A transport model for the (Na+/K+)ATPase in liposomes including the (Na+/K+)-channel function

(Na+/K+)ATPase liposomes of various degrees of reconstitution are formed by varying the amount of phosphatidylcholine added to the soluble (Na+/K+)ATPase before vesicles are formed by cholate removal. In the presence of ATP, the reconstituted sodium pump effectuates (Na+/K+) antiport. In the absence of ATP, the reconstituted sodium pump forms a (Na+/K+) channel. The stable plateaus formed by (1) the active Na+ transport, (2) the active K+ transport, (3) the 'passive' Na+ flux, and (4) the 'passive' K+ flux are determined in the optimally and the partially reconstituted liposomes. The activities of all four vectorial functions vary in a tightly correlated fashion, suggesting that they are mediated by the same transport-active configuration of (Na+/K+)ATPase. A transport model which includes the active and the passive (Na+/K+) fluxes mediated by the sodium pump in liposomes is outlined.     

Electrophysiological analysis of the mutated Na,K-ATPase cation binding pocket

Na,K-ATPase mediates net electrogenic transport by extruding three Na+ ions and importing two K+ ions across the plasma membrane during each reaction cycle. We mutated putative cation coordinating amino acids in transmembrane hairpin M5-M6 of rat Na,K-ATPase: Asp776 (Gln, Asp, Ala), Glu779 (Asp, Gln, Ala), Asp804 (Glu, Asn, Ala), and Asp808 (Glu, Asn, Ala). Electrogenic cation transport properties of these 12 mutants were analyzed in two-electrode voltage-clamp experiments on Xenopus laevis oocytes by measuring the voltage dependence of K+-stimulated stationary currents and pre-steady-state currents under electrogenic Na+/Na+ exchange conditions. Whereas mutants D804N, D804A, and D808A hardly showed any Na+/K+ pump currents, the other constructs could be classified according to the [K+] and voltage dependence of their stationary currents; mutants N776A and E779Q behaved similarly to the wild-type enzyme. Mutants E779D, E779A, D808E, and D808N had in common a decreased apparent affinity for extracellular K+. Mutants N776Q, N776D, and D804E showed large deviations from the wild-type behavior; the currents generated by mutant N776D showed weaker voltage dependence, and the current-voltage curves of mutants N776Q and D804E exhibited a negative slope. The apparent rate constants determined from transient Na+/Na+ exchange currents are rather voltage-independent and at potentials above -60 mV faster than the wild type. Thus, the characteristic voltage-dependent increase of the rate constants at hyperpolarizing potentials is almost absent in these mutants. Accordingly, dislocating the carboxamide or carboxyl group of Asn776 and Asp804, respectively, decreases the extracellular Na+ affinity.     

Na+ currents generated by the purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase on planar lipid membranes

Purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from pig kidney was attached to black lipid membranes and ATP-induced electric currents were measured as described previously by Fendler et al. ((1985) EMBO J. 4, 3079-3085). An ATP concentration jump was produced by an ultraviolet-light flash converting non-hydrolysable caged ATP to ATP. In the presence of Na+ and Mg2+ this resulted in a transient current signal. The pump current was not only ATP dependent, but also was influenced by the ATP/caged ATP ratio. It was concluded that caged ATP binds to the enzyme (and hence inhibits the signal) with a Ki of approx. 30 microM, which was confirmed by enzymatic activity studies. An ATP affinity of approx. 2 microM was determined. The addition of the protonophore 1799 and the Me+/H+ exchanger monensin made the bilayer conductive leading to a stationary pump current. The stationary current was strongly increased by the addition of K+ with a K0.5 of 700 microM. Even in the absence of K+ a stationary current could be measured, which showed two Na+-affinities: a high-affinity (K0.5 less than or equal to 1 mM) and a low-affinity (K0.5 greater than or equal to 0.2 M). In order to explain the sustained electrogenic Na+ transport during the Na+-ATPase activity, it is proposed, that Na+ can replace K+ in dephosphorylating the enzyme, but binds about 1000-times weaker than K+. The ATP requirement of the Na+-ATPase was the same (K0.5 = 2 microM) with regard to the peak currents and the stationary currents. However, for the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase the stationary currents required more ATP. The results are discussed on the basis of the Albers-Post scheme.     

