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Dynamic interplay between intracellular organelles requires a particular functional apposition of membrane structures. The organelles involved come into close contact, but do not fuse, thereby giving rise to notable microdomains; these microdomains allow rapid communication between the organelles. Plasma membrane-associated membranes (PAMs), which are microdomains of the plasma membrane (PM) interacting with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria, are dynamic structures that mediate transport of proteins, lipids, ions and metabolites. These structures have gained much interest lately owing to their roles in many crucial cellular processes. Here we provide an optimized protocol for the isolation of PAM, PM and ER fractions from rat liver that is based on a series of differential centrifugations, followed by the fractionation of crude PM on a discontinuous sucrose gradient. The procedure requires ∼8-10 h, and it can be easily modified and adapted to other tissues and cell types.

The mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system consists of four electron transport chain (ETC) complexes (CI-CIV) and the FoF1-ATP synthase (CV), which sustain ATP generation via chemiosmotic coupling. The latter requires an inward-directed proton-motive force (PMF) across the mitochondrial inner membrane (MIM) consisting of a proton (ΔpH) and electrical charge (Δψ) gradient. CI actively participates in sustaining these gradients via trans-MIM proton pumping. Enigmatically, at the cellular level genetic or inhibitor-induced CI dysfunction has been associated with Δψ depolarization or hyperpolarization. The cellular mechanism of the latter is still incompletely understood. Here we demonstrate that chronic (24h) CI inhibition in HEK293 cells induces a proton-based Δψ hyperpolarization in HEK293 cells without triggering reverse-mode action of CV or the adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT). Hyperpolarization was associated with low levels of CII-driven O2 consumption and prevented by co-inhibition of CII, CIII or CIV activity. In contrast, chronic CIII inhibition triggered CV reverse-mode action and induced Δψ depolarization. CI- and CIII-inhibition similarly reduced free matrix ATP levels and increased the cell's dependence on extracellular glucose to maintain cytosolic free ATP. Our findings support a model in which Δψ hyperpolarization in CI-inhibited cells results from low activity of CII, CIII and CIV, combined with reduced forward action of CV and ANT.

Mitochondrial dysfunction caused by cigarette smoke is involved in the oxidative stress-induced pathology of airway diseases. Reducing the levels of harmful and potentially harmful constituents by heating rather than combusting tobacco may reduce mitochondrial changes that contribute to oxidative stress and cell damage. We evaluated mitochondrial function and oxidative stress in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS 2B) following 1- and 12-week exposures to total particulate matter (TPM) from the aerosol of a candidate modified-risk tobacco product, the Tobacco Heating System 2.2 (THS2.2), in comparison with TPM from the 3R4F reference cigarette. After 1-week exposure, 3R4F TPM had a strong inhibitory effect on mitochondrial basal and maximal oxygen consumption rates compared to TPM from THS2.2. Alterations in oxidative phosphorylation were accompanied by increased mitochondrial superoxide levels and increased levels of oxidatively damaged proteins in cells exposed to 7.5 μg/mL of 3R4F TPM or 150 μg/mL of THS2.2 TPM, while cytosolic levels of reactive oxygen species were not affected. In contrast, the 12-week exposure indicated adaptation of BEAS-2B cells to long-term stress. Together, the findings indicate that 3R4F TPM had a stronger effect on oxidative phosphorylation, gene expression and proteins involved in oxidative stress than TPM from the candidate modified-risk tobacco product THS2.2.

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The adaptor protein p66Shc modulates cellular redox status integrating oxidative stress with mitochondrial stress responses. Upon oxidative stress, p66Shc is translocated to mitochondria or mitochondria-associated membranes in a multi-step process, resulting in locally increased reactive oxygen species production. This signaling pathway is believed to be important in the context of drug-induced organ toxicity. The use of anthracyclines as anticancer agents is limited due to a dose-dependent and cumulative toxicity resulting in cardiomyopathy. Treatment with the anthracycline doxorubicin (DOX) results in a dose-dependent and cumulative cardiotoxicity which is mediated, at least in part, by increased oxidative stress. In the present study, we investigated for the first time whether p66Shc signaling is activated during DOX treatment of the rat cardiomyoblast H9c2 cell line. We further tested whether the transcriptional factor FoxO3a, which activates target genes responsible for apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, is also involved in p66Shc-dependent redox signaling pathway. Our results suggest that DOX treatment induces p66Shc protein up-regulation specifically in nuclear fractions. Increased nuclear expression of FoxO3a was also detected in H9c2 cells after DOX treatment. Treatment with the antioxidant and protein kinase C (PKC-β) inhibitor hispidin decreased DOX-induced activation of caspase 9 and p66Shc alterations. Taking together, we hypothesize that p66Shc signaling is involved in the activation of stress/toxicity responses elicited by the treatment of H9c2 cells with DOX. Hence, the selective inhibition of this redox pathway may be a promising therapeutic approach to circumvent DOX cardiotoxicity.

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