Activation by lithium ions of the inside sodium sites in (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.

1. Purified pig kidney ATPase was incubated in 30--160 mM Tris-HCl with various monovalent cations. 130 mM LiCl stimulated a ouabain-sensitive ATP hydrolysis (about 5% of the maximal (Na+ + K) activity), whereas 160 mM Tris-HCl did not stimulate hydrolysis. Similar results were obtained with human red blood cell broken membranes. 2. In the absence of Na+ and with 130 mM LiCl, the ATPase activity as a function of KCl concentration showed an initial slight inhibition (50 micrometer KCl) followed by an activation (maximal at 0.2 mM KCl) and a further inhibition, which was total at mM KCl. In the absence of LiCl, the rate of hydrolysis was not affected by any of the KCl concentrations investigated. 3. The lithium-activation curve for ATPase activity in the absence of both Na+ and K+ had sigmoid characteristics. It also showed a marked dependence on the total LiCl + Tris-HCl concentration, being inhibited at high concentrations. This inhibition was more noticeable at low LiCl concentrations. 4. In the absence of Na+, 130 mM Li+ showed promoted phosphorylation of ATPase from 1 to 3 mM ATP in the presence of Mg2+. In enzyme treated with N-ethylmaleimide, the levels of phosphorylation in Li+-containing solutions, amounted to 40% of those in Na+- and up to 7 times of those in K+-containing solutions. 5. The total (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity was markedly inhibited at high buffer concentrations (Tris-HCl, Imidazole-HCl and tetramethylammonium-HEPES gave similar results) in cases when either the concentration of Na+ or K+ (or both) was below saturation. On the other hand, the maximal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity was not affected (or very slightly) by the buffer concentration. 6. Under standard conditions (Tris-HCl + NaCl = 160 mM) the Na+-activation curve of Na+-ATPase had a steep rise between 0 and 2.5 mM, a fall between 2.5 and 20 mM and a further increase between 20 and 130 mM. With 30 mM Tris-HCl, the curve rose more steeply, inhibition was noticeable at 2.5 mM Na+ and was completed at 5 mM Na+. With Tris-HCl + NaCl = 280 mM, the amount of activation decreased and inhibition at intermediate Na+ concentrations was not detected.     

The beta-subunits of Na+,K+-ATPase and gastric H+,K+-ATPase have a high preference for their own alpha-subunit and affect the K+ affinity of these enzymes

The alpha- and beta-subunits of Na+,K+-ATPase and H+,K+-ATPase were expressed in Sf9 cells in different combinations. Immunoprecipitation of the alpha-subunits resulted in coprecipitation of the accompanying beta-subunit independent of the type of beta-subunit. This indicates cross-assembly of the subunits of the different ATPases. The hybrid ATPase with the catalytic subunit of Na+,K+-ATPase and the beta-subunit of H+,K+-ATPase (NaKalphaHKbeta) showed an ATPase activity, which was only 12 +/- 4% of the activity of the Na+,K+-ATPase with its own beta-subunit. Likewise, the complementary hybrid ATPase with the catalytic subunit of H+,K+-ATPase and the beta-subunit of Na+,K+-ATPase (HKalphaNaKbeta) showed an ATPase activity which was 9 +/- 2% of that of the recombinant H+,K+-ATPase. In addition, the apparent K+ affinity of hybrid NaKalphaHKbeta was decreased, while the apparent K+ affinity of the opposite hybrid HKalphaNaKbeta was increased. The hybrid NaKalphaHKbeta could be phosphorylated by ATP to a level of 21 +/- 7% of that of Na+,K+-ATPase. These values, together with the ATPase activity gave turnover numbers for NaKalphabeta and NaKalphaHKbeta of 8800 +/- 310 min-1 and 4800 +/- 160 min-1, respectively. Measurements of phosphorylation of the HKalphaNaKbeta and HKalphabeta enzymes are consistent with a higher turnover of the former. These findings suggest a role of the beta-subunit in the catalytic turnover. In conclusion, although both Na+,K+-ATPase and H+,K+-ATPase have a high preference for their own beta-subunit, they can function with the beta-subunit of the other enzyme, in which case the K+ affinity and turnover number are modified.     

