Developmental compartmentalization in the dorsal mesothoracic disc of Drosophila.

The clonal analysis of the development of the dorsal mesothoracic (wing) disc shows that clones initiated after a given time do not cross over certain demarcation lines in the adult cuticle. The property of $\text{M}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{M}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ (non-Minute) recombinant cells to overgrow the $\text{M}\text{M}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ background cells was used to demonstrate the establishment of clonal restrictions during development. It has been shown that $\text{M}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{M}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ clones initiated at a given time of development share common demarcation lines that delimit what we call “a developmental compartment.” As development time and cell proliferation of the anlage proceed, large compartments become split into pairs of smaller ones. A study of the number of cells in a given compartment at the time of its splitting into subcompartments indicates that the “developmental segregation” takes place in groups of neighboring cells and suggests that the number of segregated cells is different and characteristic for each compartment. Within a given compartment, a single clone of $\text{M}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{M}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ cells gives rise to 60–90% of the total number of adult cells. This phenomenon is reminiscent of the regulative properties of the morphogenetic fields, and the relation of these to developmental compartments is discussed. Since homoeotic mutants transform entire developmental compartments into one another, the hypothesis is advanced that homoeotic genes control compartment development.     

Characterization of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase liposomes: II. Effect of α-subunit digestion on intramembrane particle formation and Na+,K+-transport

The effect of the protein structure of ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ on its incorporation into liposome membranes was investigated as follows: the catalytic α-subunit of ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ was split into low-molecular weight fragments by trypsin treatment and the digested enzyme was reconstituted at the same protein concentration as intact control enzyme. The reconstitution process was quantified by the average number of intramembrane particles appearing on concave and convex fracture faces after freeze-fracture of the ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ liposomes. The number of intramembrane particles as well as their distribution on concave and convex fracture faces is not modified by the proteolysis. In contrast, the ATPase activity and the transport capacity of the ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ decrease progessively with increasing incubation times in the presence of trypsin and are abolished when the original 100 000 molecular weight α-subunit is no longer visible by sodium dodecylsulfate gel electrophoresis. Apparently, functional ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ with intact protein structure and digested, non functional enzyme consisting of fragments of the α-subunit reconstitute in the same manner and to the same extent as judged by freeze-fracture analysis. We conclude that, while trypsin treatment modifies the ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ molecule in a functional sense, it appears not to modify its interaction with the bilayer in producing intramembrane particles. On the basis of our results, we propose a lipid-lipid interaction mechanism for reconstitution of ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$.     

Binding of uranyl to phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Liposomes aggregation effect on surface area

The binding of uranyl ion, UO₂²⁺, to egg phosphatidylcholine liposome was studied as a potential method for the determination of liposome surface areas. Unbound uranyl was determined spectrophotometrically as the Arsenazo III complex with centrifuge supernatant. There is an apparent positive cooperativity in uranyl binding capacity per mol increases upon liposome dilution. The data are consistent with liposomes existing in a highly aggregated state. The binding constant in the limit of low concentration of bound uranyl was $\text{(9 ± 3) · 10}{}^6\text{M}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{in}\text{0.1}\text{M NaCl, pH}\text{4.1}$. At saturation about four uranyl ions are bound per 100 phosphatidylcholine molecules. Relative surface areas of different dispersions may be calculated from intercepts of extrapolated binding isotherms, and absolute surface areas may be calculated if a value for the uranyl-phosphatidylcholine stoichiometry is assumed.     

Studies on phosphatidylcholine model membranes. I. Size-heterogeneity effect on permeability measurements

The osmotic shrinking rate of unsonicated egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes in hypertonic NaCl was studied by determining the initial time rate of change of the reciprocal of the optical density, $\text{d(OD)}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{d}\text{t}$, in a stopped-flow kinetics apparatus, $\text{d(OD)}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{dt}$ was found to be a linear function of reciprocal OD and reciprocal PC concentration, where the linear parameters were quite different depending on the size distribution of liposomes in the dispersion. An approximate theoretical calculation of relative shrinking rates suggests that the larger liposomes mask the osmotic activity of smaller liposomes in the same dispersion. It is concluded that this method should only be used for comparing osmotic permeabilities of liposomes dispersions when both the OD and liposome size distribution of the dispersions are the same.     

