Crystallization of the Ca2+-ATPase of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum. Inhibition by myotoxin a

Decavanadate produces extensive ordered arrays of Ca2+-ATPase molecules on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicle surfaces [(1984) J. Bioenerg. Biomembranes 16, 491-505] and the basic unit of these crystalline structures seems to be a dimer of Ca2+-ATPase [(1983) J. Ultrastruct. Res. 24, 454-464; (1984) J. Mol. Biol. 174, 193-204]. Myotoxin a, isolated from the venom of the prairie rattlesnake Crotalus viridis viridis, is a muscle-degenerating polypeptide and its primary site of interaction is the SR membrane, where it uncouples CA2+-translocation from CA2+-dependent ATP hydrolysis [(1986) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 246, 90-97]. The effect of myotoxin a on decavanadate-induced two-dimensional Ca2+-ATPase crystals of SR membranes has been investigated. The toxin inhibits the formation of two-dimensional SR-membrane crystals and disrupts previously formed crystals in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, which parallels the uncoupling of ATP hydrolysis from Ca2+ translocation. Two-dimensional crystalline arrays of the SR membrane have a typical diffraction pattern which, after myotoxin a treatment, displays a progressive loss of order. Decavanadate is an uncompetitive inhibitor of the Ca2+-ATPase enzyme-myotoxin a complex. The present results suggest that a Ca2+-ATPase dimer is required for coupling Ca2+ translocation to Ca2+-dependent ATP hydrolysis.     

Interaction of amphipols with sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase

Amphipols are short-chain amphipathic polymers designed to keep membrane proteins soluble in aqueous solutions. We have evaluated the effects of the interaction of amphipols with sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase either in a membrane-bound or a soluble form. If the addition of amphipols to detergent-solubilized ATPase was followed by removal of detergent, soluble complexes formed, but these complexes retained poor ATPase activity, were not very stable upon long incubation periods, and at high concentrations they experienced aggregation. Nevertheless, adding excess detergent to diluted detergent-free ATPase-amphipol complexes incubated for short periods immediately restored full activity to these complexes, showing that amphipols had protected solubilized ATPase from the rapid and irreversible inactivation that otherwise follows detergent removal. Amphipols also protected solubilized ATPase from the rapid and irreversible inactivation observed in detergent solutions if the ATPase Ca(2+) binding sites remain vacant. Moreover, in the presence of Ca(2+), amphipol/detergent mixtures stabilized concentrated ATPase against inactivation and aggregation, whether in the presence or absence of lipids, for much longer periods of time (days) than detergent alone. Our observations suggest that mixtures of amphipols and detergents are promising media for handling solubilized Ca(2+)-ATPase under conditions that would otherwise lead to its irreversible denaturation and/or aggregation.     

Labeling the Ca2+-ATPase of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum with maleimidylsalicylic acid

Maleimidylsalicylic acid reacts with the Ca(2+)-ATPase of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum with high affinity and inhibits the ATPase activity following a pseudo-first-order kinetic with a rate constant of 8.3 m(-1) s(-1). Calcium binding remains unaffected in the maleimide-inhibited ATPase. However, the presence of ATP, ADP, and, to a lesser extent, AMP protects the enzyme against inhibition. Furthermore, ATPase inhibition is accompanied by a concomitant decrease in ATP binding. The stoichiometry of the nucleotide-dependent maleimidylsalicylic acid binding is 6-10 nmol/mg ATPase, which corresponds to the binding of up to one molecule of maleimide/molecule of ATPase. The stoichiometry of maleimide binding is decreased in the presence of nucleotides and in the ATPase previously labeled with fluorescein-5'-isothiocyanate or N-ethylmaleimide A fluorescent peptide was isolated by high performance liquid chromatography after trypsin digestion of the maleimide-labeled ATPase. Analysis of the sequence and mass spectrometry of the peptide leads us to propose Cys(344) as the target for maleimidylsalicylic acid in the inhibition reaction. The effect of Cys(344) modification on the nucleotide site is discussed.     

Oligomerisation of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase monomers from skeletal muscle

The fast-twitch SERCA1 isoform of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase was purified to homogeneity and conjugated to peroxidase. The SERCA1 probe showed high affinity binding to the immobilized monomeric enzyme, but not crosslinker-stabilized oligomers. This suggests a preferential complex formation via homo-dimerization, rather than interactions with established oligomeric structures.     

