Assembly of the alpha-subunit of Torpedo californica Na+/K(+)-ATPase with its pre-existing beta-subunit in Xenopus oocytes

The alpha- and beta-subunits of Torpedo californica Na+/K(+)-ATPase were expressed in turn in single oocytes by alternately microinjecting the specific mRNAs for the alpha- and beta-subunits. The mRNA first injected was degraded prior to the injection of the second mRNA by injecting the antisense oligonucleotide specific for the first mRNA. The pre-existing beta-subunit, which had been synthesized by injecting mRNA for the beta-subunit, could assemble with the alpha-subunit expressed later in the single oocytes and the resulting alpha beta complex acquired both ouabain-binding and Na+/K(+)-ATPase activities. On the other hand, formation of the alpha beta complex was not detected when the alpha-subunit was expressed first, followed by the beta-subunit. These data suggest that the beta-subunit acts as a receptor or a stabilizer for the alpha-subunit upon the biogenesis of Na+/K(+)-ATPase.     

Beta 1- and beta 3-subunits can associate with presynthesized alpha-subunits of Xenopus oocyte Na,K-ATPase.

Oligomerization of newly synthesized alpha- and beta-subunits is a prerequisite for the structural and functional maturation of Na,K-ATPase. In this study, we have tested the competence of presynthesized alpha- and beta-subunits to assemble into functional enzyme complexes. Antisense oligonucleotides complementary to alpha-mRNA were used to inhibit alpha-subunit synthesis in Xenopus oocytes leaving a presynthesized trypsin-sensitive alpha-subunit pool. beta-Subunits expressed in these oocytes from injected cRNA assembled with the preexisting alpha-subunits, rendered them trypsin-resistant, and permitted the expression of more ouabain binding sites at the plasma membrane. Similarly, presynthesized beta 1- or beta 3-subunits produced in Xenopus oocytes by injection of beta-cRNA and later of specific antisense oligonucleotides were stabilized and transported out of the endoplasmic reticulum when alpha-cRNA was injected into oocytes. These data indicate that alpha- and beta-subunits can insert into endoplasmic reticulum membranes independent of each other in an assembly-competent form and retain their ability for oligomerization after synthesis.     

Fluorometric measurements of intermolecular distances between the alpha- and beta-subunits of the Na+/K+-ATPase

The Na+/K+-ATPase maintains the physiological Na+ and K+ gradients across the plasma membrane in most animal cells. The functional unit of the ion pump is comprised of two mandatory subunits including the alpha-subunit, which mediates ATP hydrolysis and ion translocation, as well as the beta-subunit, which acts as a chaperone to promote proper membrane insertion and trafficking in the plasma membrane. To examine the conformational dynamics between the alpha- and beta-subunits of the Na+/K+-ATPase during ion transport, we have used fluorescence resonance energy transfer, under voltage clamp conditions on Xenopus laevis oocytes, to differentiate between two models that have been proposed for the relative orientation of the alpha- and beta-subunits. These experiments were performed by measuring the time constant of irreversible donor fluorophore destruction with fluorescein-5-maleimide as the donor fluorophore and in the presence or absence of tetramethylrhodamine-6-maleimide as the acceptor fluorophore following labeling on the M3-M4 or M5-M6 loop of the alpha-subunit and the beta-subunit. We have also used fluorescence resonance energy transfer to investigate the relative movement between the two subunits as the ion pump shuttles between the two main conformational states (E1 and E2) as described by the Albers-Post scheme. The results from this study have identified a model for the orientation of the beta-subunit in relation to the alpha-subunit and suggest that the alpha- and beta-subunits move toward each other during the E2 to E1 conformational transition.     

