Characterization of a High-Affinity Mg2+-Independent Ca2+-ATPase from Rat Brain Synaptosomal Membranes

A high-affinity Mg2+-independent Ca2+-ATPase (Ca2+-ATPase) has been differentiated from the Mg2+-dependent, Ca2+-stimulated ATPase (Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase) in rat brain synaptosomal membranes. Using ATP as a substrate, the K0.5 of Ca2+ for Ca2+-ATPase was found to be 1.33 microM with a Km for ATP of 19 microM and a Vmax of 33 nmol/mg/min. Using Ca-ATP as a substrate, the Km for Ca-ATP was found to be 0.22 microM. Unlike Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase was not inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, trifluoperazine, lanthanum, zinc, or vanadate. La3+ and Zn2+, in contrast, stimulated the enzyme activity. Unlike Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase activity, ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake was negligible in the absence of added Mg2+, indicating that the Ca2+ transport into synaptosomal endoplasmic reticulum may not be a function of the Ca2+-ATPase described. Ca2+-ATPase activity was not stimulated by the monovalent cations Na+ or K+. Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase demonstrated a substrate preference for ATP and ADP, but not GTP, whereas Ca2+-ATPase hydrolyzed ATP and GTP, and to a lesser extent ADP. The results presented here suggest the high-affinity Mg2+-independent Ca2+-ATPase may be a separate form from Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase. The capacity of Mg2+-independent Ca2+-ATPase to hydrolyze GTP suggests this protein may be involved in GTP-dependent activities within the cell.     

Cardiac sarcolemmal and sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane vesicles exhibit distinctive (Ca-Mg)-ATPase substrate specificities

The nucleoside 5'-triphosphate (NTP) substrate specificities for Ca-stimulated ATPase and ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake activities have been examined in cardiac sarcolemma (SL) and sarcoplasmic (SR) membrane vesicles. The results indicate that SL membrane vesicles exhibit a much narrower range of NTP substrate specificities than SR membranes. In SR membrane vesicles, the Ca-stimulated Mg-dependent hydrolysis of ATP and dATP occurred at nearly equivalent rates, whereas the rates of hydrolysis of GTP, ITP, CTP, and UTP ranged from 16-33% of that for ATP. All of the above nucleotides also supported Ca2+ transport into SR vesicles; dATP was somewhat more effective than ATP while GTP, ITP, CTP, and UTP ranged from 28-30% of the activity for ATP. In the presence of oxalate, the initial rate of Ca accumulation with dATP was 4-fold higher than for ATP, whereas the activity for GTP, ITP, CTP, and UTP ranged from 35-45% of that for ATP. For the SL membranes, Ca-activated dATP hydrolysis occurred at 60% of the rate for ATP; GTP, ITP, CTP, and UTP were hydrolyzed by the SL preparations at only 7-9% of the rate for ATP. NTP-dependent Ca2+ uptake in SL membranes was supported only by ATP and dATP, with dATP 60% as effective as ATP. GTP, ITP, CTP, and UTP did not support the transport of Ca2+ by SL vesicles. The results indicate that the SL and SR membranes contain distinctly different ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport systems.     

ATP-dependent calcium transport in plasma membrane vesicles from neutrophil leukocytes

