Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and Ca2+-calmodulin stimulate the formation of polyphosphoinositides in a sarcoplasmic reticulum preparation of rabbit heart

A rabbit heart membrane fraction enriched in sarcoplasmic reticulum was incubated in a reaction mixture containing [gamma-32P]ATP. The catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase enhanced the 32P-labelling of both phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate. Ca2 +-calmodulin also increased the 32P-incorporation into both polyphosphoinositides. Upon SDS gel-electrophoretic analysis of the membrane proteins, phospholamban was found to be concurrently phosphorylated by the exogenous catalytic subunit as well as by an endogenous Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase.     

Phospholamban involvement in the maintenance of basal calcium transport in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum

Phosphorylation of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane vesicles by exogenous c-AMP and c-AMP-dependent protein kinase stimulates calcium uptake and Ca2+-dependent ATP hydrolysis by 40-50% and results in the incorporation of 32P into a 22-KDa protein, phospholamban. Treatment of the membrane with DOC (0.0002% or 5 X 10(-6) M) solubilizes phospholamban from the membrane and induces a 90% inhibition of basal calcium uptake. This inhibition cannot be attributed to an alteration in vesicle integrity or membrane permeability. The (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase remains associated with the membrane fraction and exhibits optimal levels of Ca2+-stimulated ATP hydrolysis. Phosphorylation prior to DOC treatment allows retention of the phospholamban in the membrane, concomitant with maintenance of the calcium transport activity. The results presented suggest that phospholamban is involved in the maintenance of basal calcium transport function in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum and that its phosphorylation stimulates Ca2+ transport.     

On the mechanism of the reduction by thyroid hormone of beta-adrenergic relaxation rate stimulation in rat heart.

The effects of beta-adrenergic stimulation on the relaxation rate and the Ca2+-transport rate in sarcoplasmic reticulum of hypothyroid, euthyroid and hyperthyroid rat hearts were studied. Administration of isoproterenol (0.1 microM) to perfused, electrically stimulated hearts (5 Hz) caused a decrease in the half-time of relaxation (RT 1/2) the extent of which depended on the thyroid status, i.e. hypothyroid (-24%), euthyroid (-19%) or hyperthyroid (-8%). A similar decreasing effect was found for the stimulation of Ca2+ transport in isolated SR by cyclic AMP and protein kinase, i.e. hypothyroid (75%), euthyroid (37%) and hyperthyroid (20%). These alterations were not due to differences in endogenous protein kinase activity or cyclic AMP production. Estimations of Ca2+-ATPase and phospholamban (PL) content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum were obtained by measurement of the phosphorylated forms of Ca2+-ATPase (E-P) and phospholamban (PL-P) followed by electrophoresis and autoradiography. A 3-fold decrease of PL-P, accompanied by a 2-fold increase of E-P per mg of protein was observed in sarcoplasmic reticulum preparations in the direction hypothyroid----hyperthyroid. Consequently the E-P/PL-P ratio increased from 0.32 (hypothyroid), through 0.81 (euthyroid) to 1.69 (hyperthyroid). In spite of certain limitations inherent to quantification of Ca2+-ATPase and phospholamban by their phosphorylated products, these data provide strong evidence that during thyroid-hormone mediated cardiac hypertrophy, with concomitant proliferation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, the relative amount of phospholamban decreases with respect to Ca2+-ATPase. This could provide an explanation for the observed gradual diminishment of the beta-adrenergic effect on the relaxation rate when cardiac tissue is exposed to increasing amounts of thyroid hormone.     

