Quantification of oxidative phosphorylation enzymes after blue native electrophoresis and two-dimensional resolution: normal complex I protein amounts in Parkinson's disease conflict with reduced catalytic activities.

Blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (BN-PAGE), a method for the isolation of native membrane proteins from biological membranes, was adapted to the isolation of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) enzymes from milligram amounts of human tissues. Combined with Tricine-sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-PAGE in the second dimension, the protein subunits of OXPHOS complexes could be analyzed and quantified. The characteristics of the technique are described and protocols for processing different tissues are provided. The technique was applied for the analysis of defects of OXPHOS complexes in Parkinson's disease. A significant reduction of complex V was observed in one case. Absolutely normal complex I protein amounts were in contrast to reduced catalytic activities of complex I in Parkinson's disease. This discrepancy can be explained by binding of endogenous complex I inhibitors or by alterations of a protein subunit not affecting the assemblage of the complex but modifying the enzymatic properties.