Glycerolipid biosynthesis in rat adipose tissue. 11. Effects of polyamines on Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase

The effect of polyamines (spermine, spermidine and putrescine) on the Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase was investigated. Phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity was measured in the presence of aqueous dispersed phosphatidate as substrate, and the release of inorganic phosphate was taken as a measure of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity. In the presence of various polyamines there was activation of the Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity. Under this condition, the Km of enzyme towards phosphatidase decreased from 1.6 x 10(-4) to 9.8 x 10(-5) M and the Mg2+ requirement decreased from 5 to 0.5 mM. These polyvalent cations did not replace Mg2+, but potentiate the phosphohydrolase activity in the presence of Mg2+. The activation of Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity by polyamines was observed in the presence of 3-sn-phosphatidylcholine, suggesting that these modulators of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity may be acting through different mechanisms. These studies demonstrate that polyamines may be important regulators of Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity in adipose tissue.     

The effects of Triton X-100 and chlorpromazine on the Mg2+-dependent and Mg2+-independent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activities of rat lung.

Lung contains both Mg2+-dependent and Mg2+-independent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activities. Addition of Triton X-100 (0.5%) or chlorpromazine (1 mM) leads to a marked increase in the total phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity in rat lung microsomes (microsomal fractions), but a decrease in the Mg2+-dependent activity. These observations suggest that the Mg2+-independent activity is stimulated, whereas the Mg2+-dependent activity is inhibited. However, the possibility exists that Triton X-100 could stimulate the Mg2+-dependent enzymic activity in an Mg2+-independent manner. In addition, the positively charged amphiphilic drug could be replacing the enzyme's requirement for Mg2+. These two possibilities were examined by using subcellular fractions in which the Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase had been abolished by heat treatment at 55 degrees C for 15 min. Heat treatment does not affect the microsomal Mg2+-independent phosphohydrolase to any great extent. Since the 6-8-fold stimulations due to Triton X-100 and chlorpromazine are retained after heat treatment of this fraction, the Mg2+-independent activity must be involved. Addition of Triton X-100 and chlorpromazine to cytosol virtually abolishes the Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity and decreases the Mg2+-independent activity by half. Heat treatment also abolishes the Mg2+-dependent activity and decreases the Mg2+-independent activity by over half. The Mg2+-independent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity remaining after heat treatment was not affected by Triton X-100 or chlorpromazine. These studies demonstrate that Triton X-100 and chlorpromazine specifically stimulate the heat-stable Mg2+-independent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity in rat lung microsomes. In contrast, the heat-labile Mg2+-independent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activities in cytosol are inhibited by these reagents. Triton X-100 and chlorpromazine inhibit the Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activities in both rat lung microsomes and cytosol. These results are consistent with the view that a single Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase present in both microsomes and cytosol is specifically involved in glycerolipid metabolism.     

The role of Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in pulmonary glycerolipid biosynthesis

Rat lung microsomes washed with increasing concentrations of NaCl show a displacement of protein from microsomes to the wash supernatant. Among the proteins removed from the microsomal surface was the Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, while the Mg2+-independent activity remained associated with the microsomes. The Mg2+-dependent activity could be quantitatively assayed in the wash supernatant. Microsomes washed with increasing concentrations of NaCl showed a progressive impairment in the synthesis of labelled neutral lipid and phosphatidylcholine from [14C]glycerol 3-phosphate with a concomitant increase in the labelling of phosphatidic acid. The impairment was sigmoidal and correlated highly with the decrease in Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity. When Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase from wash supernatant was incubated with microsomes previously washed with high salt concentrations, the labelling of neutral lipid and phosphatidylcholine was returned to control levels. Labelling of neutral lipids and phosphatidylcholine could be restored upon addition of a cytosolic Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase isolated by gel filtration. Mg2+-independent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase isolated from cytosol was incapable of restoring the labelling of neutral lipids and phosphatidylcholine. These findings confirm that the Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase of rat lung is involved in pulmonary glycerolipid biosynthesis. The role of the Mg2+-independent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity remains unknown.     

