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Method Article
This protocol describes the separation of functional mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes (Cx) I-V and supercomplexes thereof using native electrophoresis to reveal information about their assembly and structure. The native gel can be subjected to immunoblotting, in-gel assays, and purification by electroelution to further characterize individual complexes.
The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) transduces the energy derived from the breakdown of various fuels into the bioenergetic currency of the cell, ATP. The ETC is composed of 5 massive protein complexes, which also assemble into supercomplexes called respirasomes (C-I, C-III, and C-IV) and synthasomes (C-V) that increase the efficiency of electron transport and ATP production. Various methods have been used for over 50 years to measure ETC function, but these protocols do not provide information on the assembly of individual complexes and supercomplexes. This protocol describes the technique of native gel polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), a method that was modified more than 20 years ago to study ETC complex structure. Native electrophoresis permits the separation of ETC complexes into their active forms, and these complexes can then be studied using immunoblotting, in-gel assays (IGA), and purification by electroelution. By combining the results of native gel PAGE with those of other mitochondrial assays, it is possible to obtain a completer picture of ETC activity, its dynamic assembly and disassembly, and how this regulates mitochondrial structure and function. This work will also discuss limitations of these techniques. In summary, the technique of native PAGE, followed by immunoblotting, IGA, and electroelution, presented below, is a powerful way to investigate the functionality and composition of mitochondrial ETC supercomplexes.
Mitochondrial energy in the form of ATP is not only essential for cell survival, but also for the regulation of cell death. The generation of ATP by oxidative phosphorylation requires a functional electron transport chain (ETC; Cx-I to IV) and mitochondrial ATP synthase (Cx-V). Recent studies have shown that these large protein complexes are organized into supercomplexes, called respirasomes and synthasomes1,2. It is challenging to analyze the assembly, dynamics, and activity regulation of these massive complexes and supercomplexes. While oxygen consumption measurements taken with an oxygen electrode and enzyme assays conducted using a spectrophotometer can give valuable information about ETC complex activity, these assays cannot provide information regarding the presence, size, and subunit composition of the protein complex or supercomplexes involved. However, the development of blue and clear native (BN and CN, respectively) PAGE3 has created a powerful tool for revealing important information about complex composition and assembly/disassembly and about the dynamic regulation of the supramolecular organization of these vital respiratory complexes under physiological and pathological conditions4.
The assembly of these complexes into higher-order supercomplexes appears to regulate mitochondrial structure and function5. For example, respirasome assembly increases the efficiency of electron transfer and the generation of the proton motive force across the mitochondrial inner membrane5. In addition, the assembly of synthasomes not only increases the efficiency of ATP production and the transfer of energy equivalents into the cytoplasm2, but it also molds the mitochondrial inner membrane into the tubular cristae6,7. Studies of supercomplex assembly during cardiac development in mouse embryos show that the generation of Cx-I-containing supercomplexes in the heart begins at about embryonic day 13.58. Others have shown that the amount of Cx-I-containing supercomplexes decreases in the heart due to aging or ischemia/reperfusion injuries9,10 or may play a role in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases11.
This protocol describes methods for native gel PAGE that can be used to investigate the assembly and activity of the ETC complexes and supercomplexes. The approximate molecular weight of mitochondrial supercomplexes can be assessed by separating the protein complexes in CN or BN polyacrylamide gels. CN PAGE also allows for the visualization of the enzymatic activity of all mitochondrial complexes directly in the gel (in-gel assays; IGA)12. This work demonstrates the activity of respirasomes by highlighting the ability of Cx-I to oxidize NADH through IGA and the presence of synthasomes due to the ATP-hydrolyzing activity of Cx-V by IGA. The multiple complexes and supercomplexes containing Cx-I and Cx-V can also be demonstrated by transferring the proteins onto nitrocellulose membranes and performing immunoblotting. The advantage of this approach is that BN or CN PAGE generally separates protein complexes based on their physiological size and composition; the transfer to a membrane preserves this pattern of bands. Analyzing protein complexes in a BN or CN PAGE can also be done using 2D-PAGE (see Fiala et al.13 for a demonstration) or by sucrose density centrifugation14,15. To further analyze a specific band, it can be excised from the BN PAGE, and the proteins from this protein complex can be purified by electroeluting them under native conditions. Native electroelution can be performed within a few hours, which could make a significant difference to the passive diffusion (as used in Reference 16) of proteins from a gel into the surrounding buffer.
In summary, these methods describe several approaches that allow for the further characterization of high-molecular-weight supercomplexes from mitochondrial membranes.
All experiments were performed using hearts from C57BL/6N mice (wild type). Mice were anesthetized with CO2 prior to cervical dislocation, and all procedures were performed in strict accordance with the Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine at the University of Rochester and in compliance with state law, federal statute, and NIH policy. The protocol was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the University of Rochester (University Committee on Animal Resources).
1. CN and BN PAGE
NOTE: All equipment used for BN and CN PAGE must be free of detergent. To ensure this, wash all equipment with 0.1 M hydrochloric acid, followed by extensively rinsing with deionized H2O.
