Vitamin D-mediated decrease of Ca2+-pump activity in the rat parotid gland

In vitro activities of Ca2+-ATPase and 45Ca2+ uptake in microsomes, which were prepared from vitamin D-deficient rat parotid glands, were decreased in parallel by the oral administration of vitamin D3 as compared with those of control animals (r = 0.83). In vivo 45Ca2+ uptake in the parotid glands of vitamin D-deficient rats was also decreased by the oral administration of vitamin D3.     

In vivo treatment with stobadine prevents lipid peroxidation,protein glycation and calcium overload but does not ameliorate Ca2+ -ATPase activity in heart and liver of streptozotocin-diabetic rats: comparison with vitamin E

Hyperglycemia leads to excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation and protein glycation that may impair cellular calcium homeostasis and results in calcium sequestration and dysfunction in diabetic tissues. Stobadine (ST) is a pyridoindole antioxidant has been postulated as a new cardio- and neuroprotectant. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that the treatment with ST inhibits calcium accumulation, reduces lipid peroxidation and protein glycation and can change Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase activity in diabetic animals. The effects of vitamin E treatment were also evaluated and compared with the effects of combined treatment with ST. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ, 55 mg/kg i.p.). Some of diabetic rats and their age-matched controls were treated orally with a low dose of ST (24.7 mg/kg/day), vitamin E (400-500 IU/kg/day) or ST plus vitamin E for 10 weeks. ST and vitamin E separately produced, in a similar degree, reduction in diabetes-induced hyperglycemia. Each antioxidant alone significantly lowered the levels of plasma lipid peroxidation, cardiac and hepatic protein glycation in diabetic rats but vitamin E treatment was found to be more effective than ST treatment alone. Diabetes-induced increase in plasma triacylglycerol levels was not significantly altered by vitamin E treatment but markedly reduced by ST alone. The treatment with each antioxidant completely prevented calcium accumulation in diabetic heart and liver. Microsomal Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase activity significantly decreased in both tissues of untreated diabetic rats. ST alone significantly increased microsomal Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase activity in the heart of normal rats. However, neither treatment with ST nor vitamin E alone, nor their combination did change cardiac Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase activity in diabetic heart. In normal rats, neither antioxidant had a significant effect on hepatic Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase activity. Hepatic Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase activity of diabetic rats was not changed by single treatment with ST, while vitamin E alone completely prevented diabetes-induced inhibition in microsomal Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase activity in liver. Combined treatment with ST and vitamin E provided more benefits in the reduction of hyperglycemia and lipid peroxidation in diabetic animals. This study describes potential mechanisms on cellular effects of ST in the presence of diabetes-induced hyperglycemia that may delay or inhibit the development of diabetic complications. The use of ST together with vitamin E can better control hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress.     

The effect of cardiotoxin on (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase of the erythrocyte and sarcoplasmic reticulum

The effects of cardiotoxin on the ATPase activity and Ca2+-transport of guinea pig erythrocyte and rabbit muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase (E.C.3.6.1.3) were investigated. Erythrocyte (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase was inhibited by cardiotoxin in a time- and dose-dependent fashion and inhibition appears to be irreversible. Micromolar calcium prevented this inhibitory effect. Specificity for (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase inhibition by cardiotoxin was indicated since a homologous neurotoxin had no effect. Cardiotoxin did not affect (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity from sarcoplasmic reticulum, but Ca2+-transport was 50% inhibited. This inhibition was not due to an increased Ca2+-efflux and could be the result of an intramolecular uncoupling of ATPase activity from Ca2+-transport. Inhibition of Ca2+-transport by cardiotoxin could not be prevented by millimolar concentrations of Ca2+. It is suggested that the biological effects of cardiotoxin could be a consequence of inhibition of plasma membrane (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPases.     

Inhibitory antibodies to plasmalemmal Ca2+-transporting ATPases. Their use in subcellular localization of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-dependent ATPase activity in smooth muscle.