Plasma membrane vesicles were prepared from guinea pig peritoneal exudate neutrophils, using nitrogen cavitation to rupture the plasma membrane and differential centrifugation to separate the vesicles. The vesicles were enriched 13.2-fold in (Na+, K+)-ATPase activity and had a cholesterol:protein ratio of 0.15, characteristic of plasma membranes. Contamination of the vesicle preparation with DNA or marker enzyme activities for intracellular organelles was very low. Studies designed to determine vesicle sidedness and integrity indicated that 33% were sealed, inside-out; 41% were sealed, right side-out, and 26% were leaky. The vesicles accumulated 45Ca2+ in a linear fashion for 45 min. The uptake was dependent on the presence of oxalate and MgATP in the incubating medium. Uptake showed a Ka for free Ca2+ of 164 nM and a Vmax of 17.2 nmol/mg . min (based on total protein). GTP, ITP, CTP, UTP, ADP, or AMP supported uptake at rates less than or equal to 11% of ATP. Ca2+ uptake was maximal at pH 7-7.5. Calcium stimulated the hydrolysis of ATP by the vesicles with a Ka for free Ca2+ of 440 nM and Vmax of 17.5 nmol/mg . min (based on total protein). When the Ca2+ uptake rate was based upon those vesicles expected to transport Ca2+ (33% sealed, inside-out vesicles) and Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity was based upon those vesicles expected to express that activity (26% leaky + 33% sealed, inside-out vesicles), the molar stoichiometry of Ca2+ transported:ATP hydrolyzed was 2.12 +/- 0.12. Calmodulin did not increase either Vmax or Ka for free Ca2+ of the uptake system in the vesicles, even when they were treated previously with ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid. The high affinity of this system for Ca2+, specificity for ATP, physiological pH optimum, and stoichiometry of Ca2+ transported:ATP hydrolyzed suggest that it represents an important mechanism by which neutrophils maintain low levels of cytoplasmic free Ca2+.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation studies of the interaction of ligands with the monomer and tetramer forms of formyltetrahydrofolate synthetase.

1. GTP-promoted fusion between microsomal vesicles was studied by using fluorescence-resonance-energy transfer between the fluorescent membrane probes octadecanoyl-aminofluorescein and octadecyl-rhodamine. 2. The fluorescence increase after GTP addition does not require the presence of ATP, is unaffected by changes in free [Ca2+] in the range 10 microM-1 nM, but requires Mg2+, although higher Mg2+ concentrations are inhibitory. 3. In terms of requirements for poly(ethylene glycol), dependence on GTP concentration and inhibition by high Mg2+ concentrations, there is excellent correlation between rate of increase in fluorescence and rate of GTP-promoted Ca2+ efflux measured under Ca2+ transport conditions. 4. The observations support our previous conclusions that GTP-induced membrane fusion plays a major role in causing GTP-promoted Ca2+ efflux from microsomal vesicles.     

Mg2,Ca2+-ATPase activity of sarcolemmas of intestinal smooth muscle cells in the rabbit

Preparations of rabbit small intestine smooth muscle cell sarcolemma are capable of hydrolyzing ATP in the presence of millimolar concentrations of Mg2+ and Ca2+ and possess the activity of Mg2+,Ca2+-ATPase having a high affinity for Ca2+ (Km = 5.8 X 10(-6) M). The optimal conditions for the Mg2+,Ca2+-ATPase reaction were established. It was demonstrated that sarcolemmal preparations hydrolyze ATP, GTP, ITP and UTP almost at the same rates. The enzyme contains SH-groups that are unequally exposed to the water phase and are inhibited by 50% by p-chloromercurybenzoate and by 90% by dithionitrobenzoate. The Mg2+,Ca2+-ATPase activity is highly sensitive to oxytocin: at the concentration of 10(-7) MU/ml, the hormone completely inhibits the enzyme without affecting its Mg2+-, Ca2+- and Na+,K+-ATPase activities.     

Calcium transport and calcium-ATPase activity in human lymphocyte plasma membrane vesicles