Characterization of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase liposomes: I. Effect of enzyme concentration and modification on liposome size,intramembrane particle formation and Na+,K+-transport

Rabbit renal ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ (EC 3.6.1.3) was purified and incorporated into phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Freeze-fracture analysis of the reconstituted system reveals intramembrane particles formed by ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ molecules which are randomly distributed on concave and convex fracture faces. The reconstituted ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ performs active Na⁺,K⁺-transport. The distribution of particles as well as the rate of active transport are directly proportional to the ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ protein concentration used for reconstitution, while the total amount of sodium and potassium ions exchanged by ATP per volume vesicle suspension reaches maximum when each vesicle contains on the average more than two particles. ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ pretreated with ouabain or vanadate yields the same particle density and vesicle size as control enzyme. However, detergent-denatured enzyme loses its ability to form intramembrane particles or to increase the vesicle size indicating that the lipids surrounding the protein part of the molecule are essential for the reconstitution process. The vesicle diameter increases as a function of the number of particles per vesicle. Histograms of the size distribution become wider with increasing intramembrane particle density and tend to show more than one maximum.     

Membrane lipid dynamics and enzymic activity in bovine adrenal cortex microsomes

The lipid dynamics of the adrenocortical microsomal membranes was studied by monitoring the fluorescence anisotropy and excited state lifetime of a set of anthroyloxy fatty acid probes (2-, 7-, 9- and 12-(9-anthroyloxy)-stearic acid (AP) and 16-(9-anthroyloxy)palmitic acid (AS). It was found that a decreasing polarity gradient from the aqueous membrane interface to the membrane interior, was present. This gradient was not modified by the proteins, as evidenced by comparison of complete membranes and derived liposomes, suggesting that the anthroyloxy probes were not in close contact with the proteins. An important change of the value of the mean rotational relaxation time as a function of the position of the anthroyl ring along the acyl chain was evidenced. In the complete membranes, a relatively more fluid medium was evidenced in the C₁₆ as compared to the C₂ region, while the rotational motion appeared to be the most hindered at the C₇–C₉ level. In the derived liposomes, a similar trend was observed but the mobility was higher at all levels. The decrease of the mean rotational relaxation time was more important for 12-AS and 16-AP. Temperature dependence of the mean rotational relaxation time of 2-AS, 12-AS and 16-AP in the complete membranes revealed the existence of a lipid reorganization occurring around 27°C and concerning mainly the C₁₆ region. The extent to which the acyl chain reacted to this perturbation at the C₁₂ level depended on pH. The presence of proteins increased the apparent magnitude of this reorganization and also modified the critical temperature from approx. 23°C in the derived liposomes to approx. 27°C in the complete membranes. Thermal dependence of the maximum velocity of the $\text{3-}\text{oxosteroid}\text{Δ}{}^5\text{?Δ}{}^4\text{-}\text{isomerase}$, the second enzyme in the enzymatic sequence, responsible for the biosynthesis of the $\text{3-}\text{oxo}\text{-Δ}{}^4\text{-}\text{steroids}$ in the adrenal cortex microsomes, was studied. The activation energy of the catalyzed reaction was found to be low and constant ($\text{2–5}\text{kcal}\text{·}\text{mol}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$) in the temperature range 16–40°C at pH 7.5, 8.5 and 9, corresponding to the minimum, intermediate and maximum rate, respectively. A drastic increase of the activation energy ($\text{20}\text{kcal}\text{·}\text{mol}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$) was observed at temperature below 16°C at pH 7.5. A correlated change of the $\text{p}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>ES</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>app</mtext>}}$ as function of temperature was detected; at 36°C $\text{p}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>ES</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>app</mtext>}}\text{= 8.3}$ while at 13°C the value shifted to 8.7. The pH range of the group ionization was narrower at 13°C. In contrast with the behaviour of the $\text{3β-}\text{hydroxy}\text{-Δ}{}^5\text{-}\text{steroid dehydrogenase}$, the $\text{3-}\text{oxosteroid}\text{Δ}{}^5\text{?Δ}{}^4\text{-}\text{isomerase}$ was apparently unaffected by the lipid reorganization at 27°C. It is suggested that this enzyme possesses a different and more fluid lipid environment than the bulk lipids.     

