Alterations in phospholipid-dependent (Na++K+)-ATPase activity due to lipid fluidity: Effects of cholesterol and Mg2+

The (Na⁺+K⁺)-activated, Mg²⁺-dependent ATPase from rabbit kidney outer medulla was prepared in a partially inactivated, soluble from depleted of endogenous phospholipids, using deoxycholate. This preparation was reactivated 10 to 50-fold by sonicated liposomes of phosphatidylserine, but not by non-sonicated phosphatidylserine liposomes or sonicated phosphatidylcholine liposomes. The reconstituted enzyme resembled native membrane preparations of (Na⁺+K⁺)-ATPase in its pH optimum being around 7.0 showing optimal activity at Mg²⁺: ATP mol ratios of approximately 1 and a K_m value for ATP of 0.4 mM.Arrhenius plots of this reactivated activity at a constant pH of 7.0 and an Mg²⁺: ATP mol ratio of 1:1 showed a discontinuity (sharp change of slope) at 17 °C, With activation energy (E_a) values of 13–15 kcal/mol above this temperature and 30–35 kcal below it. A further discontinuity was also found at 8.0 °C and the E_a below this was very high (> 100 kcal/mol).Incresed Mg²⁺ concentrations at Mg²⁺: ATP ratios in excess of 1:1 inhibited the (Na⁺+K⁺)-ATPase activity and also abolished the discontinuities in the Arrhenius plots.The addition of cholesterol to phosphatidylserine at a 1:1 mol ratio partially inhibited (Na⁺+K⁺)-ATPase reactivation. Arrhenius plots under these conditions showed a single discontinuity at 20°C and E_a values of 22 and 68kcal/mol above and below this temperature respectively. The ouabain-insensitive Mg²⁺-ATPase normally showed a linear Arrhenius plot with an E_a of 8 kcal/mol. The cholesterol-phosphatidylserine mixed liposomes stimulated the Mg²⁺-ATPase activity, which now also showed a discontinuity at 20 °C with, however, an increased value of 14 kcal/mol above this temperature and 6 kcal/mol below. Kinetic studies showed that cholesterol had no significant effect on the K_m for ATP.Since both of cholesterol and Mg²⁺ are know to alter the effects of temperature on the fluidity of phospholipids the above result are discussed in this context.     

Properties of the Na+, K+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase system associated with the plasma membrane of pig thyroid glands.

The enzymatic properties of plasma membrane-bound Na+, K+-ATPase [EC 3.6.1.3], isolated with high specific activity and in good yield from pig thyroid cells, were examined. The enzyme activity required the presence of both Na+ and K+ at physiological concentrations; it exhibited high sensitivity to K+ and an absolute requirement for Na+. It showed highly specific requirement for Mg2+ and ATP. The apparent Km for ATP was 0.14 mM under the assay conditions. Arrhenius plots had a point of inflection at about 22 degrees C, activation energies being 24.2 kcal/mol at 5-22 degrees C and 19.0 kcal/mol at 22-40 degrees C. In addition to ouabain, the ATPase was strongly inhibited by fluoride and the SH-blocking reagent, PCMB. Iodide and TSH had no appreciable effect on the enzyme activity.     

Calcium transport by bull spermatozoa plasma membranes

Plasma membrane isolated from frozen ejaculated bull spermatozoa were found to contain calcium transport activity. Thin-section electronmicrography of these membranes revealed relatively homogeneous vesicular membranes with sizes ranging from 2000 to 6000 A in diameter. Membrane vesicles that were exposed to oxalate as a calcium-trapping agent accumulated Ca2+ in the presence of Mg2+ and ATP. One microM of the calcium-ionophore A23187, added initially, completely inhibited net Ca2+ uptake and, if added later, caused the release of Ca2+ accumulated previously. An Arrhenius plot for the rate of Ca2+ uptake revealed a break at 32--33 degrees C, and Ea of 4.4 kcal/mol above the break and 32.2 kcal/mol below. The Ca+ uptake was inhibited by low concentrations of quercetin, which is known to be an inhibitor of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase in many systems.     

