KATP channels of mouse skeletal muscle: mechanism of channel blockage by AMP-PNP

Single ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K _ATP channels) were studied in inside-out membrane patches excised from mouse skeletal muscle. Channel blockage by the non-hydrolysable ATP analogue AMP-PNP was investigated in the absence or presence of 1 mM MgCl₂ with K⁺-rich solutions bathing the internal membrane surface. Currents through single. K _ATP channels were recorded at –40 and +40 mV AMP-PNP (5 to 500 M; Li salt) reduced the open-probability p_o of K _ATP channels and decreased the single-channel currents at high nucleotide concentrations by approximately 10%. Half maximal reduction of p_o at –40 mV was observed at nucleotide concentrations of 29 M in the absence and of 39 M in the presence of Mg²⁺. The steepness of the AMP-PNP concentration-response curves was strongly affected by Mg²⁺, the Hill coefficients of the curves were 0.6 in the absence and 1.6 in the presence of 1 mM MgCl₂. The efficacies of channel blockage by AMP-PNP at –40 and ⁺40 mV were not significantly different. The results indicate that a K _ATP channel can bind more divalent Mg²⁺-complexes of AMP-PNP than trivalent protonated forms of the nucleotide and that channel blockage is hardly affected by the membrane electric field. To estimate the contribution of lithium ions to the observed results, we studied the effects of LiCl (0.8 to 10 mM) in the Mg²⁺-free solution on the single channel current i. At a Li⁺ concentration of 10 mM, i was hardly affected at –40 mV but reduced by a factor of 0.75 at +40 mV. The results are interpreted by a fast, voltage-dependent blockage of K _ATP channels by internal Li⁺ ions. Correspondence to: B. Neumcke     

The prime plasmalemma ATPase of the halophilic alga Dunaliella bioculata: purification and characterization

The prime plasmalemma ATPase of the halophilic green alga Dunaliella bioculata has been solubilized by Triton X-100 from a plasmalemma-rich membrane fraction and purified by anion-exchange chromatography. Vanadate-sensitive ATPase activity was totally enriched about 230-fold to a specific activity of approx. 250 nkat·mg protein^–1. The presence of Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺ is essential for ATP hydrolysis by the enzyme. In addition to an equimolar requirement (11 Mg²⁺: ATP), there is further stimulation by Mg²⁺ (up to 20 mM) and by (100 mM) monovalent cations (K⁺ NH ₄ ⁺ >Rb⁺ -Na⁺ >Cs⁺ >Li⁺-choline⁺). Most anions have no or little effect. With a molecular mass of about 105 kDa for the single subunit, sensitivity to vanadate and N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (50% inhibition at about 1 M and 0.3 mM, respectively), strict ATP-specificity, and an acidic pH optimum, this enzyme shows the typical characteristics of the common type of H⁺-ATPase in the plasmalemma of higher plants and fungi. These results undermine the hypothesis of a wider distribution of a special (high salt) type of plasmalemma ATPase as found in the marine alga Acetabularia.Abbreviations BTP 1,3-bis[tris(hydroxymethyl)-methylamino]propane - DCCD N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide - DES diethylstilbestrol - Mega-9 nonanoyl-N-methyl-glucamide - Mes N-morpholinoethanesulfonic acid - Mops N-morpholinopropanesulfonic acid - PAGE polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis - PM plasmalemma-enriched membrane fraction - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft; we thank Drs. M. Ikeda and D. Oesterhelt (MPI für Biochemie, Martinsried, FRG) for generous and valuable information about their work prior to publication.     

