Transverse tubule Mg(2+)-ATPase of skeletal muscle. Evidence for extracellular orientation of the chicken and rabbit enzymes.

The orientation of the enzyme Mg(2+)-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) in the transverse tubule (TT) membranes of skeletal muscle was investigated using highly purified chicken and rabbit TT vesicles. The percentage of sealed vesicles present in these preparations averaged 88 and 78%, respectively, as calculated from the detergent-induced increase in ouabain-sensitive (Na+, K+)-ATPase activity, ATP-dependent ouabain binding, and lactate dehydrogenase activity (sarcoplasmic enzyme trapped in the TT vesicles). Sidedness of the sealed vesicles, estimated from latency of 5'-nucleotidase, acetylcholinesterase, and adenylate cyclase, was predominantly right-side out (69-76%, chicken TT and 62-70%, rabbit TT). In both chicken and rabbit native vesicles, high Mg(2+)-ATPase activity was detected by addition of ATP to the extravesicular medium; this activity was increased 14-12% by alamethicin pointing to the external localization of the active site. Furthermore, the enzymatic activity resulted partially inhibited by treatment of the chicken TT vesicles with proteinase K or p-hydroxymercuribenzoate. Concanavalin A stimulated 4-fold the chicken TT Mg(2+)-ATPase activity, an effect not potentiated by detergent permeabilization of the intact vesicles, indicating that lectin-binding sites were also solvent accessible. This stimulatory effect was not observed in native or permeabilized rabbit TT vesicles. From these results we conclude that the TT Mg(2+)-ATPase is an ectoenzyme with its nucleotide-hydrolyzing site and glycosylated regions facing the extracellular space. Inhibitors of ion-motive ATPases did not modify the enzyme activity, suggesting a different physiological role for the TT Mg(2+)-ATPase which may be involved in the regulation of muscle fiber functions affected by extracellular ATP levels.     

Correlation between microsomal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity and [3H]ouabain binding to heart tissue homogenates.

ATP plus Mg2+ plus Na+ supported [3H]ouabain binding to canine left ventricular tissue homogenates and microsomal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) activity from the same tissue were measured. A linear relationship was found between the initial velocity of [3H]ouabain binding to tissue homogenates and microsomal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity from the same tissue in the presence and absence of in vivo bound digoxin. In vivo bound digoxin reduced both measurements. With tissue from digoxin-free hearts, a linear relationship was also obtained between the initial velocity and the maximum level of [3H]ouabain binding to tissue homogenate. Binding of [3H]ouabain to whole tissue homogenate is a convenient method for estimating (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity in small left ventricular biopsy samples.     

A reconstituted Na+ + K+ pump in liposomes containing purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from kidney medulla.

Liposomes containing either purified or microsomal (Na+,K+)-ATPase preparations from lamb kidney medulla catalyzed ATP-dependent transport of Na+ and K+ with a ratio of approximately 3Na+ to 2K+, which was inhibited by ouabain. Similar results were obtained with liposomes containing a partially purified (Na+,K+)-ATPase from cardiac muscle. This contrasts with an earlier report by Goldin and Tong (J. Biol. Chem. 249, 5907-5915, 1974), in which liposomes containing purified dog kidney (Na+,K+)-ATPase did not transport K+ but catalyzed ATP-dependent symport of Na+ and Cl-. When purified by our procedure, dog kidney (Na+,K+)-ATPase showed some ability to transport K+ but the ratio of Na+ : K+ was 5 : 1.     

Albumin is a major protein component of transverse tubule vesicles isolated from skeletal muscle

Despite multiple procedures used to isolate transverse tubule vesicles from rabbit skeletal muscle, few proteins have been identified and shown to be specific to transverse tubule vesicles. Markers for purified transverse tubules have included high affinity dihydropyridine binding, cholesterol content, Mg2+-ATPase activity, (Na+,K+)-ATPase activity, and [3H] ouabain binding. Despite these markers, few proteins from purified transverse tubules can be unequivocally identified using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). In this report we have biochemically and immunologically identified rabbit albumin as a major component of purified transverse tubule membranes from rabbit skeletal muscle. Albumin composed between 5.1 and 9.8% (n = 4) of the total protein in purified transverse tubules based on scans of SDS-PAGE. Furthermore, albumin and other serum proteins are present in preparations of transverse tubules and triads but not in light sarcoplasmic reticulum. Extraction of triads with low concentrations of saponin or sodium dodecyl sulfate completely removes albumin without removing intrinsic membrane proteins. Our results suggest that albumin and other serum proteins are present in the lumen of preparations of transverse tubules and albumin may be used as a marker for the transverse tubules when analyzed on SDS gels.     