Interaction of an aromatic dibromoisothiouronium derivative with the Ca(2+)-ATPase of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum

Isothiouronium compounds [Hoving, S., Bar-Shimon, M., Tijmes, J. J., Goldshleger, R., Tal, D. M., and Karlish, S. J. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 29788-29793] act as high-affinity competitive antagonists for Na(+) and K(+) (Rb(+)) on the renal Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase where they favor the E1 conformation. We have now characterized the effects of 1,3-dibromo-2,4,6-tris(methylisothiouronium)benzene (Br(2)-TITU) on the Ca(2+)-ATPase of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum. Br(2)-TITU inhibited the Ca(2+)-ATPase, both transport and catalytic activity, with a K(0.5) of 5-15 microM. Maximum inhibition was at 10 min with t(0.5) of 3-5 min. Br(2)-TITU, 100 microM, quenched Trp autofluorescence by 80%, but the residual signal still responded to Ca(2+) binding. Maximum quenching of fluorescence was at pH 9.0. Total E-P levels, during the steady state of turnover of the Ca(2+)-ATPase, were increased from 0.5 to 5.8 nmol x mg(-1) by Br(2)-TITU at pH 6.8. Trinitrophenyl-ATP (TNP-ATP) superfluorescence, which monitors hydrophobicity of the ATP site, was increased 3-4-fold, suggesting that Br(2)-TITU favors an "E2"-like state. Fluorescence was also increased 3-5-fold when E-P was induced with P(i) plus EGTA. Br(2)-TITU increased the rate constants of induction of superfluorescence with ATP plus Ca(2+) from 0.32 to 0.69 s(-1) and with P(i) plus EGTA from 0.84 to 7.45 s(-1). Br(2)-TITU also decreased rate constants for "off" reactions from 2.9 to 0.66 s(-1) and from 10.9 to 0.73 s(-1) for the ATP and P(i) reactions, respectively. Br(2)-TITU, which competitively inhibits the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, has a novel effect on the Ca(2+)-ATPase. It promotes accumulation of E2-P species due to increased rate of formation and decreased rate of hydrolysis and quenches tryptophan autofluorescence. Br(2)-TITU could be a useful inhibitor to probe intermediate reactions of the Ca(2+)-ATPase that link catalysis with Ca(2+) translocation.     

Effect of corticotropin and hydrocortisone on the Ca2+-ATPase activity of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum

The effect of corticotropin (ACTH1-39), synacthen (ACTH1-24) and hydrocortisone-hemisuccinate on the activity of Ca-ATPase of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and calcium (Ca) accumulation in SR vesicles has been studied. It has been shown that ACTH1-39 (I U per 100 g body weight) increased the activity of Ca-ATPase in skeletal muscle SR of rats, while hydrocortisone (5 mg per 100 g body weight) did not change the activity of Ca-ATPase in skeletal muscle SR. However, both hormones increase the total activity of ATPase. ACTH1-39 and ACTH1-24 (0.05-0.0005 U/ml) and hydrocortisone (2.8 X 10(-7)-2.8 X 10(-9) mol/l) increased in vitro Ca-ATPase isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle SR and accumulation of Ca is SR vesicles. At the same time, hydrocortisone reduced calcium/phosphorus ratio, while ACTH1-39 and ACTH1-24 increased it, i.e. hydrocortisone facilitated Ca accumulation in SR requiring more ATP energy, whereas ACTH facilitated Ca accumulation in SR requiring less ATP energy.     

Beta2-agonist administration increases sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase activity in aged rat skeletal muscle

Aging is associated with a slowing of skeletal muscle contractile properties, including a decreased rate of relaxation. In rats, the age-related decrease in the maximal rate of relaxation is reversed after 4-wk administration with the beta2-adrenoceptor agonist (beta2-agonist) fenoterol. Given the critical role of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in regulating intracellular Ca2+ transients and ultimately the time course of muscle contraction and relaxation, we tested the hypothesis that the mechanisms of action of fenoterol are mediated by alterations in SR proteins. Sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) kinetic properties were assessed in muscle homogenates and enriched SR membranes isolated from the red (RG) and white (WG) portions of the gastrocnemius muscle in adult (16 mo) and aged (28 mo) F344 rats that had been administered fenoterol for 4 wk (1.4 mg/kg/day ip, in saline) or vehicle only. Aging was associated with a 29% decrease in the maximal activity (Vmax) of SERCA in the RG but not in the WG muscles. Fenoterol treatment increased the Vmax of SERCA and SERCA1 protein levels in RG and WG. In the RG, fenoterol administration reversed an age-related selective nitration of the SERCA2a isoform. Our findings demonstrate that the mechanisms underlying age-related changes in contractile properties are fiber type dependent, whereas the effects of fenoterol administration are independent of age and fiber type.     