The use of a water-soluble carbodiimide to cross-link cytochrome c to plastocyanin

Canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum is phosphorylated by adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent and by Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinases on an Mr 22 000 protein called phospholamban. Both types of phosphorylation are associated with an increase in the initial rate of Ca2+ transport. Thus, phospholamban appears to be a regulator for the calcium pump in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum. However, there is conflicting evidence as to the degree of association of the Ca2+-ATPase with its regulator, phospholamban. In this study, we report that phospholamban does not copurify with a Ca2+-ATPase preparation of high specific activity. Although 32P-labeled phospholamban is solubilized in the same fraction as the Ca2+-ATPase from cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum, it dissociates from the Ca2+ pump during subsequent purification steps. Our isolation procedure results in an increase of over 4-fold in the specific activity of the Ca2+-ATPase, but a decrease of 2.5-fold in the specific activity of 32Pi-phosphoester bonds (pmol Pi/mg). Furthermore, the purified Ca2+-ATPase enzyme preparation is not a substrate for protein kinase in vitro to any significant extent. These data indicate that phospholamban does not copurify with the Ca2+-ATPase from cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum. Isolation of a Ca2+-ATPase preparation essentially free of phospholamban will aid in future kinetic studies designed to elucidate similarities and differences in the Ca2+-ATPase parameters from cardiac and skeletal muscle (which is known not to contain phospholamban).     

Regulatory role of phospholamban in the efficiency of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ transport

Phospholamban is an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) transport apparent affinity for Ca(2+) in cardiac muscle. This inhibitory effect of phospholamban can be relieved through its phosphorylation or ablation. To better characterize the regulatory mechanism of phospholamban, we examined the initial rates of Ca(2+)-uptake and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity under identical conditions, using sarcoplasmic reticulum-enriched preparations from phospholamban-deficient and wild-type hearts. The apparent coupling ratio, calculated by dividing the initial rates of Ca(2+) transport by ATP hydrolysis, appeared to increase with increasing [Ca(2+)] in wild-type hearts. However, in the phospholamban-deficient hearts, this ratio was constant, and it was similar to the value obtained at high [Ca(2+)] in wild-type hearts. Phosphorylation of phospholamban by the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A in wild-type sarcoplasmic reticulum also resulted in a constant value of the apparent ratio of Ca(2+) transported per ATP hydrolyzed, which was similar to that present in phospholamban-deficient hearts. Thus, the inhibitory effects of dephosphorylated phospholamban involve decreases in the apparent affinity of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) transport for Ca(2+) and the efficiency of this transport system at low [Ca(2+)], both leading to prolonged relaxation in myocytes.     

Mechanism of the stimulation of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump by calmodulin

Calmodulin has been shown to stimulate the initial rates of Ca2+-uptake and Ca2+-ATPase in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum, when it is present in the reaction assay media for these activities. To determine whether the stimulatory effect of calmodulin is mediated directly through its interaction with the Ca2+-ATPase, or indirectly through phosphorylation of phospholamban by an endogenous protein kinase, two approaches were taken in the present study. In the first approach, the effects of calmodulin were studied on a Ca2+-ATPase preparation, isolated from cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum, which was essentially free of phospholamban. The enzyme was preincubated with various concentrations of calmodulin at 0 degrees C and 37 degrees C, but there was no effect on the Ca2+-ATPase activity assayed over a wide range of [Ca2+] (0.1-10 microM). In the second approach, cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles were prephosphorylated by an endogenous protein kinase in the presence of calmodulin. Phosphorylation occurred predominantly on phospholamban, an oligomeric proteolipid. The sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles were washed prior to assaying for Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+-ATPase activity in order to remove the added calmodulin. Phosphorylation of phospholamban enhanced the initial rates of Ca2+-uptake and Ca2+-ATPase, and this stimulation was associated with an increase in the affinity of the Ca2+-pump for calcium. The EC50 values for calcium activation of Ca2+-uptake and Ca2+-ATPase were 0.96 +/- 0.03 microM and 0.96 +/- 0.1 microM calcium by control vesicles, respectively. Phosphorylation decreased these values to 0.64 +/- 0.12 microM calcium for Ca2+-uptake and 0.62 +/- 0.11 microM calcium for Ca2+-ATPase. The stimulatory effect was associated with increases in the apparent initial rates of formation and decomposition of the phosphorylated intermediate of the Ca2+-ATPase. These findings suggest that calmodulin regulates cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum function by protein kinase-mediated phosphorylation of phospholamban.     

