BIOMAT Database Logo BIOMAT Database Logo

Energy-dependent uptake of N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium, the neurotoxic metabolite of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, by mitochondria. 1986

R R Ramsay, and T P Singer

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), an impurity in certain batches of illicit heroin substitutes, is known to cause parkinsonian symptoms and degeneration of the nigrostriatal cells in drug abusers and primates. Neurotoxicity depends on oxidation of MPTP by monoamine oxidase in brain cells to the dihydropyridinium form, which is further oxidized to N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), the 4-electron oxidation product. The latter is widely believed to be the compound responsible for neuronal destruction and the NADH dehydrogenase of the inner membrane has been postulated to be its target. This enzyme is inhibited, however, only at very high concentrations of MPP+, while the steady-state concentration of MPP+ in the nigrostriatal cells of MPTP-treated animals is several orders of magnitude lower. This paradox has now been resolved by the discovery of an energized uptake system for MPP+ in mitochondria which rapidly concentrates MPP+ to very high concentrations in the mitochondria at micromolar external concentrations. The process is dependent on the electrical gradient of the membrane, has a Km of about 5 mM, and is completely blocked by respiratory inhibitors and uncouplers.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007700 Kinetics The rate dynamics in chemical or physical systems.
D008564 Membrane Potentials The voltage differences across a membrane. For cellular membranes they are computed by subtracting the voltage measured outside the membrane from the voltage measured inside the membrane. They result from differences of inside versus outside concentration of potassium, sodium, chloride, and other ions across cells' or ORGANELLES membranes. For excitable cells, the resting membrane potentials range between -30 and -100 millivolts. Physical, chemical, or electrical stimuli can make a membrane potential more negative (hyperpolarization), or less negative (depolarization). Resting Potentials,Transmembrane Potentials,Delta Psi,Resting Membrane Potential,Transmembrane Electrical Potential Difference,Transmembrane Potential Difference,Difference, Transmembrane Potential,Differences, Transmembrane Potential,Membrane Potential,Membrane Potential, Resting,Membrane Potentials, Resting,Potential Difference, Transmembrane,Potential Differences, Transmembrane,Potential, Membrane,Potential, Resting,Potential, Transmembrane,Potentials, Membrane,Potentials, Resting,Potentials, Transmembrane,Resting Membrane Potentials,Resting Potential,Transmembrane Potential,Transmembrane Potential Differences
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
D011725 Pyridines Compounds with a six membered aromatic ring containing NITROGEN. The saturated version is PIPERIDINES.
D011726 Pyridinium Compounds Derivatives of PYRIDINE containing a cation C5H5NH or radical C5H6N. Compounds, Pyridinium
D004140 Dinitrophenols Organic compounds that contain two nitro groups attached to a phenol.
D006540 Herbicides Pesticides used to destroy unwanted vegetation, especially various types of weeds, grasses (POACEAE), and woody plants. Some plants develop HERBICIDE RESISTANCE. Algaecide,Algicide,Herbicide,Algaecides,Algicides
D006863 Hydrogen-Ion Concentration The normality of a solution with respect to HYDROGEN ions; H+. It is related to acidity measurements in most cases by pH pH,Concentration, Hydrogen-Ion,Concentrations, Hydrogen-Ion,Hydrogen Ion Concentration,Hydrogen-Ion Concentrations
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D000968 Antimycin A An antibiotic substance produced by Streptomyces species. It inhibits mitochondrial respiration and may deplete cellular levels of ATP. Antimycin A1 has been used as a fungicide, insecticide, and miticide. (From Merck Index, 12th ed) Butanoic acid, 2(or 3)-methyl-, 3-((3-(formylamino)-2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)-8-hexyl-2,6-dimethyl-4,9-dioxo-1,5-dioxonan-7-yl ester,Antimycin A1

Related Publications

R R Ramsay, and T P Singer
Effects of N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine and its metabolite, N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion, on dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons in the mouse.
August 1985, Neuroscience letters,
R R Ramsay, and T P Singer
1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine metabolism and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium uptake in dissociated cell cultures from the embryonic mesencephalon.
June 1988, Journal of neurochemistry,
R R Ramsay, and T P Singer
Studies on the neurotoxicity of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine: inhibition of NAD-linked substrate oxidation by its metabolite, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium.
May 1986, Journal of neurochemistry,
R R Ramsay, and T P Singer
Peripheral effects of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and its main metabolite 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) in the rat.
September 1987, European journal of pharmacology,
R R Ramsay, and T P Singer
Uptake of N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and the N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) into fetal mouse brain through the placenta.
October 1989, Neuroscience letters,
R R Ramsay, and T P Singer
Regional localization of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) uptake: mismatch between its uptake and neurotoxic sites.
November 1991, Neuroscience letters,
R R Ramsay, and T P Singer
Parkinsonism-inducing neurotoxin, N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6 -tetrahydropyridine: uptake of the metabolite N-methyl-4-phenylpyridine by dopamine neurons explains selective toxicity.
April 1985, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,
R R Ramsay, and T P Singer
Interactions of the neurotoxic amine 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine with monoamine oxidases.
May 1986, The Biochemical journal,
R R Ramsay, and T P Singer
Mitochondria targeted peptides protect against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine neurotoxicity.
September 2009, Antioxidants & redox signaling,
R R Ramsay, and T P Singer
The significance of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine.
January 1987, Ciba Foundation symposium,
Copied contents to your clipboard!