Effects of intracellular signals on Na+/K(+)-ATPase pump activity in the frog skin epithelium.

The effects of intracellular signals (pHi, Na+i, Ca2+i, and the electrical membrane potential), on Na+ transport mediated by the Na+/K+ pump were investigated in the isolated Rana esculenta frog skin. In particular we focussed on pHi sensitivity since protons act as an intrinsic regulator of transepithelial Na+ transport (JNa) by a simultaneous control of the apical membrane Na+ conductance (gNa) and the basolateral membrane K+ conductance (gK). pHi changes which modify JNa, gNa and gK, do not affect the Na+ transport mediated by the pump as shown by kinetic and electrophysiological studies. In addition, no changes were observed in the number of 3H-ouabain binding sites in acid-loaded epithelia. Our attempts to modify cellular Ca2+ (by using Ca(2+)-free/EGTA Ringer solution or A23187 addition) also failed to produce any significant effects in the Na+ pump turnover rate or the number of 3H-ouabain binding sites. The Na+ pump current was found to be sensitive to the basolateral membrane potential, saturating for very positive (cell) potentials and a reversal potential of -160 mV was calculated from I-V relationships of the pump. Changes in Na+i considerably affected the Na+ pump rate. A saturating relationship was found between pump rate and Nai+ with maximal activation at Nai+ greater than 40 mmol/l; a high dependence of the pump rate and of the number of 3H-ouabain binding sites was observed in the physiological range of Nai+. We conclude that protons (in the physiological pH range) which act directly and simultaneously on the passive transport pathways (gNa and gK), have no direct effect on the Na+/K+ pump rate. After an acid load, the inhibition of JNa is primarily due to the reduction of gNa. This results in a reduction of Nai and the pump turnover rate then becomes dependent on other pathways of Na+ entry such as the basolateral membrane Na+/H+ exchanger.     

Access channel model for the voltage dependence of the forward-running Na+/K+ pump

The voltage dependence of steady state current produced by the forward mode of operation of the endogenous electrogenic Na+/K+ pump in Na(+)- loaded Xenopus oocytes has been examined using a two-microelectrode voltage clamp technique. Four experimental cases (in a total of 18 different experimental conditions) were explored: variation of external [Na+] ([Na]o) at saturating (10 mM) external [K+] ([K]o), and activation of pump current by various [K]o at 0, 15, and 120 mM [Na]o (tetramethylammonium replacement). Ionic current through K+ channels was blocked by Ba2+ (5 mM) and tetraethylammonium (20 mM), thereby allowing pump-mediated current to be measured by addition or removal of external K+. Control measurements and corrections were made for pump current run-down and holding current drift. Additional controls were done to estimate the magnitude of the inwardly directed pump-mediated current that was present in K(+)-free solution and the residual K(+)- channel current. A pseudo two-state access channel model is described in the Appendix in which only the pseudo first-order rate coefficients for binding of external Na+ and K+ are assumed to be voltage dependent and all transitions between states in the Na+/K+ pump cycle are assumed to be voltage independent. Any three-state or higher order model with only two oppositely directed voltage-dependent rate coefficients can be reduced to an equivalent pseudo two-state model. The steady state current-voltage (I-V) equations derived from the model for each case were simultaneously fit to the I-V data for all four experimental cases and yielded least-squares estimates of the model parameters. The apparent fractional depth of the external access channel for Na+ is 0.486 +/- 0.010; for K+ it is 0.256 +/- 0.009. The Hill coefficient for Na+ is 2.18 +/- 0.06, and the Hill coefficient for K+ (which is dependent on [Na]o) ranges from 0.581 +/- 0.019 to 1.35 +/- 0.034 for 0 and 120 mM [Na]o, respectively. The model provides a reasonable fit to the data and supports the hypothesis that under conditions of saturating internal [Na+], the principal voltage dependence of the Na+/K+ pump cycle is a consequence of the existence of an external high- field access channel in the pump molecule through which Na+ and K+ ions must pass in order to reach their binding sites.     