Mutational study on the roles of disulfide bonds in the beta-subunit of gastric H+,K+-ATPase

The gastric proton pump, H(+),K(+)-ATPase, consists of the catalytic alpha-subunit and the non-catalytic beta-subunit. Correct assembly between the alpha- and beta-subunits is essential for the functional expression of H(+),K(+)-ATPase. The beta-subunit contains nine conserved cysteine residues; two are in the cytoplasmic domain, one in the transmembrane domain, and six in the ectodomain. The six cysteine residues in the ectodomain form three disulfide bonds. In this study, we replaced each of the cysteine residues of the beta-subunit with serine individually and in several combinations. The mutant beta-subunits were co-expressed with the alpha-subunit in human embryonic kidney 293 cells, and the role of each cysteine residue or disulfide bond in the alpha/beta assembly, stability, and cell surface delivery of the alpha- and beta-subunits and H(+),K(+)-ATPase activity was studied. Mutant beta-subunits with a replacement of the cytoplasmic and transmembrane cysteines preserved H(+),K(+)-ATPase activity. All the mutant beta-subunits with replacement(s) of the extracellular cysteines did not assemble with the alpha-subunit, resulting in loss of H(+),K(+)-ATPase activity. These mutants did not permit delivery of the alpha-subunit to the cell surface. Therefore, each of these disulfide bonds of the beta-subunit is essential for assembly with the alpha-subunit and expression of H(+),K(+)-ATPase activity as well as for cell surface delivery of the alpha-subunit.     

The roles of carbohydrate chains of the beta-subunit on the functional expression of gastric H(+),K(+)-ATPase

Gastric H(+),K(+)-ATPase consists of alpha and beta-subunits. The alpha-subunit is the catalytic subunit, and the beta-subunit is a glycoprotein stabilizing the alpha/beta complex in the membrane as a functional enzyme. There are seven putative N-glycosylation sites on the beta-subunit. In this study, we examined the roles of the carbohydrate chains of the beta-subunit by expressing the alpha-subunit together with the beta-subunit in which one, several, or all of the asparagine residues in the N-glycosylation sites were replaced by glutamine. Removing any one of seven carbohydrate chains from the beta-subunit retained the H(+),K(+)-ATPase activity. The effects of a series of progressive removals of carbohydrate chains on the H(+),K(+)-ATPase activity were cumulative, and removal of all carbohydrate chains resulted in the complete loss of H(+), K(+)-ATPase activity. Removal of any single carbohydrate chain did not affect the alpha/beta assembly; however, little alpha/beta assembly was observed after removal of all the carbohydrate chains from the beta-subunit. In contrast, removal of three carbohydrate chains inhibited the surface delivery of the beta-subunit and the alpha-subunit assembled with the beta-subunit, indicating that the surface delivery mechanism is more dependent on the carbohydrate chains than the expression of the H(+),K(+)-ATPase activity and alpha/beta assembly.     

Pig kidney Na+,K+-ATPase. Primary structure and spatial organization

cDNAs complementary to pig kidney mRNAs coding for alpha- and beta-subunits of Na+,K+-ATPase were cloned and sequenced. Selective tryptic hydrolysis of the alpha-subunit within the membrane-bound enzyme and tryptic hydrolysis of the immobilized isolated beta-subunit were also performed. The mature alpha- and beta-subunits contain 1016 and 302 amino acid residues, respectively. Structural data on the peptides from extramembrane regions of the alpha-subunit and on glycopeptides of the beta-subunit underlie a model for the transmembrane arrangement of Na+,K+-ATPase polypeptide chains.     

Asymmetric orientation of amino groups in the alpha-subunit and the beta-subunit of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in tight right-side-out vesicles of basolateral membranes from outer medulla

