The effect of Mg2+ on the Ca2+-binding properties of non-activated phosphorylase kinase.

The calcium binding properties of non-activated phosphorylase kinase at pH 6.8 have been studied by the gel filtration technique at calcium concentrations from 50 nM to 50 muM. Taking into account the subunit structure alpha4beta4gamma4 the enzyme binds 12 mol Ca2+ per mol with an association constant of 6.0 X 10(7) M-1, 4 mol with an association constant of 1.7 X 10(6) M-1 and 36 mol with a binding constant of 3.9 X 10(4) M-1 at low ionic strength. In buffer of high ionic strength, i.e. 180 mM NH4Cl or 60 mM (NH4)2SO4, only a single set of eight binding sites with a binding constant of 5.5 X 10(7) M-1 is left. In a buffer containing 155 mM NH4Cl and 10 mM MgCl2, the calcium affinity of these sites is reduced to a KCa of 3.0 X 10(6) M-1, indicating competition between Ca2+ and Mg2+. From these measurements, the binding constant of Mg2+ for these sites is calculated to be 1.7 X 10(3) M-1 is left. In a buffer containing 155 mM NH4Cl and 10 mM MgCl2, the calcium affinity of these sites is reduced to a KCa of 3.0 X 10(6) M-1, indicating competition between Ca2+ and Mg2+. from these measurements, the binding constant of Mg2+ for these sites is calculated to be 1.7 X 10(3) M-1. Additionally, 10 mM Mg2+ induces a set of four new Ca2+ binding sites which show positive cooperativity. Their half-saturation constant under the conditions described is 3.5 X 10(5) M-1, and they, too, exhibit competition between Ca2+ and Mg2+. Since this set of sites is induced by Mg2+ a third group of binding sites for the latter metal must be postulated.     

Influence of Ca++ and Mg++ on the vanadate inhibition of the Ca++- ATPase from pig heart sarcoplasmic reticulum

Vanadate inhibits the Ca⁺⁺-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum from pig heart half maximally at about 10^?5 M. Mg⁺⁺ promotes this inhibition by vanadate whereas increasing Ca⁺⁺-concentrations protect the enzyme against vanadate inhibition. Keeping the ratio $\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{++}}\text{ATP}$ constant there was no influence of ATP on the vanadate inhibition at concentrations up to 5 × 10^?3 M ATP. Whenever the ratio $\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{++}}\text{ATP}$ was higher than 1:1 the inhibitory effect of vanadate on the Ca⁺⁺-ATPase was increased.     

Active Uptake of Ca++ and Ca++-Activated Mg++ ATPase in Red Cell Membrane Fragments

Isolated human red blood cell membrane fragments (RBCMF) were found to take up Ca⁺⁺ in the presence of ATP.¹ This ATP-dependent Ca⁺⁺ uptake by RBCMF appears to be the manifestation of an active Ca⁺⁺ transport mechanism in the red cell membrane reported previously (Schatzmann, 1966; Lee and Shin, 1969). The influences of altering experimental conditions on Ca⁺⁺-stimulated Mg⁺⁺ ATPase (Ca⁺⁺ ATPase) and Ca⁺⁺ uptake of RBCMF were studied. It was found that pretreatment of RBCMF at 50°C abolished both Ca⁺⁺ ATPase and Ca⁺⁺ uptake. Pretreatment of RBCMF with phospholipases A and C decreased both Ca⁺⁺ ATPase and Ca⁺⁺ uptake, whereas pretreatment with phospholipase D did not significantly alter either Ca⁺⁺ ATPase or Ca⁺⁺ uptake. Both Ca⁺⁺ ATPase and Ca⁺⁺ uptake had ATP specificity, similar optimum pH's, and optimum incubation temperatures. From these results, it was concluded that Ca⁺⁺ uptake is intimately linked to Ca⁺⁺ ATPase.     

The effects of external Ca++ and Mg++ on the voltage sensitivity of desensitization in Electrophorus electroplaques

Desensitization onset was studied in voltage-clamped Electrophorus electroplaques during prolonged exposure to bath-applied carbamylcholine. The time-course of desensitization was described by a first-order rate constant kappa obs, which increased exponentially with membrane hyperpolarization from -20 to -90 mV. When Ca++ was increased from 2 to 10 mM, the voltage sensitivity of kappa obs decreased; kappa obs decreased for voltages more negative than -40 mV, and increased slightly at voltages more positive than -40 mV. 10 mM Mg++ had a less pronounced effect and the voltage sensitivity of kappa obs was unchanged. The equilibrium level of desensitization, estimated from the carbamylcholine-dependent conductance which remained after desensitization was apparently complete, also increased with hyperpolarization.     