Role of phospholamban in regulating cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump

Cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum plays a critical role in the excitation-contraction cycle and hormonal regulation of heart cells. Catecholamines exert their ionotropic action through the regulation of calcium transport into the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Cyclic 3'-5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) causes the cAMP-dependent protein kinase to phosphorylate the regulatory protein phospholamban, which results in the stimulation of calcium transport. Calmodulin also phosphorylates phospholamban by a calcium-dependent mechanism. We have reported the isolation and purification of phospholamban with low deoxycholate (DOC) concentrations (5 X 10(-6) M). We have also reported the isolation and purification of Ca2+ + Mg2+-ATPase with a similar procedure. Both phospholamban and Ca2+ + Mg2+-ATPase retained their native properties associated with sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles. Further, we have shown that the removal of phospholamban from membranes of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles uncouples Ca2+-uptake from ATPase without any effect on Ca2+ + Mg2+-ATPase activity or Ca2+ efflux. Phospholamban appears to be the substrate for both the Ca2+-calmodulin system and the cAMP-dependent protein kinase system. It is found that the phosphorylation of phospholamban by the Ca2+-calmodulin system is required for the normal basal level of Ca2+ transport, and that the phosphorylation of phospholamban at another site by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase system causes the stimulation of Ca2+-transport above the basal level. The functional effects of the phosphorylation of phospholamban by cAMP-dependent protein kinase system are expressed only after the phosphorylation of phospholamban with Ca2+-calmodulin system. We propose a model for the cardiac Ca2+ + Mg2+-ATPase, whereby the enzyme is normally uncoupled from Ca2+ uptake. The enzyme becomes coupled to Ca2+ transport after the first site of phospholamban is phosphorylated with the Ca2+-calmodulin system. When the second site of phospholamban is phosphorylated with cAMP-dependent protein kinase both Ca2+ transport and ATPase are stimulated and phospholamban becomes inaccessible to DOC solubilization and trypsin.     

Regulation of Ca2+ transport by cyclic 3′,5′-AMP-dependent and calcium-calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum

Canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum is phosphorylated by cyclic AMP-dependent and by Ca²⁺-calmodulin-dependent protein kinases on a 22 kDa protein, called phospholamban. Both types of phosphorylation have been shown to stimulate the initial rates of Ca²⁺ transport. To establish the interrelationship of the cAMP-dependent and Ca²⁺-calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation on Ca²⁺ transport, cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles were preincubated under optimum conditions for: (a) cAMP-dependent phosphorylation, (b) Ca²⁺-calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation, and (c) combined cAMP-dependent and Ca²⁺-calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation. Control vesicles were treated under identical conditions, but in the absence of ATP, to avoid phosphorylation. Control and phosphorylated sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles were subsequently centrifuged and assayed for Ca²⁺ transport in the presence of 2.5 mM Tris-oxalate. Our results indicate that cAMP-dependent and Ca²⁺-calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation can each stimulate calcium transport in an independent manner and when both are operating, they appear to have an additive effect. Stimulation of Ca²⁺ transport was associated with a statistically significant increase in the apparent affinity for calcium by each type of phosphorylation. The degree of stimulation of the calcium affinity was relatively proportional to the degree of phospholamban phosphorylation. These findings suggest the presence of a dual control system which may operate in independent and combined manners for regulating cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum function.     

Structural constraints on the transmembrane and juxtamembrane regions of the phospholamban pentamer in membrane bilayers: Gln29 and Leu52

The Ca2+-ATPase of cardiac muscle cells transports Ca2+ ions against a concentration gradient into the sarcoplasmic reticulum and is regulated by phospholamban, a 52-residue integral membrane protein. It is known that phospholamban inhibits the Ca2+ pump during muscle contraction and that inhibition is removed by phosphorylation of the protein during muscle relaxation. Phospholamban forms a pentameric complex with a central pore. The solid-state magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR measurements presented here address the structure of the phospholamban pentamer in the region of Gln22-Gln29. Rotational echo double resonance (REDOR) NMR measurements show that the side chain amide groups of Gln29 are in close proximity, consistent with a hydrogen-bonded network within the central pore. 13C MAS NMR measurements are also presented on phospholamban that is 1-13C-labeled at Leu52, the last residue of the protein. pH titration of the C-terminal carboxyl group suggests that it forms a ring of negative charge on the lumenal side of the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane. The structural constraints on the phospholamban pentamer described in this study are discussed in the context of a multifaceted mechanism for Ca2+ regulation that may involve phospholamban as both an inhibitor of the Ca2+ ATPase and as an ion channel.     

