The three-dimensional structure of supercoiled deoxyribonucleic acid in solution. Evidence obtained from the angular distribution of scattered light

1. The size and shape of superhelical double-stranded circular DNA from bacteriophage ØX174 were investigated by light-scattering. The molecular weight of the DNA is 3.17×10⁶ and the root-mean-square radius is 103.5nm. 2. The light-scattering envelopes of various theoretical three-dimensional models for such DNA molecules were calculated by repetitive computational techniques, and the results were compared with the experimental findings. 3. It is concluded that the structure of supercoiled DNA containing −12 superhelical turns in buffer of I0.2 corresponds best to one of the more compact models for superhelix structure such as the branched model, and the commonly employed straight interwound superhelix model is incompatible with the experimental results, at the superhelix density found.     

Studies on the mechanism of regulation of the red-cell Ca2+ pump by calmodulin and ATP

(1) The effects of calmodulin binding on the rates of Ca²⁺-dependent phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of the red-cell Ca²⁺ pump, have been tested in membranes stripped of endogenous calmodulin or recombined with purified calmodulin. (2) In Mg²⁺-containing media, phosphorylation and dephosphorylation rates are accelerated by a large factor (at 0°C), but the steady-state level of phosphoenzyme is unaffected by calmodulin binding (at 0°C and 37°C). In Mg²⁺-free media, slower rates of phosphoenzyme formation and hydrolysis are observed, but both rates and the steady-state phosphoenzyme level are raised following calmodulin binding. (3) At 37°C and 0°C, the rate of (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase activity is stimulated maximally by 6–7-fold, following calmodulin binding. At 37°C the apparent Ca²⁺ affinity for sustaining ATP hydrolysis is raised at least 20-fold, K_m(Ca) ? 10 μM (—calmodulin) and K_m(Ca) < 0.5 μM (+ calmodulin), but at 0°C the apparent Ca²⁺ affinity is very high in calmodulin-stripped membranes and little or no effect of calmodulin is observed (K_m(Ca) ? 3–4 · 10^-8 M). (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase activity in calmodulin activated membranes and at saturating ATP levels, is sharply inhibited by addition of calcium in the range 50–2000 μM. (4) A systematic study of the effects of the nucleotide species MgATP, CaATP and free ATP on (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase activity in calmodulin-activated membranes reveals: (a) In the 1–10 μmolar concentration range MgATP, CaATP and free ATP appear to sustain (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase activity equally effectively. (b) In the range 100–2000 μM, MgATP accelerates ATP hydrolysis (K_m(MgATP) ? 360 μM), and CaATP is an inhibitor (K_i(CaATP) ? 165 μM), probably competing with MgATP fo the regulatory site. (5) The results suggest that calmodulin binding alters the conformational state of the Ca²⁺- pump active site, producing a high (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)-ATPase activity, high Ca²⁺ affinity and regulation of activity by MgATP.     

Kinetics of the Ca, H, and Mg Interaction with the Ion-Binding Sites of the SR Ca-ATPase

Electrochromic styryl dyes were used to investigate mutually antagonistic effects of Ca²⁺ and H⁺ on binding of the other ion in the E₁ and P-E₂ states of the SR Ca-ATPase. On the cytoplasmic side of the protein in the absence of Mg²⁺ a strictly competitive binding sequence, H₂E₁?HE₁?E₁?CaE₁?Ca₂E₁, was found with two Ca²⁺ ions bound cooperatively. The apparent equilibrium dissociation constants were in the order of K_1/2(2 Ca) = 34 nM, K_1/2(H) = 1 nM and K_1/2(H₂) = 1.32 μM. Up to 2 Mg²⁺ ions were also able to enter the binding sites electrogenically and to compete with the transported substrate ions (K_1/2(Mg) = 165 μM, K_1/2(Mg₂) = 7.4 mM). In the P-E₂ state, with binding sites facing the lumen of the sarcoplasmatic reticulum, the measured concentration dependence of Ca²⁺ and H⁺ binding could be described satisfactorily only with a branched reaction scheme in which a mixed state, P-E₂CaH, exists. From numerical simulations, equilibrium dissociation constants could be determined for Ca²⁺ (0.4 mM and 25 mM) and H⁺ (2 μM and 10 μM). These simulations reproduced all observed antagonistic concentration dependences. The comparison of the dielectric ion binding in the E₁ and P-E₂ conformations indicates that the transition between both conformations is accompanied by a shift of their (dielectric) position.     

