Activating effect of regucalcin on (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase in rat liver plasma membranes: relation to sulfhydryl group

The activating mechanism of regucalcin, a calcium-binding protein isolated from rat liver cytosol, on (Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺)-ATPase in the plasma membranes of rat liver was investigated. (Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺)-ATPase activity was markedly increased by a sulfhydryl (SH) group protecting reagent dithiothreitol (DTT; 2.5 and 5 mM as a final concentration), while the enzyme activity was significantly decreased by a SH group modifying reagent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM; 0.5–5 mM). The effect of DTT (5 mM) to increase the enzyme activity was clearly blocked by NEM (5 mM). Regucalcin (0.25–1.0 M) significantly increased (Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺)-ATPase activity. This increase was completely blocked by NEM (5 mM). Meanwhile, digitonin (0.04%), which can solubilize the membranous lipids, significantly decreased (Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺)-ATPase activity. Digitonin did not have an effect on the DTT (5 mM)-increased enzyme activity. However, the effect of regucalcin (0.25 M) increasing (Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺)-ATPase activity was entirely blocked by the presence of digitonin. The present results suggest that regucalcin activates (Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺)-ATPase by the binding to liver plasma membrane lipids, and that the activation is involved in the SH groups which are an active site of the enzyme.     

Modification of heart sarcolemmal Na+/K+-ATPase activity during development of the calcium paradox

This study examined the status of sarcolemmal Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity in rat heart under conditions of Ca²⁺-paradox to explore the existence of a relationship between changes in Na⁺/K⁺-pump function and myocardial Na⁺ as well as K⁺ content. One min of reperfusion with Ca²⁺ after 5 min of Ca²⁺-free perfusion reduced Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity in the isolated heart by 53% while Mg²⁺-ATPase, another sarcolemmal bound enzyme, retained 74% of its control activity. These changes in sarcolemmal ATPase activities were dependent on the duration and Ca²⁺ concentration of the initial perfusion and subsequent reperfusion periods; however, the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity was consistently more depressed than Mg²⁺-ATPase activity under all conditions. The depression in both enzyme activities was associated with a reduction in V_max without any changes in K_m values. Low Na⁺ perfusion and hypothermia, which protect the isolated heart from the Ca²⁺-paradox, also prevented reperfusion-induced enzyme alterations. A significant relationship emerged upon comparison of the changes in myocardial Na⁺ and K⁺ content to Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity under identical conditions. At least 60% of the control enzyme activity was necessary to maintain normal cation gradients. Depression of the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity by 60-65% resulted in a marked increase and decrease in intracellular Na⁺ and K⁺ content, respectively. These results suggest that changes in myocardial Na⁺ and K⁺ content during Ca²⁺-paradox are related to activity of the Na⁺/K⁺-pump; the impaired Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity may lead to augmentation of Ca²⁺-overload via an enhancement of the Na⁺/Ca²⁺-exchange system.     

Mg2+/Ca2+-ATPase Activity Is Not Enriched in Synaptic Vesicles Isolated from Rat Cerebral Cortex

Neuronal ATPases comprise a wide variety of enzymes which are not uniformly distributed in different membrane preparations. Since purified vesicle fractions have Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺-ATPase, the purpose of the present study was to know whether such enzyme activities have a preferential concentration in a synaptic vesicle fraction in order to be used as markers for these organelles. Resorting to a procedure developed in this Institute, we fractionated the rat cerebral cortex by differential centrifugation following osmotic shock of a crude mitochondrial fraction and separated a purified synaptic vesicle fraction over discontinuous sucrose gradients. Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺-ATPase activities and ultrastructural studies of isolated fractions were carried out. It was observed that similar specific activities for Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺-ATPases were found in all fractions studied which contain synaptic vesicles and/or membranes. Although the present results confirm the presence of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺-ATPase activities in synaptic vesicles preparations, they do not favor the contention that Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺-ATPase is a good marker for synaptic vesicles.     

Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of Mg2+-independent Ca2+-ATPase from goat spermatozoa

We reported previously that a Ca²⁺-ATPase in rat testes and goat spermatozoa could be activated by Ca²⁺ alone without Mg²⁺, though it has a lot of similarities with the well known Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺-ATPase. Recently, we were successful in isolating the phosphorylated intermediate of the former enzyme under control conditions i.e., in the presence of low concentration of Ca²⁺ and at low temperature. Increase of the concentration of Ca²⁺ and/or temperature lead to dephosphorylation. Based on our observations, we proposed a reaction scheme comparable to that of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺-ATPase. The findings strengthened our previous report that Mg²⁺-independent Ca²⁺-ATPase is involved in Ca²⁺ transport and Ca²⁺ uptake like Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺-ATPase.     

Characterization of K+-dependent and K+-independentp-nitrophenylphosphatase activity of synaptosomes

These experiments examined effects of several ligands on the K⁺ p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity of the (Na⁺,K⁺)-ATPase in membranes of a rat brain cortex synaptosomal preparation. K⁺-independent hydrolysis of this substrate by the synaptosomal preparation was studied in parallel; the rate of hydrolysis in the absence of K⁺ was approximately 75% less than that observed when K⁺ was included in the incubation medium. The response to the H⁺ concentrations was different: K⁺-independent activity showed a pH optimum around 6.5–7.0, while the K⁺-dependent activity was relatively low at this pH range. Ouabain (0.1 mM) inhibited K⁺-dependent activity 50%; a concentration 10 times higher did not produce any appreciable effect on the K⁺-independent activity. Na⁺ did not affect K⁺-independent activity at all, while the same ligand concentration inhibited sharply the K⁺-dependent activity; this inhibition was not competitive with the substrate,p-nitrophenyl phosphate. K⁺-dependent activity was stimulated by Mg²⁺ with low affinity (millimolar range), and 3 mM Mg²⁺ produced a slight stimulation of the activity in absence of K⁺, which could be interpreted as Mg²⁺ occupying the K⁺ sites. Ca²⁺ had no appreciable effect on the activity in the absence of K⁺. However, in the presence of K⁺ a sharp inhibition was found with all Ca²⁺ concentrations studied. ATP (0.5 mM) did not affect the K⁺-independent activity, but this nucleotide behaved as a competitive inhibitor top-nitrophenylphosphate. Pi inhibited activity in the presence of K⁺, competively to the substrate, so it could be considered as the second product of the reaction sequence.Abbreviations used p-NPP p-nitrophenylphosphate - p-NPPase rho-nitrophenylphosphatase activity     

Inhibition of Na+,K+-ATPase Activity from Rat Hippocampus by Proline

Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities were determined in the synaptic plasma membranes from hippocampus of rats subjected to chronic and acute proline administration. Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity was significantly reduced in chronic and acute treatment by 33% and 40%, respectively. Mg²⁺-ATPase activity was not altered by any treatment. In another set of experiments, synaptic plasma membranes were prepared from hippocampus and incubated with proline or glutamate at final concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 2.0 mM. Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase, but not Mg²⁺-ATPase was inhibited (30%) by the two amino acids. In addition, competition between proline and glutamate for the enzyme activity was observed, suggesting a common binding site for these amino acids. Considering that Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity is critical for normal brain function, the results of the present study showing a marked inhibition of this enzyme by proline may be associated with the neurological dysfunction found in patients affected by type II hyperprolinemia.     

Biochemical characterization of a calcium ion stimulated-ATPase from goat spermatozoa

The goat spermatozoa membranes isolated after treatment with octa (ethylene glycol) mono n-dodecyl ether (C₁₂E₈) followed by discontinuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation have been found to contain an ATPase that is stimulated by externally added Ca²⁺ only. The membrane fraction has also found to contain Mg²⁺-dependent Ca²⁺-ATPase activity, however the former activity is about 2 fold higher than the latter. The molecular weight of the enzyme is found to be about 97,000 on SDS-polyacrylamide gel. The optimum concentration of Ca²⁺ required for maximum activity is 3 mM for both Mg²⁺-dependent and Mg²⁺-independent Ca²⁺-ATPase. Histidine and imidazole buffers are found to be the most suitable for dependent and independent enzyme activities respectively. ATP with an optimum concentration of 4 mM is observed to be the best substrate than any other nucleotides. The inhibitors like trifluoperazine and vanadate and group specific probes e.g. DTNB and TNBS inhibit these two enzymes but at different rates. Ca²⁺-uptake study shows that the uptake in the presence of Ca²⁺ and ATP is higher than in the presence of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and ATP. The findings lead us to believe that the Mg²⁺-independent Ca²⁺-ATPase has some role in Ca²⁺ transport like Mg²⁺-dependent enzyme.Abbreviations Tris Tris (hydroxymethyl) amino ethane - Hepes-N 2-hydroxy ethyl piperizine-N¹-2-ethane sulfonic acid - Pipes-Piperizine-N N¹-bis(2-ethane sulfonic acid) - EGTA Ethylene Glycol-bis (-amino ethyl ether) - N, N, N¹, N¹ Tetraacetic Acid, sodium salt - TFP Trifluoperazine - DTNB 5,5¹ Dithiobis (2 nitrobenzoic acid) - TNBS 2, 4, 6-Trinitrobenzene Sulfonate - C₁₂E₈ Octa (ethylene glycol) mono n-dodecyl ether - PMSF Phenylmethyl Sulfonyl Fluoride - PAGE Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis - PME -Mercapto Ethanol     

