Pb2+ and imidazole-activated phosphorylation by ATP of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

In order to study whether Pb2+ and imidazole increase the ATP phosphorylation level of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by the same mechanism, the effects of both compounds on phosphorylation and dephosphorylation reactions of the enzyme have been studied. Imidazole in the presence of Mg2+ increases steady-state phosphorylation of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by decreasing, in a competitive way, the K+-sensitivity of the formed phospho-enzyme (E-P . Mg). If Pb2+ is present during phosphorylation, the rate of phosphorylation increases and a K+- and ADP-insensitive phosphointermediate (E-P . Pb) is formed. Pb2+ has no effect on the K+-sensitivity of E-P . Mg and EDTA is unable to affect the K+-insensitivity of E-P . Pb. These effects indicate that Pb2+ acts before or during phosphorylation with the enzyme. Binding of Na+ to E-P . Pb does not restore K+-sensitivity either. However, increasing Na+ during phosphorylation in the presence of Pb2+ leads to formation of the K+-sensitive intermediate (E-P . Mg), indicating that E-P . Pb is formed via a side path of the Albers-Post scheme. ATP and ADP decrease the dephosphorylation rate of both E-P . Mg and E-P . Pb. Above optimal concentration, Pb2+ also decreases the steady-state phosphorylation level both in the absence and in the presence of Na+. This inhibitory effect of Pb2+ is antagonized by Mg2+.     

Coexistence of two ATP sites on the ouabain-complexed (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

When the effects of varying concentrations of ATP on the dissociation rate of the ouabain-enzyme complex were studied, the dissociation rate constant increased with increasing ATP concentrations up to 1 mM, and then decreased with further rise in ATP; indicating that ATP binds to two distinct sites on the complex. ADP and AMP-PNP had similar biphasic effects. GTP, CTP, UTP, and AMP-PCP reduced the dissociation rate. AMP and Pi had no effects. Increase in dissociation rate caused by 0.5 mM ATP was not abolished by saturating CTP, indicating the binding of CTP to only one of the two ATP sites. The data suggest the existence of separate catalytic and regulatory sites, with different affinities and nucleotide specificities.     

Activation of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

Enzymes catalyze essential chemical reactions needed for living processes. (Na+ +K+)-ATPase (NKA) is one of the key enzymes that control intracellular ion homeostasis and regulate cardiac function. Little is known about activation of NKA and its biological impact. Here we show that native activity of NKA is markedly elevated when protein-protein interaction occurs at the extracellular DVEDSYGQQWTYEQR (D-R) region in the alpha-subunit of the enzyme. The apparent catalytic turnover of NKA is approximately twice as fast as the controls for both ouabain-resistant and ouabain-sensitive enzymes. Activation of NKA not only markedly protects enzyme function against denaturing, but also directly affects cellular activities by regulating intracellular Ca2+ transients and inducing a positive inotropic effect in isolated rat cardiac myocytes. Immunofluorescent labeling indicates that the D-R region of NKA is not a conventional digitalis-binding site. Our findings uncover a novel activation site of NKA that is capable of promoting the catalytic function of the enzyme and establish a new concept that activating of NKA mediates cardiac contraction.     

Low-affinity Na+ sites on (Na+ +K+)-ATPase modulate inhibition of Na+-ATPase activity by vanadate

Na+-ATPase activity is extremely sensitive to inhibition by vanadate at low Na+ concentrations where Na+ occupies only high-affinity activation sites. Na+ occupies low-affinity activation sites to reverse inhibition of Na+-ATPase and (Na+, K+)-ATPase activities by vanadate. This effect of Na+ is competitive with respect to both vanadate and Mg2+. The apparent affinity of the enzyme for vanadate is markedly increased by K+. The principal effect of K+ may be to displace Na+ from the low-affinity sites at which it activates Na+-ATPase activity.     

