Stimulation of p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity of Na+/K+-ATPase by NaCl with oligomycin or ATP

It is known that the addition of NaCl with oligomycin or ATP stimulates ouabain-sensitive and K+-dependent p-nitrophenylphosphatase (pNPPase) activity of Na+/K+-ATPase. We investigated the mechanism of the stimulation. The combination of oligomycin and NaCl increased the affinity of pNPPase activity for K+. When the ratio of Na+ to Rb+ was 10 in the presence of oligomycin, Rb+-binding and pNPPase activity reached a maximal level and Na+ was occluded. Phosphorylation of Na+/K+-ATPase by p-nitrophenylphosphate (pNPP) was not affected by oligomycin. Because oligomycin stabilizes the Na+-occluded E1 state of Na+/K+-ATPase, it seemed that the Na+-occluded E1 state increased the affinity of the phosphoenzyme formed from pNPP for K+. On the other hand, the combination of ATP and NaCl also increased the affinity of pNPPase for K+ and activated ATPase activity. Both activities were affected by the ligand conditions. Oligomycin noncompetitively affected the activation of pNPPase by NaCl and ATP. Nonhydrolyzable ATP analogues could not substitute for ATP. As NaE1P, which is the high-energy phosphoenzyme formed from ATP with Na+, is also the Na+-occluded E1 state, it is suggested that the Na+-occluded E1 state increases the affinity of the phosphoenzyme from pNPP for K+ through the interaction between alpha subunits. Therefore, membrane-bound Na+/K+-ATPase would function as at least an (alphabeta)2-diprotomer with interacting alpha subunits at the phosphorylation step.     

Hydrolysis by acylphosphatase of erythrocyte membrane Na+, K(+)-ATPase phosphorylated intermediate.

Acylphosphatase, purified from human erythrocytes, actively hydrolyzes the phosphoenzyme intermediate of human red blood cell membrane Na+, K(+)-ATPase. This effect occurred with acylphosphatase amounts (up to 10 units/mg membrane protein) that fall within the physiological range. Acylphosphatase addition to erythrocyte membranes resulted in a significant increase in the rate of Na+, K(+)-dependent ATP hydrolysis. Maximal stimulation, observed with 10 units/mg membrane protein, was of about 80% over basal value. The same acylphosphatase amount enhanced of about 40% the rate of ATP driven Na+ transport into inside out red cell membrane vesicles. Taken together these findings suggest a potential role of acylphosphatase in the control of the activity of erythrocyte membrane Na,K pump.     

Existence of ADP- and KCl-insensitive phosphoenzyme intermediate of Na+,K(+)-ATPase at alkaline Ph

The Na(+)-ATPase activity of Na+,K(+)-ATPase in the absence of K+ was least dependent on the sodium concentration when the pH was 9.5. Around 40% of the phosphoenzyme formed from ATP in the presence of 0.5 mM MgCl2 at alkaline pH was insensitive to both KCl and ADP. High-Na+ chase reversed this insensitivity, i.e., the phosphoenzyme became sensitive to KCl or ADP. On the other hand, phosphorylation at 0.1 mM MgCl2 instead of 0.5 mM showed at least 95% sensitivity to KCl. These observations suggest that ADP- and KCl-insensitive phosphoenzyme was formed when excess Mg++ was present during phosphorylation at alkaline pH. This phosphoenzyme might be an intermediate in the process of ATP hydrolysis.     

(Na+ + K+)-ATPase : phosphorylation-dependent cross-linking of the alpha-subunits in the presence of Ca2+ and o-phenanthroline