Increase of Na+K+ ATPase activity in intact rat brain synaptosomes after their interaction with phosphatidylserine vesicles

Intact synaptosomes prepared from rat brain were incubated with phosphatidylserine vesicles. The synaptosomes incorporated the phospholipid in proportion to its concentration in the preincubation medium. The activity of membrane-bound enzyme $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ ATPase increased proportionally after treatment with phosphatidylserine liposomes.When breaking phosphatidylserine-enriched synaptosomes by osmotic shock or by sonication and when preparing synaptosomal membranes, the expected increase of $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ ATPase activity was not seen. Therefore, cellular integrity was fundamental in order to see the effect of phosphatidylserine on $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ ATPase activity.     

Occurrence of passive furosemide-sensitive transmembrane potassium transport in cultured cells

Furosemide ($\text{1 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{M}$) inhibits a proportion of the total passive (ouabain-insensitive) K⁺ influx into primary chick heart cell cultures (85%), BC₃H1 cells (75%), MDCK cells (40%) and HeLa cells (57%). This action of furosemide upon K⁺ influx is independent of ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{pump}$ inhibition since the furosemide-sensitive component of the K⁺ influx is identical in the presence and absence of ouabain ($\text{1 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?3}}\text{M}$). For HeLa cells the passive, furosemide-sensitive component of K⁺ influx is markedly dependent upon the external K⁺, Na⁺ and Cl^? content. Acetate, iodide and nitrate are ineffective as substitutes for Cl^?, whereas Br^? is partially effective. Partial Cl^? replacement by NO₃^? gave an apparent affinity of 100 mM [Cl]. Na⁺ replacement by choline⁺ abolishes the furosemide-sensitive component, whereas Li⁺ replacement reduces this component by 48%. Partial Na⁺ replacement by choline⁺ gives an apparent affinity of 25 mM [Na⁺]. Variation in the external K⁺ content gives an affinity for the furosemide-sensitive component of approx. 1.0 mM. Furosemide inhibition of the passive K⁺ inflúx is of high affinity, half-maximal inhibition being observed at $\text{5 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?6}}\text{M}$ furosemide. Piretanide ($\text{1 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{M}$) and phloretin ($\text{1 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{M}$) inhibit the same component of passive K⁺ influx as furosemide; ethacrynic acid and amiloride ($\text{both}\text{1 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?4}}\text{M}$) partially so. The stilbene, SITS ($\text{1 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?6}}\text{M}$), was ineffective as an inhibitor of the furosemide-sensitive component.     

Studies on (K+ + H+)-ATPase: VI. Determination of the molecular size by radiation inactivation analysis

(1) A $\text{(}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ containing membrane fraction, isolated from pig gastric mucosa, has been further purified by means of zonal electrophoresis, leading to a 20% increase in specific activity and an increase in ratio of $\text{(}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ to basal Mg²⁺-ATPase activity from 9 to 20. (2) The target size of $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$, determined by radiation inactivation analysis, is 332 kDa, in excellent agreement with the earlier value of 327 kDa obtained from the subunit composition and subunit molecular weights. This shows that the Kepner-Macey factor of 6.4·10¹¹ is valid for membrane-bound ATPases. (3) The target size of $\text{(}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ is 444 kDa, which, in connection with a subunit molecular weight of 110000, suggests a tetrameric assembly of the native enzyme. The ouabain-insensitive K⁺-stimulated $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activity has a target size of 295 kDa. (4) In the presence of added Mg²⁺ the target sizes of the $\text{(}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ and its phosphatase activity are decreased by about 15%, while that for the $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ is not significantly changed. This observation is discussed in terms of a Mg²⁺-induced tightening of the subunits composing the $\text{(}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ molecule.     