A model for the regulation of brain adenylate cyclase by ionic equilibria

Multiple-equilibrium equations were solved to investigate the individual and separate effects of Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺, ATP^4–, and their complexes on the kinetics of brain adenylate cyclase. The effects of divalent metals and/or ATP^4– (in excess of their participation in complex formation) were determined and, from the corresponding apparent affinity values, the following kinetic constants were obtained:K _m(MgATP)=1.0 mM,K _i(ATP^4–)=0.27 mM,K _m(MnATP)=0.07 mM, andK _i(CaATP)=0.015 mM. MgATP, MnATP, ATP^4–, and CaATP were shown to compete for the active site of the enzyme. Hence, it is proposed that endogenous metabolites with a strong ligand activity for divalent metals, such as citrate and some amino acids, become integrated into a metabolite feedback control of the enzyme through the release of ATP^4– from MgATP. Ca²⁺ fluxes may participate in the endogenous regulation of adenylate cyclase by modifying the level of CaATP. The free divalent metals show an order of affinityK _0.5(Ca²⁺)=0.02 mM,K _0.5(Mn²⁺)=3.8 mM,K _0.5(Mg²⁺)=4.7 mM, and an order of activity Mn²⁺>Mg²⁺>Ca²⁺. The data indicate that Mn²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions may compete for a regulatory site distinct from the active site and increaseV _m without changingK _m(MgATP),K _m(MnATP), orK _i(ATP^4–). The interactions of ATP^4– and CaATP, which act as competitive inhibitors of the reaction of the enzyme with the substrates MgATP and MnATP, and Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺, which act as activators of the enzyme in the absence of hormones, are shown to follow the random rapid equilibrium BiBi group-transfer mechanism of Cleland with the stipulation that neither Mg²⁺ nor Mn²⁺, in excess of their respective participation in substrate formation, are obligatorily required for basal activity. ATP^4– and CaATP are involved in dead-end inhibition. For MgCl₂ saturation curves at constant total ATP concentration, the computer-generated curves based on the RARE BiBi model predict a change in the Hill cooperativityh from a basal value of 2.6, when Mg²⁺ is not obligatorily required, to 4.0 when the addition of hormones or neurotransmitters induces an obligatory requirement for Mg²⁺.Abbreviations used: Me, divalent metal; Me_T (Mg_T or Mn_T), total Me (Me²⁺ and its complexes); ATP_T, total ATP (ATP^4– and its complexes).     

Microcalorimetric study of magnesium-adenosine triphosphate ternary complex

Using an original microcalorimetric method, the existence of the Mg₂ATP ternary chelate has been studied. The thermodynamic parameters of this complex are H=7.2±0.5 kJ mole^–1 andK=49±9 M^–1. These values are compared with those previously obtained for binary chelate Mg ATP^2–. A possible regulation role of Mg₂ATP is discussed.     

Characterisation of a salt-stimulated ATPase activity associated with vacuoles isolated from storage roots of red beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

Ion stimulation and some other properties of an ATPase activity associated with vacuoles isolated from storage roots of red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) have been determined. The ATPase had a specific requirement for Mg²⁺ and in the presence of Mg²⁺ it was stimulated by salts of monovalent cations. The degree of stimulation by monovalent salts was influenced mainly by the anion and the order of effectiveness of the anions tested was Cl^->HCO ₃ ^- >Br^->malate>acetate>SO ₄ ^2- . For any given series of anions the magnitude of the stimulation obtained was influenced by the accompanying cation (NH ₄ ⁺ Na⁺>K⁺). This cation effect was abolished by 0.01% (v/v) Triton X-100 and it is suggested that it is the result of different permeabilities of membrane vesicles to the cations. There was no evidence of synergistic stimulation of the ATPase by mixtures of Na⁺ and K⁺. KCl- and NaCl-stimulation was maximal with salt concentrations in the range 60–150 mM. The true substrate of the enzyme was shown to be MgATP. It was shown that KCl stimulation was the result of an increase in V_max rather than a change in the affinity of the enzyme for MgATP. The ATPase was inhibited by N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, diethylstilbestrol, mersalyl and KNO₃ but other inhibitors tested (azide, oligomycin, orthovanadate, K₃[Cr(oxalate)₆] and ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide) were without effect or caused only partial inhibition at the highest concentration tested. The ATPase activity was equally distributed between pellet and supernatant fractions obtained after the subfractionation of vacuoles but the properties of the ATPase in each fraction were the same. It is suggested that beet vacuoles possess only one ATPase. The properties of the ATPase are compared with those of ATPases associated with other plant membranes and organelles and its possible role in transport at the tonoplast is discussed.Abbreviations ATP_F free ATP - ATP_T total ATP - BSA bovine serum albumen - DCCD N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide - DES diethylstilbestrol - DNP 2,4-dinitrophenol - EDAC ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide - K_m apparent Michaelis constant - MgATP complex of Mg²⁺ and ATP - Mg _F ²⁺ free Mg²⁺ - Mg _T ² total Mg²⁺ - MES 2-(N-Morpholino)ethanesulphonic acid - Na₂EDTA disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - NEM N-ethylmaleimide - P_i inorganic phosphate - TCA trichloroacetic acid - Tris tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamine - V_max maximum velocity     