Purification and characterization of a Ca2+/Mg2+ ecto-ATPase from rat heart sarcolemma

The Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ ATPase of the rat heart sarcolemmal particles was solublized with Triton X-100 after treating the membranes with trypsin and purified by high speed centrifugation, ammonium sulfate fractionation, hydrophobic chromatography and gel filtration. The purified enzyme was seen as a single protein band in nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and its molecular weight by gel filtration was found to be about 240000. The enzyme utilized Ca-ATP or Mg-ATP as a substrate with high affinity sites (Km = 0.12 – 0.16 mM) and low affinity sites (Km = 1 mM). The enzyme also utilized CTP, GTP, ITP, UTP and ADP as substrates but at a lower rate in comparison to ATP. The enzyme was activated by Ca²⁺ (Ka = 0.4 mM) and Mg²⁺ (Ka = 0.2 mM) as well as by other cations in the order Ca^2– > Mg²⁺ > Mn²⁺ > Sr²⁺ > Ba²⁺ > Ni²⁺ > Cu²⁺. The ATPase activity in the presence of Ca²⁺ was markedly inhibited by Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺ whereas the monovalent cations such as Na⁺ and K⁺ were without effect. The enzyme did not exhibit Ca²⁺ stimulated Mg²⁺ dependent ATPase activity and was insensitive to calmodulin, ouabain, verapamil, D-600, oligomycin, azide and vanadate. Optimum pH for Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ ATPase activity was 8.5 – 9.0. In view of the possible ectoenzyme nature of the ATPase, its role in adenine nucleotide and Ca²⁺ metabolism in the myocardium is discussed.     

Age-related responses of hepatic ATPases to starvation and cold stress in male garden lizards

Hepatic Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities of male green lizards declined during the maturation phase (juvenile to 1-year-old) and stabilized thereafter. On the other hand, the Ca²⁺-ATPase activity of the liver declined during the later half of the life span (1-year-old to 2–4-year-old). Starvation stress induced a decline in hepatic Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities of juvenile lizards and caused an increase in 1-year-old and 2–4-year-old counterparts. The Ca²⁺-ATPase activity declined only in starved 1-year-old lizards. Following cold stress, the hepatic Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity of juvenile lizards showed a higher degree of decline than 2–4-year-old counterparts. The Mg²⁺-ATPase activity declined in cold-stressed juvenile lizards, but the parameter was elevated in similarly treated 1-year-old lizards. On the other hand, the increase in Ca²⁺-ATPase activity in response to cold stress was confined only to 2–4-year-old lizards.     

Uncoupling of Occlusion From ATP Hydrolysis Activity in Sarcoplasmic Reticulum (Ca2++Mg2+)-ATPase