The orientation of amino groups in the membrane in the alpha- and beta-subunits of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase was examined by labeling with Boldon-Hunter reagent, N-succinimidyl 3-(4-hydroxy,5-[125I]iodophenyl)propionate), in right-side-out vesicles or in open membrane fragments from the thick ascending limbs of the Henles loop of pig kidney. Sealed right-side-out vesicles of basolateral membranes were separated from open membrane fragments by centrifugation in a linear metrizamide density gradient. After labeling, (Na+ + K+)-ATPase was purified using a micro-scale version of the ATP-SDS procedure. Distribution of label was analyzed after SDS-gel electrophoresis of alpha-subunit, beta-subunit and proteolytic fragments of alpha-subunit. Both the alpha- and the beta-subunit of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase are uniformly labeled, but the distribution of labeled residues on the two membrane surfaces differs markedly. All the labeled residues in the beta-subunit are located on the extracellular surface. In the alpha-subunit, 65-80% of modified groups are localized to the cytoplasmic surface and 20-35% to the extracellular membrane surface. Proteolytic cleavage provides evidence for the random distribution of 125I-labeling within the alpha-subunit. The preservation of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity and the observation of distinct proteolytic cleavage patterns of the E1- and E2-forms of the alpha-subunit show that the native enzyme structure is unaffected by labeling with Bolton-Hunter reagent. Bolton-Hunter reagent was shown not to permeate into sheep erythrocytes under the conditions of the labeling experiment. The data therefore allow the conclusion that the mass distribution is asymmetric, with all the labeled amino groups in the beta-subunit being on the extracellular surface, while the alpha-subunit exposes 2.6-fold more amino groups on the cytoplasmic than on the extracellular surface.     

Membrane insertion of alpha- and beta-subunits of Na+,K+-ATPase

Insertion of the alpha- and beta-subunits of amphibian epithelial Na+,K+-ATPase into pancreatic microsomes in cell-free systems was shown to be the same as into membranes of intact cells. The glycoproteic beta-subunit was observed to be cotranslationally inserted into endoplasmic reticulum membranes and to adopt a different pattern of N-linked core and terminal sugars in two different amphibian species. The beta-subunit lacks a cleavable signal sequence but quantitative membrane integration required membrane addition at the start of synthesis. Proteolysis of beta-subunit assembled in vitro indicated a cleavable cytoplasmic domain of about 2000 daltons. The catalytic 98-kilodalton alpha-subunit was also membrane-associated during its synthesis in an alkali-resistant fashion and independent of newly synthesized beta-subunit. In contrast to the beta-subunit, membrane integration of the alpha-subunit was possible as late as a time point in its synthesis which corresponded to about 1/3-1/2 of completion of the nascent chain. A small 34 kDa trypsin-resistant fragment of the alpha-subunit was produced at an early stage of synthesis both in the intact cell and in the cell-free system. These results suggest that membrane insertion of both alpha- and beta-subunit occurs during their synthesis but with a different time course.     

Assembly of a hybrid from the alpha subunit of Na+/K(+)-ATPase and the beta subunit of H+/K(+)-ATPase.

Messenger RNA for the alpha subunit of Torpedo californica Na+/K(+)-ATPase was injected into Xenopus oocytes together with that of the beta subunit of rabbit H+/K(+)-ATPase. The Na+/K(+)-ATPase alpha subunit was assembled in the microsomal membranes with the H+/K(+)-ATPase beta subunit, and became resistant to trypsin. These results suggest that the H+/K(+)-ATPase beta subunit facilitates the stable assembly of the Na+/K(+)-ATPase alpha subunit in microsomes.     

Stable expression of gastric proton pump activity at the cell surface

Stable cell lines expressing the gastric proton pump alpha- and/or beta-subunits were constructed. The cell line co-expressing the alpha- and beta-subunits showed inward Rb(+) transport, which was activated by Rb(+) in a concentration-dependent manner. In the alpha+beta-expressing cell line, rapid recovery of intracellular pH was also observed after acid load, indicating that this cell line transported protons outward. These ion transport activities were inhibited by a proton pump inhibitor, 2-methyl-8-(phenylmethoxy)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-acetonitrile (SCH 28080). In a membrane fraction of the alpha+beta-expressing cell line, K(+)-stimulated ATPase (K(+)-ATPase) activity and the acylphosphorylation of the alpha-subunit were observed, both of which were also inhibited by SCH 28080. The specific activity and properties of the K(+)-ATPase were comparable to those found in the native gastric proton pump. In the stable cell lines, the alpha-subunit was retained in the intracellular compartment and was unstable in the absence of the beta-subunit, but it was stabilized and reached the cell surface in the presence of the beta-subunit. On the other hand, the beta-subunit was stable and able to travel to the cell surface in the absence of the alpha-subunit. These cell lines are ideal for the structure-function study of ion transport by the gastric proton pump as well as for characterization of the cellular regulation of surface expression of the functional proton pump.     