Antibodies directed against the purified calmodulin-binding (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase [(Ca2+ + Mg2+)-dependent ATPase] from pig erythrocytes and from smooth muscle of pig stomach (antral part) were raised in rabbits. Both the IgGs against the erythrocyte (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase and against the smooth-muscle (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase inhibited the activity of the purified calmodulin-binding (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase from smooth muscle. Up to 85% of the total (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity in a preparation of KCl-extracted smooth-muscle membranes was inhibited by these antibodies. The (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity and the Ca2+ uptake in a plasma-membrane-enriched fraction from this smooth muscle were inhibited to the same extent, whereas in an endoplasmic-reticulum-enriched membrane fraction the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity was inhibited by only 25% and no effect was observed on the oxalate-stimulated Ca2+ uptake. This supports the hypothesis that, in pig stomach smooth muscle, two separate types of Ca2+-transport ATPase exist: a calmodulin-binding ATPase located in the plasma membrane and a calmodulin-independent one present in the endoplasmic reticulum. The antibodies did not affect the stimulation of the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity by calmodulin.     

Ca2+-stimulated, Mg2+-dependent ATPase in bovine thyroid plasma membranes

An isolated plasma membrane fraction from bovine thyroid glands contained a Ca2+-stimulated, Mg2+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase ((Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase) activity which was purified in parallel to (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and adenylate cyclase. The (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity was maximally stimulated by approx. 200 microM added calcium in the presence of approx. 200 microM EGTA (69.7 +/- 5.2 nmol/mg protein per min). In EGTA-washed membranes, the enzyme was stimulated by calmodulin and inhibited by trifluoperazine.     

Ca2+-dependent ATPases in the basolateral membrane of rat kidney cortex

The basolateral segment of the rat renal tubular plasma membrane possesses Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity which was independent of Mg2+. Two kinetic forms were found: one, was a high affinity (apparent Km for free Ca2+ of 172 nM) low capacity (Vmax of 144 nmol of Pi X min-1 mg-1 protein) type; the other, had low affinity (apparent Km of 25 microM) and high capacity (896 nmol of Pi X min-1 X mg-1 protein). Mg2+ inhibited both Ca2+-ATPases. The high affinity enzyme exhibited positive cooperativity with respect to ATP, with a n value of 1.6. Ca2+-ATPase activity was not affected by calmodulin and was not inhibited by vanadate. On the other hand, both high and low affinity Ca2+-ATPase activities were increased when 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol was given to vitamin D-deficient rats. Kinetically, the enhanced activities were due to an increase in the Vmax values; the apparent affinities for free Ca2+ were not changed. The physiological function of the vitamin D-sensitive, Mg+-independent, Ca2+-ATPase activities remains to be established.     

Mechanism of action of "ruthenium red" compounds on Ca2+ ionophore from sarcoplasmic reticulum (Ca2+ + Mg2+)- adenosine triphosphatase and lipid bilayer.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase was previously shown to have Ca2+-dependent and -selective ionophoric activity when tested in oxidized cholesterol lipid bilayer membranes (Shamoo, A. E., and MacLennan, D. H. (1974) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 71, 3522). ruthenium red, a known inhibitor of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase, is found to inhibit the Ca2+-ionophoric activity associated with (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase. Furthermore, ruthenium red alone acts as an anion-selective ionophore in lipid bilayers with the the following selectivity sequence for anions: l- greater than Cl-, Br- greater than F- greater than NO3-. The PCl-/PNa+ ratio was approximately 4/l. The presence of ruthenium red in excess of Ca2+ ionophore in lipid bilayer experiments converts the cation selectivity of the bilayer due to Ca2+ ionophore into anion selectivity.     

A high-affinity, calmodulin-sensitive (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase and associated calcium-transport pump in the Ehrlich ascites tumor cell plasma membrane

