Monomer of sodium and potassium ion activated adenosinetriphosphatase displays complete enzymatic function

The distribution of sodium and potassium ion activated adenosinetriphosphatase [(Na+ + K+)-ATPase] among the various oligomeric forms present in a given solution is assessed unambiguously by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde. Purified enzyme dissolved in a solution of a nonionic detergent, octaethylene glycol dodecyl ether, remains dispersed and unaggregated after removal of the bulk of the detergent. Increases in the aggregation of the enzyme, which have been previously observed upon the addition of substrates to such a solution, are found to be due to changes in ionic strength rather than a consequence of the initiation of turnover. Furthermore, conditions are described that produce solutions containing stable, enzymatically active mixtures of the smaller oligomers of the asymmetric unit, alpha beta. Cross-linking by glutaraldehyde while the enzyme is turning over demonstrates that at least one of these oligomers is responsible for the observed enzymatic activity. A determination of which oligomers are present in each fraction from a glycerol gradient demonstrates that the profiles of the enzymatic activity and the concentration of monomer coincide. In addition, the monomer can form the sodium-dependent, phosphorylated intermediate of the mechanism for the enzyme. Finally, a preparation of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, dissolved in solutions of the same nonionic detergent, can be prepared in which the predominant species (greater than 85%) is the monomer. The enzyme in this solution exhibits high specific activity, and its apparent Michaelis constants for the cationic substrates are very similar to those of the purified, membrane-bound enzyme. It is concluded from these results that a monomer of the alpha beta asymmetric unit is fully capable of catalyzing (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity, and hence active transport, in the native enzyme. A reassessment of proposed molecular mechanisms for active transport is made in light of these discoveries.     

Topological localization of proteolytic sites of sodium and potassium ion stimulated adenosinetriphosphatase

The (Na+ and K+)-stimulated adenosinetriphosphatase [(Na+,K+)-ATPase] consists of two different polypeptides, alpha and beta, both of which are embedded in the plasma membrane. The alpha chain from dog kidney (Na+,K+)-ATPase can be hydrolyzed at specific sites by trypsin and chymotrypsin [Castro, J., & Farley, R. A. (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 2221-2228]. In order to position these sites with respect to the lipid bilayer, we have treated sealed, inside out vesicles from human red cells and unsealed kidney enzyme membranes with trypsin and chymotrypsin and have used ouabain-stimulated phosphorylation to identify the (Na+,K+)-ATPase and its fragments. All of the proteolytic sites observed in the kidney membranes are accessible in the inside out vesicles. The ouabain-inhibitable uptake of 86Rb+ in human red blood cells is resistant to externally added chymotrypsin. These results indicate that the proteolytic sites of the (Na+,K+)-ATPase are exposed on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane.     

Acid dissociation constant and apparent nucleophilicity of lysine-501 of the alpha-polypeptide of sodium and potassium ion activated adenosinetriphosphatase

A combination of competitive labeling with [3H]acetic anhydride [Kaplan, H., Stevenson, K. J., & Hartley, B. S. (1971) Biochem. J. 124, 289-299] and immunoaffinity chromatography is described that permits the assignment of the acid dissociation constant and the absolute nucleophilicity of individual lysines in a native enzyme. The acid dissociation constant of lysine-501 of the alpha-polypeptide in native (Na+ + K+)-ATPase was determined. This lysine had a normal pKa of 10.4. The rate constant for the reaction of the free base of lysine-501 with acetic anhydride at 10 degrees C is 400 M-1 s-1. This value is only 30% that for a fully accessible lysine in a protein. The lower than normal apparent nucleophilicity suggests that lysine-501 is hindered from reacting with its intrinsic nucleophilicity by the tertiary structure of the enzyme and is consistent with its location within a pocket that forms the active site upon the surface of the native protein.     