We have studied Ca transport and the Ca-activated Mg-ATPase in plasma membrane vesicles prepared from normal human lymphocytes. Membrane vesicles that were exposed to oxalate as a Ca-trapping agent accumulated Ca in the presence of Mg2+ and ATP. ADP, AMP, GTP, UTP, ITP, TTP, or CTP did not substitute for ATP in energizing uptake. The Vmax for Ca uptake was 2.4 pmol of Ca/micrograms of protein/min, and the Km values for Ca and ATP were 1.0 and 80 microM, respectively. One microM A23187, added initially, completely inhibited net Ca uptake and, if added later, caused the release of Ca accumulated previously. Cyanide, oligomycin, ouabain, or varying Na+ or K+ concentrations had no effect on Ca uptake. A Ca-activated ATPase was present in the same membrane vesicles, which had a Vmax of 25 pmol of Pi/micrograms of protein/min at a free Ca concentration of 4-5 microM. This Ca-ATPase had Km values for Ca and ATP of 0.6 and 90 microM, respectively. These kinetic parameters were similar to those observed for uptake of Ca by the vesicles. The Ca-ATPase activity was insensitive to azide, oligomycin, ouabain, or varying Na+ or K+ concentrations. No Ca-activated hydrolysis of GTP or UTP was observed. Both Ca transport and the Ca-ATPase activity of ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid-treated lymphocyte plasma membranes were stimulated 2-fold by a cytoplasmic component (calmodulin) that was purified 500-fold from lymphocyte cytoplasm. Thus, human lymphocyte plasma membranes have both a Ca transport activity and a Ca-stimulated ATPase activity with similar substrate affinities and specificities and similar sensitivities to calmodulin.     

Ectonucleotidase Activities Associated with Cholinergic Synaptosomes Isolated from Torpedo Electric Organ

Intact synaptosomes isolated from the electric organ of the electric ray Torpedo marmorata contain, at their surface, enzyme activities for the hydrolysis of externally applied nucleoside phosphates. The diazonium salt of sulfanilic acid, as a low-molecular-weight, slowly permeating, covalent inhibitory agent, selectively blocks these enzyme activities and leaves intracellular lactate dehydrogenase intact. The ectoenzymes comprise both a nucleoside triphosphate and diphosphate phosphohydrolase, as well as a 5'-nucleotidase. Activity of nonspecific ectophosphatases is absent. The nucleoside triphosphatase hydrolyzes almost equally well ATP, GTP, CTP, UTP, and ITP and is activated to a similar degree by Mg2+ or Ca2+. It has a high affinity for ATP (Km for ATP in the presence of Mg2+, 75 microM; in the presence of Ca2+, 66 microM). Maximal rates in the presence of Mg2+ and Ca2+ were very similar (34.8 and 32.5 nmol of Pi/min/mg of synaptosomal protein, respectively). Either Mg-ATP or Ca-ATP can act as a true substrate. ADP inhibits hydrolysis of ATP, but AMP is without effect. The nucleoside triphosphatase is not inhibited significantly by a number of inhibitors of mitochondrial Mg2+-ATPase or of Ca2+ + Mg2+-ATPases. It is, however, considerably inhibited by filipin and quercitin. The capacity of intact synaptosomes to hydrolyze also extracellular ADP, GDP, AMP, GMP, and IMP suggests that the nucleoside triphosphatase is part of an enzyme chain that causes complete hydrolysis of the respective nucleoside triphosphate to the nucleoside. We conclude that the cholinergic nerve terminals of the Torpedo electric organ can hydrolyze ATP released on coexocytosis with acetylcholine via an ectonucleoside triphosphatase activity that is different from known endogenous nerve terminal ATPases. The final product of the hydrolysis, adenosine, can then be salvaged by the nerve terminal for resynthesis of ATP. Other possible physiological functions of the ectonucleotidases are discussed.     

Adenosine triphosphatases of cestodes Bothriocephalus scorpii

Activities and properties of adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases) have been studied in mitochondrial and microsomal fractions of cestodes Bothriocephalus scorpii parasitizing in pyloric appendages of the Brandt's bullhead Myoxocephalus brandti. The highest activity has been revealed in the mitochondrial fraction. The mitochondrial and microsomal fractions of B. scorpii have the ATPase activity dependent on the presence of cations Mg2+, Mn2+, and Ca2+. Effects of ions and inhibitors on the B. scorpii ATPase activity with various cations have been studied. Both subcellular fractions are able to hydrolyze, apart from ATP, also GTP, CTP, and UTP.     

