Physiological correlation between nucleoside-diphosphate kinase and the enzyme-associated guanine nucleotide binding proteins

The physiological correlation between NDP-kinase and the enzyme-associated guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G1 and G2) has been studied in vitro. It was found that incubation of the phosphoenzyme (enzyme-bound high-energy phosphate intermediate) of NDP-kinases with one of the nucleoside 5'-diphosphates (NDPs) in the presence of divalent cations (Mg2+ and Ca2+) results in the formation of nucleoside 5'-triphosphates (NTPs) within 40 sec even at low temperatures (below 4 degrees C) without strict base-specificity; and high-energy phosphates on the phosphoenzyme can transfer preferentially to GDP on the guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G1, G2 and r-p21 protein) in the presence of 0.25 mM Ca2+ or 1 mM Mg2+ even if any other NDPs are present in the reaction mixtures. These observations suggest that NDP-kinase may be responsible for the phosphate-transfer between GDP on the guanine nucleotide binding proteins and its phosphoenzyme.     

Characterization of nucleoside-diphosphate kinase-associated guanine nucleotide-binding proteins from HeLa S3 cells

Nucleoside-diphosphate (NDP) kinase-associated [alpha-32P]GTP-incorporating proteins from HeLa S3 cells have been biochemically characterized. Two distinct NDP-kinases (F-I and F-II) had been partially purified from HeLa S3 cells by Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration and DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. The [alpha-32P]GTP-incorporating proteins (approx. Mr 20,000) could be separated from NDP-kinases (approx. Mr 80,000) by 5-25% glycerol density-gradient centrifugation analysis after treatment with 7 M urea in the presence of 1 mM EDTA. [alpha-32P]GTP incorporation into these two proteins (G1 and G2) from NDP-kinases required 5 mM Mg2+ and was highly inhibited by either GDP or GTP analogues, such as guanylyl imidodiphosphate and guanylyl methylenediphosphate. [3H]GDP, but no other nucleoside 5'-diphosphates, was also bound to these two proteins in the presence of Mg2+ (5 mM). Moreover, incubation of [alpha-32P]GTP with either G1 or G2 in the presence of Mg2+ (5 mM) resulted in the formation of [32P]GDP and Pi. The data presented here indicated that the guanine nucleotide-binding activity, the GTPase activity, and the molecular weight (approx. Mr 20,000) of NDP-kinase-associated proteins from HeLa S3 cells are similar to those reported for ras oncogene products (p21 proteins).     

Direct activation of guanine nucleotide binding proteins through a high-energy phosphate-transfer by nucleoside diphosphate-kinase

An in vitro study of phosphate-transfer, from the high-energy phosphates on the phosphoenzyme (enzyme-bound high-energy phosphate intermediate) of NDP-kinase to GDP on various guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G1, elongation factor alpha 1, recombinant v-rasH p21 protein, transducin, Gi and Go), revealed that the GDP acts as a phosphate-acceptor, in the presence of divalent cations (Mg2+ and Ca2+). This finding suggests that via phosphate-transfer, NDP-kinase may be responsible for the direct activation of various guanine nucleotide binding proteins through phosphate-transfer by the enzyme.     

Comparative biochemical properties of p21 ras molecules coded for by viral and cellular ras genes.

