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5-Hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) blocks pharmacological and ischaemic preconditioning, and has been postulated to be a specific inhibitor of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channels. However, recent work has shown that 5-HD is activated to 5-hydroxydecanoyl-CoA (5-HD-CoA), which is a substrate for the first step of beta-oxidation. We have now analysed the complete beta-oxidation of 5-HD-CoA using specially synthesised (and purified) substrates and enzymes, as well as isolated rat liver and heart mitochondria, and compared it with the metabolism of the physiological substrate decanoyl-CoA. At the second step of beta-oxidation, catalysed by enoyl-CoA hydratase, enzyme kinetics were similar using either decenoyl-CoA or 5-hydroxydecenoyl-CoA as substrate. The last two steps were investigated using l-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (HAD) coupled to 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase. V(max) for the metabolite of 5-HD (3,5-dihydroxydecanoyl-CoA) was fivefold slower than for the corresponding metabolite of decanoate (l-3-hydroxydecanoyl-CoA). The slower kinetics were not due to accumulation of d-3-hydroxyoctanoyl-CoA since this enantiomer did not inhibit HAD. Molecular modelling of HAD complexed with 3,5-dihydroxydecanoyl-CoA suggested that the 5-hydroxyl group could decrease HAD turnover rate by interacting with critical side chains. Consistent with the kinetic data, 5-hydroxydecanoyl-CoA alone acted as a weak substrate in isolated mitochondria, whereas addition of 100 mum 5-HD-CoA inhibited the metabolism of decanoyl-CoA or lauryl-carnitine. In conclusion, 5-HD is activated, transported into mitochondria and metabolised via beta-oxidation, albeit with rate-limiting kinetics at the penultimate step. This creates a bottleneck for beta-oxidation of fatty acids. The complex metabolic effects of 5-HD invalidate the use of 5-HD as a blocker of mitochondrial K(ATP) channels in studies of preconditioning.

5-Hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) inhibits ischaemic and pharmacological preconditioning of the heart. Since 5-HD is thought to inhibit specifically the putative mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channel, this channel has been inferred to be a mediator of preconditioning. However, it has recently been shown that 5-HD is a substrate for acyl-CoA synthetase, the mitochondrial enzyme which 'activates' fatty acids. Here, we tested whether activated 5-HD, 5-hydroxydecanoyl-CoA (5-HD-CoA), is a substrate for medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD), the committed step of the mitochondrial beta-oxidation pathway. Using a molecular model, we predicted that the hydroxyl group on the acyl tail of 5-HD-CoA would not sterically hinder the active site of MCAD. Indeed, we found that 5-HD-CoA was a substrate for purified human liver MCAD with a Km of 12.8 +/- 0.6 microM and a kcat of 14.1 s-1. For comparison, with decanoyl-CoA (Km approximately 3 microM) as substrate, kcat was 6.4 s-1. 5-HD-CoA was also a substrate for purified pig kidney MCAD. We next tested whether the reaction product, 5-hydroxydecenoyl-CoA (5-HD-enoyl-CoA), was a substrate for enoyl-CoA hydratase, the second enzyme of the beta-oxidation pathway. Similar to decenoyl-CoA, purified 5-HD-enoyl-CoA was also a substrate for the hydratase reaction. In conclusion, we have shown that 5-HD is metabolised at least as far as the third enzyme of the beta-oxidation pathway. Our results open the possibility that beta-oxidation of 5-HD or metabolic intermediates of 5-HD may be responsible for the inhibitory effects of 5-HD on preconditioning of the heart.

