0.2) and increased in the light, reaching 3 in limiting CO(2) conditions compared to 1 in saturating CO(2). At high reduction levels of NADP and NAD observed at limiting CO(2) in the light, i.e. when photorespiratory glycine is the main mitochondrial substrate, isocitrate oxidation in mitochondria will be suppressed and citrate will be transported to the cytosol ('citrate valve'), where the cytosolic NADP-ICDH supplies 2-oxoglutarate for the photorespiratory ammonia refixation.     

Regulation of citric acid cycle by calcium

The relationship of extramitochondrial Ca2+ to intramitochondrial Ca2+ and the influence of intramitochondrial free Ca2+ concentrations on various steps of the citric acid cycle were evaluated. Ca2+ was measured using the Ca2+ sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2 trapped inside the rat heart mitochondria. The rate of utilization of specific substrates and the rate of accumulation of citric acid cycle intermediates were measured at matrix free Ca2+ ranging from 0 to 1.2 microM. A change in matrix free Ca2+ from 0 to 0.3 microM caused a 135% increase in ADP stimulated oxidation of 0.6 mM alpha-ketoglutarate (K0.5 = 0.15 microM). In the absence of ADP and the presence of 0.6 mM alpha-ketoglutarate, Ca2+ (0.3 microM) increased NAD(H) reduction from 0 to 40%. On the other hand, when pyruvate (10 microM to 5 mM) was substrate, pyruvate dehydrogenase flux was insensitive to Ca2+ and isocitrate dehydrogenase was sensitive to Ca2+ only in the presence of added ADP. In separate experiments pyruvate dehydrogenase activation (dephosphorylation) was measured. Under the conditions of the present study, pyruvate dehydrogenase was found to be almost 100% activated at all levels of Ca2+, thus explaining the Ca2+ insensitivity of the flux measurements. However, if the mitochondria were incubated in the absence of pyruvate, with excess alpha-ketoglutarate and excess ATP, the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was only 20% active in the absence of added Ca2+ and activity increased to 100% at 2 microM Ca2+. Activation by Ca2+ required more Ca2+ (K0.5 = 1 microM) than for alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase. The data suggest that in heart mitochondria alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase may be a more physiologically relevant target of Ca2+ action than pyruvate dehydrogenase.     

Reduction of oxaloacetate by pig liver isocitrate dehydrogenase

Pure isocitrate dehydrogenase from pig liver cytoplasm catalyses the reduction of oxaloacetate by NADPH at a rate comparable with that observed for the usual substrates. The products are NADP and D-malate, the 'unatural' isomer. High concentrations of magnesium (25 mM) are necessary for maximal activity, and the reaction is not appreciably reversible. These results are discussed in connection with the inhibition of the enzyme by mixtures of glyoxylate and oxaloacetate. The reduction is not thought to be of physiological importance.     

The influence of fasting on chicken liver metabolites, enzymes and mitochondrial respiration

Chicken liver mitochondria were isolated in relatively pure form as indicated by electron microscopy and marker enzyme assay. The rate of respiration, respiratory control index and ADP/O ratios with several different substrates indicated that chicken liver mitochondria are more uncoupled than rat liver mitochondria. Chickens have ten-fold higher malate concentrations in liver than do rats, 2-oxoglutarate was also more abundant in chicken livers. Fasted birds had a five-fold increase in beta-hydroxybutyrate as compared with fed birds; whereas malate and lactate concentrations decreased. Fasted birds had increased levels of isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP dependent) and lactate dehydrogenase in the cytosol, and increased malate dehydrogenase (NAD dependent), isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP dependent) and malic enzyme activities in the mitochondria.     

Development of NADPH-producing pathways in rat heart.

The behaviours of the principal NADPH-producing enzymes (glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, cytoplasmic and mitochondrial 'malic' enzyme and NAPD+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase) were studied during the development of rat heart and compared with those in brain and liver. 1. The enzymes belonging to the pentose phosphate pathway exhibit lower activities in heart than in other tissues throughout development. 2. The pattern of induction of heart cytoplasmic and mitochondrial 'malic' enzymes does not parallel that found in liver. Heart mitochondrial enzyme is slowly induced from birth onwards. 3. NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase has similar activities in all tissues in 18-day foetuses. 4. Heart mitochondrial NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase is greatly induced in the adult, where it attains a 10-fold higher activity than in liver. 5. The physiological functions of mitochondrial 'malic' enzyme and NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase are discussed.     