Transmembrane Mg2+ Currents and Intracellular Free Mg2+ Concentration in Paramecium tetraurelia

The properties of Mg²⁺ conductances in Paramecium tetraurelia were investigated under two-electrode voltage clamp. When bathed in physiological Mg²⁺ concentrations (0.5 mm), depolarizing steps from rest elicited a prominent Mg²⁺-specific current (I _Mg) that has been noted previously. The dependence of this current on extracellular Mg²⁺ approximated that of Mg²⁺-induced backward swimming, demonstrating that I _Mg contributes to normal membrane excitation and behavior in this ciliate. Closer analysis revealed that the Mg²⁺ current deactivated biphasically. While this might suggest the involvement of two Mg²⁺-specific pathways, both tail-current components were affected similarly by current-specific mutations and they had similar ion selectivities, suggesting a common pathway. In contrast, a Mg²⁺ current activated upon hyperpolarization could be separated into three components. The first, I _Mg, had similar properties to the current activated upon depolarization. The second was a nonspecific divalent cation current (I _NS) that was revealed following suppression of I _Mg by eccentric mutation. The final current was relatively minor and was revealed following suppression of I _Mg and I _NS by obstinate A gene mutation. Reversal-potential analyses suggested that I _Mg and I _NS define two intracellular compartments that contain, respectively, low (0.4 mm) and high (8 mm) concentrations of Mg²⁺. Measurement of intracellular free Mg²⁺ using the fluorescent dye, Mag-fura-2, suggested that bulk [Mg²⁺] _i rests at around 0.4 mm in Paramecium. Received: 12 January 1998/Revised: 16 March 1998     

Solution and solid state behavior of Co2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ tosylaminoacidate systems: Crystal and molecular structure of bis(N-tosylglycinato)tetraaquocobalt(II) and bis(N-tosyl-β-alaninato)tetraaquozinc(II) complexes

The interactions between N-tosylamino acids and cobalt(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) ions in aqueous solution and in the solid state have been investigated. From concentrated aqueous solutions, compounds of general formula [M(II)(N-tosylaminoacidato)₂(H₂O)₄](M = Co(II), Ni(II) and N-tosylaminoacidato = N-tosylglycinate (Tsgly^?), N-tosyl-α- and -β-alaninate (Ts-α- and Ts-β-ala^?); M = Zn(II) and N-tosylaminoacidate = Tsgly^?, Ts-β-ala^?) and [Zn(II)(N- tosylaminoacidato)₂(H₂O)₂] were isolated and characterized by means of thermogravimetric, electronic and infrared spectra. For two of them: [Co(Tsgly)₂(H₂O)₄](I) and [Zn(Ts-β-ala)₂(H₂O)₄](II) the crystal and molecular structures were also determined. Both compounds crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c, with two formula units in a cell of dimensions: a = 13.007(6), b = 5.036(2), c = 18.925(7) Å, β = 102.33(3)° for (I) and a = 14.173(6), b = 5.469(2), c = 17.701(7) Å, β = 106.63(3)° for (II). The structures were solved by the heavy-atom method and refined by least-squares calculations to R = 0.031 and 0.064 for (I) and (II) respectively. The cobalt and zinc atoms lie in the centers of symmetry, each bonded to two amino- acid molecules through a carboxylic oxygen atom and four water molecules in a slightly tetragonally distorted octahedral geometry. The second carboxylic oxygen atom is not involved in metal coordination. Electronic and X ray-powder spectra suggest that the tetrahydrate complexes of Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions of the same amino acids are isomorphous and isostructural. No coordinative interactions between ligand and metal ions were found in aqueous solution on varying the pH values before hydroxide precipitation.     

