Effect of P(i) on unloaded shortening velocity of slow and fast mammalian muscle fibers

Chemically skinned muscle fibers,prepared from the rat medial gastrocnemius and soleus, were subjectedto four sequential slack tests in Ca²⁺-activating solutionscontaining 0, 15, 30, and 0 mM added P_i. P_i (15 and 30 mM) had no effect on the unloaded shortening velocity (V_o) of fibers expressing type IIb myosin heavychain (MHC). For fibers expressing type I MHC, 15 mM P_i didnot alter V_o, whereas 30 mM P_ireduced V_o to 81 ± 1% of the original 0 mM P_i value. This effect was readily reversible whenP_i was lowered back to 0 mM. These results are notcompatible with current cross-bridge models, developed exclusively fromdata obtained from fast fibers, in which V_o isindependent of P_i. The response of the type I fibers at 30 mM P_i is most likely the result of increased internal drag opposing fiber shortening resulting from fiber type-specific effects ofP_i on cross bridges, the thin filament, or therate-limiting step of the cross-bridge cycle.

     

Inorganic phosphate speeds loaded shortening in rat skinned cardiac myocytes

Force generation in striated muscle is coupled with inorganic phosphate (P_i) release from myosin, because force falls with increasing P_i concentration ([P_i]). However, it is unclear which steps in the cross-bridge cycle limit loaded shortening and power output. We examined the role of P_i in determining force, unloaded and loaded shortening, power output, and rate of force development in rat skinned cardiac myocytes to discern which step in the cross-bridge cycle limits loaded shortening. Myocytes (n = 6) were attached between a force transducer and position motor, and contractile properties were measured over a range of loads during maximal Ca²⁺ activation. Addition of 5 mM P_i had no effect on maximal unloaded shortening velocity (V_o) (control 1.83 ± 0.75, 5 mM added P_i 1.75 ± 0.58 muscle lengths/s; n = 6). Conversely, addition of 2.5, 5, and 10 mM P_i progressively decreased force but resulted in faster loaded shortening and greater power output (when normalized for the decrease in force) at all loads greater than 10% isometric force. Peak normalized power output increased 16% with 2.5 mM added P_i and further increased to a plateau of 35% with 5 and 10 mM added P_i. Interestingly, the rate constant of force redevelopment (k_tr) progressively increased from 0 to 10 mM added P_i, with k_tr 360% greater at 10 mM than at 0 mM added P_i. Overall, these results suggest that the P_i release step in the cross-bridge cycle is rate limiting for determining shortening velocity and power output at intermediate and high relative loads in cardiac myocytes. muscle mechanics; force-velocity relationship; cross-bridge cycle     

Influence of myosin isoforms on contractile properties of intact muscle fibers from Rana pipiens

The myosin heavy chain (MHC) andmyosin light chain (MLC) isoforms in skeletal muscle of Ranapipiens have been well characterized. We measured theforce-velocity (F-V) properties of single intact fast-twitchfibers from R. pipiens that contained MHC types 1 or 2 (MHC1or MHC2) or coexpressed MHC1 and MHC2 isoforms. Velocities weremeasured between two surface markers that spanned most of the fiberlength. MHC and MLC isoform content was quantified after mechanicsanalysis by SDS-PAGE. Maximal shortening velocity(V_max) and velocity at half-maximal tension(V_P 50) increased with percentage of MHC1(%MHC1). Maximal specific tension (P_o/CSA, whereP_o is isometric tension and CSA is fiber cross-sectional area) and maximal mechanical power (W_max) alsoincreased with %MHC1. MHC concentration was not significantlycorrelated with %MHC1, indicating that the influence of %MHC1 onP_o/CSA and W_max was due to intrinsicdifferences between MHC isoforms and not to concentration. TheMLC3-to-MLC1 ratio was not significantly correlated withV_max, V_P 50,P_o/CSA, or W_max. These data demonstrate the powerful relationship between MHC isoforms and F-V properties of the two most common R. pipiensfiber types.

