Mitochondrial Inner Membrane (mitochondrial + inner_membrane)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Topology of the Mitochondrial Inner Membrane: Dynamics and Bioenergetic Implications

IUBMB LIFE, Issue 3-5 2001
Carmen A. Mannella
Abstract Electron tomography indicates that the mitochondrial inner membrane is not normally comprised of baffle-like folds as depicted in textbooks. In actuality, this membrane is pleomorphic, with narrow tubular regions connecting the internal compartments (cristae) to each other and to the membrane periphery. The membrane topologies observed in condensed (matrix contracted) and orthodox (matrix expanded) mitochondria cannot be interconverted by passive folding and unfolding. Instead, transitions between these morphological states likely involve membrane fusion and fission. Formation of tubular junctions in the inner membrane appears to be energetically favored, because they form spontaneously in yeast mitochondria following large-amplitude swelling and recontraction. However, aberrant, unattached, vesicular cristae are also observed in these mitochondria, suggesting that formation of cristae junctions depends on factors (such as the distribution of key proteins and/or lipids) that are disrupted during extreme swelling. Computer modeling studies using the "Virtual Cell" program suggest that the shape of the inner membrane can influence mitochondrial function. Simulations indicate that narrow cristae junctions restrict diffusion between intracristal and external compartments, causing depletion of ADP and decreased ATP output inside the cristae. [source]


Submitochondrial localization of 6- N -trimethyllysine dioxygenase , implications for carnitine biosynthesis

FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 22 2007
Naomi Van Vlies
The first enzyme of carnitine biosynthesis is the mitochondrial 6- N -trimethyllysine dioxygenase, which converts 6- N -trimethyllysine to 3-hydroxy-6- N -trimethyllysine. Using progressive membrane solubilization with digitonin and protease protection experiments, we show that this enzyme is localized in the mitochondrial matrix. Latency experiments with intact mitochondria showed that 3-hydroxy-6- N -trimethyllysine formation is limited by 6- N -trimethyllysine transport across the mitochondrial inner membrane. Because the subsequent carnitine biosynthesis enzymes are cytosolic, after production, 3-hydroxy-6- N -trimethyllysine must be transported out of the mitochondria by a putative mitochondrial 6- N -trimethyllysine/3-hydroxy-6- N -trimethyllysine transporter system. This transport system represents an additional step in carnitine biosynthesis that could have considerable implications for the regulation of carnitine biosynthesis. [source]


Topology of the Mitochondrial Inner Membrane: Dynamics and Bioenergetic Implications

IUBMB LIFE, Issue 3-5 2001
Carmen A. Mannella
Abstract Electron tomography indicates that the mitochondrial inner membrane is not normally comprised of baffle-like folds as depicted in textbooks. In actuality, this membrane is pleomorphic, with narrow tubular regions connecting the internal compartments (cristae) to each other and to the membrane periphery. The membrane topologies observed in condensed (matrix contracted) and orthodox (matrix expanded) mitochondria cannot be interconverted by passive folding and unfolding. Instead, transitions between these morphological states likely involve membrane fusion and fission. Formation of tubular junctions in the inner membrane appears to be energetically favored, because they form spontaneously in yeast mitochondria following large-amplitude swelling and recontraction. However, aberrant, unattached, vesicular cristae are also observed in these mitochondria, suggesting that formation of cristae junctions depends on factors (such as the distribution of key proteins and/or lipids) that are disrupted during extreme swelling. Computer modeling studies using the "Virtual Cell" program suggest that the shape of the inner membrane can influence mitochondrial function. Simulations indicate that narrow cristae junctions restrict diffusion between intracristal and external compartments, causing depletion of ADP and decreased ATP output inside the cristae. [source]


Molecular characterization of mitocalcin, a novel mitochondrial Ca2+ -binding protein with EF-hand and coiled-coil domains

JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2006
Mitsutoshi Tominaga
Abstract Here we have identified and characterized a novel mitochondrial Ca2+ -binding protein, mitocalcin. Western blot analysis demonstrated that mitocalcin was widely expressed in mouse tissues. The expression in brain was increased during post-natal to adult development. Further analyses were carried out in newly established neural cell lines. The protein was expressed specifically in neurons but not in glial cells. Double-labeling studies revealed that mitocalcin was colocalized with mitochondria in neurons differentiated from 2Y-3t cells. In addition, mitocalcin was enriched in the mitochondrial fraction purified from the cells. Immunohistochemical studies on mouse cerebellum revealed that the expression pattern of mitocalcin in glomeruli of the internal granular and molecular layers was well overlapped by the distribution pattern of mitochondria. Immunogold electron microscopy showed that mitocalcin was associated with mitochondrial inner membrane. Overexpression of mitocalcin in 2Y-3t cells resulted in neurite extension. Inhibition of the expression in 2Y-3t cells caused suppression of neurite outgrowth and then cell death. These findings suggest that mitocalcin may play roles in neuronal differentiation and function through the control of mitochondrial function. [source]


Renal glutathione transport: Identification of carriers, physiological functions, and controversies

BIOFACTORS, Issue 6 2009
Lawrence H. Lash
Abstract Glutathione (GSH) is an endogenous tripeptide composed of the amino acids L -glutamate, L -cysteine, and glycine. It is found in virtually all aerobic cells and plays critical roles in maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis and drug metabolism. An important component of its regulation is transport across biological membranes. Because GSH is a charged, hydrophilic molecule, transport occurs via catalysis by specific carrier proteins rather than by simple diffusion. Although it has been clearly understood that efflux of GSH across membranes such as the canalicular and sinusoidal plasma membranes in hepatocytes and the brush-border plasma membrane in renal proximal tubules is a key step in GSH turnover and interorgan metabolism, the existence and physiological functions of uptake of GSH across various epithelial plasma membranes has been subject to some debate. Besides transport across plasma membranes, GSH transport across intracellular membranes, most notably the mitochondrial inner membrane, has received some attention in recent years because of the importance of mitochondrial redox status and the mitochondrial GSH pool in cellular physiology and pathology. This commentary will focus on renal transport processes for GSH and will discuss some of the controversies that have existed and still seem to exist in the literature, specifically regarding uptake of intact GSH by basolateral membranes of renal proximal tubular cells and uptake of intact GSH by the mitochondrial inner membrane. © 2009 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc. [source]


Anticardiolipin antibodies in the sera of patients with diagnosed chronic fatigue syndrome

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS, Issue 4 2009
Yoshitsugi Hokama
Abstract Examination of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACAs) in the sera of patients clinically diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) using an enzyme-linked immunoassay procedure demonstrated the presence of immunoglobulin M isotypes in 95% of CFS serum samples tested. The presence of immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A isotypes were also detected in a subset of the samples. Future studies will focus on elucidating whether alterations to mitochondrial inner membranes and/or metabolic functions play a possible role in the expression of ACAs. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 23:210,212, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]