Vol.
132,
No. 3, 1985
BIOCHEMICAL
AND
BIOPHYSICAL
RESEARCH
COMMUNICATIONS
November15.1985
PURIFICATION
OF CYTOCHROME b FROM COMPLEX III
Hideto
Nakahara,
Department
Received
1166-1173
Pages
Yoshiharu
Shimomura,
of Biomedical University of
September
23,
OF BEEF HEART MITOCHONDRIA and
Takayuki
Chemistry. Faculty Nagoya, Nagoya. 466
Ozawa
of
Medicine,
Japan
1985
Two cytochrome b preparations have been prepared from Complex III of Summary: beef heart mitochondria, by detergent-exchange chromatography on a butylToyopearl column. One was eluted from the column with buffer containing Tween 20 after most of other subunits of Complex III were eluted with buffer containing guanidine-HCl, and the other was eluted from the column with buffer The former is consisted of a single polycontaining sodium dodecyl sulfate. peptide (subunit III) and contained 37.5 nmol of heme b/mg of protein, and the latter consisted of subunits III and IX and contained 19.5 nmol of heme b/mg The former was labile when it was reduced by dithionite, whereas of protein. the latter was stable. Subunit IX in the latter is associated with cytochrome b even after gel filtration and density gradient centrifugation. These results suggest that subunit IX plays a role in stabilizing cytochrome b. @ 1985 Academic Press,
Inc.
Cytochrome
b
(cytochrome
bcl
cytochrome
c
two
of
types
presumed
has
the
i-+
and
energy
of
in
bT,
the
by
the
Although
cytochrome
studied
which
ubiquinol
the
b and
many
other
to
presence
of
chain
was
electron-transfer (2).
between
from
from
III
Complex
transport
behavior
transduction
intensively
mitochondrial
electron redox
interaction
been
components
catalyzes
b, to
have
the
peculiar
cytochrome
III
remain
function
of
subunits
in
investigators
(3),
they
obscure. Our
III
by
sulfur by
and
b and
of
which
relation
cytochrome
one
complex) (1).
in
Complex
is
group
has
been
disassembling protein
and
(4)
and
study,
Complex
III
we using
column.
polypeptide
and
Copyright AN rights
cl
addressed
the
structure
and
the
complex.
Isolation
from on
ourselves
a less Here
the
(5)
chromatography
Sepharose
0006-291X/85
reassembling
cytochrome
detergent-exchange
present
investigating
we
report
cytochrome
interaction that
associated
$1.50 0 1985 by Academic Press, of reproduction m any form
Inc. reserved.
isolation
1166
cytochrome with
was
so
Complex the
far
column
In
cytochrome
b
than
b composed
IX of
ironachieved
column. of
subunit
of of
a phenyl-Sepharose to
hydrophobic
III
Complex
function
the of Complex
the from
phenyla
single
III
are
Vol.
132,No.
obtained
by
that
detergent-exchange
the
chrome
BlOCHEMlCALAND8lOPHYSlCALRESEARCHCOMMUNlCATlONS
3, 1985
latter
b was
chromatography
preparation
is
more
on
stable
than
and
Methods
a butyl-Toyopearl the
former
column, one,
when
and cyto-
reduced. Materials
Materials Complex III was prepared from beef heart mitochondria by the method of Rieske et al. (6). A bc, subcomplex (devoid of the iron-sulfur and subunit X), which contained 7.4 nmol of cytochrome b/mg of protein was prepared from Complex III according to the method of Shimomura protein, Chemicals, Ltd., and Ozawa (7). Guanidine-HCl was purchased from Nakarai Kyoto; Tween 20 from Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., Osaka: cholate from Sigma, St. Louis. Cholate was recrystallized from 50% hot ethanol before use. Butyl-Toyopearl 650M was obtained from Toyo Soda MFG. Co., Ltd., Tokyo. Sephacryl S-300 superfine was the product of Pharmacia Fine Chemicals, Other chemicals used were of reasent arade. Uppsala. Purification of cytochrome b All the foliowing procedures were carried Buffer A used in the followina out at O-4"& unless otherwise stated. experiment was composed of 