     

Effects of microtubules and microfilaments on [Ca(2+)](i) and contractility in a reconstituted fibroblast fiber

We used a reconstituted fiber formed when 3T3fibroblasts are grown in collagen to characterize nonmusclecontractility and Ca²⁺ signaling. Calf serum (CS) andthrombin elicited reversible contractures repeatable for >8 h. CSelicited dose-dependent increases in isometric force; 30% produced thelargest forces of 106 ± 12 µN (n = 30), whichis estimated to be 0.5 mN/mm² cell cross-sectionalarea. Half times for contraction and relaxation were 4.7 ± 0.3 and 3.1 ± 0.3 min at 37°C. With imposition of constant shortening velocities, force declined with time, yieldingtime-dependent force-velocity relations. Forces at 5 s fit thehyperbolic Hill equation; maximum velocity(V_max) was 0.035 ± 0.002 L_o/s.Compliance averaged 0.0076 ± 0.0006 L_o/F_o. Disruption of microtubules with nocodazole in a CS-contracted fiber had no net effects on force, V_max, or stiffness; force increased in 8, butdecreased in 13, fibers. Nocodazole did not affect baselineintracellular Ca²⁺ concentration([Ca²⁺]_i) but reduced (~30%) the[Ca²⁺]_i response to CS. The force afternocodazole treatment was the primary determinant of stiffness andV_max, suggesting that microtubules were not amajor component of fiber internal mechanical resistance. Cytochalasin Dhad major inhibitory effects on all contractile parameters measured butlittle effect on [Ca²⁺]_i.

     

Role of extracellular [Ca2+] in fatigue of isolated mammalian skeletal muscle

The possiblerole of altered extracellular Ca²⁺concentration([Ca²⁺]_o)in skeletal muscle fatigue was tested on isolated slow-twitch soleusand fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus muscles of the mouse. Thefollowing findings were made. 1) Achange from the control solution (1.3 mM[Ca²⁺]_o)to 10 mM[Ca²⁺]_o,or to nominally Ca²⁺-freesolutions, had little effect on tetanic force in nonfatigued muscle.2) Almost complete restoration oftetanic force was induced by 10 mM[Ca²⁺]_oin severely K⁺-depressed muscle(extracellular K⁺ concentration of10-12 mM). This effect was attributed to a 5-mV reversal of theK⁺-induced depolarization andsubsequent restoration of ability to generate action potentials(inferred by using the twitch force-stimulation strength relationship).3) Tetanic force depressed bylowered extracellular Na⁺concentration (40 mM) was further reduced with 10 mM[Ca²⁺]_o.4) Tetanic force loss at elevatedextracellular K⁺ concentration (8 mM) and lowered extracellular Na⁺concentration (100 mM) was partially reversed with 10 mM[Ca²⁺]_oor markedly exacerbated with low[Ca²⁺]_o.5) Fatigue induced by using repeatedtetani in soleus was attenuated at 10 mM[Ca²⁺]_o(due to increased resting and evoked forces) and exacerbated at low[Ca²⁺]_o.These combined results suggest, first, that raised[Ca²⁺]_oprotects against fatigue rather than inducing it and, second, that aconsiderable depletion of[Ca²⁺]_oin the transverse tubules may contribute to fatigue.

     

Effect of 17days of bed rest on peak isometric force and unloaded shortening velocity of human soleus fibers