Thermogenic activity of Ca2+-ATPase from skeletal muscle heavy sarcoplasmic reticulum: the role of ryanodine Ca2+ channel

The sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase 1 (SERCA 1) is able to handle the energy derived from ATP hydrolysis in such a way as to determine the parcel of energy that is used for Ca(2+) transport and the fraction that is converted into heat. In this work we measured the heat production by SERCA 1 in the two sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) fractions: the light fraction (LSR), which is enriched in SERCA and the heavy fraction (HSR), which contains both the SERCA and the ryanodine Ca(2+) channel. We verified that although HSR cleaved ATP at faster rate than LSR, the amount of heat released during ATP hydrolysis by HSR was smaller than that measured by LSR. Consequently, the amount of heat released per mol of ATP cleaved (DeltaH(cal)) by HSR was lower compared to LSR. In HSR, the addition of 5 mM Mg(2+) or ruthenium red, conditions that close the ryanodine Ca(2+) channel, promoted a decrease in the ATPase activity, but the amount of heat released during ATP hydrolysis remained practically the same. In this condition, the DeltaH(cal) values of ATP hydrolysis increased significantly. Neither Mg(2+) nor ruthenium red had effect on LSR. Thus, we conclude that heat production by SERCA 1 depends on the region of SR in which the enzyme is inserted and that in HSR, the DeltaH(cal) of ATP hydrolysis by SERCA 1 depends on whether the ryanodine Ca(2+) channel is opened or closed.     

Interaction of valinomycin and monovalent cations with the (Ca2+,Mg2+)-ATPase of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum

The interactions of monovalent cations and of the K+-specific ionophore, valinomycin, with the Ca2+-ATPase of skeletal muscle of sarcoplasmic reticulum have been studied in the absence of cation gradients by their effects on enzyme turnover and on the ATP plus Ca2+-dependent enhanced fluorescence of the ATP analogue, 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrocyclohexyldienylidine)-adenosine 5'-triphosphate (TNP-ATP) (Watanabe, T., and Inesi, G. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 11510-11516). Monovalent cations decreased turnover-dependent TNP-ATP fluorescence in the series K+ greater than Rb+ approximately equal to Cs+ greater than Na+ greater than Li+ (K0.5 = 49, 73, 75, 94, and 246 mM, respectively), consistent with the known specificity of the monovalent cation binding site that stimulates turnover and E-P hydrolysis. Valinomycin (200 nmol/mg), in the absence of monovalent cations, decreased ATPase activity by 30% and abolished the stimulatory effects of 150 mM KCl or NaCl on turnover. The ionophore alone enhanced TNP-ATP fluorescence by 20% and altered the specificity and affinity of the site that inhibited TNP-ATP fluorescence to Cs+ greater than Rb+ greater than K+ approximately equal to Na+ greater than Li+ (K0.5 = 79, 111, 134, 136, and 270 mM, respectively), which follows the Hofmeister series for effectiveness of monovalent lyotropic cations. TNP-ATP binding was not affected by either monovalent cations or valinomycin. Inhibition of turnover-dependent TNP-ATP fluorescence appears to be a useful parameter for monitoring monovalent cation binding to the Ca2+-ATPase. It is concluded that the ionophore interacts directly with the Ca2+-ATPase, independent of its K+ conductance effects on the lipid bilayer, and modifies the affinity and specificity of the monovalent cation site, either by direct interaction or by the formation of a valinomycin-monovalent cation-enzyme complex.     

Ca2+ Modulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release in rat skeletal muscle fibers

Ca²⁺ transients and the rate of Ca²⁺ release (dCa_REL/dt) from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in voltage-clamped, fast-twitch skeletal muscle fibers from the rat were studied with the double Vaseline gap technique and using mag-fura-2 and fura-2 as Ca²⁺ indicators. Single pulse experiments with different returning potentials showed that Ca²⁺ removal from the myoplasm is voltage independent. Thus, the myoplasmic Ca²⁺ removal (dCa_REM/dt) was studied by fitting the decaying phase of the Ca²⁺ transient (Melzer, Ríos & Schneider, 1986) and dCa_REL/dt was calculated as the difference between dCa/dt and dCa_REM/dt. The fast Ca²⁺ release decayed as a consequence of Ca²⁺ inactivation of Ca²⁺ release. Double pulse experiments showed inactivation of the fast Ca²⁺ release depending on the prepulse duration. At constant interpulse interval, long prepulses (200 msec) induced greater inactivation of the fast Ca²⁺ release than shorter depolarizations (20 msec). The correlation (r) between the myoplasmic [Ca²⁺]_i and the inhibited amount of Ca²⁺ release was 0.98. The [Ca²⁺]_i for 50% inactivation of dCa_REL/dt was 0.25 m, and the minimum number of sites occupied by Ca²⁺ to inactivate the Ca²⁺ release channel was 3.0. These data support Ca²⁺ binding and inactivation of SR Ca²⁺ release.This work was supported by Grant-in-Aid from the American Heart Association (National) and Muscular Dystrophy Association (USA). Part of this work was developed in Dr. Stefani's laboratory at Baylor College of Medicine.     