The two-pore-domain potassium channels TASK-1, TASK-3 and TASK-5 possess a conserved C-terminal motif of five amino acids. Truncation of the C-terminus of TASK-1 strongly reduced the currents measured after heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes or HEK293 cells and decreased surface membrane expression of GFP-tagged channel proteins. Two-hybrid analysis showed that the C-terminal domain of TASK-1, TASK-3 and TASK-5, but not TASK-4, interacts with isoforms of the adapter protein 14-3-3. A pentapeptide motif at the extreme C-terminus of TASK-1, RRx(S/T)x, was found to be sufficient for weak but significant interaction with 14-3-3, whereas the last 40 amino acids of TASK-1 were required for strong binding. Deletion of a single amino acid at the C-terminal end of TASK-1 or TASK-3 abolished binding of 14-3-3 and strongly reduced the macroscopic currents observed in Xenopus oocytes. TASK-1 mutants that failed to interact with 14-3-3 isoforms (V411*, S410A, S410D) also produced only very weak macroscopic currents. In contrast, the mutant TASK-1 S409A, which interacts with 14-3-3-like wild-type channels, displayed normal macroscopic currents. Co-injection of 14-3-3zeta cRNA increased TASK-1 current in Xenopus oocytes by about 70 %. After co-transfection in HEK293 cells, TASK-1 and 14-3-3zeta (but not TASK-1DeltaC5 and 14-3-3zeta) could be co-immunoprecipitated. Furthermore, TASK-1 and 14-3-3 could be co-immunoprecipitated in synaptic membrane extracts and postsynaptic density membranes. Our findings suggest that interaction of 14-3-3 with TASK-1 or TASK-3 may promote the trafficking of the channels to the surface membrane.

We have investigated the effects of volatile anaesthetics on electron transport chain activity in the mammalian heart. Halothane, isoflurane and sevoflurane reversibly increased NADH fluorescence (autofluorescence) in intact ventricular myocytes of guinea-pig, suggesting that NADH oxidation was impaired. Using pig heart submitochondrial particles we found that the anaesthetics dose-dependently inhibited NADH oxidation in the order: halothane > isoflurane = sevoflurane. Succinate oxidation was unaffected by either isoflurane or sevoflurane, indicating that these agents selectively inhibit complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase). In addition to inhibiting NADH oxidation, halothane also inhibited succinate oxidation (and succinate dehydrogenase), albeit to a lesser extent. To test the hypothesis that complex I is a target of volatile anaesthetics, we examined the effects of these agents on NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.99.3) activity using the ubiquinone analogue DBQ (decylubiquinone) as substrate. Halothane, isoflurane and sevoflurane dose-dependently inhibited NADH:DBQ oxidoreductase activity. Unlike the classical inhibitor rotenone, none of the anaesthetics completely inhibited enzyme activity at high concentration, suggesting that these agents bind weakly to the 'hydrophobic inhibitory site' of complex I. In conclusion, halothane, isoflurane and sevoflurane inhibit complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) of the electron transport chain. At concentrations of approximately 2 MAC (minimal alveolar concentration), the activity of NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase was reduced by about 20 % in the presence of halothane or isoflurane, and by about 10 % in the presence of sevoflurane. These inhibitory effects are unlikely to compromise cardiac performance at usual clinical concentrations, but may contribute to the mechanism by which volatile anaesthetics induce pharmacological preconditioning.

Diazoxide and 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD; C10:0) are reputed to target specifically mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channels. Here we describe K(ATP) channel-independent targets of diazoxide and 5-HD in the heart. Using submitochondrial particles isolated from pig heart, we found that diazoxide (10-100 microM) dose-dependently decreased succinate oxidation without affecting NADH oxidation. Pinacidil, a non-selective K(ATP) channel opener, did not inhibit succinate oxidation. However, it selectively inhibited NADH oxidation. These direct inhibitory effects of diazoxide and pinacidil cannot be explained by activation of mitochondrial K(ATP) channels. Furthermore, application of either diazoxide (100 microM) or pinacidil (100 microM) did not decrease mitochondrial membrane potential, assessed using TMRE (tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester), in isolated guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. We also tested whether 5-HD, a medium-chain fatty acid derivative which blocks diazoxide-induced cardioprotection, was 'activated' via acyl-CoA synthetase (EC 6.2.1.3), an enzyme present both on the outer mitochondrial membrane and in the matrix. Using analytical HPLC and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry, we showed that 5-HD-CoA (5-hydroxydecanoyl-CoA) is indeed synthesized from 5-HD and CoA via acyl-CoA synthetase. Thus, 5-HD-CoA may be the active form of 5-HD, serving as substrate for (or inhibiting) acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (beta-oxidation) and/or exerting some other cellular action. In conclusion, we have identified K(ATP) channel-independent targets of 5-HD, diazoxide and pinacidil. Our findings question the assumption that sensitivity to diazoxide and 5-HD implies involvement of mitochondrial K(ATP) channels. We propose that pharmacological preconditioning may be related to partial inhibition of respiratory chain complexes.