ATP,pH and Mg2+ modulate a cation current in Beta vulgaris vacuoles: A possible shunt conductance for the vacuolar H+-ATPase

Macroscopic instantaneous and time-dependent currents have been measured in the vacuolar membrane of Beta vulgaris using a patch clamp configuration analogous to whole cell mode. At low cytosolic Ca²⁺ and in the absence of Mg²⁺, only an instantaneous current was observed. This current is carried predominantly by cations (P_KP_Cl 71, p_nap_cl 41 and arginine is also conducted). The instantaneous current can be activated by ATP^4– (e.g., ATP-activated mean K⁺ current density was –20 mA.m^–2 at a membrane voltage of –20 mV) and by increasing cytosolic pH and Mg²⁺ (raising Mg²⁺ from 0 to 0.4 mm induced a mean current density increase of –7 mA.m^–2 at –20 mV). Such current can be activated by simultaneous addition of putative in vivo concentrations of ATP^4–/MgATP/Mg _free ²⁺ (in the presence of bafilomycin to inhibit the vacuolar ATPase) and further modulated by cytosolic pH. With vacuolar K⁺ concentration greater than that of the cytosol, activation of the instantaneous current would mediate vacuolar K⁺ release over the range of physiological membrane voltage. It is argued that the ATP^4–-activated current, in addition to acting as a K⁺ mobilization pathway, could provide a counter-ion (shunt) conductance, allowing the two electrogenic H⁺ pumps which reside in the vacuolar membrane to acidify the vacuolar lumen.A separate time-dependent current, which was not observed at low Ca²⁺ concentrations (less than 500 nm) could also be elicited by addition of Mg²⁺ at the cytoplasmic membrane face. This current was stimulated by increasing cytoplasmic pH.The authors are grateful to the BBSRC for financial support (Grant PG87/529) and to the Royal Society (University Research Fellowship to J.M.D.). We thank C. Abbott, K. Partridge and J. Robinson for plant cultivation; A. Amtmann, A. Bertl, D. Gradmann and G. Thiel for helpful discussion.     

A proton-translocating adenosine triphosphatase is associated with the peroxisomal membrane of yeasts

The association of an ATPase with the yeast peroxisomal membrane was established by both biochemical and cytochemical procedures. Peroxisomes were purified from protoplast homogenates of the methanol-grown yeast Hansenula polymorpha by differential and sucrose gradient centrifugation. Biochemical analysis revealed that ATPase activity was associated with the peroxisomal peak fractions which were identified on the basis of alcohol oxidase and catalase activity. The properties of this ATPase closely resembled those of the mitochondrial ATPase of this yeast. The enzyme was Mg²⁺-dependent, had a pH optimum of approximately 8.5 and was sensitive to N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), oligomycin and azide, but not to vanadate. A major difference was the apparent K _m for ATP which was 4–6 mM for the peroxisomal ATPase compared to 0.6–0.9 mM for the mitochondrial enzyme.Cytochemical experiments indicated that the peroxisomal ATPase was associated with the membranes surrounding these organelles. After incubations with CeCl₃ and ATP specific reaction products were localized on the peroxisomal membrane, both when unfixed isolated peroxisomes or formaldehyde-fixed protoplasts were used. This staining was strictly ATP-dependent; in controls performed i) in the absence of substrate, ii) in the presence of glycerol 2-phosphate instead of ATP, or iii) in the presence of DCCD, staining was invariably absent. Similar staining patterns were observed in subcellular fractions and protoplasts of Candida utilis and Trichosporon cutaneum X4, grown in the presence of ethanol/ethylamine or ethylamine, respectively.Abbreviations MES 2-(N-Morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid - DCCD N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide     