Characteristics of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in the gills of bass

A partial characterization of bass gill (Na+ + K+-ATPase is reported in the present paper. Microsomal preparation from gill homogenate showed optimal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity at pH 6,5 in the presence of 100 mM Na+, 20mM K+ and 5mM Mg2+. Under these conditions maximal activity was shown at 45 degrees C, even if an increased lability of the enzyme was shown at temperature greater than 30 degrees C. A complete inhibition of the enzyme occurred in the presence of 1 mM ouabain. The break in the Arrhenius plot occurred approximatively at the temperature of adaptation of these fish (18 degrees C). The energies of activation above and below the break were scarcely different from each other and lower than those reported in other Poikilotherms. Furthermore similar values of Km for Na+ were evidenced at 18 degrees C and 30 degrees C. The whole of data are discussed in comparison with other teleost gill (Na+ + K+)-ATPase reports and related to the physiological role of the enzyme in osmoregulation.     

Temperature-dependencies of various catalytic activities of membrane-bound Na+/K+-ATPase from ox brain, ox kidney and shark rectal gland and of C12E8-solubilized shark Na+/K+-ATPase

The temperature dependence of ouabain-sensitive ATPase and phosphatase activities of membrane fragments containing the Na+/K+-ATPase were investigated in tissue from ox kidney, ox brain and from shark rectal glands. The shark enzyme was also tested in solubilized form. Arrhenius plots of the Na+/K+-ATPase activity seem to be linear up to about 20 degrees C, and non-linear above this temperature. The Arrhenius plots of mammalian enzyme (ox brain and kidney) were steeper, especially at temperatures below 20-30 degrees C, than that of shark enzyme. The Na+-ATPase activity showed a weaker temperature-dependence than the Na+/K+-ATPase activity. The phosphatase reactions measured, K+-stimulated, Na+/K+-stimulated and Na+/K+/ATP-stimulated, also showed a weaker temperature-dependence than the overall Na+/K+-ATPase activity. Among the phosphatase reactions, the largest change in slope of the Arrhenius plot was observed with the Na+/K+/ATP)-stimulated phosphatase reaction. The Arrhenius plots of the partial reactions were all non-linear. Solubilization of shark enzyme in C12E8 did not change the curvature of Arrhenius plots of the Na+/K+-ATPase activity or the K+-phosphatase activity. Since solubilization involves a disruption of the membrane and an 80% delipidation, the observed curvature of the Arrhenius plot can not be attributed to a property of the membrane as such.     

Ouabain-insensitive Na+ stimulation of a microsomal Mg2+ -ATPase in gills of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

Bass gill microsomal preparations contain a Mg2+-dependent Na+-stimulated ATPase activity in the absence of K+, whose characteristics are compared with those of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase of the same preparations. The activity at 30 degrees C is 11.3 mumol Pi X mg-1 protein X hr-1 under optimal conditions (5 mM MgATP, 75 mM Na+, 75 mM HEPES, pH 6.0) and exhibits a lower pH optimum than the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. The Na+ stimulation of ATPase is only 17% inhibited by 10-3M ouabain and completely abolished by 2.5 mM ethacrinic acid which on the contrary cause, respectively, 100% and 34% inhibition of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. Both Na+-and (Na+ + K+)-stimulated activities can hydrolyze nucleotides other than ATP in the efficiency order ATP greater than CTP greater than UTP greater than GTP and ATP greater than CTP greater than GPT greater than UTP, respectively. In the presence of 10(-3)M ouabain millimolar concentrations of K+ ion lower the Na+ activation (90% inhibition at 40 mM K+). The Na+-ATPase is less sensitive than (Na+ + K+)-ATPase to the Ca2+ induced inhibition as the former is only 57.5% inhibited by a concentration of 1 X 10(-2)M which completely suppresses the latter. The thermosensitivity follows the order Mg2+--greater than (Na+ + K+)--greater than Na+-ATPase. A similar break of the Arrhenius plot of the three enzymes is found. Only some of these characteristics do coincide with those of a Na+-ATPase described elsewhere. A presumptive physiological role of Na+-ATPase activity in seawater adapted teleost gills is suggested.     

Characterization of gill (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

Bass gill microsomal preparations contain both a Na+, K+ and Mg2+-dependent ATPase, which is completely inhibited by 10(-3)M ouabain and 10(-2)M Ca2+, and also a ouabain insensitive ATP-ase activity in the presence of both Mg2+ and Na+. Under the optimal conditions of pH 6.5, 100 mM Na+, 20 mM K+, 5 mM ATP and 5 mM Mg2+, (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity at 30 degrees C is 15.6 mumole Pi hr/mg protein. Bass gill (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is similar to other (Na+ + K+)-ATPases with respect to the sensitivity to ionic strength, Ca2+ and ouabain and to both Na+/K+ and Mg2+/ATP optimal ratios, while pH optimum is lower than poikilotherm data. The enzyme requires Na+, whereas K+ can be replaced efficiently by NH+4 and poorly by Li+. Both Km and Vm values decrease in the series NH+4 greater than K+ greater than Li+. The break of Arrhenius plot at 17.7 degrees C is close to the adaptation temperature. Activation energies are scarcely different from each other and both lower than those generally reported. The Km for Na+ poorly decreases as the assay temperature lowers. The comparison with literature data aims at distinguishing between distinctive and common features of bass gill (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.     