A hybrid adenosinetriphosphatase composed of F1 of Escherichia coli and F0 of Propionigenium modestum is a functional sodium ion pump

Analyses on immunoblots indicated strong binding of the alpha- and beta-subunits of the ATPase of Propionigenium modestum to antibodies raised against the corresponding subunits of the F1F0 ATPase of Escherichia coli. Cross-reactivities of antibodies against the other ATPase subunits were not observed. The use of Na+ or H+ as alternate coupling ions, observed previously for the P. modestum ATPase [Laubinger, W., & Dimroth, P. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 7194-7198], is not found for the F1F0 ATPase of E. coli, which is specific for protons. However, a hybrid consisting of the F1 moiety of the E. coli ATPase and F0 of that from P. modestum performed Na+ or H+ transport in a reconstituted system. As with the homologous ATPase of P. modestum, H+ pumping of the hybrid was abolished at Na+ concentrations of greater than 1 mM. The F0 sector and not F1, therefore, determines the cation specificity of these F1F0 ATPases.     

Molecular mechanism of the ATP synthase's F(o) motor probed by mutational analyses of subunit a

The most prominent residue of subunit a of the F(1)F(o) ATP synthase is a universally conserved arginine (aR227 in Propionigenium modestum), which was reported to permit no substitution with retention of ATP synthesis or H(+)-coupled ATP hydrolysis activity. We show here that ATP synthases with R227K or R227H mutations in the P.modestum a subunit catalyse ATP-driven Na(+) transport above or below pH 8.0, respectively. Reconstituted F(o) with either mutation catalysed 22Na(+)(out)/Na(+)(in) exchange with similar pH profiles as found in ATP-driven Na(+) transport. ATP synthase with an aR227A substitution catalysed Na(+)-dependent ATP hydrolysis, which was completely inhibited by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, but not coupled to Na(+) transport. This suggests that in the mutant the dissociation of Na(+) becomes more difficult and that the alkali ions remain therefore permanently bound to the c subunit sites. The reconstituted mutant enzyme was also able to synthesise ATP in the presence of a membrane potential, which stopped at elevated external Na(+) concentrations. These observations reinforce the importance of aR227 to facilitate the dissociation of Na(+) from approaching rotor sites. This task of aR227 was corroborated by other results with the aR227A mutant: (i) after reconstitution into liposomes, F(o) with the aR227A mutation did not catalyse 22Na(+)(out)/Na(+)(in) exchange at high internal sodium concentrations, and (ii) at a constant (Delta)pNa(+), 22Na(+) uptake was inhibited at elevated internal Na(+) concentrations. Hence, in mutant aR227A, sodium ions can only dissociate from their rotor sites into a reservoir of low sodium ion concentration, whereas in the wild-type the positively charged aR227 allows the dissociation of Na(+) even into compartments of high Na(+) concentration.     

Characterization of the phosphorylated intermediate of the K+-translocating Kdp-ATPase from Escherichia coli

During ATP hydrolysis the K+-translocating Kdp-ATPase from Escherichia coli forms a phosphorylated intermediate as part of the catalytic cycle. The influence of effectors (K+, Na+, Mg2+, ATP, ADP) and inhibitors (vanadate, N-ethylmaleimide, bafilomycin A1) on the phosphointermediate level and on the ATPase activity was analyzed in purified wild-type enzyme (apparent Km = 10 microM) and a KdpA mutant ATPase exhibiting a lower affinity for K+ (Km = 6 mM). Based on these data we propose a minimum reaction scheme consisting of (i) a Mg2+-dependent protein kinase, (ii) a Mg2+-dependent and K+-stimulated phosphoprotein phosphatase, and (iii) a K+-independent basal phosphoprotein phosphatase. The findings of a K+-uncoupled basal activity, inhibition by high K+ concentrations, lower ATP saturation values for the phosphorylation than for the overall ATPase reaction, and presumed reversibility of the phosphoprotein formation by excess ADP indicated similarities in fundamental principles of the reaction cycle between the Kdp-ATPase and eukaryotic E1E2-ATPases. The phosphoprotein was tentatively characterized as an acylphosphate on the basis of its alkali-lability and its sensitivity to hydroxylamine. The KdpB polypeptide was identified as the phosphorylated subunit after electrophoretic separation at pH 2.4, 4 degrees C of cytoplasmic membranes or of purified ATPase labeled with [gamma-32P]ATP.     

