Properties of mitochondria as a function of the growth stages of Neurospora crassa

Abstract

The oxidative and phosphorylative properties of mitochondria isolated from Neurospora crassa were investigated as a function of growth stage. The rates of oxidation of exogenous NADH and NADPH varied independently of each other, thus ruling out the existence of only one unspecific dehydrogenase. Two different pathways were involved in the oxidation of NAD-linked substrates, as indicated by changes in the rate of oxygen uptake, the sensitivity to rotenone, and the efficiency of phosphorylation. One pathway was sensitive to rotenone and involved three energy-coupling sites, whereas the other was resistant to rotenone and bypassed complex I. Our results indicated that the activity of complex I of the respiratory chain increased markedly in the late exponential phase of growth, remained high in the stationary phase, and then decreased when conidiae were formed. In contrast, the activity of the rotenone-resistant bypass was maximal in the early exponential phase. With malate (plus glutamate) as a substrate, the sensitivity to rotenone and the ADP/O ratios were always lower than those observed with other NAD-linked substrates, suggesting a possible cooperation between malate dehydrogenase and the rotenone-resistant pathway. The rate of oxygen uptake measured in the presence of rotenone was significantly increased by the addition of exogenous NAD+, suggesting that added NAD+ could interact with the rotenone-resistant bypass.