Ca2+ uptake by corpus-luteum plasma membranes. Evidence for the presence of both a Ca2+-pumping ATPase and a Ca2+-dependent nucleoside triphosphatase.

Plasma-membrane vesicles from rat corpus luteum showed an ATP-dependent uptake of Ca2+. Ca2+ was accumulated with a K1/2 (concn. giving half-maximal activity) of 0.2 microM and was released by the bivalent-cation ionophore A23187. A Ca2+-dependent phosphorylated intermediate (Mr 100,000) was detected which showed a low decomposition rate, consistent with it being the phosphorylated intermediate of the transport ATPase responsible for Ca2+ uptake. The Ca2+ uptake and the phosphorylated intermediate (E approximately P) displayed several properties that were different from those of the high-affinity Ca2+-ATPase previously observed in these membranes. Both Ca2+ uptake and E approximately P discriminated against ribonucleoside triphosphates other than ATP, whereas the ATPase split all the ribonucleoside triphosphates equally. Both Ca2+ uptake and E approximately P were sensitive to three different Hg-containing inhibitors, whereas the ATPase was inhibited much less. Ca2+ uptake required added Mg2+ (Km = 2.2 mM), whereas the ATPase required no added Mg2+. The maximum rate of Ca2+ uptake was about 400-fold less than that of ATP splitting; under different conditions, the decomposition rate of E approximately P was 1,000 times too slow to account for the ATPase activity observed. All of these features suggested that Ca2+ uptake was due to an enzyme of low activity, whose ATPase activity was not detected in the presence of the higher-specific-activity Ca2+-dependent ATPase.     

Calcium transport and calcium-ATPase activity in human lymphocyte plasma membrane vesicles

We have studied Ca transport and the Ca-activated Mg-ATPase in plasma membrane vesicles prepared from normal human lymphocytes. Membrane vesicles that were exposed to oxalate as a Ca-trapping agent accumulated Ca in the presence of Mg2+ and ATP. ADP, AMP, GTP, UTP, ITP, TTP, or CTP did not substitute for ATP in energizing uptake. The Vmax for Ca uptake was 2.4 pmol of Ca/micrograms of protein/min, and the Km values for Ca and ATP were 1.0 and 80 microM, respectively. One microM A23187, added initially, completely inhibited net Ca uptake and, if added later, caused the release of Ca accumulated previously. Cyanide, oligomycin, ouabain, or varying Na+ or K+ concentrations had no effect on Ca uptake. A Ca-activated ATPase was present in the same membrane vesicles, which had a Vmax of 25 pmol of Pi/micrograms of protein/min at a free Ca concentration of 4-5 microM. This Ca-ATPase had Km values for Ca and ATP of 0.6 and 90 microM, respectively. These kinetic parameters were similar to those observed for uptake of Ca by the vesicles. The Ca-ATPase activity was insensitive to azide, oligomycin, ouabain, or varying Na+ or K+ concentrations. No Ca-activated hydrolysis of GTP or UTP was observed. Both Ca transport and the Ca-ATPase activity of ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid-treated lymphocyte plasma membranes were stimulated 2-fold by a cytoplasmic component (calmodulin) that was purified 500-fold from lymphocyte cytoplasm. Thus, human lymphocyte plasma membranes have both a Ca transport activity and a Ca-stimulated ATPase activity with similar substrate affinities and specificities and similar sensitivities to calmodulin.     

Cholinergic stimulants and excess potassium ion increase the fluidity of plasma membranes isolated from adrenal chromaffin cells.