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.0, 0.5% cholate, 20% glycerol: The bc, subcomplex (50 mg of protein) in 25 mM and 1 mM dithiothreitol. pH 7.5, containing 0.5% cholate, 3.2 M NaCl, and 20% glycerol was Tris-HCl, applied to a butyl-Toyopearl column (1.5 x 6 cm) equilibrated with Buffer A containing 3 M NaCl. After washing the column with 50 ml of the same buffer, 20 ml of Buffer A and 20 ml of 2.7 M guanidine-HCl dissolved in Buffer A was successively passed through the column, resulting in elution of pink-colored fractions (mainly cytochrome c core proteins, and subunit VI). After the guanidine-HCl was washed out w-!ih 12 ml of Buffer A, a brownish-pink-colored fraction (cytochrome t$ was eluted with 40 ml of Buffer A containing 3% Tween Tween 20 on the column was removed by washing the column with 25 ml of 20. Buffer A, and subsequently pink-colored fraction (mainly cytochrome and El subunit VIII) was again eluted with 17 ml of 3.4 M guanidine-HCl dissolved in Buffer A. Guanidine-HCl was washed out using 14 ml of Buffer A, and the remaining protein (mainly cytochrome b and subunit IX) on the column was finally eluted at room temperature with Buffer A containing 2% SDS'. Cytochrome b was Analytical Methods estimated from the difference of the dithionite-reduced minus absorption spectrum ferricyanide-oxidized Absorbance measurements were performed using a Shimadzu UV-VIS form. recording spectrophotometer, model UV-250. The millimolar extinction coefficient used was 28.5 for A (8). The heme content was also determined by 562-57{ the pyridine hemochromogen spec rum using a millimolar extinction coefficient in the reduced form (9). Protein was measured by Lowry's ;:th:: f::d:?;$d60g y Hartree using bovine serum albumin as a standard (10). Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of SDS, urea, and glycerol was performed as described by Merle and Kadenbach (11). except that samples were treated in 10 mM Tris-phosphate buffer, pH 8.3, containing 4% SDS, B M urea, 10% glycerol, and 40 mM dithiothreitol at 37°C for 1 h. After electrophoresis the gel was stained with Coomassie Brilliant Blue. Results Since and
subunit
subcomplex
1
The
Complex
III
X when
most
(devoid
abbreviation
easily of
and
Discussion
dissociates
the
phospholipids
of
these
two
subunits)
used
is:
SDS,
sodium
of
the
was
dodecyl 1167
iron-sulfur complex used
as
sulfate.
protein are a starting
removed
(subunit (7). material
V) a bcl for
Vol.
132,
No.
BIOCHEMICAL
3, 1985
AND
BIOPHYSICAL
RESEARCH
COMMUNICATIONS
A
01
o 1
IO
20
30
Fraction
40
50
B
C
D
02
60
Number
Fig. 1. Detergent-exchange chromatography of a bc subcomplex. After binding the bc, subcomplex to a butyl-Toyopearl 650M -1 co umn. cytochrome cl, core proteins. subunit VI were eluted with Buffer A (see "Materials and Methods") (arrow a) and 2.7 M guanidine-HCl in Buffer A (arrow b). Guanidine-HCl was washed out from the column with Buffer A (arrow c). and a cytochrome b fraction was then eluted with Buffer A containing 3% Tween 20 (arrow d). After the column was re-equilibrated with Buffer A (arrow e), residual cytochrome cz, and subunit VIII was eluted with 3.4 M guanidine-HCl in Buffer A (arrow f). Guanidine-HCl was washed out from the column with Buffer A (arrow g), and finally the remaining proteins (mainly cytochrome b and subunit IX) were eluted with Buffer A containing 2% SDS (arrow h). -, absorbance at 280 nm; at 416 nm. Absorbance at 280 nm of the cytochrome ~QI fraction eluted ----1 with Buffer A containing 3% Tween 20 is the sum of absorbance of protein and - 0 14/%/cm). Approximately 5 ml of fractions were collected at k?rfk?e(~?8!!O-mlih. F ractions shown by the horizontal bar were recovered.
