Stimulation of the alternative oxidase of Neurospora crassa by Nucleoside phosphates

Abstract

The alternative-oxidase-mediated succinate oxidase activity of Neurospora crassa decreases drastically when mitochondria are fractionated into submitochondrial particles or treated with deoxycholate. The activity, however, can be completely restored in the presence of nucleoside 5′-monophosphates. The purine nucleoside 5′-monophosphates are more effective than the pyrimidine homologues. 5′-GMP gives a 10-fold stimulation of the alternative-oxidase-mediated succinate oxidase activity in submitochondrial particles. A comparison is made with the results obtained earlier with Moniliella tomentosa [Hanssens & Verachtert (1976) J. Bacteriol. 125, 825–835; Vanderleyden, Van Den Eynde & Verachtert (1980) Biochem. J. 186, 309–316].