In earlier studies, we molecularly cloned a normal cellular gene, c-rasH-1, homologous to the v-ras oncogene of Harvey murine sarcoma virus (v-rasH). By ligating a type c retroviral promotor to c-rasH-1, we could transform NIH 3T3 cells with the c-rasH-1 gene. The transformed cells contained high levels of a p21 protein coded for by the c-rasH-1 gene. In the current studies, we have purified extensively both v-rasH p21 and c-rasH p21 and compared the in vivo and in vitro biochemical properties of both these p21 molecules. The p21 proteins coded for by v-rasH and c-rasH-1 shared certain properties: each protein was synthesized as a precursor protein which subsequently became bound to the inner surface of the plasma membrane; each protein was associated with guanine nucleotide-binding activity, a property which copurified with p21 molecules on a high-pressure liquid chromatography molecular sizing column. In some other properties, the v-rasH and c-rasH p21 proteins differed. In vivo, approximately 20 to 30% of v-rasH p21 molecules were in the form of phosphothreonine-containing pp21 molecules, whereas in vivo only a minute fraction of c-rasH-1 p21 contained phosphate, and this phosphate was found on a serine residue. v-rasH pp21 molecules with an authentic phosphothreonine peptide could be synthesized in vitro in an autophosphorylation reaction in which the gamma phosphate of GTP was transferred to v-rasH p21. No autophosphorylating activity was associated with purified c-rasH-1 p21 in vitro. The results indicate a major qualitative difference between the p21 proteins coded for by v-rasH and c-rasH-1. The p21 coded for by a mouse-derived oncogenic virus, BALB murine sarcoma virus, resembled the p21 coded for by c-rasH-1 in that it bound guanine nucleotides but did not label appreciably with 32Pi. The forms of p21 coded for by other members of the ras gene family were compared, and the results indicate that the guanine nucleotide-binding activity is common to p21 molecules coded for by all known members of the ras gene family.     

Characterization of nucleosidediphosphate (NDP)-kinase-associated GTP binding proteins from human recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2)-treated mouse NK cells

Nucleosidediphosphate (NDP)-kinase-associated proteins from rIL-2-treated mouse NK cells have been biochemically characterized. The associated proteins could be separated from partially purified NDP-kinases by the 5-25% glycerol density gradient centrifugation method after treatment with 6 M urea in the presence of 1 mM EDTA. The associated proteins (approx. Mr 20,000) were defined as GTP binding proteins, since only [alpha-32P]GTP was bound to these proteins in the presence of 5 mM Mg2+ at 37 degrees C. We also found that these GTP binding proteins hydrolyzed only GTP in the presence of 5 mM Mg2+. The data presented here for: GTP specific binding activity; GTPase activity; and molecular size (approx. Mr 20,000) of the NDP-kinase-associated GTP binding proteins are similar to those reported for ras oncogene products (p21 proteins).     

Polyamines inhibit phospholipase C-catalysed polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis. Studies with permeabilized GH3 cells.

[3H]Inositol-labelled GH3 rat anterior pituitary tumour cells were permeabilized with digitonin and were incubated at 37 degrees C in the presence of ATP and Mg2+. [3H]Polyphosphoinositide breakdown and [3H]inositol phosphate production were stimulated by hydrolysis-resistant GTP analogues and by Ca2+. Of the nucleotides tested, guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP gamma S) was the most effective stimulus. Activation by GTP gamma S appeared to be mediated by a guanine nucleotide-binding (G) protein as GTP gamma S-stimulated [3H]inositol phosphate production was inhibited by other nucleotides with a potency order of GTP = GDP = guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate greater than ITP greater than GMP greater than UTP = CTP = adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate. The stimulatory effects of 10 microM-GTP gamma S on [3H]inositol phosphate levels were reversed by spermine and spermidine with IC50 values of approx. 0.25 and 2 mM respectively. Putrescine was inhibitory only at higher concentrations. Similarly, GTP gamma S-induced decreases in [3H]polyphosphoinositide levels were reversed by 2.5 mM-spermine. The inhibitory effects of spermine were not overcome by supramaximal concentrations of GTP gamma S. In contrast, [3H]inositol phosphate production stimulated by addition of 0.3-0.6 mM-Ca2+ to incubation media was only partially inhibited by spermine (5 mM), and spermine was not inhibitory when added Ca2+ was increased to 1 mM. These data show that polyamines, particularly spermine, inhibit phospholipase C-catalysed polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis with a marked selectivity towards the stimulatory effects of GTP gamma S.     

Dissociation of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate from guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins in native cardiac membranes. Regulation by nucleotides and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.