Mg2-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase of rat lung: development of an assay employing a defined chemical substrate which reflects the phosphohydrolase activity measured using membrane-bound substrate

An assay of pulmonary phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity has been developed that employs a chemically defined liposome substrate of equimolar phosphatidate and phosphatidylcholine. Enzyme assays employing this substrate resolved two distinct activities based upon their requirements for Mg2+. Assays were performed in the presence and absence of 2 mM MgCl2 and the Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity calculated by difference. The Mg2+-independent phosphatase activity resembled that found using aqueous dispersions of phosphatidate (PAaq). Approximately 90% of the Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity was recovered in the cytosol and the remainder was associated with the microsomal fraction. The Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity has kinetic parameters of Km = 55 microM, Vmax = 1.6 nmol/min/mg protein for the microsomal fraction, and Km = 215 microM, Vmax = 6.8 nmol/min/mg protein for the cytosolic fraction. These parameters resembled those found using the microsomal membrane-bound (PAmb) substrate. In addition, the pH optima and sensitivity to detergents and thermal inactivation are equal to those for the PAmb-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity. In the course of these studies the microsomal and cytosolic activities were qualitatively equal, indicative of a single enzyme in two subcellular locations. In conclusion, the assay of Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity measured using equimolar phosphatidate and phosphatidylcholine liposomes is equivalent to that activity previously described using microsomal membrane-bound substrate. However, the chemically-defined system provides a more simplified starting point for further studies on this important enzyme.     

Translocation of Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase between cytosol and endoplasmic reticulum in a permanent cell line from human lung

Incubation of A549 cells with digitonin for 4 min resulted in the release of over 90% of the lactate dehydrogenase activity into the medium. Approximately 80% of the Mg2+-dependent but only 7% of the Mg2+-independent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity was released in the presence of digitonin. Pretreatment of the cells with oleate reduced the efflux of the Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity to approximately 5% of total. Oleate did not affect the release of lactate dehydrogenase or the release of the Mg2+-independent phosphohydrolase activity. Incubation of A549 cells with [3H]oleate for 60 min led to incorporation of the label into phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, diacylglycerol, monoacylglycerol, and triacylglycerol, in ascending order. When the level of exogenous oleate was increased to over 2.0 mM, there was a marked increase in the incorporation into monoacylglycerol and diacylglycerol. Only small amounts of radioactivity were associated with phosphatidic acid. Time course studies revealed that the amount of radioactive phosphatidate remained low throughout the incubation period. These investigations were interpreted to indicate that free fatty acids can promote the translocation of the Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity from cytosol to membrane fractions. This translocation could, at least theoretically, function to facilitate the metabolism of increased amounts of phosphatidate.     

Triacylglycerol biosynthesis in the adipose tissue of the obese-hyperglycaemic mouse.

Obesity in obese-hyperglycaemic mouse is associated with an increase in number and size of adipocytes. Adipocytes from the obese mouse showed increased incorporation of [14C]acetate and[14C]glucose into triacylglycerol. This increased capacity of triacylglycerol formation was correlated with increased activities of various triacylglycerol-forming enzymes measured in the microsomal fraction of adipose tissue from obese mice. Microsomal fractions from lean and obese mice contained sn-glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase, phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and diacylglycerol acyltransferase. Phosphatidate phosphohydrolase was also detected in the soluble fraction. In the presence of Mg2+, the phosphatidate phsophohydrolase from the soluble and the microsomal fractions was active towards membrane-bound phosphatidate. Among the three enzymes studied here, the increase in Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase was most prominent in adipose tissue of obese mice.     

Biochemical characterization of a calcium ion stimulated-ATPase from goat spermatozoa