Nucleophilic behavior of lysine-501 of the alpha-polypeptide of sodium and potassium ion activated adenosinetriphosphatase consistent with a role in binding adenosine triphosphate

An immunoadsorbent specific for the carboxy-terminal sequence -GAPER, which comprises residues 502-506 of the alpha-polypeptide of ovine sodium and potassium ion activated adenosinetriphosphatase [(Na+ + K+)-ATPase], was used to isolate the products of the reaction between the lysine immediately preceding this sequence in the intact protein and either [3H]acetic anhydride or fluorescein 5'-isothiocyanate. Changes in the apparent nucleophilicity of this lysine, Lys501, were observed with both reagents when ATP was bound by the intact, native enzyme poised in the E1 conformation or when the structure of the enzyme was changed from the E1 conformation into the E2-P conformation. With both reagents, a decrease of more than 4-fold in the yield of incorporation occurred during the former change, but a decrease of only 2-fold occurred during the latter. Because a much larger decrease occurred when ATP was bound in the absence of a conformational change than occurred when a major conformational change took place in the absence of the occupation of the active site, these changes in the incorporation of [3H]acetyl suggest that Lys501 from the alpha polypeptide is directly involved in binding ATP within the active site of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. The immunochemical reactions between the specific polyclonal antibodies raised against the sequence-GAPER and denatured or enzymically active (Na+ + K+)-ATPase were also investigated. Western blots and the inhibition of enzymic activity caused by the antibody have shown that it can bind to both the denatured and the native form of the alpha-polypeptide, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Saturation-transfer electron spin resonance studies on the mobility of spin-labeled sodium and potassium ion activated adenosinetriphosphatase in membranes from Squalus acanthias

The sodium and potassium ion activated adenosinetriphosphatase [(Na+,K+)-ATPase] in membranous preparations from Squalus acanthias has been spin-labeled on sulfhydryl groups after prelabeling with N-ethylmaleimide. Saturation-transfer electron spin resonance spectroscopy has been used to study the rotational motions of the labeled protein on the microsecond time scale. Effective rotational correlation times deduced from the diagnostic line-height ratios in the second-harmonic, 90 degrees out-of-phase (V2') spectra are much larger than those deduced from the spectral integrals, indicating the presence of large-scale segmental motions, in addition to rotation of the protein as a whole. Experiments involving controlled cross-linking of the protein by glutaraldehyde, as well as measurements of the line broadening of the conventional electron spin resonance spectra, support this interpretation. Both the spectral integrals and diagnostic line-height ratios are found to increase irreversibly with time on incubation at temperatures greater than 20 degrees C, corresponding to a decrease in the segmental motion of the protein and probably also in the overall protein rotation. The native enzyme displays a marked nonlinearity in the Arrhenius temperature dependence of the activity at temperatures above 20 degrees C, and the activity decreases with a half-life of ca. 70 min on incubation at 37 degrees C (but not on incubation at low temperature), paralleling the time- and temperature-dependent changes in the saturation-transfer spectra of the labeled protein. Both of these observations suggest that the changes observed in the molecular dynamics could correspond to functional properties of the protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Demonstration that lysine-501 of the alpha polypeptide of native sodium and potassium ion activated adenosinetriphosphatase is located on its cytoplasmic surface

Evidence that the peptide HLLVMKGAPER, which can be released from intact sodium and potassium ion activated adenosinetriphosphatase by tryptic digestion, is located on the cytoplasmic surface of the native enzyme has been obtained. An immunoadsorbent directed against the carboxy-terminal sequence of this tryptic peptide has been constructed. The peptide KGAPER was synthesized by solid-phase techniques. Antibodies against the sequence -GAPER were purified by immunoadsorption, using the synthetic peptide attached to agarose beads. These antibodies, in turn, were coupled to agarose beads to produce an immunoadsorbent. Sealed, right-side-out vesicles, prepared from canine kidneys, were labeled with pyridoxal phosphate and sodium [3H]borohydride in the absence or presence of saponin, respectively. A tryptic digest of these labeled vesicles was passed over the immunoadsorbent. Large increases in the incorporation of radioactivity into the peptides bound by the immunoadsorbent were observed in the digests obtained from the vesicles exposed to saponin. From the results of several control experiments examining the labeling reaction as applied to these vesicles, it could be concluded that this increase in incorporation resulted only from the access that the reagents gained to the inside of the vesicles in the presence of saponin and that the increase in the extent of modification was due to the cytoplasmic disposition of this segment in the native enzyme.     