3 % to 8 % (mini) | 4 % to 10 % (maxi) | |||
0.5 gels (light) | 0.5 gels (heavy) | 0.5 gels (light) | 0.5 gels (heavy) | |
AAB (mL) | 0.42 | 1.3 | 2.5 | 7.7 |
CN/BN buffer (mL) | 1.6 | 1.6 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
H2O (mL) | 2.7 | 1.4 | 14 | 6.3 |
Glycerol (g) | 0 | 0.47 | 0 | 2.5 |
Volume (mL) | 4.72 | 4.77 | 25 | 25 |
APS (µL) | 27 | 27 | 65 | 65 |
TEMED (µL) | 4 | 4 | 10 | 10 |
Table 1: Quantities of Ingredients Needed to Pour 1 Mini- or Maxi-PAGE. The volumes used in this table are calculated for 1 mini- or 1 maxi-gel, 1.5 mm thick. The volume of AAB is based on a 40% stock solution. Light and heavy refer to the concentration of AAB. APS and TEMED are added after each column of the gradient mixer is filled with AAB solution.
2. In-gel Assays for Cx-I and Cx-V
NOTE: The assays are performed at room temperature. Take photos, scans, or images of the developing bands for documentation. (Important) Proteins cannot not be transferred onto nitrocellulose membranes after completing an IGA.
3. Protein Transfer to Nitrocellulose or Polyvinylidene Difluoride (PVDF) Membranes
4. Immunoblotting
5. Electroelution
To visualize mitochondrial supercomplexes, freshly isolated mitochondria from mice were used17,18. Mitochondrial supercomplexes are sensitive to repeated cycles of freezing and thawing, leading to their disintegration, although this may be tolerable for some researchers. If freezing is necessary for storage, to ensure best results, samples should not undergo more than one cycle of freezing and thawing.
A functional ETC is necessary for mitochondrial ATP generation. The complexes of the ETC are able to form two types of supercomplexes: the respirasomes (Cx-I, -III, and -IV)1 and the synthasomes (Cx-V)2. The assembly of each complex is required for an intact ETC, while the organization of the ETC into supercomplexes is thought to increase overall ETC efficiency5,22. How these supercomplexes assemble and disassemble ...
The authors have nothing to disclose.
This work was supported by grants from the American Heart Association Founder's Affiliate [12GRNT12060233] and the Strong Children's Research Center at the University of Rochester.
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Protean II mini-gel chamber | Biorad | 1658004 | Complete set to pour and run mini-gel electrophoresis |
Protean XL maxi-gel | Biorad | 1653189 | Complete set to pour and run maxi-gel electrophoresis |
Gradient maker, Hoefer SG15 | VWR | 95044-704 | Pouring mini-gel gradients |
Gradient maker, maxi-gel | VWR | GM-100 | Pouring maxi-gel gradients |
Transfer kit | Biorad | 1703930 | Complete set to wet transfer of proteins onto membranes |
Electroeluter model 422 | Biorad | 1652976 | Electroelution of proteins from native or SDS PAGES |
Glass plates | Biorad | 1653308 | Short plates |
Glass plates | Biorad | 1653312 | Spacer plates |
Glass plates | Biorad | 1651823 | Inner plates |
Glass plates | Biorad | 1651824 | Outer Plates |
Power supply | Biorad | 1645070 | Power supply suitable for native electrophoresis |
ECL-Western | Thermo Scientific | 32209 | Chemolumniscense substrate |
SuperSignal-West Dura | Thermo Scientific | 34075 | Enhanced chemolumniscense substrate |
Film/autoradiography film | GE Health care | 28906845 | Documentation of Western blots |
Film processor CP1000 | Agfa | NC0872640 | |
Canon Power Shot 640 | Canon | NA | Taking photos to document gels, membranes and blots. |
Canon Power Shot 640 Camera hood | Canon | shielding camera for photos being taken on a light table | |
Acrylamide/bisacrylamide | Biorad | 1610148 | 40% pre-mixed solution |
Glycine | Sigma | G7403 | |
SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) | Invitrogen | 15525-017 | |
Tris-base | Sigma | T1503 | Buffer |
Tricine | Sigma | T0377 | |
Sodium deoxychelate | Sigma | D66750 | Detergent |
EDTA | Sigma | E5134 | |
Sucrose | Sigma | S9378 | |
MOPS | Sigma | M1254 | Buffer |
Imidazole | Sigma | I15513 | Buffer |
Lauryl maltoside | Sigma | D4641 | Detergent |
Coomassie G250 | Biorad | 161-0406 | |
Aminohexanoic acid | Sigma | O7260 | |
Native molecular weight kit | GE Health care | 17-0445-01 | High molecular weight calibraition kit for native electrophoresis. |
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
NADH | Sigma | N4505 | |
Nitroblue tetrazolium | Sigma | N6639 | |
Tris HCL | Sigma | T3253 | |
ATP | Sigma | A2383 | |
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Lead(II) nitrate (Pb(NO3)2): | Sigma | 228621 | |
Oligomycin | Sigma | O4876 | |
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Ponceau S | Sigma | P3504 | |
anti-ATP5A | Abcam | ab14748 | antibody to ATP synthase subunit ATP5A |
anti-NDUFB6 | Abcam | ab110244 | antibody to Cx-1 subunit NDUFB6 |
anti-VDAC | Calbiochem | 529534 | antibody to VDAC |
ECL HRP linked antibody | GE Health Care | NA931V | secondary antibody to ATP5A, NDUFB6 and VDAC |
Blocking reagent | Biorad | 170-6404 | |
BSA | |||
sodium chloride | Sigma | S9888 | |
potassium chloride | Sigma | P9541 | |
EGTA | Sigma | E3889 | |
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Silver staining Kit | Invitrogen | LC6070 |
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