Vacuolar type H(+)-ATPase genes: presence of four genes including pseudogenes for the 16-kDa proteolipid subunit in the human genome.

Genes for the human vacuolar type H(+)-ATPase proteolipid (16-kDa) subunit were cloned and their nucleotide sequences were determined. Comparison of the deduced sequences indicated that at least four genes including pseudogenes are present in the human genome. One of them corresponded to that for the 16-kDa subunit expressed in HeLa cells. The coding sequence was separated by two introns. The second intron was located in the DNA segment giving a loop between the second and third transmembrane helices, supporting the idea that the 16-kDa subunit was evolved by gene duplication. The primary sequence determined from the second clone had a termination codon behind the third transmembrane helix. Possible translation products from the other two clones had no putative acidic residues essential for proton transport function of the 16-kDa subunit. Thus, it is interesting to know whether these genes are transcribed, since they may have unique cellular functions.     

Molecular cloning and sequencing of cDNAs encoding the proteolipid subunit of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase from a higher plant.

To understand the molecular structure of the vacuolar H(+)-translocating ATPase from plants, cDNAs encoding the N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-binding 16-kDa proteolipid from oat (Avena sativa L. var. Lang) have been obtained. A synthetic oligonucleotide corresponding to a region of the bovine proteolipid cDNA (Mandel, M., Moriyama, Y., Hulmes, J.D., Pan, Y.-C.E., Nelson, H., and Nelson, N. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 5521-5524) was used to screen an oat cDNA library constructed in lambda gt11. The nucleotide sequences of several positive clones (VATP-P1, clones 12, 54, 93) demonstrated the presence of a small multigene family. The four clones showed extensive divergence in their codon usage and their 3'-untranslated regions; however, the deduced amino acid sequences of the proteins were 97-99% identical. These clones encoded the proteolipid subunit as one of them (clone 12) expressed a fusion protein that reacted with an antibody to the 16-kDa proteolipid. The open reading frame of one cDNA clone (VATP-P1) predicted a polypeptide of 165 amino acids with a molecular mass of 16,641. Based on hydropathy plots, a molecule with four membrane-spanning domains was predicted, in which domain IV was especially conserved among different species. This domain showed 80% identity in nucleotide or amino acid sequences between the oat and the bovine proteolipids and contained a glutamate residue that is the putative N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-binding residue. The presence of a small multigene family of the 16-kDa proteolipid was confirmed by Southern blot analysis showing that several distinct restriction fragments of oat nuclear DNA hybridized with the VATP-P1 cDNA.     

Quinine specifically inhibits the proteolipid subunit of the F0F1 H+ -ATPase of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is uniquely sensitive to quinine and its derivatives, but only those alkaloids having antimalarial properties, i.e., those in the erythro configuration, also possess antipneumococcal activity. Quinine and related compounds inhibit the pneumococcal H+ -ATPase. Quinine- and optochin-resistant pneumococci showed mutations that change amino acid residues located in one of the two transmembrane alpha-helices of the c subunit of the F0F1, H+ -ATPase.     

Electrophoretic behavior of the H+-ATPase proteolipid from bovine heart mitochondria

The proteolipid subunit of H⁺-ATPase was labeled by [¹⁴C]N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide in bovine heart mitochondria. The radioactive labeling was followed using various systems of sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). When using discontinuous SDS-PAGE (Laemmli, U.K., 1970,Nature (London)227, 680–685) a monomeric (Mr 7600±1500) and a dimeric form (Mr 17,800±1200) of the proteolipid were detected, while only the monomeric form was found on urea (8 M) containing gels (SDS-PAGE according to Laemmli; or Swank, R. T., and Munkers, K. D., 1971,Anal. Biochem. 39, 462–477). When using SDS-PAGE with Na-P_i buffer (Weber, K., and Osborn, M., 1969,J. Biol. Chem. 244, 4406–4442), only a dimeric form of the proteolipid (Mr 15,000±1000) was detected. Experimental data indicate that the different patterns of proteolipid separation are related to the presence of the two distinct proteolipid conformations in the SDS solution.     