The relationship between single-channel and whole-cell conductance in the T-type Ca2+ channel CaV3.1

In T-type Ca²⁺ channels, macroscopic I_Ba is usually smaller than I_Ca, but at high Ca²⁺ and Ba²⁺, single-channel conductance (γ) is equal. We investigated γ as a function of divalent concentration and compared it to macroscopic currents using Ca_V3.1 channels studied under similar experimental conditions (TEA_o and K_i). Single-channel current-voltage relationships were nonlinear in a way similar to macroscopic open-channel I/Vs, so divalent γ was underestimated at depolarized voltages. To estimate divalent γ, concentration dependence, i_Div, was measured at voltages <−50 mV. Data were well described by Langmuir isotherms with γ_max(Ca²⁺) of 9.5 ± 0.4 pS and γ_max(Ba²⁺) of 10.3 ± 0.5 pS. Apparent K_M was lower for Ca²⁺ (2.3 ± 0.7 mM) than for Ba²⁺ (7.9 ± 1.3 mM). A subconductance state with an amplitude 70% that of the main state was observed, the relative occupancy of which increased with increasing Ca²⁺. As predicted by γ, macroscopic G_maxCa was larger than G_maxBa at 5 mM (G_maxCa²⁺/Ba:²⁺1.43 ± 0.14) and similar at 60 mM (G_maxCa²⁺/Ba:²⁺1.10 ± 0.02). However, over the range of activation, I_Ca was larger than I_Ba under both conditions. This was a consequence of the fact that V_rev was more negative for I_Ba than for I_Ca, so that the driving force determining I_Ba was smaller than that determining I_Ca over the range of potentials in standard current-voltage relationships.     

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.     

Equilibrium constants under physiological conditions for the reactions of the nonphosphorylated pathway of L-serine biosynthesis

The observed equilibrium constants (K_obs) for the reactions of d-2-phosphoglycerate phosphatase, d-2-Phosphoglycerate^3? + H₂O → d-glycerate^? + HPO₄^2?; d-glycerate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.29), d-Glycerate^? + NAD⁺ → NADH + hydroxypyruvate^? + H⁺; and l-serine:pyruvate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.51), Hydroxypyruvate^? + l-H · alanine^± → pyruvate^? + l-H · serine^±; have been determined, directly and indirectly, at 38 °C and under conditions of physiological ionic strength (0.25 m) and physiological ranges of pH and magnesium concentrations. From these observed constants and the acid dissociation and metal-binding constants of the substrates, an ionic equilibrium constant (K) also has been calculated for each reaction. The value of K for the d-2-phosphoglycerate phosphatase reaction is 4.00 × 10³m [ΔG⁰ = ?21.4 kJ/mol (?5.12 kcal/mol)]([H₂0] = 1). Values of K_obs for this reaction at 38 °C, [K⁺] = 0.2 m, I = 0.25 M, and pH 7.0 include 3.39 × 10³m (free [Mg²⁺] = 0), 3.23 × 10³m (free [Mg²⁺] = 10^?3m), and 2.32 × 10³m (free [Mg²⁺] = 10^?2m). The value of K for the d-glycerate dehydrogenase reaction has been determined to be 4.36 ± 0.13 × 10^?13m (38 °C, I = 0.25 M) [ΔG⁰ = 73.6 kJ/mol (17.6 kcal/mol)]. This constant is relatively insensitive to free magnesium concentrations but is affected by changes in temperature [ΔH⁰ = 46.9 kJ/mol (11.2 kcal/mol)]. The value of K for the serine:pyruvate aminotransferase reaction is 5.41 ± 0.11 [ΔG⁰ = ?4.37 kJ/mol (?1.04 kcal/mol)] at 38 °C (I = 0.25 M) and shows a small temperature effect [ΔH⁰ = 16.3 kJ/ mol (3.9 kcal/mol)]. The constant showed no significant effect of ionic strength (0.06–1.0 m) and a response to the hydrogen ion concentration only above pH 8.5. The value of K_obs is 5.50 ± 0.11 at pH 7.0 (38 °C, [K⁺] = 0.2 m, [Mg²⁺] = 0, I = 0.25 M). The results have also allowed the value of K for the d-glycerate kinase reaction (EC 2.7.1.31), d-Glycerate^? + ATP^4? → d-2-phosphoglycerate^3? + ADP^3? + H⁺, to be calculated to be 32.5 m (38 °C, I = 0.25 M). Values for K_obs for this reaction under these conditions and at pH 7.0 include 236 (free [Mg²⁺] = 0) and 50.8 (free [Mg²⁺] = 10^?3m).     