The role of phospholamban in the regulation of calcium transport by cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum

The calcium transport mechanism of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is regulated by a phosphoregulatory mechanism involving the phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of an integral membrane component, termed phospholamban. Phospholamban, a 27,000 Da proteolipid, contains phosphorylation sites for three independent protein kinases: 1) cAMP-dependent, 2) Ca²⁺-calmodulin-dependent, and 3) Ca²⁺-phospholipid-dependent. Phosphorylation of phospholamban by any one of these kinases is associated with stimulation of the calcium transport rates in isolated SR vesicles. Dephosphorylation of phosphorylated phospholamban results in the reversal of the stimulatory effects produced by the protein kinases. Studies conducted on perfused hearts have shown that during exposure to beta-adrenergic agents, a good correlation exists between the in situ phosphorylation of phospholamban and the relaxation of the left ventricle. Phosphorylation of phospholamban in situ is also associated with stimulation of calcium transport rates by cardiac SR, similar to in vitro findings. Removal of beta-adrenergic agents results in the reversal of the inotropic response and this is associated with dephosphorylation of phospholamban. These findings indicate that a phospho-regulatory mechanism involving phospholamban may provide at least one of the controls for regulation of the contractile properties of the myocardium.     

Phosphorylation of phospholamban in intact myocardium. Role of Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent mechanisms

Phospholamban, a putative regulator of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ transport, has been shown to be phosphorylated in vitro by cAMP-dependent protein kinase and an intrinsic Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity. This study was conducted to determine if Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of phospholamban occurs in response to physiologic increases in intracellular Ca2+ in intact myocardium. Isolated guinea pig and rat ventricles were perfused with 32Pi after which membrane vesicles were isolated from individual hearts by differential centrifugation. Administration of isoproterenol (10 nM) to perfused hearts stimulated 32P incorporation into phospholamban, Ca2+-ATPase activity, and Ca2+ uptake of sarcoplasmic reticulum isolated from these hearts. These biochemical changes were associated with increases in contractility and shortening of the t 1/2 of relaxation. Elevated extracellular Ca2+ produced comparable increases in contractility but failed to stimulate phospholamban phosphorylation or Ca2+ transport and did not alter the t 1/2 of relaxation. Inhibition of trans-sarcolemmal Ca2+ influx by perfusing the ventricles with reduced extracellular Ca2+ (50 microM) attenuated the increases in 32P incorporation produced by 10 nM isoproterenol. Trifluoperazine (10 microM) also attenuated isoproterenol-induced increases in 32P incorporation into phospholamban. In both cases, Ca2+ transport was reduced to a degree comparable to the reduction in phospholamban phosphorylation. These results suggest that direct physiologic increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration do not stimulate phospholamban phosphorylation in intact functioning myocardium. Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of phospholamban may occur in response to agents which stimulate cAMP-dependent mechanisms in intact myocardium.     

Phospholamban regulation of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (Ca(2+)-Mg2+)-ATPase. Mechanism of regulation and site of monoclonal antibody interaction.

Monoclonal antibodies raised against canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum phospholamban were used to study the structure-function relationship between phospholamban and the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) (Ca(2+)-Mg2+)-ATPase (Suzuki, T., and Wang, J. H. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 7018-7023). Additional monoclonal antibodies are characterized further. When five of these monoclonal antibodies were assessed for their ability to affect SR Ca2+ uptake three of these antibodies had no effect on SR Ca2+ uptake, whereas the other two monoclonals were able to stimulate SR Ca2+ uptake to levels similar to those caused by phosphorylation of phospholamban at different calcium concentrations. Using synthetic peptides corresponding to various portions of phospholamban in a competitive binding assay, it was possible to map the epitope site of monoclonals which stimulate the (Ca(2+)-Mg2+)-ATPase activity to phospholamban residues 7-16. These results implicate phospholamban residues 7-16 in the regulation of the (Ca(2+)-Mg2+)-ATPase.     

