Influence of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and MgATP on rat liver phosphofructokinase at pH 7: evidence for a complex interdependence.

The relationship between fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-BP) activation and MgATP inhibition of rat liver phosphofructokinase has been comprehensively evaluated at pH 7. When either ligand is varied at a fixed concentration of the other, its influence on the concentration of fructose 6-phosphate (Fru-6-P) required to produce half-maximal velocity, Ka, is usually well described by the same simple, single-modifier linkage expression that described the actions of these ligands at pH 9. However, the effects of both ligands together cannot be described by the same overall linkage relationship that described their actions at pH 9. Specifically, despite an overall antagonistic relationship between the binding of MgATP and that of Fru-2,6-BP, very low concentrations of Fru-2,6-BP appear to facilitate the binding of MgATP to an appreciable degree. Also, MgATP at high concentration appears to inhibit the binding of Fru-2,6-BP to a significantly greater extent than its actions at lower concentration would predict. These additional features of MgATP-Fru-2,6-BP interaction have been incorporated into an overall linkage expression describing the actions of both MgATP and Fru-2,6-BP on Ka for Fru-6-P. The best fit parameters predict the data to within an average standard error of +/- 21%.     

Specific activation by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and inhibition by P-enolpyruvate of ascites tumor phosphofructokinase

Electrophoresis on 10 % acrylamide-SDS gels showed that incubation of rat liver plasma membranes with certain detergents induces a proteolysis. The results obtained using different detergents, temperatures and pH levels, as well as the action of some protease inhibitors are in favor of an enzymatically-induced proteolysis. Since the proteolytic activity remains unchanged, even after the peripheral proteins have been released, it is proposed that this activity may reflect one of the integral proteins functions.     

Kinetic studies on the activation of pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase from mung bean by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and related compounds

Pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase (PPi-PFK) was purified from the mung bean Phaseolus aureus. The enzyme is activated by fructose 2,6-bisphosphate at nanomolar concentrations. The enzyme exhibits Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and the reaction mechanism, deduced from initial velocity studies in the absence of inhibitors as well as product and dead-end inhibition studies, is rapid equilibrium random in the presence and absence of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. In the direction of fructose 6-phosphate phosphorylation, saturating fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (1 microM) increases V congruent to 9-fold and increases V/KMgPPi and V/KF6P about 30-fold. In the reverse direction (phosphate phosphorylation), the same concentration of activator has little if any effect on V or the Km for inorganic phosphate (Pi) and Mg2+ but does increase V/KFBP about 42-fold. No changes were observed in any of the other rate constants. The binding affinity of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate to all enzyme forms is identical. The activator site of the mung bean PPi-PFK binds fructose 2,6-bisphosphate with a Kact of 30 nM with the 2,5-anhydro-D-glucitol 1,6-bisphosphate (the most effective analogue) 33-fold less tightly. Of the alkanediol bisphosphate series, 1,4-butanediol bisphosphate exhibited the tightest binding (Kact congruent to 3 microM). These and a series of other activating analogues are discussed in relation to the activator site.     

Relationship between thiol group modification and the binding site for fructose 2,6-bisphosphate on rabbit liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase

A thiol group present in rabbit liver fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase is capable of reacting rapidly with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) with a stoichiometry of one per monomer. Either fructose 1,6-bisphosphate or fructose 2,6-bisphosphate at 500 microM protected against the loss of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate inhibition potential when fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase was treated with NEM in the presence of AMP for up to 20 min. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate proved more effective than fructose 1,6-bisphosphate when fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase was treated with NEM for 90-120 min. The NEM-modified enzyme exhibited a significant loss of catalytic activity. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate was more effective than the substrate in protecting against the thiol group modification when the ligands are present with the enzyme and NEM. 100 microM fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, a level that should almost saturate the inhibitory binding site of the enzyme under our experimental conditions, affords only partial protection against the loss of activity of the enzyme caused by the NEM modification. In addition, the inhibition pattern for fructose 2,6-bisphosphate of the NEM-derivatized enzyme was found to be linear competitive, identical to the type of inhibition observed with the native enzyme. The KD for the modified enzyme was significantly greater than that of untreated fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Examination of space-filling models of the two bisphosphates suggest that they are very similar in conformation. On the basis of these observations, we suggest that fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate occupy overlapping sites within the active site domain of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate affords better shielding against thiol-NEM modification than fructose 1,6-bisphosphate; however, the difference between the two ligands is quantitative rather than qualitative.     

