Ca(2+) activation of heart mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation: role of the F(0)/F(1)-ATPase

• Published in: American Journal of Physiology: Cell Physiology 2000-02, Vol.278 (2), p.C423-C435
• Main Authors: Territo, P R, Mootha, V K, French, S A, Balaban, R S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenosine Triphosphate - biosynthesis; Animals; Arsenates - pharmacology; Calcium - metabolism; Calcium - pharmacology; Carbonyl Cyanide p-Trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone - pharmacology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Membrane Potentials - drug effects; Membrane Potentials - physiology; Mitochondria - enzymology; Myocardium - enzymology; NAD - biosynthesis; Oxidative Phosphorylation; Oxidoreductases - metabolism; Oxygen Consumption - drug effects; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Proton-Translocating ATPases - metabolism; Regression Analysis; Substrate Specificity; Swine; Uncoupling Agents - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0363-6143

Ca(2+) has been postulated as a cytosolic second messenger in the regulation of cardiac oxidative phosphorylation. This hypothesis draws support from the well-known effects of Ca(2+) on muscle activity, which is stimulated in parallel with the Ca(2+)-sensitive dehydrogenases (CaDH). The effects of Ca(2+) on oxidative phosphorylation were further investigated in isolated porcine heart mitochondria at the level of metabolic driving force (NADH or Deltapsi) and ATP production rates (flow). The resulting force-flow (F-F) relationships permitted the analysis of Ca(2+) effects on several putative control points within oxidative phosphorylation, simultaneously. The F-F relationships resulting from additions of carbon substrates alone provided a model of pure CaDH activation. Comparing this curve with variable Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]) effects revealed an approximate twofold higher ATP production rate than could be explained by a simple increase in NADH or Deltapsi via CaDH activation. The half-maximal effect of Ca(2+ )at state 3 was 157 nM and was completely inhibited by ruthenium red (1 microM), indicating matrix dependence of the Ca(2+) effect. Arsenate was used as a probe to differentiate between F(0)/F(1)-ATPase and adenylate translocase activity by a futile recycling of ADP-arsenate within the matrix, catalyzed by the F(0)/F(1)-ATPase. Ca(2+) increased the ADP arsenylation rate more than twofold, suggesting a direct effect on the F(0)/F(1)-ATPase. These results suggest that Ca(2+) activates cardiac aerobic respiration at the level of both the CaDH and F(0)/F(1)-ATPase. This type of parallel control of both intermediary metabolism and ATP synthesis may provide a mechanism of altering ATP production rates with minimal changes in the high-energy intermediates as observed in vivo.