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of prolongedbed rest (BR) on the peak isometric force(P_o) and unloaded shorteningvelocity (V_o)of single Ca²⁺-activated musclefibers. Soleus muscle biopsies were obtained from eight adult malesbefore and after 17 days of 6° head-down BR. Chemicallypermeabilized single fiber segments were mounted between a forcetransducer and position motor, activated with saturating levels ofCa²⁺, and subjected to slacklength steps. V_owas determined by plotting the time for force redevelopment vs. theslack step distance. Gel electrophoresis revealed that 96% of the pre-and 87% of the post-BR fibers studied expressed only the slow type Imyosin heavy chain isoform. Fibers with diameter >100 µm made uponly 14% of this post-BR type I population compared with 33% of thepre-BR type I population. Consequently, the post-BR type I fibers(n = 147) were, on average, 5%smaller in diameter than the pre-BR type I fibers(n = 218) and produced 13% lessabsolute P_o. BR had no overalleffect on P_o per fibercross-sectional area(P_o/CSA), even though halfof the subjects displayed a decline of 9-12% inP_o/CSA after BR. Type Ifiber V_oincreased by an average of 34% with BR. Although the ratio of myosinlight chain 3 to myosin light chain 2 also rose with BR, there was nocorrelation between this ratio andV_o for either thepre- or post-BR fibers. In separate fibers obtained from the originalbiopsies, quantitative electron microscopy revealed a 20-24%decrease in thin filament density, with no change in thick filamentdensity. These results raise the possibility that alterations in thegeometric relationships between thin and thick filaments may be atleast partially responsible for the elevatedV_o of the post-BRtype I fibers.

     

Properties of ATP-dependent K(+) channels in adrenocortical cells

Bovine adrenocortical zona fasciculata (AZF)cells express a novel ATP-dependent K⁺-permeable channel(I_AC). Whole cell and single-channel recordings were used to characterize I_AC channels withrespect to ionic selectivity, conductance, and modulation bynucleotides, inorganic phosphates, and angiotensin II (ANG II). Inoutside-out patch recordings, the activity of unitaryI_AC channels is enhanced by ATP in the patchpipette. These channels were K⁺ selective with nomeasurable Na⁺ or Ca²⁺ conductance. Insymmetrical K⁺ solutions with physiological concentrationsof divalent cations (M²⁺), I_ACchannels were outwardly rectifying with outward and inward chordconductances of 94.5 and 27.0 pS, respectively. In the absence ofM²⁺, conductance was nearly ohmic. Hydrolysis-resistantnucleotides including AMP-PNP and NaUTP were more potent than MgATP asactivators of whole cell I_AC currents. Inorganicpolytriphosphate (PPP_i) dramatically enhancedI_AC activity. In current-clamp recordings, nucleotides and PPP_i produced resting potentials in AZFcells that correlated with their effectiveness in activatingI_AC. ANG II (10 nM) inhibited whole cellI_AC currents when patch pipettes contained 5 mMMgATP but was ineffective in the presence of 5 mM NaUTP and 1 mM MgATP.Inhibition by ANG II was not reduced by selective kinase antagonists.These results demonstrate that I_AC is adistinctive K⁺-selective channel whose activity isincreased by nucleotide triphosphates and PPP_i.Furthermore, they suggest a model for I_AC gatingthat is controlled through a cycle of ATP binding and hydrolysis.

     

ATP-dependent regulation of inwardly rectifying K+ current in bovine retinal pigment epithelial cells

Inwardlyrectifying K⁺ current(I_Kir) infreshly isolated bovine retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells wasstudied in the whole cell recording configuration of the patch-clamptechnique. When cells were dialyzed with pipette solution containing noATP, I_Kir randown completely in <10 min [half time(t_1/2) = 1.9 min]. In contrast, dialysis with 2 mM ATP sustainedI_Kir for 10 min or more. Rundown was also prevented with 4 mM GTP or ADP. When 0.5 mMATP was used,I_Kir ran down by~71%. Mg²⁺ was a criticalcofactor because rundown occurred when the pipette solution contained 4 mM ATP but no Mg²⁺(t_1/2 = 1.8 min).I_Kir also randown when the pipette solution contained 4 mMMg²⁺ + 4 mM5'-adenylylimidodiphosphate(t_1/2 = 2.7 min)or 4 mM adenosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate)(t_1/2 = 1.9 min),nonhydrolyzable and poorly hydrolyzable ATP analogs, respectively. Weconclude that the sustained activity ofI_Kirin bovine RPE requires intracellular MgATP and that the underlyingmechanism may involve ATP hydrolysis.