Increased ouabain-sensitive 86Rb+ uptake and sodium and potassium ion-activated adenosine triphosphatase activity in transformed cell lines.

During the log phase of growth both the active, ouabain-sensitive K+ uptake, measured as 86Rb+, and the sodium and potassium ion-activated ATPase ((Na+ + K+)-ATPase) activity of SV40-transformed 3T3 cells were 2.5-and 5,5-fold higher, respectively, than in untransformed 3T3 cells. A similar higher active K+ uptake was found for Rous sarcoma virus and SV40-transformed baby hamster kidney cells compared with untransformed BHK cells. The active K+ uptake in SV403T3 and normal 3T3 cells decreased when the growth rate of both cell types diminished. Reduction in ouabain-sensitive ATP hydrolysis only occurred later, however, when appreciable decreases in cell viability were seen. Arrhenius plots of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity of SV403T3 cells indicated a discontinuity at 24 degrees, whereas no similar discontinuity was indicated for 3T3 cells. The consequences of elevated K+ transport and (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity in transformed cells and the possibility that the increased activity might be related to differences inphospholipid fatty acyl chain fluidity are discussed.     

Acetyl phosphate can act as a substrate for Na+ transport by (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

Experiments using liposomes with (Na+ + K+)-ATPase incorporated showed that in the presence of extravesicular Mg2+, acetyl phosphate was able to stimulate Na+ uptake when the liposomes contained Na+ or choline and were K+-free; this acetyl phosphate-dependent Na+ transport was similar to the ATP-dependent transport observed with 0.003 mM or 3 mM ATP. When the intravesicular solution contained K+, there was an ATP-dependent Na+ uptake which was large with 3 mM ATP and small (about the size seen in K+-free liposomes) with 0.003 mM ATP; in this case, although acetyl phosphate produced a slight activation of Na+ transport, the effect was not statistically significant. All ATP and acetyl phosphate-stimulated Na+ transport disappeared in the absence of extravesicular Mg2+ or in the presence of ouabain in the intravesicular solution. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that, at the concentration used, acetyl phosphate can replace ATP in the catalytic but not in the regulatory site of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and active Na+ transport system. This suggests that as far as the early stages of the pump cycle are concerned the role of ATP is simply to phosphorylate.     

Some total and partial reactions of Na+/K+-ATPase using ATP and acetyl phosphate as a substrate

Acetyl phosphate, as a substrate of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, was further characterized by comparing its effects with those of ATP on some total and partial reactions carried out by the enzyme. In the absence of Mg2+ acetyl phosphate could not induce disocclusion (release) of Rb+ from E2(Rb); nor did it affect the acceleration of Rb+ release by non-limiting concentrations of ADP. In K+-free solutions and at pH 7.4 sodium ions were essential for ATP hydrolysis by (Na+ + K+)-ATPase; when acetyl phosphate was the substrate a hydrolysis (inhibited by ouabain) was observed in the presence and absence of Na+. In liposomes with (Na+ + K+)-ATPase incorporated and exposed to extravesicular (intracellular) Na+, acetyl phosphate could sustain a ouabain-sensitive Rb+ efflux; the levels of that flux were similar to those obtained with micromolar concentrations of ATP. When the liposomes were incubated in the absence of extravesicular Na+ a ouabain-sensitive Rb+ efflux could not be detected with either substrate. Native (Na+ + K+)-ATPase was phosphorylated at 0 degrees C in the presence of NaCl (50 mM for ATP and 10 mM for acetyl phosphate); after phosphorylation had been stopped by simultaneous addition of excess trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N',N' tetraacetic acid and 1 M NaCl net synthesis of ATP by addition of ADP was obtained with both phosphoenzymes. The present results show that acetyl phosphate can fuel the overall cycle of cation translocation by (Na+ + K+)-ATPase acting only at the catalytic substrate site; this takes place via the formation of phosphorylated intermediates which can lead to ATP synthesis in a way which is indistinguishable from that obtained with ATP.     