Chromaffin cell membranes from the bovine adrenal medulla were labelled with the hydrophobic fluorescent probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, and the fluorescence polarization (P) of the membrane suspensions was measured as a function of temperature. The P versus t profiles, between 20 and 37 degrees C, showed two linear regions separated by a break in the vicinity of 30 degrees C, reflecting a change in the phase behaviour of the constitutent lipids. Decreases in P values at higher temperature indicated progressive fluidization of the lipid bilayer. Previous incubation with either acetylcholine (0.5 mM) or nicotine (50 microM) produced further fluidization, the extent of which depended on the presence of added Ca2+ (2.2 mM). Thus, the flow activation energy, delta E, between approx. 30 and 37 degrees C was 9.1 kcal/mol for acetylcholine and 8.8 kcal/mol for acetylcholine plus Ca2+, as compared to 7.9 kcal/mol in the absence of acetylcholine and Ca2+. In the presence of nicotine, delta E was 11.4 kcal/mol when Ca2+ was absent and 9.5 kcal/mol when it was present. The cholinergic blocker, hexamethonium (0.5 mM), abolished the acetylcholine- or nicotine-induced changes. 65 mM K+ produced a similar fluidization, which was reversed by addition of Ca2+. An additive effect was observed when the membranes were incubated with both nicotine and K+, with delta E = 16.6 kcal/mol in the presence of Cas2+. These results indicate a receptor-mediated modulation of the lipid distribution between rigid and fluid regions in the membrane, which could be of importance for stimulated catecholamine secretion in the intact cell.     

Na+-Ca2+ exchange activity in rabbit lymphocyte plasma membranes

Plasma membranes of rabbit thymus lymphocytes accumulated Ca2+ when a Na+ gradient (intravesicular greater than extravesicular) was formed across the membranes. Dissipation of the Na+ gradient by the addition of Na+ to the external medium decreased Ca2+ uptake. Ca2+ preloaded into the lymphocytes was extruded when Na+ was added to the external medium. The Ca2+ uptake decreased at acidic pH but increased at alkaline pH (above 8) and the activity was saturable for Ca2+ (apparent Km for Ca2+ was 61 microM and apparent Vmax was 11.5 nmol/mg protein per min). Na+-dependent uptake of Ca2+ was inhibited by tetracaine and verapamil, and partially inhibited by La3+. The uptake was not influenced by orthovanadate.     

Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase of microsomal membranes from bovine aortic smooth muscle. Identification and characterization of an acid-stable phosphorylated intermediate of the Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase

An acid-stable phosphoprotein was formed in a microsomal membrane fraction isolated from bovine aortic smooth muscle in the presence of Mg2+ + ATP and Ca2+. The microsomes also showed Ca2+ uptake activity. The Ca2+ dependence of phosphoprotein formation and of Ca2+ uptake occurred over the same range of Ca2+ concentration (1-10 microM), and resembled similar findings from rabbit skeletal microsomes. The molecular weight of the phosphorylated protein, estimated by SDS-gel electrophoresis, was approximately 105,000. The phosphoprotein was labile at alkaline pH, and its decomposition was accelerated by hydroxylamine. Half-maximum incorporation of 32P in the presence of 10 microM Ca2+ occurred at 60 nM ATP. The calcium-dependent phosphoprotein formation was not affected by 5 mM NaN3, but was inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion by ADP with a 50% inhibition occurring at 180 microM. Fifty mM MgCl2 was required for the maximal phosphorylation. The rate of phosphoprotein decomposition after adding 2 mM EGTA was accelerated by varying the Mg2+ concentration from 10 microM to 3 mM. Alkaline pH (9.0) slowed the rate of phosphoprotein decay. Optimal Ca2+-dependent phosphoprotein occurred at 15 degrees C over a broad pH range (6.4 to 9.0). The activation energy of EGTA-induced phosphoprotein decomposition was 25.6 kcal/mol between 0 and 16 degrees C and 14.6 kcal/mol between 16 and 30 degrees C. The phosphoprotein formed by aortic microsomes was thus quite similar to the acid-stable phosphorylated intermediate of the Ca2+-transport ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum from skeletal and cardiac muscle. These data suggest that the Ca2+-dependent phosphoprotein is a reaction intermediate of the Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase of the aortic microsomes.     