Binding of the poorly hydrolyzable GTP analog, guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]), to purified guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) has been shown to be nonreversible in the presence of millimolar concentrations of Mg2+. In porcine atrial membranes, binding of [35S]GTP[S] to G proteins was stable in the presence of 1 mM Mg2+. However, either large dilution or, even more strongly, addition of unlabelled guanine nucleotides, in the potency order, GTP[S] greater than GTP greater than or equal to guanosine 5'-[beta,gamma-imino]triphosphate greater than GDP greater than or equal to guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate greater than GMP, markedly enhanced the observed dissociation, with 20-30% of bound [35S]GTP[S] being released by unlabelled guanine nucleotide within 20 min at 25 degrees C. Most interestingly, dissociation of [35S]GTP[S] was rapidly and markedly stimulated by agonist (carbachol) activation of cardiac muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Carbachol-stimulated release of [35S]GTP[S] was strictly dependent on the presence of Mg2+ and an unlabelled guanine nucleotide. Although having different potency and efficiency in releasing [35S]GTP[S] from the membranes by themselves, the guanine nucleoside triphosphates and diphosphates studied, at maximally effective concentrations, promoted the carbachol-induced dissociation to the same extent, while GMP and ATP were ineffective. GTP[S]-binding-saturation experiments indicated that one agonist-activated muscarinic acetylcholine receptor can cause release of bound GTP[S] from three to four G proteins. The data presented indicate that binding of GTP[S] to G proteins in intact membranes, in contrast to purified G proteins, is reversible, and that agonist-activated receptors can even, either directly or indirectly, interact with GTP[S]-bound G proteins, resulting in release of bound guanine nucleoside triphosphate.     

Phosphotransfer reactions as a means of G protein activation

Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) serve to transduce information from agonist-bound receptors to effector enzymes or ion channels. Current models of G protein activation-deactivation indicate that the oligomeric GDP-bound form must undergo release of GDP, bind GTP and undergo subunit dissociation, in order to be in active form (GTP bound subunits and free dimers) and to regulate effectors. The effect of receptor occupation by an agonist is generally accepted to be promotion of guanine nucleotide exchange thus allowing activation of the G protein. Recent studies indicate that transphosphorylation leading to the formation of GTP from GDP and ATP in the close vicinity, or even at the G protein, catalysed by membrane-associated nucleoside diphosphate kinase, may further activate G proteins. This activation is demonstrated by a decreased affinity of G protein-coupled receptors for agonists and an increased response of G protein coupled effectors. In addition, a phosphorylation of G protein subunits and consequent phosphate transfer reaction resulting in G protein activation has also been demonstrated. Finally, endogenously formed GTP was preferentially effective in activating some G proteins compared to exogenous GTR The aim of this report is to present an overview of the evidence to date for a transphosphorylation as a means of G protein activation (see also refs [1 and 2] for reviews). (Mol Cell Biochem 157: 593, 1996)Recipient of Servier Investigator Award     

Guanosine 5'-O-thiotriphosphate stimulates phospholipase C activity in plasma membranes of rat hepatocytes

The guanine nucleotide analogue, guanosine 5'-O-thiotriphosphate (GTP gamma S) stimulated plasma membrane-associated phospholipase C. Phosphoinositides were the substrates for the reaction. Significant losses of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol phosphate occurred at lower doses of GTP gamma S than did significant loss of phosphatidylinositol. Loss of 32P-labeled phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate was equal when plasma membranes were treated with either 100 microM GTP or 100 microM GTP gamma S, but accumulation of inositol trisphosphate was more apparent when the nonhydrolyzable analogue was used. The action of GTP gamma S alone was not dependent on Ca2+ although loss of 32P-labeled phosphoinositides was stimulated by Ca2+ alone or with GTP gamma S. The results are consistent with a role for guanine nucleotide binding proteins in the activation of membrane-bound phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C.     