Calcium and magnesium regulation of phosphorylation by ATP and ITP in sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles.

Membrane phosphorylation and nucleoside triphosphatase activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle were studied using ATP and ITP as substrates. The Ca2+ concentration was varied over a range large enough to saturate either the high affinity Ca2+-binding site or both high and low affinity binding sites. In intact vesicles, which are able to accumulate Ca2+, the steady state level of enzyme phosphorylated by either ATP or ITP is already high in 0.02 mM Ca2+ and does not vary as the Ca2+ concentration is increased to 10 mM. Essentially the same pattern of membrane phosphorylation by ATP is observed when leaky vesicles, which are unable to accumulate Ca2+, are used. However, for leaky vesicles, when ITP is used as substrate, the phosphoenzyme level increases 3- to 4-fold when the Ca2+ concentration is raised from 0.02 to 20 mM. When Mg2+ is omitted from the assay medum, the degree of membrane phosphorylation by ATP varies with Ca2+ in the same way as when ITP is used in the presence of Mg2+. Membrane phosphorylation of leaky vesicles by either ATP or ITP is observed in the absence of added Mg2+. When these vesicles are incubated in media containing ITP and 0.1 mM Ca2+, addition of Mg2+ up to 10 mM simultaneously decreases the steady state level of phosphoenzyme and increases the rate of ITP hydrolysis. When ATP is used, the addition of 10 mM Mg2+ increases both the steady state level of phosphoenzyme and the rate of ATP hydrolysis. When the Ca2+ concentration is raised to 10 or 20 mM, the degree of membrane phosphorylation by either ATP or ITP is maximal even in the absence of added Mg2+ and does not vary with the addition of 10 mM Mg2+. In these conditions the ATPase and ITPase activities are activated by Mg2+, although not to the level observed in 0.1 mM Ca2+. An excess of Mg2+ inhibits both the rate of hydrolysis and membrane phosphorylation by either ATP or ITP.     

Unravelling the interaction of thapsigargin with the conformational states of Ca(2+)-ATPase from skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Preincubation of thapsigargin with sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles in the presence of high Ca(2+) or the addition of high Ca(2+) to microsomal vesicles preincubated with thapsigargin in the absence of Ca(2+) allowed full enzyme phosphorylation by ATP. However, the enzyme activity was not protected by high Ca(2+) even when the samples were subjected to gel filtration before ATP addition. Our data indicate that: (i) the enzyme in the Ca(2+)-bound conformation can be stabilized in the presence of thapsigargin; (ii) the conformational transition from the Ca(2+)-free to the Ca(2+)-bound state can be elicited by Ca(2+) when thapsigargin is present; (iii) thapsigargin binding occurs whether or not the enzyme is in the presence of Ca(2+), and so a ternary complex enzyme-Ca(2+)-thapsigargin may be formed; (iv) thapsigargin can be dissociated from the enzyme with a slow kinetics after dilution under drastic conditions; (v) the kinetics of Ca(2+) binding is clearly slowed down by thapsigargin; and (vi) thapsigargin does not affect the hydrolysis rate of phosphorylating substrates when measured in the absence of Ca(2+), indicating that thapsigargin specifically inhibits the Ca(2+)-dependent activity.     

High affinity, calcium-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase activity in the particulate fraction of rat pancreatic acini

