Biomaterial Database

Mechanism of the formation of megamitochondria induced by copper-chelating agents. III. Formation and some biochemical properties of megamitochondria induced by diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC). 1975

M Asano, and T Wakabayashi, and C Kurono, and T Ozawa

Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC), a copper-chelating agent, has induced megamitochondria in mouse hepatocytes simply by feeding the animal with a diet containing the noxious agent. Megamitochondria have been isolated from the liver, specified above, in a medium containing albumin. Phosphorylating capacities of such megamitochondria have revealed that they are tightly coupled. Biochemical properties of megamitochondria, such as cytochrome contents, activities of copper-containing enzymes. and contents of Cu2+, strongly suggest that copper-chelating action of the agent may not be related to the formation of megamitochondria just as in the case of cuprizone-induced megamitochondria. Moreover, contents of divalent metals such as Ca2+ and Mg2+ were drastically decreased in the mitochondrial preparation specified above. Similarities in biochemical aspects of DDC-induced megamitochondria to those of cuprizone-induced megamitochondria together with ultrastructural changes in the liver and clinical appearances of the mouse treated with the agent would strongly suggest that the mechanism of the formation of megamitochondria induced either by DDC or by cuprizone may be the same.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008274	Magnesium	A metallic element that has the atomic symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and atomic weight 24.31. It is important for the activity of many enzymes, especially those involved in OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION.
D008297	Male		Males
D008930	Mitochondria, Liver	Mitochondria in hepatocytes. As in all mitochondria, there are an outer membrane and an inner membrane, together creating two separate mitochondrial compartments: the internal matrix space and a much narrower intermembrane space. In the liver mitochondrion, an estimated 67% of the total mitochondrial proteins is located in the matrix. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p343-4)	Liver Mitochondria,Liver Mitochondrion,Mitochondrion, Liver
D008995	Monoamine Oxidase	An enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative deamination of naturally occurring monoamines. It is a flavin-containing enzyme that is localized in mitochondrial membranes, whether in nerve terminals, the liver, or other organs. Monoamine oxidase is important in regulating the metabolic degradation of catecholamines and serotonin in neural or target tissues. Hepatic monoamine oxidase has a crucial defensive role in inactivating circulating monoamines or those, such as tyramine, that originate in the gut and are absorbed into the portal circulation. (From Goodman and Gilman's, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p415) EC 1.4.3.4.	Amine Oxidase (Flavin-Containing),MAO,MAO-A,MAO-B,Monoamine Oxidase A,Monoamine Oxidase B,Type A Monoamine Oxidase,Type B Monoamine Oxidase,Tyramine Oxidase,MAO A,MAO B,Oxidase, Monoamine,Oxidase, Tyramine
D010085	Oxidative Phosphorylation	Electron transfer through the cytochrome system liberating free energy which is transformed into high-energy phosphate bonds.	Phosphorylation, Oxidative,Oxidative Phosphorylations,Phosphorylations, Oxidative
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D002459	Cell Fusion	Fusion of somatic cells in vitro or in vivo, which results in somatic cell hybridization.	Cell Fusions,Fusion, Cell,Fusions, Cell
D002614	Chelating Agents	Chemicals that bind to and remove ions from solutions. Many chelating agents function through the formation of COORDINATION COMPLEXES with METALS.	Chelating Agent,Chelator,Complexons,Metal Antagonists,Chelators,Metal Chelating Agents,Agent, Chelating,Agents, Chelating,Agents, Metal Chelating,Antagonists, Metal,Chelating Agents, Metal
D003300	Copper	A heavy metal trace element with the atomic symbol Cu, atomic number 29, and atomic weight 63.55.	Copper-63,Copper 63
D003471	Cuprizone	Copper chelator that inhibits monoamine oxidase and causes liver and brain damage.	Biscyclohexanone Oxaldihydrazone,Oxaldihydrazone, Biscyclohexanone