Characterization of the G alpha(s) regulator cysteine string protein

Cysteine string protein (CSP) is an abundant regulated secretory vesicle protein that is composed of a string of cysteine residues, a linker domain, and an N-terminal J domain characteristic of the DnaJ/Hsp40 co-chaperone family. We have shown previously that CSP associates with heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) and promotes G protein inhibition of N-type Ca2+ channels. To elucidate the mechanisms by which CSP modulates G protein signaling, we examined the effects of CSP(1-198) (full-length), CSP(1-112), and CSP(1-82) on the kinetics of guanine nucleotide exchange and GTP hydrolysis. In this report, we demonstrate that CSP selectively interacts with G alpha(s) and increases steady-state GTP hydrolysis. CSP(1-198) modulation of G alpha(s) was dependent on Hsc70 (70-kDa heat shock cognate protein) and SGT (small glutamine-rich tetratricopeptide repeat domain protein), whereas modulation by CSP(1-112) was Hsc70-SGT-independent. CSP(1-112) preferentially associated with the inactive GDP-bound conformation of G alpha(s). Consistent with the stimulation of GTP hydrolysis, CSP(1-112) increased guanine nucleotide exchange of G alpha(s). The interaction of native G alpha(s) and CSP was confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation and showed that G alpha(s) associates with CSP. Furthermore, transient expression of CSP in HEK cells increased cellular cAMP levels in the presence of the beta2 adrenergic agonist isoproterenol. Together, these results demonstrate that CSP modulates G protein function by preferentially targeting the inactive GDP-bound form of G alpha(s) and promoting GDP/GTP exchange. Our results show that the guanine nucleotide exchange activity of full-length CSP is, in turn, regulated by Hsc70-SGT.     

Conversion of GDP into GTP by nucleoside diphosphate kinase on the GTP-binding proteins

A direct interaction of alpha beta gamma trimeric GTP binding proteins (G proteins; G0 and Gs) with nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDP kinase) was investigated with homogeneously purified proteins. There was a progressive release of 32Pi from [gamma-32P]ATP when GDP-bound G0 was incubated together with NDP kinase. The Pi release induced by the interaction of G0 with NDP kinase was not accompanied by the dissociation of GDP bound to the alpha-subunit of G0. This was a sharp contrast to G protein-catalyzed GTP hydrolysis observed with GTP as the substrate; the dissociation of bound GDP was essentially required for the following binding of the substrate, GTP, to be hydrolyzed. A kinetic analysis displayed different properties for the substrate of NDP kinase between free GDP and G protein-bound GDP. NDP kinase-dependent phosphorylation of GDP on G0 was indeed demonstrated with adenosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate as the phosphate donor; there was a formation of guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate-bound G0 from the ATP analogue. Moreover, purified Gs was readily ADP-ribosylated by cholera toxin in the presence of NDP kinase, ATP, and an ADP-ribosylation factor, also suggesting that the nucleotide form on Gs was certainly GTP. These results indicate that NDP kinase can transfer the gamma-phosphate of ATP directly to GDP bound to G proteins and that this phosphorylation results in the activation of the signal-coupling proteins. A possible role of the new activation mechanism of G proteins is discussed in comparison with the previously characterized GDP-GTP exchange pathway by the agonist-receptor complex.     

Photoaffinity labeling with GTP of viral p21 ras protein expressed in Escherichia coli

The v-ras oncogene of Harvey murine sarcoma virus encodes a 21,000-dalton protein, p21, which mediates transformation produced by that virus. Previous work has shown that both p21v-rasH and the cellular homolog p21c-rasH appear to bind guanine nucleotides. We report here the expression in Escherichia coli of v-rasH to produce a biochemically active p21 fusion protein which retains both guanine nucleotide binding and autophosphorylating activity. Furthermore, direct interaction of this protein with GTP is unequivocally demonstrated by photoaffinity labeling it with [alpha-32P]GTP.     

NADH Oxidase Activity of Plasma Membranes of Soybean Hypocotyls Is Activated by Guanine Nucleotides