Steroid hydroxylations by guinea-pig adrenal tissue fractions

The effect of oxidizable substrates, -ketoglutarate and isocitrate on 11β-hydroxylation in guinea-pig adrenal mitochondria has been studied. These substrates supported the conversion of Compound S (17,21-dihydroxy-pregnene-3,20-dione) into cortisol as well as exogenously added NADPH in Ca²⁺-swollen mitochondria. Progesterone was also hydroxylated at the C-11β position but not at the C-21 position. Microsomes, on the other hand, when NADPH was added, converted pregnenolone, progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone into Compound S, but showed no steroid 11β-hydroxylating activity. Evidence obtained in incubations carried out with -ketoglutarate and isocitrate in the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol, oligomycin, amytal and antimycin A indicate that -ketoglutarate utilization for steroid 11β-hydroxylation is dependent on activity of the classical electron chain. This activity can be related to high energy intermediates possibly needed for NADPH reduction arising from NADH oxidation via the energy-requiring transhydrogenase reaction. These reactions do not appear necessary for isocitrate utilization and isocitrate oxidation probably gives rise to intramitochondrial NADPH reduction as a result of a NADP⁺-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase. Data obtained in oxygen uptake studies with an antimycin A blocked system supplied with -ketoglutarate, are in accordance with this conclusion. The high-speed supernatant fraction (103000 × g) could partially replace -ketoglutarate, isocitrate or Ca²⁺ + NADPH, indicating that it contains a factor(s) (the physiological substrate?) which brings about intramitochondrial NADPH.     

beta-Sulfur substituted alpha-ketoglutarates as inhibitors and alternate substrates for isocitrate dehydrogenases and certain other enzymes

The RS-isomers of beta-mercapto-alpha-ketoglutarate, beta-methylmercapto-alpha-ketoglutarate and beta-methylmercapto-alpha-hydroxyglutarate have been synthesized. Beta-Mercapto-alpha-ketoglutarate was a potent inhibitor, competitive with isocitrate and noncompetitive with NADP+, of the mitochondrial NADP-specific isozyme from pig heart (Ki = 5 nM; Km (DL-isocitrate)/Ki(RS-beta-mercapto-alpha-ketoglutarate) = 650) and pig liver, the cytosolic isozyme from pig liver (I0.5 = 23 nM), and the NADP-linked enzymes from yeast (Ki = 58 nM) and Escherichia coli (Ki = 58 nM) at pH 7.4 and with Mg2+ as activator. beta-Mercapto-alpha-ketoglutarate was also an effective inhibitor of NADP-isocitrate-dehydrogenase activity in intact liver mitochondria. beta-Mercapto-alpha-ketoglutarate was a much less potent inhibitor for heart NAD-isocitrate dehydrogenase (Ki = 520 nM) than for the NADP-specific enzyme. beta-Methylmercapto-alpha-ketoglutarate (I0.5 = 10 microM) was a much less effective inhibitor than the beta-mercapto derivative for heart NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase. The beta-sulfur substituted alpha-ketoglutarates were substrates for the oxidation of NADPH by heart NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase without requiring CO2. beta-Methylmercapto-alpha-hydroxyglutarate, the expected product of reduction of beta-methylmercapto-alpha-ketoglutarate, did not cause reduction of NADP+ but it was an inhibitor competitive with isocitrate for NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase. The beta-sulfur substituted alpha-ketoglutarate derivatives were alternate substrates for alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and the cytosolic and mitochondrial isozymes of heart aspartate aminotransferase but had no effect on glutamate dehydrogenase or alanine aminotransferase.     

Regulation of p-nitroanisole O-demethylation in perfused rat liver. Adenine nucleotide inhibition of NADP+-dependent dehydrogenases and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase.

Perfusion of rat livers with 10 mM-fructose or pretreatment of the rat with 6-aminonicotinamide (70 mg/kg) 6 h before perfusion decreased intracellular ATP concentrations and increased the rate of p-nitroanisole O-demethylation. This increase was accompanied by a decrease in the free [NADP+]/[NADPH] ratio calculated from concentrations of substrates assumed to be in near-equilibrium with isocitrate dehydrogenase. After pretreatment with 6-aminonicotinamide the [NADP+]/[NADPH] ratio also declined. Reduction of NADP+ during mixed-function oxidation may be explained by inhibition of of one or more NADPH-generating enzymes. Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and "malic" enzyme, partially purified from livers of phenobarbital-treated rats, were inhibited by ATP and ADP. Inhibitor constants of ATP for the four dehydrogenases varied considerably, ranging from 9 micrometer for "malic" enzyme to 1.85 mM for glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase. NADPH-cytochrome c reductase was also inhibited by ATP (Ki 2.8 mM) and by ADP (Ki 0.9 mM), but not by AMP. Concentrations of ATP and ADP that inhibited glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and the reductase were comparable with concentrations in the intact liver. Thus agents that lower intracellular ATP may accelerate rates of mixed-function oxidation by a concerted mechanism involving deinhibition of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and one or more NADPH-generating enzymes.     

