Reconstitution of a pentameric complex of dimeric transforming growth factor beta ligand and a type I,II, III receptor in baculoviral-infected insect cells

Summary Two transmembrane serine-threonine kinases (type I and II receptors), a membrane-anchored proteoglycan (type III), and a homodimeric ligand participate in the transforming growth factor beta type on (TGFβ1) signal transduction complex. The expression of recombinant receptors in insect cells co-infected with up to three recombinant baculoviruses was employed to study interactions among the ectodomains of the three types of receptors and the TGFβ1 ligand in absence of uncontrollable extrinsic factors in mammalian cells. Multi-subunit complexes were assembled in intact cells and purified on glutathione-conjugated beads for analysis by tagging one of the subunits with glutathione S-transferase (GST). Intrinsic ligand-independent interactions were observed among receptor subunits as follows: type III–III type I–I, type III-I, and type II-I. The homeotypic complex of type II–II receptors and the heterotypic type III-II interaction was ligand dependent. The type I, but not the type III, subunit displaced about 50% of the type II component in either ligand-dependent homomeric type II-type II complexes or heteromeric type III-type II complexes to form type II-I or type III-II-I oligomers, respectively. The type II subunit displaced type I subunits in oligomers of the type I subunit. Specificity of type I receptors may result from differential affinity for the type II receptor rather than specificity for ligand. A monomeric subunit of the TGFβ1 ligand bound concurrently to type III and type II or type III and type I receptors, but failed to concurrently bind to the type II and type I subunits. The binding of TGFβ1 to the type I kinase subunit appears to require an intact disulfide-linked ligand dimer in the absence of a type III subunit. The combined results suggest a pentameric TGFβ signal transduction complex in which one unit each of the type III, type II, and type I components is assembled around the two subunits of the dimeric TGFβ1 ligand. An immobilized GST-tagged subunit of the receptor complex was utilized to assemble multi-subunit complexesin vitro and to study the phosphorylation events among subunits in the absence of extrinsic cell-derived kinases. The results revealed that (a) a low level of ligand-independent autophosphorylation occurs in the type I kinase; (b) a high level of autophosphorylation occurs in the type II kinase; (c) both the type III and type I subunits aretrans-phosphorylated by the type II subunit; and (d) the presence of both type I and II kinases complexed with the type III subunit and dimeric TGFβ1 ligand in a pentameric complex causes maximum phosphorylation of all three receptor subunits.     

Subunit association in acetohydroxy acid synthase isozyme III.

Acetohydroxy acid synthase isozyme III (AHAS III) from Escherichia coli is composed of large and small subunits (encoded by the genes ilvI and ilvH) in an alpha 2 beta 2 structure. The large (61-kDa) subunit apparently contains the catalytic machinery of the enzyme, while the small (17-kDa) subunit is required for specific stabilization of the active conformation of the large subunit as well as for valine sensitivity. The interaction between subunits has been studied by using purified enzyme and extracts containing subcloned subunits. The association between large and small subunits is reversible, with a dissociation constant sufficiently high to have important experimental consequences: the activity of the enzyme shows a concentration dependence curve which is concave upward, and this dependence becomes linear upon the addition of excess large or small subunits. We estimate that at a concentration of 10(-7) M for each subunit (7 micrograms of enzyme ml-1), the large subunits are only half associated as the I2H2 active holoenzyme. This dissociation constant is high enough to cause underestimation of the activity of AHAS III in bacterial extracts. The true activity of this isozyme in extracts is observed in the presence of excess small subunits, which maintain the enzyme in its associated form. Reexamination of an E. coli K-12 ilvBN+ ilvIH+ strain grown in glucose indicates that AHAS III is the major isozyme expressed. As an excess of small subunits does not influence the apparent Ki for valine inhibition of the purified enzyme, it is likely that valine binds to and inhibits I2H2 rather than inducing dissociation. AHAS I and II seem to show a much lower tendency to dissociate than does AHAS III.     

