BN-PAGE analysis of the respiratory chain complexes in mitochondria of cucumber MSC16 mutant

Rearrangements of mitochondrial DNA in MSC16 mutant of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) affect mitochondrial functioning due to the alteration mainly of Complex I resulting in several metabolic changes. One-dimensional Blue-Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE) and densitometric measurements showed that the level and in-gel capacity of Complex I were lower in MSC16 leaf and root mitochondria as compared to wild-type (WT). The level and capacity of supercomplex I + III2 were always lower in leaf but not in MSC16 root mitochondria. Two-dimensional BN/SDS-PAGE indicated that the band abundance for most of the subunits of Complex I was lower in MSC16 leaf and root mitochondria. Supercomplex I + III2 level was only altered in MSC16 leaf mitochondria as measured after 2D BN/SDS-PAGE. No differences in the qualitative composition of the subunits of Complex I and supercomplex I + III2 between MSC16 and WT mitochondria were observed. In MSC16 mitochondria Complex I impairment could be compensated to some extent by additional respiratory chain NADH dehydrogenases. A higher capacity and level of NDB-1 protein of external NADH dehydrogenase was observed in MSC16 leaf and root mitochondria as compared to WT. The level of COX II, mitochondrial-encoded subunit of Complex IV, was higher in MSC16 leaf and root mitochondria. However, the capacity of Complex IV was slightly higher only in MSC16 leaf mitochondria. The levels of complexes: III2 and V and Complex V capacity did not differ in mitochondria between genotypes. An abundance of the subunits of respiratory complexes is one of the key factors determining not only their structure and functional stability but also a formation of the supercomplexes. We discuss here mitochondrial genome rearrangements in MSC16 mutant in a relation to assembly and/or stability (the lower level and capacity) of Complex I and supercomplex I + III2.