Recent Advances in the Structural Biology of Mg2+ Channels and Transporters

Magnesium ions (Mg²⁺) are the most abundant divalent cations in living organisms and are essential for various physiological processes, including ATP utilization and the catalytic activity of numerous enzymes. Therefore, the homeostatic mechanisms associated with cellular Mg²⁺ are crucial for both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms and are thus strictly controlled by Mg²⁺ channels and transporters. Technological advances in structural biology, such as the expression screening of membrane proteins, in meso phase crystallization, and recent cryo-EM techniques, have enabled the structure determination of numerous Mg²⁺ channels and transporters. In this review article, we provide an overview of the families of Mg²⁺ channels and transporters (MgtE/SLC41, TRPM6/7, CorA/Mrs2, CorC/CNNM), and discuss the structural biology prospects based on the known structures of MgtE, TRPM7, CorA and CorC.     

Differences in the regulation of RyR2 from human,sheep, and rat by Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the cytoplasm and in the lumen of the sarcoplasmic reticulum

Regulation of the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) by intracellular Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ plays a key role in determining cardiac contraction and rhythmicity, but their role in regulating the human RyR2 remains poorly defined. The Ca²⁺- and Mg²⁺-dependent regulation of human RyR2 was recorded in artificial lipid bilayers in the presence of 2 mM ATP and compared with that in two commonly used animal models for RyR2 function (rat and sheep). Human RyR2 displayed cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ activation (K_a = 4 µM) and inhibition by cytoplasmic Mg²⁺ (K_i = 10 µM at 100 nM Ca²⁺) that was similar to RyR2 from rat and sheep obtained under the same experimental conditions. However, in the presence of 0.1 mM Ca²⁺, RyR2s from human were 3.5-fold less sensitive to cytoplasmic Mg²⁺ inhibition than those from sheep and rat. The K_a values for luminal Ca²⁺ activation were similar in the three species (35 µM for human, 12 µM for sheep, and 10 µM for rat). From the relationship between open probability and luminal [Ca²⁺], the peak open probability for the human RyR2 was approximately the same as that for sheep, and both were ∼10-fold greater than that for rat RyR2. Human RyR2 also showed the same sensitivity to luminal Mg²⁺ as that from sheep, whereas rat RyR2 was 10-fold more sensitive. In all species, modulation of RyR2 gating by luminal Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ only occurred when cytoplasmic [Ca²⁺] was <3 µM. The activation response of RyR2 to luminal and cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ was strongly dependent on the Mg²⁺ concentration. Addition of physiological levels (1 mM) of Mg²⁺ raised the K_a for cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ to 30 µM (human and sheep) or 90 µM (rat) and raised the K_a for luminal Ca²⁺ to ∼1 mM in all species. This is the first report of the regulation by Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ of native RyR2 receptor activity from healthy human hearts.     

Reduced Model Captures Mg2+-RNA Interaction Free Energy of Riboswitches

The stability of RNA tertiary structures depends heavily on Mg²⁺. The Mg²⁺-RNA interaction free energy that stabilizes an RNA structure can be computed experimentally through fluorescence-based assays that measure Γ₂₊, the number of excess Mg²⁺ associated with an RNA molecule. Previous explicit-solvent simulations predict that the majority of excess Mg²⁺ ions interact closely and strongly with the RNA, unlike monovalent ions such as K⁺, suggesting that an explicit treatment of Mg²⁺ is important for capturing RNA dynamics. Here we present a reduced model that accurately reproduces the thermodynamics of Mg²⁺-RNA interactions. This model is able to characterize long-timescale RNA dynamics coupled to Mg²⁺ through the explicit representation of Mg²⁺ ions. KCl is described by Debye-Hückel screening and a Manning condensation parameter, which represents condensed K⁺ and models its competition with condensed Mg²⁺. The model contains one fitted parameter, the number of condensed K⁺ ions in the absence of Mg²⁺. Values of Γ₂₊ computed from molecular dynamics simulations using the model show excellent agreement with both experimental data on the adenine riboswitch and previous explicit-solvent simulations of the SAM-I riboswitch. This agreement confirms the thermodynamic accuracy of the model via the direct relation of Γ₂₊ to the Mg²⁺-RNA interaction free energy, and provides further support for the predictions from explicit-solvent calculations. This reduced model will be useful for future studies of the interplay between Mg²⁺ and RNA dynamics.     