Potassium binding to the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

The number of K+ bound to the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase has been measured under equilibrium conditions by a differential-titration technique (Hastings, D.F. (1977) Anal. Biochem. 83, 416-432). 5.1 K+ were bound per 32P-labelling site. The K'D for K+ was dependent on the concentration of choline, which was included to give ionic strength. K'D was 59 +/- 2.5 microM with 97 mM choline, 26 +/-1.9 microM with 30 mM choline. The K+ : choline selectivity was 2564 : 1 and the calculated K'D for K+ with zero choline was 11 microM and for choline with zero K+ was 28 mM. 20 microM ATP in the presence of 97 mM choline incresed the K'D for potassium 3-fold to 177 +/- 14 microM. The K'D for K+ with 3 mM Na+ in the presence of 27 mM choline was 81 +/- 10 microM and with 30 mM Na+ without choline 700 +/- 250 microM. The calculated K'D for Na+ at zero K+ and zero choline was 0.6 +/- 0.2 mM. The K+ : Na+ selectivity was 54 : 1.     

Fluorescent labeling of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by 5-iodoacetamidofluorescein

5-Iodoacetamidofluorescein (5-IAF) covalently labels dog kidney (Na+ + K+)-ATPase with approximately 2 moles incorporated per mole of enzyme. ATPase and K+-phosphatase activities are fully retained after reaction, and the kinetic parameters for Na+, K+, Mg2+, ATP and p-nitrophenyl phosphate are likewise not significantly affected. The fluorescence of the bound 5-IAF is increased by ATP, Na+, and Mg2+, and decreased by K+. These fluorescence changes likely reflect ligand-induced stabilization of the E1 or E2 states of the enzyme.     

Kinetic studies on Na+/K+-ATPase and inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase by ATP

Na+/K+-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) is an important membrane-bound enzyme. In this paper, kinetic studies on Na+/K+-ATPase were carried out under mimetic physiological conditions. By using microcalorimeter, a thermokinetic method was employed for the first time. Compared with other methods, it provided accurate measurements of not only thermodynamic data (deltarHm) but also the kinetic data (Km and Vmax). At 310.15K and pH 7.4, the molar reaction enthalpy (deltarHm) was measured as -40.514 +/- 0.9kJmol(-1). The Michaelis constant (Km) was determined to be 0.479 +/- 0.020 mM and consistent with literature data. The reliability of the thermokinetic method was further confirmed by colorimetric studies. Furthermore, a simple and reliable kinetic procedure was presented for ascertaining the true substrate for Na+/K+-ATPase and determining the effect of free ATP. Results showed that the MgATP complex was the real substrate with a Km value of about 0.5mM and free ATP was a competitive inhibitor with a Ki value of 0.253 mM.     

Crystallization patterns of membrane-bound (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

Extensive formation of two-dimensional crystals of the proteins of the pure membrane-bound $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ is induced during prolonged incubation with vanadate and magnesium. Some membrane crystals are formed in medium containing magnesium and phosphate. Computer-averaged images of the two-dimensional crystals show that the unit cell in vanadate-induced crystals contains a protomeric αβ-unit of the enzyme protein. In phosphate-induced crystals an $\text{(αβ)}{}_2\text{-}\text{unit}$ occupies one unit cell suggesting that interactions between αβ-units can be of importance in the function of the Na⁺, K⁺ pump.     

Mathematical modelling of ATP, K+ and Na+ interactions with (Na+ + K+)-ATPase occurring under equilibrium conditions.

The controlling effect of ATP, K+ and Na+ on the rate of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase inactivation by 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-C1) is used for the mathematical modelling of the interaction of the effectors with the enzyme under equilibrium conditions. 1. Of a series of conceivable interaction models, designed without conceptual restrictions to describe the effector control of inactivation kinetics, only one fits the experimental data described in a preceding paper. 2. The model is characterized by the coexistence of two binding sites for ATP and the coexistence of two separate binding sites for K+ and Na+ on the enzyme-ATP complex. On the basis of this model, the effector parameters fitting the experimental data most closely are estimated by means of nonlinear least-squares fits. 3. The apparent dissociation constants for ATP fo the enzyme-ATP complex or of the enzyme-(ATP)2 complex are computed to lie near 0.0024 mM and 0.34 mM, respectively, irrespective of whether K+ and Na+ were absent or K+ and K+ plus Na+, respectively, were present in the experiments. 4. The origin of the high and the low affinity site for binding of ATP to the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase molecule is traced back to the coexistence of two catalytic centres which, although primarily equivalent as to the reactivity of their thiol groups with NBD-C1, are induced into anticooperative communication by ATP binding and thus show an induced geometric asymmetry. 5. On the basis of the interaction model outlined under item 2 the apparent dissociation constant for K+ or Na+ in the (K+ + Na+)-liganded enzyme-ATP complex are computed to be 1.7 mM and 3.5 mM, respectively. 6. The conclusions concerning the coexistence of two primarily equivalent but anticooperatively interacting catalytic centres and the coexistence of two separate ionophoric centres for Na+ and K+ correspond to the appropriate basic postulates of the flip-flop concept of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase mechanism.     