Amphotericin B-induced sodium transport and water flow across rabbit corneal epithelium

We have determined fluid translocation across the cellular layers lining the cornea by measuring changes in corneal transparency. The loss of 1.3 μ1/cm² fluid from the stroma causes an increase of +1% in transparency. Amphotericin B ($\text{2 · 10}{}^{-6}\text{M}$) when added to the tear side (=mucosal side) of the epithelium causes a rapid increase in potential difference of $\text{12.3 ± 0.7}\text{mV}\text{(}\text{mean}\text{±}\text{S.E.}\text{, n=6}$) followed by a slower increase of $\text{18.6 ± 1.5}\text{mV}$. The electrical resistance is reduced from $\text{3.2 ± 0.3}\text{k}\text{Ω ·}\text{cm}{}^2\text{to}\text{0.6 ± 0.1}\text{k}\text{Ω ·}\text{cm}{}^2$. The resulting increase in calculated short circuit current is accompanied by a decrease in transparency at a rate of $\text{3.6 ± 1.0\%}\text{per h}$, corresponding to an uptake of fluid by the cornea of $\text{4.7 μ}\text{l}\text{·}\text{cm}{}^{-2}\text{·}\text{h}{}^{-1}$. Replacement of the fluid bathing the endothelial side of the cornea, in order to prevent water movement from the aqueous compartment into the stroma, did not significantly alter this uptake of fluid. Thus the epithelial fluid transport which is reported to be normally slightly secretory, becomes absorptive in the presence of amphotericin B. Serosal hypertonicity (20 mM mannitol) increases the water influx into the cornea induced by amphotericin B. These results indicate that amphotericin B induces sodium-selective channels in the epithelium leading to an accumulation of NaCl and water in the stromal layer of the cornea. Ouabain reduces the potential and calculated short circuit current in epithelia pretreated with amphotericin B. Following addition of ouabain, the NaCl and water accumulated in the stroma leak away resulting in a transient increase in transparency. Finally, a model is proposed that includes a stromal compartment involved in fluid transport and that agrees with the results presented here.     

Thiophosphorylation of (Na + K+)-ATPase yields an ADP-sensitive phosphointermediate