Ca2+-stimulated,Mg2+-independent ATP hydrolysis and the high affinity Ca2+-pumping ATPase. Two different activities in rat kidney basolateral membranes

The Mg²⁺-dependency of Ca²⁺-induced ATP hydrolysis is studied in basolateral plasma membrane vesicles from rat kidney cortex in the presence of CDTA and EGTA as Mg²⁺- and Ca²⁺-buffering ligands. ATP hydrolysis is strongly stimulated by Mg²⁺ with a K_m of 13 μ M in the absence or presence of 1 μ M free Ca²⁺. At free Mg²⁺ concentrations of 1 μ M and lower, ATP hydrolysis is Mg²⁺ -independent, but is strongly stimulated by submicromolar Ca²⁺ concentrations K_m  0.25 μM, V_max  24 μmol P_i/h per mg protein). The Ca²⁺-stimulated ATP hydrolysis strongly decreases at higher Mg²⁺ concentrations. The Ca²⁺-stimulated Mg²⁺-independent ATP hydrolysis is not affected by calmodulin or trifluoperazine and shows no specificity for ATP over ADP, ITP and GTP. In contrast, at high Mg²⁺ concentrations calmodulin and trifluoperazine affect the high affinity Ca²⁺-ATPase activity significantly and ATP is the preferred substrate. Control studies on ATP-dependent Ca²⁺-pumping in renal basolaterals and on Ca²⁺-ATPase in erythrocyte ghosts suggest that the Ca²⁺-pumping enzyme requires Mg²⁺. In contrast, a role of the Ca²⁺-stimulated Mg²⁺-independent ATP hydrolysis in active Ca²⁺ transport across basolateral membranes is rather unlikely.     

Properties of the solvent-stimulated ATPase activity of chloroplast coupling factor 1 from Chlamydomonas reinhardii

The effects of solvents on the ATPase activity of chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF₁) isolated from wild-type Chlamydomonas reinhardii have been studied. Of the solvents examined, the following order summarizes their maximal ability to stimulate the ATPase activity of CF₁: ethanol > methanol>allyl alcohol >n-propanol > acetone≈dioxane > ethylene glycol. Glycerol inhibits the CF₁ activity at all concentrations. In the absence of organic solvents, 50% of the activity of the enzyme is irreversibly lost after a 10 min incubation at 65–70°C. Ethanol (23%) causes a 30°C drop in the temperature required for 50% inactivation. ATP partially stabilizes the CF₁ in the presence, but not in the absence, of ethanol. In the absence of organic solvents, both free Mg²⁺ and ADP inhibit the CF₁-ATPase. Mg²⁺ is a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to MgATP, and the kinetic constants are: V, 6.3 μmol ATP hydrolyzed/mg protein per min; K_m(MgATP), 0.23 mM; K_ii(Mg²⁺), 27 μM; and K_is(Mg²⁺), 50 μM. In the presence of ethanol, double-reciprocal plots are no longer linear and have a Hill coefficient of about 1.8±0.1. V increases about 10–12-fold. The pattern of inhibition by Mg²⁺ appears to change from noncompetitive to competitive with respect to MgATP. In addition, ADP no longer inhibits the MgATPase activity of CF₁.     

Syntheses, structures and antimicrobial activities of various metal complexes of hinokitiol