Purification and characterization of phosphoribulokinase from wheat leaves

Homogeneous phosphoribulokinase (PRK; ATP: d-ribulose-5-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.19) was isolated from wheat leaves with a specific activity of 15 kat mg^-1 protein. The purification included ammonium sulfate cuts, isoelectric precipitation, and hydrophobic and affinity chromatography on pentylagarose and Blue Sepharose CL 6B, respectively. Gel filtration of the purified enzyme yielded a 83000 Da protein. Subunits of about 42000 Da were estimated from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Wheat leaf PRK was stable for at least four weeks when stored at 4°C. Saturation curves for ribulose 5-phosphate (Ru5P) and ATP followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics (K _m values: K _{m Ru5P}=50–80 M; K _{m ATP}=70 M). The saturation curve for MgCl₂ was sigmoidal (half-maximal velocity <0.5 mM). The affinity for Ru5P, ATP and Mg²⁺ was not affected by pH changes comparable to pH shifts in the stroma. In contrast to chloroplast fructose-bisphosphatase (Zimmermann et al. 1976, Eur. J. Biochem. 70, 361–367) the affinity for ligands remained unchanged in the dithiothreitol-activated and in the non-activated state. The activity of PRK was increasingly sensitive to inhibition by 3-phosphoglyceric acid with decreasing pH below pH 8.0.Abbreviations DTT dithiothreitol - EDTA ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid - PRK phosphoribulokinase - Ru5P ribulose-5-phosphate - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacryl-amide gel electrophoresis     

Ion fluxes inAcetabularia: Vesicular shuttle

Summary Ion flux relations in the unicellular marine algaAcetabularia have been investigated by uptake and washout kinetics of radioactive tracers (²²Na⁺,⁴²K⁺,³⁶Cl^– and⁸⁶Rb⁺) in normal cells and in cell segments with altered compartmentation (depleted of vacuole or of cytoplasm). Some flux experiments were supplemented by simultaneous electrophysiological recordings. The main results and conclusions about the steady-state relations are: the plasmalemma is the dominating barrier for translocation of K⁺ with influx and efflux of about 100 nmol·m^–2·sec^–1×K⁺ passes three- to sevenfold more easily than Rb⁺ does. Under normal conditions, Cl^– (the substrate of the electrogenic pump, which dominates the electrical properties of the plasmalemma in the resting state) shows two efflux components of about 17 and 2 mol·m^–2·sec^–1, and a cytoplasmic as well as vacuolar [Cl^–] of about 420mm ([Cl^–] _o =529mm). At 4°C, when the pump is inhibited, both influx and efflux, as well as the cellular [Cl^–], are significantly reduced. Na⁺ ([Na⁺] _i : about 70mm, [Na⁺] _o : 461mm), which is of minor electrophysiological relevance compared to K⁺, exhibits rapid and virtually temperature-insensitive (electroneutral) exchange (two components with about 2 and 0.2 mol·m^–2·sec^–1 for influx and efflux). Some results with Na⁺ and Cl^– are inconsistent with conventional (noncyclic) compartmentation models: (i) equilibration of the vacuole (with the external medium) can be faster than equilibration of the cytoplasm, (ii) absurd concentration values result when calculated by conventional compartmental analysis, and (iii) large amounts of ions can be released from the cell without changes in the electrical potential of the cytoplasm. These observations can be explained by the particular compartmentation of normalAcetabularia cells (as known by electron micrographs) with about 1 part cytoplasm, 5 parts central vacuole, and 5 parts vacuolar vesicles. These vesicles communicate directly with the central vacuole, with the cytoplasm and with the external medium.     

Molecular Properties of Purified Human Uncoupling Protein 2 Refolded from Bacterial Inclusion Bodies