III. ug);
Fiq. 2. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic patterns of Complex and two cytochrome b preparations, subcomplex, A, Complex III (13 subcomplex (9 ug); C, the cytochrome b preparation eluted with bc, (2 ug); D. the cytochrome b preparation eluted with SDS (3 ug).
purification
of
to
detergent-exchange
The
bc,
subcomplex
protein
3
was When 2.7
column,
and
in
this
was in
bound NaCl
to was
the
mainly
cytochrome
subunit
VI,
were
on
III
out
subcomplex
from
succinate
Buffer
Buffer
A and
(subunit
IV),
(electrophoretic
1168
A b)
second
peaks
core
2A). A
a
was
in
1).
in
the
containing 1)
and the
through Fig.
(subunits not
of
Fig.
passed
proteins data
All
Buffer
(arrow
(arrow
(Fig. dehydrogenase
(Fig. with
the 20
subjected
column
preparation
using
was
butyl-Toyopearl
equilibrated
(first
eluted
bc,
free
column
in
IZ,
a
completely
washed
fractions
The
study.
Complex
M guanidine-HCl
pink-colored
contained
2B)
contaminated
NaCl.
subsequently
II),
(Fig.
applied M
b
chromatography
70,000)
Or
cytochrome
&I
B, Tween
shown).
1).
which I
and After
Vol.
132,
guanidine-HCl with
was
Buffer
(arrow
the
washed
out
finally
eluted
the III
possibility tion
is
a
cytochrome
components
2B).
and
tion
was
cannot
be
ruled
This
the
view
with
of Et-
74,000
in 3A
a single
the
of
and
531,
form
has (A4l
the
The
562
occur nm.
maxima
at in
of
the the
also
at
of
difference
531
and
oxidized cytochrome
the
562
not
the
bcl
subcomplex
the
cytochrome
and as
(Fig.
416
nm,
and
spectrum nm. form)
of
This of
subunit
IX, VIII.
a dimer
of
those the
of
1.7.
This purified
(Fig. preparathose may of
and
b.
composed
oxidized
ratio
an is
by
form maxima form
minus
gives
minor
cytochrome
reduced
reduced
A
band
absorption the
a
The
b
the
be
Buffer
cytochrome
preparation
b preparations 1169
with
The
of to
composed
subunit
4).
dimer
it
eluted
in
the
than
b
is
by
prepara-
b
findings,
purified
two
correspond
urea
and
purified
thus
and
The
does
b and c,,
dithionite
279
band
considered
cytochrome by
a
cytochrome
cytochrome
spectra
reduced
6'A279
(1.28-1.38)
is
be
finally
cytochrome
absorption
form and
74,000,
might
these
only
b fraction
mainly
fraction
immediately
oxidized
428,
this
shows
of
it
SDS
From
contained
cytochrome
&-
polypeptide.
be
Methods."
preparation
with
of
the
Although the
when
concentrations
was
cytochrome
in
that
increaed
largely
74,000
material,
band
IX
of
74,000.
Mr
this
was
obtained'
of
&-
with
that
starting
this
lower
The
a band
Fig.
can
the
by
residual
subunit
patterns
with
suggests
supported
2% SDS consisted
amounts
Mr
with
h).
composed
band
out
guanidine-HCl
b preparation
was
washed
of
b and
(arrow
band
the
this
"Materials this
a minor
was
eluted
treated
After
cytochrome 20
20
elation
electrophoretic
The
that
in
shown).
was
further
cytochrome
Tween
out
in
with
polypeptide.
containing
b-
Tween
were
2% SDS
COMMUNICATIONS
b fraction
resulting
not
gel
and
is
amount
that
f),
RESEARCH
After
column
containing
contaminant,
under
single
those
37,000)
d).
the
(data
containing
Mr
treated
concluded
(arrow
A (arrow
cytochrome
observed
described
a cytochrome
A containing
with
that
c),
SDS-polyacrylamide
true
any
BIOPHYSICAL
on
VIII
Buffer
buffer
b.
20
a fraction
containing
b (subunit
ratio
g),
with
with
Buffer
subunit
2 shows
fractions
of
and
AND
(arrow
remaining in
(arrow
Fig.
and
proteins
Cl
elution
out
3% Tween
M guanidine-HCl
cytochrome
of
washed
A containing
e),
3.4
BIOCHEMICAL
No. 3, 1985
oxidized absorbance
higher other
at
than investi-
Vol.