Metal-oxygen bonding complexes (M = Mg^II, Mn^II, Ni^II, Mo^VI, W^VI, Pd^II, Sb^III, Bi^III, Fe^III, Ti^IV, K^I, Ba^II, Zr^IV and Hf^IV) with a hinokitiol (Hhino; 2-hydroxy-4-isopropylcyclohepta-2,4,6-trienone or β-thujaplicin) ligand, which has two unequivalent oxygen donor atoms, were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, TG/DTA, FT-IR and solution (¹H and ¹³C) NMR spectroscopy. Single-crystal X-ray structure analysis revealed various molecular structures for the complexes, which were classified into several families of family, i.e. type A [M^II(hino)₂(L)]₂ (M = Mg^II, Mn^II, Ni^II; L = EtOH or MeOH), with a dimeric structure consisting of one bridging hino⁻ anion, one chelating hino⁻ anion and one alcohol or water molecule, type B, with the octahedral, cis-dioxo, bis-chelate complexes cis-[M^VIO₂(hino)₂] (M = Mo^VI, W^VI), type C, with square planar complex [M^II(hino)₂] (M = Pd^II), type D, with tris-chelate, 7-coordinate complexes with one inert electron pair [M^III(hino)₃] (M = Sb^III, Bi^III), type D′, with the bis-chelate, pseudo-6-coordinate complexes with one inert electron pair [M^III(hino)₂X] (M = Sb^III, X = Br), type E, with tris-chelate, 6-coordinate complexes with Δ and Λ isomers [M^III(hino)₃] (M = Fe^III), type E′ of bis-chelate, 6-coordinate complex [M^IV(hino)₂X₂] (M = Ti^IV, X = Cl), type F, with water-soluble alkali metal salts [M^I(hino)] (M = K^I), and type H, with tetrakis-chelate, 8-coordinate complexes [M^IV(hino)₄](M = Zr^IV, Hf^IV). These structural features were compared with those of metal complexes with a related ligand, tropolone (Htrop). The antimicrobial activities of these complexes, evaluated in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC; μg mL⁻¹) in two systems, were compared to elucidate the relationship between structure and antimicrobial activity.     

Properties and nature of (Na+ + Mg2+)-dependent adenosine triphosphatase in the gills of the eel, angvilla anguilla (L.)

The specific activity of (Na⁺ + Mg²⁺)-dependent ATPase is three times greater in the microsomes of sea-water eels than in freshwater eels; the specific activity is one quarter of that of (Na⁺ + K⁺ + Mg²⁺)-dependent ATPase in both cases.(Na⁺ + Mg²⁺)-dependent ATPase is optimally active in a medium containing 8 mM NaCl, 4 mM MgCI₂, 4 mM ATP, pH 8.8 and at 30 °C; the enzyme is inhibited by ouabain, by NaCl concentrations > 100 mM and by treatment with urea.It is concluded that the (Na⁺ + Mg²⁺)-dependent ATPase activity of gills arises from the presence of a (Na⁺ + K⁺ + Mg²⁺)-dependent ATPase.     

Hydrolysis of adenylyl imidodiphosphate in the presence of Na+ + Mg+ by (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase

(1) Contrary to what has usually been assumed, (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase slowly hydrolyses AdoPP[NH]P in the presence of Na⁺ + Mg²⁺ to ADP-NH₂ and P_i. The activity is ouabain-sensitive and is not detected in the absence of either Mg²⁺ or Na²⁺. The specific activity of the Na⁺ + Mg²⁺ dependent AdoPP[NH]P hydrolysis at 37°C and pH 7.0 is 4% of that for ATP under identical conditions and only 0.07% of that for ATP in the presence of K⁺. The activity is not stimulated by K⁺, nor can K⁺ replace Na⁺ in its stimulatory action. This suggests that phosphorylation is rate-limiting. Stimulation by Na⁺ is positively cooperative with a Hill coefficient of 2.4; half-maximal stimulation occurs at 5–9 mM. The K_m value for AdoPP[NH]P is 17 μM. At 0°C and 21°C the specific activity is 2 and 14%, respectively, of that at 37°C. AMP, ADP and AdoPP[CH₂]P are not detectably hydrolysed by (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase in the presence of Na⁺ + Mg²⁺. (2) In addition, AdoPP[NH]P undergoes spontaneous, non-enzymatic hydrolysis at pH 7.0 with rate constants at 0, 21 and 37°C of 0.0006, 0.006 and 0.07 h^?1, respectively. This effect is small compared to the effect of enzymatic hydrolysis under comparable conditions. Mg²⁺ present in excess of AdoPP[NH]P reduces the rate constant of the spontaneous hydrolysis to 0.005 h^?1 at 37°C, indicating that the MgAdoPP[NH]P complex is virtually stable to spontaneous hydrolysis, as is also the case for its enzymatic hydrolysis. (3) A practical consequence of these findings is that AdoPP[NH]P binding studies in the presence of Na⁺ + Mg²⁺ with enzyme concentrations in the mg/ml range are not possible at temperatures above 0°C. On the other hand, determination of affinity in the (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase reaction by competition with ATP at low protein concentrations (μg/ml range) remains possible without significant hydrolysis of AdoPP[NH]P even at 37°C.     