(1) Treatment of $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ from rabbit kidney outer medulla with the $\text{γ-}{}^{35}\text{S}$ labeled thio-analogue of ATP in the presence of $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$ and the absence of K⁺ leads to thiophosphorylation of the enzyme. The $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ value for [γ-S]ATP is 2.2 μM and for Na⁺ 4.2 mM at 22°C. Thiophosphorylation is a sigmoidal function of the Na⁺ concentration, yielding a Hill coefficient $\text{n}\text{H}\text{= 2.6}$. (2) The thio-analogue ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext><mtext>\; =\; 35\; \mu M</mtext>}}$) can also support overall $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ activity, but $\text{V}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>max</mtext>}}$ at 37°C is only $\text{1.3 γ}\text{mol}\text{· (mg protein)}{}^{\mathrm{?}}\text{·}$ h^?1 or 0.09% of the specific activity for ATP ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext><mtext>\; =\; 0.43\; mM</mtext>}}$). (3) The thiophosphoenzyme intermediate, like the natural phosphoenzyme, is sensitive to hydroxylamine, indicating that it also is an acylphosphate. However, the thiophosphoenzyme, unlike the phosphoenzyme, is acid labile at temperatures as low as 0°C. The acid-denatured thiophosphoenzyme has optimal stability at pH 5–6. (4) The thiophosphorylation capacity of the enzyme is equal to its phosphorylation capacity, indicating the same number of sites. Phosphorylation by ATP excludes thiophosphorylation, suggesting that the two substrates compete for the same phosphorylation site. (5) The (apparent) rate constants of thiophosphorylation (0.4 s^?1 vs. 180 s^?1), spontaneous dethiophosphorylation (0.04 s^?1 vs. 0.5 s^?1) and K⁺-stimulated dethiophosphorylation (0.54 s^?1 vs. 230 s^?1) are much lower than those for the corresponding reactions based on ATP. (6) In contrast to the phosphoenzyme, the thiophosphoenzyme is ADP-sensitive (with an apparent rate constant in ADP-induced dethiophosphorylation of 0.35 s^?1, $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$$\text{ADP = 48 μM at 0.1 mM ATP}$) and is relatively K⁺-insensitve. The $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ for K⁺ in dethiophosphorylation is 0.9 mM and in dephosphorylation 0.09 mM. The thiophosphoenzyme appears to be for 75–90% in the ADP-sensitive E₁-conformation.     

Characterization of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in a membranous preparation from the optic ganglion of the squid (Loligo pealei)

(1) A membrane fraction enriched in $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ (EC 3.6.1.3) was obtained from optic ganglia of the squid (Loligo pealei) by density gradient fractionation of membranes followed by treatment with either SDS or Brij-58. The resulting membrane had an $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ specific activity of approx. 2 units/mg and was $\text{>95\%}$ ouabain-sensitive. (2) The $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ had a $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ for ATP of $\text{0.42 ± 0.04}\text{mM}$ and a pH optimum of 7.0. It was inhibited by ouabain with a $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ of $\text{0.32 ± 0.04 μ}\text{M}$. (3) Optimum monovalent cation concentrations were: 240 mM NaCl, 60 mM KCl, tested with $\text{NaCl + KCl}\text{= 300}\text{mM}$. (4) The Mg²⁺ dependence of hydrolysis varied with the absolute ATP concentration. At 3 mM ATP, the$\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ for Mg²⁺ was $\text{0.86 ± 0.10}\text{mM}$, and at 6 mM ATP, the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ was $\text{1.86 ± 0.44}\text{mM}$. High levels of Mg²⁺ caused inhibition of hydrolysis. (5) The interactions of Na⁺ and K⁺ were examined over a range of conditions. K⁺ levels caused modulations in the Na⁺ dependence in the range of 1–150 mM. (6) The $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ prepared from squid optic ganglion displays properties similar to those of the sodium pump in injected nerves.     

Melittin-phospholipid interaction studied by employing the single tryptophan residue as an intrinsic fluorescent probe

The rotational correlation time of melittin, obtained from the nanosecond anisotropy of the emission from its single tryptophan residue, has been found to increase considerably in phosphate solution relative to that in aqueous solution, consistent with protein aggregation. The steady-state fluorescence spectra as well as the absorption spectra in phosphate solution exhibit a very good degree of similarity with those of the protein bound to egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) and distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) bilayer liposomes. The value of the second-order rate constant for dynamic quenching, $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>q</mtext>}}\text{= 1.4·10}{}^9\text{M}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}\text{·}\text{s}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$, by acrylamide in 0.5 M phosphate solution is comparable to those for the protein-phospholipids complexes (1·10⁹ and 0.7·10⁹ M^?1·s^?1 for egg PC and DSPC, respectively). Similarities are also found in the nanosecond properties. There is a much stronger and quite similar dependence of the fluorescence spectra on time in the nanosecond range and of the fluorescence decay times on the emission wavelength in both cases as compared to the case in aqueous solution. These observations support the notion that melittin binds to the phospholipids in an aggregated form. The results suggest that the reduction in the $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>q</mtext>}}$ values of bound melittin relative to that in aqueous solution and the blue shift of the fluorescence spectrum (from 352 to 337 nm) are brought about by shielding of the tryptophan residue from the solvent through a combination of protein aggregation and enhancement of its α-helical content (suggested by published CD data). The magnitude of the $\text{k}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>q</mtext>}}$ values for bound melittin, however, is still relatively high implying the occurrence of rather frequent encounters between the tryptophan residue and the hydrophilic acrylamide molecules. Thus, the residue is found not to penetrate deep into the phospholipid bilayer.     