Oxidative Enzymes and Pathways of Hexose and Triose Metabolism in Chlorella

Cell-free preparations of Chlorella pyrenoidosa Chick, van Niel's strain, were assayed for oxidative enzymes, utilizing isotopic and spectrophotometric techniques. The enzyme activity of heterotrophic and autotrophic cells was compared. The study was divided into categories, one concerned with the spectrophotometric detection of enzymes involved in the initial reactions of glycolysis and the hexose monophosphate shunt, and the other with the direct oxidation of glucose as compared with that oxidized via glycolysis. The reduction of pyridine nucleotides in crude extracts was studied with glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, 6-phosphogluconate, and fructose-1-6-diphosphate as substrates. Enzymes detected in both heterotrophic and autotrophic cells were hexokinase, fructose-diphosphate-aldolase, NAD-linked 3-phosphoglyceraldchyde dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, and a NADP-linked 3-phosphoglyceraldchyde dehydrogenase. In addition to isotopic studies designed to make an appraisal of the hexose monophosphate shunt, a comparison of the rate of reduction of NADP by glucose-6-phosphate and 6-phosphogluconate in relation to the reduction of NAD by 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde was made in light- and dark-grown cells. The rate of reduction of NADP appeared to be lowered in the light-grown cells, suggesting, as did also the isotopic studies, that the hexose monophosphate shunt is less active in autotrophic metabolism than in heterotrophic metabolism.     

Isocitrate Dehydrogenases and NADP-Alcohol Dehydrogenase of Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris*

SYNOPSIS. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) linked isocitrate dehydrogenase and NADP linked alcohol dehydrogenase have been detected in Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris. The NADP isocitrate dehydrogenase showed half-maximal activity at a concentration of 3 × 10^?5 M DL-isocitrate, but did not follow simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to substrate concentration. The optimal NADP concentration was about 0.06 mM, and activity fell off sharply on either side of this optimum. Fresh preparations of the enzyme migrated as single bands in disc electrophoresis, but two enzymatically active bands were present after frozen storage. The NAD isocitrate dehydrogenase followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with respect to substrate. In crude extracts, no requirement for adenosine monophosphate, adenosine diphosphate, or sulfhydryl compounds could be found. NADP alcohol dehydrogenase activity could be found with either ethanol or propanol as substrate. Low concentrations of coenzyme A were moderately inhibitory. In tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane buffer (tris buffer), Euglena extracts reduced NAD slowly in the absence of exogenous substrate. In the absence of tris, no such reduction occurred. A similar phenomenon was observed with NADP.     

Characterization of an active site peptide modified by the substrate analogue 3-bromo-2-ketoglutarate on a single chain of dimeric NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase

The substrate analogue 3-bromo-2-ketoglutarate reacts with pig heart NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase to yield partially inactive enzyme. Following 65% inactivation, no further inactivation was observed. Concomitant with this inactivation, incorporation of 1 mol of reagent/mol of enzyme dimer was measured. The dependence of the inactivation rate on bromoketoglutarate concentration is consistent with reversible binding of reagent (KI = 360 microM) prior to irreversible reaction. Manganous isocitrate reduces the rate of inactivation by 80% but does not provide complete protection even at saturating concentrations. Complete protection is obtained with NADP+ or the NADP+-alpha-ketoglutarate adduct. By modification with [14C]bromoketoglutarate or by NaB3H4 reduction of modified enzyme, a single major radiolabeled tryptic peptide was obtained by high performance liquid chromatography with the sequence: Asp-Leu-Ala-Gly-X-Ile-His-Gly-Leu-Ser-Asn-Val-Lys. Evidence in the following paper (Bailey, J.M., Colman, R.F. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 12620-12626) indicates that X is glutamic acid. Enzyme modified at the coenzyme site by 2-(bromo-2,3-dioxobutylthio)-1,N(6)-ethenoadenosine 2',5'-biphosphate in the presence of manganous isocitrate is not further inactivated by bromoketoglutarate. Bromoketoglutarate-modified enzyme exhibits a stoichiometry of binding isocitrate and NADPH equal to 1 mol/mol of enzyme dimer, half that of native enzyme. These results indicate that bromoketoglutarate modifies a residue in the nicotinamide region of the coenzyme site proximal to the substrate site and that reaction at one catalytic site of the enzyme dimer decreases the activity of the other site.     