One way to study low-abundance mammalian mitochondrial carriers is by ectopically expressing them as bacterial inclusion bodies. Problems encountered with this approach include protein refolding, homogeneity, and stability. In this study, we investigated protein refolding and homogeneity properties of inclusion body human uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2). N-methylanthraniloyl-tagged ATP (Mant-ATP) experiments indicated two independent inclusion body UCP2 binding sites with dissociation constants (K _d) of 0.3–0.5 and 23–92 M. Dimethylanthranilate, the fluorescent tag without nucleotide, bound with a K _d of greater than 100 M, suggesting that the low affinity site reflected binding of the tag. By direct titration, UCP2 bound [8-¹⁴C] ATP and [8-¹⁴C] ADP with K _ds of 4–5 and 16–18 M, respectively. Mg²⁺ (2 mM) reduced the apparent ATP affinity to 53 M, an effect entirely explained by chelation of ATP; with Mg²⁺, K _d using calculated free ATP was 3 M. A combination of gel filtration, Cu²⁺-phenanthroline cross-linking, and ultracentrifugation indicated that 75–80% of UCP2 was in a monodisperse, 197 kDa form while the remainder was aggregated. We conclude that (a) Mant-tagged nucleotides are useful fluorescent probes with isolated UCP2 when used with dimethylanthranilate controls; (b) UCP2 binds Mg²⁺-free nucleotides: the K _d for ATP is about 3–5 M and for Mant-ATP it is about 10 times lower; and (c) in C₁₂E₉ detergent, the monodisperse protein may be in dimeric form.     

Direct evidence for an ADP-sensitive phosphointermediate of (K + H-ATPase

Direct evidence for the occurrence of an ADP-sensitive phosphoenzyme of (K⁺ + H⁺)-ATPase, the proton-pumping system of the gastric parietal cell is presented. The enzyme is phosphorylated with 5 μM [γ-³²P]ATP in 50 mM imidazole-HCl (pH 7.0) and in the presence of 7–15 μM Mg²⁺. Addition of 5 mM ADP to this preparation greatly accelerates its hydrolysis. We have been able to establish this by stopping the phosphorylation with radioactive ATP, by adding 1 mM non-radioactive ATP, which leads to a slow monoexponential process of dephosphorylation of ³²P-labeled enzyme. The relative proportion of the ADP-sensitive phosphoenzyme is 22% of the total phosphoenzyme. Values for the rate constants of breakdown and interconversion of the two phosphoenzyme forms have been determined.     

Renaissance of cytochemical localization of membrane ATPases in the myocardium

ATPases of cardiac cells are known to be among the most important enzymes to maintain the fluxes of vital cations by hydrolysis of the terminal high-energy phosphate of ATP. Biochemically the activities of Ca²⁺-pump ATPase, Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺-ecto ATPase, Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase are determined in homogenates and isolated membranes as well as in myofibrillar and mitochondrial fractions of various purities. Such techniques permit estimation of enzyme activitiesin vitro under optimal conditions without precise enzyme topography. On the other hand, cytochemical methods demonstrate enzyme activityin situ, but not under optimal conditions. Until recently several cytochemical methods have been employed for each enzyme in order to protect its specific activity and precise localization but the results are difficult to interpret. To obtain more consistent data from biochemical and cytochemical point of view, we modified cytochemical methods in which unified conditions for each ATPase were used. The fixative solution (1% paraformaldehyde –0.2% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M Tris Base buffer, pH 7.4), the same cationic concentrations of basic components in the incubation medium (0.1 M Tris Base, 2mM Pb(NO₂)₃, 5 mM MgSO₄, 5 mM ATP) and selective stimulators or inhibitors were employed. The results reveal improved localization of Ca²⁺-pump ATPase, Na⁺–K⁺ ATPase and Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺-ecto ATPase in the cardiac membrane.     

Binding to the high-affinity substrate site of the (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase

The (Na⁺ + K⁺)-dependent ATPase exhibits substrate sites with both high affinity (K _m near 1 µM) and low affinity (K _m near 0.1 mM) for ATP. To permit the study of nucleotide binding to the high-affinity substrate sites of a canine kidney enzyme preparation in the presence as well as absence of MgCl₂, the nonhydrolyzable - imido analog of ATP, AMP-PNP, was used in experiments performed at 0–4°C by a centrifugation technique. By this method theK _D for AMP-PNP was 4.2 µM in the absence of MgCl₂. Adding 50 µM MgCl₂, however, decreased theK _D to 2.2 µM; by contrast, higher concentrations of MgCl₂ increased theK _D until, with 2 mM MgCl₂, theK _D was 6 µM. The half-maximal effect of MgCl₂ on increasing theK _D occurred at approximately 1 mM. This biphasic effect of MgCl₂ is interpreted as Mg²⁺ in low concentrations favoring AMP-PNP binding through formation at the high-affinity substrate sites of a ternary enzyme-AMP-PNP-Mg complex; inhibition of nucleotide binding at higher MgCl₂ concentrations would represent Mg²⁺ acting through the low-affinity substrate sites. NaCl in the absence of MgCl₂ increased AMP-PNP binding, with a half-maximal effect near 0.3 mM; in the presence of MgCl₂, however, NaCl increased theK _D for AMP-PNP. KCl decreased AMP-PNP binding in the presence or absence of MgCl₂, but the simultaneous presence of a molar excess of NaCl abolished (or masked) the effect of KCl. ADP and ATP acted as competitors to the binding of AMP-PNP, although a substrate for the K⁺-dependent phosphatase reaction also catalyzed by this enzyme,p-nitrophenyl phosphate, did not. This lack of competition is consistent with formulations in which the phosphatase reaction is catalyzed at the low-affinity substrate sites.     