Several properties of the Ca-pump of rabbit skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum in hypercholesteremia]

Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) fragments from the skeletal muscles of rabbit with marked atherosclerosis possessed decreased Ca2+-accumulating capacity. Lowering of transport efficiency, namely reduction of the Ca/ATP ratio from 1.9--normal value--to 0.9 during the experiment at 26 degrees C was accompanied by activation of Ca-ATPase and simultaneously of the rate of Ca2+ outflux from the SR. Arrhenius plots of Ca-ATPase temperature dependence characterized under normal conditions by a break at 20--21 degrees C was linearized under hypercholesterolemia. At the same time there was a rise (from 0.03 under normal conditions to 0.15 in atherosclerosis) of cholesterol/protein ratio in the SR membrane preparations. Activation energy for Ca-ATPase crude membranes under normal conditions was equal to 15.6 and 28.7 kcal/mol above and below the break point respectively; this value for Ca-ATPase of membranes with increased cholesterol level was 19 kcal/mol for all the temperatures investigated.     

Mechanisms of Ca2+ transport in plasma membrane vesicles prepared from cultured pituitary cells. II. (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase-dependent Ca2+ transport activity

Purified plasma membrane vesicles from GH3 rat anterior pituitary cells exhibit a Mg2+-ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport activity. Concentrative uptake of Ca2+ is abolished by exclusion of either Mg2+ or ATP or by inclusion of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. Furthermore, addition of A23187 to vesicles which have reached a steady state of ATP-supported Ca2+ accumulation rapidly and completely discharges accumulated cation. Ca2+ uptake is unaffected by treatment of vesicles with oligomycin, the uncoupler CCCP, or valinomycin and is greatly reduced in non-plasma membrane fractions. Likewise, Ca2+ accumulation is not stimulated by oxalate, consistent with the plasma membrane origin of this transport system. (Na+, K+)-ATPase participation in the Ca2+ transport process (i.e. via coupled Na+/Ca2+ exchange) was eliminated by omitting Na+ and including ouabain in the reaction medium. Ca2+ transport activity in GH3 vesicles has a similar pH dependence as that seen in a number of other plasma membrane systems and is inhibited by orthovanadate in the micromolar range. Inhibition is enhanced if the membranes are preincubated with vanadate for a short time. A kinetic analysis of transport indicates that the apparent Km for free Ca2+ and ATP are 0.7 and 125 microM, respectively. The average Vmax is 3.6 nmol of Ca2+/min/mg of protein at 37 degrees C. Addition of exogenous calmodulin or calmodulin antagonists had no significant effect on these kinetic properties. GH3 plasma membranes also contain a Na+/Ca2+ exchange system. The apparent Km for Ca2+ is almost 10-fold higher in this system than that for ATP-driven Ca2+ uptake. When both processes are compared under similar conditions, the Vmax of the exchanger is approximately 2-3 times that of ATP-dependent Ca2+ accumulation. Similar results are obtained when purified plasma membranes from bovine anterior pituitary glands were investigated. It is suggested that both Na+/Ca2+ exchange and the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase are important in controlling intracellular levels of Ca2+ in anterior pituitary cells.     

A high-affinity plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase in Dictyostelium discoideum: its relation to cAMP-induced Ca2+ fluxes

Chemotactic stimulation of Dictyostelium discoideum induces an uptake of Ca2+ by the cells followed by a release of Ca2+. In this study we investigated the mechanism of Ca2+ release and found that it was inhibited by La3+, Cd2+ and azide. Ca2+ release occurred in the absence of external Na+, indicating that an Na+/Ca2+ exchange was not involved. Plasma membranes contained high- and low-affinity ATPase activities. Apparent K0.5 values were 8 microM for the major Mg2+-ATPase and 1.1 microM for the high-affinity Ca2+-ATPase, respectively. The Mg2+-ATPase activity was inhibited by elevated concentrations of Ca2+, whereas both Ca2+-ATPases were active in the absence of added Mg2+. The activities of the Ca2+-ATPases were not modified by calmodulin. The high-affinity Ca2+-ATPase was competitively inhibited by La3+ and Cd2+; we suggest that this high-affinity enzyme mediates the release of Ca2+ from D. discoideum cells.     