The role of Ca 2+ in control of malic enzyme activity in bovine adrenal cortex mitochondria

Low physiological levels of Ca²⁺, in the presence of Mg²⁺ allow the reduction of extramitochondrial NADP+ via intramitochondrial malic enzyme. The rate of reduction is dependent on the concentration of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. The Ca²⁺ levels producing the appearance of malic enzyme activity also cause an ultrastructural transformation from the aggregated to the orthodox form. The phenomenon requires electron transport and is blocked by agents which interfere with active Ca²⁺ accumulation.     

Enzyme histochemistry of the sheep uterus during the oestrous cycle

Enzyme histochemical techniques were applied to frozen sheep uteri from different stages of the oestrous cycle. The localization and activities of succinate, lactate, glucose-6-phosphate, and isocitrate (NADP+) dehydrogenases and acid and alkaline phosphatases were studied in the luminal and glandular epithelia, caruncle and myometrium. Enzyme activity in the sections was scored on a scale of 0--5. In general the enzyme activity in the uterine caruncles and epithelia was higher than in the myometrium. The myometrium did not show any alkaline phosphatase activity and isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP+) activity was negligible. The low activities of acid phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase and the moderate levels of glucose-6-phosphate and succinate dehydrogenases in the myometrium were constant. The caruncular tissue showed high levels of phosphatases and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, moderate levels of lactate and succinate dehydrogenases, and low levels of isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP+) throughout the oestrous cycle. Much lower phosphatase and isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP+) levels were found in the epithelium of deep glands compared with superficial glands. The high activity of acid and alkaline phosphatases in the luminal epithelium and the superficial glands was constant from mid-cycle to ovulation, but a significant decrease was observed immediately after ovulation. The level of dehydrogenases in epithelia was generally high and did not change during the oestrous cycle.     

Effects of micromolar concentrations of free calcium ions on the reduction of heart mitochondrial NAD(P) by 2-oxoglutarate.

1. The reduction of mitochondrial NAD(P) by 2-oxoglutarate was monitored as a measure of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase activity in its intramitochondrial locale. In the absence of ADP, steady-state reduction of NAD(P) by 0.5 mM-2-oxoglutarate in the presence of 0.5 mM-L-malate was markedly increased by extramitochondrial Ca2+, with 50% activation at pCa 6.58, when the Na+ concentration was 10 mM, the Pi concentration ws 5 mM and the added Mg2+ concentration was 1 mM. Omission of Pi resulted in 50% activation at pCa 6.77; omission of Mg2+ resulted in 50% activation at pCA greater than or equal to 7.3. 2. The activation of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase could be reversed on addition of an excess of EGTA. The rate of inactivation was dependent on the concentration of Na+, with K0.5 2.5 mM, which is consistent with the rate of withdrawal of Ca2+ from the mitochondria being the limiting factor. 3. The steady-state reduction of cytochrome c by 2-oxoglutarate (0.5 mM) also showed a marked dependence on pCa in the absence of ADP; in the presence of an excess of ADP, no such effect of Ca2+ was detectable. 4. Mitochondria from the hearts of senescent rats showed an undiminished rate of dehydrogenase activation by Ca2+ but a rate of inactivation by excess EGTA that was diminished by 40%. Direct studies of Ca2+ egress with Arsenazo III confirmed a decrement in rate with old age. 5. Studies of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase activity as a function of the mitochondrial context of Ca2+, as measured by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry, showed half-maximal activation at a mitochondrial content of 1.0 nmol of Ca2+/mg of protein, and saturation at 3 nmol/mg. 6. These findings support the model advanced by Denton, Richards & Chin [(1978) Biochem. J. 176, 899-906], of a control of the tricarboxylate cycle by intramitochondrial Ca2+, and demonstrate the range of mitochondrial Ca2+ content over which this may occur. In addition, they raise the possibility of a disturbance of this control mechanism in old age.     

