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Effects of N ‐acylethanolamines on the respiratory chain and production of reactive oxygen species in heart mitochondria
Author(s) -
Wasilewski Michał,
Wojtczak Lech
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2005.07.047
Subject(s) - mitochondrion , reactive oxygen species , respiratory chain , oxidative phosphorylation , mitochondrial respiratory chain , respiration , chemistry , biochemistry , respiratory system , cellular respiration , oxygen , biology , anatomy , organic chemistry
Long‐chain N ‐acylethanolamines (NAEs) have been found to uncouple oxidative phosphorylation and to inhibit uncoupled respiration of rat heart mitochondria [Wasilewski, M., Więckowski, M.R., Dymkowska, D. and Wojtczak, L. (2004) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1657, 151–163]. The aim of the present work was to investigate in more detail the mechanism of the inhibitory effects of NAEs on the respiratory chain. In connection with this, we also investigated a possible action of NAEs on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by respiring rat heart mitochondria. It was found that unsaturated NAEs, N ‐oleoylethanolamine ( N ‐Ole) and, to a greater extent, N ‐arachidonoylethanolamine ( N ‐Ara), inhibited predominantly complex I of the respiratory chain, with a much weaker effect on complexes II and III, and no effect on complex IV. Saturated N ‐palmitoylethanolamine had a much smaller effect compared to unsaturated NAEs. N ‐Ara and N ‐Ole were found to decrease ROS formation, apparently due to their uncoupling action. However, under specific conditions, N ‐Ara slightly but significantly stimulated ROS generation in uncoupled conditions, probably due to its inhibitory effect on complex I. These results may contribute to our better understanding of physiological roles of NAEs in protection against ischemia and in induction of programmed cell death.