Weak acid-induced release of liposome-encapsulated carboxyfluorescein

Leakage of the entrapped anionic fluorophore carboxyfluorescein was used as a measure of the permeability of liposomes to several different acids. Carboxyfluorescein leakage increased with increasing buffer concentration at a given pH and depended on its chemical nature: apolar weak acids such as acetic or pyruvic acids induced fast leakage at relatively high pH (4 to 5), while glycine, aspartic, citric and hydrochloric acids induced leakage only at lower pH. Fluorescence leakage measurements reflected the acidification of the liposomes' aqueous spaces, which was primarily caused by the diffusion of undissociated acid molecules across the lipid bilayer. A simple mathematical model in accord with this hypothesis and assuming that carboxyfluorescein leakage was directly related to the proportion of its neutral lactone form, described satisfactorily the carboxyfluorescein leakage kinetics and allowed rough estimation of permeability coefficients for carboxyfluorescein (neutral lactone form; 9 · 10^?9 cm · s^?1), acetic acid ($\text{>1 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?7}}\text{cm}\text{·}\text{s}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$) and glycine (cation: 6 · 10^?9 cm · s^?1). These results are consistent with low effective proton permeability of liposomes ($\text{<5 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?12}}\text{cm}\text{·}\text{s}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$) and with the permeability coefficient of HCl (3 · 10^?3 cm · s^?1) reported by Nozaki and Tanford ((1981) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78, 4324–4328). Diffusion of weak acid molecules across lipid membranes has implications for drug encapsulation and delivery, and may be of biological significance.     

Characterization of partially purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from porcine lens

The partial purification of $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ from pig lens has been achieved by treatment with deoxycholate followed by density gradient centrifugation. The specific activity of the final preparation, ranging from 300 to 500 nmol/h per mg protein, is increased approx. 100-fold compared to the homogenate. A parallel increase in $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activity is also observed. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis reveals six major protein bands, one of which is the 93 kDa α subunit of $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ which can be phosphorylated by reaction with [γ-³²P]ATP. A second band contains a glycoprotein which displays an apparent molecular weight of 51 000 and thus appears to be the β subunit of the enzyme. The enzyme is sensitive to ouabain with the $\text{I}{}_{50}$ for $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ and $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ inhibition being 1.2 and 1.3 μM, respectively. Several agents which inhibit $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ from other tissues such as oligomycin, Ca²⁺, vanadate, $\text{N-}\text{ethylmaleimide}$, $\text{p-}\text{chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid}$ (PCMBS) and 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) also inhibit the lens enzyme. Monovalent cations other than K⁺ are partially effective in activating the ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$)-ATPase and $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activities. The K⁺ congeners were relatively more effective in supporting $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ compared to $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activity. Other kinetic properties of the lens enzyme are also comparable to those of the enzyme from other tissues. Utilizing the partially purified membrane bound enzyme, discontinuities in Arrhenius plots of $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ activity, $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ activity and fluoresence polarization of the fluidity probe, 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), are observed near the physiological temperature of lens. The possible significance of these observations for the mechanism of cataract formation are discussed.     