A Ca2-activated cation-selective channel in the basolateral membrane of the cortical thick ascending limb of Henle's loop of the mouse

The patch-clamp technique was used to investigate the properties of a cation-selective channel in the basolateral membrane of microdissected collagenase-treated fragments of cortical thick ascending limbs of Henle's loop from mouse kidney. The channel activity was seldom observed in cell-attached patches (2 out 15 studied cases). In inside-out excised patches immersed in symmetrical NaCl Ringer's solutions, the unit channel conductance was ohmic and ranged from 22 to 33 pS (mean, 26.8 +/- 0.6 pS, n = 24). When NaCl was replaced by KCl (n = 8) or sodium gluconate (n = 2) on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane, single-channel currents still reversed at 0 mV and the conductance was unchanged. The reversal potential was +28.8 +/- 0.4 mV (n = 8) when a NaCl concentration (140 vs. 42 mmol/l) gradient was applied, close to the expected value (approx. 30 mV) for a cation selective channel. The channel was found to discriminate poorly between Na+, K+, Cs+, and Li+ ions. The activity of the channel was not clearly voltage-dependent but was dependent upon the free Ca2+ concentration on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. We conclude that the channel resembles the non-selective cation channel which has been previously described in several tissues.     

Characterization of the Na+-stimulated ATPase of Propionigenium modestum as an enzyme of the F1F0 type

The ATP-hydrolyzing activity of Propionigenium modestum was extracted from the membranes with Triton X-100 or by incubation with EDTA at low ionic strength. The ATPase in the Triton extract was highly sensitive to dicyclohexylcarbodiimide but not to vanadate. These properties are characteristic for enzymes of the F1 F0 type. The ATPase was specifically activated by Na+ ions yielding a 15-fold increase in catalytic activity at 5 mM Na+ concentration. The additional presence of 1% Triton X-100 caused a further 1.5-fold activation. In the absence of Na+ Triton stimulated the ATPase about 13-fold. The Triton-stimulated ATPase was further activated about 1.5-2-fold by Na+ addition. The ATPase extracted by the low-ionic-strength treatment was purified to homogeneity by fractionation with poly(ethylene glycol) and gel chromatography. The enzyme had the characteristic F1-ATPase subunit structure with Mr values of 58,000 (alpha), 56,000 (beta), 37,600 (gamma), 22,700 (delta), and 14,000 (epsilon). The F1-ATPase was not stimulated by Na+ ions. The membrane-bound ATPase was reconstituted from the purified F1 part and F1-depleted membranes, thus further indicating an F1 F0 structure for the ATPase of P. modestum. Upon reconstitution the ATPase recovered its stimulation by Na+ ions, suggesting that the binding site for Na+ is localized on the membrane-bound F0 part of the enzyme complex.     

Presence of a sodium-translocating ATPase in membrane vesicles of the homoacetogenic bacterium Acetobacterium woodii.

Inverted membrane vesicles of the homoacetogenic bacterium Acetobacterium woodii catalyzed the hydrolysis of ATP with a rate of 100-150 nmol.min-1.mg protein-1. The ATPase was stimulated 1.4-1.6-fold by NaCl and inhibited by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide tributyltin or azide. The degree of inhibition caused by F0-directed but not F1-directed inhibitors was affected by the Na+ concentration in the medium. These experiments indicated the presence of a sodium-translocating ATPase. This was verified by transport studies. Upon addition of ATP to inverted vesicles, 22Na+ was actively transported into the intravesicular space up to a 24-fold accumulation. Na+ transport was inhibited by the sodium ionophore N,N,N',N',-tetracyclohexyl-1,2-phenyl-enedioxydiacetamide but stimulated by valinomycin with potassium whereas the protonophore 3,5,-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidenemalonitrile was without effect. N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and tributyltin inhibited 22Na+ transport. These experiments are in accordance with a primary electrogenic Na+ transport as catalyzed by a F1F0-ATPase.     

Coupled rotation within single F0F1 enzyme complexes during ATP synthesis or hydrolysis

F0F1 ATP synthases are the smallest rotary motors in nature and work as ATP factories in bacteria, plants and animals. Here we report on the first observation of intersubunit rotation in fully coupled single F0F1 molecules during ATP synthesis or hydrolysis. We investigate the Na+-translocating ATP synthase of Propionigenium modestum specifically labeled by a single fluorophore at one c subunit using polarization-resolved confocal microscopy. Rotation during ATP synthesis was observed with the immobilized enzyme reconstituted into proteoliposomes after applying a diffusion potential, but not with a Na+ concentration gradient alone. During ATP hydrolysis, stepwise rotation of the labeled c subunit was found in the presence of 2 mM NaCl, but not without the addition of Na+ ions. Moreover, upon the incubation with the F0-specific inhibitor dicyclohexylcarbodiimide the rotation was severely inhibited.     