A unique cytoplast preparation from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (G. V. Henius, P. C. Laris, and J. D. Woodburn (1979) Exp. Cell. Res. 121, 337-345), highly enriched in plasma membranes, was employed to characterize the high-affinity plasma membrane calcium-extrusion pump and its associated adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase). An ATP-dependent calcium-transport system which had a high affinity for free calcium (K0.5 = 0.040 +/- 0.005 microM) was identified. Two different calcium-stimulated ATPase activities were detected. One had a low (K0.5 = 136 +/- 10 microM) and the other a high (K0.5 = 0.103 +/- 0.077 microM) affinity for free calcium. The high-affinity enzyme appeared to represent the ubiquitous high-affinity plasma membrane (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase (calcium-stimulated, magnesium-dependent ATPase) seen in normal cells. Both calcium transport and the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase were significantly stimulated by the calcium-dependent regulatory protein calmodulin, especially when endogenous activator was removed by treatment with the calcium chelator ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether) N,N'-tetraacetic acid. Other similarities between calcium transport and the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase included an insensitivity to ouabain (0.5 mM), lack of activation by potassium (20 mM), and a requirement for magnesium. These similar properties suggested that the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase represents the enzymatic basis of the high-affinity calcium pump. The calcium pump/enzyme system was inhibited by orthovanadate at comparatively high concentrations (calcium transport: K0.5 congruent to 100 microM; (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase: K0.5 greater than 100 microM). Upon Hill analysis, the tumor cell (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase failed to exhibit cooperative activation by calcium which is characteristic of the analogous enzyme in the plasma membrane of normal cells.     

Relationship between parathyroid hormone and adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate metabolism in the kidney of vitamin D-deficient rats

The effect of vitamin D administration on cyclic AMP metabolism in the kidney was examined in rats fed a vitamin D-deficient, low Ca diet. The renal cyclic AMP level in vitamin D-deficient rats was higher than that in normal rats fed a laboratory chow, and in significantly decreased after thyroparathyroidectomy. Parathyroid hormone administered in vitro and in vivo did not cause as great a cyclic AMP response in vitamin D-deficient rats as that seen in the normal rats. The response to calcitonin, however, was not blunted in vitamin D-deficient animals. The blunted cyclic AMP accumulation in the kidney seemed to be related to formation, rather than degradation, of the nucleotide. The rats fed the low Ca diet were still hypocalcemic even after supplementation of the diet with a daily dose of either 0.625 μg of vitamin D-3 for 3 weeks or 2.5 μg of vitamin D-3 for the last 3 days. Vitamin D supplementation did not influence either the basal level or parathyroid hormone-stimulated increase of cyclic AMP in the kidney. On the contrary, when animals maintained on the vitamin D-deficient, low Ca diet were switched to the vitamin D-deficient, high Ca diet containing lactose for several days, they recovered normocalcemia and a normal response. These results suggest that the blunted cyclic AMP response to parathyroid hormone in vitamin D deficiency is due to hypocalcemia or associated secondary hyperparathyroidism and not due to deficiency of vitamin D action.     

Interaction of Cd2+ with the calmodulin-activated (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity of human erythrocyte ghosts

Treatment of erythrocyte ghosts with micromolar concentrations of Cd2+ results in a noncompetitive inhibition of the calmodulin-dependent (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity. Higher concentrations of Cd2+ are required for inhibition of the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity of calmodulin-depleted ghosts. The interaction of Cd2+ is time-dependent with an apparent rate constant around 0.12/min. The inhibition is relieved by addition of EGTA with a rate constant around 0.15/min. If Cd2+ is allowed to interact with calmodulin prior to the association of the protein with the ghosts, the inhibition is mainly competitive. The results suggest that the inhibitory effect caused by Cd2+ is due to an interaction with calmodulin. The slow interaction of Cd2+ suggests that calmodulin bound to the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase is inaccessible to Cd2+.     

Two Ca2+-dependent ATPases in rat liver plasma membrane. The previously purified (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase is not a Ca2+-pump but an ecto-ATPase

