Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / INTRODUÃÃO: O papel do LPS na defesa da mucosa gÃstrica ainda nÃo està estabelecido. OBJETIVOS: 1-Verificar o efeito protetor do LPS na lesÃo gÃstrica (LG), na infiltraÃÃo de neutrÃfilos (IN), no aumento da adesÃo leucocitÃria, na diminuiÃÃo dos nÃveis de GSH induzidos por indometacina (INDO) em ratos; 2-Investigar o papel da COX-2, NOSi e dos canais de K sensÃveis ao ATP (KATP) na gastroproteÃÃo do LPS na gastropatia por INDO. MÃTODOS: Os ratos foram tratados com LPS da E. coli (30, 100 ou 300 g/Kg, e.v.). ApÃs 6 hs, foi administrado INDO (20mg/Kg, p.o.). Decorridas 3 hs, o sangue foi colhido para determinaÃÃo do leucograma. Posteriormente, os ratos foram sacrificados e a LG foi aferida. Fragmentos do estÃmago foram retirados para avaliaÃÃo da atividade de mieloperoxidase (MPO) e determinaÃÃo dos nÃveis de glutationa (GSH). A adesÃo e o rolling dos leucÃcitos foram avaliados por microscopia intravital. Diferentes grupos foram tratados com rofecoxib, L-NAME, aminoguanidina, dexametasona, glibenclamida, diazÃxido ou glibenclamida + diazÃxido. ApÃs 3 horas da administraÃÃo de INDO (20mg/Kg, p.o.), foram avaliadas a LG, a MPO e GSH. RESULTADOS: LPS reduziu a LG e o aumentou a MPO induzidas por INDO de forma dose-dependente, com o efeito mÃximo na dose de 300 g/Kg e no tempo de 6 hs. O prÃ-tratamento com LPS induziu uma neutrofilia na gastropatia induzida pela INDO. LPS reverteu à queda dos nÃveis de GSH no estÃmago com INDO. O tratamento com LPS diminui a adesÃo e aumentou o rolling dos leucÃcitos quando comparado com o tratado com INDO. Rofecoxib, L-NAME, aminoguanidina ou dexametasona nÃo reverteram o efeito protetor do LPS. Glibenclamida, mas nÃo diazÃxido, reverteu o efeito protetor do LPS na gastropatia induzida por INDO, aumentando de forma significativa a LG, MPO e diminuindo a GSH. A associaÃÃo de glibenclamida com diazÃxido nÃo reverteu o efeito protetor do LPS. CONCLUSÃES: LPS protege contra a LG por INDO, atravÃs da inibiÃÃo da IN por uma diminuiÃÃo da adesÃo de leucÃcitos ao endotÃlio e por um aumento dos nÃveis de GSH no estÃmago. Este evento dependente da abertura de KATP. Nossos dados tambÃm sugerem que a atividade de COX-2 e NOSi nÃo estÃo envolvidos no efeito protetor do LPS. / INTRODUCTION: The role of the LPS in the defense of the gastric mucosa is still not established. AIMS: To verify the protective effect of the LPS in the gastric damage (GD), in the neutrophil infiltration (NI), in the increase of the leukocyte of adhesion, in the reduction of the induced glutathione levels for indomethacin (INDO) in rats and to investigate the role of the COX-2, NOSi and of ATP-sensitive k channels (KATP) in the protective effect of LPS administration on INDO- induced gastropathy. METHODS: The rats were treated with LPS of E. coli (30, 100 or 300 mg/Kg, e.v.). After 6 hs, INDO was administrated (20mg/Kg, p.o.). 3 hs later, the blood was harvested for determination the total and differential number of white blood cell counts. Later, the rats had been sacrificed and the GD was surveyed. Piece of the stomach had been removed for evaluation of the MPOactivity and determination of the GSH levels. The adhesion and rolling of the leukocytes had been evaluated by intravital microscopy. Different groups were treated with rofecoxib, L-NAME, aminoguanidine, dexamethasone, glibenclamide, diazoxide or glibenclamide + diazoxide. After 3 hs of the administration of INDO (20mg/Kg, p.o.), had been evaluated the GD, MPO and GSH. RESULTS: LPS reduced dose- dependently INDO- induced GD and increase in MPO, with the maximal effect at the dose of 300 g/kg and in the time of 6 hs. The LPS treatment neutrophilia induced in INDO induced gastropathy. LPS reverted to the fall of the GSH levels in the stomach with INDO. The LPS treatment decreased the adhesion and increased rolling of the leukocytes when compared with the INDO treated. Rofecoxib, L-NAME, aminoguanidine or dexamethasona had not reverted the protective effect of the LPS. Glibenclamide, but not diazoxide, reverted the protective effect of the LPS in the induced gastropathy for INDO, increasing of significant form the GD, MPO and decreasing the GSH. The diazoxide + glibenclamide association of with did not revert the protective effect of the LPS. CONCLUSIONS: LPS protects against INDO induced GD, through the inhibition of the NI for a reduction of the adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelin and for an increase of the GSH levels in the stomach. This dependent event of the KATP opening. Our data also suggest that the activity of COX-2 and NOSi are not involved in the protective effect of the LPS.