The goat spermatozoa membranes isolated after treatment with octa (ethylene glycol) mono n-dodecyl ether (C₁₂E₈) followed by discontinuous sucrose density gradient centrifugation have been found to contain an ATPase that is stimulated by externally added Ca²⁺ only. The membrane fraction has also found to contain Mg²⁺-dependent Ca²⁺-ATPase activity, however the former activity is about 2 fold higher than the latter. The molecular weight of the enzyme is found to be about 97,000 on SDS-polyacrylamide gel. The optimum concentration of Ca²⁺ required for maximum activity is 3 mM for both Mg²⁺-dependent and Mg²⁺-independent Ca²⁺-ATPase. Histidine and imidazole buffers are found to be the most suitable for dependent and independent enzyme activities respectively. ATP with an optimum concentration of 4 mM is observed to be the best substrate than any other nucleotides. The inhibitors like trifluoperazine and vanadate and group specific probes e.g. DTNB and TNBS inhibit these two enzymes but at different rates. Ca²⁺-uptake study shows that the uptake in the presence of Ca²⁺ and ATP is higher than in the presence of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and ATP. The findings lead us to believe that the Mg²⁺-independent Ca²⁺-ATPase has some role in Ca²⁺ transport like Mg²⁺-dependent enzyme.Abbreviations Tris Tris (hydroxymethyl) amino ethane - Hepes-N 2-hydroxy ethyl piperizine-N¹-2-ethane sulfonic acid - Pipes-Piperizine-N N¹-bis(2-ethane sulfonic acid) - EGTA Ethylene Glycol-bis (-amino ethyl ether) - N, N, N¹, N¹ Tetraacetic Acid, sodium salt - TFP Trifluoperazine - DTNB 5,5¹ Dithiobis (2 nitrobenzoic acid) - TNBS 2, 4, 6-Trinitrobenzene Sulfonate - C₁₂E₈ Octa (ethylene glycol) mono n-dodecyl ether - PMSF Phenylmethyl Sulfonyl Fluoride - PAGE Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis - PME -Mercapto Ethanol     

Activation of the renal cortical and hepatic guanylate cyclase-guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate systems by nitrosoureas divalent cation requirements and relationship to thiol reactivity

Streptozotocin, 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) and N-methyl nitrosourea, compounds with both oncogenic and cytotoxic properties, increased guanylate cyclase activity in the 100 000 × g soluble fractions of rat renal cortex and liver 35- to 65-fold over basal values. Particulate enzyme activities of these tissues were increased 2- to 4-fold by a maximally effective concentration of the nitrosoureas. In the presence of the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, maximally effective concentrations of these nitrosoureas increased cyclic GMP accumulation of hepatic and renal cortical slices to peak levels 7- to 10-fold over control in 30 min. By contrast, with the structurally related carcinogen N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) peak increases occurred in 5–10 min and were 40- to 70-fold over control levels in renal cortex and liver, respectively. Unlike the Ca²⁺-dependent actions of cholinergic stimuli on cyclic GMP, the nitrosoureas and MNNG increased cyclic GMP in either the presence or absence of extracellular Ca²⁺. Moreover, while basal soluble guanylate cyclase of renal cortex was highly Mn²⁺-dependent and decreased 85% when either Mg²⁺ or Ca²⁺ was employed as sole divalent cation in reaction mixtures, the actions of nitrosoureas on enzyme activity were well expressed with either Mn²⁺ or Mg²⁺, but not with Ca²⁺, as sole divalent cation. Improved utilization of Mg²⁺ by guanylate cyclase in the presence of nitrosoureas would favor enhanced enzyme activity under cellular conditions where Mg²⁺ is abundant. In the presence of maximally stimulatory concentrations of streptozotocin or BCNU, high concentrations of Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺ further increased soluble guanylate cyclase, suggesting important differences in metal and nitrosourea stimulation of enzyme activity.Preincubation of supernatant fractions with nitrosoureas plus dithiothreitol inhibited the action of the N-nitroso compounds to increase renal cortical guanylate cyclase. Glutathione and cysteine were also inhibitory, but less effective than dithiothreitol. Initial incubation of nitrosoureas with dithiothreitol in buffer alone similarly suppressed the subsequent action of the N-nitroso compounds on guanylate cyclase, and implicated direct chemical interactions. Prior incubation of renal cortical supernatant fractions with the SH blockers N-ethylmaleimide or maleimide significantly suppressed guanylate cyclase activation mediated by streptozotocin or BCNU. Direct drug interactions seemed unlikely, since effects of the inhibitors were optimally expressed by initial exposure of the supernatant fraction of tissue to the SH blockers and were not potentiated by a 30 min preincubation of the SH blockers and nitrosoureas in buffer alone.Thus, nitrosoureas activate and alter the metal requirements of soluble guanylate cyclase and increase cellular cyclic GMP in the presence or absence of extracellular Ca²⁺. Activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by nitrosoureas may involve an interaction of these agents with tissue SH groups, and possibly SH to SS transformation. Stimulation of the guanylate cyclase system by nitrosoureas could be related to the oncogenic actions of these agents.     