Mechanism of the control of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by long-chain acyl coenzyme A

Long-chain fatty acid esters of CoA activate (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (the sodium pump) when ATP is suboptimal. To explore the nature of the interactions of these CoA derivatives with the pump, reversible effects of palmitoyl-CoA on the purified membrane-bound kidney enzyme were studied under conditions where interference from the irreversible membrane-damaging effect of the compound was ruled out. With 50 microM ATP, while saturating palmitoyl-CoA increased (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity, it caused partial inhibition of Na+-ATPase activity without affecting the steady-state level of the phosphoenzyme. Palmitoyl-CoA did not change the K0.5 of ATP for Na+-ATPase, but it altered the complex Na+ activation curve to suggest the antagonism of the low-affinity, but not the high-affinity, Na+ sites. At a low ATP concentration (0.5 microM), K+ inhibited Na+-ATPase as expected. In the presence of palmitoyl-CoA and 0.5 microM ATP, however, K+ became an activator, as it is at high ATP concentrations. The activating effect of palmitoyl-CoA on (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity was reduced with increasing pH (6.5-8.5), but its inhibitory effect on Na+-ATPase was not altered in this pH range. The data show two distinct actions of palmitoyl-CoA: 1) blockade of the extracellular "allosteric" Na+ sites whose exact role in the control of the pump is yet to be determined, and 2) activation of the pump through increased rate of K+ deocclusion. Since in their latter action the fatty acid esters of CoA are far more effective than ATP at a low-affinity regulatory site, we suggest that these CoA derivatives may be the physiological ligands of this regulatory site of the pump.     

The sided action of Na+ and of K+ on reconstituted shark (Na+ + K+)-ATPase engaged in Na+-Na+ exchange accompanied by ATP hydrolysis. I. The ATP activation curve

The ATP hydrolysis dependent Na+-Na+ exchange of reconstituted shark (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is electrogenic with a transport stoichiometry as for the Na+-K+ exchange, suggesting that translocation of extracellular Na+ is taking place via the same route as extracellular K+. The preparation thus offers an opportunity to compare the sided action of Na+ and K+ on the affinity for ATP in a reaction in which the intermediary steps in the overall reaction seems to be the same without and with K+. With Na+ but no K+ on the two sides of the enzyme, the ATP-activation curve is hyperbolic and the affinity for ATP is high. Extracellular K+ in concentrations of 50 microM (the lowest tested) and up gives biphasic ATP activation curves, with both a high- and a low-affinity component for ATP. Cytoplasmic K+ also gives biphasic ATP-activation curves, however, only when the K+ concentration is 50 mM or higher (Na+ + K+ = 130 mM). The different ATP-activation curves are explained from the Albers-Post scheme, in which there is an ATP-dependent and an ATP-independent deocclusion of E2(Na2+) and E2(K2+), respectively, and in which the dephosphorylation of E2-P is rate limiting in the presence of Na+ (but no K+) extracellular, whereas in the presence of extracellular K+ it is the deocclusion of E2(K2+) which is rate limiting.     

Conditions for a backward-running Na+/K+ pump in Xenopus oocytes.

Current generated by the electrogenic Na+/K+ pump protein was determined in oocytes of Xenopus laevis as strophantidine-sensitive current measured under voltage clamp. Under conditions of reduced intracellular [Na+] and [ATP], both to values below 1 mM, and in extracellularly K(+)-free medium, the Na+/K+ pump seems to operate in a reversed mode pumping Na+ into the cell and K+ out of the cell. This is demonstrated by strophantidine-induced hyperpolarization of the membrane and inward-directed current mediated by the pump protein. In addition, strophantidine-sensitive uptake of 22Na+ can be demonstrated under these conditions. The pump current decreases with membrane depolarization as expected for a pump cycle that involves inward movement of positive charges during Na+ translocation.     