Identification of the structural subunits required for formation of the metal centers in subunit I of cytochrome c oxidase of Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Genetic manipulation of the aa(3)-type cytochrome c oxidase of Rhodobacter sphaeroides was used to determine the minimal structural subunit associations required for the assembly of the heme A and copper centers of subunit I. In the absence of the genes for subunits II and III, expression of the gene for subunit I in Rb. sphaeroides allowed purification of a form of free subunit I (subunit I(a)()) that contained a single heme A. No copper was present in this protein, indicating that the heme a(3)-Cu(B) active site was not assembled. In cells expressing the genes for subunits I and II, but not subunit III, two oxidase forms were synthesized that were copurified by histidine affinity chromatography and separated by anion-exchange chromatography. One form was a highly active subunit I-II oxidase containing a full complement of structurally normal metal centers. This shows that association of subunit II with subunit I is required for stable formation of the active site in subunit I. In contrast, subunit III is not required for the formation of any of the metal centers or for the production of an oxidase with wild-type activity. The second product of the cells lacking subunit III was a large amount of a free form of subunit I that appeared identical to subunit I(a)(). Since significant amounts of subunit I(a)() were also isolated from wild-type cells, it is likely that subunit I(a)() will be present in any preparation of the aa(3)-type oxidase isolated via an affinity tag on subunit I.     

Subunit interactions within the chloroplast ATP synthase (CF0-CF1) as deduced by specific depletion of CF0 polypeptides

The proton-linked ATP synthase (CF1-CF0) of chloroplasts consists of a catalytic component (CF1) and a membrane-embedded part (CF0) that interacts with CF1 and contains a proton channel. The subunits of CF0 which are involved in binding of CF1 were studied by examining the effect of selective depletion of subunits I, II, and IV of CF0 from the chloroplast ATP synthase on the association of the remaining CF0 subunits with CF1. Dissociated CF0 subunits were identified by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Removal of subunit IV alone from CF0-CF1 did not cause dissociation of the other CF0 subunits from CF1. Upon removal of both subunits I and IV from CF0-CF1, subunit II also dissociated, but subunit III was still bound to CF1. Thus, at least two subunits of CF0, I and III, directly associate with CF1. Subunit II is unlikely to bind CF1 directly and may associate with subunit I. Although depletion of subunit IV does not cause dissociation of CF0 from CF1, its interaction with CF1 subunits is uncertain.     

Spectrofluorimetric investigation of the interactions between the subunits of bovine pancreatic procarboxypeptidase A-S6

A spectrofluorimetric investigation of the interactions between the subunits of the pancreatic bovine procarboxypeptidase A ternary complex was carried out after covalent insertion of a fluorescent probe at the active center of one of the constituent subunits. The specific insertion of an anthraniloyl group at the active center of subunit II free or bound to subunit I, after its conversion into chymotrypsin II, allowed us to determine the value of the dissociation constant between subunit I and anthraniloyl-chymotrypsin II (Kd = 0.7 +/- 0.1 x 10(-7) M) and between subunit III and the binary complex subunit I-anthraniloyl-chymotrypsin II (Kd = 1.6 +/- 0.3 x 10(-7) M). Moreover, the influence of the association on the flexibility of the active center of chymotrypsin II was deduced from fluorescence polarization measurements and rotational correlation time determination of anthraniloyl-chymotrypsin II free or bound to subunit I. The anthraniloyl group has no motion independently of the whole chymotrypsin II molecule and the binding of subunit I to anthraniloyl-chymotrypsin II results in an increase of the rigidity of the active site in the latter protein.     

Immunological studies on cytochrome c oxidase: arrangements of protein subunits in the solubilized and membrane-bound enzyme.

Seven protein subunits of cytochrome c oxidase from bovine heart were isolated by gel filtration in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate (subunits I, II and III) and guanidine hydrochloride (subunits V, VI and VII), and ion-exchange chromatography in 6 M urea (subunit IV) after the enzyme had been dissociated in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. When analysed by highly cross-linked sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of urea, the apparent molecular weights were = I, 36700; II, 24300; III, 20400; IV, 17300; V, 12300; VI, 8700: and VII, 5100. Monospecific rabbit antisera were obtained against subunits I, IV, V, VI and VII and a mixture of subunits II and III. These subunit-specific antisera with the exception of anti-I serum all cross-reacted with the detergent-solubilized native oxidase. Enzymatic studies on purified oxidase indicated that immunoglobulins against subunits II + III, IV, V, VI and VII respectively caused 25, 65, 20, 30 and 25% inhibition while anti-I immunoglobulin did not inhibit the activity. The subunit-specific antisera were used to examine the arrangements of the subunits in the membrane. Enzymatic studies using bovine heart mitochondria and rat liver mitochondrial digitonin particles showed that anti-(II + III) serum, anti-V serum and anti-VII serum all inhibited the oxidase activity while the other antisera did not. On the other hand, results of using 125I-labelled immunoglobulins showed that anti-IV, anti-V and anti-VII sera were bound to the surface of inverted vesicles (matrix side) while all other antisera were not. These results indicate that cytochrome oxidase subunits II and III are situated on the outer surface, and subunit IV is exclusively on the matrix surface while subunits V and VII are exposed on both surfaces of the mitochondrial membrane. Subunits I and VI are buried within the membrane, not exposed on either side.     