Binding of monovalent cations to Na+,K+-dependent ATPase purified from porcine kidney. I. Simultaneous binding of three sodium and two potassium or rubidium ions to the enzyme

We previously measured the amounts of Na+ and K+ ions bound to the Na+,K+-dependent ATPase [EC 3.6.1.3] purified from porcine kidney by a modified membrane filtration method [(1979) J. Biochem. 86, 509--523]. In this study, we improved the method for measuring the amount of the active site and measured the amount of Rb+ ions (a K+ congener) bound to the ATPase as well as those of Na+ and K+ ions to get more accurate information on the K+- and Na+-binding sites. The following results were obtained. Two kinds of cation-binding sites were found to exist on the ATPase molecule. One was the Na+-binding sites (3 mol per mol of active site). Na+ ions were bound to the sites cooperatively (Hill coefficient, 2.5--3), and the apparent dissociation constant was 0.20--0.32 mM. Three moles of Na+ ions bound to the sites was displaced by 1 mol of K+ ions bound to the ATPase (phi K, 24 microM). The other was the K+-binding sites (2 mol per mol of active site). Two moles of K+, Rb+, or Na+ ions was bound to the sites cooperatively (Hill coefficient, 1.5--2), and their apparent dissociation constants were 0.044, 0.024, and 2.2 mM, respectively. We measured the amounts of Na+ and Rb+ ions bound to the ATPase in the presence of 0.8 mM NaCl and 0.13 mM RbCl, and obtained unequivocal evidence for the simultaneous binding of 3 mol of Na+ ions and 2 mol of Rb+ ions per mol of active site of the ATPase.     

F0F1-ATPase gamma subunit mutations perturb the coupling between catalysis and transport.

We introduced mutations to test the function of the conserved amino-terminal region of the gamma subunit from the Escherichia coli ATP synthase (F0F1-ATPase). Plasmid-borne mutant genes were expressed in an uncG strain which is deficient for the gamma subunit (gamma Gln-14-->end). Most of the changes, which were between gamma Ile-19 and gamma Lys-33, gamma Asp-83 and gamma Cys-87, or at gamma Asp-165, had little effect on growth by oxidative phosphorylation, membrane ATPase activity, or H+ pumping. Notable exceptions were gamma Met-23-->Arg or Lys mutations. Strains carrying these mutations grew only very slowly by oxidative phosphorylation. Membranes prepared from the strains had substantial levels of ATPase activity, 100% compared with wild type for gamma Arg-23 and 65% for gamma Lys-23, but formed only 32 and 17%, respectively, of the electrochemical gradient of protons. In contrast, other mutant enzymes with similar ATPase activities (including gamma Met-23-->Asp or Glu) formed H+ gradients like the wild type. Membranes from the gamma Arg-23 and gamma Lys-23 mutants were not passively leaky to protons and had functional F0 sectors. These results suggested that substitution by positively charged side chains at position 23 perturbed the energy coupling. The catalytic sites of the mutant enzymes were still regulated by the electrochemical H+ gradient but were inefficiently coupled to H+ translocation in both ATP-dependent H+ pumping and delta mu H+ driven ATP synthesis.     

Multiple conductance states of the purified calcium release channel complex from skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum.

The CHAPS-solubilized and purified 30S ryanodine receptor protein complex from skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) was incorporated into planar lipid bilayers. The resulting electrical activity displayed similar responses to agents such as Ca2+, ATP, ryanodine, or caffeine as the native Ca2+ release channel, confirming the identification of the 30S complex as the Ca2+ release channel. The purified channel was permeable to monovalent ions such as Na+, with the permeability ratio PCa/PNa approximately 5, and was highly selective for cations over anions. The purified channel also showed at least four distinct conductance levels for both Na+ and Ca2+ conducting ions, with the major subconducting level in NaCl buffers possessing half the conductance value of the main conductance state. These levels may be produced by intrinsic subconductances present within the channel oligomer. Several of these conductances may be cooperatively coupled to produce the characteristic 100 +/- 10 pS unitary Ca2+ conductance of the native channel.     

