Extramitochondrial localization of NADH-fumarate reductase in trypanosomatids

Trypanosoma brucei procyclic trypomastigotes and T. cruzi epimastigotes (both Tulahuen and Y strains) were permeabilized by incubation with increasing amounts of digitonin, causing enzymes to be released from different intracellular compartments. After 10 min incubation with digitonin, the cells were centrifuged and the activity of marker enzymes (aspartate-dependent malic enzyme for cytoplasm, hexokinase for glycosomes and either isocitrate dehydrogenase or citrate synthase for mitochondria) was analyzed in the supernatant. The results were compared with the release of NADH-fumarate reductase in order to determine if this enzyme was preferentially released with a specific intracellular marker. Fumarate reductase was released at lower digitonin concentration than those required to either release isocitrate dehydrogenase or citrate synthase. Similarly, Leishmania donovani promastigotes (S-2 strain) were exposed to a single concentration of digitonin (200 micro M) but in this case we monitored the release of fumarate reductase and hexokinase, while monitoring the mitochondrial membrane potential (using safranine O). Again, substantial fumarate reductase and hexokinase activities were released without loss of mitochondrial membrane potential indicating that part of the enzyme was released while the inner mitochondrial membrane remained intact. These results suggest that, in the three species of trypanosomatids the enzyme fumarate reductase is, at least in part, located outside the mitochondrial matrix.