A rapid assay for measuring the activity and the Mg2+ and Ca2+ requirements of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in cytosolic and microsomal fractions of rat liver.

1. A rapid extraction and purification scheme was designed for the recovery of [3H]diacylglycerol formed during the assay of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase. 2. The importance of removing polyvalent cations, particularly Ca2+, from the phosphatidate and other reagents used in the assay of the phosphohydrolase activity was demonstrated. This was achieved mainly by treating the phosphatidate with a chelating resin and by adding 1 mM-EGTA and 1 mM-EDTA to the assays. 3. The activity of the phosphohydrolase in dialysed samples of the soluble and microsomal fractions of rat liver was very low. 4. Addition of optimum concentrations of MgCl2 resulted in a 110-167-fold stimulation in activity. 5. CaCl2 was also able to stimulate phosphohydrolase activity, but to a much smaller extent than MgCl2. 6. Chlorpromazine, an amphiphilic cation, inhibited the reaction when it was measured in these experiments by using a mixed emulsion of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidate at pH 7.4. 7. Microsomal fractions that were preincubated with albumin contained very low activities of the Mg2+-dependent phosphohydrolase. When these were then incubated with the soluble fraction in the presence of oleate, the soluble phosphohydrolase attached to the microsomal membranes, and it retained its high dependency on Mg2+.     

Purification and characterization of myosin from bovine retina

Myosin has been isolated from bovine retinae and characterised by its ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) activity, its mobility in sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gels and by electron microscopy. The purified myosin shows high ATPase activity in the presence of EDTA or Ca²⁺ and a low activity in the presence of Mg²⁺. The Mg²⁺-dependent ATPase activity is stimulated by rabbit skeletal muscle actin. The presumptive retinal myosin possesses a major component which has a mobility in sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis similar to that of the heavy chain of bovine skeletal mucle myosin. Electron microscopy showed retinal myosin to form bipolar filaments in 0.1 M KCl. It is concluded that the retina possesses a protein with enzymic and structural properties similar to those of muscle myosin.     

Phosphatidylserine-stimulated production of N-acyl-phosphatidylethanolamines by Ca2+-dependent N-acyltransferase

N-acyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (NAPE) is known to be a precursor for various bioactive N-acylethanolamines including the endocannabinoid anandamide. NAPE is produced in mammals through the transfer of an acyl chain from certain glycerophospholipids to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) by Ca²⁺-dependent or -independent N-acyltransferases. The ε isoform of mouse cytosolic phospholipase A₂ (cPLA₂ε) was recently identified as a Ca²⁺-dependent N-acyltransferase (Ca-NAT). In the present study, we first showed that two isoforms of human cPLA₂ε function as Ca-NAT. We next purified both mouse recombinant cPLA₂ε and its two human orthologues to examine their catalytic properties. The enzyme absolutely required Ca²⁺ for its activity and the activity was enhanced by phosphatidylserine (PS). PS enhanced the activity 25-fold in the presence of 1?mM CaCl₂ and lowered the EC₅₀ value of Ca²⁺ >8-fold. Using a PS probe, we showed that cPLA₂ε largely co-localizes with PS in plasma membrane and organelles involved in the endocytic pathway, further supporting the interaction of cPLA₂ε with PS in living cells. Finally, we found that the Ca²⁺-ionophore ionomycin increased [¹⁴C]NAPE levels >10-fold in [¹⁴C]ethanolamine-labeled cPLA₂ε-expressing cells while phospholipase A/acyltransferase-1, acting as a Ca²⁺-independent N-acyltransferase, was insensitive to ionomycin for full activity. In conclusion, PS potently stimulated the Ca²⁺-dependent activity and human cPLA₂ε isoforms also functioned as Ca-NAT.     

Properties and nature of (Na+ + Mg2+)-dependent adenosine triphosphatase in the gills of the eel, angvilla anguilla (L.)