The activity of an auxin-stimulated NADH oxidase of the plasma membrane of hypocotyls of etiolated soybean (Glycine max Merr.) seedlings responded to guanine and other nucleotides, but in a manner that differed from that of enzymes coupled to the classic trimeric and low molecular weight monomeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins). In the presence and absence of either auxin or divalent ions, both GTP and GDP as well as guanosine-5[prime]-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP-[gamma]-S) and other nucleoside di- and triphosphates stimulated the oxidase activity over the range 10 [mu]M to 1 mM. GTP and GTP-[gamma]-S stimulated the activity at 10 nM in the absence of added magnesium and at 1 nM in the presence of added magnesium ions. Other nucleotides stimulated at 100 nM and above. The NADH oxidase was stimulated by 10 [mu]M mastoparan and by 40 [mu]M aluminum fluoride. Neither cholera nor pertussis toxins, tested at a concentration sufficient to block mammalian G protein function, inhibited the activity. Guanosine 5[prime]-O-(2-thiodi-phosphate) (GDP-[beta]-S) did not stimulate activity, suggesting that the stimulation in response to GDP may be mediated by a plasma membrane nucleoside diphosphate kinase through conversion of GDP to GTP. Auxin stimulation of the NADH oxidase was unaffected by nucleotides at either high or low nucleotide concentrations in the absence of added divalent ions. However, pretreatment of plasma membranes with auxin increased the apparent affinity for nucleotide binding. This increased affinity, however, appeared not to be the mechanism of auxin stimulation of the oxidase, since auxin stimulation was similar with or without low concentrations of guanine nucleotides. The stimulation by nucleotides was observed after incubating the membranes with 0.1% Triton X-100 prior to assay. The results suggest a role of guanine (and other) nucleotides in the regulation of plasma membrane NADH oxidase that differs from the interactions with G proteins commonly described for animal models.     

Regulation of Muscarinic Agonist-Induced Activation of Phosphoinositidase C in Electrically Permeabilized SH-SY5Y Human Neuroblastoma Cells by Guanine Nucleotides

myo-[3H]Inositol-labelled SH-SY5Y cells were permeabilized with electrical discharges. 3H-Inositol phosphate formation in cells shown to be fully permeable was stimulated by the muscarinic agonist carbachol, by guanosine 5'-(gamma-thio)triphosphate [GTP(S)], and by guanosine 5'-(beta gamma-imido)diphosphate (GppNHp). Synergism was observed on coincubation of these GTP analogues with carbachol. GTP was also stimulatory and guanosine 5'-(beta-thio)diphosphate was inhibitory in the presence of agonist. Atropine blocked the effects of carbachol. Stimulation by GTP(S) (0.1 mM) occurred after a 1-2-min lag, whereas Ca2+ (0.5 mM), carbachol (1 mM), and carbachol plus GTP(S) stimulated without delay. The effects of carbachol plus GTP(S) but not those of Ca2+ were inhibited by spermine (4 mM). Accumulation of 3H-inositol phosphates was enhanced by Li+ (4 mM) only in intact cells. In intact or permeabilized cells, the "partial" agonist arecoline was maximally 40-50% as efficacious as carbachol. In permeabilized cells, the maximal effects of carbachol and arecoline were enhanced 2.8- and 5.3-fold, respectively, by 0.1 mM GTP(S), but only the EC50 for carbachol was substantially reduced. The binding affinity of carbachol but not that of arecoline in permeabilized cells was significantly reduced by 0.1 mM GppNHp. These data indicate that a guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein is involved in coupling muscarinic receptors to phosphoinositidase C in SH-SY5Y cells and that the activity of this protein influences the relationship between receptor occupation and phosphoinositide response.     

Phosphoenzyme conformational states and nucleotide-binding site hydrophobicity following thiol modification of the Ca2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum from skeletal muscle

Enhanced fluorescence of the ATP analogue 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrocyclohexyldienylidine)adenosine 5'-triphosphate (TNP-ATP), bound to the Ca2+-ATPase of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum, is closely related to phosphoenzyme levels (Bishop, J. E., Johnson, J. D., and Berman, M. C. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 15163-15171) and has an emission maximum consistent with decreased polarity of the TNP-ATP-binding site. The phosphoenzyme conformation responsible for increased nucleotide-binding site hydrophobicity has been studied by redistribution of phosphoenzyme intermediates following specific thiol group modification. N-Ethylmaleimide, in the presence of 50 microM Ca2+, 1 mM adenyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate, pH 7.0, at 25 degrees C for 30 min, selectively modified the SH group essential for phosphoenzyme decomposition, which resulted in decreased ATPase activity, Ca2+ uptake, and a decrease in ATP-induced TNP-ATP fluorescence. Phosphorylated (Ca2+, Mg2+)-ATPase levels from [gamma-32P] ATP remained relatively unaffected (3.1 nmol/mg), but the ADP-insensitive fraction decreased from 56 to 15%. Phosphoenzyme levels from 32Pi were also decreased to the same extent as turnover, with equivalent loss of Pi-induced TNP-ATP fluorescence. The E1 to E2 transition, as monitored by the change in intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence, was unaffected. Modification of thiol groups of unknown function did not modify turnover-induced TNP-ATP fluorescence. It is concluded that the ADP-insensitive phosphoenzyme, E2-P, is responsible for enhanced TNP-ATP fluorescence. This suggests that the conformational transition, 2Ca2+outE1 approximately P----2Ca2+inE2-P, is associated with altered properties of the noncatalytic, or regulatory, nucleotide-binding site.     