In previous studies we had demonstrated that in the presence of 0.25 mM Cu2+ and 1.25 mM o-phenanthroline, cross-linking of the alpha-subunits of Na+ + K+)-dependent adenosine triphosphatase was induced by the addition of Na+ + ATP, and that the formation of the alpha,alpha-dimer was preceded by that of phosphoenzyme. The purpose of the present studies was the further evaluation of the role of phosphoenzyme in the process of cross-linking. Na+ + UTP did not induce cross-linking unless Mg2+ was also added. In contrast, Na+ + ATP-induced cross-linking did not require the addition of Mg2+. The different effects of ATP and UTP in the absence of added Mg2+ could be accounted for by the presence in the enzyme preparation of bound Mg2+ which supported enzyme phosphorylation by ATP but not by UTP. When the enzyme was phosphorylated by Pi, in the presence of Mg2 and ouabain, and the exposed to Cu2+ and o-phenanthroline, the alpha,alpha-dimer was obtained. Under these conditions, Na+ blocked both phosphorylation and cross-linking. These results indicate that it is the formation of phosphoenzyme per se that leads to conformational transitions favorable to cross-linking. They also suggest that Cu2+ and o-phenanthroline participate in the cross-linking reaction, but not in the phosphorylation reactions. In the digitonin-treated enzyme, Na+ and ATP induced the formation of phosphoenzyme, but not that of alpha,alpha-dimer. These findings indicate that in addition to phosphorylation, a proper orientation o alpha-subunits in an oligomer is also necessary for cross-linking.     

Proton diet for the sodium pump

In the absence of Na(+) and K(+) ions the Na,K-ATPase shows a pH-dependent ATP hydrolysis that can be inhibited by ouabain. At pH 7.2 this activity is 5% of the maximal under physiological conditions. It could be inferred that this activity is associated with H(+) transport in both directions across the membrane and facilitates an H-only mode of the sodium pump under such unphysiological conditions. By the analysis of experiments with reconstituted proteoliposomes an overall electroneutral transport mode has been proven. The stoichiometry was determined to be 2 H(+)/2 H(+)/1 ATP and is comparable to what is known from the closely related H,K-ATPase. By time-resolved ATP-concentration jump experiments it was found that at no time was the third, Na(+)-specific binding site of the pump occupied by protons. A modified Post-Albers pump cycle is proposed, with H(+) ions as congeners for Na(+) and K(+), by which all experiments performed can be explained.     

Mutant Phe788 --> Leu of the Na+,K+-ATPase is inhibited by micromolar concentrations of potassium and exhibits high Na+-ATPase activity at low sodium concentrations.

Mutant Phe788 --> Leu of the rat kidney Na+,K(+)-ATPase was expressed in COS cells to active-site concentrations between 40 and 60 pmol/mg of membrane protein. Analysis of the functional properties showed that the discrimination between Na+ and K+ on the two sides of the system is severely impaired in the mutant. Micromolar concentrations of K+ inhibited ATP hydrolysis (K(0.5) for inhibition 107 microM for the mutant versus 76 mM for the wild-type at 20 mM Na+), and at 20 mM K+, the molecular turnover number for Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity was reduced to 11% that of the wild-type. This inhibition was counteracted by Na+ in high concentrations, and in the total absence of K+, the mutant catalyzed Na(+)-activated ATP hydrolysis ("Na(+)-ATPase activity") at an extraordinary high rate corresponding to 86% of the maximal Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity. The high Na(+)-ATPase activity was accounted for by an increased rate of K(+)-independent dephosphorylation. Already at 2 mM Na+, the dephosphorylation rate of the mutant was 8-fold higher than that of the wild-type, and the maximal rate of Na(+)-induced dephosphorylation amounted to 61% of the rate of K(+)-induced dephosphorylation. The cause of the inhibitory effect of K+ on ATP hydrolysis in the mutant was an unusual stability of the K(+)-occluded E2(K2) form. Hence, when E2(K2) was formed by K+ binding to unphosphorylated enzyme, the K(0.5) for K+ occlusion was close to 1 microM in the mutant versus 100 microM in the wild-type. In the presence of 100 mM Na+ to compete with K+ binding, the K(0.5) for K+ occlusion was still 100-fold lower in the mutant than in the wild-type. Moreover, relative to the wild-type, the mutant exhibited a 6-7-fold reduced rate of release of occluded K+, a 3-4-fold increased apparent K+ affinity in activation of the pNPPase reaction, a 10-11-fold lower apparent ATP affinity in the Na+,K(+)-ATPase assay with 250 microM K+ present (increased K(+)-ATP antagonism), and an 8-fold reduced apparent ouabain affinity (increased K(+)-ouabain antagonism).     