Characterization of a High-Affinity Mg2+-Independent Ca2+-ATPase from Rat Brain Synaptosomal Membranes

A high-affinity Mg2+-independent Ca2+-ATPase (Ca2+-ATPase) has been differentiated from the Mg2+-dependent, Ca2+-stimulated ATPase (Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase) in rat brain synaptosomal membranes. Using ATP as a substrate, the K0.5 of Ca2+ for Ca2+-ATPase was found to be 1.33 microM with a Km for ATP of 19 microM and a Vmax of 33 nmol/mg/min. Using Ca-ATP as a substrate, the Km for Ca-ATP was found to be 0.22 microM. Unlike Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase was not inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, trifluoperazine, lanthanum, zinc, or vanadate. La3+ and Zn2+, in contrast, stimulated the enzyme activity. Unlike Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase activity, ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake was negligible in the absence of added Mg2+, indicating that the Ca2+ transport into synaptosomal endoplasmic reticulum may not be a function of the Ca2+-ATPase described. Ca2+-ATPase activity was not stimulated by the monovalent cations Na+ or K+. Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase demonstrated a substrate preference for ATP and ADP, but not GTP, whereas Ca2+-ATPase hydrolyzed ATP and GTP, and to a lesser extent ADP. The results presented here suggest the high-affinity Mg2+-independent Ca2+-ATPase may be a separate form from Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase. The capacity of Mg2+-independent Ca2+-ATPase to hydrolyze GTP suggests this protein may be involved in GTP-dependent activities within the cell.     

A Ca(2+)-ATPase from rat parotid gland plasma membranes has the characteristics of an ecto-ATPase.

A Ca(2+)-ATPase with an apparent Km for free Ca2+ = 0.23 microM and Vmax = 44 nmol Pi/mg/min was detected in a rat parotid plasma membrane-enriched fraction. This Ca(2+)-ATPase could be stimulated without added Mg2+. However, the enzyme may require submicromolar concentrations of Mg2+ for its activation in the presence of Ca2+. On the other hand, Mg2+ could substitute for Ca2+. The lack of a requirement for added Mg2+ distinguished this Ca(2+)-ATPase from the Ca(2+)-transporter ATPase in the plasma membranes and the mitochondrial Ca(2+)-ATPase. The enzyme was not inhibited by several ATPase inhibitors and was not stimulated by calmodulin. An antibody which was raised against the rat liver plasma membrane ecto-ATPase, was able to deplete this Ca(2+)-ATPase activity from detergent solubilized rat parotid plasma membranes, in an antibody concentration-dependent manner. Immunoblotting analysis of the pellet with the ecto-ATPase antibody revealed the presence of a 100,000 molecular weight protein band, in agreement with the reported ecto-ATPase relative molecular mass. These data demonstrate the presence of a Ca(2+)-ATPase, with high affinity for Ca2+, in the rat parotid gland plasma membranes. It is distinct from the Ca(2+)-transporter, and immunologically indistinguishable from the plasma membrane ecto-ATPase.     

Inhibitory antibodies to plasmalemmal Ca2+-transporting ATPases. Their use in subcellular localization of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-dependent ATPase activity in smooth muscle.

Antibodies directed against the purified calmodulin-binding (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase [(Ca2+ + Mg2+)-dependent ATPase] from pig erythrocytes and from smooth muscle of pig stomach (antral part) were raised in rabbits. Both the IgGs against the erythrocyte (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase and against the smooth-muscle (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase inhibited the activity of the purified calmodulin-binding (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase from smooth muscle. Up to 85% of the total (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity in a preparation of KCl-extracted smooth-muscle membranes was inhibited by these antibodies. The (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity and the Ca2+ uptake in a plasma-membrane-enriched fraction from this smooth muscle were inhibited to the same extent, whereas in an endoplasmic-reticulum-enriched membrane fraction the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity was inhibited by only 25% and no effect was observed on the oxalate-stimulated Ca2+ uptake. This supports the hypothesis that, in pig stomach smooth muscle, two separate types of Ca2+-transport ATPase exist: a calmodulin-binding ATPase located in the plasma membrane and a calmodulin-independent one present in the endoplasmic reticulum. The antibodies did not affect the stimulation of the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity by calmodulin.     