Purification and characterization from bovine brain cytosol of a novel regulatory protein inhibiting the dissociation of GDP from and the subsequent binding of GTP to rhoB p20, a ras p21-like GTP-binding protein

A novel regulatory protein for the rho proteins (rhoA p21 and rhoB p20), belonging to a ras p21/ras p21-like small molecular weight (Mr) GTP-binding protein (G protein) superfamily, was purified to near homogeneity from bovine brain cytosol and characterized. This regulatory protein, designated here as GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI) for the rho proteins (rho GDI), inhibited the dissociation of GDP from rhoB p20 and the binding of guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) to the GDP-bound form of rhoB p20 but not of that to the guanine nucleotide-free form. The Mr value of rho GDI was estimated to be about 27,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and from the S value, indicating that rho GDI is composed of a single polypeptide without a subunit structure. The isoelectric point was about pH 5.7. rho GDI made a complex with the GDP-bound form of rhoB p20 with a molar ratio of 1:1 but not with the GTP gamma S-bound or guanine nucleotide-free form. rho GDI did not stimulate the GTPase activity of rhoB p20 and by itself showed neither GTP gamma S-binding nor GTPase activity. rho GDI was equally active for rhoA p21 and rhoB p20 but was inactive for other ras p21/ras p21-like G proteins including c-Ha-ras p21, smg p25A, and smg p21. rho GDI activity was detected in the cytosol fraction of various rat tissues. These results indicate that, in mammalian tissues, there is a novel type of regulatory protein specific for the rho proteins that interacts with the GDP-bound form of the rho proteins and thereby regulates the GDP/GTP exchange reaction of the rho proteins by inhibiting the dissociation of GDP from and the subsequent binding of GTP to them. Since there is a GTPase-activating protein for the rho proteins stimulating the GTPase activity of the rho proteins in mammalian tissues, the rho proteins appear to be regulated at least by GTPase-activating protein and GDI in a dual manner.     

The influence of bound GDP on the kinetics of guanine nucleotide binding to G proteins

Purified guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins, as either the oligomers or the isolated nucleotide-binding alpha subunits, display anomalous kinetics of nucleotide binding. This is due to the presence of tightly bound GDP in these preparations. The dissociation of bound GDP is the rate-limiting step for nucleotide binding. GDP can be removed by chromatography in the presence of 1 M (NH4)2SO4 and 20% glycerol, which yields preparations of G proteins that contain less than 0.1 mol of GDP/mol of guanosine 5'-(gamma-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S)-binding site. When the GDP is removed, the binding of GTP gamma S displays kinetics consistent with a bimolecular reaction.     

Acetyl phosphate as a substrate for the calcium ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum

