Visualizing the mapped ion pathway through the Na,K-ATPase pump

The Na+,K+-ATPase pump achieves thermodynamically uphill exchange of cytoplasmic Na+ ions for extracellular K+ ions by using ATP-mediated phosphorylation, followed by autodephosphorylation, to power conformational changes that allow ion access to the pump's binding sites from only one side of the membrane at a time. Formally, the pump behaves like an ion channel with two tightly coupled gates that are constrained to open and close alternately. The marine agent palytoxin disrupts this coupling, allowing both gates to sometimes be open, so temporarily transforming a pump into an ion channel. We made a cysteine scan of Na+,K+-ATPase transmembrane (TM) segments TM1 to TM6, and used recordings of Na+ current flow through palytoxin-bound pump-channels to monitor accessibility of introduced cysteine residues via their reaction with hydrophilic methanethiosulfonate (MTS) reagents. To visualize the open-channel pathway, the reactive positions were mapped onto a homology model of Na+,K+-ATPase based on the structure of the related sarcoplasmic- and endoplasmic-reticulum (SERCA) Ca2+-ATPase in a BeF3--trapped state1,2, in which the extra-cytoplasmic gate is wide open (although the cytoplasmic access pathway is firmly shut). The results revealed a single unbroken chain of reactive positions that traverses the pump from the extracellular surface to the cytoplasm, comprises residues from TM1, TM2, TM4, and TM6, and passes through the equivalent of cation binding site II in SERCA, but not through site I. Cavity search analysis of the homology model validated its use for mapping the data by yielding a calculated extra-cytoplasmic pathway surrounded by MTS-reactive residues. As predicted by previous experimental results, that calculated extra-cytoplasmic pathway abruptly broadens above residue T806, at the outermost end of TM6 which forms the floor of the extracellular-facing vestibule. These findings provide a structural basis for further understanding cation translocation by the Na+,K+-ATPase and by other P-type pumps like the Ca2+- and H+,K+-ATPases.     

Effect of clotrimazole on the pump cycle of the Na,K-ATPase

The effect of the antimycotic drug clotrimazole (CLT) on the Na,K-ATPase was investigated using fluorescence and electrical measurements. The results obtained by steady-state fluorescence experiments with the electrochromic styryl dye RH421 were combined with those achieved by a pre-steady-state method based on fast solution exchange on a solid supported membrane that adsorbs the protein. Both techniques are suitable for monitoring the electrogenic steps of the pump cycle and are in general complementary, yielding distinct kinetic information. The experiments show clearly that CLT affects specific partial reactions of the pump cycle of the Na,K-ATPase with an affinity in the low micromolar range and in a reversible manner. All results can be consistently explained by proposing the CLT-promoted formation of an ion-occluded-CLT-bound conformational E₂ state, that acts as a “dead-end” side track of the pump cycle, where X stands for H⁺ or K⁺. Na⁺ binding, enzyme phosphorylation, and Na⁺ transport were not affected by CLT, and at high CLT concentrations of the enzyme remained active in the physiological transport mode. The presence of Na⁺ and K⁺ destabilized the inactivated form of the Na,K-ATPase.     

The Na,K-ATPase pump and the lymphocyte adenylate cyclase system]

The effects of the Na(+)-K(+)-pump inhibitor ouabain on the beta 2-adrenoreceptor-coupled adenylate cyclase system were examined in vitro using intact human mononuclear lymphocytes and cell homogenates. Ouabain caused a dose-dependent increase in basal adenylate cyclase (AC) activity from 0.1 to 100 microM. The density of surface binding sites for 125ICYP (4 degrees C) was decreased by almost 25% after ouabain action. Glycoside shifted to the right the dose-response curve for stimulation of the cAMP synthesis by 1-isoproterenol. This shift was due to a decrease in the affinity of beta 2-adrenoreceptors for 1-isoproterenol, as it was shown in the competition experiments with 125ICYP (control--IC50, 1-isoproterenol--0.5 microM, ouabain--1.25 microM). Ouabain did not change the forskolin-stimulated AC activity. The activity measured in the presence of Gpp(NH)p which stimulates AC via Gs-protein was increased by ouabain; lag-period of Gpp(NH)p action did not change after ouabain addition. N-ethylmaleimide which inactivates Gi-protein increased basal, 1-isoproterenol and ouabain-sensitive AC activities. The stimulation of lymphocyte AC activity by ouabain may be due to an enhancement of the activation of Gs-protein.     