The uncoupling of Ca²⁺ transport from ATP hydrolysis in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase by trypsin digestion was re-investigated by comparing ATPase activity with the ability of the enzyme to occlude Eu³⁺ (a transport parameter) after various tryptic digests. With this method, re-examination of uncoupling by tryptic digest of the ATPase revealed that TD2 cleavage (Arg-198) had no effect on either occlusion or ATPase activity. Digestion past TD2 in the presence of 5 mM Co²⁺ and at 25°C resulted in the loss of about 70% of the ATPase activity, but no loss of occlusion. Digestion past TD2 in the presence of 5 mM Ca²⁺, 3 mM ATP, and at 25°C resulted in a partially uncoupled enzyme complex which retained about 50% of the ATPase activity, but completely lost the ability to occlude Eu³⁺. Digest past TD2 in the presence of 5 mM Ca²⁺ and 3 mM AMP-PNP. (a non-hydrolyzable ATP analog) at 25°C resulted in no loss of occlusion, thus revealing the absolute requirement of ATP during the digest to eliminate occlusion. From these findings we conclude that uncoupling of Ca²⁺ transport from ATPase activity is possible by tryptic digestion of the (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase. Interestingly, only after phosphorylation of the enzyme do the susceptible bond(s) which lead to the loss of occlusion become exposed to trypsin.     

Elevation of Different Ion-Specific ATPase Activities by L-Thyroxine (T4) in Different Tissues of Tasar Silkworm, Antheraea mylitta (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) during Developmental Stages

Tissue-specific age-dependent changes were observed in Na⁺K⁺-, Ca²⁺-, and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities in tropical tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta Drury. Maximum enzyme activity was recorded in all the tissues on day 12 (before spinning) in control group of animals. In testis, Na⁺K⁺-, Ca²⁺-, and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities gradually increased from day 2 to day 12 during fifth larval age and level was maintained up to adult eclosion while, in ovary, a marked decline was noted up to day of adult emergence. Further, a significant and sharp rise was found in ATPase activity in silk gland tissue up to day 12 and afterwards a drastic fall was noted on day 15 (end of spinning) during fifth larval age.Administration of T4 to fifth stage larvae (1 hr old) at doses 0.5–2.0 μg/g significantly elevated the Na⁺K⁺-, Ca²⁺-, and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities in larval and pupal gonads in a dose-dependent fashion. But, in moths, the enhancement was very much confined to Na⁺K⁺- and Ca²⁺-ATPase in testes and only Ca²⁺-ATPase in ovaries. Again, in silk glands thyroxine (0.5–2.0 μg/g) caused a significant rise in the all ion-dependent ATPase activities only during the fifth larval stage. Interestingly, higher doses of T4 (4.0 μg/g) caused a significant reduction in Na⁺K⁺-, Ca²⁺- and Mg²⁺-ATPase in all the tissues almost all the days studied so far. However, lower doses of T4 (0.1 and 0.25 μg/g) remained ineffective in altering the different ion-specific ATPase activities. This study suggests, that mammalian thyroxine has a metabolic influence showing biphasic nature of action in tasar silkworm ATPase system.     

Inhibition of Rat Brain Na+, K+-ATPase Activity Induced by Homocysteine Is Probably Mediated by Oxidative Stress

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of preincubation of hippocampus homogenates in the presence of homocysteine or methionine on Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities in synaptic membranes of rats. Homocysteine significantly inhibited Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity, whereas methionine had no effect. Mg²⁺-ATPase activity was not altered by the metabolites. We also evaluated the effect of incubating glutathione, cysteine, dithiothreitol, trolox, superoxide dismutase and GM1 ganglioside alone or incubation with homocysteine on Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity. Tested compounds did not alter Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities, but except for trolox, prevented the inhibitory effect of homocysteine on Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity. These results suggest that inhibition of this enzyme activity by homocysteine is possibly mediated by free radicals and may contribute to the neurological dysfunction found in homocystinuric patients.     

Inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase by metal ions and prevention and recovery of inhibited activities by chelators