We have shown that the rat liver plasma membrane has at least two (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPases. One of them has the properties of a plasma membrane Ca2+-pump (Lin, S.-H. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 7850-7856); the other one, which we have purified (Lin, S.-H., and Fain, J.N. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 3016-3020) and characterized (Lin, S.-H. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 10976-10980) has no established function. In this study we present evidence that the purified (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase is a plasma membrane ecto-ATPase. In hepatocytes in primary culture, we can detect Ca2+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activities by addition of ATP to the intact cells. The external localization of the active site of the ATPase was confirmed by the observation that the Ca2+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activities were the same for intact cells, saponin-treated cells, and cell homogenates. Less than 14% of total intracellular lactate dehydrogenase, a cytosolic enzyme, was released during a 30-min incubation of the hepatocytes with 2 mM ATP. This indicates that the hepatocytes maintained cytoplasmic membrane integrity during the 30-min incubation with ATP, and the Ca2+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activity measured in the intact cell preparation was due to cell surface ATPase activity. The possibility that the ecto-Ca2+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase may be the same protein as the previously purified (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase was tested by comparing the properties of the ecto-ATPase with those of (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase. Both the ecto-ATPase and the (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase have broad nucleotide-hydrolyzing activity, i.e. they both hydrolyze ATP, GTP, UTP, CTP, ADP, and GDP to a similar extent. The effect of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on the ecto-ATPase activity is not additive indicating that both Ca2+- and Mg2+-ATPase activities are part of the same enzyme. The ecto-ATPase activity, like the (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase, is not sensitive to oligomycin, vanadate, N-ethylmaleimide and p-chloromercuribenzoate; and both the ecto-ATPase and purified (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase activities are insensitive to protease treatments. These properties indicate that the previously purified (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase is an ecto-ATPase and may function in regulating the effect of ATP and ADP on hepatocyte Ca2+ mobilization (Charest, R., Blackmore, P.F., and Exton, J.H. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 15789-15794).     

Effect of eosin Y on Ca2+-dependent activity of Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase in smooth muscle cell membrane

With the aim to elucidate mechanism of eosin Y inhibitory effect on the Ca(2+)-transporting ATPase activity of myometrial cell plasma membrane effect of this inhibitor on the maximal initial rate of ATP hydrolysis reaction, catalyzed by Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase, and on the enzyme affinity for Ca2+ was studied. It was established that eosin Y decreased the rate of Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase catalitic turnover determined by Ca2+ and had no effect on enzyme affinity for this cation.     

Partial purification and characterization of the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase from squid optic nerve plasma membrane

A membrane fraction enriched in axolemma was obtained from optic nerves of the squid (Sepiotheutis sepioidea) by differential centrifugation and density gradient fractionation. The preparation showed an oligomycin- and NaN3-insensitive (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity. The dependence of the ATPase activity on calcium concentration revealed the presence of two saturable components. One had a high affinity for calcium (K1 1/2 = 0.12 microM) and the second had a comparatively low affinity (K2 1/2 = 49.5 microM). Only the high-affinity component was specifically inhibited by vanadate (K1 = 35 microM). Calmodulin (12.5 micrograms/ml) stimulated the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase by approx. 50%, and this stimulation was abolished by trifluoperazine (10 microM). Further treatment of the membrane fraction with 1% Nonidet P-40 resulted in a partial purification of the ATPase about 15-fold compared to the initial homogenate. This (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase from squid optic nerve displays some properties similar to those of the uncoupled Ca2+-pump described in internally dialyzed squid axons, suggesting that it could be its enzymatic basis.     

Characterization of the Ca2+- and Mg2+-Dependent ATPases in Electrophorus Electroplax Microsomes

Electrophorus electroplax microsomes were examined for Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent ATPase activity. In addition to the previously reported low-affinity ATPase, a high-affinity (Ca2+,Mg2+)-ATPase was found. At low ATP and Mg2+ concentrations (200 microM or less), the high-affinity (Ca2+,Mg2+)-ATPase exhibits an activity of 18 nmol Pi mg-1 min-1 with 0.58 microM Ca2+. At higher ATP concentrations (3 mM), the low-affinity Ca2+-ATPase predominates, with an activity of 28 nmol Pi mg-1 min-1 with 1 mM Ca2+. In addition, Mg2+ can also activate the low-affinity ATPase (18 nmol Pi mg-1 min-1). The high-affinity ATPase hydrolyzes ATP at a greater rate than it does GTP, ITP, or UTP and is insensitive to ouabain, oligomycin, or dicyclohexylcarbodiimide inhibition. The high-affinity enzyme is inhibited by vanadate, trifluoperazine, and N-ethylmaleimide. Added calmodulin does not significantly stimulate enzyme activity; rinsing the microsomes with EGTA does not confer calmodulin sensitivity. Thus the high-affinity ATPase from electroplax microsomes is similar to the (Ca2+,Mg2+)-ATPase reported to be associated with Ca2+ transport, based on its affinity for calcium and its response to inhibitors. The low-affinity enzyme hydrolyzes all tested nucleoside triphosphates, as well as diphosphates, but not AMP. Vanadate and N-ethylmaleimide do not inhibit the low-affinity enzymes. The low-affinity enzyme reflects a nonspecific nucleoside triphosphatase, probably an ectoenzyme.     