Comparative study of properties of Na+, K+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase of the myometrium plasma membrane

The comparative research of catalytic properties of two ATP-hydrolases of the sarcolemma of the smooth muscle of the uterus--ouabaine-sensitive Na+,K+-ATPase and ouabaine-resistent Mg2+-ATPase is carried out. The specific enzymatic activity of Na+,K+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase makes 10.2 +/- 0.7 and 18.1 +/- 1.2 mmol P/mg of protein for 1 hour, accordingly. The action of ouabaine on Na+,K+-ATPase is characterized by magnitude of quotient of inhibition I0.5=21.3 +/- 1.5 mkM. Processing of the sarcolemma fraction by digitonin in concentrations 0.001 +/- 0.1% promotes an activation of Na+,K+ATPase and Mg2+- ATPase, and in the first case much more efficiently than in the second. The kinetics of accumulation of the product of ATP-hydrolase reactions of phosphate satisfies the laws of the zero order reaction (incubation time--about 10 min). Na+,K+-ATPase is highly specific concerning the univalent cations--Na+, K+, however Li+ can partially substitute K+. Activity of Mg2+-ATPase is not specific concerning univalent cations. The dependence of Na+,K+-ATPase activity on pH in the range of 6.0-8.0 is characterized by the bell-shaped curve, at the same time the linear dependence on pH is peculiar to Mg2+-ATPase. The functioning of Na+,K+-ATPase is provided only by ATP, in the case of Mg2+-ATPase ATP can be successfully replaced with other nucleotidetriphosphates. It is supposed that the obtained experimental data can be beneficial in further research of membranous mechanisms underlying the cation exchange in the smooth muscles, in particular when studying the role of the plasma membrane in the maintenance of electromechanical coupling in them, and also in the regulation of ionic homeostasis in myocytes.     

Purification and reconstitution of the F1F0-ATP synthase from alkaliphilic Bacillus firmus OF4. Evidence that the enzyme translocates H+ but not Na+

The F1F0-ATP synthase from the alkaliphilic Bacillus firmus OF4 was purified in a reconstitutively active form, in good yield and with a high specific ATPase activity when appropriately activated. The purification procedure involved octyl glucoside extraction of washed membrane vesicles in the presence of 20% glycerol and asolectin followed by ammonium sulfate fractionation and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The purified preparation was resolved into seven bands by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, corresponding to the five F1 subunits, alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and epsilon, and to the b and c subunits of the F0. Two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-poly-acrylamide gel analysis revealed a candidate for the alpha subunit of F0. The MgATPase activity of B. firmus OF4 F1F0 was barely detectable but could be stimulated, optimally more than 100-fold, by sulfite, methanol, and octyl thioglucoside. The enzyme was inhibited by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and sodium azide, but not by aurovertin, an inhibitor of the F1 from Escherichia coli. The F1F0 reconstituted into proteoliposomes catalyzed ATPase activity, ATP-Pi exchange, and ATP-dependent delta pH and delta psi formation. ATP hydrolysis was stimulated by protonophores while the other activities were abolished by protonophores. These activities were neither dependent on added sodium ions nor significantly affected by them. F1F0 proteoliposomes made from crude octyl glucoside extracts that also contained the Na+/H+ antiporter were shown to catalyze ATP-dependent Na+ uptake that was completely sensitive to carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl-hydrazone; Na+ uptake activity was absent in proteoliposomes containing more purified F1F0 but lacking the Na+/H+ antiporter. These data show that the F1F0 translocates protons and does not substitute Na+ for H+ in energy coupling.     

Characterization of low potassium-resistant mutants of the Madin-Darby canine kidney cell line with defects in NaCl/KCl symport

