Structural changes of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase upon nucleotide binding studied by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Changes in the vibrational spectrum of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase upon nucleotide binding were recorded in H(2)O and (2)H(2)O at -7 degrees C and pH 7.0. The reaction cycle was triggered by the photochemical release of nucleotides (ATP, ADP, and AMP-PNP) from a biologically inactive precursor (caged ATP, P(3)-1-(2-nitrophenyl) adenosine 5'-triphosphate, and related caged compounds). Infrared absorbance changes due to ATP release and two steps of the Ca(2+)-ATPase reaction cycle, ATP binding and phosphorylation, were followed in real time. Under the conditions used in our experiments, the rate of ATP binding was limited by the rate of ATP release (k(app) congruent with 3 s(-1) in H(2)O and k(app) congruent with 7 s(-1) in (2)H(2)O). Bands in the amide I and II regions of the infrared spectrum show that the conformation of the Ca(2+)-ATPase changes upon nucleotide binding. The observation of bands in the amide I region can be assigned to perturbations of alpha-helical and beta-sheet structures. According to similar band profiles in the nucleotide binding spectra, ATP, AMP-PNP, and ADP induce similar conformational changes. However, subtle differences between ATP and AMP-PNP are observed; these are most likely due to the protonation state of the gamma-phosphate group. Differences between the ATP and ADP binding spectra indicate the significance of the gamma-phosphate group in the interactions between the Ca(2+)-ATPase and the nucleotide. Nucleotide binding affects Asp or Glu residues, and bands characteristic of their protonated side chains are observed at 1716 cm(-1) (H(2)O) and 1706 cm(-1) ((2)H(2)O) and seem to depend on the charge of the phosphate groups. Bands at 1516 cm(-1) (H(2)O) and 1514 cm(-1) ((2)H(2)O) are tentatively assigned to a protonated Tyr residue affected by nucleotide binding. Possible changes in Arg, Trp, and Lys absorption and in the nucleoside are discussed. The spectra are compared with those of nucleotide binding to arginine kinase, creatine kinase, and H-ras P21.     

Nucleotide binding to Na,K-ATPase: pK values of the groups affecting the high affinity site

Investigation of the ionic strength effect on the interactions between nucleotides (ATP and ADP) and Na,K-ATPase in a broad pH range was aimed at revealing pK values of the charged groups of the interacting species. Ionic strength experiments suggested that an amino acid residue with a pK > 8.0 is part of the protein binding site. A combination of equilibrium and transient experiments at various pH values allowed for the characterization of the groups electrostatically involved in either the association process (kon) or the stability of the preformed complexes (koff). Two groups (pK1 = 6.7 and pK2 = 8.4) appear to be important for the proper organization of the binding site and, therefore, the association reaction. Moreover, deprotonation of the basic group completely precludes association. pH dependencies of the dissociation rate constants for ATP and ADP are very different. An increase in pH from 5 to 9.5 induces a 9-fold increase in koff for ATP, whereas koff for ADP decreases 4-fold between pH 5 and 8, and decreases further in the alkaline region. A comparison of the pH dependencies for koff for ATP and ADP suggests two effects: (1) at acidic pH, the value of the total negative charge of the nucleotide determines the tightness of binding; and (2) short-range interactions involving the terminal phosphate group are important for nucleotide dissociation from the site. The difference in the pH dependencies of koff for the nucleotides suggests the existence of positive charges in close proximity to Asp369, relieving the repulsion between the gamma-phosphate of ATP and Asp369.     

pH and magnesium dependence of ATP binding to sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase. Evidence that the catalytic ATP-binding site consists of two domains

