A Plasma Membrane-Type Ca2+-ATPase of 120 Kilodaltons on the Endoplasmic Reticulum from Carrot (Daucus carota) Cells (Properties of the Phosphorylated Intermediate)

Cytosolic Ca2+ levels are regulated in part by Ca2+-pumping ATPases that export Ca2+ from the cytoplasm; however, the types and properties of Ca2+ pumps in plants are not well understood. We have characterized the kinetic properties of a 120-kD phosphoenzyme (PE) intermediate formed during the reaction cycle of a Ca2+-ATPase from suspension-cultured carrot (Daucus carota) cells. Only one Ca2+-dependent phosphoprotein was formed when carrot membrane vesicles were incubated with gamma]-32P]ATP (W.L. Hsieh, W.S. Pierce, and H. Sze 1991] Plant Physiol 97: 1535-1544). Formation of this 120-kD phosphoprotein was inhibited by vanadate, enhanced by La3+, and decreased by hydroxylamine, confirming its identification as an intermediate of a phosphorylated-type Ca2+-translocating ATPase. The 120-kD Ca2+-ATPase was most abundant in endoplasmic reticulum-enriched fractions, in which the Ca2+-ATPase was estimated to be 0.1% of membrane protein. Direct quantitation of Ca2+-dependent phosphoprotein was used to examine the kinetics of PE formation. PE formation exhibited a Km for Ca2+ of 1 to 2 mu]M and a Km for ATP of 67 nM. Relative affinities of substrates, determined by competition experiments, were 0.075 mu]M for ATP, 1 mu]M for ADP, 100 mu]M for ITP, and 250 mu]M for GTP. Thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid, specific inhibitors of animal sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase, had no effect on PE formation; erythrosin B inhibited with 50% inhibition at <0.1 mu]M. Calmodulin (1 mu]M) stimulated PE formation by 25%. The results indicate that the carrot 120-kD Ca2+-ATPase is similar but not identical to animal plasma membrane-type Ca2+- ATPase and yet is located on endomembranes, such as the endoplasmic reticulum. This type of Ca2+ pump may reside on the cortical endoplasmic reticulum, which is thought to play a major role in anchoring the cytoskeleton and in facilitating secretion.