Isolation of basolateral and brush-border membranes from the rabbit kidney cortex. Vesicle integrity and membrane sidedness of the basolateral fraction

A rapid and reproducible method has been developed for the simultaneous isolation of basolateral and brush-border membranes from the rabbit renal cortex. The basolateral membrane preparation was enriched 25-fold in (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and the brush-border membrane fraction was enriched 12-fold in alkaline phosphatase, whereas the amount of cross-contamination was low. Contamination of these preparations by mitochondria and lysosomes was minimal as indicated by the low specific activities of enzyme markers, i.e., succinate dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase. The basolateral fraction consisted of 35-50% sealed vesicles, as demonstrated by detergent (sodium dodecyl sulfate) activation of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity and [3H]ouabain binding. The sidedness of the basolateral membranes was estimated from the latency of ouabain-sensitive (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity assayed in the presence of gramicidin, which renders the vesicles permeable to Na+ and K+. These studies suggest that nearly 90% of the vesicles are in a right-side-out orientation.     

Characterization of the Ca2+- or Mg2+-ATPase of transverse tubule membranes isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle

Transverse tubule membranes isolated from rabbit skeletal muscle have high levels of a Ca2+- or Mg2+-ATPase with Km values for Ca-ATP or Mg-ATP in the 0.2 mM range, but do not display detectable levels of ATPase activity activated by micromolar [Ca2+]. The transverse tubule enzyme is less temperature or pH dependent than the Ca2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum and hydrolyzes equally well ATP, ITP, UTP, CTP, and GTP. Of several ionic, non-ionic, and zwitterionic detergents tested, only lysolecithin solubilizes the transverse tubule membrane while preserving ATPase activity. After extraction of about 50% of the transverse tubule proteins by solubilization with lysolecithin most of the ATPase activity remains membrane bound, indicating that the Ca2+- or Mg2+-ATPase is an intrinsic membrane enzyme. A second extraction of the remaining transverse tubule proteins with lysolecithin results in solubilization and partial purification of the enzyme. Sedimentation of the Ca2+- or Mg2+-ATPase, partially purified by lysolecithin solubilization, through a continuous sucrose gradient devoid of detergent leads to additional purification, with an overall 3- to 5-fold purification factor. The purified enzyme preparation contains two main protein components of molecular weights 107,000 and 30,000. Cholesterol, which is highly enriched in the transverse tubule membrane, copurifies with the enzyme. Transverse tubule membrane vesicles also display ATP-dependent calcium transport which is not affected by phosphate or oxalate. The possibility that the Ca2+- or Mg2+-ATPase is the enzyme responsible for the Ca2+ transport displayed by isolated transverse tubules is discussed.     

Orientation of synaptic plasma membrane vesicles containing calcium pump and sodium-calcium exchange activities

Sidedness of synaptic plasma membrane vesicles isolated from brain synaptosomes has been assessed by two distinct experimental approaches: first, analysis of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase, and (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activities before and after permeabilization of vesicles; second, analysis of Ca2+ fluxes via the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, before and after modification of an imposed Na+ gradient by penetrating or nonpenetrating Na+ channel-modifying drugs. 0.05% saponin, which completely permeabilizes the vesicles, increases digitoxigenin-sensitive (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, basal Mg2+-ATPase, and (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activities by 51.0, 47.4, and 83.6%, respectively. Saponin increases only the Vmax of the latter activity, the Km for Ca2+ (0.13 microM; the same as that for Ca2+-pumping) being unaltered by saponin. An increment of 20.5% in the Vmax of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity with 10 microM A23187, reveals that the enzyme activity in nonpermeabilized vesicles is limited by the formation of a Ca2+ gradient. Thus, the saponin-induced increment in (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase due only to exposure of occluded sites (as opposed to Ca2+ gradient dissipation) is actually 52%, which is similar to values for both other ATPases, and suggests that 32-35% of plasma membranes exist in an inverted orientation. Vesicle orientation was independently assessed by the differential actions of tetrodotoxin (a membrane impermeant blocker) and veratridine (a membrane permeant agonist) on Na+-channel opening measured indirectly by dissipation of an imposed Na+ gradient utilized to drive a large 45Ca2+ accumulation via the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. Tetrodotoxin reverses 35-44% of veratridine-mediated Na+ gradient-dissipation, the relative membrane-permeability of the two channel modifiers, suggesting that 56-65% of sealed vesicles are inverted. The concurrence of these two independent measurements of vesicle orientation reinforces their validity.     

