Ca2+ activation of heart mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation:: role of the F0/F1-ATPase

Ca2+ has been postulated as a cytosolic second messenger in the regulation of cardiac oxidative phosphorylation. This hypothesis draws support from the well-known effects of Ca2+ on muscle activity, which is stimulated in parallel with the Gaze-sensitive dehydrogenases (CaDH). The effects of Ca2+ on oxidative phosphorylation were further investigated in isolated porcine heart mitochondria at the level of metabolic driving force (NADH or Delta psi) and ATP production rates (flow). The resulting force-flow (F-F) relationships permitted the analysis of Ca2+ effects on several putative control points within oxidative phosphorylation, simultaneously. The F-F relationships resulting from additions of carbon substrates alone provided a model of pure CaDH activation. Comparing this curve with variable Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]) effects revealed an approximate twofold higher ATP production rate than could be explained by a simple increase in NADH or Delta psi via CaDH activation. The half-maximal effect of Ca2+ at state 3 was 157 nM and was completely inhibited by ruthenium red (1 mu M), indicating matrix dependence of the Ca2+ effect. Arsenate was used as a probe to differentiate between F-0/F-1-ATPase and adenylate translocase activity by a futile recycling of ADP-arsenate within the matrix, catalyzed by the F-0/F-1-ATPase. Ca2+ increased the ADP arsenylation rate more than twofold, suggesting a direct effect on the F-0/F-1-ATPase. These results suggest that Ca2+ activates cardiac aerobic respiration at the level of both the CaDH and F-0/F-1-ATPase. This type of parallel control of both intermediary metabolism and ATP synthesis may provide a mechanism of altering ATP production rates with minimal changes in the high-energy intermediates as observed in vivo.