Nucleotide binding to sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles was investigated in the absence of calcium using both filtration and fluorescence measurements. Filtration assays of binding of radioactive nucleotides at concentrations up to 0.1 mM gave a stoichiometry of one ATP-binding site/sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase molecule. When measured in the presence of calcium under otherwise similar conditions, ATPase velocity rose 4-8-fold (depending on pH and magnesium concentration) when the ATP concentration was increased from 1 microM to 0.1 mM. Binding of ATP and ADP enhanced the intrinsic fluorescence of sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase, but AMP and adenosine did not affect it. Both filtration and fluorescence measurements showed that binding of metal-free ATP is independent of pH (Kd = 20-25 microM) but that the presence of magnesium induces pH dependence of the binding of the Mg.ATP complex (Kd = 10 microM at pH 6.0 and 1.5 microM at pH 8.0). Binding of metal-free ADP was pH-dependent but was not affected by magnesium. High magnesium concentrations inhibited nucleotide binding. These results suggest that ATP interacts with two different domains of Ca-ATPase that form the catalytic site. The first domain may bind the adenine moiety of the substrate, and the pH dependence of ADP binding suggests the participation of His683 in this region. The second domain of the catalytic site may bind the gamma-phosphate and the magnesium ion of the Mg.ATP complex and constitute the locus of the electrostatic interactions between the substrate and the enzyme.     

Mutations that change the position of the putative gamma-phosphate linker in the nucleotide binding domains of CFTR alter channel gating.

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl(-) channel is an ATP-binding cassette transporter that contains conserved nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs). In CFTR, the NBDs bind and hydrolyze ATP to open and close the channel. Crystal structures of related NBDs suggest a structural model with an important signaling role for a gamma-phosphate linker peptide that couples bound nucleotide to movement of an alpha-helical subdomain. We mutated two residues in CFTR that the structural model predicts will uncouple effects of nucleotide binding from movement of the alpha-helical subdomain. These residues are Gln-493 and Gln-1291, which may directly connect the ATP gamma-phosphate to the gamma-phosphate linker, and residues Asn-505 and Asn-1303, which may form hydrogen bonds that stabilize the linker. In NBD1, Q493A reduced the frequency of channel opening, suggesting a role for this residue in coupling ATP binding to channel opening. In contrast, N505C increased the frequency of channel opening, consistent with a role for Asn-505 in stabilizing the inactive state of the NBD. In NBD2, Q1291A decreased the effects of pyrophosphate without altering other functions. Mutations of Asn-1303 decreased the rate of channel opening and closing, suggesting an important role for NBD2 in controlling channel burst duration. These findings are consistent with both the bacterial NBD structural model and gating models for CFTR. Our results extend models of nucleotide-induced structural changes from bacterial NBDs to a functional mammalian ATP-binding cassette transporter.     

Investigating structural changes induced by nucleotide binding to RecA using difference FTIR

Nucleotide binding to RecA results in either the high-DNA affinity form (Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-bound) or the more inactive protein conformation associated with a lower affinity for DNA (Adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP)-bound). Many of the key structural differences between the RecA-ATP and RecA-ADP bound forms have yet to be elucidated. We have used caged-nucleotides and difference FTIR in efforts to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the molecular changes induced by nucleotide binding to RecA. The photochemical release of nucleotides (ADP and ATP) from biologically inactive precursors was used to initiate nucleotide binding to RecA. Here we present ATP hydrolysis assays and fluorescence studies suggesting that the caged nucleotides do not interact with RecA before photochemical release. Furthermore, we now compare difference spectra obtained in H2O and D2O as our first attempt at identifying the origin of the vibrations influenced by nucleotide binding. The infrared data suggest that unique alpha-helical, beta structures, and side chain rearrangements are associated with the high- and low-DNA affinity forms of RecA. Difference spectra obtained over time isolate contributions arising from perturbations in the nucleotide phosphates and have provided further information about the protein structural changes involved in nucleotide binding and the allosteric regulation of RecA.     

Calorimetric analysis of aspartate transcarbamylase from Escherichia coli: binding of cytosine 5'-triphosphate and adenosine 5'-triphosphate.