N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-binding proteolipid of the vacuolar H+-ATPase from oat roots

The inhibitor N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) was used to probe the structure and function of the vacuolar H+-translocating ATPase from oat roots (Avena sativa var. Lang). The second-order rate constant for DCCD inhibition was inversely related to the concentration of membrane, indicating that DCCD reached the inhibitory site by concentrating in the hydrophobic environment. [14C]DCCD preferentially labeled a 16-kDa polypeptide of tonoplast vesicles, and the amount of [14C]DCCD bound to the 16-kDa peptide was directly proportional to inhibition of ATPase activity. A 16-kDa polypeptide had previously been shown to be part of the purified tonoplast ATPase. As predicted from the observed noncooperative inhibition, binding studies showed that 1 mol of DCCD was bound per mol of ATPase when the enzyme was completely inactivated. The DCCD-binding 16-kDa polypeptide was purified 12-fold by chloroform/methanol extraction. This protein was thus classified as a proteolipid, and its identity as part of the ATPase was confirmed by positive reaction with the antibody to the purified ATPase on immunoblots. From the purification studies, we estimated that the 16-kDa subunit was present in multiple (4-8) copies/holoenzyme. The purification of the proteolipid is a first step towards testing its proposed role in H+ translocation.     

Purification of the N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-binding proteolipid of a higher plant tonoplast H+-ATPase

The H+-ATPase of Beta vacuolar membrane (tonoplast) comprises at least three functionally distinct subunits of Mr = 67,000, 57,000, and 16,000, respectively (Manolson, M. F., Rea, P. A., and Poole, R. J. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 12273-12279). The hydrophobic carboxyl reagent N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) inactivates the enzyme with pseudo-first order kinetics, and the concentration dependence of the reaction indicates that DCCD interacts with a single site on the enzyme to exert its inhibitory effect. The apparent pseudo-first order rate constant (k0) is reciprocally dependent on membrane protein concentration, which is expected if a large fraction of the DCCD partitions into the lipid phase. k0 has a nominal value of 1000 M-1 min-1 at a protein concentration of 250 micrograms/ml, although when phase partitioning is taken into account, the true, protein concentration-independent value of k0 is calculated to be about an order of magnitude lower. [14C]DCCD primarily labels the Mr = 16,000 polypeptide of native tonoplast vesicles. Binding is venturicidin-insensitive and occurs at a rate similar to the rate of enzyme inactivation, implying that inhibition is a direct result of covalent modification of the Mr = 16,000 polypeptide. Labeling of the containing Mr = 8,000 subunit of mitochondrial F0F1-ATPase is, on the other hand, faster by a factor of 5 and totally abolished by venturicidin. These results confirm that the Mr = 16,000 polypeptide which copurifies with tonoplast H+-ATPase activity is a subunit of the enzyme. Most of the DCCD-reactive Mr = 16,000 subunit is extracted from acetone:ethanol-washed tonoplast vesicles by chloroform:methanol. [14C]DCCD bound to the Mr = 16,000 polypeptide is enriched in the chloroform:methanol extract by 5-fold compared with native tonoplast and the specific activity (nmol of [14C]DCCD/mg of protein) can be increased a further 37-fold by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex. It is concluded that the Mr = 16,000 subunit of the tonoplast H+-ATPase is a proteolipid.     

Isolation and characterisation of monoclonal antibodies against hydrophobic membrane subunit 9 of the yeast mitochondrial H+-ATPase

Five stable lines of myeloma-spleen cell hybrids, producing antibodies against the proteolipid subunit 9 of the yeast mitochondrial H+-ATPase F0-sector, have been isolated by immunizing mice with a proteolipid preparation in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate. One of these monoclonal antibodies also reacted with subunit 8 of the enzyme complex indicating a shared epitope. The antibodies did not react with the holo-H+-ATPase, suggesting that their epitopes are shielded by other subunits of the enzyme complex.     

Revised nomenclature for mammalian vacuolar-type H+ -ATPase subunit genes

To date, the nomenclature of mammalian genes encoding the numerous subunits and their many isoforms that comprise the family of vacuolar H(+)-ATPases has not been systematic, resulting in confusion both in the literature and among investigators. We present the official new system for these genes, approved by both Human and Mouse Gene Nomenclature Committees.     