Electrogenic sodium-sodium exchange carried out by Na,K-ATPase containing the amino acid substitution Glu779Ala

Na,K-ATPase containing the amino acid substitution glutamate to alanine at position 779 of the alpha subunit (Glu779Ala) supports a high level of Na-ATPase and electrogenic Na+-Na+ exchange activity in the absence of K+. In microsomal preparations of Glu779Ala enzyme, the Na+ concentration for half maximal activation of Na-ATPase activity was 161 +/- 14 mM (n = 3). Furthermore, enzyme activity with 800 mM Na+ was found to be similar in the presence and absence of 20 mM K+. These results showed that Na+, with low affinity, could stimulate enzyme turnover as effectively as K+. To gain further insight into the mechanism of this enzyme activity, HeLa cells expressing Glu779Ala enzyme were voltage clamped with patch electrodes containing 115 mM Na+ during superfusion in K+-free solutions. Electrogenic Na+-Na+ exchange was observed as an ouabain-inhibitable outward current whose amplitude was proportional to extracellular Na+ (Na+(o)) concentration. At all Na+(o) concentrations tested (3-148 mM), exchange current was maximal at negative membrane potentials (V(M)), but decreased as V(M) became more positive. Analyzing this current at each V(M) with a Hill equation showed that Na+-Na+ exchange had a high-affinity, low-capacity component with an apparent Na+(o) affinity at 0 mV (K0(0.5)) of 13.4 +/- 0.6 mM and a low-affinity, high-capacity component with a K0(0.5) of 120 +/- 13 mM (n = 17). Both high- and low-affinity exchange components were V(M) dependent, dissipating 30 +/- 3% and 82 +/- 6% (n = 17) of the membrane dielectric, respectively. The low-affinity, but not the high-affinity exchange component was inhibited with 2 mM free ADP in the patch electrode solution. These results suggest that the high-affinity component of electrogenic Na+-Na+ exchange could be explained by Na+(o) acting as a low-affinity K+ congener; however, the low-affinity component of electrogenic exchange appeared to be due to forward enzyme cycling activated by Na+(o) binding at a Na+-specific site deep in the membrane dielectric. A pseudo six-state model for the Na,K-ATPase was developed to simulate these data and the results of the accompanying paper (Peluffo, R.D., J.M. Argüello, and J.R. Berlin. 2000. J. Gen. Physiol. 116:47-59). This model showed that alterations in the kinetics of extracellular ion-dependent reactions alone could explain the effects of Glu779Ala substitution on the Na,K-ATPase.     

The effect of vanadate on the electrogenic Na+/K+ pump, intracellular Na+ concentration and electrophysiological characteristics of mouse skeletal muscle fibre

The present study reports a discrepancy between the effects of vanadate on the membrane Na+-K+-ATPase and the Na+/K+ pump of the skeletal muscle. Vanadate in concentration 4 X 10(-6) mol/l which is necessary to block the enzyme Na+-K+-ATPase activity of membrane fractions failed to inhibit the electrogenic Na+/K+ pump of intact muscle cells. The effect of vanadate on the electrophysiological parameters of the muscle fibre membrane required much higher vanadate levels, but again, Na+/K+ pump was still active. Vanadate in concentrations 4 X 10(-4) and 4 X 10(-5) mol/l depolarized the membrane potential and decreased the membrane resistance [apparently in consequence of enhanced passive membrane permeability for Na+ ions]. Action potentials and the electrical excitability of the muscle fibre membrane were reduced by these vanadate concentrations.     

On the resting potential of isolated frog sympathetic neurons

One of the oldest questions of electrophysiology, the origin of the resting potential, has yet to be answered satisfactorily for most cells. Isolated frog sympathetic neurons, studied with whole-cell recording, generally have resting potentials of approximately -75 mV with an input resistance of approximately 300 M omega. These properties are not expected from the M-type K+ current (IM) or from other ionic currents previously described in these cells. In the -60 to -110 M mV voltage region, at least three currents are present: an inwardly rectifying current (IQ), a resting current with little voltage sensitivity carried at least in part by K+, and a (Na+,K+)ATPase pump current. The resting K+ current, not IM or IQ is the primary ionic current near the resting potential under these conditions. The electrogenic pump contributes an additional approximately 10 mV of hyperpolarization.     