A morte celular necrótica é conhecida pelo seu caráter inflamatório, conferido pela grande quantidade de sinais de dano liberados. Durante a tuberculose primária progressiva é observada intensa lesão necrótica nos pulmões e disseminação do bacilo para outros órgãos. Neste estudo, nós hipotetizamos que a amplificação da necrose pulmonar, via reconhecimento de sinais de dano tecidual pelo receptor purinérgico P2X7 (P2X7R), poderia favorecer a progressão da doença, bem como a potencialização da resposta inflamatória. Vimos que o reconhecimento de extracelular ATP (eATP) via o receptor P2X7 é de suma importância para o desenvolvimento da doença grave, por favorecer a indução de necrose dos macrófagos infectados, o que facilitou o escape do bacilo. A adenosina, resultante da hidrólise do eATP, impactou na ativação da resposta imune adquirida. Nosso estudo provê uma nova perspectiva para o desenvolvimento de protocolos terapêuticos baseados na inibição do P2X7R e dos receptores de adenosina para evitar a indução de formas graves da doença. / Necrosis cell death is known as an inflammatory process due to the large amount of damage signals released. During the progressive primary tuberculosis, extensive necrotic lesions in the lung and intensive bacterial dissemination are observed. In this study, we hypothesized that the amplification of pulmonary necrosis through damage signals recognition by a purinergic receptor called P2X7 (P2X7R) could favor the progression of disease, as well as the augmentation of the inflammatory response. We found that the recognition of extracellular ATP (eATP) through P2X7R is crucial to the outcome of fatal tuberculosis by favoring the induction of necrosis of infected macrophages, which facilitated the bacterial escape. The adenosine, resulted from eATP hydrolyzation, impacted to the acquired immune response activation. Our study provides a new perspective to the development of therapeutic protocols based on the inhibition of P2X7R and adenosine receptor to avoid the induction of aggressive forms of tuberculosis.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) reduces ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury by stimulating adenosine triphosphate (ATP) sensitive potassium channels (KATP) [1-5]. Demonstrating H2S stimulation is unique to KATP, as other inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels demonstrate inhibition or are unaffected [6]. We recently showed that H2S inhibits Kir2 and Kir3 by decreasing channel sensitivity to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2 or PIP2) [6]. Here, we test the hypothesis that H2S regulation of Kir6.2, a pore-forming subunit of the KATP channel, is also dependent on PIP2. Using whole-cell patch-clamp we show that H2S increases the activity of Kir6.2 channels expressed in HEK-293 cells. To study the mechanism, we modulated PIP2 levels by expressing a light- activated phosphatase, or by including high levels of a water-soluble PIP2 analog in the patch pipette. The results suggest that H2S augmentation of Kir6.2 channel activity is increased when PIP2 levels are elevated.