Adenosine triphosphatase activity which is Mg2+-dependent and stimulated by submicromolar concentrations of Ca2+ (as Ca . ATP) was identified in the total particulate fraction of rat pancreatic acini. Half-maximal activity (V0.5) is obtained at 100.1 +/- 6 nM Ca . ATP with a Hill coefficient of 2.2 +/- 0.1 (mean +/- S.E.; n = 4). Maximal activity was 75 +/- 19 pmol of Pi released from ATP minute-1 microgram of membrane protein-1 (mean +/- S.E.; n = 7). High affinity Ca2+-ATPase activity was unaffected by ouabain, Na+, K+, La3+, and added calmodulin. Activity was slightly reduced by ruthenium red (0.1 mM) and by oligomycin (80 micrograms/ml) but was reduced almost 50% by the phenothiazine derivative fluphenazine in a dose-related and Ca2+-dependent manner. Hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate was 9% of the rate of ATP hydrolysis and was independent of Ca2+ concentration. However, ADP, GTP, UTP, and ITP were hydrolyzed at 76-93% the rate that ATP was hydrolyzed with V0.5 values and Hill coefficients similar to those of Ca . ATP. We conclude that rat pancreatic acini contain an enzyme for active Ca2+ translocation: ATPase activity that is Mg2+-dependent and stimulated by submicromolar concentrations of Ca . ATP. Substrate hydrolysis appears to involve positive cooperative interactions of multiple ligand-binding sites and may be regulated in part by calmodulin.     

An ATPase from dog gastric mucosa: changes of outer pH in suspensions of membrane vesicles accompanying ATP hydrolysis

A microsomal Mg-ATPase from the gastric mucosa of dog, cat and frog has a K_m for ATP in the region 20–25 μM and by the value of this coefficient can be differentiated from the mitochondrial Mg-ATPase. The microsomal Mg-ATPase from dog gastric mucosa can be stimulated by gramicidin, nigericin and valinomycin in a KCl medium. This Mg-ATPase seems to be located in the ion impermeable membrane of microsomal vesicles and ATP hydrolysis driven changes of the outer pH can be observed. The data are consistent with the ATP hydrolysis driven entry of H⁺ ions across the vesicle membrane.     

Stability and partial reactions of soluble and membrane-bound sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase

The Ca-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum was solubilized at pH 6.5 and 30 degrees C using different nonionic detergents, Triton X-100, C12E8, Lubrol PX, or Tween 20. After full solubilization by any of these detergents, the enzyme was unstable (t1/2 = 2-3 min) in the absence of Ca2+. The soluble enzyme was stable in the presence of calcium, half-maximal protection being attained in the presence of 0.2 mM Ca2+. In the absence of Ca2+, stability was restored by addition of co-solvents dimethyl sulfoxide or glycerol. In the presence of 4 mM Ca2+, the progressive addition of nonionic detergents to a medium containing leaky vesicles promoted an increase, up to 3-fold, in the rate of ATP hydrolysis. This was not observed when ITP was used as substrate. The small amount of ADP accumulated in the medium during ATP hydrolysis was sufficient to inhibit the ATPase activity of the membrane-bound enzyme but had no effect on the soluble enzyme. Increasing concentrations of detergent promoted a progressive inhibition of the ATP----Pi exchange reaction. The ATP hydrolysis/synthesis ratio of soluble enzyme was 10 times higher than that of membranous enzyme. Addition of co-solvent restored this ratio to values similar to those obtained with membrane-bound Ca-ATPase. Soluble enzyme prepared from native sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles was able to catalyze the net synthesis of ATP when phosphorylated by Pi in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide and then diluted in a medium containing 10 mM CaCl2 and 2 mM ADP. This was not observed when the soluble enzyme was prepared from purified Ca-ATPase. The results suggest that some of the partial reactions of the catalytic cycle of Ca-ATPase are dependent on the hydrophobic environment found in the native membrane. This environment can be mimicked by co-solvents.     