Fluorescence study of ligand binding to potato tuber pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase: evidence for competitive binding between fructose-1,6-bisphosphate and fructose-2,6-bisphosphate

The intrinsic fluorescence of potato tuber pyrophosphate:fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase (PFP) was used as an indicator of conformational changes due to ligand binding. Binding of the substrates and the allosteric activator fructose-2,6-bisphosphate was quantitatively compared to their respective kinetic effects on enzymatic activity. PFP exhibited a relatively high affinity for its isolated substrates, relative to the enzyme's respective K(m) (substrate) values. There are two distinct types of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate interaction with PFP, corresponding to catalytic and activatory binding. Activatory fructose-1,6-bisphosphate binding shares several characteristics with fructose-2,6-bisphosphate binding, indicating that both ligands compete for the same allosteric activator site. Activation by fructose-1,6-bisphosphate or fructose-2,6-bisphosphate was exerted primarily on the forward (glycolytic) reaction by greatly increasing the enzyme's affinity for fructose-6-phosphate. Binding of substrates and effectors to PFP and PFP kinetic properties were markedly influenced by assay pH. Results indicate an increased glycolytic role for PFP during cytosolic acidification that accompanies anoxia stress.     

The mechanism by which glucose increases fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentration in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A cyclic-AMP-dependent activation of phosphofructokinase 2

When glucose was added to a suspension of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in stationary phase, it caused a transient increase in the concentration of cyclic AMP and a more persistent increase in the concentration of hexose 6-phosphate and of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. These effects of glucose on cyclic AMP and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate but not that on hexose 6-phosphate were greatly decreased in the presence of 0.15 mM acridine orange or when a temperature-sensitive mutant deficient in adenylate cyclase was used at the restrictive temperature. Incubation of the cells in the presence of dinitrophenol and in the absence of glucose increased the concentration of both cyclic AMP and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, but with a minimal change in that of hexose 6-phosphate. Glucose induced also in less than 3 min a severalfold increase in the activity of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase and this effect was counteracted by the presence of acridine orange. When a cell-free extract of yeast in the stationary phase was incubated with ATP-Mg and cyclic AMP, there was a 10-fold activation of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase. Finally, the latter enzyme was purified 150-fold and its activity could then be increased about 10-fold upon incubation with ATP-Mg and the catalytic subunit of cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase. This activation resulted from a 4.3-fold increase in V and a 2-fold decrease in Km. Both forms of the enzyme were inhibited by sn-glycerol 3-phosphate. From these results it is concluded that the effect of glucose in increasing the concentration of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in S. cerevisiae is mediated by the successive activation of adenylate cyclase and of cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase and by the phosphorylation of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase by the latter enzyme. In deep contrast with what is known of the liver enzyme, yeast 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase is activated by phosphorylation instead of being inactivated.     

Difference in glucose sensitivity of liver glycolysis and glycogen synthesis. Relationship between lactate production and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentration.

Incubation of isolated rat hepatocytes from fasted rats with 0-6 mM-glucose caused an increase in [fructose 2,6-bisphosphate] (0.2 to about 5 nmol/g) without net lactate production. A release of 3H2O from [3-3H]glucose was, however, detectable, indicating that phosphofructokinase was active and that cycling occurred between fructose 6-phosphate and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. A relationship between [fructose 2,6-bisphosphate] and lactate production was observed when hepatocytes were incubated with [glucose] greater than 6 mM. Incubation with glucose caused a dose-dependent increase in [hexose 6-phosphates]. The maximal capacity of liver cytosolic proteins to bind fructose 2,6-bisphosphate was 15 nmol/g, with affinity constants of 5 X 10(6) and 0.5 X 10(6) M-1. One can calculate that, at 5 microM, more than 90% of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate is bound to cytosolic proteins. In livers of non-anaesthetized fasted mice, the activation of glycogen synthase was more sensitive to glucose injection than was the increase in [fructose 2,6-bisphosphate], whereas the opposite situation was observed in livers of fed mice. Glucose injection caused no change in the activity of liver phosphofructokinase-2 and decreased the [hexose 6-phosphates] in livers of fed mice.     