Certains agents chimiothérapeutiques tels que les anthracyclines ou l'oxaliplatine induisent une mort cellulaire immunogène, ce qui implique que les cellules mourrantes du patient servent de vaccin thérapeutique en stimulant une réponse immunitaire antitumorale. La mort cellulaire immunogène est caractérisée par la libération de signaux d'alarme par la cellule tumorale mourante qui permettent l’activation du système immunitaire. En premier lieu, l'exposition de la calréticuline à la surface de la cellule tumorale mourante va agir comme un signal de type «eat-me» pour les cellules dendritiques. Une fois relâchée, la protéine nucléaire HMGB1 se lie au récepteur TLR4 afin de faciliter la présentation antigénique. Les cellules mourantes vont également libérer de l'ATP qui agit sur les récepteurs P2X7 et active l’inflammasomme NLRP3, conduisant à la libération d'IL-1β et ainsi à l’activation des cellules T CD8+ productrices d’IFN-γ. L’autophagie est un mécanisme cellulaire qui est activé en réponse à la chimiothérapie. L'autophagie signifie «self-ating», il s'agit d'un processus cellulaire activé par diverses conditions de stress, par lequel les cellules peuvent dégrader les protéines et les organites. Il peut aussi être induit par un stress du réticulum endoplasmique. Ce dernier étant également impliqué dans l'exposition de la calréticuline pendant la mort cellulaire immunogène, nous avons au cours de cette étude cherché à déterminer le rôle de l'autophagie dans la mort cellulaire immunogène. Nous avons constaté que l'autophagie est nécessaire pour la libération de l'ATP après un traitement par des chimiothérapies immunogènes, en observant que le nockdown de gènes essentiels de l'autophagie limitait la sécrétion d'ATP. Nous avons également observé que des cellules déficientes pour l'autophagie traitées par une chimiothérapie immunogène sont incapables d’immuniser des souris contre une injection de cellules vivantes. En outre, les tumeurs déficientes pour l’autophagie ne répondent pas à un traitement systémique immunogène dans des souris immunocompétentes et continuent à proliférer en comparaison à des tumeurs “wild-type”. De plus, nous avons montré que les cellules déficientes pour l'autophagie ne sont pas en mesure de recruter des cellules dendritiques dans le lit tumoral ou d'induire l’activation des cellules T CD8+. A l'inverse, l'inhibition des enzymes de dégradation de l’ATP extracellulaire accroit les concentrations d'ATP dans les tumeurs déficientes pour l'autophagie, ce qui rétablit le recrutement des cellules immunitaires dans le lit tumoral et restaure la réponse chimiothérapeutique des cancers déficients pour l'autophagie. Ainsi, cette étude a montré l'importance de l'autophagie dans la réponse anti-tumorale spécifique, après traitement par des chimiothérapies immunogènes. Ces résultats ouvrent de nouvelles perspectives dans le concept de la mort cellulaire immunogène. / In recent years it has been demonstrated that some chemotherapeutic agents such as anthracyclines or oxaliplatin can induce a type of tumor cell death that is immunogenic, implying that the patient’s dying cancer cells serve as a therapeuticvaccine that stimulates an antitumor immune response, which in turn can control or eradicate residual cancer cells. Immunogenic cell death is characterized by the emission of danger signals from the dying tumor cell, which activate the immune system. At first the exposure of calreticulin, acts as an «eat-me» signal for dendritic cells (DCs). Once released, the nuclear protein HMGB1 binds to TLR4 on DCs, facilitating antigen processing and presentation. The dying tumor cells also releases ATP, which acts on P2X7 receptors on DCs and activates the NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to IL-1β release, necessary for IFN-γ-producing CD8+ T cell activation. Autophagy literally ‘self-eating’ is a cellular process activated in response to various conditions of cellular stress, whereby cells can liberate energy resources via the degradation of proteins and organelles. Recently autophagy has been found activated in response to chemotherapy and in this project we aimed to determine the potential role of autophagy in immunogenic cell death. We found that autophagy isrequired for the release of ATP in response to immunochemotherapeutic treatment, as we observed that the knockdown of essential autophagy-related genes abolished its secretion. We observed that autophagy deficient cells treated with immunogenic cell death inducers failed to immunize mice against a re-challenge with living cells. Furthermore, autophagy deficient tumors growing on immunocompetent mice did not respond to systemic immunogenic treatment and continued proliferating in contrast to autophagy proficient tumors. We showed that autophagy deficient cells were neither able to recruit DCs into the tumor bed nor to activate CD8+ T cells. Conversely, the inhibition of extracellular ATP degrading enzymes increased extracellular ATP concentrations in autophagy deficient tumors, which reestablished the recruitment of immune cells into the tumor bed, and restored chemotherapeutic responses in autophagy-deficient cancers. Altogether, this study showed the importance of autophagy in tumor-specific immune response after treatment with chemotherapy, thus giving new insights into the concept of immunogenic cell death.