     

Mechanisms of P(i) regulation of the skeletal muscle SR Ca(2+) release channel

Inorganic phosphate(P_i) accumulates in the fibers of actively working musclewhere it acts at various sites to modulate contraction. To characterizethe role of P_i as a regulator of the sarcoplasmic reticulum(SR) calcium (Ca²⁺) release channel, we examined the actionof P_i on purified SR Ca²⁺ release channels,isolated SR vesicles, and skinned skeletal muscle fibers. In singlechannel studies, addition of P_i to the cis chamberincreased single channel open probability (P_o;0.079 ± 0.020 in 0 P_i, 0.157 ± 0.034 in 20 mMP_i) by decreasing mean channel closed time; mean channelopen times were unaffected. In contrast, the ATP analog,,-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate (AMP-PCP), enhancedP_o by increasing single channel open time anddecreasing channel closed time. P_i stimulation of[³H]ryanodine binding by SR vesicles wassimilar at all concentrations of AMP-PCP, suggesting P_i andadenine nucleotides act via independent sites. In skinned musclefibers, 40 mM P_i enhanced Ca²⁺-inducedCa²⁺ release, suggesting an in situ stimulation ofthe release channel by high concentrations of P_i. Ourresults support the hypothesis that P_i may be an importantendogenous modulator of the skeletal muscle SR Ca²⁺ releasechannel under fatiguing conditions in vivo, acting via a mechanismdistinct from adenine nucleotides.

     

Sulfhydryls associated with H2O2-induced channel activation are on luminal side of ryanodine receptors

The mechanism underlying H₂O₂-inducedactivation of frog skeletal muscle ryanodine receptors was studiedusing skinned fibers and by measuring single Ca²⁺-releasechannel current. Exposure of skinned fibers to 3-10 mM H₂O₂ elicited spontaneous contractures.H₂O₂ at 1 mM potentiated caffeine contracture.When the Ca²⁺-release channels were incorporated into lipidbilayers, open probability (P_o) and open timeconstants were increased on intraluminal addition ofH₂O₂ in the presence of cis catalase,but unitary conductance and reversal potential were not affected.Exposure to cis H₂O₂ at 1.5 mM failedto activate the channel in the presence of trans catalase.Application of 1.5 mM H₂O₂ to the transside of a channel that had been oxidized by cisp-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid (pCMPS; 50 µM) still led to anincrease in P_o, comparable to that elicited bytrans 1.5 mM H₂O₂ without pCMPS.Addition of cis pCMPS to channels that had been treated with orwithout trans H₂O₂ rapidly resulted inhigh P_o followed by closure of the channel. Theseresults suggest that oxidation of luminal sulfhydryls in theCa²⁺-release channel may contribute toH₂O₂-induced channel activation and musclecontracture.

     

Contribution of Na(+)-K(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter to high-[K(+)](o)- induced swelling and EAA release in astrocytes

We hypothesized that highextracellular K⁺ concentration([K⁺]_o)-mediated stimulation ofNa⁺-K⁺-Cl cotransporter isoform 1 (NKCC1) may result in a net gain of K⁺ and Cland thus lead to high-[K⁺]_o-induced swellingand glutamate release. In the current study, relative cell volumechanges were determined in astrocytes. Under 75 mM[K⁺]_o, astrocytes swelled by 20.2 ± 4.9%. This high-[K⁺]_o-mediated swelling wasabolished by the NKCC1 inhibitor bumetanide (10 µM, 1.0 ± 3.1%; P < 0.05). Intracellular³⁶Cl accumulation was increased from acontrol value of 0.39 ± 0.06 to 0.68 ± 0.05 µmol/mgprotein in response to 75 mM [K⁺]_o. Thisincrease was significantly reduced by bumetanide (P < 0.05). Basal intracellular Na⁺ concentration([Na⁺]_i) was reduced from 19.1 ± 0.8 to16.8 ± 1.9 mM by bumetanide (P < 0.05).[Na⁺]_i decreased to 8.4 ± 1.0 mM under75 mM [K⁺]_o and was further reduced to5.2 ± 1.7 mM by bumetanide. In addition, the recovery rate of[Na⁺]_i on return to 5.8 mM[K⁺]_o was decreased by 40% in the presenceof bumetanide (P < 0.05). Bumetanide inhibitedhigh-[K⁺]_o-induced ¹⁴C-labeledD-aspartate release by ~50% (P < 0.05).These results suggest that NKCC1 contributes tohigh-[K⁺]_o-induced astrocyte swelling andglutamate release.