Acetyl phosphate is hydrolyzed by the calcium ATPase of leaky sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles from rabbit skeletal muscle with Km = 6.5 mM and kcat = 7.9 s-1 in the presence of 100 microM calcium (180 mM K+, 5 mM MgSO4, pH 7.0, 25 degrees C). In the absence of calcium, hydrolysis is 6% of the calcium-dependent rate at low and 24% at saturating concentrations of acetyl phosphate. Values of K0.5 for calcium are 3.5 and 2.2 microM (n = 1.6) in the presence of 1 and 50 mM acetyl phosphate, respectively; inhibition by calcium follows K0.5 = 1.6 mM (n approximately 1.1) with 50 mM acetyl phosphate and K0.5 = 0.5 mM (n approximately 1.3) with 1.5 mM ATP. The calcium-dependent rate of phosphoenzyme formation from acetyl phosphate is consistent with Km = 43 mM and kf = 32 s-1 at saturation; decomposition of the phosphoenzyme occurs with kt = 16 s-1. The maximum fraction of phosphoenzyme formed in the steady state at saturating acetyl phosphate concentrations is 43-46%. These results are consistent with kc congruent to 30 s-1 for binding of Ca2+ to E at saturating [Ca2+], to give cE.Ca2, in the absence of activation by ATP. Phosphoenzyme formed from ATP and from acetyl phosphate shows the same biphasic reaction with ADP, rate constants for decomposition that are the same within experimental error, and similar or identical activation of decomposition by ATP. It is concluded that the reaction pathways for acetyl phosphate and ATP in the presence of Ca2+ are the same, with the exception of calcium binding and phosphorylation; an alternative, faster route that avoids the kc step is available in the presence of ATP. The existence of three different regions of dependence on ATP concentration for steady state turnover is confirmed; activation of hydrolysis at high ATP concentrations involves an ATP-induced increase in kt.     

Effects of Mg2+ and the beta gamma-subunit complex on the interactions of guanine nucleotides with G proteins

Mg2+ interacts with the alpha subunits of guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G proteins) in the presence of guanosine-5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP-gamma S) to form a highly fluorescent complex from which nucleotide dissociates very slowly. The apparent Kd for interaction of G alpha X GTP gamma S with Mg2+ is approximately 5 nM, similar to the Km for G protein GTPase activity X G beta gamma increases the rate of dissociation of GTP gamma S from G alpha X GTP gamma S or G alpha X GTP gamma S X Mg2+ at low concentrations of Mg2+. When the concentration of Mg2+ exceeds 1 mM, G beta gamma dissociates from G beta gamma X G alpha X GTP gamma S X Mg2+. Compared with the dramatic effect of Mg2+ on binding of GTP gamma S to G alpha, the metal has relatively little effect on the binding of GDP. However, G beta gamma increases the affinity of G alpha for GDP by more than 100-fold. High concentrations of Mg2+ promote the dissociation of GDP from G beta gamma X G alpha X GDP, apparently without causing subunit dissociation. The steady-state rate of GTP hydrolysis is strictly correlated with the rate of dissociation of GDP from G alpha under all conditions examined. Thus, there are at least two sites for interaction of Mg2+ with G protein-nucleotide complexes. Furthermore, binding of G beta gamma and GTP gamma S to G alpha is negatively cooperative, while the binding interaction between G beta gamma and GDP is strongly positive.     

Effect of ADP on the rate of acetyl phosphate hydrolysis by the Ca2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum

Hydrolysis of acetyl phosphate is inhibited by high concentrations of Pi and MgCl2, probably due to an increase in the steady-state level of phosphoenzyme formed from Pi in the medium. A dual effect of ADP during steady-state hydrolysis of acetyl phosphate was observed. ADP inhibited hydrolysis in the presence of 5 mM MgCl2 and no added Pi, whereas it stimulated hydrolysis when phosphoenzyme formation by Pi was favored by including 6 mM Pi and 20 mM MgCl2 in the assay medium. ATP inhibited acetyl phosphate hydrolysis in both of these assay media. When phosphoenzyme formation by Pi in the presence of acetyl phosphate was stimulated at Ca2+ concentrations sufficient to saturate the low-affinity Ca2+-binding sites, ADP stimulated acetyl phosphate hydrolysis and also promoted ATP synthesis by reversal of the catalytic cycle. The rate of ATP synthesis was dependent on ADP, Pi and Ca2+. Phosphoenzyme formation by Pi and MgCl2, whether in the absence of Ca2+ and acetyl phosphate, or during acetyl phosphate hydrolysis, was inhibited by ADP and ATP. These results suggest that ADP interacts with different intermediates of the catalytic cycle and that expression of inhibition or activation of acetyl phosphate hydrolysis depends on the steady-state level of phosphoenzyme formed by Pi.