Cytoplasmic and transmembrane domain deletions of Na,K-ATPase beta-subunit. Effects on subunit assembly and intracellular transport.

cDNAs encoding Na,K-ATPase beta-subunits containing deletions in the cytoplasmic domain or in the single membrane-spanning domain of the molecule were constructed and expressed in mouse L cells to determine the effect(s) of deletions in these domains on alpha/beta-subunit assembly and intracellular targeting. Avian beta-subunits lacking some or all of the cytoplasmic domain (endodomain) assemble with the endogenous mouse alpha-subunit and are correctly transported to the plasma membrane. Mutants containing deletions in the transmembrane domain were constructed by fusing portions of cDNAs encoding the amino-terminal one-third of human beta-subunit deletion mutants with avian beta-subunit cDNA encoding the carboxyl two-thirds of the molecule. A deletion of 3 amino acids in transmembrane domain resulted in correct alpha/beta-subunit assembly and localization to the plasma membrane. In contrast, deletions of 5 or more amino acids in the transmembrane domain prevented expression of the beta-subunit at the cell surface and resulted in the accumulation of these molecules in the ER. In spite of these targeting differences, all beta-subunit mutants capable of membrane insertion were also able to assemble with the alpha-subunit. These results suggest that the specificity for alpha/beta assembly resides in the ectodomains of the subunits.     

Chimeric domain analysis of the compatibility between H(+), K(+)-ATPase and Na(+),K(+)-ATPase beta-subunits for the functional expression of gastric H(+),K(+)-ATPase.

Gastric H(+),K(+)-ATPase consists of alpha-subunit with 10 transmembrane domains and beta-subunit with a single transmembrane domain. We constructed cDNAs encoding chimeric beta-subunits between the gastric H(+),K(+)-ATPase and Na(+),K(+)-ATPase beta-subunits and co-transfected them with the H(+),K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit cDNA in HEK-293 cells. A chimeric beta-subunit that consists of the cytoplasmic plus transmembrane domains of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase beta-subunit and the ectodomain of H(+),K(+)-ATPase beta-subunit assembled with the H(+),K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit and expressed the K(+)-ATPase activity. Therefore, the whole cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains of H(+),K(+)-ATPase beta-subunit were replaced by those of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase beta-subunit without losing the enzyme activity. However, most parts of the ectodomain of H(+),K(+)-ATPase beta-subunit were not replaced by the corresponding domains of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase beta-subunit. Interestingly, the extracellular segment between Cys(152) and Cys(178), which contains the second disulfide bond, was exchangeable between H(+),K(+)-ATPase and Na(+), K(+)-ATPase, preserving the K(+)-ATPase activity intact. Furthermore, the K(+)-ATPase activity was preserved when the N-terminal first 4 amino acids ((67)DPYT(70)) in the ectodomain of H(+),K(+)-ATPase beta-subunit were replaced by the corresponding amino acids ((63)SDFE(66)) of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase beta-subunit. The ATPase activity was abolished, however, when 4 amino acids ((76)QLKS(79)) in the ectodomain of H(+),K(+)-ATPase beta-subunit were replaced by the counterpart ((72)RVAP(75)) of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase beta-subunit, indicating that this region is the most N-terminal one that discriminates the H(+),K(+)-ATPase beta-subunit from that of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase.     

Detailed structural analysis of exposed domains of membrane-bound Na+,K+-ATPase. A model of transmembrane arrangement

Exposed regions of the alpha- and beta-subunits of membrane-bound Na+,K+-ATPase were in turn hydrolyzed with trypsin. Resistance of the beta-subunit to proteolysis was shown to be due mainly to the presence of disulfide bridge(s) in the molecule. A model for the spatial organisation of the enzyme in the membrane was proposed on the basis of detailed structural analysis of extramembrane regions of both subunits.     