Characterization of rat heart plasma membrane Ca2+/Mg2+ ATPase

The Ca2+/Mg2+ ATPase of rat heart plasma membrane was activated by millimolar concentrations of Ca2+ or Mg2+; other divalent cations also activated the enzyme but to a lesser extent. Sodium azide at high concentrations inhibited the enzyme by about 20%; oligomycin at high concentrations also inhibited the enzyme slightly. Trifluoperazine at high concentrations was found inhibitory whereas trypsin treatment had no significant influence on the enzyme. The rate of ATP hydrolysis by the Ca2+/Mg2+ ATPase decayed exponentially; the first-order rate constants were 0.14-0.18 min-1 for Ca2+ ATPase activity and 0.15-0.30 min-1 for Mg2+ ATPase at 37 degrees C. The inactivation of the enzyme depended upon the presence of ATP or other high energy nucleotides but was not due to the accumulation of products of ATP hydrolysis. Furthermore, the inactivation of the enzyme was independent of temperature below 37 degrees C. Con A when added into the incubation medium before ATP blocked the ATP-dependent inactivation; this effect was prevented by alpha-methylmannoside. In the presence of low concentrations of detergent, the rate of ATP hydrolysis was reduced while the ATP-dependent inactivation was accelerated markedly. Both Con A and glutaraldehyde decreased the susceptibility of Ca2+/Mg2+ ATPase to the detergent. These results suggest that the Ca2+/Mg2+ ATPase is an intrinsic membrane protein which may be regulated by ATP.     

Ca2+-stimulated, Mg2+-dependent ATPase activity in neutrophil plasma membrane vesicles. Coupling to Ca2+ transport

Low concentrations of free Ca2+ stimulated the hydrolysis of ATP by plasma membrane vesicles purified from guinea pig neutrophils and incubated in 100 mM HEPES/triethanolamine, pH 7.25. In the absence of exogenous magnesium, apparent values obtained were 320 nM (EC50 for free Ca2+), 17.7 nmol of Pi/mg X min (Vmax), and 26 microM (Km for total ATP). Studies using trans- 1,2-diaminocyclohexane- N,N,N',N',-tetraacetic acid as a chelator showed this activity was dependent on 13 microM magnesium, endogenous to the medium plus membranes. Without added Mg2+, Ca2+ stimulated the hydrolysis of several other nucleotides: ATP congruent to GTP congruent to CTP congruent to ITP greater than UTP, but Ca2+-stimulated ATPase was not coupled to uptake of Ca2+, even in the presence of 5 mM oxalate. When 1 mM MgCl2 was added, the vesicles demonstrated oxalate and ATP-dependent calcium uptake at approximately 8 nmol of Ca2+/mg X min (based on total membrane protein). Ca2+ uptake increased to a maximum of approximately 17-20 nmol of Ca2+/mg X min when KCl replaced HEPES/triethanolamine in the buffer. In the presence of both KCl and MgCl2, Ca2+ stimulated the hydrolysis of ATP selectively over other nucleotides. Apparent values obtained for the Ca2+-stimulated ATPase were 440 nM (EC50 for free Ca2+), 17.5 nmol Pi/mg X min (Vmax) and 100 microM (Km for total ATP). Similar values were found for Ca2+ uptake which was coupled efficiently to Ca2+-stimulated ATPase with a molar ratio of 2.1 +/- 0.1. Exogenous calmodulin had no effect on the Vmax or EC50 for free Ca2+ of the Ca2+-stimulated ATPase, either in the presence or absence of added Mg2+, with or without an ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N',-tetraacetic acid pretreatment of the vesicles. The data demonstrate that calcium stimulates ATP hydrolysis by neutrophil plasma membranes that is coupled optimally to transport of Ca2+ in the presence of concentrations of K+ and Mg2+ that appear to mimic intracellular levels.     

(Ca + Mg)-stimulated ATPase activity of a rat brain microsomal preparation.