The binding of CTP and ATP to aspartate transcarbamylase at pH 7.8 and 8.5 at 25 degrees has been investigated by equilibrium dialysis and flow microcalorimetry. The binding isotherms for CTP at both pH 7.8 and 8.5 and ATP AT PH 8.5 can be fit by a model which assumes three tight, three moderately tight, and six weak binding sites. The binding isotherms for ATP at pH 7.8 are best fit by a model which assumes six tight and six weaker sites. Both finite differenceH binding and finite differenceS binding are negative for both nucleotides at both pH values, so that the binding is enthalpy driven. For both nucleotides, finite differenceH is the same for the first two classes of binding sites, implying that the difference in the dissociation constants of these two classes of sites is the result of entropic effects. Direct pH measurements and calorimetric measurements in two buffers with very different heats of ionization (Tris and Hepes) indicate that the binding of both nucleotides is accompanied by the binding of protons. In the pH range 6.7-8.4, the number of moles of protons bound per mole of nucleotide increases as the pH decreases.     

ATP-Induced phosphorylation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase: molecular interpretation of infrared difference spectra.

Time-resolved infrared difference spectra of the ATP-induced phosphorylation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase have been recorded in H2O and 2H2O at pH 7.0 and 1 degrees C. The reaction was induced by ATP release from P3-1-(2-nitro)phenylethyladenosine 5'-triphosphate (caged ATP) and from [gamma-18O3]caged ATP. A band at 1546 cm-1, not observed with the deuterated enzyme, can be assigned to the amide II mode of the protein backbone and indicates that a conformational change associated with ATPase phosphorylation takes place after ATP binding. This is also indicated between 1700 and 1610 cm-1, where bandshifts of up to 10 cm-1 observed upon protein deuteration suggest that amide I modes of the protein backbone dominate the difference spectrum. From the band positions it is deduced that alpha-helical, beta-sheet, and probably beta-turn structures are affected in the phosphorylation reaction. Model spectra of acetyl phosphate, acetate, ATP, and ADP suggest the tentative assignment of some of the bands of the phosphorylation spectrum to the molecular groups of ATP and Asp351, which participate directly in the phosphate transfer reaction: a positive band at 1719 cm-1 to the C==O group of aspartyl phosphate, a negative band at 1239 cm-1 to the nuas(PO2-) modes of the bound ATP molecule, and a positive band at 1131 cm-1 to the nuas(PO32-) mode of the phosphoenzyme phosphate group, the latter assignment being supported by the band's sensitivity toward isotopic substitution in the gamma-phosphate of ATP. Band positions and shapes of these bands indicate that the alpha- and/or beta-phosphate(s) of the bound ATP molecule become partly dehydrated when ATP binds to the ATPase, that the phosphoenzyme phosphate group is unprotonated at pH 7.0, and that the C==O group of aspartyl phosphate does not interact with bulk water. The Ca2+ binding sites seem to be largely undisturbed by the phosphorylation reaction, and a functional role of the side chains of Asn, Gln, and Arg residues was not detected.     

ATP binding,not hydrolysis,at the first nucleotide-binding domain of multidrug resistance-associated protein MRP1 enhances ADP.Vi trapping at the second domain

Multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1) transports solutes in an ATP-dependent manner by utilizing its two nonequivalent nucleotide binding domains (NBDs) to bind and hydrolyze ATP. We found that ATP binding to the first NBD of MRP1 increases binding and trapping of ADP at the second domain (Hou, Y., Cui, L., Riordan, J. R., and Chang, X. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 5110-5119). These results were interpreted as indicating that the binding of ATP at NBD1 causes a conformational change in the molecule and increases the affinity for ATP at NBD2. However, we did not distinguish between the possibilities that the enhancement of ADP trapping might be caused by either ATP binding alone or hydrolysis. We now report the following. 1) ATP has a much lesser effect at 0 degrees C than at 37 degrees C. 2) After hexokinase treatment, the nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue, adenyl 5'-(yl iminodiphosphate), does not enhance ADP trapping. 3) Another nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue, adenosine 5'-(beta,gamma-methylene)triphosphate, whether hexokinase-treated or not, causes a slight enhancement. 4) In contrast, the hexokinase-treated poorly hydrolyzable ATP analogue, adenosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) (ATPgammaS), enhances ADP trapping to a similar extent as ATP under conditions in which ATPgammaS should not be hydrolyzed. We conclude that: 1) ATP hydrolysis is not required to enhance ADP trapping by MRP1 protein; 2) with nucleotides having appropriate structure such as ATP or ATPgammaS, binding alone can enhance ADP trapping by MRP1; 3) the stimulatory effect on ADP trapping is greatly diminished when the MRP1 protein is in a "frozen state" (0 degrees C); and 4) the steric structure of the nucleotide gamma-phosphate is crucial in determining whether binding of the nucleotide to NBD1 of MRP1 protein can induce the conformational change that influences nucleotide trapping at NBD2.     