Immunoelectron microscopical localization of phospholamban in adult canine ventricular muscle

The subcellular distribution of phospholamban in adult canine ventricular myocardial cells was determined by the indirect immunogold-labeling technique. The results presented suggest that phospholamban, like the Ca2+-ATPase, is uniformly distributed in the network sarcoplasmic reticulum but absent from the junctional portion of the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum. Unlike the Ca2+-ATPase, but like cardiac calsequestrin, phospholamban also appears to be present in the corbular sarcoplasmic reticulum. Comparison of the relative distribution of phospholamban immunolabeling in the sarcoplasmic reticulum with that of the sarcolemma showed that the density of phospholamban in the network sarcoplasmic reticulum was approximately 35-fold higher than that of the cytoplasmic side of the sarcolemma, which in turn was found to be three- to fourfold higher than the density of the background labeling. However, a majority of the specific phospholamban labeling within 30 nm of the cytoplasmic side of the sarcolemma was clustered and present over the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the subsarcolemmal region of the myocardial cells, suggesting that phospholamban is confined to the junctional regions between the sarcolemma and the sarcoplasmic reticulum, but absent from the nonjunctional portion of the sarcolemma. Although the resolution of the immunogold-labeling technique used (60 nm) does not permit one to determine whether the specific labeling within 30 nm of the cytoplasmic side of the sarcolemma is associated with the sarcolemma and/or the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum, it is likely that the low amount of labeling in this region represents phospholamban associated with sarcoplasmic reticulum. These results suggest that phospholamban is absent from the sarcolemma and confined to the sarcoplasmic reticulum in cardiac muscle.     

Regulatory role of ovarian sex hormones in calcium uptake activity of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum

Alterations in the intracellular Ca2+ handling in cardiomyocytes may underlie the cardiac dysfunction observed in the ovarian sex hormone-deprived condition. To test the hypothesis that ovarian sex hormones had a significant role in the cardiac intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ uptake and SR Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) activity were determined in 10-wk ovariectomized rat hearts. With the use of left ventricular homogenate preparations, a significant suppression of maximum SR Ca2+ uptake activity, but with an increase in SR Ca2+ responsiveness, was demonstrated in ovariectomized hearts. In parallel measurements of SERCA activity in SR-enriched membrane preparations from ovariectomized hearts, a suppressed maximum SERCA activity with a leftward shift in the relationship between pCa (-log molar free Ca2+ concentration) and SERCA activity was also detected. A significant downregulation of SERCA proteins and reduction in the SERCA mRNA level were observed in association with suppressed maximum SERCA activity. While there were no changes in total phospholamban and phosphorylated Ser16 phospholamban levels, a decrease in phosphorylated Thr17 phospholamban as well as an increase in the suprainhibitory, monomeric form of phospholamban stoichiometry was found. Estrogen and progesterone supplementations were equally effective in preventing changes in ovariectomized hearts. Our data showed for the first time that female sex hormones played an important role in the regulation of the cardiac SR Ca2+ uptake. Under hormone-deficient conditions, there was an adaptive response of SERCA that escaped the regulatory effect of phospholamban.     

Ca2+-overload inhibits the cardiac SR Ca2+-calmodulin protein kinase activity

There is increasing evidence to suggest that Ca2+-calmodulin dependent protein kinase (CaMK) regulates the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function and thus plays an important role in modulating the cardiac performance. Because intracellular Ca2+-overload is an important factor underlying cardiac dysfunction in a heart disease, its effect on SR CaMK was examined in the isolated rat heart preparations. Ca2+-depletion for 5 min followed by Ca2+-repletion for 30 min, which is known to produce intracellular Ca2+-overload, was observed to attenuate cardiac function as well as SR Ca2+-uptake and Ca2+-release activities. Attenuated SR function in the heart was associated with reduced CaMK phosphorylation of the SR Ca2+-cycling proteins such as Ca2+-release channel, Ca2+-pump ATPase, and phospholamban, decreased CaMK activity, and depressed levels of SR Ca2+-cycling proteins. These results indicate that alterations in cardiac performance and SR function following the occurrence of intracellular Ca2+-overload may partly be due to changes in the SR CaMK activity.     