1. We have used fluorescence confocal laser scanning microscopy to attain the three-dimensional (3-D) microstructure of perimysial collagen fibres over the range of sarcomere lengths (1.9-2.3 micrometers) in which passive force of cardiac muscle increases steeply. 2. A uniaxial muscle preparation (right ventricular trabecula of rat) was used so that the 3-D collagen configuration could be readily related to sarcomere length. Transmission electron microscopy showed that these preparations were structurally homologous to ventricular wall muscle. 3. Trabeculae were mounted on the stage of an inverted microscope and fixed at various sarcomere lengths. After a trabecula was stained with the fluorophore Sirius Red F3BA and embedded in resin, sequential optical sectioning enabled 3-D reconstruction of its perimysial collagen fibres. The area fraction of these fibres, determined from the cross-sections of seven trabeculae, was 10.5 +/- 3.9 % (means +/- s.d.). 4. The reconstructed 3-D images show that perimysial collagen fibres are wavy (as distinct from coiled) cords which straighten considerably as the sarcomere length is increased from 1.85 +/- 0.06 micrometer (near-resting length) to 2.3 +/- 0.04 micrometer (means +/- s.d., n = 4). These observations are consistent with the notion that the straightening of these fibres is responsible for limiting extension of the cardiac sarcomere to a length of approximately 2.3 micrometers.

1. We investigated the mechanisms underlying the negative inotropic effect of the volatile anaesthetics halothane and isoflurane using twenty-two intact, right ventricular trabeculae of rat. [Ca2+]1 was measured qualitatively using either fluo-3 or fura-2, loaded into the cytosol via the acetoxymethyl (AM) ester form. Diastolic sarcomere length was adjusted to 2.1-2.2 micrograms and experiments were performed at 21-23 degrees C. 2. Halothane (0.25-3%) and isoflurane (0.48-4%) produced dose-dependent decreases in the amplitudes of the intracellular Ca2+ transients and twitch force. When the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator signals were corrected for changes in autofluorescence, neither volatile anaesthetic significantly changed diastolic [Ca2+]. 3. The ability of halothane and isoflurane to induce Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum of quiescent trabeculae was examined. When the superfusate was Ca2+ ad Na+ free (thereby preventing Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange and Ca2+ influx), 2% halothane, but not 4% isoflurane, evoked a transient increase in [Ca2+]i. 4. Halothane and isoflurane produced reversible, dose-dependent changes in cellular autofluorescence, the pattern of which was consistent with an increase in concentration of the reduced forms of nicotinamide adenine nucleotides and flavoproteins. This observation supports the putative inhibitory action of volatile anaesthetics at the site of Complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. 5. Addition of the fatty acid hexanoate, a substrate that can be metabolized in the face of Complex I inhibition, did not appreciably attenuate the anaesthetic-induced negative inotropy; however, it greatly diminished autofluorescence changes. 6. To determine whether direct actions of the volatile anaesthetics on the contractile system contributed to the negative inotropy, external [Ca2+] was varied to modulate the amplitude of the Ca2+ transient. In the presence of 2% halothane or 4% isoflurane, restoration of the peak Ca2+ transient to control levels did not restore peak force. Moreover, halothane (1%) and isoflurane (16%) each reduced maximal Ca2(+)-activated force (attained using ryanodine tetani and a high external [Ca2+]) by around 15%. 7. We conclude that the negative inotropic actions of halothane and isoflurane on intact cardiac muscle reflect both reduced availability of Ca2+ and decreased responsiveness of the contractile system to Ca2+. The inhibitory action of the volatile anaesthetics on mitochondrial function does not contribute significantly to the negative inotropy but may lead to changes in cellular autofluorescence and misinterpretation of fluorescent Ca2+ indicator signals.