<p>The aim of the present study was to investigate the biosynthesis of the ATP synthase in various tissues, and to test hypotheses about possible models of activation of several mitochondrial proteins, the ATP/ADP translocase and UCPs, that could utilize the proton gradient, thus bypassing the ATP synthase. </p><p>We have examined the role of the expression of the P1 isoform of the c-F_o subunit in the biogenesis of ATP synthase in brown adipose tissue. Our findings point to a role for the c-F_o subunit in defining the final content of the ATP synthase in brown adipose tissue.</p><p>We have analyzed sequences in the 3’UTR of the β subunit F₁-ATPase mRNA that are important for formation of RNA-protein complexes. We could detect protein complexes that bind to two different sequence regions of the 3’UTR, one being the poly(A) tail and an adjacent region), and the other being a sequence stretch at the 3’ end of the 3’UTR able to form a stem-loop structure, which is evolutionarily conserved throughout mammalian species. </p><p>We investigated a role of the ATP/ADP carrier (ANT) in fatty acid-induced uncoupling in brown-fat mitochondria. We conclude that the ANT cannot substitute for UCP1 in fatty acid uncoupling in brown-fat mitochondria from mice lacking UCP1. We propose that the two ANT isoforms mediate proton translocation under different conditions.</p><p>We have investigated a role of UCP1 in defence against oxidative stress. We found that products of oxidative stress (4-HNE) could neither reactivate purine nucleotide-inhibited UCP1, nor induce additional activation of innately active UCP1 in brown-fat mitochondria from UCP1(+/+) and UCP1(-/-) mice. We conclude that UCP1 is not involved in defence against oxidative stress. </p><p>We evaluated possible uncoupling activity of UCP3 in skeletal muscle from warm- and cold-acclimated UCP1(+/+) and UCP1(-/-) mice. We conclude that no evidence exists for a higher UCP3-mediated uncoupling activity; a high UCP3 content in cold-acclimated UCP1(-/-) mice could possibly be linked to improved fatty acid oxidative capacity.</p>

Adenylates are metabolites with essential function in metabolism and signaling in all living organisms. As Cofactors, they enable thermodynamically unfavorable reactions to be catalyzed enzymatically within cells. Outside the cell, adenylates are involved in signalling processes in animals and emerging evidence suggests similar signaling mechanisms in the plants’ apoplast. Presumably, apoplastic apyrases are involved in this signaling by hydrolyzing the signal mediating molecules ATP and ADP to AMP. This PhD thesis focused on the role of adenylates on metabolism and development of potato (Solanum tuberosum) by using reverse genetics and biochemical approaches. To study the short and long term effect of cellular ATP and the adenylate energy charge on potato tuber metabolism, an apyrase from Escherichia coli targeted into the amyloplast was expressed inducibly and constitutively. Both approaches led to the identification of adaptations to reduced ATP/energy charge levels on the molecular and developmental level. These comprised a reduction of metabolites and pathway fluxes that require significant amounts of ATP, like amino acid or starch synthesis, and an activation of processes that produce ATP, like respiration and an immense increase in the surface-to-volume ratio. To identify extracellular enzymes involved in adenylate conversion, green fluorescent protein and activity localization studies in potato tissue were carried out. It was found that extracellular ATP is imported into the cell by an apoplastic enzyme complement consisting of apyrase, unspecific phosphatase, adenosine nucleosidase and an adenine transport system. By changing the expression of a potato specific apyrase via transgenic approaches, it was found that this enzyme has strong impact on plant and particular tuber development in potato. Whereas metabolite levels were hardly altered, transcript profiling of tubers with reduced apyrase activity revealed a significant upregulation of genes coding for extensins, which are associated with polar growth. The results are discussed in context of adaptive responses of plants to changes in the adenylate levels and the proposed role of apyrase in apoplastic purinergic signaling and ATP salvaging. In summary, this thesis provides insight into adenylate regulated processes within and outside non-photosynthetic plant cells. / Adenylate haben essentielle Funktionen in Stoffwechselprozessen und fungieren als Signalmoleküle in allen