     

Contraction-induced increase in Vmax of palmitate uptake and oxidation in perfused skeletal muscle

To evaluate the effects of contractions on thekinetics of uptake and oxidation of palmitate in a physiological musclepreparation, rat hindquarters were perfused with glucose (6 mmol/l),albumin-bound [1-¹⁴C]palmitate, andvarying amounts of albumin-bound palmitate (200-2,200 µmol/l) atrest and during muscle contractions. When plotted against the unboundpalmitate concentration, palmitate uptake and oxidation displayedsimple Michaelis-Menten kinetics with estimated maximal velocity(V_max)and Michaelis-Menten constant(K_m) values of42.8 ± 3.8 (SE)nmol · min¹ · g¹and 13.4 ± 3.4 nmol/l for palmitate uptake and 3.8 ± 0.4 nmol · min¹ · g¹and 8.1 ± 2.9 nmol/l for palmitate oxidation, respectively, at rest.Whereas muscle contractions increased theV_maxfor both palmitate uptake and oxidation to 91.6 ± 10.1 and 16.5 ± 2.3 nmol · min¹ · g¹,respectively, theK_m remainedunchanged.V_maxand K_m estimates obtained from Hanes-Woolf plots (substrate concentration/velocity vs.substrate concentration) were not significantly different. In theresting perfused hindquarter, an increase in palmitate delivery from31.9 ± 0.9 to 48.7 ± 1.2 µmol · g¹ · h¹by increasing perfusate flow was associated with a decrease in thefractional uptake of palmitate so that the rates of uptake andoxidation of palmitate remained unchanged. It is concluded that therates of uptake and oxidation of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) saturatewith an increase in the concentration of unbound LCFA in perfusedskeletal muscle and that muscle contractions, but not an increase inplasma flow, increase theV_maxfor LCFA uptake and oxidation. The data are consistent with the notion that uptake of LCFA in muscle may be mediated in part by a transport system.

     

SH oxidation coordinates subunits of rat brain ryanodine receptor channels activated by calcium and ATP

We have reported that ryanodine receptor (RyR) channels display three different responses to cytoplasmic free Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]) depending on their redox state (Marengo JJ, Hidalgo C, and Bull R. Biophys J 74: 1263–1277, 1998), with low, moderate, and high maximal fractional open times (P_o). Activation by ATP of single RyR channels from rat brain cortex was tested in planar lipid bilayers with 10 or 0.1 µM cytoplasmic [Ca²⁺]. At 10 µM [Ca²⁺], low-P_o channels presented lower apparent affinity to activation by ATP [[ATP] for half-maximal activation (K_aATP) = 422 µM] than moderate-P_o channels (K_aATP = 82 µM). Oxidation of low-P_o channels with thimerosal or 2,2'-dithiodipyridine (DTDP) gave rise to moderate-P_o channels and decreased K_aATP from 422 to 82 µM. At 0.1 µM cytoplasmic [Ca²⁺], ATP induced an almost negligible activation of low-P_o channels. After oxidation to high-P_o behavior, activation by ATP was markedly increased. Noise analysis of single-channel fluctuations of low-P_o channels at 10 µM [Ca²⁺] plus ATP revealed the presence of subconductance states, suggesting a conduction mechanism that involves four independent subchannels. On oxidation the subchannels opened and closed in a concerted mode. subconductance states; calcium ion release channels; calcium ion regulation; thimerosal; 2,2'-dithiodipyridine     