Calcium inhibition of the ATPase and phosphatase activities of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

In experiments performed at 37 degrees C, Ca2+ reversibly inhibits the Na+-and (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activities and the K+-dependent phosphatase activity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. With 3 mM ATP, the Na+-ATPase was less sensitive to CaCl2 than the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. With 0.02 mM ATP, the Na+-ATPase and the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activities were similarly inhibited by CaCl2. The K0.5 for Ca2+ as (Na+ + K+)-ATPase inhibitor depended on the total MgCl2 and ATP concentrations. This Ca2+ inhibition could be a consequence of Ca2+-Mg2+ competition, Ca . ATP-Mg . ATP competition or a combination of both mechanisms. In the presence of Na+ and Mg2+, Ca2+ inhibited the K+-dependent dephosphorylation of the phosphoenzyme formed from ATP, had no effect on the dephosphorylation in the absence of K+ and inhibited the rephosphorylation of the enzyme. In addition, the steady-state levels of phosphoenzyme were reduced in the presence both of NaCl and of NaCl plus KCl. With 3 mM ATP, Ca2+ alone sustained no more than 2% of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity and about 23% of the Na+-ATPase activity observed with Mg2+ and no Ca2+. With 0.003 mM ATP, Ca2+ was able to maintain about 40% of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity and 27% of the Na+-ATPase activity seen in the presence of Mg2+ alone. However, the E2(K)-E1K conformational change did not seem to be affected. Ca2+ inhibition of the K+-dependent rho-nitrophenylphosphatase activity of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase followed competition kinetics between Ca2+ and Mg2+. In the presence of 10 mM NaCl and 0.75 mM KCl, the fractional inhibition of the K+-dependent rho-nitrophenylphosphatase activity as a function of Ca2+ concentration was the same with and without ATP, suggesting that Ca2+ indeed plays the important role in this process. In the absence of Mg2+, Ca2+ was unable to sustain any detectable ouabain-sensitive phosphatase activity, either with rho-nitrophenylphosphate or with acetyl phosphate as substrate.     

Exaprolol as a modulator of heart sarcolemmal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. Evidence for interaction with an essential sulfhydryl group in the catalytic centre of the enzyme

Beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents may have, in addition to their primary action, also ancillary effects on the cell membrane. In the present paper the non-specific interaction of exaprolol with the ATPase systems in isolated rat heart sarcolemmal membranes was investigated. When preincubated with sarcolemmal membranes in vitro, exaprolol in concentrations below 10(-4) mol.l-1 had no significant effect on sarcolemmal Mg2+-, Ca2+- and (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activities. At exaprolol concentration of 10(-4) mol.l-1 the Mg2+- and Ca2+-ATPase activities became inhibited whereas the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity was markedly stimulated. A kinetic analysis of these interactions revealed a non-competitive inhibition of Mg2+- and Ca2+-ATPase. In the case of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase a synergistic type of stimulation characterized by an exaprolol-induced conversion of an essential sulfhydryl group in the active site of the enzyme to the more reactive [S-] form has been observed thus increasing the affinity of the enzyme to ATP. Exaprolol concentrations exceeding 5 X 10(-4) mol.l-1 induced an overall depression of the investigated enzyme activities.     

Long chain fatty acid inhibition of sodium plus potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase from rat heart.

Long chain fatty acids were found to inhibit (Na+ + K+)-ATPase prepared from rat heart. Unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were more inhibitory than saturated fatty acids with myristic acid being the most inhibitory saturated fatty acid tested and linoleic the most inhibitory unsaturated fatty acid. As an example of fatty acid modification of the enzyme, inhibition of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by oleate was examined. When compared to ouabain, inhibition of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by oleate was found to be similar in that both were dependent on K+ concentration, but, in contrast to the almost instantaneous inhibition by ouabain, oleate inhibition was a slow process requiring over 20 min incubation at 37 degrees to produce maximum inhibition. Inhibition of rat heart (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by oleate was found to be readily reversible by washout. In the presence of albumin an oleate/albumin molar ratio greater than 7.5 was required for inhibition to occur. The activity of rat heart (Na+ + K+)-ATPase had a temperature optimum above 40 degrees and a discontinuous Arrhenius' plot with a transition temperature of 25 degrees. In the presence of oleate, however, the enzyme's optimum temperature decreased to below 40 degrees, the activation energy of the reaction at temperatures below 25 degrees was lowered from 24.7 kcal/mol to 12.6 kcal/mol and the enzyme had a linear Arrhenius' plot. The possibility of in vivo inhibition of cardiac (Na+ + K+)-ATPase under conditions of elevated fatty acids is discussed.     