132,
No. 3, 1985
BIOCHEMICAL
AND
BIOPHYSICALRESEARCH
Wovetength
COMMUNICATIONS
(nm)
3. Absorption spectra of the purified cytochrome b preparation and the cytochrome b preparation containing subunit IX. A, the purified cytochrome b preparation. The spectra were taken on the preparation (0.11 mg/ml) immediately after the elution from the column. The spectrum of the reduced form (370-650 nm) was separately recorded between 370-450 nm and between 450-650 the cytochrome b in the reduced form was very labile as described in nm. since the text. B, the cytochrome b preparation containing subunit IX. The spectra were taken on the preparation diluted g-fold with Buffer A (0.16 mg/ml). -, the oxidized form: ----, the dithionite-reduced form. The insets show each difference spectrum of the reduced minus oxidized form. Fig.
gators of
(12). protein
when
obtained ing
by that
of
containing those
of
the
between the affected
cytochrome
of
purified
protein by
from
the
pyridine
the
The
of
specific from two
values
in
this
treatment
the
when
subcomplex
pyridine may
maxima
31
be due
carbon
of
form)
nmol/mg
to
the
monoxide 1170
well.
not
b are
of The
preparation identical
the yield
to gives
contained
an 19.5
spectrum.
was This
hemes
the
shown).
difference
protein
of
of
20%.
and
the
was
suggest-
preparation
1.3
of
value
spectrum
(data
spectrum.
spectrum as
The
This of
nmol/mg
spectrum,
spectra
contamination The
same
cytochrome
from
hemochromogen
preparation. of
the
37.5
approximately
above.
oxidized
of
was
of
estimated
content
The
monoxide
carbon
b described
protein
the
spectrum.
of &T
was
hemochromogen
spectra
in
preparation
heme.
absorption
heme
this
no dissociated
treatment
absorption
(A416/A279
estimation these
difference
cytochrome
heme/mg the
the
by
IX.
of
from
b from
shows
content
contains
affected
ratio
However, the
was
subunit
absorbance nmol
estimation
38
Fig.
heme
preparation
form
yield
specific estimated
the
this
reduced The
The
obtained discrepancy
dissociated reduced of
by
from form
cytochrome
was b
BIOCHEMICAL
Vol. 132. No. 3, 1985
in
this
of
the
preparation
from
specific
heme
Although are
similar,
not
so
former
stable heme
purified
but the
not
purified
re-addition
of
dithionite.
absorption
bands
of
cytochrome
b preparation
slower has tion.
than no
of
the
This
effect
on
the
Since
cytochrome
were
the
Fig.
other
subunit
after
of has
the
was
significantly
increased
by
a and
after
cytochrome to
be
Fiq. 4. Absorbance changes in Soret tions after reduction with dithionite. cytochrome b preparation containing trations showing the same absorbance spectra to the right of the traces approximately 3 min after reduction.
was
of
Tween
b
preparaa
single
428
bands of the two cytochrome b preparaThe purified cytochrome b (I) and the subunit IX (II) were used a? the concenat 416 nm in the oxidized forms. The show the peaks of the absorption bands
1171
the
reduction
dithionite
Addition
B
of
NozSzO4 I
428 with
absorbance
of
reported
and at
on the
stable
I).
the
reduction
not
the
addition
IX:
absorbance
observed
stable
preparations
freezing
after
very
been
an
was
b (curve
III
after
4,
hand,
IX was
rate
Complex
was
also
also
basis
polypeptide
spectrum
in
the
subunit
decreased
phenomena On
b
a single
absorbance
properties in
of
on
spectrum.
cytochrome
and
shown
cytochrome
spectral
two
30%
containing
decreased
reduction
b
the
immediately
cytochrome.
purified
difference
difference
As
b was
the
the
temperature
one.
containing
although that
the
room
These the
approximately
b preparation
latter
I).
was
h composed
from
cytochrome
(curve
II),
of
at
the
dithionite
(curve
properties
cytochrome
reduction
was
from
estimated
after
thawing,
estimated
cytochrome
the
contents
diminished
nm of
spectral
as
subcomplex
bc,
content
the the
the
AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
20
Vol.