Tandem function of nucleotide binding domains confers competence to sulfonylurea receptor in gating ATP-sensitive K+ channels

Fundamental to the metabolic sensor function of ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channels is the sulfonylurea receptor. This ATP-binding cassette protein, which contains nucleotide binding domains (NBD1 and NBD2) with conserved Walker motifs, regulates the ATP sensitivity of the pore-forming Kir6.2 subunit. Although NBD2 hydrolyzes ATP, a property essential in K(ATP) channel gating, the role of NBD1, which has limited catalytic activity, if at all, remains less understood. Here, we provide functional evidence that cooperative interaction, rather than the independent contribution of each NBD, is critical for K(ATP) channel regulation. Gating of cardiac K(ATP) channels by distinct conformations in the NBD2 ATPase cycle, induced by gamma-phosphate analogs, was disrupted by point mutation not only of the Walker motif in NBD2 but also in NBD1. Cooling membrane patches to decelerate the intrinsic ATPase activity counteracted ATP-induced K(ATP) channel inhibition, an effect that mimicked stabilization of the MgADP-bound posthydrolytic state at NBD2 by the gamma-phosphate analog orthovanadate. Temperature-induced channel activation was abolished by mutations that either prevent stabilization of MgADP at NBD2 or ATP at NBD1. These findings provide a paradigm of K(ATP) channel gating based on integration of both NBDs into a functional unit within the multimeric channel complex.     

Conformational changes in four regions of the Escherichia coli ArsA ATPase link ATP hydrolysis to ion translocation

Structures of ArsA with ATP, AMP-PNP, or ADP.AlF(3) bound at the A2 nucleotide binding site were determined. Binding of different nucleotides modifies the coordination sphere of Mg(2+). In particular, the changes elicited by ADP.AlF(3) provide insights into the mechanism of ATP hydrolysis. In-line attack by water onto the gamma-phosphate of ATP would be followed first by formation of a trigonal intermediate and then by breaking of the scissile bond between the beta- and gamma-phosphates. Motions of amino acid side chains at the A2 nucleotide binding site during ATP binding and hydrolysis propagate at a distance, producing conformational changes in four different regions of the protein corresponding to helices H4-H5, helices H9-H10, helices H13-H15, and to the S1-H2-S2 region. These elements are extensions of, respectively, the Switch I and Switch II regions, the A-loop (a small loop near the nucleotide adenine moiety), and the P-loop. Based on the observed conformational changes, it is proposed that ArsA functions as a reciprocating engine that hydrolyzes 2 mol of ATP per each cycle of ion translocation across the membrane.     

Nucleotide binding to nucleoside diphosphate kinases: X-ray structure of human NDPK-A in complex with ADP and comparison to protein kinases

NDPK-A, product of the nm23-H1 gene, is one of the two major isoforms of human nucleoside diphosphate kinase. We analyzed the binding of its nucleotide substrates by fluorometric methods. The binding of nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) substrates was detected by following changes of the intrinsic fluorescence of the H118G/F60W variant, a mutant protein engineered for that purpose. Nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) substrate binding was measured by competition with a fluorescent derivative of ADP, following the fluorescence anisotropy of the derivative. We also determined an X-ray structure at 2.0A resolution of the variant NDPK-A in complex with ADP, Ca(2+) and inorganic phosphate, products of ATP hydrolysis. We compared the conformation of the bound nucleotide seen in this complex and the interactions it makes with the protein, with those of the nucleotide substrates, substrate analogues or inhibitors present in other NDP kinase structures. We also compared NDP kinase-bound nucleotides to ATP bound to protein kinases, and showed that the nucleoside monophosphate moieties have nearly identical conformations in spite of the very different protein environments. However, the beta and gamma-phosphate groups are differently positioned and oriented in the two types of kinases, and they bind metal ions with opposite chiralities. Thus, it should be possible to design nucleotide analogues that are good substrates of one type of kinase, and poor substrates or inhibitors of the other kind.     