Erythrocyte Membrane Digoxin-Sensitive (Na+–K+)-ATPase of Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetic Humans

Erythrocyte plasma membranes of non-insulin dependent diabetic humans (NIDDM) and healthy humans were prepared by hypotonic lysis. The specific activity of (Na⁺–K⁺)-ATPase of NIDDM membranes, both in the absence and presence of digoxin were lower than the specific activity of normal enzymes (83.6 percent and 74.0 percent of the normal enzyme respectively). Addition of digoxin decreased the activity of this enzyme (38.0 percent in NIDDM and 30.0 percent in normal enzyme).Although the affinity of the pump for ATP was similar in both membranes of NIDDM and normal humans (K_m for ATP=19.9±0.24M ATP and 20.0±0.21 M ATP respectively), the V_max of NIDDM membranes was more than 20 percent lower than that of the normal enzyme. The specific activity of Mg²⁺-dependent Ca²⁺-pumping ATPase (Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺)-ATPase) of NIDDM membrane was lower than 80 percent of the specific activity of the normal enzymes. While the affinity of the pump for ATP was lower in the membranes of NIDDM (K_m for ATP=50.0±4.3 M ATP) in comparison to normal membranes (K_m for ATP=63.1±38M ATP), the V_max of NIDDM membranes was similar to the normal enzyme. Altogether, these findings suggest that both the (Na⁺–K⁺)-ATPase and Ca²⁺-pumping ATPase of NIDDM membranes are less functional than the enzymes in normal erythrocytes.     

Impedance of the electrogenic Cl− pump inAcetabularia: Electrical frequency entrainements,voltage-sensitivity,and reaction kinetic interpretation

Summary Reaction kinetic analysis of the electrical properties of the electrogenic Cl^– pump inAcetabularia has been extended from steady-state to nonsteady-state conditions: electrical frequency responses of theAcetabularia membrane have been measured over the range from 1 Hz to 10 kHz at transmembrane potential differences across the plasmalemma (V _m ) between –70 and –240 mV using voltage-clamp techniques. The results are well described by an electrical equivalent circuit with three parallel limbs: a conventional membrane capacitancec _m , a steadystate conductanceg _o (predominantly of the pump pathway plus a minor passive ion conductance) and a conductanceg _s in series with a capacitancec _p which are peculiar to the temporal behavior of the pump. The absolute values and voltage sensitivities of these four elements have been determined:c _m of about 8 mF m^–2 turned out to be voltage insensitive; it is considered to be normal.g _o is voltage sensitive and displays a peak of about 80 S m^–2 around –180 mV. Voltage sensitivity ofg _s could not be documented due to large scatter ofg _s (around 80 S m^–2).c _p behaved voltage sensitive with a notch of about 20 mF m^–2 around –180 mV, a peak of about 40 mF m^–2 at –120 mV and vanishing at –70 mV. When these data are compared with the predictions of nonsteady-state electrical properties of charge transport systems (U.-P. Hansen, J. Tittor, D. Gradmann, 1983,J. Membrane Biol. in press), model A (redistribution of states within the reaction cycle) consistently provides magnitude and voltage sensitivity of the elementsg _o ,g _s andc _p of the equivalent circuit, when known kinetic parameters of the pump are used for the calculations. This analysis results in a density of pump elements in theAcetabularia plasmalemma of about 50 nmol m^–2. The dominating rate constants for the redistribution of the individual states of the pump in the electric field turn out to be in the range of 500 sec^–1, under normal conditions.     