The proton-translocating nicotinamide–dinucleotide (phosphate) transhydrogenase of rat liver mitochondria

1. The NAD(P) transhydrogenase activity of the soluble fraction of sonicated rat liver mitochondrial preparations was greater than the NAD-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase activity, and the NAD-linked and NADP-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase activities were not additive. The NAD-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase activity was destroyed by an endogenous autolytic system or by added nucleotide pyrophosphatase, and was restored by a catalytic amount of NADP. 2. We concluded that the isocitrate dehydrogenase of rat liver mitochondria was exclusively NADP-specific, and that the oxoglutarate/isocitrate couple could therefore be used unequivocally as redox reactant for NADP in experiments designed to operate only the NAD(P) transhydrogenase (or loop 0) segment of the respiratory chain in intact mitochondria. 3. During oxidation of isocitrate by acetoacetate in intact, anaerobic, mitochondria via the rhein-sensitive, but rotenone- and arsenite-insensitive, NAD(P) transhydrogenase, measurements of the rates of carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone-sensitive and carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone-insensitive pH change in the presence of various oxoglutarate/isocitrate concentration ratios gave an -->H(+)/2e(-) quotient of 1.94+/-0.12 for outward proton translocation by the NAD(P) transhydrogenase. 4. Measurements with a K(+)-sensitive electrode confirmed that the electrogenicity of the NAD(P) transhydrogenase reaction corresponded to the translocation of one positive charge per acid equivalent. 5. Sluggish reversal of the NAD(P) transhydrogenase reaction resulted in a significant inward proton translocation. 6. The possibility that isocitrate might normally be oxidized via loop 0 at a redox potential of -450mV, or even more negative, is discussed, and implies that a P/O quotient of 4 for isocitrate oxidation might be expected.     

Purification and properties of NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase from the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

NADP-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase activity has been screened in several cyanobacteria grown on different nitrogen sources; in all the strains tested isocitrate dehydrogenase activity levels were similar in cells grown either on ammonium or nitrate. The enzyme from the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 has been purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by a procedure that includes Reactive-Red-120-agarose affinity chromatography and phenyl-Sepharose chromatography as main steps. The enzyme was purified about 600-fold, with a yield of 38% and a specific activity of 15.7 U/mg protein. The native enzyme (108 kDa) is composed of two identical subunits with an apparent molecular mass of 57 kDa. Synechocystis isocitrate dehydrogenase was absolutely specific for NADP as electron acceptor. Apparent Km values were 125, 59 and 12 microM for Mg2+, D,L-isocitrate and NADP, respectively, using Mg2+ as divalent cation and 4, 5.7 and 6 microM for Mn2+, D,L-isocitrate and NADP, respectively, using Mn2+ as a cofactor. The enzyme was inhibited non-competitively by ADP (Ki, 6.4 mM) and 2-oxoglutarate, (Ki, 6 mM) with respect to isocitrate and in a competitive manner by NADPH (Ki, 0.6 mM). The circular-dichroism spectrum showed a protein with a secondary structure consisting of about 30% alpha-helix and 36% beta-pleated sheet. The enzyme is an acidic protein with an isoelectric point of 4.4 and analysis of the NH2-terminal sequence revealed 45% identity with the same region of Escherichia coli isocitrate dehydrogenase. The aforementioned data indicate that NADP isocitrate dehydrogenase from Synechocystis resembles isocitrate dehydrogenase from prokaryotes and shows similar molecular and structural properties to the well-known E. coli enzyme.     

The human PICD gene encodes a cytoplasmic and peroxisomal NADP(+)-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase.

Human PICD was identified by homology probing the data base of expressed sequence tags with the protein sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Idp3p, a peroxisomal NADP(+)-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase. The human PICD cDNA contains a 1242-base pair open reading frame, and its deduced protein sequence is 59% identical to yeast Idp3p. Expression of PICD partially rescued the fatty acid growth defect of the yeast idp3 deletion mutant suggesting that PICD is functionally homologous to Idp3p. Kinetic studies on bacterially expressed PICD demonstrated that this enzyme catalyzed the oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate to 2-oxoglutarate with a specific activity of 22.5 units/mg and that PICD displayed K(M) values of 76 microM for isocitrate and 112 microM for NADP(+). In subcellular fractionation experiments, we found PICD in both peroxisomes and cytoplasm of human and rat liver cells, with approximately 27% of total PICD protein associated with peroxisomes. The presence of PICD in mammalian peroxisomes suggests roles in the regeneration of NADPH for intraperoxisomal reductions, such as the conversion of 2, 4-dienoyl-CoAs to 3-enoyl-CoAs, as well as in peroxisomal reactions that consume 2-oxoglutarate, namely the alpha-hydroxylation of phytanic acid. As for cytoplasmic PICD, the phenotypes of patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (Luzzatto, L., and Mehta, A. (1995) in The Metabolic and Molecular Bases of Inherited Disease (Scriver, C. R., Beaudet, A. L., Sly, W. S., and Valle, D., eds) Vol. 3, 7th Ed., pp. 3367-3398, McGraw-Hill Inc., New York) suggest that PICD serves a significant role in cytoplasmic NADPH production, particularly under conditions that do not favor the use of the hexose monophosphate shunt (Luzzatto et al.).