Oxidative phosphorylation mechanisms

The unique properties and actions of an inhibitory substance can often help to identify aspects of an enzyme mechanism. Many details of electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation mechanisms have been gained from studying the effects of particular inhibitors. Figure 21.29 presents the structures of some electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors. The sites of inhibition by these agents are indicated in Figure 21.30. 

Since biochemists clearly understood that H+ ion was involved in oxidative phosphorylation, the alternative ATP formation concept occurred as a counter to chemical conjugation. This concept was called the chemiosmotic hypothesis of the oxidative phosphorylation mechanism. This hypothesis was developed by Mitchell, the famous English biochemist [20], who turned is attention to the blind sides of the chemical conjugation concept. 

The thylakoid membrane is asymmetrically organized, or sided, like the mitochondrial membrane. It also shares the property of being a barrier to the passive diffusion of H ions. Photosynthetic electron transport thus establishes an electrochemical gradient, or proton-motive force, across the thylakoid membrane with the interior, or lumen, side accumulating H ions relative to the stroma of the chloroplast. Like oxidative phosphorylation, the mechanism of photophosphorylation is chemiosmotic. 

Clofibrate causes a necrotizing myopathy, particularly in patients with renal failure, nephrotic syndrome or hypothyroidism. The myopathy is painful and myokymia of unknown origin is sometimes present. The mechanism of damage is not known, but p-chlorophenol is a major metabolite of clofibrate and p-chlorophe-nol is a particularly potent uncoupler of cellular oxidative phosphorylation and disrupts the fluidity of lipid membranes. Muscle damage is repaired rapidly on the cessation of treatment. 

In addition to the foregoing, three further examples in this list (numbers 5-7) deserve consideration. These are (5) interaction of endocrine disrupters with the estrogen receptor, (6) the action of uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation, and (7) mechanisms of oxidative stress. Until now only the first is well represented by biomarker assays that have been employed in ecotoxicology. 

Much information about the respiratory chain has been obtained by the use of inhibitors, and, conversely, this has provided knowledge about the mechanism of action of several poisons (Figure 12-7). They may be classified as inhibitors of the respiratory chain, inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation, and uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation. 

THE CHEMIOSMOTIC THEORY EXPLAINS THE MECHANISM OF OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION... 

The first is cell injury (cytotoxicity), which can be severe enough to result in cell death. There are many mechanisms by which xenobiotics injure cells. The one considered here is covalent binding to cell macromol-ecules of reactive species of xenobiotics produced by metabolism. These macromolecular targets include DNA, RNA, and protein. If the macromolecule to which the reactive xenobiotic binds is essential for short-term cell survival, eg, a protein or enzyme involved in some critical cellular function such as oxidative phosphorylation or regulation of the permeability of the plasma membrane, then severe effects on cellular function could become evident quite rapidly. 

The individual steps of the multistep chemical reduction of COj with the aid of NADPHj require an energy supply. This supply is secured by participation of ATP molecules in these steps. The chloroplasts of plants contain few mitochondria. Hence, the ATP molecules are formed in plants not by oxidative phosphorylation of ADP but by a phosphorylation reaction coupled with the individual steps of the photosynthesis reaction, particularly with the steps in the transition from PSII to PSI. The mechanism of ATP synthesis evidently is similar to the electrochemical mechanism involved in their formation by oxidative phosphorylation owing to concentration gradients of the hydrogen ions between the two sides of internal chloroplast membranes, a certain membrane potential develops on account of which the ATP can be synthesized from ADP. Three molecules of ATP are involved in the reaction per molecule of COj. 

The mechanism for the production of O2" in ischaemic tissue appears to involve changes in purine metabolism within ischaemic cells. Sublethal hypoxia decelerates mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, rendering the production of ATP dependent upon the... 

Dinitrophenol is a member of the aromatic family of pesticides, many of which exhibit insecticide and fungicide activity. DNP is considered to be highly toxic to humans, with a lethal oral dose of 14 to 43mg/kg. Environmental exposure to DNP occurs primarily from pesticide runoff to water. DNP is used as a pesticide, wood preservative, and in the manufacture of dyes. DNP is an uncoupler, or has the ability to separate the flow of electrons and the pumping of ions for ATP synthesis. This means that the energy from electron transfer cannot be used for ATP synthesis [75,77]. The mechanism of action of DNP is believed to inhibit the formation of ATP by uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation. 

Allelopathic inhibition of mineral uptake results from alteration of cellular membrane functions in plant roots. Evidence that allelochemicals alter mineral absorption comes from studies showing changes in mineral concentration in plants that were grown in association with other plants, with debris from other plants, with leachates from other plants, or with specific allelochemicals. More conclusive experiments have shown that specific allelochemicals (phenolic acids and flavonoids) inhibit mineral absorption by excised plant roots. The physiological mechanism of action of these allelochemicals involves the disruption of normal membrane functions in plant cells. These allelochemicals can depolarize the electrical potential difference across membranes, a primary driving force for active absorption of mineral ions. Allelochemicals can also decrease the ATP content of cells by inhibiting electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation, which are two functions of mitochondrial membranes. In addition, allelochemicals can alter the permeability of membranes to mineral ions. Thus, lipophilic allelochemicals can alter mineral absorption by several mechanisms as the chemicals partition into or move through cellular membranes. Which mechanism predominates may depend upon the particular allelochemical, its concentration, and environmental conditions (especially pH). 

Adolfson, R., and Moudrianokis, E.N. (1976) Molecular polymorphism and mechanisms of activation and deactivation of the hydrolytic function of the coupling factor of oxidative phosphorylation. Biochemistry 15, 4164—4170. 

Leite AZ, Sipahi AM, Damiao AO, Coelho AM, Garcez AT, Machado MC, Buchpiguel CA, Lopasso FP, Lordello ML, Agostinho CL, Laudanna AA Protective effect of metronidazole on uncoupling mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation induced by NSAID A new mechanism. Gut 2001 48 163-167. 

The answer is d. (Hardman, p 1019J Niclosamide is a halogenated salicylanilide derivative. It exerts its effect against cestodes by inhibition of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in the parasites. The mechanism of action is also related to its inhibition of glucose and oxyrgen uptake in the parasite. 

The spatial separation between the components of the electron transport chain and the site of ATP synthesis was incompatible with simple interpretations of the chemical coupling hypothesis. In 1964, Paul Boyer suggested that conformational changes in components in the electron transport system consequent to electron transfer might be coupled to ATP formation, the conformational coupling hypothesis. No evidence for direct association has been forthcoming but conformational changes in the subunits of the FI particle are now included in the current mechanism for oxidative phosphorylation. 

The CNS is not the only vulnerable tissue as red cells also rely upon a constant supply of glucose to maintain structure and function. Because they lack mitochondria, and therefore the mechanism to produce ATP via oxidative phosphorylation, RBCs are entirely dependent upon anaerobic glucose metabolism to synthesize ATP through substrate level phosphorylation. 

Liberman EA, Topaly VP, Tsofina LM, Jasaitis AA, Skulachev VP. Mechanism of coupling of oxidative phosphorylation and the membrane potential of mitochondria. Nature 1969 222(198) 1076-1078. 

The scheme (Fig. 15.1) thus explained the production of both sulfate and sulfur in equimolar amounts from thiosulfate oxidation. In showing adenylylsulfate as an intermediate, it also provided a feasible route for the conservation of energy from sulfite oxidation by a substrate-level phosphorylation mechanism, in which ADP sulfurylase and adenylate kinase give rise to ATP ... 

A second, related, question is, what is the mechanism of this coupling The answer, which is central to the process of oxidative phosphorylation, is now presented. 

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