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Uncoupling protein and alternative oxidase of Dictyostelium discoideum : occurrence, properties and protein expression during vegetative life and starvation‐induced early development
Author(s) -
Jarmuszkiewicz Wiesawa,
Behrendt Maciej,
Navet Rachel,
Sluse Francis E.
Publication year - 2002
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/s0014-5793(02)03734-1
Subject(s) - dictyostelium discoideum , starvation , microbiology and biotechnology , protein expression , dictyostelium , alternative oxidase , biology , chemistry , biochemistry , gene , mitochondrion , endocrinology
In this study we show that mitochondria of Dictyostelium discoideum contain both alternative oxidase (AOX) and uncoupling protein (UCP). AOX was stimulated by purine mononucleoside and was monomeric. UCP was stimulated by free fatty acids and was poorly sensitive to GTP. Both proteins collaborated in energy dissipation when activated together. AOX expression in free‐living ameboid cells decreased strongly from exponential to stationary phase of growth but much less during starvation‐induced aggregation. In contrast, UCP expression was constant in all conditions indicating permanent need. Our results suggest that AOX could play a role in cell differentiation, mainly by protecting prespore cells from programmed cell death.