Spatial relationship and conformational changes between the cardiac glycoside site and beta-subunit oligosaccharides in sodium plus potassium activated adenosinetriphosphatase

(Na,K)-ATPase, the enzyme responsible for active transport of Na and K across the plasma membranes of animal cells, consists of a catalytic subunit (alpha) and a glycoprotein subunit (beta) with unknown function. We have determined the distance between fluorescent probes directed to specific sites on the alpha- and beta-subunits and ligand-induced changes in the fluorescence of a probe specifically attached to the beta-subunit. The cardiac glycoside site on the alpha-subunit was labeled with anthroylouabain [Fortes, P. A. G. (1977) Biochemistry 16, 531-540]. The oligosaccharides on the beta-subunit were labeled with lucifer yellow carbohydrazide [Lee, J. A., & Fortes, P. A. G. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 322-330]. Resonance energy transfer from anthroylouabain to lucifer yellow was measured by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The distance between these probes was determined from the efficiency of energy transfer. The average distance between anthroylouabain and lucifer yellow was 47 A and was independent of the number of acceptor molecules attached to the beta-subunit. The measured distance corresponds to the distance between the cardiac glycoside site and the center of the labeled oligosaccharides on the beta-subunit within one alpha beta dimer. The distance was the same (47 A) when anthroylouabain was bound with ATP or Pi as phosphorylating ligands but increased to 49 A in the presence of vanadate. The change in average distance provides quantitative evidence of a conformational difference between the complexes of cardiac glycosides with (Na,K)-ATPase induced by phosphorylating ligands or by vanadate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Modification of the conformational equilibria in the sodium and potassium dependent adenosinetriphosphatase with glutaraldehyde

Glutaraldehyde treatment of electroplax membrane preparations of Na,K-ATPase leads to irreversible changes in the enzymic behavior of the protein, which are not due to modification of the active site. When the glutaraldehyde treatment is carried out in a medium containing K+ and without Na+, the "K+-modified enzyme" so produced shows the following changes in enzymic properties: The steady-state phosphorylation by ATP and the rate of ATP-ADP exchange are decreased to approximately 40% of control, while Na,K-ATPase activity decreases to approximately 15% of control. Phosphatase activity is decreased very little, but the potassium activation parameters of the reaction are changed, from K0.5 approximately equal to 5 mM and nH = 1.9 in control to K0.5 approximately equal to 0.5 mM and nH = 1 in K+-modified enzyme. KI(app) for nucleotide inhibition of phosphatase activity is increased significantly. Changes in the cation dependence of the ATPase reaction are also observed. All of these effects can be explained by assuming that the cross-linking of surface groups in protein subunits when they are in conformation E2 shifts the intrinsic conformational equilibrium of the enzyme toward E2. We considered the simplest mathematical model for the coupling between K+ binding and the conformational equilibrium, with equivalent potassium sites that must be simultaneously in the same state. If one assumes that the potassium activation of phosphatase activity in the K+-modified enzyme reflects the affinity for K+ of E2, the behavior of the phosphatase activity in the native enzyme can be fit if there are only two potassium sites, whose affinity is 80-fold higher in E2 than in E1, and the equilibrium constant for E2 in equilibrium E1 is about 250. The same sites can explain the activation of dephosphorylation during ATP hydrolysis. Independent of the model chosen, potassium ions must be required for the catalytic action of form E2 and cannot be merely "allosteric activators". The enzyme modified with glutaraldehyde in a medium containing Na+ also has interesting properties, but their rationalization is less straightforward. The Na,K-ATPase activity is inhibited more than the "partial reactions", as in the K+-modified enzyme. We suggest that this is a generally expected result of modifications of the enzyme.     

