High-level expression of rabbit 15-lipoxygenase induces collapse of the mitochondrial pH gradient in cell culture

Chetan Vijayvergiya, Dino De Angelis, Matthias Walther, Hartmut Kühn, Robert M. Duvoisin, Deborah H. Smith, Martin Wiedmann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

A critical step in the development of mammalian erythroblasts into mature red blood cells is the extrusion of the nucleus, followed by intracellular degradation of the remaining organelles. It has been hypothesized that the breakdown of cellular organelles in rabbit reticulocytes is initiated by 15-lipoxygenase. In vitro, the purified rabbit reticulocyte 15-lipoxygenase binds and permeabilizes organellar membranes, thereby releasing the lumenal contents of the organelle. Here, we demonstrate that ectopic expression of 15-lipoxygenase leads to the collapse of the mitochondrial pH gradient in nonerythroid cells, using a novel reporter of mitochondrial pH, mito-pHluorin. No change in mitochondrial pH was observed with a mutant of 15-lipoxygenase that lacks enzymatic activity. These data demonstrate that 15-lipoxygenase is capable of disrupting the pH gradient maintained by mitochondria in living cells without additional factors specific for red blood cell development.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)15296-15302
Number of pages7
JournalBiochemistry
Volume43
Issue number48
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 7 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry

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