The effect of troponin C removal on the Ca2+-sensitive binding of Mg2+ AMPPNP to myofibrils

It was previously shown that when rabbit skeletal myofibrils are titrated with Mg2+ AMPPNP under conditions that result in the dissociation of cross-bridges from the thin filaments (i.e. 50% ethylene glycol, 0 degrees C), Ca2+-sensitive, biphasic binding is observed. These titrations have been repeated using myofibrils from which the troponin C has been selectively removed. The disappearance of both Ca2+ sensitivity and biphasic binding is taken as evidence that the Ca2+ sensitivity is due to Ca2+ binding to troponin C and the biphasic binding of Mg2+ AMPPNP observed in intact myofibrils is not due to packing constraints or steric hindrance.     

The effect of Mg2+ on the Ca2+ binding to troponin C in rabbit fast skeletal myofibrils.

The effect of Mg2+ on the Ca2+ binding to rabbit fast skeletal troponin C and the CA2+ dependence of myofibrillar ATPase activity was studied in the physiological state where troponin C was incorporated into myofibrils. The Ca2+ binding to troponin C in myofibrils was measured directly by 45Ca using the CDTA-treated myofibrils as previously reported (Morimoto, S. and Ohtsuki, I. (1989) J. Biochem. 105, 435-439). It was found that the Ca2+ binding to the low and high affinity sites of troponin C in myofibrils was affected by Mg2+ competitively and the Ca2(+)- and Mg2(+)-binding constants were 6.20 x 10(6) and 1.94 x 10(2) M-1, respectively, for the low affinity sites, and 1.58 x 10(8) and 1.33 x 10(3) M-1, respectively, for the high affinity sites. The Ca2+ dependence of myofibrillar ATPase was also affected by Mg2+, with the apparent Ca2(+)- and Mg2(+)-binding constants of 1.46 x 10(6) and 276 x 10(2) M-1, respectively, suggesting that the myofibrillar ATPase was modulated through a competitive action of Mg2+ on Ca2+ binding to the low affinity sites, though the Ca2+ binding to the low affinity sites was not simply related to the myofibrillar ATPase.     

Evidence for the influence of the protein-phospholipid interface on sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca++ Mg++ ATPase activity.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum from the white hind leg muscle of the rabbit was examined with 31P nuclear magnetic resonance as a nonperturbing probe of phospholipid-protein interactions in the intact membrane. The phospholipids of the sarcoplasmic reticulum appear to inhabit two distinct environments: one very similar in behavior to pure phospholipid lamellar dispersions and the other immobilized by the protein in the membrane. Measurement of the population of the latter environment suggests that it is dependent on salt concentration and probably not due to the Ca++ Mg++ ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. This immobilization can be removed completely by papain proteolysis of the membrane protein, but only partially by trypsin treatment. The phospholipid composition of recombinants with the Ca++ Mg++ ATPase was varied in order to look for effects of the phospholipid-protein interface on enzymatic activity of the Ca++ Mg++ ATPase. Both transphosphatidylated phosphatidylethanolamine (from egg phosphatidylcholine) and bovine brain phosphatidylserine readily partitioned into the putative boundary layer, whereas under the same conditions soybean phosphatidylethanolamine was excluded. Only phosphatidylserine affected the activity of the enzyme, causing an inhibition that was proportional to the phosphatidylserine content, relative to phosphatidylcholine.     

NMR analysis of the Mg2+-binding properties of aequorin, a Ca2+-binding photoprotein

Aequorin, which is a calcium-sensitive photoprotein and a member of the EF-hand superfamily, binds to Mg2+ under physiological conditions, which modulates its light emission. The Mg2+ binding site and its stabilizing influence were examined by NMR spectroscopy. The binding of Mg2+ to aequorin prevented the molecule from aggregating and stabilized it in the monomeric form. To determine the structural differences between Mg2+-bound and free aequorin, we have performed backbone NMR assignments of aequorin in the Mg2+-free state. Mg2+ binding induces conformational changes that are localized in the EF-hand loops. The chemical shift difference data indicated that there are two Mg2+-binding sites, EF-hands I and III. The Mg2+ titration experiment revealed that EF-hand III binds to Mg2+ with higher affinity than EF-hand I, and that only EF-hand III seems to be occupied by Mg2+ under physiological conditions.     

Conformational properties of Ca2+-binding segments of proteins from the troponin C superfamily

The troponin C superfamily consists of about 100 Ca2+-binding proteins. Sequence variations observed in these proteins have been analyzed and lead to the following conclusions. (1) There are some strict rules defining the set of calcium ligands necessary for effective Ca2+ binding. (2) If they are fulfilled, the Ca2+ binding constant depends on tertiary interactions within a protein, as well as the free energy of secondary structures of its polypeptide chain. The former provide a constant contribution to the free energy of protein folding and the Ca2+-binding process. (3) The observed variety in Ca2+-binding constants of these proteins results from the various abilities of segments of these proteins to assume the correct secondary structure.