The specific activity of (Na⁺ + Mg²⁺)-dependent ATPase is three times greater in the microsomes of sea-water eels than in freshwater eels; the specific activity is one quarter of that of (Na⁺ + K⁺ + Mg²⁺)-dependent ATPase in both cases.(Na⁺ + Mg²⁺)-dependent ATPase is optimally active in a medium containing 8 mM NaCl, 4 mM MgCI₂, 4 mM ATP, pH 8.8 and at 30 °C; the enzyme is inhibited by ouabain, by NaCl concentrations > 100 mM and by treatment with urea.It is concluded that the (Na⁺ + Mg²⁺)-dependent ATPase activity of gills arises from the presence of a (Na⁺ + K⁺ + Mg²⁺)-dependent ATPase.     

Characterization of K+-dependent and K+-independentp-nitrophenylphosphatase activity of synaptosomes

These experiments examined effects of several ligands on the K⁺ p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity of the (Na⁺,K⁺)-ATPase in membranes of a rat brain cortex synaptosomal preparation. K⁺-independent hydrolysis of this substrate by the synaptosomal preparation was studied in parallel; the rate of hydrolysis in the absence of K⁺ was approximately 75% less than that observed when K⁺ was included in the incubation medium. The response to the H⁺ concentrations was different: K⁺-independent activity showed a pH optimum around 6.5–7.0, while the K⁺-dependent activity was relatively low at this pH range. Ouabain (0.1 mM) inhibited K⁺-dependent activity 50%; a concentration 10 times higher did not produce any appreciable effect on the K⁺-independent activity. Na⁺ did not affect K⁺-independent activity at all, while the same ligand concentration inhibited sharply the K⁺-dependent activity; this inhibition was not competitive with the substrate,p-nitrophenyl phosphate. K⁺-dependent activity was stimulated by Mg²⁺ with low affinity (millimolar range), and 3 mM Mg²⁺ produced a slight stimulation of the activity in absence of K⁺, which could be interpreted as Mg²⁺ occupying the K⁺ sites. Ca²⁺ had no appreciable effect on the activity in the absence of K⁺. However, in the presence of K⁺ a sharp inhibition was found with all Ca²⁺ concentrations studied. ATP (0.5 mM) did not affect the K⁺-independent activity, but this nucleotide behaved as a competitive inhibitor top-nitrophenylphosphate. Pi inhibited activity in the presence of K⁺, competively to the substrate, so it could be considered as the second product of the reaction sequence.Abbreviations used p-NPP p-nitrophenylphosphate - p-NPPase rho-nitrophenylphosphatase activity     

Multiple ion-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase activities associated with membranes of the diatom Nitzschia alba.

At least ten distinct ATP-hydrolyzing activities are associated with mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum-, Golgi-, and plasma membrane-enriched fractions from the marine diatom, Nitzschia alba. These activities are divided into four groups: Ca²⁺-dependent, Mg²⁺-dependent monovalent cation-stimulated, Mg²⁺-anion-stimulated ATPases, and Mg²⁺-dependent nucleotidases.The Mg²⁺-dependent activities hydrolyze nucleoside triphosphates and, in some membranes, nucleoside diphosphates. Molar ratios of 1:2 $\text{ATP}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}$ are preferred. However, their divalent cation requirements are not specific, and they can effectively utilize Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺, Mg²⁺, or Zn²⁺. The most effective inhibitors of the Mg²⁺-dependent activities are oligomycin, NaN₃, and NaF.Optimal activity of the Mg²⁺-dependent monovalent cation-stimulated ATPase is obtained at Na⁺, or Na⁺ plus K⁺ concentrations of 100–300 mm. Under these high salt conditions, ATP is hydrolyzed almost exclusively, and Mg²⁺ is specifically required for activation. Preference is for a molar ratio of $\text{ATP}\text{Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{≧ 2}$, and the sulfhydryl-blocking agents, p-chloromecuribenzoate, N-ethylmaleimide, and iodoacetamide strongly or completely inhibit ATP hyrolysis.     