Characterization of conformational changes in (Na,K) ATPase labeled with fluorescein at the active site

Conformational changes have been studied in (Na,K) ATPase labeled at or near the ATP binding region with fluorescein following incubation with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). One or two fluorescein groups are bound per ATPase molecule. (Na,K) ATPase activity, phosphorylation from ATP, and nucleotide binding are abolished in labeled enzyme, but phosphorylation from inorganic phosphate or K-phosphatase activity are only partially inactivated. The fluorescein groups are incorporated only into the 96 KD catalytic chain of the (Na,K) ATPase, and presence of ATP during the incubation with FITC protects against the incorporation and inhibition of enzymic activity. Upon trypsin treatment of labeled membranes the fluorescein appears first in a 58 KD fragment and eventually is released into the medium. The fluorescein-labeled (Na,K) ATPase shows a large quenching of fluorescence (15–20%) on conversion of the E₁ or E₁ · Na conformation in cation-free or Na⁺-rich media to the E₂ · (K) form in K⁺ (or congeners Tl⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, NH ₄ ⁺ ) rich media. Cation titrations suggest that K⁺ and Na⁺ ions compete at a single binding site and stabilize E₁ · Na or E₂ · (K) respectively;K _K0.23 mM,K _Na1.2 mM. The rate of the conformational transition E₂ · (K) E₁ · Na is slow,k=0.3 sec^–1, but contrary to previous experience [7, 8] ATP does not stimulate this rate. The rate of the transitions E₁ + K⁺ E₂ · (K) rises sharply with K⁺ concentration and shows saturation behavior, from which ak _max286 sec^–1 andK _k74 mM are deduced. The data support and extend the previous suggestion that K⁺ ions bound initially at a low-affinity (probably cytoplasm oriented) site in state E₁ are trapped in the occluded form E₂ · (K) by the conformational change poised far (K _c1000) in the direction of E₂ · (K). It is proposed in addition that at least two binding sites for K⁺ exist at the cytoplasmic surface of isolated (Na,K) ATPase in state E₁ but a large difference in affinities precludes detection in fluorescence titrations of more than one site. A variety of ligands in addition to K⁺ produce fluorescence-quenched or E₂ forms of the labeled (Na,K) ATPase. These include Mg²⁺ plus inorganic phosphate, without or with K⁺ ions (E₂P or E₂P · K) or with ouabain (E₂-ouabain or E₂P · ouabain). Na⁺ ions antagonize these effects. The collected data support the notion that there may be many subspecies of the E₁ and E₂ forms (either phosphorylated or nonphosphorylated) with different numbers of Na⁺ and/or K⁺ ions bound or occluded, each subspecies having a characteristic ability to catalyze reactions and/or transport cations. The relationship between the conformational changes in fluorescein-labeled enzyme and the subunit structure of the (Na,K) ATPase is discussed with particular reference to half of the site models for ATP hydrolysis.     

<Superscript>65</Superscript>Zn<Superscript>2+</Superscript> transport by lobster hepato-pancreatic baso-lateral membrane vesicles