The rat liver plasma membrane high affinity (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase is not a calcium pump. Comparison with ATP-dependent calcium transporter

The high affinity (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase purified from rat liver plasma membrane (Lin, S.-H., and Fain, J. N. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 3016-3020) has been further characterized. This enzyme also possesses Mg2+-stimulated ATPase activity with K0.5 of 0.16 microM free Mg2+. However, the Vm of the Mg2+-stimulated activity is only half that of the Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity. The effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on this enzyme are not additive. Both the Ca2+-stimulated ATPase and Mg2+-stimulated ATPase activities have similar affinities for ATP (0.21 mM and 0.13 mM, respectively) and similar substrate specificities (they are able to utilize ATP, GTP, UTP, CTP, ADP, and GDP as substrates); both activities are not inhibited by vanadate, p-chloromercuribenzoate, ouabain, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole, oligomycin, F-, N-ethylmaleimide, La3+, and oxidized glutathione. These properties of the Mg2+- and Ca2+-ATPases indicate that both activities reside on the same protein. A comparison of the properties of this high affinity (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase with those of the liver plasma membrane ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport activity reconstituted into artificial liposomes (Lin, S.-H. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 7850-7856) suggests that this high affinity (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase is not the biochemical expression of the liver plasma membrane Ca2+ pump. The function of this high affinity (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase remains unknown.     

Leishmania plasma membrane Mg2+-ATPase is a H+/K+-antiporter involved in glucose symport. Studies with sealed ghosts and vesicles of opposite polarity

Experiments from other laboratories conducted with Leishmania donovani promastigote cells had earlier indicated that the plasma membrane Mg2+-ATPase of the parasite is an extrusion pump for H+. Taking advantage of the pellicular microtubular structure of the plasma membrane of the organism, we report procedures for obtaining sealed ghost and sealed everted vesicle of defined polarity. Rapid influx of H+ into everted vesicles was found to be dependent on the simultaneous presence of ATP (1 mm) and Mg2+ (1 mm). Excellent correspondence between rate of H+ entry and the enzyme activity clearly demonstrated the Mg2+-ATPase to be a true H+ pump. H+ entry into everted vesicle was strongly inhibited by SCH28080 (IC50 = approximately 40 microm) and by omeprazole (IC50 = approximately 50 microm), both of which are characteristic inhibitors of mammalian gastric H+,K+-ATPase. H+ influx was completely insensitive to ouabain (250 microm), the typical inhibitor of Na+,K+-ATPase. Mg2+-ATPase activity could be partially stimulated with K+ (20 mm) that was inhibitable (>85%) with SCH28080 (50 microm). ATP-dependent rapid efflux of 86Rb+ from preloaded vesicles was completely inhibited by preincubation with omeprazole (150 microm) and by 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (1 mm), an inhibitor of the enzyme. Assuming Rb+ to be a true surrogate for K+, an ATP-dependent, electroneutral stoichiometric exchange of H+ and K+(1:1) was established. Rapid and 10-fold active accumulation of [U-(14)C]2-deoxyglucose in sealed ghosts could be observed when an artificial pH gradient (interior alkaline) was imposed. Rapid efflux of [U-(14)C]d-glucose from preloaded everted vesicles could also be initiated by activating the enzyme, with ATP. Taken together, the plasma membrane Mg2+-ATPase has been identified as an electroneutral H+/K+ antiporter with some properties reminiscent of the gastric H+,K+-ATPase. This enzyme is possibly involved in active accumulation of glucose via a H+-glucose symport system and in K+ accumulation.     

Effect of concanavalin A on membrane-bound enzymes from mouse lymphocytes.