The insect brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase Binding of ouabain in the hawk moth, Manduca sexta

(1) A quantitative study has been made of the binding of ouabain to the ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ in homogenates prepared from brain tissue of the hawk moth, Manduca sexta. The results have been compared to those obtained in bovine brain microsomes. (2) The insect brain ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ will bind ouabain either in the presence of Mg²⁺ and P_i, (‘Mg²⁺, P_i’ conditions) or in the presence of Na⁺, Mg²⁺, and an adenine nucleotide (‘nucleotide’ conditions) as is the case for the bovine brain ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$. The binding conditions did not alter the total number of receptor sites measured at high ouabain concentrations in either tissue. (3) Potassium ion decreases the affinity (increases the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>D</mtext>}}$) of ouabain to the M. sexta brain ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ under both binding conditions. However, ouabain binding is more sensitive to K⁺ inhibition under the nucleotide conditions. In bovine brain ouabain binding is equally sensitive to K⁺ inhibition under the both conditions. (4) The enzyme-ouabain complex has a rate of dissociation that is 10-fold faster in the M. sexta preparation than in the bovine brain preparation. Because of this, the M. sexta ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ has a higher $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>D</mtext>}}$ for ouabain binding and is less sensitive to inhibition by ouabain than the bovine brain enzyme. (5) This data supports the hypothesis that two different conformational states of the M. sexta ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ can bind ouabain.     

Regulation of rat brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity by cyclic AMP

The interaction between the $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ and the adenylate cyclase enzyme systems was examined. Cyclic AMP, but not 5′-AMP, cyclic GMP or 5′-GMP, could inhibit the $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ enzyme present in crude rat brain plasma membranes. On the other hand, the cyclic AMP inhibition could not be observed with purified preparations of $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ enzyme. Rat brain synaptosomal membranes were prepared and treated with either NaCl or cyclic AMP plus NaCl as described by Corbin, J., Sugden, P., Lincoln, T. and Keely, S. ((1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252, 3854–3861). This resulted in the dissociation and removal of the catalytic subunit of a membrane-bound cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. The decrease in cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity was accompanied by an increase in $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ activity. Exposure of synaptosomal membranes containing the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase holoenzyme to a specific cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor resulted in an increase in $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ enzyme activity. Synaptosomal membranes lacking the catalytic subunit of the cyclic-AMP-dependent protein kinase did not show this effect. Reconstitution of the solubilized membrane-bound cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, in the presence of a neuronal membrane substrate protein for the activated protein kinase, with a purified preparation of $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$, resulted in a decrease in overall $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ activity in the presence of cyclic AMP. Reconstitution of the protein kinase alone or the substrate protein alone, with the $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ has no effect on $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ activity in the absence or presence of cyclic AMP. Preliminary experiments indicate that, when the activated protein kinase and the substrate protein were reconstituted with the $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ enzyme, there appeared to be a decrease in the Na⁺-dependent phosphorylation of the Na⁺-ATPase enzyme, while the K⁺-dependent dephosphorylation of the $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ was unaffected.     

Respiration-driven proton translocation with nitrite and nitrous oxide in Paracoccus denitrificans

(1) $\text{H}$⁺/electron acceptor ratios have been determined with the oxidant pulse method for cells of denitrifying Paracoccus denitrificans oxidizing endogenous substrates during reduction of O₂, NO^?₂ or N₂O. Under optimal H⁺-translocation conditions, the ratios $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{O}$, $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{N}{}_2\text{O}$, $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{NO}{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_2$ for reduction to N₂ and $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{NO}{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_2$ for reduction to N₂O were 6.0–6.3, 4.02, 5.79 and 3.37, respectively. (2) With ascorbate/N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine as exogenous substrate, addition of NO^?₂ or N₂O to an anaerobic cell suspension resulted in rapid alkalinization of the outer bulk medium. $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{N}{}_2\text{O}$, $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{NO}{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_2$ for reduction to N₂ and $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{NO}{}^{\mathrm{?}}{}_2$ for reduction to N₂O were ?0.84, ?2.33 and ?1.90, respectively. (3) The $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{oxidant}$ ratios, mentioned in item 2, were not altered in the presence of $\text{valinomycin}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ and the triphenylmethylphosphonium cation. (4) A simplified scheme of electron transport to O₂, NO^?₂ and N₂O is presented which shows a periplasmic orientation of the nitrite reductase as well as the nitrous oxide reductase. Electrons destined for NO^?₂, N₂O or O₂ pass two H⁺-translocating sites. The $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{electron}$ acceptor ratios predicted by this scheme are in good agreement with the experimental values.     