Three independent mutants of the Madin-Darby canine kidney cell line (MDCK) have been isolated which were capable of growth in media containing low concentrations of potassium. All three mutants were deficient to varying extents in furosemide- and bumetanide-sensitive 22Na+, 86+b+, and 36Cl- uptake. The two mutants most resistant to low K+ media had lost essentially all of the 22Na+, 86Rb+, and 36Cl- uptake activities of this system. The third mutant was partially resistant to low K+ media and had reduced levels of bumetanide-sensitive uptake for all three ions. Extrapolated initial uptake rates for 22Na+, 86Rb+, and 36Cl- revealed that the partial mutant exhibited approximately 50% of the parental uptake rates for all three ions. The stoichiometries of bumetanide-sensitive uptake in both the parental cell line and the partial mutant approximated 1 Rb+:1 Na+:2 Cl-. The results of this study provide genetic evidence for a single tightly-coupled NaCl/KCl symporter in MDCK cells. The correlation between the ability to grow in low K+ media and decreased activity of the bumetanide-sensitive co-transport system suggests that the bumetanide-sensitive transport system catalyzes net K+ efflux from cells in low K+ media. The results of 86Rb+ efflux studies conducted on ouabain-pretreated mutant and parental cells are consistent with this interpretation. Cell volume measurements made on cells at different densities in media containing normal K+ concentrations showed that none of the mutants differed significantly in volume from the parental strain at a similar cell density. Furthermore, all three mutants were able to readjust their volume after suspension in hypotonic media. These results suggest that in the MDCK cell line, the bumetanide-sensitive NaCl/KCl symport system does not function in the regulation of cell volume under the conditions employed.     

Stimulation of p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity of Na+/K+-ATPase by NaCl with oligomycin or ATP

It is known that the addition of NaCl with oligomycin or ATP stimulates ouabain-sensitive and K+-dependent p-nitrophenylphosphatase (pNPPase) activity of Na+/K+-ATPase. We investigated the mechanism of the stimulation. The combination of oligomycin and NaCl increased the affinity of pNPPase activity for K+. When the ratio of Na+ to Rb+ was 10 in the presence of oligomycin, Rb+-binding and pNPPase activity reached a maximal level and Na+ was occluded. Phosphorylation of Na+/K+-ATPase by p-nitrophenylphosphate (pNPP) was not affected by oligomycin. Because oligomycin stabilizes the Na+-occluded E1 state of Na+/K+-ATPase, it seemed that the Na+-occluded E1 state increased the affinity of the phosphoenzyme formed from pNPP for K+. On the other hand, the combination of ATP and NaCl also increased the affinity of pNPPase for K+ and activated ATPase activity. Both activities were affected by the ligand conditions. Oligomycin noncompetitively affected the activation of pNPPase by NaCl and ATP. Nonhydrolyzable ATP analogues could not substitute for ATP. As NaE1P, which is the high-energy phosphoenzyme formed from ATP with Na+, is also the Na+-occluded E1 state, it is suggested that the Na+-occluded E1 state increases the affinity of the phosphoenzyme from pNPP for K+ through the interaction between alpha subunits. Therefore, membrane-bound Na+/K+-ATPase would function as at least an (alphabeta)2-diprotomer with interacting alpha subunits at the phosphorylation step.     

Effects of pH on the interaction of ligands with the (H+ + K+)-ATPase purified from pig gastric mucosa

The effects of K+, Na+ and ATP on the gastric (H+ + K+)-ATPase were investigated at various pH. The enzyme was phosphorylated by ATP with a pseudo-first-order rate constant of 3650 min-1 at pH 7.4. This rate constant increased to a maximal value of about 7900 min-1 when pH was decreased to 6.0. Alkalinization decreased the rate constant. At pH 8.0 it was 1290 min-1. Additions of 5 mM K+ or Na+, did not change the rate constant at acidic pH, while at neutral or alkaline pH a decrease was observed. Dephosphorylation of phosphoenzyme in lyophilized vesicles was dependent on K+, but not on Na+. Alkaline pH increased the rate of dephosphorylation. K+ stimulated the ATPase and p-nitrophenylphosphatase activities. At high concentrations K+ was inhibitory. Below pH 7.0 Na+ had little or no effect on the ATPase and p-nitrophenylphosphatase, while at alkaline pH, Na+ inhibited both activities. The effect of extravesicular pH on transport of H+ was investigated. At pH 6.5 the apparent Km for ATP was 2.7 microM and increased little when K+ was added extravesicularly. At pH 7.5, millimolar concentrations of K+ increased the apparent Km for ATP. Extravesicular K+ and Na+ inhibited the transport of H+. The inhibition was strongest at alkaline pH and only slight at neutral or acidic pH, suggesting a competition between the alkali metal ions and hydrogen ions at a common binding site on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. Two H+-producing reactions as possible candidates as physiological regulators of (H+ + K+)-ATPase were investigated. Firstly, the hydrolysis of ATP per se, and secondly, the hydration of CO2 and the subsequent formation of H+ and HCO3-. The amount of hydrogen ions formed in the ATPase reaction was highest at alkaline pH. The H+/ATP ratio was about 1 at pH 8.0. When CO2 was added to the reaction medium there was no change in the rate of hydrogen ion transport at pH 7.0, but at pH 8.0 the rate increased 4-times upon the addition of 0.4 mM CO2. The results indicate a possible co-operation in the production of acid between the H+ + K+-ATPase and a carbonic anhydrase associated with the vesicular membrane.     