The ionic influence and ouabain sensitivity of lymphocyte mg-2+-atpase and Mg-2+-(Na+ +K+)-activated ATPase were studied in intact cells, microsomal fraction and isolated plasma membranes. The active site of 5'-nucleotidase and Mg2+-ATPase seemed to be localized on the external side of the plasma membrane whereas the ATP binding site of (Na+ +K+)-ATPase was located inside the membrane. Concanavalin A induced an early stimulation of Mg2+-APTase and (Na+ +K+)-ATPase both on intact cells and purified plasma membranes. In contrast, 5'-nucleotidase activity was not affected by the mitogen. Although the thymocyte Mg2+-ATPase activity was 3-5 times lower than in spleen lymphocytes, it was much more stimulated in the former cells (about 40 versus 20%). (Na+ +K+)-ATPase activity was undectectable in thymocytes. However, in spleen lymphocytes (Na+ +K+)-ATPase activity can be detected and was 30% increased by concanavalin A. Several aspects of this enzymic stimulation had also characteristic features of blast transformation induced by concanavalin A, suggesting a possible role of these enzymes, especially Mg2+-ATPase, in lymphocyte stimulation.     

The high affinity (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase in liver plasma membranes is a Ca2+ pump. Reconstitution of the purified enzyme into phospholipid vesicles

The purified (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase from rat liver plasma membranes (Lotersztajn, S., Hanoune, J., and Pecker, F. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 11209-11215) was incorporated into soybean phospholipid vesicles, together with its activator. In the presence of millimolar concentrations of Mg2+, the reconstituted proteoliposomes displayed a rapid, saturable, ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake. Half-maximal Ca2+ uptake activity was observed at 13 +/- 3 nM free Ca2+, and the apparent Km for ATP was 16 +/- 6 microM. Ca2+ accumulated into proteoliposomes (2.8 +/- 0.2 nmol of Ca2+/mg of protein/90 s) was totally released upon addition of the Ca2+ ionophore A-23187. Ca2+ uptake into vesicles reconstituted with enzyme alone was stimulated 2-2.5-fold by the (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase activator, added exogenously. The (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase activity of the reconstituted vesicles, measured using the same assay conditions as for ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake activity (e.g. in the presence of millimolar concentrations of Mg2+), was maximally activated by 20 nM free Ca2+, half-maximal activation occurring at 13 nM free Ca2+. The stoichiometry of Ca2+ transport versus ATP hydrolysis approximated 0.3. These results provide a direct demonstration that the high affinity (Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase identified in liver plasma membranes is responsible for Ca2+ transport.     

Ouabain-binding site of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in right-side-out vesicles has not an externally accessible SH group

The fluorescing sulfhydryl reagent N-(7-dimethylamino-4-methylcoumarinyl)maleimide (DACM) inactivates purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase at 20 microM. This inactivation results in a decrease of the ouabain-binding capacity of the enzyme. Treatment of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, embedded in right-side-out-oriented vesicles, by DACM does not affect ouabain binding to the enzyme. Incorporation of DACM into the alpha subunit of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase embedded in right-side-out vesicles is also not affected by the presence or absence of 100 microM ouabain. It is therefore concluded that a sulfhydryl group does not reside within the ouabain-binding site of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.     

Studies on ouabain-complexed (Na+ +K+)-ATPase carried out with vanadate

Vanadate is able to promote the binding of ouabain to (Na+ +K+)-ATPase and it is shown that vanadate is trapped in the enzyme-ouabain complex. Also ouabain-bound enzyme, the formation of which was facilitated by (Mg2+ +Na+ +ATP) or (Mg2+ +Pi), is accessible to vanadate when washed free of competing ligands used for the promotion of ouabain binding. For vanadate binding to (Na+ +K+)-ATPase and to enzyme-ouabain complexes a divalent cation (Mg2+ or Mn2+) is indispensable, indicating that the cation does not remain attached to the ouabain-bound enzyme. K+ further increases vanadate binding in the absence of ouabain, but seems to have no additional role in case of vanadate binding to enzyme-ouabain complexes. Mn2+ is more efficient than Mg2+ in promoting binding of vanadate and ouabain to (Na+ +K+)-ATPase. That K+ in combination with Mn2+, in analogy with the effect in combination with Mg2+, increases the equilibrium binding level of vanadate and decreases that of ouabain does not seem to favour the hypothesis of selection of a special E2-subconformation by Mn2+. The vanadate-trapped enzyme-ouabain complex was examined for simultaneous nucleotide binding which could demonstrate a two-substrate mechanism per functional unit of the enzyme. The acceleration by (Na+ +ATP) of ouabain release from the (Mg2+ +Pi)-facilitated enzyme-ouabain complex does not, as anticipated, support such a mechanism. On the other hand, the deceleration of vanadate release as well as of ouabain release from a (Mg2+ +vanadate)-promoted complex could be consistent with a two-substrate mechanism working out-of-phase.     