Expression and characterization of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II from cloned cDNAs in Chinese hamster ovary cells

cDNAs containing the entire coding regions of the alpha and beta subunits of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) were isolated from a rat cerebrum cDNA library, ligated into an expression vector under the control of SV40 early promoter and introduced into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. To investigate the role of the alpha and beta subunits and their functional domains in CaM kinase II activity, the properties of the kinases expressed in the transfected cells were studied. CaM kinase II activity was detected in the transfected cells when the alpha and beta cDNAs were introduced into CHO cells simultaneously. RNA transfer blot and protein immunoblot analyses demonstrated the expression of the mRNAs and proteins of both alpha and beta subunits in the cloned cells. When alpha or beta cDNA was introduced into CHO cells separately, a significant level of the enzyme activity was also expressed, indicating that the alpha and beta subunits exhibited enzyme activity individually. The apparent Km values for ATP and MAP 2 were almost the same for the alpha subunit, beta subunit, alpha beta complex, and brain CaM kinase II. However, there was a slight difference in the affinity for calmodulin between the expressed proteins. The alpha and beta subunits expressed in the same cells polymerized to form alpha beta complex of a size similar to that of brain CaM kinase II. The alpha subunit also polymerized to form an oligomer, which showed almost the same S value as that of alpha beta complex and brain CaM kinase II. In contrast, the beta subunit did not polymerize. The alpha subunit, beta subunit, alpha beta complex, and brain CaM kinase II were autophosphorylated with [gamma-32P]ATP in the presence of Ca2+ and calmodulin, which resulted in the appearance of Ca2+-independent activity. The Ca2+-independent activity was 60-75% of the total activity as measured in the presence of Ca2+ plus calmodulin. To examine the functional relationship of peptide domains of the subunits of CaM kinase II, deleted cDNAs were introduced into CHO cells and the properties of the expressed proteins were studied. In cells transfected with alpha or beta cDNA from which the association domain was deleted, a significant level of kinase activity was expressed. However, the expressed proteins showed hardly any autophosphorylation and the appearance of Ca2+-independent enzyme activity was very low, indicating that the association domain was essential for the autophosphorylation and for the appearance of the Ca2+-independent activity.     

Evidence for the sequential assembly of cytochrome oxidase subunits in rat liver mitochondria.

The assembly of cytochrome oxidase was studied in isolated rat liver mitochondria and isolated rat hepatocytes labelled in vitro with L-[35S]methionine. This was achieved by studying the temporal association of radioactive subunits which are immunoabsorbed with antibodies against subunits I, II and the holoenzyme. Antibodies against the holoenzyme were shown to be highly specific for subunit V. The results show that subunit I appears in the holoenzyme late in the assembly process. No radioactive subunit I is absorbed with antiserum against subunit II or the holoenzyme (subunit V) after a 30 min pulse in either isolated mitochondria or hepatocytes. However, both antisera absorb radioactive subunits I after a 150 min chase in isolated hepatocytes. This was confirmed using antibodies against subunit I, which absorbed only radioactive subunit I after a 30 min pulse but absorbed radioactive subunits I-III and VI after a 150 min chase. Thus, the late assembly of radioactive subunit I is explained by a temporal sequence in the assembly process and not by the presence of a large, non-radioactive pool of subunit I. Using the above approach and the three specific antisera, the following temporal sequence in the assembly of cytochrome oxidase was established. Subunits II and III assemble rapidly with each other or with cytoplasmically translated subunit VI. This complex of three peptides in turn assembles slowly with subunit I or with the other cytoplasmically translated subunits. The early association of subunit VI with the mitochondrially translated subunits II and III suggests a possible role of the former in integration of the holoenzyme.     

Resolution of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase and isolation of two iron-sulfur proteins

The low molecular weight NADH dehydrogenase which can be solubilized from the mitochondrial NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase complex with chaotropic agents consists of three subunits in equimolar ratio [Galante, Y. M., & Hatefi, Y. (1979) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 192, 559]. The largest subunit (subunit I) can be completely separated from the other two (subunits II + III) by treatment with sodium trichloroacetate and ammonium sulfate fractionation. Both the subunit I and subunit II + III fractions contain iron and acid-labile sulfur. From visible and EPR spectroscopy and the iron and acid-labile sulfide content, we propose that the subunit II + III fraction contains a binuclear cluster. The cluster structure present in subunit I is as yet unclear. On separation of the subunits of NADH dehydrogenase, the FMN is lost.     