Na-K pump current in the Amphiuma collecting tubule

There is strong evidence supporting the hypothesis of an electrogenic Na-K pump in the basolateral membrane of several epithelia. Thermodynamic considerations and results in nonepithelial cells indicate that the current carried by the pump could be voltage dependent. In order to measure the pump current and to determine its voltage dependence in a tight epithelium, we have used the isolated perfused collecting tubule of Amphiuma and developed a technique for clamping the basolateral membrane potential (Vbl) through transepithelial current injection. The transcellular current was calculated by subtracting the paracellular current (calculated from the transepithelial conductance measured in the presence of luminal amiloride) from the total transepithelial current. Basolateral membrane current-voltage (I-V) curves were obtained in conditions where the ratio of the pump current to the total basolateral membrane current had been maximized by loading the cells with Na+ (exposure to low-K+ bath), and by blocking the basolateral K+ conductance with barium. The pump current was defined as the difference of the current across the basolateral membrane measured before and 10-15 s after the addition of strophanthidin (20 microM) to the bath solution. With a bath solution containing 3 mM K+, the pump current was nearly constant in the Vbl range of -20 to -80 mV (52 +/- 5 microA.cm-2 at -60 mV) but showed a marked voltage dependence at higher negative Vbl (pump current decreased to 5 +/- 9 microA.cm-2 at -180 mV). In a 1.0 mM K bath, the shape of the pump I-V curve was similar but the amplitude of the current was decreased (24 +/- 4 microA.cm-2 at -60 mV). In a 0.1 mM K bath, the pump current was not significantly different from 0. Our results indicate that the basolateral Na-K pump generates a current which depends on the extracellular potassium concentration. With physiological peritubular concentration of K+ and in the physiological range of potential, the pump activity, measured as the pump-generated current, was independent of the membrane potential.     

Membrane currents following activity in canine cardiac Purkinje fibers.

Recent experiments in canine Pukinje fibers (Gadsby and Cranefield, 1979) have shown that following a period of sodium loading in K+-free solution a slowly decaying outward current is observed. This current has been attributed to the activity of the electrogenic Na+-K+ exchange pump. In the present paper we show that similar slowly decaying outward currents are observed following prolonged periods of overdrive with action potentials or with brief depolarizing voltage clamp pulses. The dependent of the prolonged outward current on the duration and frequency of the preceding period of overdrive and on the potential following overdrive is reported. We also present results which indicate that a large portion of this current can be induced by phasic Na+ loading through the fast-inward channel.     

Voltage dependence of the apparent affinity for external Na(+) of the backward-running sodium pump

The steady-state voltage and [Na(+)](o) dependence of the electrogenic sodium pump was investigated in voltage-clamped internally dialyzed giant axons of the squid, Loligo pealei, under conditions that promote the backward-running mode (K(+)-free seawater; ATP- and Na(+)-free internal solution containing ADP and orthophosphate). The ratio of pump-mediated (42)K(+) efflux to reverse pump current, I(pump) (both defined by sensitivity to dihydrodigitoxigenin, H(2)DTG), scaled by Faraday's constant, was -1.5 +/- 0.4 (n = 5; expected ratio for 2 K(+)/3 Na(+) stoichiometry is -2.0). Steady-state reverse pump current-voltage (I(pump)-V) relationships were obtained either from the shifts in holding current after repeated exposures of an axon clamped at various V(m) to H(2)DTG or from the difference between membrane I-V relationships obtained by imposing V(m) staircases in the presence or absence of H(2)DTG. With the second method, we also investigated the influence of [Na(+)](o) (up to 800 mM, for which hypertonic solutions were used) on the steady-state reverse I(pump)-V relationship. The reverse I(pump)-V relationship is sigmoid, I(pump) saturating at large negative V(m), and each doubling of [Na(+)](o) causes a fixed (29 mV) rightward parallel shift along the voltage axis of this Boltzmann partition function (apparent valence z = 0.80). These characteristics mirror those of steady-state (22)Na(+) efflux during electroneutral Na(+)/Na(+) exchange, and follow without additional postulates from the same simple high field access channel model (Gadsby, D.C., R.F. Rakowski, and P. De Weer, 1993. Science. 260:100-103). This model predicts valence z = nlambda, where n (1.33 +/- 0.05) is the Hill coefficient of Na binding, and lambda (0.61 +/- 0.03) is the fraction of the membrane electric field traversed by Na ions reaching their binding site. More elaborate alternative models can accommodate all the steady-state features of the reverse pumping and electroneutral Na(+)/Na(+) exchange modes only with additional assumptions that render them less likely.     