Multiple inequivalent metal-nucleotide coordination environments in the presence of the VO2+-inhibited nitrogenase iron protein: pH-dependent structural rearrangements at the nucleotide binding site

Nitrogenase naturally requires adenosine nucleoside triphosphates and divalent metal cations for catalytic activity. Their energy of hydrolysis controls several mechanistic functions, most probably via separate structural conformers of the nitrogenase Fe protein. To characterize the ligand environment of the divalent metal in the ternary complex, with ADP or ATP and the Fe protein from Klebsiella pneumoniae, the hyperfine structures have been investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy by substituting naturally occurring diamagnetic Mg(2+) by paramagnetic oxovanadium. This metal replacement leads to inhibition of nitrogenase activity. Moreover, depending on pH, two distinctly different VO(2+) EPR spectra are detected. At pH 7.4 each of the vanadyl EPR hyperfine lines is further split into two. This indicates that several spectroscopically distinguishable metal coordination environments coexist for VO(2+)-nucleotide chelate complexes in the presence of the reduced Fe protein. Overall, a total of at least three distinct local metal coordination environments have been identified. We report the EPR parameters for each of the disparate metal coordinations measured at different pH values with ADP and ATP bound. EPR spectra have also been recorded for the oxidized Fe protein showing essentially similar spectra to that of the reduced protein. The EPR parameters of VO-nucleotides in the presence of the Fe protein are consistent, for all metal coordination environments, with direct metal ligation by nucleotide phosphate groups and the formation of mononucleotide complexes. The nucleotide binding environment with the highest ligand field strength is compatible with a metal coordination structure that is also found in various G-proteins with GTP bound. No significant EPR line width change is detected after exchange into D(2)O buffer solution for any of the pH forms although differences exist between the pH forms. The missing difference between the EPR parameters in the presence of ADP or ATP suggests that there is little or no conformational rearrangement between these two forms; this contrasts with behavior of G-proteins that undergo substantial conformational changes upon hydrolysis. This could be related to the inhibition of nitrogenase by VO(2+).     

Fluoroaluminates do not affect the guanine-nucleotide binding centre of the peptide chain elongation factor EF-Tu

EF-Tu is often referred to as a model for guanine-nucleotide-binding regulatory proteins (G-proteins), since X-ray diffraction analysis of its GTP-binding domain shows a detailed location of the 'consensus' amino acid sequences involved in nucleotide binding. Fluoroaluminates are thought to mimick the gamma-phosphate in the GTPase centre on account of their activating effect on a variety of GTP binding proteins. In the case of EF-Tu, we could find no such effects on the basis of at least three independent functional assays. We did notice, however, complicating interactions between free nucleotides, fluoroaluminates and other ligands. By consequence, if indeed AlF4- behaves as a gamma-phosphate analogue in G-proteins, then EF-Tu must have a different GDP/GTP binding site, despite of the conserved consensus sequences.     

Rapid filtration analysis of nucleotide binding to Na,K-ATPase

Transient kinetic analysis of nucleotide binding to pig kidney Na,K-ATPase using a rapid filtration technique shows that the interaction between nucleotide and enzyme apparently follows simple first-order kinetics both for ATP in the absence of Mg(2+) and for ADP in the presence or absence of Mg(2+). Rapid filtration experiments with Na,K-ATPase membrane sheets may nevertheless suffer from a problem of accessibility for a fraction of the ATPase binding sites. Accordingly, we estimate from these data that for ATP binding in the absence of Mg(2+) and the presence of 35 mM Na(+) at pH 7.0 at 20 degrees C, the bimolecular binding rate constant k(on) is about 30 microM(-1) x s(-1) and the dissociation rate constant k(off) is about 8 s(-1). In the presence of 10 mM Mg(2+), the binding rate constant is the same as that in the absence of Mg(2+). For ADP or MgADP the binding rate constant is about 20 microM(-1) x s(-1) and the dissociation rate constant is about 12 s(-1). Results of rapid-mixing stopped-flow experiments with the fluorescent dye eosin are also consistent with a one-step mechanism of binding of eosin to the ATPase nucleotide site. The implication of these results is that nucleotide binding to Na,K-ATPase both in the absence and presence of Mg(2+) appears to be a single-step event, at least on the time scale accessible in these experiments.     