Separation of the complexes formed between the regulatory and catalytic subunits of cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase and topoisomerase I activity in preovulatory follicle-enriched immature rat ovaries

Our previous studies have shown that the regulatory subunits of the type II form of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (RII) present in soluble extract of immature rat ovaries elute from diethylaminoethyl-cellulose as three separate peaks of activity, based on their association with the catalytic subunit (C) of this enzyme, as R2IIC2, an apparent R2IIC, and R2II. Based upon the existence of ovarian RII in three different subunit arrangements, the large amount of C subunit-free R2II in this tissue, and a previous report which indicated that RII exhibited intrinsic topoisomerase I activity, we determined whether DNA topoisomerase I activity was associated with any of these molecular complexes of the ovarian RII subunits. Cyclic AMP-binding activities in soluble extracts of preovulatory follicle-enriched immature rat ovaries were separated by diethylaminoethyl-cellulose chromatography and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Topoisomerase I activity cosedimented with the apparent R2IIC and R2II obtained from sucrose gradients but was not detected in fractions containing R2IIC2. Upon cAMP affinity purification of the RII derived from fractions containing R2IIC2, R2IIC, and R2II, respectively, no topoisomerase I activity could be detected in any fraction. Phosphorylation of the affinity purified RIIs by the C subunit of beef heart cAMP-dependent protein kinase did not alter this result. These data indicate that none of the RII subunits in soluble extracts of preovulatory follicle-enriched ovaries exhibit intrinsic topoisomerase I activity.     

The localization of tightly bound cardiolipin in cytochrome oxidase

One to two molecules of tightly bound cardiolipin are associated with resolved fractions of cytochrome oxidase containing subunits I to III or I to IV. Large scale isolation of subunits I to IV indicates the presence of approximately 0.5 molecule of cardiolipin per molecule of subunit I. Lipoprotein staining of sodium dodecyl sulfate/urea/acrylamide gels of cytochrome oxidase support the findings that subunit I is a lipoprotein. The resistance of this tightly bound cardiolipin to organic solvent extraction suggests a specific association of some tenacity with the protein.     

Comparative study of the peptide composition of Complex III (quinol-cytochromec reductase)

A comparative study has been made on the subunits of Complex III from beef heart, rat liver, Neurospora, and baker's yeast mitochondria. All of the subunits of the beef heart enzyme were similar to the counterpart subunit in rat liver Complex III, both with respect to their apparent molecular weights on SDS-polyacrylamide gels and their proteolytic digestion maps obtained in the presence of S. subtilus V8 protease. In contrast, the subunits of Neurospora and yeast Complex III varied considerably from the mammalian enzyme, as well as between themselves, the only exception being cytochrome b (subunit III). Less variation was observed in the electron transport peptides (IV-V) of higher and lower eukaryotes than in those subunits (I, II, VI-VIII) for which no functions are known. However, the data imply that subunits I, II, and VI-VIII are bona fide members of the complex, and that their functions within the complex, although unknown, are also somewhat conserved. Finally, the low-molecular-weight subunits of rat liver cytochrome oxidase and Complex III were compared. They appear to contain no subunits in common, implying different roles for these peptides in the two complexes.     

Subunit arrangement in beef heart complex III

Beef heart mitochondrial complex III was separated into 12 polypeptide bands representing 11 different subunits by using the electrophoresis conditions described by Sch?gger et al. [(1986) Methods Enzymol. 126, 224-237]. Eight of the 12 polypeptide bands were identified from their NH2-terminal sequences as obtained by electroblotting directly from the NaDodSO4-polyacrylamide gel onto a solid support. The topology of the subunits in complex III was explored by three different approaches. (1) Protease digestion experiments of submitochrondrial particles in the presence and absence of detergent showed that subunits II and VI are on the M side of the inner membrane and subunits V and XI on the C side. (2) Labeling experiments with the membrane-intercalated probes [125I]TID and arylazidoPE indicated that cytochrome b is the predominant bilayer embedded subunit of complex III, while the non-heme iron protein appears to be peripherally located. (3) Cross-linking studies with carbodiimides and homobifunctional cleavable reagents demonstrated that near-neighbor pairs include subunits I+II, II+VI, III+VI, IV+V, V+X, and reagents demonstrated that near-neighbor pairs include subunits I+II, II+VI, III+VI, IV+V, V+X, and VI+VII. The cytochrome c binding site was found to include subunits IV, VIII, and X. The combined data are used to provide an updated model for the topology of beef heart complex III.     