ATPase activity of freshly prepared brain microsomes was stimulated 20% when 0.1 mm CaCl₂ was added in the presence of a “saturating” concentration of MgCl₂ (4 mm). This (Ca + Mg)-stimulated activity declined rapidly on storage. Treatment of the microsomes with 0.12% deoxycholate in 0.15 m KCl, followed by centrifugation and resuspension in sucrose, produced a preparation both stable on storage at ?15 °C and with an increased stimulation in the presence of CaCl₂. SrCl₂ was more effective than CaCl₂, but BaCl₂ was a poor activator. KCl and NaCl stimulated the (Ca + Mg)-ATPase activity by reducing substrate (ATP) inhibition. The K_m for ATP was 0.1 mm, a third that of the Mg-ATPase. CTP, ITP, and GTP could not substitute for ATP, although they were fair substrates for the Mg-ATPase. The energy of activation of the (Ca + Mg)-ATPase was 21 kcal, nearly twice that of the Mg-ATPase. After sucrose density-gradient centrifugation of the microsomal preparation, the (Ca + Mg)-ATPase activity was distributed with the (Na + K)-ATPase and not with the mitochondrial marker succinic dehydrogenase. Studies with ouabain, oligomycin, and azide distinguished the (Ca + Mg)-stimulated ATPase from (Na + K)- and mitochondrial ATPases. Sensitivity to ruthenium red suggested a link to Ca transport, although the microsomal ⁴⁵Ca accumulating system was much more sensitive to the inhibitor than was this ATPase activity.     

ATP regulation of calcium transport in back-inhibited sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles

At high concentrations of ATP, ATP hydrolysis and Ca2+ transport by the (Ca2+ + MG2+)-ATPase of intact sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles exhibit a secondary activation that varies with the extent of back-inhibition by Ca2+ accumulated within the vesicles. When the internal ionized Ca2+ is clamped at low and intermediate levels by the use of Ca-precipitating anions, the apparent Km values for activation by ATP are lower than in fully back-inhibited vesicles (high internal Ca2+). In leaky vesicles unable to accumulate Ca2+, raising Ca2+ in the assay medium from 20-30 microM to 5 mM abolishes the activation of hydrolysis by high concentrations of ATP. The level of [32P]phosphoenzyme formed during ATP hydrolysis from [32P]phosphate added to the medium also varies with the extent of back-inhibition; it is highest when Ca2+ is raised to a level that saturates the internal, low-affinity Ca2+ binding sites. In intact vesicles, increasing the ATP concentration from 10 to 400 microM competitively inhibits the reaction of inorganic phosphate with the enzyme but does not change the rate of hydrolysis. In a previous report (De Meis, L., Gomez-Puyou, M.T. and Gomez-Puyou, A. (1988) Eur. J. Biochem. 171, 343-349), it has been shown that the hydrophobic molecules trifluoperazine and iron bathophenanthroline compete for the catalytic site of the Pi-reactive form of the enzyme. Here it is shown that inhibition of ATP hydrolysis by these compounds is reduced or abolished when Ca2+ binds to the low-affinity Ca2+ binding sites of the enzyme. Since inhibition by these agents is indifferent to activation of hydrolysis by high concentrations of ATP, it is suggested that the second Km for ATP and the inhibition by hydrophobic molecules involve two different Ca-free forms of the enzyme.     

Differences between microsomal and mitochondrial-matrix palmitoyl-coenzyme A hydrolase, and palmitoyl-L-carnitine hydrolase from rat liver.

Palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase (EC 3.1.2.2) and palmitoyl-L-carnitine hydrolase (EC 3.1.1.28) activities from rat liver were investigated. 1. Microsomal and mitochondrial-matrix palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase activities had similar pH and temperature optima, although the activities showed different temperature stability. They were inhibited by Pb2+ and Zn2+. The palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase activities in microsomal fraction and mitochondrial matrix were differently affected by the addition of Mg2+, Ca2+, Co2+, K+ and Na+ to the reaction mixture. ATP, ADP and NAD+ stimulated the microsomal activity and inhibited the mitochondrial-matrix enzyme. The activity of both the microsomal and mitochondrial-matrix hydrolase enzymes was specific for long-chain fatty acyl-CoA esters (C12-C18), with the highest activity for palmitoyl-CoA. The apparent Km for palmitoyl-CoA was 47 microM for the microsomal enzyme and 17 microM for the mitochondrial-matrix enzyme. 2. The palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase and palmitoyl-L-carnitine hydrolase activities of microsomal fraction had similar pH optima and were stimulated by dithiothreitol, but were affected differently by the addition of Pb2+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Mn2+ and cysteine. The two enzymes had different temperature-sensitivities. 3. The data strongly suggest that palmitoyl-CoA hydrolase and palmitoyl-L-carnitine hydrolase are separate microsomal enzymes, and that the hydrolysis of palmitoyl-CoA in the microsomal fraction and mitochondria matrix was catalysed by two different enzymes.     