ATP inactivates hydrolysis of the K+-sensitive phosphoenzyme of kidney Na+,K+-transport ATPase and activates that of muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-transport ATPase

In order to characterize low affinity ATP-binding sites of renal (Na+,K+) ATPase and sarcoplasmic reticulum (Ca2+)ATPase, the effects of ATP on the splitting of the K+-sensitive phosphoenzymes were compared. ATP inactivated the dephosphorylation in the case of (Na+,K+)ATPase at relatively high concentrations, while activating it in the case of (Ca2+)ATPase. When various nucleotides were tested in place of ATP, inactivators of (Na+,K+)ATPase were found to be activators in (Ca2+)ATPase, with a few exceptions. In the absence of Mg2+, the half-maximum concentration of ATP for the inhibition or for the activation was about 0.35 mM or 0.25 mM, respectively. These values are comparable to the previously reported Km or the dissociation constant of the low affinity ATP site estimated from the steady-state kinetics of the stimulation of ATP hydrolysis or from binding measurements. By increasing the concentration of Mg2+, but not Na+, the effect of ATP on the phosphoenzyme of (Na+,K+)ATPase was reduced. On the other hand, Mg2+ did not modify the effect of ATP on the phosphoenzyme of (Ca2+)ATPase. During (Na+,K+)ATPase turnover, the low affinity ATP site appeared to be exposed in the phosphorylated form of the enzyme, but the magnesium-complexed ATP interacted poorly with the reactive K+-sensitive phosphoenzyme, which has a tightly bound magnesium, probably because of interaction between the divalent cations. In the presence of physiological levels of Mg2+ and K+, ATP appeared to bind to the (Na+,K+)ATPase only after the dephosphorylation, while it binds to the (Ca2+)-ATPase before the dephosphorylation to activate the turnover.     

Stoichiometry and voltage dependence of the sodium pump in voltage- clamped, internally dialyzed squid giant axon

The stoichiometry and voltage dependence of the Na/K pump were studied in internally dialyzed, voltage-clamped squid giant axons by simultaneously measuring, at various membrane potentials, the changes in Na efflux (delta phi Na) and holding current (delta I) induced by dihydrodigitoxigenin (H2DTG). H2DTG stops the Na/K pump without directly affecting other current pathways: (a) it causes no delta I when the pump lacks Na, K, Mg, or ATP, and (b) ouabain causes no delta I or delta phi Na in the presence of saturating H2DTG. External K (Ko) activates Na efflux with Michaelis-Menten kinetics (Km = 0.45 +/- 0.06 mM [SEM]) in Na-free seawater (SW), but with sigmoid kinetics in approximately 400 mM Na SW (Hill coefficient = 1.53 +/- 0.08, K1/2 = 3.92 +/- 0.29 mM). H2DTG inhibits less strongly (Ki = 6.1 +/- 0.3 microM) in 1 or 10 mM K Na-free SW than in 10 mM K, 390 mM Na SW (1.8 +/- 0.2 microM). Dialysis with 5 mM each ATP, phosphoenolpyruvate, and phosphoarginine reduced Na/Na exchange to at most 2% of the H2DTG-sensitive Na efflux. H2DTG sensitive but nonpump current caused by periaxonal K accumulation upon stopping the pump, was minimized by the K channel blockers 3,4-diaminopyridine (1 mM), tetraethylammonium (approximately 200 mM), and phenylpropyltriethylammonium (20-25 mM) whose adequacy was tested by varying [K]o (0-10 mM) with H2DTG present. Two ancillary clamp circuits suppressed stray current from the axon ends. Current and flux measured from the center pool derive from the same membrane area since, over the voltage range -60 to +20 mV, tetrodotoxin-sensitive current and Na efflux into Na-free SW, under K-free conditions, were equal. The stoichiometry and voltage dependence of pump Na/K exchange were examined at near-saturating [ATP], [K]o and [Na]i in both Na-free and 390 mM Na SW. The H2DTG-sensitive F delta phi Na/delta I ratio (F is Faraday's constant) of paired measurements corrected for membrane area match, was 2.86 +/- 0.09 (n = 8) at 0 mV and 3.05 +/- 0.13 (n = 6) at -60 to -90 mV in Na-free SW, and 2.72 +/- 0.09 (n = 7) at 0 mV and 2.91 +/- 0.21 (n = 4) at -60 mV in 390 mM Na SW. Its overall mean value was 2.87 +/- 0.07 (n = 25), which was not significantly different from the 3.0 expected of a 3 Na/2 K pump.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Demonstration of cooperating alpha subunits in working (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by the use of the MgATP complex analogue cobalt tetrammine ATP