Adenosine triphosphatase activity in the neural lobe of the bovine pituitary gland

1. Homogenates of neural lobes of bovine pituitary glands were fractionated by differential and density-gradient ultracentrifugation and the distribution of adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity was studied. It was shown that all the activity was membrane-bound. 2. On the basis of ionic requirements the ATPase activity was grouped into three categories: (a) Mg²⁺-dependent, (b) Ca²⁺-dependent and (c) Mg²⁺+Na⁺+K⁺-dependent (ouabain-sensitive) ATPases. The activity in the absence of bivalent cations was negligible. The ratio between the activities of the three ATPases varied between the different subcellular fractions. 3. Preincubation of the subcellular fractions with deoxycholate increased the activity of the Mg²⁺+Na⁺+K⁺-dependent enzyme, whereas the Mg²⁺- and Ca²⁺-activated ATPases were either unaffected or slightly inhibited. Triton X-100 solubilized the Mg²⁺- and Ca²⁺-ATPases; however, the activity of the Mg²⁺+Na⁺+K⁺-ATPase was abolished by the concentration of Triton X-100 used. 4. All the subfractions displayed unspecific nucleotide triphosphatase activity towards GTP, ITP and UTP. These substrates inhibited the hydrolysis of ATP by all three ATPases. ADP also inhibited the ATPases. 5. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of extracts containing the Mg²⁺- and Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase activity solubilized by Triton X-100 revealed the presence of two enzymes; one activated by either Mg²⁺ or Ca²⁺ and the other activated only by Ca²⁺. 6. In sucrose density gradients the distribution of vasopressin was different from that of all three types of ATPases. It is therefore suggested that the neurosecretory granules do not possess ATPase activity.     

Comparative effects of dietary fish oil and carbohydrate on plasma lipids and hepatic activities of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, diacylglycerol acyltransferase and neutral lipase activities in the rat

In rats fed a fish oil-enriched diet, plasma triacylglycerols were lowered 51%. At the same time there was a mean 45% reduction in Mg2+-dependent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity in liver microsomes and a mean 20% decrease in microsomal triacylglycerol (neutral) and diacylglycerol hydrolase activities, but not of diacylglycerol acyltransferase. These observations support the hypothesis that decreases in the activities of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and of both lipases are involved in the expression of the inhibitory effects of fish oil feeding on hepatic lipoprotein triacylglycerol secretion. Conversely, the feeding of a sucrose-enriched diet resulted in a mean 39% rise in plasma triacylglycerols, a 19% increase in triacylglycerol hydrolase and a mean 45% increase in Mg2+-dependent microsomal phosphohydrolase activity. The effects of the two nutritional interventions on phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity confirm a key function for this enzyme in triacylglycerol formation.     

Regulation of the shape of unsealed erythrocyte membranes by Mg-ATP and Ca2+

In the presence of MgCl₂ and ATP, the specific viscosity of suspensions of unsealed freezethawed erythrocyte membranes decreased slowly with time at 37 °C. The decrease in viscosity was found to be an index of Mg-ATP-specific induced folding of these membranes. Mg-ATP-dependent shape or viscosity changes were found to be highly temperature dependent and the viscosity of these membranes did not decrease in the presence of 2 mm 5′-adenyl imidodiphosphate and MgCl₂. Cyclic AMP, NaCl, or KCl did not have any effect on the rate of Mg-ATP-induced viscosity decreases. The Mg-ATP-dependent viscosity decreases were inhibited 100% by 1 mm chlorpromazine or 1 mmN-ethylmaleimide. Mg-ATP-dependent viscosity decreases were half-maximally inhibited by 1 μm Ca²⁺ and completely inhibited by 3–5 μm Ca²⁺. Ca²⁺ (5 μm) also inhibited Mg²⁺-dependent phosphorylation 25 to 30% in these membranes. However, if these membranes were preincubated in the absence of Ca²⁺ for greater than 10 min at 37 °C, 5 μm Ca²⁺ no longer inhibited Mg-ATP-dependent viscosity decreases and only inhibited Mg²⁺-dependent phosphorylation 5% in these preincubated membranes. Preincubation of these membranes at 37 °C for 10 min in the absence of Ca²⁺ also resulted in the loss of approximately 40 to 50% of the high-Ca²⁺ affinity Ca + Mg-ATPase activity. The presence of 5 μm Ca²⁺ in the preincubation medium protected against the loss of the inhibitory effect of Ca²⁺ on Mg²⁺-dependent phosphorylation and Mg-ATP-dependent viscosity decreases. The presence of Ca²⁺ in the preincubation medium also protected against the loss of Ca + Mg-ATPase activity in these membranes. It is hypothesized that freeze-thawed erythrocyte membranes contain a Ca²⁺ phosphatase activity which is temperature labile in the absence of Ca²⁺ and that this Ca²⁺ phosphatase activity may be involved in the regulation of shape of these membranes. Also discussed is the possible relationship of this Ca²⁺ phosphatase with Ca + Mg-ATPase activity and the problems inherent in studying Ca²⁺-regulated functions in freeze-thawed erythrocyte membranes.     