132,
No. 3, 1985
polypeptide the
which
two
the
stabilization
to
the
stabilization,
this,
the
IX.
buffer,
and
sucrose
in
8.0,
containing
was
performed
and
subunit Mr
same
not
shown),
these
at
cytochrome
be
S-300
gradient
density gradient
fraction
in at
indicating it
It
b. b and
cytochrome
the
If
latter
suggested
is
an
11, cytochromes
subunit the
20,
0.1
elution
one,
the
IX was
that
is
(1.5
and
Tween
20
was
used
and
subunits
III
would
be
concluded
bT,
pH
M
in
sucrose
role
the
interaction
related
with
(data ifi
in
redox
b
obtained
cytochrome
a
from
concentra-
(corresponding
also
0.4 with
as
centrifugation
ml
were
associated
glycerol
cytochrome
102
approximately
whether
Complex and
of
0.1
mM Tris-HCl,
analysis,
volume
gel
using
the
50
former
examine to
cm)
which
M in
subject
contribute
20%
0.7
IX plays
responsible
x 116
M NaCl,
subunit
be
subjected
to
of
preparation
To
0.2
two
b
would
in
In the
h.
between
cytochrome.
column
0.2%
IX
bK
may
subunit
from
interesting
IX in
small with
the
subunit
subunit
centrifugation
concentration
is
the
difference
cytochrome
small
Tween
48
at
that
subunit
b.
and x g for
the
this
ranged
co-eluted
and
of
COMMUNICATIONS
the
stable
superfine
to
110,000
the
containing
0.2%
the
that
(13-16).
associated
containing
IX were
facts,
cytochrome
must
1% deoxycholate,
250,000);
the
cytochrome
BIOPHYSICALRESEARCH
centers
is
a Sephacryl
pH 8.0,
of
b heme
b preparation
on
tion
AND
presence
it
chromatography
elution
The of
cytochrome
M Tris-HCl,
two
b preparations
subunit
for
of
contains
cytochrome
contains
to
BIOCHEMICAL
From
stabilizing between the
speed
two of
types b
heme
(17). References 1. z:
4. 5. 6.
Rieske, J.S. (1976) Biochim. von Jagow, G, and Sebald, Papa, S. (1976) Biochim. Shimomura, Y., Nishikimi, 14059-14063. Shimomura, Y., Nishikimi, press. Rieske, J.S., Zaugg, W.S.,
Biophys. Acta 456, 195-247. W., (1980) Ann. Rev. Biochem. 3, Biophys. Acta 456, 39-84. T. (1984) J. Biol. M., and Ozawa, M., and
and
Ozawa,
T. R.E.
Hansen,
281-314. Chem.
259,
(1985)
J.
Biol.
Chem.
in
(1964)
J. Biol.
Chem.
239,
3023-3030. 7. 8. 9.
Shimomura, Y., and Ozawa, Zaugg, W.S., and Rieske, 213-217. Theorell, H., Paul, K.G.,
T.
(1982)
J.S.
(1962)
and
Akeson,
Biochem. Biochem. A.
(1953)
Int. 5, Biophys. Acta
l-6. Res. Chem.
Commun. Stand.
1284-1287. 10. 11. 12.
Hartree, Merle, Weiss,
P., H.
E.F. (1972) Anal. and Kadenbach, (1976) Biochim.
Biochem. B. (1980) Riophys. 1172
4&, Eur. Acta
422-427. J. Biochem. 456, 291-313.
105,
499-507.
2, 1.
Vol.
13. 14.
15. 16. 17.
132,
No. 3, 1985
BIOCHEMICAL
AND
BIOPHYSICAL
RESEARCH
COMMUNICATIONS
von Jagow, G., Sch'a'gger, H., Engle, W.D., and Machleidt, I. (1978) FEBS Lett. 91, 121-125. Slater, E.C. (1981) in Chemiosmotic Proton Circuits in Biological Membranes (Skulachev, V.P., and Hinkle, P.C., eds.), pp. 69-104, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc., London. T'sai, A.L., and Palmer, G. (1982) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 681, 484-495. Widget-, W.R., Cramer, W.A., Herrmann, R.G., and Trebst, A. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81, 674-678. Chance, B., Wilson, D.F., Outton, P.L., and Ereciiska, M. (1970) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 3, 11751182.
1173