Topological localization of proteolytic sites of sodium and potassium ion stimulated adenosinetriphosphatase

The (Na+ and K+)-stimulated adenosinetriphosphatase [(Na+,K+)-ATPase] consists of two different polypeptides, alpha and beta, both of which are embedded in the plasma membrane. The alpha chain from dog kidney (Na+,K+)-ATPase can be hydrolyzed at specific sites by trypsin and chymotrypsin [Castro, J., & Farley, R. A. (1979) J. Biol. Chem. 254, 2221-2228]. In order to position these sites with respect to the lipid bilayer, we have treated sealed, inside out vesicles from human red cells and unsealed kidney enzyme membranes with trypsin and chymotrypsin and have used ouabain-stimulated phosphorylation to identify the (Na+,K+)-ATPase and its fragments. All of the proteolytic sites observed in the kidney membranes are accessible in the inside out vesicles. The ouabain-inhibitable uptake of 86Rb+ in human red blood cells is resistant to externally added chymotrypsin. These results indicate that the proteolytic sites of the (Na+,K+)-ATPase are exposed on the cytoplasmic side of the membrane.     

Membrane (Na+ + K+)-ATPase of canine brain, heart and kidney. Tissue-dependent differences in kinetic properties and the influence of purification procedures.

Effects of commonly used purification procedures on the yield and specific activity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (Mg2+-dependent, Na+ + K+-activated ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3), the turnover number of the enzyme, and the kinetic parameters for the ATP-dependent ouabain-enzyme interaction were compared in canine brain, heart and kidney. Kinetic parameters were estimated using a graphical analysis of non-steady state kinetics. The protein recovery and the degree of increase in specific activity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and the ratio between (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activities during the successive treatments with deoxycholate, sodium iodide and glycerol were dependent on the source of the enzyme. A method which yields highly active (Na+ + K+)-ATPase preparations from the cardiac tissue was not suitable for obtaining highly active enzyme preparations from other tissues. Apparent turnover numbers of the brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase preparations were not significantly affected by the sodium iodide treatment, but markedly decreased by deoxycholate or glycerol treatments. Similar glycerol treatment, however, failed to affect the apparent turnover number of cardiac enzymes preparations. Cerebral and cardiac enzyme preparations obtained by deoxycholate, sodium iodide and glycerol treatments had lower affinity for ouabain than renal enzyme preparations, primarily due to higher dissociation rate constants for the ouabain.enzyme complex. This tissue-dependent difference in ouabain sensitivity seems to be an artifact of the purification procedure, since less purified cerebral or cardiac preparations had lower dissociation rate constants. Changes in apparent association rate constants were minimal during the purfication procedure. These results indicate that the presentyl used purification procedures may alter the properties of membrane (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and affect the interaction between cardiac glycosides and the enzyme. The effect of a given treatment depends on the source of the enzyme. For the in vitro studies involving purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase preparations, the influence of the methods used to obtain the enzyme preparation should be carefully evaluated.     

Variations in (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase activity of the ground squirrel brain during hibernation.

1. The specific activity of brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and Mg2+ -ATPase of the ground squirrel (Spermophilus richardsonii) is significantly increased after long-term hibernation. 2. The markedly non-linear thermal dependence of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is unchanged during hibernation whereas the near linear thermal dependence of Mg2+-ATPase undergoes minor alteration after prolonged hibernation. 3. The sensitivity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase to inhibition by ouabain is significantly decreased after 100 days of hibernation as is both the rate and amount of [3H]-ouabain binding. 4. These changes may be related to alteration in the phospholipid matrix of the membrane rather than alteration in the protein structure of the enzyme.     