Primary structure of the dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-binding subunit of Streptococcus faecalis H+-ATPase

The complete amino acid sequence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC)-binding subunit of proton adenosine triphosphatase from glycolysing bacteria Streptococcus faecalis was established. Isolation of the protein from subbacterial particles was carried out by using extraction with a chloroform/methanol mixture and following gel-filtration on Sephadex LH-60 and Bio-gel P-30. To establish the primary structure, use was made of cyanogen bromide and hydroxylamine cleavages, trypsin and partial acid hydrolyses. Separation of the peptide fragments obtained from cyanogen bromide and hydroxylamine cleavages and partial acid hydrolysis was performed by gel-filtration on Bio-gel P-10 and reversed-phase HPLC. Peptide structures were determined mainly with the aid of 4-N,N-dimethylaminoazobenzene-4'-isothiocyanate. The polypeptide chain of the protein consists of 71 amino acid residues (mol. wt. 7291). The primary structure of the protein from S. faecalis shares all common features of the structural organization of other H+-ATPase DCC-binding subunits and shows a high degree of homology with the corresponding subunit of thermophilic bacterium PS-3. Inactivation of H+-ATPase with DCC was due to modification of Glu54 of the polypeptide chain.     

Molecular cloning and characterisation of gamma subunit of H+-ATPase inLactobacillus acidophilus MG2-9

The acid tolerance is considered as one of the most important properties of lactic acid bacteria as probiotics. H⁺-ATPase is one of the genes associated with the ability of acid tolerance. We have cloned and sequenced full length cDNA of γ subunit of H⁺-ATPase gene inLactobacillus acidophilus MG2-9. The cDNA sequence consists of 975 nucleotides; the putative protein has 320 amino acids.     

Properties and subunit composition of the H+-ATPase complex from pea chloroplasts

The H+-ATPase complex from pea chloroplasts was isolated and partially purified. The complex incorporated into the phospholipid membrane can catalyze the 32Pi-ATP exchange reaction. The complex contains eight types of the subunits, five of which belong to the catalytic and three--to the hydrophobic moieties. The molecular weights of the subunits were determined.     

Ancient origin of the vacuolar H+-ATPase 69-kilodalton catalytic subunit superfamily

Recently, two distinct cDNA clones encoding the catalytic subunit of the vacuolar H⁺-ATPase (V-ATPase) were isolated from the allotetraploid cotton species Gossypium hirsutum L. cv Acala SJ-2 (Wilkins 1992, 1993). Differences in the nucleotide sequence of these clones were used as molecular markers to explore the organization and structure of the V-ATPase catalytic subunit genes in the A and D genomes of diploid and allotetraploid cotton species. Nucleotide sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products amplified from G. arboreum (A₂, 2n=26), G. raimondii (D₅, 2n=26), and G. hirsutum cv Acala SJ-2 [(AD)₁, 2n=4x=52] revealed a V-ATPase catalytic subunit organization more complex than indicated hitherto in any species, including higher plants. In the genus Gossypium, the V-ATPase catalytic subunit genes are organized as a superfamily comprising two diverse but closely related multigene families, designated as vat69A and vat69B, present in both diploid and allotetraploid species. As expected, each vat69 subfamily is correspondingly more complex in the allotetraploid species due to the presence of both A and D alloalleles. Because of this, about one-half of the complex organization of V-ATPase catalytic subunit genes predates polyploidization and speciation of New World tetraploid species. Comparison of plant and fungal V-ATPase catalytic subunit gene structure indicates that introns accrued in the plant homologs following the bifurcation of plant and fungi but prior to the gene duplication event that gave rise to the vat69A and vat69B genes approximately 45 million years ago. The structural complexity of plant V-ATPase catalytic subunit genes is highly conserved, indicating the presence of at least ten introns dispersed throughout the coding region.     

H+-translocating ATPase in Golgi apparatus. Characterization as vacuolar H+-ATPase and its subunit structures

Golgi apparatus was prepared from rat liver, and enzymatic properties and the subunit structure of the H+-ATPase were characterized. GTP (and also ITP) was found to drive H+-transport with about 20% of the initial velocity as that of ATP. Bafilomycin, a specific inhibitor for vacuolar H+-ATPase, inhibited the activity at 2.5 nM. The H+-ATPase was completely inhibited in the cold in the presence of MgATP (5 mM) and NaNO3 (0.1 M). The cold inactivation of the H+-ATPase resulted in release of a set of polypeptides from Golgi membrane, with molecular masses almost identical to that of the hydrophilic sector of chromaffin granule H+-ATPase (72, 57, 41, 34, and 33 kDa). Three of these polypeptides (72, 57, and 34 kDa), cross-reacted with antibodies against the corresponding subunits of the chromaffin granule H+-ATPase. A counterpart of the 39-kDa hydrophobic component of chromaffin granule H+-ATPase was identified in the membrane, but no 115-kDa component was found. Hence, the Golgi H+-ATPase shows typical features of vacuolar H+-ATPase, in relatively low substrate specificity, its response to inhibitors, inactivation by cold treatment in the presence of MgATP, and subunit composition judged by antibody cross-reactivity.     