Phosphorylation of the Na,K-ATPase and the H,K-ATPase

Phosphorylation is a widely used, reversible means of regulating enzymatic activity. Among the important phosphorylation targets are the Na⁺,K⁺- and H⁺,K⁺-ATPases that pump ions against their chemical gradients to uphold ionic concentration differences over the plasma membrane. The two pumps are very homologous, and at least one of the phosphorylation sites is conserved, namely a cAMP activated protein kinase (PKA) site, which is important for regulating pumping activity, either by changing the cellular distribution of the ATPases or by directly altering the kinetic properties as supported by electrophysiological results presented here. We further review the other proposed pump phosphorylations.     

Increased brain Na, K-ATPase activity of rats under stress

The activities of Na, K- and Mg-dependent ATPases were measured in crude synaptosomal fractions isolated from the rat brain gray matter. Prolonged (6 h) exposure to emotional painful stress stimulated Na, K-ATPase activity by 40% without affecting that of Mg-ATPase. Preliminary injection of the free radical scavenger ionol presented Na, K-ATPase activation, thus suggesting the involvement of lipid peroxidation initiated in brain tissues under stress in acceleration of NA-pump function. However, model studies with lipid peroxidation induced in vitro by an ascorbate-dependent system in a membranous suspension demonstrated an opposite effect, i. e. fast inhibition of Na, K-ATPase. Possible reasons for the different effects of lipid peroxidation in vivo under stress and on Na, K-ATPase activity in vitro are discussed. It is concluded that activation of Na K-ATPase is a mechanism which is responsible for acceleration of reflex conditioning and for the maintenance of the conditioned reflexes in stress-exposed animals.     

The Na,K-ATPase

The energy dependent exchange of cytoplasmic Na⁺ for extracellular K⁺ in mammalian cells is due to a membrane bound enzyme system, the Na,K-ATPase. The exchange sustains a gradient for Na⁺ into and for K⁺ out of the cell, and this is used as an energy source for creation of the membrane potential, for its de- and repolarisation, for regulation of cytoplasmic ionic composition and for transepithelial transport. The Na,K-ATPase consists of two membrane spanning polypeptides, an -subunit of 112-kD and a -subunit, which is a glycoprotein of 35-kD. The catalytic properties are associated with the -subunit, which has the binding domain for ATP and the cations. In the review, attention will be given to the biochemical characterization of the reaction mechanism underlying the coupling between hydrolysis of the substate ATP and transport of Na⁺ and K⁺.     

The roles of the Na,K-ATPase beta 1 subunit in pump sorting and epithelial integrity

In epithelial MDCK cells, the Na,K-ATPase is co-localized with adherens junctions in all stages of monolayer formation starting from initiation of cell–cell contact. The Na,K-ATPase and adherens junction proteins stay partially co-localized even after internalization due to disruption of intercellular contacts by Ca²⁺ deprivation. Similar to adherens junction proteins, the Na,K-ATPase is resistant to extraction with non-ionic detergent, suggesting pump association with the cytoskeleton. In contrast, the heterodimer formed by expressed unglycosylated Na,K-ATPase β₁ subunit and the endogenous α₁ subunit is easily dissociated from the adherens junctions and cytoskeleton by detergent extraction. The MDCK cells in which half of the endogenous β₁ subunits in the lateral membrane are substituted by unglycosylated β₁ subunits display a slower rate of cell-to-cell contact formation and decreased ability to both spread over the surface and migrate. The lack of N-glycans in the Na,K-ATPase β₁ subunit results in an impairment of mature cell–cell junctions as detected by an increase in the paracellular permeability of the MDCK cell monolayers and by a decrease in resistance of adherens junction proteins to extraction by a non-ionic detergent. Therefore the N-glycans of the Na,K-ATPase β₁ subunit are important for retention of the pump at the sites of cell–cell contact. Moreover, they are important for the integrity and stability of cell–cell junctions in mature epithelia. In addition, N-glycans contribute to the formation of cell–cell contacts between surface-attached dispersed cells by mediating lamellipodia formation and stabilizing the newly formed adherens junctions.     

Binding of the third Na+ ion to the cytoplasmic side of the Na,K-ATPase is electrogenic.

A new experimental setup was constructed to allow parallel measurements of total internal reflection fluorescence and of capacitance changes in Na,K-ATPase-containing membranes. Effects correlated with cytoplasmic sodium binding to Na,K-ATPase were investigated. Ion binding-induced fluorescence changes of the electrochromic dye RH421 in membrane fragments adsorbed on a transparent capacitative electrode corresponded perfectly to capacitance increases detected by a lock-in technique. From these electric measurements it was possible to estimate a dielectric coefficient of about 0.25 for the electrogenic binding of the third Na+ ion. Binding of K+ to cytoplasmic sites was electroneutral.     

The action of radioprotectors on the systems of active ion transport. Na,K-ATPase

The in vivo and vitro studies have demonstrated that Na,K-ATPase activity in membranes of thymus, spleen, small intestine mucosa, liver, kidneys, and brain cortex of rats is inhibited by the effect of radioprotective agents: serotonin, dopamine, histamine, MEA, and AET.     