Functional characterization of a testes-specific alpha-subunit isoform of the sodium/potassium adenosinetriphosphatase.

Different isoforms of the sodium/potassium adenosinetriphosphatase (Na,K-ATPase) alpha and beta subunits have been identified in mammals. The association of the various alpha and beta polypeptides results in distinct Na,K-ATPase isozymes with unique enzymatic properties. We studied the function of the Na,K-ATPase alpha4 isoform in Sf-9 cells using recombinant baculoviruses. When alpha4 and the Na pump beta1 subunit are coexpressed in the cells, Na, K-ATPase activity is induced. This activity is reflected by a ouabain-sensitive hydrolysis of ATP, by a Na(+)-dependent, K(+)-sensitive, and ouabain-inhibitable phosphorylation from ATP, and by the ouabain-inhibitable transport of K(+). Furthermore, the activity of alpha4 is inhibited by the P-type ATPase blocker vanadate but not by compounds that inhibit the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase or the gastric H,K-ATPase. The Na,K-ATPase alpha4 isoform is specifically expressed in the testis of the rat. The gonad also expresses the beta1 and beta3 subunits. In insect cells, the alpha4 polypeptide is able to form active complexes with either of these subunits. Characterization of the enzymatic properties of the alpha4beta1 and alpha4beta3 isozymes indicates that both Na,K-ATPases have similar kinetics to Na(+), K(+), ATP, and ouabain. The enzymatic properties of alpha4beta1 and alpha4beta3 are, however, distinct from the other Na pump isozymes. A Na, K-ATPase activity with similar properties as the alpha4-containing enzymes was found in rat testis. This Na,K-ATPase activity represents approximately 55% of the total enzyme of the gonad. These results show that the alpha4 polypeptide is a functional isoform of the Na,K-ATPase both in vitro and in the native tissue.     

Applicability of radiosurgery with heavy ion beams to inactivate specific organs in living organisms

It was the aim of the study to test the applicability of radiosurgery in inactivating a specific organ through local irradiation with heavy ion beams. Silkworms were exposed to whole-body or local irradiation with carbon ion beams ((12)C(5+), 18.3 MeV/u, range=1.1 mm). After irradiation at the wandering stage, no significant differences were observed regarding either survival or cocoon quality between locally irradiated larvae and controls. Only localized effects were seen, such as the deletion of wings and functional disorders of the reproduction primordium, depending on both irradiation dose and site. This observation was not true for whole-body irradiated larvae. After local irradiation of the hemopoietic organs at the 4th instar premolting stage, the hemocyte densities were clearly reduced and the hemopoietic organ capacity was disrupted. The change in hemocyte densities was accompanied by changes of hemolymph components. These results show that radiosurgery utilizing heavy ion beams can destroy a specific organ or tissue in a living organism.     

Cell shrinkage and apoptosis: a role for potassium and sodium ion efflux

In this study we have shown that redistribution of the lipid composition of the external and internal leaflets of the PM during apoptosis results in two main alterations in the cell surface, externalisation of PS, and a looser packing of the lipid hydrophobic head groups in the external leaflet. Significantly, neither of these alterations can be directly implicated in the mechanism of apoptotic cell shrinkage, however they do have functions in other phases of the apoptotic process. Progressional studies involving morphological and flow cytometric evaluation, and DNA gel electrophoresis revealed that apoptotic cell shrinkage is associated with a decrease in [Na+]i and [K+]i which occurs after visualisation of chromatin condensation and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, and prior to apoptotic body formation. When apoptotic cultures were supplemented with inhibitors of the Na+, K+-ATPase pump or the Ca2+-dependent K+ channel, essentially all of the respective Na+ or K+ efflux during apoptosis can be inhibited, suggesting that essentially all of the Na+ and K+ efflux can be ascribed to active pumping via the Na+, K+-ATPase pump and the Ca2+-dependent K+ channel.     