The lobster (Homarus americanus) hepato-pancreatic epithelial baso-lateral cell membrane possesses three transport proteins that transfer calcium between the cytoplasm and hemolymph: an ATP-dependent calcium ATPase, a sodium-calcium exchanger, and a verapamil-sensitive cation channel. We used standard centrifugation methods to prepare purified hepato-pancreatic baso-lateral membrane vesicles and a rapid filtration procedure to investigate whether ⁶⁵Zn²⁺ transfer across this epithelial cell border occurs by any of these previously described transporters for calcium. Baso-lateral membrane vesicles were osmotically reactive and exhibited a time course of uptake that was linear for 10–15 s and approached equilibrium by 120 s. In the absence of sodium, ⁶⁵Zn²⁺ influx was a hyperbolic function of external zinc concentration and followed the Michaelis-Menten equation for carrier transport. This carrier transport was stimulated by the addition of 150 M ATP (increase in K_m and J_max) and inhibited by the simultaneous presence of 150 mol l^–1 ATP+250 mol l^–1 vanadate (decrease in both K_m and J_max). In the absence of ATP, ⁶⁵Zn²⁺ influx was a sigmoidal function of preloaded vesicular sodium concentration (0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, and 75 mmol l^–1) and exhibited a Hill Coefficient of 4.03±1.14, consistent with the exchange of 3 Na⁺/1Zn²⁺. Using Dixon analysis, calcium was shown to be a competitive inhibitor of baso-lateral membrane vesicle ⁶⁵Zn²⁺ influx by both the ATP-dependent (K_i=205 nmol l^–1 Ca²⁺) and sodium-dependent (K_i=2.47 mol l^–1 Ca²⁺) transport processes. These results suggest that zinc transport across the lobster hepato-pancreatic baso-lateral membrane largely occurred by the ATP-dependent calcium ATPase and sodium-calcium exchanger carrier proteins.Communicated by: I.D. Hume     

Adenine nucleotide translocase mediates the K(ATP)-channel-openers-induced proton and potassium flux to the mitochondrial matrix

K_ATP channel openers have been shown to protect ischemic-reperfused myocardium by mimicking ischemic preconditioning, although their mechanisms of action have not been fully clarified. In this study we investigated the influence of the adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) inhibitors–carboxyatractyloside (CAT) and bongkrekic acid (BA)–on the diazoxide- and pinacidil-induced uncoupling of isolated rat heart mitochondria respiring on pyruvate and malate (6 + 6 mM). We found that both CAT (1.3 M) and BA (20 M) markedly reduced the uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation induced by the K_ATP channel openers. Thus, the uncoupling effect of diazoxide and pinacidil is evident only when ANT is not fixed by inhibitors in neither the C- nor the M-conformation. Moreover, the uncoupling effect of diazoxide and pinacidil was diminished in the presence of ADP or ATP, indicating a competition of K_ATP channel openers with adenine nucleotides. CAT also abolished K⁺-dependent mitochondrial respiratory changes. Thus ANT could also be involved in the regulation of K_ATP-channel-openers-induced K⁺ flux through the inner mitochondrial membrane.     

Elevating intracellular free Mg2+ preserves sensitivity of Na+−K+ pump to ATP at reduced temperatures in guinea pig red blood cells

Red cells of hibernating species have a higher relative rate of Na⁺–K⁺ pump activity at low temperature than the red cells of a mammal with a typical sensitivity to cold. The kinetics of ATP stimulation of the Na⁺–K⁺ pump were determined in guinea pig and ground squirrel red cells at different temperatures between 5 and 37°C by measuring ouabain-sensitive K⁺ influx at different levels of ATP. In guinea pig cells, elevation of intracellular free Mg²⁺ to 2 mmol·l^-1 by use of the divalent cation ionophore A23187 caused the apparent affinity of the pump for ATP to increase with cooling to 20°C, rather than to decrease, as occurs in cells not loaded with Mg²⁺. In ground squirrel cells raising intracellular free Mg²⁺ had little effect on apparent affinity of the pump for ATP at 20°C. ATP affinity rose slightly with cooling both in Mg²⁺-enriched and in control ground squirrel cells. Increased intracellular free Mg²⁺ in guinea pig cells stimulated Na⁺–K⁺ pump activity so that at 20°C the pump rate was the same in the Mg²⁺-enriched guinea pig and control ground squirrel cells. Pump activity in Mg²⁺-enriched guinea pig cells at 5°C was significantly improved but still lower than pump activity in control cells from ground squirrel. Thus, loss of affinity of the Na⁺–K⁺ pump for ATP that occurs with cooling in cold-sensitive guinea pig red cells can be, at least partially, prevented by elevating cytoplasmic free Mg²⁺. Conversely, in ground squirrel red cells natural rise of free Mg²⁺ may in part account for the preservation of the ATP affinity of their Na⁺–K⁺ pump with cooling.Abbreviations K _m Michaelis-Menten constant for apparent affinity - MOPS 3-(N-morpholino)-propanesulphonic acid - [Mg²⁺]_i intracellular concentration of free Mg²⁺ - OD optical density - RBC red blood cell(s) - T _b body temperature