Mediated calcium transport by isolated human fibroblast lysosomes

Lysosomes purified by Percoll gradient from normal human fibroblasts (GM0010A) show uptake of Ca2+ in a mediated manner. The uptake is linear over the first 1.5 min and approaches a steady state by 10 min. Uptake is saturable, displaying a Vmax of about 10 pmol/min/unit hexosaminidase at 20 mM Ca2+ (7 nmol/min/mg protein), and a Km of 5.7 mM. Ca2+ uptake increases with increasing extralysosomal pH from 5.0 to 8.5. The Q10 is 1.6, and Ea 8.7 kcal/mol. Uptake of 0.1 mM Ca2+ was inhibited to the extent indicated by 1.0 mM of the following: Cd2+, 100%; Hg2+, 100%; Zn2+, 89%; Mg2+, 77%; Ba2+, 60%; Sr2+, 37%; Fe2+, 20%; Cu2+, 0%. Mono- and trivalent cations had no effect. ATP (1.0 mM) inhibited uptake by 80%, and chloroquine (0.1 mM) inhibited by 60%, as did 1.0 mM L-cystine. Cysteamine, N-ethylmaleimide, and the anions Cl-, SO(2-)4, and acetate had no effect. The calcium ionophore A23187 augmented uptake by 10-fold at 10 microM. Surprisingly, Pb2+ greatly augmented lysosomal Ca2+ uptake in a concentration-dependent manner. Pb2+, however, adversely affected lysosomal latency. Lysosomal calcium uptake was not affected by inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate, and calcium-induced calcium release from lysosomes was not observed. A role for lysosomes in cellular calcium homeostasis has not been previously suggested. This work shows that Ca2+ can be transported into and out of lysosomes and could assist in lysosomal proteolysis. The extent of further lysosomal participation in cellular calcium regulation is unclear.     

Divalent metal dependence of site-specific DNA binding by EcoRV endonuclease.

Measurements of binding equilibria of EcoRV endonuclease to DNA, for a series of base-analogue substrates, demonstrate that expression of sequence selectivity is strongly enhanced by the presence of Ca2+ ions. Binding constants were determined for short duplex oligodeoxynucleotides containing the cognate DNA site, three cleavable noncognate sites, and a fully nonspecific site. At pH 7.5 and 100 mM NaCl, the full range of specificity from the specific (tightest binding) to nonspecific (weakest binding) sites is 0.9 kcal/mol in the absence of metal ions and 5.8 kcal/mol in the presence of Ca2+. Precise determination of binding affinities in the presence of the active Mg2+ cofactor was found to be possible for substrates retaining up to 1.6% of wild-type activity, as determined by the rate of phosphoryl transfer. These measurements show that Ca2+ is a near-perfect analogue for Mg2+ in binding reactions of the wild-type enzyme with DNA base-analogue substrates, as it provides identical DeltaDeltaG degrees bind values among the cleavable noncognate sites. Equilibrium dissociation constants of wild-type and base-analogue sites were also measured for the weakly active EcoRV mutant K38A, in the presence of either Mg2+ or Ca2+. In this case, Ca2+ allows expression of a greater degree of specificity than does Mg2+. DeltaDeltaG degrees bind values of K38A toward specific versus nonspecific sites are 6.1 kcal/mol with Ca2+ and 3.9 kcal/mol with Mg2+, perhaps reflecting metal-specific conformational changes in the ground-state ternary complexes. The enhancement of binding specificity provided by divalent metal ions is likely to be general to many restriction endonucleases and other metal-dependent nucleic acid-modifying enzymes. These results strongly suggest that measurements of DNA binding affinities for EcoRV, and likely for many other restriction endonucleases, should be performed in the presence of divalent metal ions.     

Ca2+ transport studied with arsenazo III in Tetrahymena microsomes. Effects of calcium ionophore A23187 and trifluoperazine

Transport of Ca2+ in microsomal membrane vesicles of the Tetrahymena has been investigated using arsenazo III as a Ca2+ indicator. The microsomes previously shown to carry a Mg2+-dependent, Ca2+-stimulated ATPase (Muto, Y. and Nozawa, Y. (1984) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 777, 67-74) accumulated calcium upon addition of ATP and Ca2+ sequestered into microsomal vesicles was rapidly discharged by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. Kinetic studies indicated that the apparent Km for free Ca2+ and ATP are 0.4 and 59 microM, respectively. The Vmax was about 40 nmol/mg protein per min at 37 degrees C. The calcium accumulated during ATP-dependent uptake was released after depletion of ATP in the incubation medium. Furthermore, addition of trifluoperazine which inhibited both (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase and ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake rapidly released the calcium accumulated in the microsomal vesicles. These observations suggest that Tetrahymena microsome contains both abilities to take up and to release calcium and may act as a Ca2+-regulating site in this organism.     