Spatial relationship and conformational changes between the cardiac glycoside site and beta-subunit oligosaccharides in sodium plus potassium activated adenosinetriphosphatase

(Na,K)-ATPase, the enzyme responsible for active transport of Na and K across the plasma membranes of animal cells, consists of a catalytic subunit (alpha) and a glycoprotein subunit (beta) with unknown function. We have determined the distance between fluorescent probes directed to specific sites on the alpha- and beta-subunits and ligand-induced changes in the fluorescence of a probe specifically attached to the beta-subunit. The cardiac glycoside site on the alpha-subunit was labeled with anthroylouabain [Fortes, P. A. G. (1977) Biochemistry 16, 531-540]. The oligosaccharides on the beta-subunit were labeled with lucifer yellow carbohydrazide [Lee, J. A., & Fortes, P. A. G. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 322-330]. Resonance energy transfer from anthroylouabain to lucifer yellow was measured by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The distance between these probes was determined from the efficiency of energy transfer. The average distance between anthroylouabain and lucifer yellow was 47 A and was independent of the number of acceptor molecules attached to the beta-subunit. The measured distance corresponds to the distance between the cardiac glycoside site and the center of the labeled oligosaccharides on the beta-subunit within one alpha beta dimer. The distance was the same (47 A) when anthroylouabain was bound with ATP or Pi as phosphorylating ligands but increased to 49 A in the presence of vanadate. The change in average distance provides quantitative evidence of a conformational difference between the complexes of cardiac glycosides with (Na,K)-ATPase induced by phosphorylating ligands or by vanadate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The existence and properties of two dimers of rat liver ecto-5''-nucleotidase.

Immunoaffinity-purified rat liver 5'-nucleotidase contained two subunits of Mr 70 000 (alpha) and 38 000 (beta). Charge-shift electrophoresis and chemical cross-linking revealed that approx. 80% of the solubilized enzyme activity occurred as an alpha alpha-dimer of Mr 140 000. The remaining 20% was an alpha beta-dimer of Mr 108 000. The beta-subunit did not possess enzymic activity. Peptide mapping and immunoblotting with antibodies against the alpha- and beta-subunits showed that the beta-subunit was homologous with a part of the alpha-subunit. Three monoclonal antibodies against rat liver 5'-nucleotidase were characterized as binding to the extracellular domain of the enzyme. All three monoclonal antibodies and concanavalin A bound to the alpha-subunit, but no binding could be detected to the beta-subunit. It was therefore concluded that the beta-subunit was a fragment of an alpha-subunit that had lost an extracellular domain. Both forms of the enzyme occurred in freshly solubilized membrane preparations as well.     

Structure of the extra-membranous domain of the beta-subunit of (Na,K)-ATPase revealed by the sequences of its tryptic peptides

Membrane bound dog kidney (Na,K)-ATPase was digested with trypsin. The peptides that were recovered in the supernatant were purified and sequenced. By comparing these results with the sequence of alpha- and human beta-subunits, the location of each of the peptides could be allotted. Both accessibility to trypsin and the facility of release into the water phase indicated that these peptides were derived from the exposed surface of the intact enzyme. The sequence, GXGXXG, reported in the Torpedo californica beta-subunit [(1986) FEBS Lett. 196, 315-319] was likely a mere coincidence with the sequence of the dinucleotide-binding site, since the last glycine was replaced by proline in the sequence of the dog beta-subunit. A disulfide bridge was found within a peptide derived from the beta-subunit. A possible model for the beta-subunit structure is proposed.     

The H,K-ATPase beta-subunit can act as a surrogate for the beta-subunit of Na,K-pumps.