Lysine 356 is a critical residue for binding the C-6 phospho group of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate to the fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase domain of rat liver 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase.

Lysine 356 has been implicated by protein modification studies as a fructose-2,6-bisphosphate binding site residue in the 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase domain of rat liver 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (Kitajima, S., Thomas, H., and Uyeda, K. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 13995-14002). However, Lys-356 is found in the fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase domain (Bazan, F., Fletterick, R., and Pilkis, S. J. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86, 9642-9646). In order to ascertain whether Lys-356 is involved in fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase catalysis and/or domain/domain interactions of the bifunctional enzyme, Lys-356 was mutated to Ala, expressed in Escherichia coli, and then purified to homogeneity. Circular dichroism experiments indicated that the secondary structure of the Lys-356-Ala mutant was not significantly different from that of the wild-type enzyme. The Km for fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and the Ki for the noncompetitive inhibitor, fructose 6-phosphate, for the fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase of the Lys-356-Ala mutant were 2700- and 2200-fold higher, respectively, than those of the wild-type enzyme. However, the maximal velocity and the Ki for the competitive product inhibitor, inorganic phosphate, were unchanged compared to the corresponding values of the wild-type enzyme. Furthermore, in contrast to the wild-type enzyme, which exhibits substrate inhibition, there was no inhibition by substrate of the Lys-356-Ala mutant. In the presence of saturating substrate, inorganic phosphate, which acts by relieving fructose-6-phosphate and substrate inhibition, is an activator of the bisphosphatase. The Ka for inorganic phosphate of the Lys-356-Ala mutant was 1300-fold higher than that of the wild-type enzyme. The kinetic properties of the 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase of the Lys-356-Ala mutant were essentially identical with that of the wild-type enzyme. The results demonstrate that: 1) Lys-356 is a critical residue in fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase for binding the 6-phospho group of fructose 6-phosphate/fructose 2,6-bisphosphate; 2) the fructose 6-phosphate binding site is responsible for substrate inhibition; 3) Inorganic phosphate activates fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase by competing with fructose 6-phosphate for the same site; and 4) Lys-356 is not involved in 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase substrate/product binding or catalysis.     

Kinetic studies on rat liver and beef heart mitochondrial ATPase. Evidence for nucleotide binding at separate regulatory and catalytic sites.

Mitochondrial ATPases from rat liver and beef heart were used to study the effects of guanylylimidodiphosphate (GMP-P(NH)P) and adenylylimidodiphosphate (AMP-P(NH)P) on the kinetics of MgATP, MgITP, and MgGTP hydrolysis. AMP-P(NH)P was a noncompetitive inhibitor of hydrolysis of all substrates with the rat liver enzyme, whether activating anions were present or not. Also with the liver enzyme, AMP-P(NH)P caused only MgATP hydrolysis to appear to have positive cooperativity. With the beef heart enzyme, AMP-P(NH)P was a competitive inhibitor of ATPase activity and caused positive cooperativity; it gave noncompetitive patterns with GTP or ITP as substrates. In both enzyme systems, GMP-P(NH)P gave complex inhibition patterns with MgATP as the substrate, but was a competitive inhibitor of MgITP and MgGTP hydrolysis. These results are interpreted as indicating the existence of two types of nucleotide binding sites, with varying degrees of specificity and interaction on the ATPase molecules from both sources. It is postulated that MgATP and AMP-P(NH)P bind to regulatory site while MgATP, MgGTP, Mgitp, and GMP-P(NH)P bind to the catalytic site.     

Site-directed mutagenesis in rat liver 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase. Mutation at the fructose 6-phosphate binding site affects phosphate activation.