Effect of ethanol on synaptosomal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in control and ethanol-dependent rats

Rats were made dependent upon ethanol by feeding them liquid diets containing ethanol. Synaptosomal plasma membranes (SPM) were isolated from cerebral cortex and midbrain regions of isocaloric-fed control and ethanol-dependent rats. No major alcohol-induced alteration in in vitro (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity was found in SPM of either brain area. At 37 degrees C, ethanol (0.10 to 0.98 M) added to incubations caused a dose-dependent inhibition of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. The degree of inhibition found was independent of the diet administered or whether ethanol was present in the diet. At temperatures between 14 and 22 degrees C, 0.48 M ethanol caused a temperature-dependent decrease in activity. Arrhenius plots for SPM (Na+ + K+)-ATPase showed that in control and ethanol-dependent rats fed the Lieber de Carli diet, 0.48 M ethanol did not alter the transition temperature of this enzyme. Activation energies both above and below the transition temperature were decreased by the addition of ethanol to incubations. These results indicate that (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, a membrane-bound enzyme that is sensitive to its lipid environment and to the presence of ethanol, is not altered by the chronic administration of ethanol to rats.     

Temperature dependence of the conductivity of individual potential-dependent K+-channels in mollusk neurons]

Using the patch-clamp method temperature dependences of the chord conductance of single potential--dependent slow and fast K+ channels in mollusk neurons were studied. Under control conditions (20 degrees C, 0 mV, [K+]o = 1.5 mM and [K+]i = 100 mM) the conductances of the fast and slow K+ channels were equal to 20-25 pS and 30-40 pS, respectively. Besides, the temperature dependences of the currents through the K+ channels of lesser conductance (5-20 pS) were studied. Some of these channels may be regarded as subtypes of the fast and slow K+ channels named above. It was found that for the channels of all types single channel currents arise with temperature. However, in the range of 10-20 degrees C an anomalous conductance decrease at temperature elevation was observed. For all channels except for the fast one at temperatures above 20 degrees C activation energy (delta Ea) calculated from the Arrhenius plots of the currents was about 4 kcal/mol. At the temperatures below 10 degrees C delta Ea was equal to about 12 kcal/mol. In this temperature range delta Ea had a pronounced potential dependency. Temperature dependences of the fast K+ channel conductance were opposite to those of the slow K+ channel to some extent.     

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation of cardiac (Na+ + K+)-ATPases. Effect on calcium binding.

1. Calcium binding to (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) preparations from beef and pig heart preparations of varying degrees of purity was measured. 2. Binding was inhibited by Mg2+, Na+ and K+. Inhibition by Na+ and K+ appeared to be due to an ionic strength effect. 3. Four classes of binding sites were identified with Kd values for calcium of about 0.03, 1, 15 and 200 micrometer. 4. Cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of the enzyme by protein kinase (ATP: protamine O-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.70) had no effect on (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. 5. Phosphorylation also had no effect on either Kd or Bmax for calcium binding at any of the four sites whether measured in the presence of absence of NaCl or KCl. 6. It is concluded that previous reports of an effect of phosphorylation on calcium binding to a (Na+ + K+)-ATPase preparation may have been due to the presence of membrane material not directly associated with (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.     

(Na+ + K+)- and Na+-stimulated Mg2+-dependent ATPase activities in kidney of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

1. Sea bass kidney microsomal preparations contain two Mg2+ dependent ATPase activities: the ouabain-sensitive (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and an ouabain-insensitive Na+-ATPase, requiring different assay conditions. The (Na+ + K+)-ATPase under the optimal conditions of pH 7.0, 100 mM Na+, 25 mM K+, 10 mM Mg2+, 5 mM ATP exhibits an average specific activity (S.A.) of 59 mumol Pi/mg protein per hr whereas the Na+-ATPase under the conditions of pH 6.0, 40 mM Na+, 1.5 mM MgATP, 1 mM ouabain has a maximal S.A. of 13.9 mumol Pi/mg protein per hr. 2. The (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is specifically inhibited by ouabain and vanadate; the Na+-ATPase specifically by ethacrynic acid and preferentially by frusemide; both activities are similarly inhibited by Ca2+. 3. The (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is specific for ATP and Na+, whereas the Na+-ATPase hydrolyzes other substrates in the efficiency order ATP greater than GTP greater than CTP greater than UTP and can be activated also by K+, NH4+ or Li+. 4. Minor differences between the two activities lie in the affinity for Na+, Mg2+, ATP and in the thermosensitivity. 5. The comparison between the two activities and with what has been reported in the literature only partly agree with our findings. It tentatively suggests that on the one hand two separate enzymes exist which are related to Na+ transport and, on the other, a distinct modulation in vivo in different tissues.     