Binding order of substrates to the sodium and potassium ion coupled L-glutamic acid transporter from rat brain

Efflux of L-glutamic acid from synaptic plasma membrane vesicles requires external potassium. This requirement is saturated by concentrations of about 15 mequiv/L potassium. In the absence of potassium, L-glutamic acid can be released from the vesicles in the presence of external L-glutamic acid. This stimulation does not require external sodium but is dependent on the external concentration of L-glutamic acid. Half-maximal effects are obtained by concentrations of about 1 microM which are very similar to the apparent Km for L-glutamic acid influx. Efflux of labeled glutamate driven by external sodium plus glutamate requires internal sodium. These findings suggest that the transporter displays an asymmetric behavior toward sodium. This ion dissociates much more slowly than L-glutamic acid on the external surface of the membrane but not on the internal surface. Furthermore, it appears that the transporter translocates potassium in a step distinct from the L-glutamic acid translocation step. The simplest explanation is that upon translocation of sodium and L-glutamic acid and their release to the inside, potassium binds to the transporter, enabling it to return to the outside to allow initiation of a new transport cycle.     

Calmodulin stimulates both adenosine 5'-triphosphate hydrolysis and synthesis catalyzed by a cardiac calcium ion dependent adenosinetriphosphatase

A Ca2+-dependent ATPase purified from a rabbit heart membrane preparation was compared to the Ca2+-dependent ATPase purified from skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum. The two ATPases display an identical electrophoretic pattern and an identical Ca2+-concentration dependence. However, only the cardiac preparation exhibits a 2-3-fold activation by calmodulin. This effect is best observed when the molar concentrations of calmodulin and ATPase are equivalent and in the presence of high Ca2+ (approximately 10(-5) M) and ATP (approximately 10(-3) M) concentrations. It is demonstrated for the first time that calmodulin stimulates the rate of ATP synthesis, as revealed by an increased production of Pi and a faster ATP in equilibrium Pi exchange, as well as the rate of ATP hydrolysis. It is also demonstrated that calmodulin activation is expressed with purified and detergent-solubilized enzyme in addition to membrane-bound systems. These findings indicate that the effect of calmodulin is an acceleration of the enzyme turnover, due to direct interaction of calmodulin with the enzyme.     

The relation of sodium and potassium ion transport to the respiration and adenine nucleotide content of liver slices treated with inhibitors of respiration

1. The dependence of the net transport of Na(+) and K(+) by rat liver on the respiration has been determined by incubating slices in the presence of varying concentrations of respiratory inhibitors. 2. Neither the rate of net transport nor the total amount of each ion transported was inhibited unless the rate of endogenous respiration was decreased below a critical value of about 330mmol of O(2)/h per kg of protein (i.e. 50% of the total endogenous respiration). 3. The uninhibited rate of respiration could be varied over a twofold range (380-770mmol of O(2)/h per kg of protein) by the use of different substrates, but the critical value for the onset of transport inhibition was quite constant (290-360mmol/h per kg of protein) under these different conditions. 4. Slices incubated at 38 degrees C without inhibitors showed an increase of their ATP content and the concentration ratio ATP/ADP. The final ATP content and concentration ratio, ATP/ADP, of slices treated with different concentrations of inhibitors were closely related to the rate of respiration. 5. The increased ATP content of the control slices during incubation was equal to the increase of total adenine nucleotides. At increasing degrees of respiratory inhibition the relative contributions of ADP and AMP to the total adenine nucleotide content increased. 6. The critical rate of respiration for the onset of inhibition of ion transport and the corresponding contents of adenine nucleotides provide estimates of the maximal values of certain parameters of energy metabolism required for the support of alkali-cation transport in the liver slices.