To identify those residues involved in fructose 6-phosphate binding to the kinase domain of rat liver 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase site-directed mutations were engineered at Lys194, Arg195, Arg230, and Arg238. The mutant enzymes were purified to homogeneity by anion exchange and Blue-Sepharose chromatography and/or substrate elution from phosphocellulose columns. Circular dichroism experiments demonstrated that all of the single amino acid mutations had no effect on the secondary structure of the protein. In addition, when fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase activity was measured, all mutants had Km values for fructose 2,6-bisphosphate, Ki values for fructose 6-phosphate, and maximal velocities similar to that of the wild-type enzyme. Mutation of Arg195----Ala, or His, had little or no effect on the maximal velocity of the kinase but increased the Km for fructose 6-phosphate greater than 3,000-fold. Furthermore, the Ka for phosphate for Arg195Ala was increased 100-fold compared with the wild-type enzyme. Mutation of Lys194----Ala had no effect on maximal velocity or the Km for fructose 6-phosphate. Mutation of either Arg230 or Arg238----Ala increased the maximal velocity and the Km for fructose-6 phosphate of the kinase by 2-3-fold but had no effect on fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase. However, the Km values for ATP of the Arg230Ala and Arg238Ala mutants were 30-40-fold higher than that for the wild-type enzyme. Mutation of Gly48----Ala resulted in a form with no kinase activity, but fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase activity was identical to that of the wild-type enzyme. The results indicate that: 1) Arg195 is a critical residue for the binding of fructose 6-phosphate to the 6-phospho-fructo-2-kinase domain, and that interaction of the sugar phosphate with Arg195 is highly specific since mutation of the adjacent Lys194----Ala had no effect on fructose 6-phosphate binding; 2) Arg195 also play an important role in the binding of inorganic phosphate; and 3) Gly48 is an important residue in the nucleotide binding fold of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase and that both Arg230 and Arg238 are also involved in ATP binding; and 4) the bifunctional enzyme has two separate and independent fructose 6-phosphate binding sites.     

The rat liver vasoactive intestinal peptide binding site. Molecular characterization by covalent cross-linking and evidence for differences from the intestinal receptor.

To identify the molecular components of the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) binding sites in the liver, 125I-labelled VIP was covalently linked to liver membranes by using the cleavable cross-linker dithiobis(succinimidylpropionate). Purified rat liver plasma membranes were incubated with 125I-VIP, washed and treated with 1 mM-cross-linker. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of membrane proteins followed by autoradiography revealed a major 125I-VIP-protein complex of Mr 51 000. A minor Mr 89 000 complex was also observed. An identical pattern of protein labelling was obtained using crude membranes from rat liver. Labelling of the Mr 51 000 and 89 000 species was specific in that it could be abolished by native VIP, but was unaffected by 1 microM-glucagon and cholecystokinin octapeptide. Densitometric scanning of autoradiographs indicated that the labelling of the two species was abolished by similar low VIP concentrations (0.1-100 nM). It was also reduced by two VIP agonists, peptide histidine isoleucine amide and secretin, with a potency that is 1/7 and 1/200 that of native VIP, respectively. The guanine nucleotide GTP in the concentration range between 10(-7) and 10(-3) M reduces the labelling of the major Mr 51 000 protein and that of the minor Mr 89 000 protein, but with a slightly higher potency. Assuming one molecule of 125I-VIP was bound per molecule of protein, a major Mr 48 000 protein and a minor Mr 86 000 protein were identified as components of the high-affinity VIP binding sites in liver. This contrasts markedly with the pattern of labelling of rat intestinal epithelial membranes, where a Mr 73 000 protein was identified as a high-affinity VIP receptor and a Mr 33 000 protein as a low-affinity VIP binding site [Laburthe, Bréant & Rouyer-Fessard (1984) Eur. J. Biochem. 139, 181-187], suggesting structural differences between VIP binding sites in rat liver and intestinal epithelium.     

Metabolism of high density lipoprotein lipids by the rat liver: evidence for participation of hepatic lipase in the uptake of cholesteryl ester.