Activation of an islet cell plasma membrane (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase by calmodulin and Ca-EGTA

Islet cell plasma membranes contain a calcium-stimulated and magnesium-dependent ATPase (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase) which requires calmodulin for maximum enzyme activity (Kotagal, N., Patke, C., Landt, M., McDonald, J., Colca, J., Lacy, P., and McDaniel, M. (1982) FEBS Lett. 137, 249-252). Investigations indicated that exogenously added calmodulin increases the velocity and decreases the Km for Ca2+ of the high affinity (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase. These studies routinely employed the chelator ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) to maintain Ca2+ concentrations in the submicromolar range. During the course of these investigations, it was found unexpectedly that increasing the concentrations of EGTA (0.1-4 mM) and total calcium in the media, while maintaining constant free Ca2+ levels, increased the velocity of the high affinity (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase. The free calcium concentrations under these conditions were verified by a calcium-sensitive electrode. The (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase maximally activated by 2-4 mM EGTA was not further stimulated by calmodulin, whereas camodulin stimulation increased as the concentration of EGTA in the media was decreased. A similar enhancement by Ca-EGTA was observed on active calcium transport by the plasma membrane-enriched fraction. Moreover, Ca-EGTA had a negligible effect on both active calcium transport as well as Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity by the islet cell endoplasmic reticulum, processes which are not stimulated by calmodulin. The results indicate that stimulation by Ca-EGTA may be used to differentiate calcium transport systems by these subcellular organelles. Furthermore, the concentration of EGTA routinely employed to maintain free Ca2+ levels may itself obscure effects of calmodulin and other physiological agents on calcium-dependent activities.     

Dietary calcium deficiency increases Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+ extrusion mechanisms in chick enterocytes

Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+ extrusion mechanisms were studied in enterocytes with different degree of differentiation from chicks adapted to a low Ca2+ diet as compared to animals fed a normal diet. Chicks adapted to a low Ca2+ diet presented hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia and increased serum 1,25(OH)2D3 and Ca2+ absorption. Low Ca2+ diet increased the alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity, independently of the cellular maturation, but it did not alter gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase activity. Ca2+ uptake, Ca2+-ATPase and Na(+)/Ca2+ exchanger activities and expressions were increased by the mineral-deficient diet either in mature or immature enterocytes. Western blots analysis shows that vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression was much higher in crypt cells than in mature cells. Low Ca2+ diet decreased the number of vitamin D receptor units in both kinds of cells. In conclusion, changes in Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+ extrusion mechanisms in the enterocytes by a low Ca2+ diet appear to be a result of enhanced serum levels of 1,25(OH)2D3, which would promote cellular differentiation producing cells more efficient to express vitamin D dependent genes required for Ca2+ absorption.     

Characterisation of a high affinity Ca2+-stimulated, Mg2+-dependent ATPase in the rat parotid plasma membrane

Two Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activities have been identified in the plasma membrane of rat parotid: (a) a (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase with high affinity for free Ca2+ (apparent Km = 208 nM, Vmax = 188 nmol/min per mg) and requiring micromolar concentration of Mg2+ and (b) a (Ca2+ or Mg2+)-ATPase with relatively low affinity for free Ca2+ (K0.5 = 23 microM) or free Mg2+ (K0.5 = 26 microM). The low-affinity (Ca2+ or Mg2+)-ATPase can be maximally stimulated by Ca2+ alone or Mg2+ alone. The high-affinity (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase exhibits sigmoidal kinetics with respect to ATP concentration with K0.5 = 0.4 mM and a Hill coefficient of 1.91. It displays low substrate specificity with respect to nucleotide triphosphates. Although trifluoperazine inhibits the activity of the high affinity (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase only slightly, it inhibits the activity of the low-affinity (Ca2+ or Mg2+)-ATPase quite potently with 22 microM trifluoperazine inhibiting the enzymic activity by 50%. Vanadate, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, Na+,K+ and ouabain had no effect on the activities of both ATPases. Calmodulin added to the plasma membranes does not stimulate the activities of both ATPases. The properties of the high-affinity (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase are distinctly different from those of the previously reported Ca2+-pump activity of the rat parotid plasma membrane.     