Targeted disruption of the gene encoding the proteolipid subunit of mouse vacuolar H(+)-ATPase leads to early embryonic lethality.

Vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) is responsible for acidification of intracellular compartments in eukaryotic cells. Its 16-kDa subunit (proteolipid, PL16) plays a central role in V-ATPase function, forming the principal channel via which protons are translocated. To elucidate physiological roles of V-ATPase in mammalian cell function and embryogenesis, we attempted to generate a PL16 null mutant mouse by gene-targeting. Mice heterozygous (PL16(+/-)) for the proteolipid mutation were intercrossed and their offspring were classified according to genotype. There were no homozygous (PL16(-/-)) pups among 69 neonates examined, but a few PL16(-/-) embryos were found during the pre-implantation stages of embryonic development, up to day 3.5 post-coitum. These results suggested that PL16 (and hence V-ATPase) may play an essential role in cell proliferation and viability during early embryogenesis. PL16(+/-) mice were indistinguishable from their wild-type littermates and displayed no discernible abnormalities, although the PL16 mRNA level in PL16(+/-) mice decreased to about one-half of wild-type levels.     

Expression of ouabain-sensitive H+,K+-ATPase catalytic subunit gene in the rat epidermis

A comparative localization of Na+,K(+)-ATPase and ouabain-sensitive H+,K(+)-ATPase in rat skin was performed using in situ RNA hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Na+,K(+)-ATPase was predominantly detected in the basal layer of epithelium, whereas the ouabain-sensitive H+,K(+)-ATPase, in the granular and prickle cell layers. The genes of these ATPases are thus expressed in epithelial cells at different stages of their development. The hypothesis was advanced that the ouabain-sensitive H+,K(+)-ATPase is involved in maintaining the skin pH value. The probes specific to the mRNAs of the full-size alpha-subunit of the ouabain-sensitive H+,K(+)-ATPase and its truncated form were used to establish a similar distribution of both mRNA variants in skin. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2002, vol. 28, no. 4; see also http://www.maik.ru.     

Biosynthesis of the vacuolar H+-ATPase accessory subunit Ac45 in Xenopus pituitary.

Vacuolar H+-ATPases (V-ATPases) mediate the acidification of multiple intracellular compartments, including secretory granules in which an acidic milieu is necessary for prohormone processing. A search for genes coordinately expressed with the prohormone proopiomelanocortin (POMC) in the melanotrope cells of Xenopus intermediate pituitary led to the isolation of a cDNA encoding the complete amino-acid sequence of the type I transmembrane V-ATPase accessory subunit Ac45 (predicted size 48 kDa). Comparison of Xenopus and mammalian Ac45 sequences revealed conserved regions in the protein that may be of functional importance. Western blot analysis showed that immunoreactive Ac45 represents a approximately 40-kDa product that is expressed predominantly in neuroendocrine tissues; deglycosylation resulted in a approximately 27-kDa immunoreactive Ac45 product which is smaller than predicted for the intact protein. Biosynthetic studies revealed that newly synthesized Xenopus Ac45 is an N-glycosylated protein of approximately 60 kDa; the nonglycosylated, newly synthesized form is approximately 46 kDa which is similar to the predicted size. Immunocytochemical analysis showed that in Xenopus pituitary, Ac45 is highly expressed in the biosynthetically active melanotrope cells. We conclude that the regionally conserved Xenopus Ac45 protein is synthesized as an N-glycosylated approximately 60-kDa precursor that is intracellularly cleaved to an approximately 40-kDa product and speculate that it may assist in the V-ATPase-mediated acidification of neuroendocrine secretory granules.     

Lysosomal H+-translocating ATPase has a similar subunit structure to chromaffin granule H+-ATPase complex

Subunit structure of the lysosomal H+-ATPase was investigated using cold inactivation, immunological cross-reactivity with antibodies against individual subunits of the H+-ATPase from chromaffin granules and chemical modification with N,N'-dicyclohexyl[14C]carbodiimide. The lysosomal H+-ATPase was irreversibly inhibited when incubated at 0 degrees C in the presence of chloride or nitrate and MgATP. Inactivation in the cold resulted in the release of several polypeptides (72, 57, 41, 34 and 33 kDa) from the membrane, which had the same electrophoretic mobility as the corresponding subunits of chromaffin granule H+-ATPase. Cross-reactivity of antibodies revealed that the 72, 57 and 34 kDa polypeptides were immunologically identical to the corresponding subunits of chromaffin granule H+-ATPase. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, which inhibits proton translocation in the vacuolar ATPase, predominantly labeled two polypeptides of 18 and 15 kDa, which compose the membrane sector of the enzyme. These results suggest that the lysosomal H+-ATPase is a multimeric enzyme, whose subunit structure is similar to the chromaffin granule H+-ATPase. The subunit structure of other vacuolar H+-ATPases, revealed by cold inactivation and immunological cross-reactivity, is also presented.     