A high affinity calcium-stimulated magnesium-dependent ATPase in rat liver plasma membranes. Dependence of an endogenous protein activator distinct from calmodulin

A Mg-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activated by submicromolar free Ca2+ was identified in detergent-dispersed rat liver plasma membranes after fractionation by concanavalin A-Ultrogel chromatography. Further resolution by DE-52 chromatography resulted in the separation of an activator from the enzyme. The activator, although sensitive to trypsin hydrolysis, was distinct from calmodulin for it was degraded by boiling for 2 min, and its action was not sensitive to trifluoperazine; in addition, calmodulin at concentrations ranging from 0.25 ng-25 micrograms/assay had no effect on enzyme activity. Ca2+ activation followed a cooperative mechanism (nH = 1.4), half-maximal activation occurring at 13 +/- 5 nM free Ca2+. ATP, ITP, GTP, CTP, UPT, and ADP displayed similar affinities for the enzyme; K0.5 for ATP was 21+/- 9 microM. However, the highest hydrolysis rate (20 mumol of Pi/mg of protein/10 min) was observed at 0.25 mM ATP. For all the substrates tested kinetic studies indicated that two interacting catalytic sites were involved. Half-maximal activity of the enzyme required less than 12 microM total Mg2+. This low requirement for Mg2+ of the high affinity (Ca2+-Mg2+)ATPase was probably the major kinetic difference between this activity and the nonspecific (Ca2+ or Mg2+)ATPase. In fact, definition of new assay conditions, i.e. a low ATP concentration (0.25 mM) and the absence of added Mg2+, allowed us to reveal the (Ca2+-Mg2+)ATPase activity in native rat liver plasma membranes. This enzyme belongs to the class of plasma membrane (Ca2+-Mg2+)ATPases dependent on submicromolar free Ca2+ probably responsible for extrusion of intracellular Ca2+.     

Characterization of Calcium-Activated and Magnesium-Activated ATPases of Brain Nerve Endings

The properties of Ca2+-activated and Mg2+-activated ATPases of nerve endings from mouse brain were investigated. Ca2+ and Mg2+ each can activate ATP hydrolysis in synaptosomes and its subfractions. Both Ca2+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase exhibit high and low affinity for their respective cations. At millimolar concentrations of Ca2+ or Mg2+, several nucleoside triphosphates could serve as substrate for the two enzymes and their specific activities were about three to four times higher in synaptic vesicles than in synaptosomal plasma membranes (SPM). Both in SPM and in synaptic vesicles the relative activity in the presence of Ca2+ was in the order of CTP greater than UTP greater than GTP = ATP, but with Mg2+ the activity was higher with ATP than with the other three triphosphates. Mg2+-ATPase was more active than Ca2+-ATPase in SPM, but in synaptic vesicles the two enzymes exhibited similar activity. Kinetic studies revealed that Mg2+-ATPase was inhibited by excess ATP and not by excess Mg2+. The simultaneous presence of Na+ + K+ stimulated Mg2+-ATPase and inhibited Ca2+-ATPase activity in intact synaptosomes and SPM. The stimulation of Mg2+-ATPase by Na+ + K+ was further increased by increasing Mg2+ concentration and was inhibited by Ca2+ and by ouabain. When Ca2+ and Mg2+ are present together in SPM or synaptic vesicles, the total Pi liberated by the two cations may either increase or decrease, depending on their relative concentrations. Kinetic analyses indicate that Ca2+ and Mg2+ bind independently to the enzyme alone or together at different sites. The results suggest that Ca2+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase in SPM or synaptic vesicles may be separate and distinct systems.