The MgATP complex analogue cobalt-tetrammine-ATP [Co(NH3)4ATP] inactivates (Na+ + K+)-ATPase at 37 degrees C slowly in the absence of univalent cations. This inactivation occurs concomitantly with incorporation of radioactivity from [alpha-32P]Co(NH3)4ATP and from [gamma-32P]Co(NH3)4ATP into the alpha subunit. The kinetics of inactivation are consistent with the formation of a dissociable complex of Co(NH3)4ATP with the enzyme (E) followed by the phosphorylation of the enzyme: (Formula: see text). The dissociation constant of the enzyme-MgATP analogue complex at 37 degrees C is Kd = 500 microM, the inactivation rate constant k2 = 0.05 min-1. ATP protects the enzyme against the inactivation by Co(NH3)4ATP due to binding at a site from which it dissociates with a Kd of 360 microM. It is concluded, therefore, that Co(NH3)4ATP binds to the low-affinity ATP binding site of the E2 conformational state. K+, Na+ and Mg2+ protect the enzyme against the inactivation by Co(NH3)4ATP. Whilst Na+ or Mg2+ decrease the inactivation rate constant k2, K+ exerts its protective effect by increasing the dissociation constant of the enzyme.Co(NH3)4ATP complex. The Co(NH3)4ATP-inactivated (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, in contrast to the non-inactivated enzyme, incorporates [3H]ouabain. This indicates that the Co(NH3)4ATP-inactivated enzyme is stabilized in the E2 conformational state. Despite the inactivation of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by Co(NH3)4ATP from the low-affinity ATP binding site, there is no change in the capacity of the high-affinity ATP binding site (Kd = 0.9 microM) nor of its capability to phosphorylate the enzyme Na+-dependently. Since (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is phosphorylated Na+-dependently from the high-affinity ATP binding site although the catalytic cycle is arrested in the E2 conformational state by specific modification of the low-affinity ATP binding site, it is concluded that both ATP binding sites coexist at the same time in the working sodium pump. This demonstration of interacting catalytic subunits in the E1 and E2 conformational states excludes the proposal that a single catalytic subunit catalyzes (Na+ + K+)-transport.     

Na+-Na+ exchange mediated by (Na+ + K+)-ATPase reconstituted into liposomes. Evaluation of pump stoichiometry and response to ATP and ADP

(Na+ + K+)-ATPase from shark rectal glands reconstituted into lipid vesicles and oriented inside out catalyses an ouabain-sensitive Na+-Na+ exchange in the absence of intravesicular K+ when ATP is added extravesicularly. Intravesicular ouabain inhibited the exchange completely. This was also the case with digitoxigenin added to the vesicles. Intravesicular oligomycin inhibited the Na+-Na+ exchange partly in a fashion which was ATP dependent. The exchange is accompanied by a net hydrolysis of ATP with an apparent Km of 2.5 microM. ADP was found to give no stimulation of the Na+-Na+ exchange, contrarily, ADP inhibited the ATP-dependent exchange of Na+ both at optimal and supraoptimal ATP concentrations. When initial influx and efflux of 22Na was measured and the hydrolysis of ATP concomitantly determined a coupling ratio of 2.8:1.3:1 was found, i.e. 2.8 moles of Na+ were taken up (cellular efflux) and 1.3 moles of Na+ extruded (cellular influx) for each mole of ATP hydrolyzed. The electrogenic Na+-Na+ exchange generated a transmembrane potential which was measured with the fluorescent probe ANS (8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid) to be 60 mV positive inside the liposomes (extracellular).     