Guanine nucleotide transport by atractyloside-sensitive and -insensitive carriers in isolated heart mitochondria

Inprevious work (McKee EE, Bentley AT, Smith RM Jr, and Ciaccio CE,Biochem Biophys Res Commun 257: 466-472, 1999), the transport of guanine nucleotides into the matrix of intact isolated heart mitochondria was demonstrated. In this study, the time course andmechanisms of guanine nucleotide transport are characterized. Twodistinct mechanisms of transport were found to be capable of movingguanine nucleotides across the inner membrane. The first carrier wassaturable, displayed temperature dependence, preferred GDP to GTP, anddid not transport GMP or IMP. When incubated in the absence ofexogenous ATP, this carrier had a V_max of946 ± 53 pmol · mg¹ · min¹ with aK_m of 2.9 ± 0.3 mM for GDP. However,transport of GTP and GDP on this carrier was completely inhibited byphysiological concentrations of ATP, suggesting that this carrier wasnot involved with guanine nucleotide transport in vivo. Becausetransport on this carrier was also inhibited by atractyloside, thiscarrier was consistent with the well-characterized ATP/ADP translocase. The second mechanism of guanine nucleotide uptake was insensitive toatractyloside, displayed temperature dependence, and was capable oftransporting GMP, GDP, and GTP at approximately equal rates but did nottransport IMP, guanine, or guanosine. GTP transport via this mechanismwas slow, with a V_max of 48.7 ± 1.4 pmol · mg¹ · min¹ and aK_m = 4.4 ± 0.4 mM. However, becausethe requirement for guanine nucleotide transport is low in nondividingtissues such as the heart, this transport process is neverthelesssufficient to account for the matrix uptake of guanine nucleotides andmay represent the physiological mechanism of transport.

     

Secretory modulation of basolateral membrane inwardly rectified K(+) channel in guinea pig distal colonic crypts

Cell-attached recordings revealedK⁺ channel activity in basolateral membranes ofguinea pig distal colonic crypts. Inwardly rectified currents wereapparent with a pipette solution containing 140 mM K⁺.Single-channel conductance () was 9 pS at the resting membrane potential. Another inward rectifier with  of 19 pS was observed occasionally. At a holding potential of 80 mV,  was 21 and 41 pS,respectively. Identity as K⁺ channels was confirmed afterpatch excision by changing the bath ion composition. From reversalpotentials, relative permeability of Na⁺ overK⁺ (P_Na/P_K)was 0.02 ± 0.02, withP_Rb/P_K = 1.1 andP_Cl/P_K < 0.03. Spontaneous open probability (P_o) of the 9-pSinward rectifier (^gpK_ir) was voltageindependent in cell-attached patches. Both a low(P_o = 0.09 ± 0.01) and a moderate(P_o = 0.41 ± 0.01) activity mode wereobserved. Excision moved ^gpK_ir to the mediumactivity mode; P_o of^gpK_ir was independent of bath Ca²⁺activity and bath acidification. Addition of Cl andK⁺ secretagogues altered P_o of^gpK_ir. Forskolin or carbachol (10 µM)activated the small-conductance ^gpK_ir inquiescent patches and increased P_o inlow-activity patches. K⁺ secretagogues, either epinephrine(5 µM) or prostaglandin E₂ (100 nM), decreasedP_o of ^gpK_ir in activepatches. This ^gpK_ir may be involved inelectrogenic secretion of Cl and K⁺ acrossthe colonic epithelium, which requires a large basolateral membraneK⁺ conductance during maximal Cl secretionand, presumably, a lower K⁺ conductance during primaryelectrogenic K⁺ secretion.