Na,K-ATPase and H,K-ATPase are the only members of the P-type ATPases in which a glycosylated beta-subunit is part of the purified active enzyme. In this study, we have followed the synthesis and the posttranslational processing of the beta-subunit of H,K-ATPase (beta HK) in Xenopus oocytes injected with beta HK cRNA and have tested whether it can act as a surrogate for the beta-subunit of Na,K-ATPase (beta NaK) to support the functional expression of Na,K-pumps. In Xenopus oocytes, beta HK is processed from an Endo H-sensitive 51-kDa coreglycosylated form to an Endo H-resistant 71-kDa fully glycosylated form. Similar to beta NaK, beta HK can stabilize and increase the trypsin resistance of alpha-subunits of Na,K-ATPase (alpha NaK). Finally, expression of beta HK together with alpha NaK leads to an increased number of ouabain binding sites at the plasma membrane accompanied by an increased Rb+ uptake and Na,K-pump current. Our data suggest that beta HK, similar to beta NaK, can assemble to alpha NaK, support the structural maturation and the intracellular transport of catalytic alpha NaK, and ultimately form active alpha NaK-beta HK complexes with Na,K-pump transport properties.     

Differentiated analysis of the secondary structure of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions in alpha- and beta-subunits of Na+,K+-ATPase by Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectra of active Na+,K+-ATPase from pig kidney and membrane-bound products of its two-stage trypsinolysis, including alpha-subunit hydrophobic regions as well as the intact beta-subunit and hydrophobic regions of alpha- and beta-subunits, were measured to calculate the secondary structure of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions of the enzyme. Consequent comparison demonstrated unambiguously that (i) membrane-bound hydrophobic parts of polypeptide chains of Na+,K+-ATPase subunits are in the alpha-helical conformation; (ii) essential contents of the alpha-helix as well as beta-sheet are estimated to form the hydrophilic (mainly cytoplasmic) domain of the Na+,K+-ATPase alpha-subunit; (iii) the exoplasmic hydrophilic domain of the beta-subunit is shown to include several antiparallel beta-pleated sheets and a small amount of the alpha-helix and unordered conformations. The model of the secondary structure organization of hydrophilic domains as well as 8 hydrophobic transmembrane segments of the enzyme molecule was proposed on the basis of experimental results and predictional calculations.     

Trinitrophenyl-ATP and -ADP bind to a single nucleotide site on isolated beta-subunit of Escherichia coli F1-ATPase. In vitro assembly of F1-subunits requires occupancy of the nucleotide-binding site on beta-subunit by nucleoside triphosphate

The stoichiometry of nucleotide binding to the isolated alpha- and beta-subunits of Escherichia coli F1-ATPase was investigated using two experimental techniques: (a) titration with fluorescent trinitrophenyl (TNP) derivatives of AMP, ADP, and ATP and (b) the centrifuge column procedure using the particular conditions of Khananshvili and Gromet-Elhanan (Khananshvili, D., and Gromet-Elhanan, Z. (1985) FEBS Lett. 178, 10-14). Both procedures showed that alpha-subunit contains one nucleotide-binding site, confirming previous work. TNP-ADP and TNP-ATP bound to a maximal level of 1 mol/mol beta-subunit, consistent with previous equilibrium dialysis studies which showed isolated beta-subunit bound 1 mol of ADP or ATP per mol (Issartel, J. P., and Vignais, P. V. (1984) Biochemistry 23, 6591-6595). However, binding of only approximately 0.1 mol of ATP or ADP per mol of beta-subunit was detected using centrifuge columns. Our results are consistent with the conclusion that each of the alpha- and beta-subunits contains one nucleotide-binding domain. Because the subunit stoichiometry is alpha 3 beta 3 gamma delta epsilon, this can account for the location of the six known nucleotide-binding sites in E. coli F1-ATPase. Studies of in vitro assembly of isolated alpha-, beta-, and gamma- subunits into an active ATPase showed that ATP, GTP, and ITP all supported assembly, with half-maximal reconstitution of ATPase occurring at concentrations of 100-200 microM, whereas ADP, GDP, and IDP did not. Also TNP-ATP supported assembly and TNP-ADP did not. The results demonstrate that (a) the nucleotide-binding site on beta-subunit has to be filled for enzyme assembly to proceed, whereas occupancy of the alpha-subunit nucleotide-binding site is not required, and (b) that enzyme assembly requires nucleoside triphosphate.