Characteristics of subunit composition of H+-ATPase from the anaerobic bacterium Lactobacillus casei

In the presence of Mg2+ or Ca2+ the membranes of the anaerobic glycolytic bacterium Lactobacillus casei hydrolyze 0.1-0.2 mumole ATP/min/mg of protein with a pH optimum 6.4. This activity is inhibited by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and is insensitive to oligomycin, ouabain, vanadate and hydroxylamine. A soluble ATPase was isolated and purified from L. casei membranes. The specific activity of this ATPase is 3.0-4.0 mumole ATP/min/mg of protein. The enzyme homogeneity was established by analytical polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis and by analytical centrifugation (S20, omega = 12 +/- 0,5). The molecular weight of the enzyme is 270 000. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of ATPase denaturated by 1% SDS and 8 M urea in the presence of SDS revealed one type of subunits with Mr = 43 000. These subunits could not be separated by isoelectrofocusing in polyacrylamide gel in the presence of 8 M urea and migrated as a single peptide with pI at 4.2. The experimental results suggest that the soluble ATPase from L. casei consists of six identical subunits with Mr of 43 000.     

Dimeric core structure of modular stator subunit E of archaeal H+ -ATPase

Archaeal H(+)-ATPase (A-ATPase) is composed of an A(1) region that hydrolyzes ATP and an integral membrane part A(0) that conducts protons. Subunit E is a component of peripheral stator(s) that physically links A(1) and A(0) parts of the A-ATPase. Here we report the first crystal structure of subunit E of A-ATPase from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 at 1.85 A resolution. The protomer structure of subunit E represents a novel fold. The quaternary structure of subunit E is a homodimer, which may constitute the core part of the stator. To investigate the relationship with other stator subunit H, the complex of subunits EH was prepared and characterized using electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, N-terminal sequencing and circular dichroism spectroscopy, which revealed the polymeric and highly helical nature of the EH complex with equimolar stoichiometry of both the subunits. On the basis of the modular architecture of stator subunits, it is suggested that both cytoplasm and membrane sides of the EH complex may interact with other subunits to link A(1) and A(0) parts.     

Purification and functional properties of the DCCD-reactive proteolipid subunit of the H+-translocating ATPase from Mycobacterium phlei

Interaction of N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) with ATPase of Mycobacterium phlei membranes results in inactivation of ATPase activity. The rate of inactivation of ATPase was pseudo-first order for the initial 30-65% inactivation over a concentration range of 5-50 microM DCCD. The second-order rate constant of the DCCD-ATPase interaction was k = 8.5 X 10(5) M-1 X min(-1). The correlation between the initial binding of [14C]DCCD and 100% inactivation of ATPase activity shows 1.57 nmol DCCD bound per mg membrane protein. The proteolipid subunit of the F0F1-ATPase complex in membranes of M. phlei with which DCCD covalently reacts to inhibit ATPase was isolated by labeling with [14C]DCCD. The proteolipid was purified from the membrane in free and DCCD-modified form by extraction with chloroform/methanol and subsequent chromatography on Sephadex LH-20. The polypeptide was homogeneous on SDS-acrylamide gel electrophoresis and has an apparent molecular weight of 8000. The purified proteolipid contains phosphatidylinositol (67%), phosphatidylethanolamine (18%) and cardiolipin (8%). Amino acid analysis indicates that glycine, alanine and leucine were present in elevated amounts, resulting in a polarity of 27%. Cysteine and tryptophan were lacking. Butanol-extracted proteolipid mediated the translocation of protons across the bilayer, in K+-loaded reconstituted liposomes, in response to a membrane potential difference induced by valinomycin. The proton translocation was inhibited by DCCD, as measured by the quenching of fluorescence of 9-aminoacridine. Studies show that vanadate inhibits the proton gradient driven by ATP hydrolysis in membrane vesicles of M. phlei by interacting with the proteolipid subunit sector of the F0F1-ATPase complex.