     

Estimation of Cytoplasmic Free Mg2+ Levels and Phosphorylation Potentials in Mung Bean Root Tips by In Vivo 31P NMR Spectroscopy

The cytoplasmic [MgATP]/[ATP]_free ratios, free Mg²⁺ concentrations,and phosphorylation potentials in mung bean [Vigna mungo (L.)Hepper] root tip cells were investigated by ³¹P nuclear magneticresonance spectroscopy. ³¹P NMR spectra show well defined peaksdue to G6P, cytoplasmic P_i, vacuolar P_i, ATP, UDP-glucose andnicotinamide adenine nucleotides. The concentrations of phosphorusmetabolites were determined from quantitative ³¹P NMR spectra.The [MgATP]/[ATP]_free ratio was 9.45. Accordingly, about 90%of the cytoplasmic ATP was complexed to Mg²⁺. Utilizing thedissociation constant (K_d) determined for MgATP, the cytoplasmicfree Mg²⁺ concentration was estimated to be 0.4mM. The NMR-derivedphosphorylation potential, [ATP]/([ADP][P_i]), was 960 M^-1. Thesodium azide treatment decreased the [ATP]/[ADP] ratio and thephosphorylation potential, and increased the [Mg²⁺]^free. Metabolicinhibition may have been enhanced by an increase in [Mg^2+freeand a decrease in the free energy change for ATP hydrolysis,which resulted due to a decrease in the ATP level. ¹Present address: National Food Research Institute, TsukubaCity, Ibaraki 305, Japan. (Received February 8, 1988; Accepted June 1, 1988)     

Functional reconstitution of an eicosanoid-modulated Cl- channel from bovine tracheal smooth muscle

We describe thebiochemical properties of an eicosanoid-modulated Clchannel and assess the mechanisms by which the epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) alter both its unitary conductance and its openprobability (P_o). After a purification protocolinvolving wheat-germ agglutinin affinity and anion-exchangechromatography, the proteins were sequentially inserted into liposomes,which were then fused into PLBs. Functional and biochemicalcharacterization tests confirm that the Cl channel is a55-kDa glycosylated monomer with voltage- and Ca²⁺concentration-independent activity. 5,6- and 8,9-EET decreased theconductance of the native channel (control conductance: 70 ± 5 pSin asymmetrical 50 mM trans/250 mM cis CsCl) in aconcentration-dependent manner, with respective 50% inhibitoryconcentration values of 0.31 and 0.42 µM. These regioisomerssimilarly decreased the conductance of the purified channel (controlconductance value: 75 ± 5 pS in asymmetrical 50 mMtrans/250 mM cis CsCl), which had been stripped of its native proteic and lipidic environment. On the other hand, 5,6- and 8,9-EETs decreased the P_o of the nativechannel with respective 50% inhibitory concentration values of 0.27 and 0.30 µM but failed to alter the P_o of thepurified protein. Thus we suggest that the effects of these EETs onchannel conductance likely result from direct interactions ofEET anions with the channel pore, whereas the alterationof P_o requires a lipid environment of specificcomposition that is lost on solubilization and purification of the protein.

     

Mechanical and metabolic determination of VO2 and fatigue during repetitive isometric contractions in situ