Interaction of SDS with Na+/K+-ATPase: SDS-solubilized enzyme retains partial structure and function

Because nearly all structure/function studies on Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase have been done on enzymes prepared in the presence of SDS, we have studied previously unrecognized consequences of SDS interaction with the enzyme. When the purified membrane-bound kidney enzyme was solubilized with SDS or TDS concentrations just sufficient to cause complete solubilization, but not at concentrations severalfold higher, the enzyme retained quaternary structure, exhibiting alpha,alpha-, alpha,beta-, beta,beta-, and alpha,gamma-associations as detected by chemical cross-linking. The presence of solubilized oligomers was confirmed by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. This solubilized enzyme had no ATPase activity and was not phosphorylated by ATP, but it retained the ability to occlude Rb(+) and Na(+). This, and comparison of cross-linking patterns obtained with different reagents, suggested that the transmembrane domains of the enzyme are more resistant to SDS-induced unfolding than its other domains. These findings (a). indicate that the partially unfolded oligomer(s) retaining partial function is the intermediate in the SDS-induced denaturation of the native membrane enzyme having the minimum oligomeric structure of (alpha,beta,gamma)(2) and (b). suggest potential functions for Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase with intrinsically unfolded domains. Mixtures of solubilized/partially unfolded enzyme and membrane-bound enzyme exhibited cross-linking patterns and Na(+) occlusion capacities different from those of either enzyme species, suggesting that the two interact. Formation of the partially unfolded enzyme during standard purification procedure for the preparation of the membrane-bound enzyme was shown, indicating that it is necessary to ensure the separation of the partially unfolded enzyme from the membrane-bound enzyme to avoid the distortion of the properties of the latter.     

5-Iodoacetamidofluorescein-labeled (Na,K)-ATPase. Steady-state fluorescence during turnover

The fluorescence of (Na,K)-ATPase labeled with 5-iodoacetamidofluorescein was studied under turnover conditions. At 4 degrees C the hydrolysis of ATP is slowed sufficiently to permit study of the effects of Na+, K+, and ATP on the steady-state intermediates. With Na+ and Mg2+ (Na-ATPase conditions), addition of ATP produces a 7% drop in signal that reverts back to the initial, high fluorescence after a steady state of several minutes. K-sensitive phosphoenzyme is formed under these conditions, indicating that the fluorescence signal during the steady state is associated with E2P. Under (Na,K)-ATPase conditions (Na+, K+, Mg2+), micromolar ATP produces a steady-state signal that is 25% lower than the initial fluorescence, with no detectable phosphoenzyme formed. This low-fluorescence intermediate, which is also formed by adding K+ to enzyme in the Na-ATPase steady state described above, resembles the state produced by adding K+ directly to enzyme under equilibrium conditions, i.e. E2K. The K0.5(K+) for the fluorescence decrease and for keeping the enzyme dephosphorylated are nearly identical, indicating that the fluorescence change accompanies K+-dependent dephosphorylation. High ATP increases the steady-state fluorescence during the (Na,K)-ATPase reaction; while oligomycin produces still another steady-state fluorescent intermediate. These last two intermediates may be associated with the formation of E2P and E1P, respectively.     