Crystallization patterns of membrane-bound (Na+ +K+)-ATPase

Extensive formation of two-dimensional crystals of the proteins of the pure membrane-bound (Na+ +K+)-ATPase is induced during prolonged incubation with vanadate and magnesium. Some membrane crystals are formed in medium containing magnesium and phosphate. Computer-averaged images of the two-dimensional crystals show that the unit cell in vanadate-induced crystals contains a protomeric alpha beta-unit of the enzyme protein. In phosphate-induced crystals an (alpha beta) 2-unit occupies one unit cell suggesting the interactions between alpha beta-units can be of importance in the function of the Na+, K+ pump.     

(Na+ + K+)-ATPase: On the number of the ATP sites of the functional unit

Questions concerning the number of the ATP sites of the functional unit of (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase (i.e., the sodium pump) have been at the center of the controversies on the mechanisms of the catalytic and transport functions of the enzyme. When the available data pertaining to the number of these sites are examined without any assumptions regarding the reaction mechanism, it is evident that although some relevant observations may be explained either by a single site or by multiple ATP sites, the remaining data dictate the existence of multiple sites on the functional unit. Also, while from much of the data it is clear that the multiple sites of the unit enzyme represent the interacting catalytic sites of an oligomer, it is not possible to rule out the existence of a distinct regulatory site for ATP in addition to the interacting catalytic sites. Regardless of the ultimate fate of the regulatory site, any realistic approach to the resolution of the kinetic mechanism of the sodium pump should include the consideration of the established site-site interactions of the oligomer.     

Lack of immunological cross reactivity between the transport enzymes (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and (K+ + H+)-ATPase

Goat antisera against (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase and its isolated subunits and against (K⁺ + H⁺)-ATPase have been prepared in order to test for immune cross-reactivity between the two enzymes, whose catalytic subunits show great chemical similarity. None of the (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase antisera cross-reacted with (K⁺ + H⁺)-ATPase or inhibited its enzyme activity. The same was true for the (K⁺ + H⁺)-ATPase antiserum with regard to (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase and its subunits and its enzyme activity. So not withstanding the chemical similarity of their subunits, there is no immunological cross-reactivity between these two plasma membrane ATPases.Number LIII in the series Studies on (Na⁺ + K⁺)-Activated ATPase.     

Electrostatic control by lipids upon the membrane-bound (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

In this paper, the membrane-bound (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from bovine brain is shown to be controlled by electrostatic alterations of the charged lipids surrounding the enzyme. The properties under investigation are the enzymatic activity, activation energy and the response of the enzymatic system to temperature. Arrhenius plots of the ATPase activity are biphasic with a break at temperature Ti. The temperature Ti, the activation energies at temperatures above and below Ti, and the enzymatic activity at any constant temperature have been shown to depend upon the concentrations of alkali and alkaline-earth metal ions in the solution. These electrolyte dependencies are ascribed to changes of electrostatic conditions at the lipids surrounding the ATPase. If the higher electrostatic screening ability of divalent ions is taken into account, the results in the presence of mono- and divalent ions become virtually the same. As a result of this work, it is concluded that electrostatic alterations are transmitted to the ATPase from the lipids of the membrane in which the enzyme is embedded. Inhibition and activation of the enzyme by mono-and divalent metal ions may thus be explained without any auxiliary hypothesis, particularly without postulating specific binding sites for the different ionic species at the protein. In addition, the specific lipid requirement of the ATPase may be understood better in the light of this interpretation.     