Heterologous expression of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase

In recent years, expression of rabbit sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca²⁺-ATPase in heterologous systems has been a widely used strategy to study altered enzymes generated by site-directed mutagenesis. Various eukaryotic expression systems have been tested, all of them yielding comparable amounts of recombinant protein. However, the relatively low yield of recombinant protein obtained so far suggests that novel purification techniques will be required to allow further characterization of this enzyme based on direct ligand-binding measurements.     

Membrane crystals of Ca2+-ATPase in sarcoplasmic reticulum of developing muscle

The vanadate-induced crystallization of Ca2+-ATPase was analyzed on sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles isolated between 10 and 28 days of development from pectoralis muscles of chicken. After exposure to Na3VO4 in a Ca2+-free medium, Ca2+-ATPase crystals begin to appear on portions of the surface of a few vesicles, isolated at 18 days of development. Thereafter, the number of vesicles containing Ca2+-ATPase crystals rapidly increases and after 1 week of postnatal development (28 days), it reaches the adult level of about 30% of the vesicle population. These observations are discussed with reference to the mechanism of Ca2+-ATPase crystallization and the regulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum biosynthesis.     

Evidence that platelet and skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase are structurally distinct

Proteolytic digestion and indirect immunostaining were used to compare the platelet and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase proteins. When the platelet and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase proteins were digested in the native state with trypsin, the platelet Ca2+-ATPase, which had an apparent undigested molecular mass of 103 kDa, yielded 78-kDa and 25-kDa fragments. Calcium transport activity depended on the integrity of the 103-kDa protein, while the digested protein had residual ATPase activity. Tryptic digestion of the sarcoplasmic reticulum pump protein, which also had an undigested molecular mass of 103 kDa, yielded products with apparent molecular masses of 55 kDa, 36 kDa, and 26 kDa. Distinct patterns were also observed when the platelet and sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump proteins were digested with chymotrypsin and Staphylococcus aureus protease in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Chymotrypsin digestion of the platelet protein resulted in the appearance of products with apparent molecular masses of 70 kDa, 39 kDa, and 31 kDa, while a similar digestion of the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump protein yielded 54-kDa, 52.5-kDa, 46-kDa, 41-kDa, and 36-kDa fragments. Exposure of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and platelet Ca2+-ATPase proteins to S. aureus protease also yielded dissimilar fragmentation patterns. These results indicate that the Ca2+-ATPases from platelets and sarcoplasmic reticulum are distinct proteins.     

Binding of myotoxin a to sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase: a structural study.

The interaction of myotoxin alpha with intact sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) components was investigated, and two SR proteins were identified that associated with myotoxin a. One of the proteins has an apparent molecular weight similar to the Ca(2+)-ATPase, the major SR protein responsible for calcium loading. Ca(2+)-ATPase was purified, and its interaction with myotoxin a was studied. Evidence for specific binding of myotoxin a to Ca(2+)-ATPase was established by isolating chemically cross-linked myotoxin a-Ca(2+)-ATPase complexes and further proving their association with anti-myotoxin a antibodies. The binding region of myotoxin a was further delineated by cleaving the protein with cyanogen bromide (CNBr) into two fragments, a larger N-terminal fragment of 28 residues and a smaller C-terminal fragment of 14 residues. Competition experiments with 125I-myotoxin a showed that the C-terminal fragment competed better against 125I-myotoxin a than the N-terminal fragment for SR protein binding. Two overlapping peptides covering the sequence of the N-terminal fragment were synthesized to clarify the interaction of the N-terminal fragment of myotoxin a with SR proteins. A 16-residue peptide corresponding to residues 1-16 competed strongly with 125I-myotoxin a, while a second peptide (residues 13-28) did not.     