NMR of a synthetic peptide spanning the triphosphate binding site of adenosine 5'-triphosphate in actin

The amino acid residues 114-118 in actin were found to be implicated strongly in the binding of nucleotide, and as would be expected for such an important binding site, they are located in a completely conserved region of the actin sequence. A 19-residue peptide with the actin sequence 106-124 was synthesized in order to span the putative triphosphate binding site. Proton NMR spectra of the actin peptide 114-118 in the presence and absence of ATP indicated that Arg-116 and Lys-118 are particularly involved in binding ATP. A strong binding of ATP to the peptide 106-124 also was measured. Tripolyphosphate bound to the peptide 106-124 somewhat more weakly than ATP. Binding involved residues 115-118 and 121-124, indicating the presence of a reverse turn between these segments. Proton resonances were assigned by using two-dimensional double quantum correlated spectroscopy, one-dimensional spin decoupling techniques, one-dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancement difference spectroscopy, and pH titration. The alpha CH resonances of Ala-3 and Asn-6 are markedly shifted downfield with respect to values in small unstructured peptides due to their close proximity to the side chains of Pro-4 and Pro-7, respectively. Several other resonances display chemical shifts which are indicative of a structured environment. Assignment of the amide proton resonances in H2O and measurements of the coupling constant 3JHNCH and the chemical shifts of the amide protons reveal that much of the synthetic peptide, particularly the backbone, exhibits a highly structured environment and represents a good model for the triphosphate binding site in actin.     

Importance of Na,K-ATPase residue alpha 1-Arg544 in the segment Arg544-Asp567 for high-affinity binding of ATP, ADP, or MgATP

To identify residues involved in ATP binding in the N-domain of the alpha1-subunit of Na,K-ATPase, mutations were directed to the segment Arg(544)-Asp(567), a beta-strand-loop-helix structure with Arg(544) positioned at the mouth of the ATP-binding pocket near the interface to the P-domain. Substitution of Arg(544) with Gln abolished high-affinity binding of free ATP, while substitution with lysine reduced ADP affinity with minor effects on ATP binding. The contribution of Arg(544) to the change in free energy of ATP binding was estimated to 6.9 kJ/mol (DeltaDeltaG(b)) from double mutations with Asp(369) and to 7.8 kJ/mol from the MgATP dependence of phosphorylation. The phosphorylation data show that binding of Mg(2+) may increase the apparent affinity of wild-type enzyme for ATP [K(1/2)(ATP) 12 nM]. Moderately reduced affinities for ATP were seen after mutations of Asp(555), Glu(556), Asp(565), or Asp(567) with DeltaDeltaG(b) approximately equals 0.5-3 kJ/mol. Mutations of Cys(549) did not affect ATP binding. In conclusion, Arg(544) is important for binding of ATP or ADP, probably by stabilizing the beta- or gamma-phosphate moieties and aligning the gamma-phosphate for interaction with the carboxylate group of Asp(369).     

25Mg NMR studies of magnesium binding to erythrocyte constituents.

The binding of Mg2+ ion to ATP, ADP, AMP, 2,3-bisphosphyoglycerate (DPG), and hemoglobin has been studied by 25Mg NMR spectroscopy at 9.4 T. Addition of any of these ligands to a solution of 2 mM 25MgCl2 at pH 7.2 caused a progressive increase in linewidth, with no discernible chemical shift. ATP and ADP, which form tight 1:1 complexes with Mg2+, did not cause maximal broadening until present in several-fold excess, implying that bis(nucleotide) complexes also form. The studies showed progressively weaker Mg2+ binding to ATP, ADP, DPG, and AMP, consistent with published binding constants. Hemoglobin cause fairly little broadening, consistent with its known weak affinity for Mg2+. Competition studies determined ATP affinities for Ca2+ and H+ that were also in good agreement with published values. 25Mg NMR spectra of 2 mM bound 25Mg2+ were obtained with good signal to noise in less than 1 hr. The technique may now be a practical means for studying the binding of Mg2+ within erythrocytes and other cells.     