Immunochemical characterization of a functional site of (Na+,K+)-ATPase

Several hybridoma cell lines secreting antibodies specific to the membrane (Na+,K+)-dependent ATPase from lamb kidney medulla have been isolated by using the methods developed by Kohler and Milstein. One of these antibodies (designated M7-PB- E9 ) has been shown to be directed against a functional epitope or antigenic site of the catalytic (alpha) subunit of the enzyme. Although this antibody was raised to the "native" holoenzyme, it has a higher apparent affinity toward the isolated, delipidated, and inactive alpha subunit than toward the holoenzyme. This antibody shows a 10-fold faster initial rate of binding to the alpha subunit than to the holoenzyme. The antibody dissociation rates from both isolated alpha subunit and holoenzyme are similarly slow, and the binding can be considered a pseudoirreversible reaction. By binding at this site, the antibody, however, acts like a "partial competitive inhibitor" with respect to ATP and acts as an uncompetitive or mixed competitive inhibitor with respect to the Na+ and K+ dependence of ATPase hydrolysis. This antibody also does not alter the cooperativity at either the Na+ or the K+ sites. The antibody causes a partial inhibition of the Na+- and MgATP-dependent phosphoenzyme intermediate formation but has no effect on either ADP in equilibrium ATP exchange or the K+-stimulated dephosphorylation step. In addition, the K+-dependent p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity of the enzyme was not affected. In the presence of Mg2+, the antibody stimulates the rate of cardiac glycoside binding [( 3H]ouabain) to the (Na+,K+)-ATPase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The steady-state kinetic mechanism of ATP hydrolysis catalyzed by membrane-bound (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from ox brain. III. A minimal model

A steady-state kinetic investigation of the effect of K+ on the Na+-enzyme activity of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in broken membrane preparations is reported. Analysis of the kinetic patterns obtained, together with the results reported in the first two articles of this series permit the following conclusions. 1. K+ inhibits the Na+-enzyme (the enzyme activity measured at micromolar substrate concentrations in the presence of Na+). The inhibition of non-competitive at low and competitive at higher K+ concentrations and is enhanced by free Mg2+. 2. The results indicate that the Na+-enzyme at steady-state tends to be accumulated in an enzyme-potassium complex when K+ is added. 3. The enzyme-potassium complex, in turn, binds Mg2+ in a dead-end fashion. The dissociation constant for the enzyme-K-Mg complex, estimated from the data, is 7.2 mM. The same value was obtained earlier for the Mg2+ inhibition constant of the substrate-free form of the (Na+ + K+)-enzyme (the enzyme activity measured with Na+ and K+ and at millimolar substrate concentrations) suggesting that the two constants describe the same equilibrium. 4. On the basis of the known (optimal) activity of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, relative to that of the Na+-ATPase, a rate constant condition is found which must be met if the Post-Albers kinetic scheme is to satisfy the data. Kinetic data for the phosphoenzyme indicate that this condition is not satisfied. 5. On the basis of the kinetic results a model for the hydrolytic action of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is proposed. This model encompasses the Post-Albers scheme but contains two distinctive hydrolysis cycles (an 'Na+-enzyme cycle' and a '(Na+ + K+)-enzyme cycle') with widely different affinities for the substrates. Only one of the cycles (the Na+-enzyme cycle) involves acid-stable phosphorylated enzyme intermediates at discernible steady-state concentrations. Which of the two main cycles is predominant in any particular system is determined by the concentration of ligands and substrates. 6. According to this scheme, an enzyme preparation may exhibit both a high (Na+-enzyme) and a low ((Na+ + K+)-enzyme) substrate affinity, without the necessity of assigning more than one substrate site to a particular enzyme unit at any one time.     

Role of protein conformation changes and transphosphorylations in the function of Na+/K(+)-transporting adenosine triphosphatase: an attempt at an integration into the Na+/K+ pump mechanism.