Organismen. Als Cofaktoren ermöglichen sie die Katalyse thermodynamisch ungünstiger Reaktionen innerhalb der Zelle, und außerhalb der Zelle wirken sie als Signalmoleküle in Tieren und nach neueren Forschungsergebnissen wohl auch in Pflanzen. Vermutlich wird die Signalwirkung von ATP und ADP durch Hydrolyse zu AMP unter Beteiligung apoplastische Apyrasen terminiert. Diese Arbeit behandelt den Einfluss der Adenylate auf Stoffwechsel- und Entwicklungsprozesse in der Kartoffelpflanze (Solanum tuberosum) mittels biochemischer und revers-genetischer Ansätze. Um kurzfristige und langfristige Einflüsse zellulären ATPs und der Energieladung auf den Stoffwechsel von Kartoffelknollen zu untersuchen, wurde eine mit einem plastidären Transitpeptid fusionierte Apyrase aus Escherichia coli induzierbar und dauerhaft exprimiert. Beide Ansätze führten zur Identifizierung von Anpassungen an eine reduzierte ATP Verfügbarkeit bzw. verringerte Energieladung. Die Anpassungen beinhalteten eine Reduzierung von ATP-verbrauchenden Stoffwechselaktivitäten und Stoffwechselprodukten, wie die Aminosäure- oder Stärkesynthese, und eine Aktivierung von Prozessen, welche die ATP-Bildung oder eine effizientere ATP-Bildung ermöglichen, wie Zellatmung und die Vergrößerung des Oberfächen/Volumen-Verhältnisses der Kartoffelknolle. Extrazelluläre Adenylat-umsetzende Enzyme wurden mit Hilfe des grün fluoreszierenden Proteins und Aktivitätsmessungen identifiziert und charakterisiert. Es wurde ein potentieller ATP Bergungsstoffwechselweg gefunden, der ATP über die Enzyme Apyrase, unspezifische Phosphatase und Adenosin-Nukleosidase zu Adenin umsetzt, welches über eine Purin-Permease in die Zelle transportiert wird. Transgene Manipulation der Aktivität der kartoffelspezifischen Apyrase zeigte, dass dieses Enzym einen großen Einfluss auf die Pflanzen-, insbesondere die Knollenentwicklung hat. Obwohl sich Stoffwechselaktivitäten kaum verändert hatten, führte die Verringerung der Apyrase Aktivität in den Knollen zur übermäßigen Expression von Extensin-Genen, die eine Funktion im polaren Wachstum von Pflanzenzellen besitzen. Die Ergebnisse wurden mit Hinblick auf Anpassungen der Pflanze an veränderte Adenylat-Spiegel und der potentiellen Beteiligung der endogenen Apyrase an einem apoplastischen ATP-Signalweg bzw. ATP-Bergungsstoffwechselweg diskutiert. Zusammengefasst, präsentiert diese Arbeit neue Einsichten in Adenylat-regulierte Prozesse in- und außerhalb nicht-photosynthetischer Pflanzenzellen.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the biosynthesis of the ATP synthase in various tissues, and to test hypotheses about possible models of activation of several mitochondrial proteins, the ATP/ADP translocase and UCPs, that could utilize the proton gradient, thus bypassing the ATP synthase. We have examined the role of the expression of the P1 isoform of the c-Fo subunit in the biogenesis of ATP synthase in brown adipose tissue. Our findings point to a role for the c-Fo subunit in defining the final content of the ATP synthase in brown adipose tissue. We have analyzed sequences in the 3’UTR of the β subunit F1-ATPase mRNA that are important for formation of RNA-protein complexes. We could detect protein complexes that bind to two different sequence regions of the 3’UTR, one being the poly(A) tail and an adjacent region), and the other being a sequence stretch at the 3’ end of the 3’UTR able to form a stem-loop structure, which is evolutionarily conserved throughout mammalian species. We investigated a role of the ATP/ADP carrier (ANT) in fatty acid-induced uncoupling in brown-fat mitochondria. We conclude that the ANT cannot substitute for UCP1 in fatty acid uncoupling in brown-fat mitochondria from mice lacking UCP1. We propose that the two ANT isoforms mediate proton translocation under different conditions. We have investigated a role of UCP1 in defence against oxidative stress. We found that products of oxidative stress (4-HNE) could neither reactivate purine nucleotide-inhibited UCP1, nor induce additional activation of innately active UCP1 in brown-fat mitochondria from UCP1(+/+) and UCP1(-/-) mice. We conclude that UCP1 is not involved in defence against oxidative stress. We evaluated possible uncoupling activity of UCP3 in skeletal muscle from warm- and cold-acclimated UCP1(+/+) and UCP1(-/-) mice. We conclude that no evidence exists for a higher UCP3-mediated uncoupling activity; a high UCP3 content in cold-acclimated UCP1(-/-) mice could possibly be linked to improved fatty acid oxidative capacity.

No description available.