Adenosine Triphosphate Activates a Noninactivating K+ Current in Adrenal Cortical Cells through Nonhydrolytic Binding

Bovine adrenal zona fasciculata (AZF) cells express a noninactivating K⁺ current (I_AC) that is inhibited by adrenocorticotropic hormone and angiotensin II at subnanomolar concentrations. Since I_AC appears to set the membrane potential of AZF cells, these channels may function critically in coupling peptide receptors to membrane depolarization, Ca²⁺ entry, and cortisol secretion. I_AC channel activity may be tightly linked to the metabolic state of the cell. In whole cell patch clamp recordings, MgATP applied intracellularly through the patch electrode at concentrations above 1 mM dramatically enhanced the expression of I_AC K⁺ current. The maximum I_AC current density varied from a low of 8.45 ± 2.74 pA/pF (n = 17) to a high of 109.2 ± 26.3 pA/pF (n = 6) at pipette MgATP concentrations of 0.1 and 10 mM, respectively. In the presence of 5 mM MgATP, I_AC K⁺ channels were tonically active over a wide range of membrane potentials, and voltage-dependent open probability increased by only ∼30% between −40 and +40 mV. ATP (5 mM) in the absence of Mg²⁺ and the nonhydrolyzable ATP analog AMP-PNP (5 mM) were also effective at enhancing the expression of I_AC, from a control value of 3.7 ± 0.1 pA/pF (n = 3) to maximum values of 48.5 ± 9.8 pA/pF (n = 11) and 67.3 ± 23.2 pA/pF (n = 6), respectively. At the single channel level, the unitary I_AC current amplitude did not vary with the ATP concentration or substitution with AMP-PNP. In addition to ATP and AMP-PNP, a number of other nucleotides including GTP, UTP, GDP, and UDP all increased the outwardly rectifying I_AC current with an apparent order of effectiveness: MgATP > ATP = AMP-PNP > GTP = UTP > ADP >> GDP > AMP and ATP-γ-S. Although ATP, GTP, and UTP all enhanced I_AC amplitude with similar effectiveness, inhibition of I_AC by ACTH (200 pM) occurred only in the presence of ATP. As little as 50 μM MgATP restored complete inhibition of I_AC, which had been activated by 5 mM UTP. Although the opening of I_AC channels may require only ATP binding, its inhibition by ACTH appears to involve a mechanism other than hydrolysis of this nucleotide. These findings describe a novel form of K⁺ channel modulation by which I_AC channels are activated through the nonhydrolytic binding of ATP. Because they are activated rather than inhibited by ATP binding, I_AC K⁺ channels may represent a distinctive new variety of K⁺ channel. The combined features of I_AC channels that allow it to sense and respond to changing ATP levels and to set the resting potential of AZF cells, suggest a mechanism where membrane potential, Ca²⁺ entry, and cortisol secretion could be tightly coupled to the metabolic state of the cell through the activity of I_AC K⁺ channels.     

Comparison of the effects of one-side- and two-side Mg2+ on the reconstitution of mitochondrial H+-ATPase

Three types of proteoliposome containing mitochondrial H⁺-ATPase have been prepared: Mg²⁺-‘free’, one-side and two-side Mg²⁺-containing proteoliposomes. The ATPase activity as well as its sensitivity to oligomycin or N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide of the three proteoliposome preparations has been compared. They decreased in the order : L ·(H⁺-ATPase)_+Mg²⁺ > L · (H⁺-ATPase)_+Mg²⁺ > L · (H⁺-ATPase)_−Mg²⁺. The fluidity of the proteoliposomes has also been compared by fluorescence polarization probes diphenylhexatriene (DPH) or 7-(9-anthroyloxy)stearic acid (7-AS). The degree of polarization for DPH in these proteoliposomes decreased in the order: L · (H⁺-ATPase)_+Mg²⁺ > L · (H⁺-ATPase)_+Mg²⁺ > L · (H⁺-ATPase)_−Mg²⁺, while that for 7-AS: L · (H⁺-ATPase)_+Mg²⁺ ≈ L · (H⁺-ATPase)_+Mg²⁺ > L · (H⁺-ATPase)_−Mg²⁺.Lipid fluidityMitochondrial H⁺-ATPaseOne-side Mg²⁺ effectTwo-side Mg²⁺ effectLipid-protein interaction