The particular aim of the review on some basic facets of the mechanism of Na+/K(+)-transporting ATPase (Na/K-ATPase) has been to integrate the experimental findings concerning the Na(+)- and K(+)-elicited protein conformation changes and transphosphorylations into the perspective of an allosterically regulated, phosphoryl energy transferring enzyme. This has led the authors to the following summarizing evaluations. 1. The currently dominating hypothesis on a link between protein conformation changes ('E1 in equilibrium with E2') and Na+/K+ transport (the 'Albers-Post scheme') has been constructed from a variety of partial reactions and elementary steps, which, however, do not all unequivocally support the hypothesis. 2. The Na(+)- and K(+)-elicited protein conformation changes are inducible by a variety of other ligands and modulatory factors and therefore cannot be accepted as evidence for their direct participation in effecting cation translocation. 3. There is no evidence that the 'E1 in equilibrium with E2' protein conformation changes are moving Na+ and K+ across the plasma membrane. 4. The allosterically caused ER in equilibrium with ET ('E1 in equilibrium with E2') conformer transitions and the associated cation 'occlusion' in equilibrium with 'de-occlusion' processes regulate the actual catalytic power of an enzyme ensemble. 5. A host of experimental variables determines the proportion of functionally competent ER enzyme conformers and incompetent ET conformers so that any enzyme population, even at the start of a reaction, consists of an unknown mixture of these conformers. These circumstances account for the occurrence of contradictory observations and apparent failures in their comparability. 6. The modelling of the mechanism of the Na/K-ATPase and Na+/K+ pump from the results of reductionistically designed experiments requires the careful consideration of the physiological boundary conditions. 7. Na+ and K+ ligandation of Na/K-ATPase controls the geometry and chemical reactivity of the catalytic centre in the cycle of E1 in equilibrium with E2 state conversions. This is possibly effected by hinge-bending, concerted motions of three adjacent, intracellularly exposed peptide sequences, which shape open and closed forms of the catalytic centre in lock-and-key responses. 8. The Na(+)-dependent enzyme phosphorylation with ATP and the K(+)-dependent hydrolysis of the phosphoenzyme formed are integral steps in the transport mechanism of Na/K-ATPase, but the translocations of Na+ and K+ do not occur via a phosphate-cation symport mechanism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Conformational change accompanying transition of ADP-sensitive phosphoenzyme to potassium-sensitive phosphoenzyme of (Na+,K+)-ATPase modified with N-[p-(2-benzimidazolyl)phenyl]maleimide

The addition of Mg2+ or ATP to (Na+,K+)-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) of pig kidney modified with a sulfhydryl fluorescent reagent N-[p-(2-benzimidazolyl)phenyl]maleimide simply reduced fluorescence in the presence of Na+; however, the addition of both ligands to the enzyme induced a reversible dynamic change. The direction of the change was dependent on the concentration of Na+ present. These dynamic changes in fluorescence intensity both in the presence of low and high concentrations of Na+ can be repeated by the re-addition of ATP but not by ADP. Addition of ouabain under the former condition stabilized the fluorescence at the highest level, but the addition of ouabain under the latter condition increased the fluorescence from the lowest to the highest level. The phosphoenzyme formed under the former condition was sensitive to K+ and insensitive to ADP while the phosphoenzyme formed under the latter condition was sensitive to ADP and insensitive to K+. The data indicate that the positive and negative fluorescence changes were induced by the formation of K+-sensitive phosphoenzyme and ADP-sensitive phosphoenzyme, respectively. N-Ethylmaleimide treatment partially inhibited the positive change without affecting the negative change. These data also indicate that the transition of ADP-sensitive phosphoenzyme to K+-sensitive phosphoenzyme accompanied the largest fluorescence intensity change which was examined during the hydrolysis of ATP. The data obtained from the tryptophan fluorescence of both the native and the modified enzyme suggest that the micro-environments of the tryptophan and the sulfhydryl residues are similar in the state of K+-sensitive phosphoenzyme but different in the state of ADP-sensitive phosphoenzyme.     

Uncoupling of ATP binding to Na+,K+-ATPase from its stimulation of ouabain binding: studies of the inhibition of Na+,K+-ATPase by a monoclonal antibody