Energetics of coupled Na+ and Cl− entry into epithelial cells of bullfrog small intestine

Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^? concentrations ($\text{c}{}_{\mathrm{j}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$) and activities ($\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{j}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$), and mucosal membrane potentials ($\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$) were measured in epithelial cells of isolated bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) small intestine. Segments of intestine were stripped of their external muscle layers, and bathed (at 25°C and pH 7.2) in oxygenated Ringer solutions containing 105 mM Na⁺ and Cl^? and 5.4 mM K⁺. Na⁺ and K⁺ concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry and Cl^? concentrations by conductometric titration following extraction of the dried tissue with 0.1 M HNO₃. ¹⁴C-labelled inulin was used to determine extracellular volume. $\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ was measured with conventional open tip microelectrodes, $\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Cl</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ with solid-state Cl^?-selective silver microelectrodes and $\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Na</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ and $\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>K</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ with Na⁺- and K⁺-selective liquid ion-exchanger microelectrodes. The average $\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ recorded was ?34 mV. $\text{c}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Na</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$, $\text{c}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>K</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ and $\text{c}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Cl</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ were 51, 105 and 52 mM. The corresponding values for $\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Na</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$, $\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>K</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ and $\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Cl</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ were 18, 80 and 33 mM. These results suggest that a large fraction of the cytoplasmic Na⁺ is ‘bound’ or sequestered in an osmotically inactive form, that all, or virtually all the cytoplasmic K⁺ behaves as if in free solution, and that there is probably some binding of cytoplasmic Cl^?. $\text{a}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Cl</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}$ significantly exceeds the level corresponding to electrochemical equilibrium across the mucosal and baso-lateral cell membranes. Earlier studies showed that coupled mucosal entry of Na⁺ and Cl^? is implicated in intracellular Cl^? accumulation in this tissue. This study permitted estimation of the steady-state transapical Na⁺ and Cl^? electrochemical potential differences (Δμ&#x0304;Na and Δμ&#x0304;Cl). Δμ&#x0304;Na (?7000 J · mol^?1; cell minus mucosal medium) was energetically more than sufficient to account for Δμ&#x0304;Cl (1000–2000 J · mol^?1).     

Reconstitution of b-type cytochrome oxidase from Rhodopseudomonas capsulata in liposomes and turnover studies of proton translocation

Purified b-type cytochrome oxidase from Rhodopseudomonas capsulata was incorporated into phospholipid vesicles to measure proton extrusion with pulses of ferrocytochrome c for one oxidase turnover. In accordance with the pH shift of its midpoint potential, the purified oxidase showed a proton extrusion of 0.24 $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{e}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ with uptake of 1 $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{e}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$ from the liposomes for the reduction of oxygen to water. This proton translocation could only be observed in the presence of valinomycin +K⁺ and was not inhibited by DCCD. Oxidase preparations from the first purification step, which contain other protein compounds especially a membrane-bound cytochrome c but not the ubiquinol-cytochrome c₂-oxidoreductase showed a pumping activity of 0.9 $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{e}{}^{\mathrm{?}}$, which was inhibited by DCCD for nearly 75%. Inhibition of the electron transfer was not observed, which could be explained by a ‘molecular slipping’ of proton extrusion and electron transfer. Proton extrusion from two oxidase-turnovers was only 80% of that from one turnover. The proton pumping of the b-type oxidase strongly depended on the enzyme/phospholipid ratio.