Epinephrine effects on cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases from rat diaphragms

Diaphragm extracts were subjected to electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels to separate the different molecular species of th cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Using cyclic [3H]AMP, three peaks of binding activity were observed. The peak closest to the origin (peak I) was associated with cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity and was abolished by incubation of the extracts with cyclic AMP prior to electrophoresis. The peak farthest from the origin (peak III) was devoid of kinase activity and was increased by incubation of extracts with cyclic AMP before electrophoresis; furthermore, when extracts were incubated with cyclic [3H]AMP before electrophoresis, essentially all the radioactivity appeared in peak III. Peak II, in an intermediate position, was also abolished by preincubation of the extracts with cyclic AMP and both its binding capacity and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity were lower than in Peak I. A peak of cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase (peak 0) that migrated more slowly than peak II was also detected. From these and other data it is concluded that peaks I and II are cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and that peak III is the dissociated regulatory subunit, respectively. Peak 0 is cyclic AMP-independent protein kinase together with free catalytic subunits from cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Incubation of rat diaphragms with epinephrine resulted in dose- and time-dependent decrease in peak I and increase in peak III. These changes correlated with the decrease of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase associated with peak I. No changes in Peak II were observed with epinephrine, but an increased peak 0 was noted. Changes in peak I and peak III correlated with the modification of glycogen synthase and glycogen phosphorylase activities. No regulatory subunits (peak III) were detected as phosphorylated forms in diaphragms previously equilibrated with 32P. Treatment with epinephrine produce no noticeable phosphorylation of these regulatory subunits.     

The bovine pro-carboxypeptidase A-S6 ternary complex: a rare case of a secreted protein complex

Up to now, a non-covalent ternary complex in which the pro-carboxypeptidase A (subunit I) is associated to two functionally different proteins (subunits II and III) has only been found in the pancreas of ruminant species. In the other species studied so far, the pro-carboxypeptidase A is secreted either as a monomer or as a binary association with a functionally different protein. Subunit I is the immediate precursor of carboxypeptidase A. Subunit II is a chymotrypsinogen of the C-type, involved, like subunit I, in the degradation of proteins and peptides. Although closely related to the pancreatic serine endopeptidases, subunit III appears to be devoid of any specific enzymatic activity. Information about the spatial organization of the subunits in the ternary complex has been deduced from the sequential dissociation of the complex. In contrast to the mechanism of activation of subunits I and II, which is independent of their aggregation state, the catalytic properties of the resulting enzymes are sensitive to their aggregation state. Moreover, the structural basis of inactivity of subunit III as well as the physiological role of the ternary complex are also discussed in this review.     

Domains on the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site for 40s subunit binding

The internal ribosome entry site (IRES) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA is known to interact with the 40S ribosomal subunit alone, in the absence of any additional initiation factors or Met-tRNAi. Previous work from this laboratory on the 80S and 48S ribosomal initiation complexes involving the HCV IRES showed that stem-loop III, the pseudoknot domain, and some coding sequence were protected from pancreatic RNase digestion. Stem-loop II is never protected by these complexes. Furthermore, there is no prior evidence reported showing extensive direct binding of stem-loop II to ribosomes or subunits. Using direct analysis of RNase-protected HCV IRES domains bound to 40S ribosomal subunits, we have determined that stem-loops II and III and the pseudoknot of the HCV IRES are involved in this initial binding step. The start AUG codon is only minimally protected. The HCV-40S subunit binary complex thus involves recognition and binding of stem-loop II, revealing its role in the first step of a multistep initiation process that may also involve rearrangement of the bound IRES RNA as it progresses.     