The effects of a monoclonal antibody, prepared against the purified lamb kidney Na+,K+-ATPase, on the enzyme's Na+,K+-dependent ATPase activity were analyzed. This antibody, designated M10-P5-C11, is directed against the catalytic subunit of the "native" holoenzyme. It inhibits greater than 90% of the ATPase activity and acts as a noncompetitive or mixed inhibitor with respect to the ATP, Na+, and K+ dependence of enzyme activity. It inhibits the Na+- and Mg2+ATP-dependent phosphoenzyme intermediate formation. In contrast, it has no effect on K+-dependent p-nitrophenylphosphatase (pNPPase) activity, the interconversion of the phosphoenzyme intermediates, and ADP-sensitive or K+-dependent dephosphorylation. It does not alter ATP binding to the enzyme nor the covalent labeling of the enzyme at the presumed ATP site by fluorescein 5'-isothiocyanate (FITC), but it prevents the ATP-induced stimulation in the rate of cardiac glycoside [3H]ouabain binding to the Na+,K+-ATPase. M10-P5-C11 binding appears to inhibit enzyme function by blocking the transfer of the gamma-phosphoryl of ATP to the phosphorylation site after ATP binding to the enzyme has occurred. In the presence of Mg2+ATP, it also prevents the ATP-induced transmembrane conformational change that enhances cardiac glycoside binding. This uncoupling of ATP binding from its stimulation of ouabain binding and enzyme phosphorylation demonstrates the existence of an enzyme-Mg2+ATP transitional intermediate preceding the formation of the Na+-dependent ADP-sensitive phosphoenzyme intermediate. These results are also consistent with a model of the Na+,K+-ATPase active site being composed of two distinct but interacting regions, the ATP binding site and the phosphorylation site.     

Acid-labile ATP and/or ADP/P(i) binding to the tetraprotomeric form of Na/K-ATPase accompanying catalytic phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle.

The Na/K-ATPase has been shown to bind 1 and 0.5 mol of (32)P/mol of alpha-chain in the presence [gamma-(32)P]ATP and [alpha-(32)P]ATP, respectively, accompanied by a maximum accumulation of 0.5 mol of ADP-sensitive phosphoenzyme (NaE1P) and potassium-sensitive phosphoenzyme (E2P). The former accumulation was followed by the slow constant liberation of P(i), but the latter was accompanied with a rapid approximately 0.25 mol of acid-labile P(i) burst. The rubidium (potassium congener)-occluded enzyme (approximately 1.7 mol of rubidium/mol of alpha-chain) completely lost rubidium on the addition of sodium + magnesium. Further addition of approximately 100 microM [gamma-(32)P]ATP and [alpha-(32)P]ATP, both induced 0.5 mol of (32)P-ATP binding to the enzyme and caused accumulation of approximately 1 mol of rubidium/mol of alpha-chain, accompanied by a rapid approximately 0.5 mol of P(i) burst with no detectable phosphoenzyme under steady state conditions. Electron microscopy of rotary-shadowed soluble and membrane-bound Na/K-ATPases and an antibody-Na/K-ATPase complex, indicated the presence of tetraprotomeric structures (alphabeta)(4). These and other data suggest that Na/K-ATP hydrolysis occurs via four parallel paths, the sequential appearance of (NaE1P:E.ATP)(2), (E2P:E.ATP:E2P:E. ADP/P(i)), and (KE2:E.ADP/P(i))(2), each of which has been previously referred to as NaE1P, E2P, and KE2, respectively.     

Effects of palytoxin on cation occlusion and phosphorylation of the (Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>,K<Superscript>+</Superscript>)-ATPase

Palytoxin (PTX) inhibits the (Na(+) + K+)-driven pump and simultaneously opens channels that are equally permeable to Na+ and K+ in red cells and other cell membranes. In an effort to understand the mechanism by which PTX induces these fluxes, we have studied the effects of PTX on: 1) K+ and Na+ occlusion by the pump protein; 2) phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of the enzyme when a phosphoenzyme is formed from ATP and from P(i); and 3) p-nitro phenyl phosphatase (p-NPPase) activity associated with the (Na+, K+)-ATPase. We have found that palytoxin 1) increases the rate of deocclusion of K+(Rb+) in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, whereas Na+ occluded in the presence of oligomycin is unaffected by the toxin; 2) makes phosphorylation from P(i) insensitive to K+, and 3) stimulates the p-NPPase activity. The results are consistent with the notion that PTX produces a conformation of the Na+, K(+)-pump that resembles the one observed when ATP is bound to its low-affinity binding site. Further, they suggest that the channels that are formed by PTX might arise as a consequence of a perturbation in the ATPase structure, leading to the loss of control of the outside "gate" of the enzyme and hence to an uncoupling of the ion transport from the catalytic function of the ATPase.     