Properties and characterization of a highly purified sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase from dog cardiac and rabbit skeletal muscle

Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-ATPase was purified from dog cardiac and rabbit skeletal muscle using Triton X-100 at optimal ratios of 0.5 for cardiac and 0.5 to 1.0 for skeletal SR. The yields of Ca2+-ATPase were 4 to 5 and 1 to 2.2 mg/100 mg of cardiac and skeletal SR protein, respectively. The enzyme activities were 547 +/- 67 mumol ADP/mg/h for cardiac and 1192 +/- 172 mumol ADP/mg/h for skeletal Ca2+-ATPase. Removal of excess Triton X-100 increased the enzyme activities to 719 +/- 70 and 1473 +/- 206 mumol ADP/mg/h, respectively. The residual content of Triton X-100 for cardiac and skeletal Ca2+-ATPase was 20 and 5 mol/mol of enzyme, respectively. Maximum levels of phosphoenzyme were 4.4 +/- 0.2 and 5.6 +/- 0.6 nmol/mg in each case. A single protein band of 100 kDa was obtained for each purified Ca2+-ATPase by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The preparations were stable at -80 degrees C for 5 months in the presence of 1 mM Ca2+. The phospholipid content of the purified enzyme was 2-fold greater than that of native cardiac and skeletal SR microsomes. Repeated washing of the purified enzyme preparation did not alter the phospholipid content or the specific activities.     

Occlusion of Ca2+ in soluble monomeric sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase

Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase solubilized in monomeric form by nonionic detergent was reacted with CrATP in the presence of 45Ca2+. A Ca2+-occluded complex formed, which was stable during high performance liquid chromatography in the presence of excess non-radioactive Ca2+. The elution position corresponded to monomeric Ca2+-ATPase. It is concluded that a single Ca2+-ATPase polypeptide chain provides the full structural basis for Ca2+ occlusion.     

The structure of the Ca2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum

In this article the morphology of sarcoplasmic reticulum, classification of Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) isoenzymes presented in this membrane system, as well as their topology will be reviewed. The focus is on the structure and interactions of Ca(2+)-ATPase determined by electron and X-ray crystallography, lamellar X-ray and neutron diffraction analysis of the profile structure of Ca(2+)-ATPase in sarcoplasmic reticulum multilayers. In addition, targeting of the Ca(2+)-ATPase to the sarcoplasmic reticulum is discussed.     

Tryptophan phosphorescence of the Ca2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum

Phosphorescence of protein tryptophan was analyzed in sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles, and in the purified Ca2+ transport ATPase in deoxygenated aqueous solutions at room temperature. Upon excitation with light of 295 nm wavelength, the emission maxima of fluorescence and phosphorescence were at 330 nm and at 445 nm, respectively. The phosphorescence decay was multiexponential; the lifetime of the long-lived component of phosphorescence was approximately equal to 22 ms. ATP and vandate significantly reduced the phosphorescence in the presence of either Ca2+ or EGTA; ADP was less effective, while AMP was without effect. The quenching by ATP showed saturation consistent with the idea that the ATP-enzyme complex had a lower phosphorescence yield. Upon exhaustion of ATP, the phosphorescence returned to starting level. Significant quenching of phosphorescence with a decrease in phosphorescence lifetime was also caused by NaNO2, methylvinyl ketone and trichloroacetate, without effect on ATPase activity; this quenching did not show saturation and was therefore probably collisional in nature.     

Crystallization of Ca2+-ATPase in detergent-solubilized sarcoplasmic reticulum

Microcrystalline arrays of Ca2+-transporting ATPase (EC 3.6.1.38) develop in detergent-solubilized sarcoplasmic reticulum upon exposure to 10-20 mM CaCl2 at pH 6.0 for several weeks at 2 degrees C, in a crystallization medium that preserves the ATPase activity for several months. Of 48 detergents tested, optimal crystallization was obtained with Brij 36T, Brij 56, and Brij 96 at a detergent:protein weight ratio of 4:1 and with octaethylene glycol dodecyl ether at a ratio of 2:1. Similar Ca2+-induced crystalline arrays were obtained with the purified or delipidated Ca2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum but at lower detergent:protein ratios. The crystals are stabilized by fixation with glutaraldehyde and persist even after the removal of phospholipids by treatment with phospholipases A or C and by extraction with organic solvents. The crystals obtained so far can be used only for electron microscopy, but ongoing experiments suggest that under similar conditions large ordered arrays may develop that are suitable for x-ray diffraction analysis.