Reversible inactivation of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by use of a cleavable bifunctional reagent.

1. Purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, prepared from rabbit kidney outer medulla, is incubated with the bifunctional NH2-directed reagent dimethyl 3,3'-dithiobis-propionimidate. This results in a cross-link between the subunits of the enzyme and a simultaneous reduction of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and K+-stimulated p-nitrophenylphosphatase activities. 2. The most abundant cross-link product is a dimer of the two different subunits of the enzyme. 3. Reduction of the disulfide cross-link by dithioerythritol results in partial recovery of the original subunit structure of the enzyme and of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and K+-stimulated p-nitrophenylphosphatase activities. 4. These results suggest that a free mobility of the subunits of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase system relative to each other is essential for proper functioning of both enzyme activities.     

Characteristics of 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphate hydrolysis by the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

With 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphate (3-OMFP) as substrate for the phosphatase reaction catalyzed by the (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase, a number of properties of that reaction differ from those with the common substratep-nitrophenyl phosphate (NPP): theK _m is 2 orders of magnitude less and the V_max is two times greater, and dimethyl sulfoxide (Me₂SO) inhibits rather than stimulates. In addition, reducing the incubation pH decreases both theK _m and V_max for K⁺-activated 3-OMFP hydrolysis as well as theK _0.5 for K⁺ activation. However, reducing the incubation pH increases inhibition by P_i and the V_max for 3-OMFP hydrolysis in the absence of K⁺. When choline chloride is varied reciprocally with NaCl to maintain the ionic strength constant, NaCl inhibits K⁺-activated 3-OMFP hydrolysis modestly with 10 mM KCl, but stimulates (in the range 5–30 mM NaCl) with suboptimal (0.35 mM) KCl. In the absence of K⁺, however, NaCl stimulates increasingly over the range 5–100 mM when the ionic strength is held constant. These observations are interpreted in terms of (a) differential effects of the ligands on enzyme conformations; (b) alternative reaction pathways in the absence of Na⁺, with a faster, phosphorylating pathway more readily available to 3-OMFP than to NPP; and (c) a (Na⁺ + K⁺)-phosphatase pathway, most apparent at suboptimal K⁺ concentrations, that is also more readily available to 3-OMFP.Abbreviations Et₃N triethyl amine - FITC fluorescein isothiocyanate - HEPES N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-2-ethanesulfonate - MES 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonate - Me₂SO dimethyl sulfoxide - NPP p-nitrophenyl phosphate - 3-OMFP 3-O-methylfluorescein phosphate - TNP-ATP 2, (or 3)-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-ATP     

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

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

Ligand-dependent reactivity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase with showdomycin

Showdomycin inhibited pig brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase with pseudo first-order kinetics. The rate of inhibition by showdomycin was examined in the presence of 16 combinations of four ligands, i.e., Na+, K+, Mg2+ and ATP, and was found to depend on the ligands added. Combinations of ligands were divided into five groups in terms of the magnitude of the rate constant; in the order of decreasing rate constants these were: (1) Na+ + Mg2+ + ATP, (2) Mg2+, Mg2+ + K+, K+ and none, (3) Na+ + Mg2+, Na+, K+ + Na+ and Na+ + K+ + Mg2+, (4) Mg2+ + K+ + ATP, K+ + ATP and Mg2+ + ATP, (5) K+ + Na + + ATP, Na+ + ATP, Na+ + K+ + Mg2+ + ATP and ATP. The highest rate was obtained in the presence of Na+, Mg2+ and ATP. The apparent concentrations of Na+, Mg2+ and ATP for half-maximum stimulation of inhibition (KS0.5) were 3 mM, 0.13 mM and 4 MicroM, respectively. The rate was unchanged upon further increase in Na+ concentration from 140 to 1000 mM. The rates of inhibition could be explained on the basis of the enzyme forms present, including E1, E2, ES, E1-P and E2-P, i. e., E2 has higher reactivity with showdomycin than E1, while E2-P has almost the same reactivity as E1-P. We conclude that the reaction of (Na+ + K+)- ATPase proceeds via at least four kinds of enzyme form (E1, E2, E1 . nucleotide and EP), which all have different conformations.