Na+-ATPase in the gills of bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

The authors evidence a Mg2+ dependent ATPase activity stimulated by Na+ in absence of K+ in bass gill microsomes. As this stimulated ATPase shows different features from "baseline" activity measured in the absence of both Na+ and K+ ions (Mg2+-ATPase) and from 1mM ouabain sensitive (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, it has been ascribed to a distinct Na+-ATPase. In the present paper the optimal conditions for bass gill Na+-ATPase assay and the temperature dependence of the enzyme are reported. Moreover the Na+-ATPase appears to be insensitive to 1mM ouabain and 100% inhibited by 2,5mM ethacrynic acid. It is suggested a parallel diffusion of Na+- and (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and a possible physiological role of Na+ATPase in osmoregulation.     

Transport functions of the liver. Lack of correlation between hepatocellular ouabain uptake and binding to (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

Ouabain uptake was studied on isolated rat hepatocytes. Hepatocellular uptake of the glycoside is saturable (Km = 348 mumol/l, Vmax = 1.4 nmol/mg cell protein per min), energy dependent and accumulative. Concentrative ouabain uptake is not present on permeable hepatocytes, Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and AS-30D ascites hepatoma cells. There is no correlation between ouabain binding to rat liver (Na+ + K+)ATPase and ouabain uptake into isolated rat hepatocytes. While ouabain uptake is competitively inhibited by cevadine, binding to (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is not affected by the alkaloid. Although the affinities of digitoxin and ouabain to (Na+ + K+)-ATPase are similar, digitoxin is 10000-times more potent in inhibiting [3H]ouabain uptake as compared to ouabain. That binding to (Na+ + K+)-ATPase appears to be no precondition for ouabain uptake was also found in experiments with plasmamembranes derived from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells and AS-30D hepatoma cells. While tumor cell (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is ouabain sensitive, the intact cells are transport deficient. Hepatic ouabain uptake might be related to bile acid transport. Several inhibitors of the bile acid uptake system also inhibit ouabain uptake.     

Isolation of impermeable inside-out vesicles from an enriched sarcolemma fraction of rat heart

Sarcolemmal vesicles isolated from relaxed rat cardiac ventricles were 120-fold enriched in (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase activities (final recoveries, 50%). The alpha and beta chains of the former enzyme were visualized by the immunological approach. Inside-out sarcolemmal vesicles were isolated by affinity chromatography on immobilized concanavalin A. The yield of membranes was 0.45 mg of protein/g of muscle. The orientation of the unbound vesicles was studied by the increased accessibility of sarcolemma outer face markers (ouabain- and K+-binding sites, 5'-nucleotidase, and sialic acids) with permeability-increasing treatments: freeze-thaw cycles, sodium dodecyl sulfate, methanol, and valinomycin. The total ATP hydrolysis remained constant with a conversion of ouabain-insensitive activity into an ouabain-sensitive one. These agents caused a parallel increase in the ouabain sensitivity, the number of [3H]ouabain-binding sites, the monovalent cation stimulation of ATPase, and the 5'-nucleotidase activity. Valinomycin revealed that most vesicles were sealed to sequestered and exogenous K+. Inside-out vesicles were 80% pure in sidedness and sealing. The affinity chromatography did not affect the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity (200 mumol of product/mg of protein/h). This model of sarcolemma vesicles offers a new tool for ion transport studies.     

Regulation of Na+ transport in brown adipose tissue.

In order to test the hypothesis that Na+, K+-ATPase (Na+,K+-dependent ATPase) is involved in the noradrenaline-mediated stimulation of respiration in brown adipose tissue, the effects of noradrenaline on Na+,K+-ATPase in isolated brown-fat-cell membrane vesicles, and on 22Na+ and K+ (86Rb+) fluxes across the membranes of intact isolated cells, were measured. The ouabain-sensitive fraction of the K+-dependent ATPase activity in the isolated membrane-vesicle preparation was small and was not affected by the presence of noradrenaline in the incubation media. The uptake of 86Rb+ into intact hormone-sensitive cells was inhibited by 80% by ouabain, but it was insensitive to the presence of noradrenaline. 22Na+ uptake and efflux measured in the intact cells were 8 times more rapid than the 86Rb+ fluxes and were unaffected by ouabain. This indicated the presence of a separate, more active, transport system for Na+ than the Na+,K+-ATPase. This is likely to be a Na+/Na+ exchange activity under normal aerobic conditions. However, under anaerobic conditions, or conditions simulating anaerobiosis (2 mM-NaCN), the unidirectional uptake of Na+ increased dramatically, while efflux was unaltered.