Differentiation between mutants of Escherichia coli K defective in oxidative phosphorylation.

Hybrid membrane particles from two mutants of Escherichia coli K12, Bv4 and K11, defective in oxidative phosphorylation, have been prepared, in which ATP-driven membrane energization is restored. A soluble factor of mutant K11 was found to have properties similar to parental crude coupling factor, ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3). Membrane particles of this mutant could not be reconstituted by parental coupling factor. Either parental coupling factor, or the soluble factor of mutant K11 could reconstitute both respiration-driven and ATP-driven energization to membrane particles of mutant Bv14 or to parental particles depleted of ATPase. Mutant Bv4 was found to be devoid of coupoing factor activity, while retaining the ability to hydrolyze ATP. Both mutants possess an ATPase with an altered binding to the membrane. Mutant K11 is impaired in respiration-driven amino acid transport, in contrast to mutant Bv4. The three major subunits of parental Escherichia coli ATPase have been isolated and antibodies have been prepared against these subunits. Antibodies against the largest subunit (alpha component) or against the intact catalytic subunits (alpha + beta components) inhibit both ATP-Pi exchange in the parent organism as well as ATP hydrolytic activity in parent and mutants. Antibodies against the two other subunits (beta or gamma components) also inhibit these two reactions, but were found to be less effective. Mutant N144, which lacks ATPase activity, shows no precipitin lines with anti-alpha, anti-beta, anti-gamma, or anti (alpha + beta) preparations. In contrast, mutants Bv4 and K11, exhibit cross-reactivity with all of the antisera.     

Mutants of Escherichia coli H+-ATPase defective in the delta subunit of F1 and the b subunit of F0

Complete nucleotide sequence of the genes for subunits of the H+ ATPase of E.coli has been determined and several hybrid plasmids carrying various portions of these genes have been constructed. Genetic complementation and recombination tests of about forty mutants of E.coli defective in the ATPase were performed using these plasmids for identifying the locations of the mutations. Two mutants defective in the delta subunit and a novel type of mutant defective in the b subunit of F0 were identified. The delta subunit mutants showed no proton conduction, suggesting that this subunit has an important role for the proton conduction. The ATPase of the b subunit mutant has a normal activity of proton channel portion, which phenotype is clearly different from that of mutants of the b subunit reported previously.     

The sodium ion translocating adenosinetriphosphatase of Propionigenium modestum pumps protons at low sodium ion concentrations

The purified ATPase (F1F0) of Propionigenium modestum has its pH optimum at pH 7.0 or at pH 6.0 in the presence or absence of 5 mM NaCl, respectively. The activation by 5 mM NaCl was 12-fold at pH 7.0, 3.5-fold at pH 6.0, and 1.5-fold at pH 5.0. In addition to its function as a primary Na+ pump, the ATPase was capable of pumping protons. This activity was demonstrated with reconstituted proteoliposomes by the ATP-dependent quenching of the fluorescence of 9-amino-6-chloro-2-methoxyacridine. No delta pH was formed in the presence of the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone or by blocking the ATPase with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. In the presence of valinomycin and K+, the delta pH increased, in accord with the operation of an electrogenic proton pump. The proton pump was only operative at low Na+ concentrations (less than 1 mM), and its activity increased as the Na+ concentration decreased. Parallel to the decrease of H+ pumping, the velocity of the Na+ transport increased about 6-fold from 0.1 to 4 mM NaCl, indicating a switch from H+ to Na+ pumping, as the Na+ concentration increases. Due to proton leaks in the proteoliposomal membranes, fluorescence quenching was released after blocking the ATPase with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, by trapping residual ATP with glucose and hexokinase, or by the Na+-induced conversion of the proton pump onto a Na+ pump. Amiloride, an inhibitor of various Na+-coupled transport systems, was without effect on the kinetics of Na+ transport by the P. modestum ATPase.