Kinetics and inhibition of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase activity from rat synaptic plasma membrane (SPM), by separate and simultaneous exposure to transition (Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺ and.Co²⁺) and heavy metals (Hg²⁺and Pb²⁺) ions were studied. All investigated metals produced a larger maximum inhibition of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase than Mg²⁺-ATPase activity. The free concentrations of the key species (inhibitor, MgATP^{2 ?} , MeATP^{2 ?} ) in the medium assay were calculated and discussed. Simultaneous exposure to the combinations Cu²⁺/Fe²⁺ or Hg²⁺/Pb²⁺caused additive inhibition, while Cu²⁺/Zn²⁺ or Fe²⁺/Zn²⁺ inhibited Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity synergistically (i.e., greater than the sum metal-induced inhibition assayed separately). Simultaneous exposure to Cu²⁺/Fe²⁺ or Cu²⁺/Zn²⁺ inhibited Mg²⁺-ATPase activity synergistically, while Hg²⁺/Pb²⁺ or Fe²⁺/Zn²⁺ induced antagonistic inhibition of this enzyme. Kinetic analysis showed that all investigated metals inhibited Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity by reducing the maximum velocities (V_max) rather than the apparent affinity (K_m) for substrate MgATP^2-, implying the noncompetitive nature of the inhibition. The incomplete inhibition of Mg²⁺-ATPase activity by Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺ and Co²⁺ as well as kinetic analysis indicated two distinct Mg²⁺-ATPase subtypes activated in the presence of low and high MgATP^{2 ?} concentration. EDTA, L-cysteine and gluthathione (GSH) prevented metal ion-induced inhibition of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase with various potencies. Furthermore, these ligands also reversed Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity inhibited by transition metals in a concentration-dependent manner, but a recovery effect by any ligand on Hg²⁺-induced inhibition was not obtained.     

Studies on (NA + K)-activated ATPase XLV. Magnesium induces two low-affinity non-phosphorylating nucleotide binding sites per molecule

ATP and adenylylimidodiphosphate (AdoPP[NH]P) bind to (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase in the absence of Mg²⁺ (EDTA present) with a homogeneous but 15-fold different affinity, the K_d values being 0.13 μM and 1.9 μM, respectively. The binding capacities of the two nucleotides are nearly equal and amount to 3.9 and 4 nmol/mg protein or 1.7 and 1.8 mol/mol (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase, respectively. The K_d value for ATP is equal to the K_m for phosphorylation by ATP (0.05–0.25 μM) and the binding capacity is equivalent to the phosphorylation capacity of 1.8 mol/mol (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase. Hence, the enzyme contains two high-affinity nucleotide binding and phosphorylating sites per molecule, or one per α-subunit. Additional low-affinity nucleotide binding sites are elicited in the presence of Mg²⁺, as shown by binding studies with the non-phosphorylating (AdoPP[NH]P). The K_d and binding capacity for AdoPP[NH]P at these sites is dependent on the Mg²⁺ concentration. The K_d increases from 0.06 mM at 0.5 mM Mg²⁺ to a maximum of 0.26 mM at 2 mM Mg²⁺ and the binding capacity from 1.5 nmol/mg protein at 0.5 mM Mg²⁺ to 3.3 nmol/mg protein at 4 mM Mg²⁺. Extrapolation of a double reciprocal plot of binding capacity vs. total Mg²⁺ concentration yields a maximal binding capacity at infinite Mg²⁺ concentration of 3.8 nmol/mg protein or 1.7 mol/mol (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase. The K_d for Mg²⁺ at the sites, where it exerts this effect, is 0.8 mM. The K_d for the high-affinity sites increases from 1.5–1.9 μM in the absence of Mg²⁺ to a maximum of 4.2 μM at 2 mM Mg²⁺ concentration. The binding capacity of these sites (1.8 mol/mol enzyme) is independent of the Mg²⁺ concentration. Hence, Mg²⁺ induces two low-affinity non-phosphorylating nucleotide binding sites per molecule (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase in addition to the two high-affinity, phosphorylating nucleotide binding sites.     

The chlorpromazine inhibition of transport ATPase and acetylcholinesterase activities in the microsomal membranes of rat in vitro and in vivo

Chlorpromazine, an antipsychotic drug, is found to inhibit Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity in rat brain microsomal membranes in vitro in concentration and time dependent manner but some inconsistency is observed when the effect was studied with respect to different temperatures. Various ligands and/or substrate affect the inhibition by chlorpromazine in different ways. The in vivo study with this drug shows that the activities of Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase, Ca^–2-ATPase and acetylcholinesterase in the microsomal membranes of different organs are inhibit with increases in concentration or lengths of time of treatment and then levels off.     