Na+/Ca2+ exchange in coated microvesicles.

Coated microvesicles isolated from bovine neurohypophyses could be loaded with Ca2+ in two different ways, either by incubation in the presence of ATP or by imposition of an outwardly directed Na+ gradient. Na+, but not K+, was able to release Ca2+ accumulated by the coated microvesicles. These results suggest the existence of an ATP-dependent Ca2+-transport system as well as of a Na+/Ca2+ carrier in the membrane of coated microvesicles similar to that present in the membranes of secretory vesicles from the neurohypophysis. A kinetic analysis of transport indicates that the apparent Km for free Ca2+ of the ATP-dependent uptake was 0.8 microM. The average Vmax. was 2 nmol of Ca2+/5 min per mg of protein. The total capacity of microvesicles for Ca2+ uptake was 3.7 nmol/mg of protein. Both nifedipine (10 microM) and NH4Cl (50 mM) inhibited Ca2+ uptake. The ATPase activity in purified coated-microvesicles fractions from brain and neurohypophysis was characterized. Micromolar concentrations of Ca2+ in the presence of millimolar concentrations of Mg2+ did not change enzyme activity. Ionophores increasing the proton permeability across membranes activated the ATPase activity in preparations of coated microvesicles from brain as well as from the neurohypophysis. Thus the enzyme exhibits properties of a proton-transporting ATPase. This enzyme seems to be linked to the ion accumulation by coated microvesicles, although the precise coupling of the proton transport to Ca2+ and Na+ fluxes remains to be determined.     

Effects of Ca2+ on ethanolaminephosphotransferase and cholinephosphotransferase in rabbit platelets

The effects of Ca2+ on ethanolaminephosphotransferase [EC 2.7.8.1] and cholinephosphotransferase [EC 2.7.8.2] activities in rabbit platelet membranes were studied using endogenous diglyceride and CDP-[3H]ethanolamine or CDP-[14C]choline as substrates. Both transferases required Mn2+, Co2+, or Mg2+ as a metal cofactor and the optimal concentrations of the metals for both activities were about 5, 10, and 5 mM, respectively. When 5 mM Mg2+ was used as a cofactor, both transferase activities were inhibited by a low concentration of Ca2+ (half maximal inhibition at approx. 15 microM). In the presence of 5 mM Mn2+, however, approx. 5 mM Ca2+ was required to produce half maximal inhibition. The Ca2+-induced inhibition was reversible and the rate of the inhibition was not affected either by the concentrations of the CDP-compound or by exogenously added diacylglycerol. The relationship between Ca2+ and both Mg2+ and Mn2+ on the transferase activities was competitive. 45Ca2+ binding (and/or uptake) to the platelet membranes was inhibited by Mn2+, Mg2+, and Co2+, in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the inhibitory effects of the three metal ions on the total Ca2+ binding (and/or uptake) did not correlate with the activation of both transferase activities by the three metal ions in the presence of Ca2+. These results suggest that both transferase activities are regulated by low concentrations of Ca2+ in the presence of optimal concentrations of Mg2+, and that the inhibition is mediated directly by Ca2+, which interacts with a specific metal cofactor binding site(s) of the transferases.     

Fusion of proteoliposomes and cells. ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake into erythrocytes catalyzed by Ca2+-ATPase from skeletal muscle

Purified Ca2+-ATPase from rabbit skeletal muscle has been incorporated into intact erythrocyte membranes by a two-step procedure. The isolated protein was reconstituted into proteoliposomes composed of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, and cardiolipin (50:20:30%, respectively). The resulting proteoliposomes were fused with erythrocytes in presence of La3+, Ca2+, or Mg2+. Subsequently, 45Ca uptake into the cells could be demonstrated. It was dependent on externally added ATP, inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide and p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, and enhanced by inactivation of the endogenous Ca2+-ATPase which catalyzes Ca2+ extrusion from the cells. The insertion of the protein did not induce cell lysis, but the cells did become more fragile. Functional insertion of isolated membrane proteins into cell membranes allows a new approach to research of plasma membranes.     