In order to determine the role of hepatic lipase in the hepatic uptake and metabolism of high density lipoprotein (HDL) triglycerides, cholesteryl esters, and phospholipids, isolated rat livers were perfused with a reconstituted HDL (rHDL) radiolabeled with [3H]triolein and [14C]cholesteryl oleate or palmitoyl-[14C]linoleoyl phosphatidylcholine. A bolus of radiolabeled rHDL was injected into the portal vein and livers were perfused for 5 min using a nonrecirculating perfusion system. Recovery of rHDL triolein in the liver as intact triolein was used to determine the amount of unmetabolized rHDL remaining in the liver. After correcting for the amount of unmetabolized rHDL remaining in the liver, about 30% of the rHDL triolein was hydrolyzed of which 19% was recovered in the liver and 11% in the perfusate. Moreover, about 7% of the rHDL phosphatidylcholine was hydrolyzed to lysophosphatidylcholine, all of which was recovered in the perfusate. Although there was no hydrolysis of rHDL cholesteryl oleate, about 30% of the cholesteryl oleate was taken up by the liver. Preperfusion of the liver with heparin to deplete the liver of hepatic lipase resulted in about a 70% reduction in rHDL triolein hydrolysis and about a 75% reduction in rHDL cholesteryl oleate uptake. Although hepatic lipase hydrolyzes both triglycerides and phosphatidylcholines, elimination of the triolein from rHDL had no effect on the uptake of rHDL cholesteryl oleate, but replacement of the rHDL phosphatidylcholine with a nonhydrolyzable phosphatidylcholine diether resulted in an 87% reduction in cholesteryl oleate uptake. These results indicate that hepatic lipase is necessary for the hepatic uptake of both HDL triglycerides and cholesteryl esters and that the uptake of cholesteryl esters is not dependent on the hydrolysis of HDL triglycerides but is dependent on the hydrolysis of HDL phospholipids.     

Regulation of intracellular pH in human platelets. Effects of thrombin, A23187, and ionomycin and evidence for activation of Na+/H+ exchange and its inhibition by amiloride analogs

Intracellular pH (pHi) of human platelets was measured with the fluorescent dye 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)5,6-carboxyfluorescein under various conditions. Stimulation by thrombin at 23 degrees C caused a biphasic change in pHi (initial pHi 7.09); a rapid fall of 0.01-0.04 units (correlated with the rise of [Ca2+]i measured with quin2) followed after 10-15 s by a sustained rise of 0.1-0.15 units pHi. The fall of pHi and [Ca2+]i mobilization was reduced by early (5 s) addition of hirudin, but the later elevated pHi was not reversed by hirudin added after 30 s, although this strips thrombin from receptors and rapidly returns [Ca2+]i to basal levels. In Na+-free medium, or in presence of the Na+/H+ antiport inhibitors, 5-(N,N-dimethyl)amiloride (DMA) or 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride (EIPA), thrombin caused a greater fall of pHi (0.22-0.26 units) that was sustained. DMA or EIPA could also reverse the alkalinization response to thrombin. Ca2+ ionophores (ionomycin, A23187) decreased platelet pHi by 0.02-0.15 units, but without an increase of pHi comparable to that following thrombin; DMA and EIPA enhanced the fall of pHi (0.14-0.33 units). Cytoplasmic acidification produced by nigericin (K+/H+ ionophore) was followed by return towards normal that was abolished by Na+/H+ antiport inhibitors. The phorbol diester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate had little effect on resting pHi but increased the rate of recovery 2-3-fold after cytoplasmic acidification by nigericin, ionomycin, or sodium propionate. These results indicate that elevation of [Ca2+]i by thrombin enhances H+ production, but the subsequent alkalinization is independent of receptor occupancy or elevated [Ca2+]i and stimulation of the Na+/H+ antiporter by thrombin probably involves some mechanism apart from regulation by H+ and protein kinase C.     

Identification of single Mn(2+) binding sites required for activation of the mutant proteins of E.coli RNase HI at Glu48 and/or Asp134 by X-ray crystallography

