N,N,N',N'-Tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride

This study explored mitochondrial capacities to oxidize carbohydrate and fatty acids and functional optimization of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes in athletes who regularly train at high exercise intensity (ATH, n = 7) compared with sedentary (SED, n = 7). Peak O(2) uptake (Vo(2max)) was measured, and muscle biopsies of vastus lateralis were collected. Maximal O(2) uptake of saponin-skinned myofibers was evaluated with several metabolic substrates [glutamate-malate (V(GM)), pyruvate (V(Pyr)), palmitoyl carnitine (V(PC))], and the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory complexes II and IV were assessed using succinate (V(s)) and N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (V(TMPD)), respectively. Vo(2max) was higher in ATH than in SED (57.8 +/- 2.2 vs. 31.4 +/- 1.3 ml.min(-1).kg(-1), P < 0.001). V(GM) was higher in ATH than in SED (8.6 +/- 0.5 vs. 3.3 +/- 0.3 micromol O(2).min(-1).g dry wt(-1), P < 0.001). V(Pyr) was higher in ATH than in SED (8.7 +/- 1.0 vs. 5.5 +/- 0.2 micromol O(2).min(-1).g dry wt(-1), P < 0.05), whereas V(PC) was not significantly different (5.3 +/- 0.9 vs. 4.4 +/- 0.5 micromol O(2).min(-1).g dry wt(-1)). V(S) was higher in ATH than in SED (11.0 +/- 0.6 vs. 6.0 +/- 0.3 micromol O(2).min(-1).g dry wt(-1), P < 0.001), as well as V(TMPD) (20.1 +/- 1.0 vs. 16.2 +/- 3.4 micromol O(2).min(-1).g dry wt(-1), P < 0.05). The ratios V(S)/V(GM) (1.3 +/- 0.1 vs. 2.0 +/- 0.1, P < 0.001) and V(TMPD)/V(GM) (2.4 +/- 1.0 vs. 5.2 +/- 1.8, P < 0.01) were lower in ATH than in SED. In conclusion, comparison of ATH vs. SED subjects suggests that regular endurance training at high intensity promotes the enhancement of maximal mitochondrial capacities to oxidize carbohydrate rather than fatty acid and induce specific adaptations of the mitochondrial respiratory chain at the level of complex I.

Oxidizing free radicals with redox potential greater than 1 V generate indole radicals, R-Ind+. and R-Ind., as in tryptophan. These resonance-stabilized free radicals can be repaired efficiently with electron donors (k = 5 X 10(6) - 1.3 X 10(9) dm3 mol-1 s-1) such as ascorbate, N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (TMPD), and phenolic antioxidants. Sulfhydryl compounds, which are good H-atom donors, were found to be relatively unreactive (k less than 10(6) dm3 mol-1 s-1). These indole radicals were also found to be unreactive with oxygen (k less than 10(6) dm3 mol-1 s-1).

Active transport of glucose in prosthecae isolated from cells of Asticcacaulis biprosthecum was stimulated by the non-physiological electron donor N, N, N', N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride. Glucose uptake was mediated by two transport systems; the apparent Km of the high-affinity system was 1.8 muM and that of the low-affinity system was 34 muM. Free glucose accumulated within prosthecae at a concentration 60 to 200 times above that present externally, depending on the Km of the system being observed. The glucose transport system in prosthecae was stereospecific for D-glucose, and neither methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside nor 2-deoxyglucose was transported. Uptake of glucose was inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and p-chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB), and the inhibition by PCMB but not by NEM was reversed by dithiothreitol. Glucose uptake was also inhibited by the uncoupling agents 5-chloro-3-t-butyl-2'-nitrosalicylanilide (S-13), 5-chloro-3-(p-chlorophenyl)-4'-chlorosalicylanilide (S-6), and carbonyl-cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) and by the respiratory inhibitor KCN. Efflux of glucose from preloaded prosthecae was induced by PCMB and KCN, but not by S-13 or CCCP. Glucose uptake was not affected by arsenate or an inhibitor of membrane-bound adenosine triphosphatases, N, N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. The lack of inhibition by these two compounds, combined with the extremely low levels of adenosine 5'-triphosphate present in prosthecae, indicates that adenosine 5'-triphosphate is not involved in the transport of glucose by prosthecae.