Control of cardiac sodium pump by long-chain acyl coenzymes A

Since we had shown recently that fatty acyl-CoA derivatives stimulate (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity at suboptimal ATP concentrations, we used sealed vesicles of beef heart sarcolemma to examine the effects of these compounds on the transport function of the enzyme. The sodium pump was detected in inside-out vesicles as a component of Na+ uptake that was dependent on intravesicular (extracellular) K+ and extravesicular (intracellular) ATP and was sensitive to vanadate and digitoxigenin. The pump flux was stimulated without a lag by palmitoyl-CoA (K0.5 = 3 microM) when ATP concentration was 50 microM, but not when it was 2 mM. Saturating palmitoyl-CoA reduced the K0.5 of ATP for the pump by a factor of 3-6. Raising the intracellular K+ concentration increased the K0.5 of ATP, and this effect of K+ was antagonized by palmitoyl-CoA. At concentrations up to 0.5 mM, palmitoyl-CoA had no effect on ATP-independent (passive) Na+ uptake. All tested long-chain acyl-CoA derivatives had effects similar to that of palmitoyl-CoA; but CoA, acetyl-CoA, and palmitic acid were ineffective. Palmitoyl carnitine and docosahexanoic acid, amphiphilic compounds with inhibitory and biphasic effects on the hydrolytic activity of purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, had purely inhibitory effects on the pump at high concentrations that also affected the passive fluxes. The data support the proposition that fatty acyl-CoA derivatives mimic the effect of ATP at a regulatory site and suggest that these intracellular liponucleotides may be involved in the control of the pump.     

Steady-state current-voltage relationship of the Na/K pump in guinea pig ventricular myocytes

Whole-cell currents were recorded in guinea pig ventricular myocytes at approximately 36 degrees C before, during, and after exposure to maximally effective concentrations of strophanthidin, a cardiotonic steroid and specific inhibitor of the Na/K pump. Wide-tipped pipettes, in combination with a device for exchanging the solution inside the pipette, afforded reasonable control of the ionic composition of the intracellular solution and of the membrane potential. Internal and external solutions were designed to minimize channel currents and Na/Ca exchange current while sustaining vigorous forward Na/K transport, monitored as strophanthidin-sensitive current. 100-ms voltage pulses from the -40 mV holding potential were used to determine steady-state levels of membrane current between -140 and +60 mV. Control experiments demonstrated that if the Na/K pump cycle were first arrested, e.g., by withdrawal of external K, or of both internal and external Na, then neither strophanthidin nor its vehicle, dimethylsulfoxide, had any discernible effect on steady-state membrane current. Further controls showed that, with the Na/K pump inhibited by strophanthidin, membrane current was insensitive to changes of external [K] between 5.4 and 0 mM and was little altered by changing the pipette [Na] from 0 to 50 mM. Strophanthidin-sensitive current therefore closely approximated Na/K pump current, and was virtually free of contamination by current components altered by the changes in extracellular [K] and intracellular [Na] expected to accompany pump inhibition. The steady-state Na/K pump current-voltage (I-V) relationship, with the pump strongly activated by 5.4 mM external K and 50 mM internal Na (and 10 mM ATP), was sigmoid in shape with a steep positive slope between about 0 and -100 mV, a less steep slope at more negative potentials, and an extremely shallow slope at positive potentials; no region of negative slope was found. That shape of I-V relationship can be generated by a two-state cycle with one pair of voltage-sensitive rate constants and one pair of voltage-insensitive rate constants: such a two-state scheme is a valid steady-state representation of a multi-state cycle that includes only a single voltage-sensitive step.