Ca2+ transport by rat liver plasma membranes: the transporter and the previously reported Ca2+-ATPase are different enzymes

A rat liver plasma membrane fraction showed an ATP-dependent uptake of Ca2+ which was released by the ionophore A23187. This activity represents a plasma membrane component and is not due to microsomal contamination. The Ca2+ transport displayed several properties which were different from those of the high-affinity Ca2+-ATPase previously observed in these membranes (Lotersztajn et al. (1981) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 11209-11215; Birch-Machin, M.A. and Dawson, A.P. (1986) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 855, 277-285). These observations have shown that Ca2+-ATPase does not require added Mg2+ whereas we have demonstrated that, in the same membrane preparation, Ca2+ uptake required millimolar concentrations of added Mg2+. The Ca2+-ATPase has a broad specificity for the nucleotides ATP, GTP, UTP and ITP while Ca2+ uptake remains specific for ATP. Ca2+ uptake also displayed different affinities for free Ca2+ and MgATP compared to Ca2+-ATPase activity, with apparent Km values of 0.25 microM Ca2+, 0.15 mM MgATP and 1.0 microM Ca2+, 4 microM MgATP respectively. The apparent maximum rate of Ca2+ uptake was about 150-fold less than Ca2+-ATPase activity. These features suggest that the high-affinity Ca2+-ATPase is not the enzymic expression of the ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport mechanism.     

Exaprolol as a modulator of heart sarcolemmal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. Evidence for interaction with an essential sulfhydryl group in the catalytic centre of the enzyme

Beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents may have, in addition to their primary action, also ancillary effects on the cell membrane. In the present paper the non-specific interaction of exaprolol with the ATPase systems in isolated rat heart sarcolemmal membranes was investigated. When preincubated with sarcolemmal membranes in vitro, exaprolol in concentrations below 10(-4) mol.l-1 had no significant effect on sarcolemmal Mg2+-, Ca2+- and (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activities. At exaprolol concentration of 10(-4) mol.l-1 the Mg2+- and Ca2+-ATPase activities became inhibited whereas the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity was markedly stimulated. A kinetic analysis of these interactions revealed a non-competitive inhibition of Mg2+- and Ca2+-ATPase. In the case of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase a synergistic type of stimulation characterized by an exaprolol-induced conversion of an essential sulfhydryl group in the active site of the enzyme to the more reactive [S-] form has been observed thus increasing the affinity of the enzyme to ATP. Exaprolol concentrations exceeding 5 X 10(-4) mol.l-1 induced an overall depression of the investigated enzyme activities.     

The role of a (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase of the rough endoplasmic reticulum in regulating intracellular Ca2+ during cholinergic stimulation of rat pancreatic acini

Rough endoplasmic reticulum membranes, purified from isolated rat pancreatic acini stimulated by carbachol, had a decreased Ca2+ content and increased (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity. Ca2+ was regained and ATPase activity reduced to control levels only after blockade by atropine. The (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase was activated by free Ca2+ (half-maximal at 0.17 microM; maximal at 0.7 microM) over the concentration range which occurs in the cell cytoplasm. Pretreatment with EGTA, at a high concentration (5 mM), inhibited ATPase activity which, our results suggest, was due to removal of a bound activator such as calmodulin. The rate of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase actively declined during the 10-min period over which maximal active accumulation of Ca2+ by membrane vesicles occurs. In the presence of ionophore A23187, which released actively accumulated Ca2+ and stimulated the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase, this time-dependent decline in activity was not observed. Our data provide evidence that the activity of the Ca2+-transporting ATPase of the rough endoplasmic reticulum is regulated by both extra and intravesicular Ca2+ and is consistent with a direct role of this enzyme in the release and uptake of Ca2+ during cholinergic stimulation of pancreatic acinar cells.