Solubilization of a divalent cation dependent ATPase from dog heart sarcolemma

Heart sarcolemma has been shown to contain an ATPase hydrolizing system which is activated by millimolar concentrations of divalent cations such as Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺. Although Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase is released upon treating sarcolemma with trypsin, a considerable amount of the divalent cation dependent ATPase activity was retained in the membrane. This divalent cation dependent ATPase was solubilized by sonication of the trypsin-treated dog heart sarcolemma with 1% Triton X-100. The solubilized enzyme was subjected to column chromatography on a Sepharose-6B column, followed by ion-exchange chromatography on a DEAE cellulose column. The enzyme preparation was found to be rather labile and thus the purity of the sample could not be accurately assessed. The solubilized ATPase preparations did not show any cross-reactivity with dog heart myosin antiserum or with Na⁺ + K⁺ ATPase antiserum. The enzyme was found to be insensitive to inhibitors such as ouabain, verapamil, oligomycin and vanadate. The enzyme preparation did not exhibit any Ca²⁺-stimulated Mg²⁺ dependent ATPase activity. Furthermore, the low affinity of the enzyme for Ca^2– (Ka = 0.3 mM) rules out the possibility of its involvement in the Ca²⁺ pump mechanism located in the plasma membrane of the cardiac cell.     

Kinetics of K+-p-Nitrophenyl Phosphatase Stimulation by a Brain Soluble Fraction

We have already described the separation of two brain soluble fractions by Sephadex G-50, one of which stimulates (peak I) and the other inhibits (peak II) Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase and K⁺-p-nitrophenylphosphatase (K⁺-p-NPPase) activities. Here we examine the features of synaptosomal membrane p-NPPase activity in the presence and absence of brain peak I. It was observed that stimulation of Mg²⁺, K⁺-p-NPPase activity by peak I was concentration dependent, The ability of peak I to stimulate p-NPPase activity was lost by heat treatment followed by brief centrifugation. Pure serum albumin also stimulated enzyme activity. K⁺-p-NPPase stimulation by peak I proved dependent on K⁺ concentration but independent of Mg²⁺ and substrate p-nitrophenylphosphate concentrations. Since our determinations were performed in a non-phosphorylating condition reflecting the Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase Na⁺ site, it is suggested that peak I may stimulate the Na⁺-dependent enzyme phosphorylation known to take place from the internal cytoplasmic side.     

Effects of affinity-purified antibodies on the Ca2+ pumping ATPase of erythrocyte membranes

Antibodies raised in rabbits against the purified erythrocyte membrane Ca²⁺ pumping ATPase were affinity-purified using an ATPase-Sepharose column. Addition of a few molecules of the purified antibody per molecule of ATPase was sufficient to inhibit the ATPase activity. Extensively washed ghosts or preincubated pure ATPase sometimes develop an appreciable Mg²⁺-ATPase activity. In such cases, the antibodies inhibited the Mg²⁺-ATPase as well as the Ca²⁺-ATPase. This is consistent with the hypothesis that a portion of the Mg²⁺-ATPase activity of ghosts is derived from the Ca²⁺-ATPase. When nitrophenylphosphatase activity was observed, both Mg²⁺ - and Ca²⁺-stimulated activities were observed. Only the Ca²⁺ activity was inhibited by the antibodies, confirming that this activity is due to the Ca²⁺ pump, and suggesting that the Mg²⁺-nitrophenylphosphatase is due to a separate enzyme. Amounts of antibody comparable to those which inhibited the Ca²⁺-ATPases had no effect on the Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase; 4-fold higher amounts of antibody significantly stimulated the Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase, but this effect of the antibody was not specific: Immunoglobulins from the nonimmune serum also significantly stimulated the Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase.In resealed erythrocyte membranes, antibodies incorporated into the ghosts inactivated the Ca²⁺-ATPase, while antibodies added to the outside had no significant effect.     