Lack of effects of calcium X calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation on Ca2+ release from cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum

Canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum is phosphorylated by an endogenous calcium X calmodulin-dependent protein kinase and phosphorylation occurs mainly on a 27 kDa proteolipid, called phospholamban. To determine whether this phosphorylation has any effect on Ca2+ release, sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles were phosphorylated by the calcium X calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, while non-phosphorylated vesicles were preincubated under identical conditions but in the absence of ATP to avoid phosphorylation. Both non-phosphorylated and phosphorylated vesicles were centrifuged to remove calmodulin, and subsequently used for Ca2+ release studies. Calcium loading was carried out either by the active calcium pump or by incubation with high (5 mM) calcium for longer periods. Phosphorylation of sarcoplasmic reticulum by calcium X calmodulin-dependent protein kinase had no appreciable effect on the initial rates of Ca2+ released from cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles loaded under passive conditions and on the apparent 45Ca2+-40Ca2+ exchange from cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles loaded under active conditions. Thus, it appears that calcium X calmodulin-dependent protein kinase mediated phosphorylation of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum is not involved in the regulation of Ca2+ release and 45Ca2+-40Ca2+ exchange.     

Reactivity of sarcoplasmic reticulum from rabbit cardiac muscle with 1-fluoro- and 1,5-difluoro- 2,4-dinitrobenzene

Sarcoplasmic reticulum preparations from rabbit cardiac and fast skeletal muscle react differentially with low concentrations of 1-fluoro- and 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Dinitrophenylation of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum by 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene is not affected by Ca2+ and is limited to the lipoprotein-lipid region. This contrasts sharply with the predominant Ca2+-dependent dinitrophenylation of the ATPase protein of rabbit skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum by this reagent. Formation of non-serial high mol. wt. oligomers by 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene is significantly greater in cardiac than in skeletal vesicles. Substrate MgATP2- does not protect rabbit cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase activity or Ca2+ uptake from dinitrophenylation when monofunctional and bifunctional reagents are used. Chemical differences in the overall structure of the two kinds of membrane preparations can be ascertained from a comparison of the effects of Ca2+ and MgATP2- on the reactivity of these reagents.     

Regulation of the Ca2+ pump ATPase by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of phospholamban

Ca2+ transients in myocardial cells are modulated by cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of a protein in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. This protein, termed phospholamban, serves to regulate the Ca2+ pump ATPase of this membrane, thus altering the mode of Ca2+ transients and the myocardial contractile response. Elucidating the structure of phospholamban and its intimate interaction with the Ca2+ pump ATPase should provide the basis for understanding, at the molecular level, how the cAMP system contributes to excitation-contraction coupling in muscle cells.     

Transient kinetics of a Ca2+-induced fluorescence change from membrane-associated and solubilized sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase

The kinetics and extent of the fluorescence change induced by Ca2+ interaction with the Ca2+-ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum have been compared by stopped flow fluorimetry for three preparations: sarcoplasmic reticulum; purified ATPase in membrane vesicles; and solubilized, delipidated ATPase. The kinetics of Ca2+ release and binding for both purified preparations could be described by a single exponential as has been observed for sarcoplasmic reticulum. The rate and extent of the fluorescence change for the solubilized and membrane-associated preparations are shown to be quite similar to those of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. From these results, it is concluded that all of the Ca2+-induced fluoescence change in sarcoplasmic reticulum originates from the Ca2+-ATPase. In addition, since the change in fluorescence is probably result of a conformational change in the ATPase during the Ca2+ pumping cycle, the results provide additional evidence that monomeric Ca2+-ATPase may be capable of Ca2+ transport since the delipidated preparation is monomeric under the conditions used for these experiments. Finally, it is concluded that phospholipid bilayer is not essential for this conformational change.