Repetitiveisometric tetanic contractions (1/s) of the caninegastrocnemius-plantaris muscle were studied either at optimal length(L_o) or shortlength (L_s;~0.9 · L_o),to determine the effects of initial length on mechanical and metabolicperformance in situ. Respective averages of mechanical and metabolicvariables were(L_o vs.L_s, allP < 0.05) passive tension (preload) = 55 vs. 6 g/g, maximal active tetanic tension(P_o) = 544 vs. 174 (0.38 · P_o)g/g, maximal blood flow () = 2.0 vs. 1.4 ml · min¹ · g¹,and maximal oxygen uptake(O₂) = 12 vs. 9 µmol · min¹ · g¹.Tension at L_odecreased to0.64 · P_o over20 min of repetitive contractions, demonstrating fatigue; there were nosignificant changes in tension atL_s. In separatemuscles contracting atL_o, was set to that measured atL_s (1.1 ml · min¹ · g¹),resulting in decreased O₂(7 µmol · min¹ · g¹),and rapid fatigue, to0.44 · P_o. Thesedata demonstrate that 1)muscles at L_ohave higher andO₂ values than those at L_s;2) fatigue occurs atL_o with highO₂, adjusting metabolic demand (tension output) to match supply; and3) the lack of fatigue atL_s with lowertension, , andO₂ suggestsadequate matching of metabolic demand, set low by shortmuscle length, with supply optimized by low preload. Thesedifferences in tension andO₂ betweenL_o andL_s groupsindicate that muscles contracting isometrically at initial lengthsshorter than L_oare working under submaximal conditions.

     

Mechanism of depression in cardiac sarcolemmal Na+-K+-ATPase by hypochlorous acid

Oxidative stress during pathological conditionssuch as ischemia-reperfusion is known to promote the formationof hypochlorous acid (HOCl) in the heart and to result in depression ofcardiac sarcolemmal (SL)Na⁺-K⁺-ATPaseactivity. In this study, we examined the direct effects of HOCl on SLNa⁺-K⁺-ATPasefrom porcine heart. HOCl decreased SLNa⁺-K⁺-ATPaseactivity in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Characterization ofNa⁺-K⁺-ATPaseactivity in the presence of different concentrations of MgATP revealeda decrease in the maximal velocity(V_max) value, without a change in affinity for MgATP on treatment of SL membranes with 0.1 mM HOCl. TheV_max value ofNa⁺-K⁺-ATPase,when determined in the presence of different concentrations ofNa⁺, was also decreased, butaffinity for Na⁺ was increasedwhen treated with HOCl. Formation of acylphosphate by SLNa⁺-K⁺-ATPasewas not affected by HOCl. Scatchard plot analysis of[³H]ouabain bindingdata indicated no significant change in the affinity or maximum bindingcapacity value for ouabain binding following treatment of SL membraneswith HOCl. Western blot analysis ofNa⁺-K⁺-ATPasesubunits in HOCl-treated SL membranes showed a decrease (34 ± 9%of control) in the ₁-subunitwithout any change in the ₁- or₂-subunits. These data suggestthat the HOCl-induced decrease in SLNa⁺-K⁺-ATPaseactivity may be due to a depression in the₁-subunit of the enzyme.

     

Modulation of BK(Ca) channel activity by fatty acids: structural requirements and mechanism of action

To determinethe mechanism of fatty acid modulation of rabbit pulmonary arterylarge-conductance Ca²⁺-activated K⁺(BK_Ca) channel activity, we studied effects of fatty acidsand other lipids on channel activity in excised patches withpatch-clamp techniques. The structural features of the fatty acidrequired to increase BK_Ca channel activity (or averagenumber of open channels, NP_o) were identified tobe the negatively charged head group and a sufficiently long (C > 8) carbon chain. Positively charged lipids like sphingosine, which havea sufficiently long alkyl chain (C  8), produced a decrease inNP_o. Neutral and short-chain lipids did notalter NP_o. Screening of membrane surface chargewith high-ionic-strength bathing solutions (330 mM K⁺ or130 mM K⁺, 300 mM Na⁺) did not alter themodulation of the BK_Ca channel NP_oby fatty acids and other charged lipids, indicating that channelmodulation is unlikely to be due to an alteration of the membraneelectric field or the attraction of local counterions to the channel.Fatty acids and other negatively charged lipids were able to modulate BK_Ca channel activity in bathing solutions containing 0 mMCa²⁺, 20 mM EGTA, suggesting that calcium is not requiredfor this modulation. Together, these results indicate that modulationof BK_Ca channels by fatty acids and other charged lipidsmost likely occurs by their direct interaction with the channel proteinitself or with some other channel-associated component.