A comparative study of the rat heart sarcolemmal Ca2+-dependent ATPase and myosin ATPase

In order to gain some information regarding Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase, the enzyme was purified from cardiac sarcolemma and its properties were compared with Ca²⁺-ATPase activity of myosin purified from rat heart. Both Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase and myosin ATPase were stimulated by Ca²⁺ but the maximal activation of Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase required 4 mM Ca²⁺ whereas that of myosin ATPase required 10 mM Ca²⁺. These ATPases were also activated by other divalent cations in the order of Ca²⁺ > Mn²⁺ > Sr²⁺ > Br²⁺ > Mg²⁺; however, there was a marked difference in the pattern of their activation by these cations. Unlike the myosin ATPase, the ATP hydrolysis by Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase was not activated by actin. The pH optima of Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase and myosin ATPase were 9.5 and 6.5 respectively. Na⁺ markedly inhibited Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase but had no effect on the myosin ATPase activity. N-ethylmaleimide inhibited Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase more than myosin ATPase whereas the inhibitory effect of vanadate was more on myosin ATPase than Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase. Both Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase and myosin ATPase were stimulated by K-EDTA and NH₄-EDTA. When myofibrils were treated with trypsin and passed through columns similar to those used for purifying Ca²⁺-ATPase from sarcolemma, an enzyme with ATPase activity was obtained. This myofibrillar ATPase was maximally activated at 3–4 mM Ca²⁺ and 3 to 4 mM ATP like sarcolemmal Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase. K⁺ stimulated both ATPase activities in the absence of Ca²⁺ and inhibited in the presence of Ca²⁺. Both enzymes were inhibited by Na⁺, Mg²⁺, La³⁺, and azide similarly. However, Ca²⁺ ATPase from myofibrils showed three peptide bands in SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis whereas Ca²⁺ ATPase from sarcolemma contained only two bands. Sarcolemmal Ca²⁺-ATPase had two affinity sites for ATP (0.012 mM and 0.23 mM) while myofibrillar Ca²⁺-ATPase had only one affinity site (0.34 mM). Myofibrillar Ca²⁺-ATPase was more sensitive to maleic anhydride and iodoacetamide than sarcolemmal Ca²⁺-ATPase. These observations suggest that Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase may be a myosin like protein in the heart sarcolemma and is unlikely to be a tryptic fragment of myosin present in the myofibrils.     

Regulation of cardiac sarcolemmal Ca2+ channels and Ca2+ transporters by thyroid hormone

In order to examine the regulatory role of thyroid hormone on sarcolemmal Ca²⁺-channels, Na⁺–Ca²⁺ exchange and Ca²⁺-pump as well as heart function, the effects of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism on rat heart performance and sarcolemmal Ca²⁺-handling were studied. Hyperthyroid rats showed higher values for heart rate (HR), maximal rates of ventricular pressure development+(dP/dt)max and pressure fall–(dP/dt)max, but shorter time to peak ventricular pressure (TPVP) and contraction time (CT) when compared with euthyroid rats. The left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), as well as aortic systolic and diastolic pressures (ASP and ADP, respectively) were not significantly altered. Hypothyroid rats exhibited decreased values of LVSP, HR, ASP, ADP, +(dP/dt)max and –(dP/dt)max but higher CT when compared with euthyroid rats; the values of LVEDP and TPVP were not changed. Studies with isolated-perfused hearts showed that while hypothyroidism did not modulate the inotropic response to extracellular Ca²⁺ and Ca²⁺ channel blocker verapamil, hyperthyroidism increased sensitivity to Ca²⁺ and decreased sensitivity to verapamil in comparison to euthyroid hearts. Studies of [³H]-nitrendipine binding with purified cardiac sarcolemmal membrane revealed decreased number of high affinity binding sites (B_max) without any change in the dissociation constant for receptor-ligand complex (K_d) in the hyperthyroid group when compared with euthyroid sarcolemma; hypothyroidism had no effect on these parameters. The activities of sarcolemmal Ca²⁺-stimulated ATPase, ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ uptake and ouabain-sensitive Na⁺–K⁺ ATPase were decreased whereas the Mg²⁺-ATPase activity was increased in hypothyroid hearts. On the other hand, sarcolemmal membranes from hyperthyroid samples exhibited increased ouabain-sensitive Na⁺–K⁺ ATPase activity, whereas Ca²⁺-stimulated ATPase, ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ uptake, and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities were unchanged. The V_max and K_a for Ca²⁺ of cardiac sarcolemmal Na⁺–Ca²⁺ exchange were not altered in both hyperthyroid and hypothyroid states. These results indicate that the status of sarcolemmal Ca²⁺-transport processes is regulated by thyroid hormones and the modification of Ca²⁺-fluxes across the sarcolemmal membrane may play a crucial role in the development of thyroid state-dependent contractile changes in the heart.