Effects of calcium and soluble cytoplasmic activator protein (calmodulin) on various states of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity in isolated membranes of human red cells

(Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity of red cells and their isolated membranes was investigated in the presence of various Ca2+ concentrations and cytoplasmic activator protein. Red cell ATPase activity was high at low Ca2+ concentrations, and low at moderate and high concentrations of Ca2+. In the case of isolated membranes, both low and moderate ca2+ concentrations produced higher (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity than high Ca2+ concentration. Membrane-free hemolysate containing soluble activator of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase produced a significant increase in (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity only at low ca2+ concentration. Regardless of Ca2+ and activator concentrations, the enzyme activity in the membrane was lower than lysed red cells. The low level of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity seen at high Ca2+ concentration can be augmented by lowering the Ca2+ concentration of EGTA in the assay medium. However, once the membrane was exposed to a high Ca2+ concentration, the activator could no longer exert it maximum stimulation at the low Ca2+ concentration brought about by addition of EGTA. This loss of activation was not attributable to the Ca2+-induced denaturation of activator protein but rather related to the alteration of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase states in the membrane. On the basis of these data, it is suggested that only a small portion of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity of isolated membranes can be stimulated by the soluble activator and that (ca2+ + Mg2+)ATPase most likely exists in various states depending upon ca2+ concentration and the presence of activator. The enzyme state exhibiting the high degree of stimulation by activator may undergo irreversible damage in the presence of high Ca2+ concentrations.     

Cholesterol effect on enzyme activity of the sarcolemmal (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase from cardiac muscle

The effect of cholesterol incorporation and depletion of the cardiac sarcolemmal sacs on (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity was examined. Cholesterol incorporation to the sarcolemmal sacs was achieved utilizing an in vivo and an in vitro procedure. Cholesterol depleted membranes were obtained in vitro after incubation of the sarcolemmal sacs with inactivated plasma. Arrhenius plots of the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity showed a triphasic curve when the assays were carried out using a temperature range between 0 and 40 degrees C. The sarcolemmal (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity was shown to be inversely proportional to the cholesterol concentration of the membranes, showing a low ATPase activity with a high cholesterol content and a high ATPase activity when the cholesterol concentration was low. Although the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity was found to be inhibited in the cholesterol incorporated sarcolemmal sacs, the withdrawal of small amounts of cholesterol from the membranes produced an important stimulatory effect. Changes in (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity due to variation in the membrane cholesterol concentration were shown to be reversible. Our results indicate the possibility of a slow exchange of cholesterol between the tightly bound lipid surrounding the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase and the bulk lipid of the sarcolemma.     

Myometrial (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase and its Ca2+ sensitivity

Ouabain-sensitive (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity in the rat myometrial microsome fraction could only be determined following detergent treatment. The (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity manifested by detergent treatment proved very stable even to high concentrations of NaN3, in contrast Mg+-ATPase activity was reduced to about 30 percent of the control. The major part of the Mg2+-ATPase in the myometrial membrane preparation was found to be identical with the NaN3-sensitive ATP diphosphohydrolase capable of ATP and ADP hydrolysis. This monovalent-cation-insensitive ATP hydrolysis could be extensively reduced by DMSO. Furthermore DMSO prevented the inactivation of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. 10-100 microM Ca2+ inhibited the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity obtained in the presence of SDS by 15-50 percent. The Ca2+ sensitivity of the enzyme was considerably decreased if the proteins solubilized by the detergent had been separated from the membrane fragments by ultracentrifugation. The inhibitory effect could be regained by combining the supernatant with the pellet. Ca2+ sensitivity of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity was preserved even after removal of the solubilized proteins provided that DMSO had been applied. It appears that a factor in the plasma membrane solubilized by SDS may be responsible for the loss of Ca2+ sensitivity of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity, the solubilization of which can be prevented by DMSO.