Hormonal effects on fat cell adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate dependent protein kinase

Fat cell extracts were electrophoresed on polyacrylamide gels to separate the regulatory subunit and holoenzyme species of protein kinase. Gels were incubated with cyclic [³H]AMP ([³H]cAMP) and washed, and the bound [³H]cAMP was estimated. The band of [³H]cAMP found closest to the origin (Peak I) was associated with cAMP-dependent protamine kinase activity. A seond [³H]cAMP peak (Peak II) also contained protamine kinase activity. Although the kinase activity of Peak II was much less than Peak I, more [³H]-cAMP was bound in Peak II than in Peak I. The [³H]cAMP peak furthest from the origin (Peak III) was devoid of kinase activity.Incubation of extracts with cAMP prior to electrophoresis diminished or abolished kinase activity in Peaks I and II. This incubation also decreased [³H]cAMP binding in Peaks I and II, and increased binding in Peak III. When extracts were incubated with [³H]cAMP before electrophoresis, essentially all of the radioactivity was found in Peak III. It was concluded that Peak I represents a holoenzyme form and that Peak III is composed of the regulatory subunits of this enzyme. Peak II may represent a relatively inactive holoenzyme form not previously described.Incubation of adipocytes with epinephrine resulted in a dose- and time-dependent decrease in Peak I and increase in Peak III, and insulin opposed these effects of epinephrine. After 1-min incubations with epinephrine, the decreases in Peak I or increases in Peak III correlated with increases in phosphorylase a activity, decreases in glycogen synthase I activity and changes in cAMP, both in the presence and absence of insulin. However, after incubation with epinephrine for more than 2 min in the presence of insulin, phosphorylase a activity did not correlate with cAMP, suggesting that factors other than the cyclic nucleotide mediate the effects of epinephrine and insulin.     

Differential modulation of mitochondrial OXPHOS system during HIV-1 induced T-cell apoptosis: up regulation of Complex-IV subunit COX-II and its possible implications

Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1) infection leads to CD4+ T cell depletion primarily by apoptosis employing both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Although extensive literature exists about the role of mitochondrial proteins in HIV induced T cell apoptosis, there is little understanding about the role of different components of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system in apoptosis. The OXPHOS system comprises of five enzyme complexes (Complex I, II, III, IV, V), subunits of which have been implicated in various functions in addition to their primary role in energy generating process. Here using differential gene expression analysis, we report that Cytochrome Oxidase-II (COX-II), a subunit of Complex-IV is induced in HIV infected apoptotic T-cells. We also observe a temporal up regulation of this subunit across different T-cell lines and in human PBMCs. Further analysis indicates increase in expression of majority of Complex-IV subunits with concomitant increase in Complex-IV activity in HIV infected T cells. Silencing of COX-II expression leads to reduced apoptosis in infected T-cells, indicating its importance in apoptosis. Furthermore, our results also show that the activities of enzyme complexes I, II and III are decreased while those of Complex IV and V are increased at the time of acute infection and apoptosis. This differential regulation in activities of OXPHOS system complexes indicate a complex modulation of host cell energy generating system during HIV infection that ultimately leads to T cell apoptosis.     

Nucleotide binding sites and chemical modification of the chromaffin granule proton ATPase

The purified proton ATPase of chromaffin granules contains five different polypeptides denoted as subunits I to V in the order of decreasing molecular weights of 115,000, 72,000, 57,000, 39,000, and 17,000, respectively. The purified enzyme was reconstituted as a highly active proton pump, and the binding of N-ethylmaleimide and nucleotides to individual subunits was studied. N-Ethylmaleimide binds to subunits I, II, and IV, but inhibition of both ATPase and proton pumping activity correlated with binding to subunit II. In the presence of ADP, the saturation curve of ATP changed from hyperbolic to a sigmoid shape, suggesting that the proton ATPase is an allosteric enzyme. Upon illumination of the purified enzyme in the presence of micromolar concentrations of 8-azido-ATP, alpha-[35S]ATP, or alpha-[32P]ATP subunits I, II, and IV were labeled. However, at concentrations of alpha-[32P]ATP below 0.1 microM, subunit II was exclusively labeled in both the purified and reconstituted enzyme. This labeling was absolutely dependent on the presence of divalent cations, like Mg2+ and Mn2+, while Ca2+, Co2+, and Zn2+ had little or no effect. About 0.2 mM Mg2+ was required to saturate the reaction even in the presence of 50 nM alpha-[32P]ATP, suggesting a specific and separate Mg2+ binding site on the enzyme. Nitrate, sulfate, and thiocyanate at 100 mM or N-ethylmaleimide and 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole at 100 microM prevented the binding of the nucleotide to subunit II. The labeling of this subunit was effectively prevented by micromolar concentrations of three phosphonucleotides including those that cannot serve as substrate for the enzyme. It is concluded that a tightly bound ADP on subunit II is necessary for the activity of the enzyme.