Functional characterization of a testes-specific alpha-subunit isoform of the sodium/potassium adenosinetriphosphatase.

Different isoforms of the sodium/potassium adenosinetriphosphatase (Na,K-ATPase) alpha and beta subunits have been identified in mammals. The association of the various alpha and beta polypeptides results in distinct Na,K-ATPase isozymes with unique enzymatic properties. We studied the function of the Na,K-ATPase alpha4 isoform in Sf-9 cells using recombinant baculoviruses. When alpha4 and the Na pump beta1 subunit are coexpressed in the cells, Na, K-ATPase activity is induced. This activity is reflected by a ouabain-sensitive hydrolysis of ATP, by a Na(+)-dependent, K(+)-sensitive, and ouabain-inhibitable phosphorylation from ATP, and by the ouabain-inhibitable transport of K(+). Furthermore, the activity of alpha4 is inhibited by the P-type ATPase blocker vanadate but not by compounds that inhibit the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase or the gastric H,K-ATPase. The Na,K-ATPase alpha4 isoform is specifically expressed in the testis of the rat. The gonad also expresses the beta1 and beta3 subunits. In insect cells, the alpha4 polypeptide is able to form active complexes with either of these subunits. Characterization of the enzymatic properties of the alpha4beta1 and alpha4beta3 isozymes indicates that both Na,K-ATPases have similar kinetics to Na(+), K(+), ATP, and ouabain. The enzymatic properties of alpha4beta1 and alpha4beta3 are, however, distinct from the other Na pump isozymes. A Na, K-ATPase activity with similar properties as the alpha4-containing enzymes was found in rat testis. This Na,K-ATPase activity represents approximately 55% of the total enzyme of the gonad. These results show that the alpha4 polypeptide is a functional isoform of the Na,K-ATPase both in vitro and in the native tissue.     

Kinetics behaviors of Na,K-ATPase: comparison of solubilized and DPPC:DPPE-liposome reconstituted enzyme

We describe and compare the main kinetic characteristics of rabbit kidney Na,K-ATPase incorporated inside-out in DPPC:DPPE-liposomes with the C(12)E(8) solubilized and purified form. In proteoliposomes, we observed that the ATP hydrolysis of the enzyme is favored and also its affinity for Na(+)-binding sites increases, keeping the negative cooperativity with two classes of hydrolysis sites: one of high affinity (K(0.5)=6 microM and 4 microM for reconstituted enzyme and purified form, respectively) and another of low affinity (K(0.5)=0.4 mM and 1.4 mM for reconstituted enzyme and purified form, respectively). Our data showed a biphasic curve for ATP hydrolysis, suggesting the presence of (alphabeta)(2) oligomer in reconstituted Na,K-ATPase similar to the solubilized enzyme. The Mg(2+) concentration dependence in the proteoliposomes stimulated the Na,K-ATPase activity up to 476 U/mg with a K(0.5) value of 0.4 mM. The Na(+) ions also presented a single saturation curve with V(M)=551 U/mg and K(0.5)=0.2 mM with cooperative effects. The activity was also stimulated by K(+) ions through a single curve of saturation sites (K(0.5)=2.8 mM), with cooperative effects and V(M)=641 U/mg. The lipid microenvironment close to the proteic structure and the K(+) internal to the liposome has a key role in enzyme regulation, affecting its kinetic parameters while it can also modulate the enzyme's affinity for substrate and ions.     