Incorporation of Na+ - Ca2+ antiporter and of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase into liposomes and demonstration of their non-identity

(Na+ + K+)-ATPase was isolated from the grey matter of brain and incorporated into liposomes. Most of the reconstituted enzyme was oriented 'inside-out' with respect to its in vivo orientation and externally added ATP promoted Na+ uptake that was inhibitable by internally trapped ouabain. Using the same proteoliposomes, an Na+ - Ca2+ exchange system was observed as indicated by the following pieces of evidence. (1) The Na+ gradient provided the only readily apparent driving force for acceleration of Ca2+ accumulation into proteoliposomes. (2) The antiporter was specific for Ca2+, high Mg2+ excess did not inhibit Ca2+ antiport. (3) The Na+ efflux was dependent on the extravesicular Ca2+ concentration. (4) The Na+ efflux was not inhibited by tetrodotoxin. The demonstrated Na+ - Ca2+ exchange could not be related to (Na+ + K+)-ATPase protein, since it was not purified with (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, as followed from transport studies with liposomes containing (Na+ + K+)-ATPase of different specific activity. The results strongly indicate that plasma membranes isolated from the grey matter of brain contain an Na+ - Ca2+ exchange system and that the proteoliposomes are suitable for further purification of the carrier molecule.     

Evidence for electronogenic sodium pumping in the ductal epithelium of rabbit salivary gland and its relationship with (Na+ plus K+)-ATPase.

The temperature dependence of the transepithelial potential difference (PD) of the main duct of the submaxillary gland has been measured during in vitro perfusion studies. The magnitude of the PD depends strongly on the anion composition of the perfusing and bathing fluids. The following combinations of perfusion and bathing fluids respectively were used: (1) Na2SO4/NaCl, (2) Na2SO4, (3) NaCl/-NaCl, (4) NaCl/Na2SO4. The mean transepithelial potential differences at 35 degrees C with these four sets of conditions were respectively: 144, 148, 10 and - 15 mV, serosal side positive with respect to lumen. From the data obtained it was possible to construct Arrhenius plots of temperature dependence of the PD for the four sets of experimental conditions. They all show a breakpoint between 16 and 19 degrees C. The apparent activation energies in the four situations above the breakpoint are 4.2, 1.4, 12.0 and 10.6 kcal/mol, respectively. Below the breakpoint they are 29.9, 37.5, 29.0 and 31.3 kcal/mol, respectively. The rapid change in the PD as a function of temperature (which can also be achieved by the addition of ouabain), the effects of the removal of K+ on the serosal side on the PD, the decrease in the PD after the addition of ouabain or CN-, and the activation energies and breakpoints all lead to the conclusion that a large part of the PD is caused by an electrogenic sodium pump which is very probably the enzyme (Na+ plus K+)-ATPase. When the duct is perfused with Na2SO4 we find, above the breakpoint in the Arrhenius plots, a lower activation energy than is found when perfusing with NaCl.     

Cholesterol effect on enzyme activity of the sarcolemmal (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase from cardiac muscle

The effect of cholesterol incorporation and depletion of the cardiac sarcolemmal sacs on (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity was examined. Cholesterol incorporation to the sarcolemmal sacs was achieved utilizing an in vivo and an in vitro procedure. Cholesterol depleted membranes were obtained in vitro after incubation of the sarcolemmal sacs with inactivated plasma. Arrhenius plots of the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity showed a triphasic curve when the assays were carried out using a temperature range between 0 and 40 degrees C. The sarcolemmal (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity was shown to be inversely proportional to the cholesterol concentration of the membranes, showing a low ATPase activity with a high cholesterol content and a high ATPase activity when the cholesterol concentration was low. Although the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity was found to be inhibited in the cholesterol incorporated sarcolemmal sacs, the withdrawal of small amounts of cholesterol from the membranes produced an important stimulatory effect. Changes in (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity due to variation in the membrane cholesterol concentration were shown to be reversible. Our results indicate the possibility of a slow exchange of cholesterol between the tightly bound lipid surrounding the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase and the bulk lipid of the sarcolemma.