Quantitative aspects of the interaction between ouabain and (Na + K)-activated ATPase in vitro

The inhibitory effect of ouabain on (Na⁺ + K⁺)-activated ATPase (Mg²⁺-dependent, (Na⁺ + K⁺)-activated ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) obtained from rat brain microsomal fraction was re-examined using a modified method to estimate the inhibited reaction velocity. This method involves a preincubation of a ouabain-enzyme mixture in the presence of Na⁺, Mg²⁺ and ATP to bring the ouabain-enzyme reaction to near equilibrium. The (Na⁺ + K⁺)-activated ATPase reaction was subsequently started by the addition of a KCl solution.     

Ca2+-stimulated,Mg2+-independent ATP hydrolysis and the high affinity Ca2+-pumping ATPase. Two different activities in rat kidney basolateral membranes

The Mg²⁺-dependency of Ca²⁺-induced ATP hydrolysis is studied in basolateral plasma membrane vesicles from rat kidney cortex in the presence of CDTA and EGTA as Mg²⁺- and Ca²⁺-buffering ligands. ATP hydrolysis is strongly stimulated by Mg²⁺ with a K_m of 13 μ M in the absence or presence of 1 μ M free Ca²⁺. At free Mg²⁺ concentrations of 1 μ M and lower, ATP hydrolysis is Mg²⁺ -independent, but is strongly stimulated by submicromolar Ca²⁺ concentrations K_m  0.25 μM, V_max  24 μmol P_i/h per mg protein). The Ca²⁺-stimulated ATP hydrolysis strongly decreases at higher Mg²⁺ concentrations. The Ca²⁺-stimulated Mg²⁺-independent ATP hydrolysis is not affected by calmodulin or trifluoperazine and shows no specificity for ATP over ADP, ITP and GTP. In contrast, at high Mg²⁺ concentrations calmodulin and trifluoperazine affect the high affinity Ca²⁺-ATPase activity significantly and ATP is the preferred substrate. Control studies on ATP-dependent Ca²⁺-pumping in renal basolaterals and on Ca²⁺-ATPase in erythrocyte ghosts suggest that the Ca²⁺-pumping enzyme requires Mg²⁺. In contrast, a role of the Ca²⁺-stimulated Mg²⁺-independent ATP hydrolysis in active Ca²⁺ transport across basolateral membranes is rather unlikely.     

Evidence for solvent-induced conformational changes of the soluble Dunaliella chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF1)

The ATPase activity of the chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF₁) isolated from the green alga Dunaliella is completely latent. A brief heat treatment irreversibly induces a Ca²⁺ -dependent activity. The Ca²⁺ dependent ATPase activity can be reversibly inhibited by ethanol, which changes the divalent cation dependency from Ca²⁺ to Mg²⁺. Both the Ca²⁺ -dependent and Mg²⁺ -dependent ATPase activities of heat-treated Dunaliella CF₁ are inhibited by monospecific antisera directed against Chlamydomonas reinhardi CF₁. However, when assayed under identical conditions, the Ca²⁺ -dependent ATPase activity is significantly more sensitive to inhibition by the antisera than is the Mg²⁺ -dependent activity. These data are interpreted as indicating that soluble Dunaliella CF₁ can exist in a variety of conformations, at least one of which catalyzes a Ca²⁺ -dependent ATPase and two or more of which catalyze an Mg²⁺ -dependent ATPase.