31P NMR measurements of myocardial pH in vivo

A 31P NMR magnetization transfer method for measuring myocardial pH in vivo is demonstrated in the lamb, dog and cat. The method involves measuring the difference in chemical shift between the resonances of phosphocreatine and inorganic phosphate in magnetization transfer difference spectra in which the gamma-phosphate resonance of ATP has been saturated. The method has been verified by measuring the chemical shift difference between the resonances of 2-deoxyglucose 6-phosphate and phosphocreatine following infusion of the animals with 2-deoxyglucose. The measured pH values are significantly lower than those obtained in previous studies on the heart in vivo.     

Two distinct classes of nucleotide binding sites in sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase revealed by 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrocyclohexadienylidene)-ATP

It was previously reported that 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrocyclohexadienylidene) (TNP)-nucleotides bind with high affinity to the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (Dupont, Y., Chapron, Y., and Pougeois, R. (1982) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 106, 1272-1279 and Watanabe, T., and Inesi, G. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 11510-11516). Here we report a study of the Ca-ATPase nucleotide binding sites using TNP-nucleotides. Competition at equilibrium between TNP-nucleotides and ATP was measured in the absence of calcium; it was found that TNP-nucleotides and ATP competitively bind to two classes of sites of equal concentration (3.5 nmol/mg). The ATP dissociation constants for the two classes of sites were found to be sensitive to H+ and Mg2+ concentrations. In the absence of Mg2+ (independently of pH) or at acid pH (independently of Mg2+ concentration), the nucleotide sites behave like one single family of sites of intermediate affinity (Kd = 20 microM). They split into two classes of sites of high (Kd = 2-4 microM) and low (Kd greater than 1 mM) affinity at pH values higher than neutral and in the presence of Mg2+. The calcium-activated ATP hydrolysis is accelerated by TNP-ATP (or TNP-AMP-PNP) binding on the phosphorylated enzyme. It is concluded 1) that the Ca-ATPase enzyme possesses two classes of ATP binding sites, 2) that the affinity of these two sites and the nature of their interaction is modulated by the H+ and Mg2+ concentrations, and 3) that the hydrolytic activity of the high affinity ATP binding site is activated by ATP or TNP-AMP-PNP (or TNP-ATP) binding in a low affinity ATP binding site.     

Role of the gamma-phosphate of ATP in triggering protein folding by GroEL-GroES: function, structure and energetics

Productive cis folding by the chaperonin GroEL is triggered by the binding of ATP but not ADP, along with cochaperonin GroES, to the same ring as non-native polypeptide, ejecting polypeptide into an encapsulated hydrophilic chamber. We examined the specific contribution of the gamma-phosphate of ATP to this activation process using complexes of ADP and aluminium or beryllium fluoride. These ATP analogues supported productive cis folding of the substrate protein, rhodanese, even when added to already-formed, folding-inactive cis ADP ternary complexes, essentially introducing the gamma-phosphate of ATP in an independent step. Aluminium fluoride was observed to stabilize the association of GroES with GroEL, with a substantial release of free energy (-46 kcal/mol). To understand the basis of such activation and stabilization, a crystal structure of GroEL-GroES-ADP.AlF3 was determined at 2.8 A. A trigonal AlF3 metal complex was observed in the gamma-phosphate position of the nucleotide pocket of the cis ring. Surprisingly, when this structure was compared with that of the previously determined GroEL-GroES-ADP complex, no other differences were observed. We discuss the likely basis of the ability of gamma-phosphate binding to convert preformed GroEL-GroES-ADP-polypeptide complexes into the folding-active state.