Phosphorylation of Na+, K(+)-ATPase by ATP in the presence of K+ and dimethylsulfoxide but in the absence of Na+

Purified Na+, K(+)-ATPase was phosphorylated by [gamma-32P]ATP in a medium containing dimethylsulfoxide and 5 mM Mg2+ in the absence of Na+ and K+. Addition of K+ increased the phosphorylation levels from 0.4 nmol phosphoenzyme/mg of protein in the absence of K+ to 1.0 nmol phosphoenzyme/mg of protein in the presence of 0.5 mM K+. Higher velocities of enzyme phosphorylation were observed in the presence of 0.5 mM K+. Increasing K+ concentrations up to 100 mM lead to a progressive decrease in the phosphoenzyme (EP) levels. Control experiments, that were performed to determine the contribution to EP formation from the Pi inevitably present in the assays, showed that this contribution was of minor importance except at high (20-100 mM) KCl concentrations. The pattern of EP formation and its KCl dependence is thus characteristic for the phosphorylation of the enzyme by ATP. In the absence of Na+ and with 0.5 mM K+, optimal levels (1.0 nmol EP/mg of protein) were observed at 20-40% dimethylsulfoxide and pH 6.0 to 7.5. Addition of Na+ up to 5 mM has no effect on the phosphoenzyme level under these conditions. At 100 mM Na+ or higher the full capacity of enzyme phosphorylation (2.2 nmol EP/mg of protein) was reached. Phosphoenzyme formed from ATP in the absence of Na+ is an acylphosphate-type compound as shown by its hydroxylamine sensitivity. The phosphate radioactivity was incorporated into the alpha-subunit of the Na+, K(+)-ATPase as demonstrated by acid polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography.     

A sodium ion-dependent A1AO ATP synthase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus

The rotor subunit c of the A(1)A(O) ATP synthase of the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus contains a conserved Na(+)-binding motif, indicating that Na(+) is a coupling ion. To experimentally address the nature of the coupling ion, we isolated the enzyme by detergent solubilization from native membranes followed by chromatographic separation techniques. The entire membrane-embedded motor domain was present in the preparation. The rotor subunit c was found to form an SDS-resistant oligomer. Under the conditions tested, the enzyme had maximal activity at 100 degrees C, had a rather broad pH optimum between pH 5.5 and 8.0, and was inhibited by diethystilbestrol and derivatives thereof. ATP hydrolysis was strictly dependent on Na(+), with a K(m) of 0.6 mM. Li(+), but not K(+), could substitute for Na(+). The Na(+) dependence was less pronounced at higher proton concentrations, indicating competition between Na(+) and H(+) for a common binding site. Moreover, inhibition of the ATPase by N',N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide could be relieved by Na(+). Taken together, these data demonstrate the use of Na(+) as coupling ion for the A(1)A(O) ATP synthase of Pyrococcus furiosus, the first Na(+) A(1)A(O) ATP synthase described.     

Halenaquinol, a natural cardioactive pentacyclic hydroquinone, interacts with sulfhydryls on rat brain Na(+),K(+)-ATPase

Halenaquinol inhibited the partial reactions of ATP hydrolysis by rat brain cortex Na(+),K(+)-ATPase, such as [3H]ATP binding to the enzyme, Na(+)-dependent front-door phosphorylation from [gamma-(33)P]ATP, and also Na(+)- and K(+)-dependent E(1)<-->E(2) conformational transitions of the enzyme. Halenaquinol abolished the positive cooperativity between the Na(+)- and K(+)-binding sites on the enzyme. ATP and sulfhydryl-containing reagents (cysteine and dithiothreitol) protected the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase against inhibition. Halenaquinol can react with additional vital groups in the enzyme after blockage of certain sulfhydryl groups with 5,5'-dithio-bis-nitrobenzoic acid. Halenaquinol inhibited [3H]ouabain binding to Na(+),K(+)-ATPase under phosphorylating and non-phosphorylating conditions. Binding of fluorescein 5'-isothiocyanate to Na(+),K(+)-ATPase and intensity of fluorescence of enzyme tryptophanyl residues were decreased by halenaquinol. We suggest that interaction of halenaquinol with the essential sulfhydryls in/or near the ATP-binding site of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase resulted in a change of protein conformation and subsequent alteration of overall and partial enzymatic reactions.