The emergence of multidrug resistance is a serious medical problem that has significantly affected the treatment of tumor cells and infectious diseases. This multidrug resistance phenotype is mediated by the action of a large family of membrane proteins that act as active transporters or energy driven efflux pumps in both of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Most eukaryotic multidrug efflux pumps belong to the ATP binding cassette (ABC) family of transport proteins that include P-glycoprotein (P-gp1), Multidrug Resistance Associated Protein (MRP1), and Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP). In prokaryotic cells, Lactococcus lactis LmrA, a homolog of P-gp1, mediates drug resistance to antibiotics and cytotoxic drugs. The transport function of these proteins is facilitated by the hydrolysis of ATP. However, the mechanism by which these proteins bind to, and are able to transport structurally dissimilar drugs across the cell membrane remains poorly understood. In this thesis we have attempted to characterize the interactions of various ABC transporters (MRP1, BCRP, and LmrA) with structurally diverse drugs, using a well characterized photoreactive drug analogue of Rhodamine 123, [125I] iodoaryl azido-rhodamine 123 (IAARh123). In the case of MRP1 interaction with Rhodamine 123, it was of interest to determine the nature of MRP1 drug interactions. In that study, our results show that CHAPS (1-[(3-cholamidopropyl) dimethylamino]-1-propansulfate) and Brij35 inhibited the photolabeling of MRP1 with IAARh123, and this interaction occurred outside the lipid bilayer. These results were unexpected in light of previous results with another ABC transporter which also binds to Rhodamine 123. Consequently, we show that non-toxic concentrations of CHAPS and Brij35 potentiate the toxicity of two MRP1 substrates, vincristine and etoposide (VP16). In the second chapter, we have used IAARh123 to demonstrate for the first time that the BCRP mediates drug resi

Dans un premier temps, je me suis intéressé à la sous-unité ε de l’ATP synthase mitochondriale chez la levure, un organisme qui se prête bien à l’étude des fonctions mitochondriales. Cette protéine fait partie d’un élément de l’ATP synthase appelé la tige centrale. Celui-ci permet de coupler le domaine translocateur de protons de cette enzyme (FO) à son secteur catalytique (F1) où l’ATP est synthétisé. En utilisant un système d’expression régulable (répressible par la doxycycline), j’ai montré qu’en l’absence de la sous-unité ε les secteurs F1 et FO ne sont plus couplés, avec pour résultat des fuites massives de protons à travers la membrane interne des mitochondries. J’ai ensuite montré que l’absence de la sous-unité ε peut être compensée par des mutations ralentissant l’activité du FO. Ces données permettent de conclure que la sous-unité ε est nécessaire au maintien de l’intégrité physique de l’ATP synthase lors de son fonctionnement. Dans un second temps, j’ai cherché à identifier de nouveaux facteurs intervenant dans la biogenèse du FO. Pour cela, j’ai utilisé un crible génétique où la survie des cellules de levure est conditionnée à des mutations inactivation le FO. Un millier d’isolats a été analysé. Les mutations ont été localisées dans les génomes mitochondrial et nucléaire. Dix-huit clones, issus de mutations n’affectant pas des facteurs connus pour être nécessaires à l’expression de l’ATP synthase, ont été entièrement séquencés. Plusieurs nouveaux systèmes cellulaires potentiellement impliqués dans la biogenèse du FO ont été identifiés. / At first, I am interested in the ε subunit of mitochondrial ATP synthase in yeast, an organism that is well suited for the study of mitochondrial functions. This protein is a part of the ATP synthase called central stalk. This allows the coupling of proton translocator domain of this enzyme (FO) to its catalytic domain (F1) where ATP is synthesized. Using a tetO expression system, I showed that in the absence of the ε subunit, F1 and FO domains are no longer coupled. It results in a massive proton leakage across the inner membrane of mitochondria. I then showed that the absence of the ε subunit can be compensated by mutations slowing the activity of FO. These data allow to conclude that the ε subunit is necessary to maintain the physical integrity of the ATP synthase for oxydative phosphorylation. Later, I tried to identify new factors involved in the biogenesis of the FO. For this, I used a genetic screen where the survival of yeast cells is conditioned by mutations inactivating the FO. About a thousand clones were analyzed. The mutations were localized in mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. Eighteen clones with mutations in genes encoding not yet known ATP synthase expression factors were completely sequenced. Several new cellular systems that are potentially involved in the biogenesis of FO were identified.