Escherichia coli RNase HI has two Mn(2+)-binding sites. Site 1 is formed by Asp10, Glu48, and Asp70, and site 2 is formed by Asp10 and Asp134. Site 1 and site 2 have been proposed to be an activation site and an attenuation site, respectively. However, Glu48 and Asp134 are dispensable for Mn(2+)-dependent activity. In order to identify the Mn(2+)-binding sites of the mutant proteins at Glu48 and/or Asp134, the crystal structures of the mutant proteins E48A-RNase HI*, D134A-RNase HI*, and E48A/D134N-RNase HI* in complex with Mn(2+) were determined. In E48A-RNase HI*, Glu48 and Lys87 are replaced by Ala. In D134A-RNase HI*, Asp134 and Lys87 are replaced by Ala. In E48A/D134N-RNase HI*, Glu48 and Lys87 are replaced by Ala and Asp134 is replaced by Asn. All crystals had two or four protein molecules per asymmetric unit and at least two of which had detectable manganese ions. These structures indicated that only one manganese ion binds to the various positions around the center of the active-site pocket. These positions are different from one another, but none of them is similar to site 1. The temperature factors of these manganese ions were considerably larger than those of the surrounding residues. These results suggest that the first manganese ion required for activation of the wild-type protein fluctuates among various positions around the center of the active-site pockets. We propose that this fluctuation is responsible for efficient hydrolysis of the substrates by the protein (metal fluctuation model). The binding position of the first manganese ion is probably forced to shift to site 1 or site 2 upon binding of the second manganese ion.     

Activation of the rat liver cytosol glucocorticoid receptor by sephacryl S-300 filtration in the presence and absence of molybdate. Physical properties of the receptor and evidence for an activation inhibitor

The DNA-binding and physical properties of the rat liver cytosol glucocorticoid receptor were determined before and after Sephacryl S-300 filtration in the presence or absence of molybdate. Cytosol was prepared and labeled with [3H]triamcinolone acetonide in buffer containing molybdate. Prior to gel filtration, only 5 +/- 3% (mean +/- S.E.) of labeled receptors bound to DNA-cellulose. After gel filtration in the presence and absence of molybdate, the per cent of labeled receptors binding to DNA-cellulose was 57 +/- 10% and 83 +/- 1%, respectively. Nonreceptor fractions from the Sephacryl S-300 column contained a heat-stable factor which blocked receptor activation but did not block the binding of activated receptors to DNA-cellulose. The activation inhibitor eluted from the column in the region of the albumin standard, but after heating its size was considerably reduced (Mr less than 3500). Receptors activated by Sephacryl S-300 filtration underwent the same size changes in the presence or absence of molybdate. Prior to gel filtration, the S20,w of labeled receptors in the presence of molybdate was 9.2 +/- 0.2 S. After filtration in the presence and absence of molybdate, the S20,w of labeled receptors was 4.2 +/- 0.2 and 4.4 +/- 0.1 S, respectively. The Stokes radius (Rs) of labeled receptors after gel filtration in either the presence or absence of molybdate was 65 +/- 1 A. From the Rs and S20,w values, the molecular weight (Mr) of activated receptors was calculated to be 115,000 to 121,000, which was in close agreement with the Mr of affinity-labeled receptors determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Parallel inhibition of active force and relaxed fiber stiffness by caldesmon fragments at physiological ionic strength and temperature conditions: additional evidence that weak cross-bridge binding to actin is an essential intermediate for force generation.

Previously we showed that stiffness of relaxed fibers and active force generated in single skinned fibers of rabbit psoas muscle are inhibited in parallel by actin-binding fragments of caldesmon, an actin-associated protein of smooth muscle, under conditions in which a large fraction of cross-bridges is weakly attached to actin (ionic strength of 50 mM and temperature of 5 degrees C). These results suggested that weak cross-bridge attachment to actin is essential for force generation. The present study provides evidence that this is also true for physiological ionic strength (170 mM) at temperatures up to 30 degrees C, suggesting that weak cross-bridge binding to actin is generally required for force generation. In addition, we show that the inhibition of active force is not a result of changes in cross-bridge cycling kinetics but apparently results from selective inhibition of weak cross-bridge binding to actin. Together with our previous biochemical, mechanical, and structural studies, these findings support the proposal that weak cross-bridge attachment to actin is an essential intermediate on the path to force generation and are consistent with the concept that isometric force mainly results from an increase in strain of the attached cross-bridge as a result of a structural change associated with the transition from a weakly bound to a strongly bound actomyosin complex. This mechanism is different from the processes responsible for quick tension recovery that were proposed by Huxley and Simmons (Proposed mechanism of force generation in striated muscle. Nature. 233:533-538.) to represent the elementary mechanism of force generation.