Supramolecular structure of the OXPHOS system in highly thermogenic tissue of Arum maculatum

authored by
Stephanie Sunderhaus, Jennifer Klodmann, Christof Lenz, Hans Peter Braun
Abstract

The protein complexes of the mitochondrial respiratory chain associate in defined ways forming supramolecular structures called respiratory supercomplexes or respirasomes. In plants, additional oxidoreductases participate in respiratory electron transport, e.g. the so-called "alternative NAD(P)H dehydrogenases" or an extra terminal oxidase called "alternative oxidase" (AOX). These additional enzymes were previously reported not to form part of respiratory supercomplexes. However, formation of respiratory supercomplexes might indirectly affect "alternative respiration" because electrons can be channeled within the supercomplexes which reduces access of the alternative enzymes towards their electron donating substrates. Here we report an investigation on the supramolecular organization of the respiratory chain in thermogenic Arum maculatum appendix mitochondria, which are known to have a highly active AOX for heat production. Investigations based on mild membrane solubilization by digitonin and protein separation by blue native PAGE revealed a very special organization of the respiratory chain in A. maculatum, which strikingly differs to the one described for the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana: (i) complex I is not present in monomeric form but exclusively forms part of a I + III2 supercomplex, (ii) the III2 + IV and I + III2 + IV supercomplexes are detectable but of low abundance, (iii) complex II has fewer subunits than in A. thaliana, and (iv) complex IV is mainly present as a monomer in a larger form termed "complex IVa". Since thermogenic tissue of A. maculatum at the same time has high AOX and I + III2 supercomplex abundance and activity, negative regulation of the alternative oxidase by supercomplex formation seems not to occur. Functional implications are discussed.

Organisation(s)
Section Plant Molecular Biology and Plant Proteomics
Institute of Plant Genetics
External Organisation(s)
AB SCIEX Germany GmbH
Type
Article
Journal
Plant physiology and biochemistry
Volume
48
Pages
265-272
No. of pages
8
ISSN
0981-9428
Publication date
22.01.2010
Publication status
Published
Peer reviewed
Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Physiology, Genetics, Plant Science
Electronic version(s)
https://doi.org/10.15488/11662 (Access: Open)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2010.01.010 (Access: Unknown)