Lipid-protein interactions with the Na,K-ATPase

Studies of lipid interactions with membranous Na,K-ATPase by using electron spin resonance spectroscopy in conjunction with spin-labelled lipids are reviewed. The lipid stoichiometry, selectivity and exchange dynamics at the lipid-protein interface can be determined, in addition to information on the configuration and rotational dynamics of the protein-associated lipid chains. These parameters, particularly the stoichiometry and selectivity, are related directly to the intramembranous structure of the Na,K-ATPase, and can be used to check the integrity of extensively trypsinised preparations.     

Cation selectivity of gastric H,K-ATPase and Na,K-ATPase chimeras.

Chimeras of the catalytic subunits of the gastric H,K-ATPase and Na, K-ATPase were constructed and expressed in LLC-PK1 cells. The chimeras included the following: (i) a control, H85N (the first 85 residues comprising the cytoplasmic N terminus of Na,K-ATPase replaced by the analogous region of H,K-ATPase); (ii) H85N/H356-519N (the N-terminal half of the cytoplasmic M4-M5 loop also replaced); and (iii) H519N (the entire front half replaced). The latter two replacements confer a decrease in apparent affinity for extracellular K+. The 356-519 domain and, to a greater extent, the H519N replacement confer increased apparent selectivity for protons relative to Na+ at cytoplasmic sites as shown by the persistence of K+ influx when the proton concentration is increased and the Na+ concentration decreased. The pH and K+ dependence of ouabain-inhibitable ATPase of membranes derived from the transfected cells indicate that the H519N and, to a lesser extent, the H356-519N substitution decrease the effectiveness of K+ to compete for protons at putative cytoplasmic H+ activation sites. Notable pH-independent behavior of H85N/H356-519N at low Na+ suggests that as pH is decreased, Na+/K+ exchange is replaced largely by (Na+ + H+)/K+ exchange. With H519N, the pH and Na+ dependence of pump and ATPase activities suggest relatively active H+/K+ exchange even at neutral pH. Overall, this study provides evidence for important roles in cation selectivity for both the N-terminal half of the M4-M5 loop and the adjacent transmembrane helice(s).     

Postradiation changes in the systems of active ion transport in the CNS. Na,K-ATPase

A study was made of the effects of irradiation with lethal (0.31 C/kg) and superlethal (12.9 C/kg) doses on Na,K-ATPase activity of various membrane formations in rat brain cortex. The results obtained indicated a significant increase in the activity of the enzyme at different times after irradiation.     

Optical study of active ion transport in lipid vesicles containing reconstituted Na,K-ATPase

Summary A fluorescence method is described for the measurement of ATP-driven ion fluxes in lipid vesicles containing purified Na,K-ATPase. The membrane voltage of enzyme containing vesicles was measured by using a voltage-sensitive indocyanine dye. By addition of valinomycin the vesicle membrane is made selectively permeable to K⁺ so that the membrane voltage approaches the Nernst potential for K⁺. With constant external K⁺ concentration, the time course of internal K⁺ concentration can be continuously measured as change of the fluorescence signal after activation of the pump. The optical method has a higher time resolution than tracer-flux experiments and allows an accurate determination of initial flux rates. From the temperature dependence of active K⁺ transport its activation energy was determined to be 115 kJ/mol. ATP-stimulated electrogenic pumping can be measured as a fast fluorescence change when the membrane conductance is low (i.e., at low or zero valinomycin concentration). In accordance with expectation, the amplitude of the fast signal change increases with decreasing passive ion permeability of the vesicle membrane. The resolution of the charge movement is so high that a few pump turnovers can be easily detected.     

Evaluation of the effect of cafeteria diet on the kidney Na,K-ATPase activity,and oxidative stress

In this study, renal tissue, subdivided into the cortex and medulla of Wistar rats subjected to a cafeteria diet (CAF) for 24 days or to normal diet, was used to analyze whether the renal enzyme Na,K-ATPase activity was modified by CAF diet, as well as to analyze the α1 subunit of renal Na,K-ATPase expression levels. The lipid profile of the renal plasma membrane and oxidative stress were verified. In the Na,K-ATPase activity evaluation, no alteration was found, but a significant decrease of 30% in the cortex was detected in the α1 subunit expression of the enzyme. There was a 24% decrease in phospholipids in the cortex of rats submitted to CAF, a 17% increase in cholesterol levels in the cortex, and a 23% decrease in the medulla. Lipid peroxidation was significantly increased in the groups submitted to CAF, both in the cortical region, 29%, and in the medulla, 35%. Also, a reduction of 45% in the glutathione levels was observed in the cortex and medulla with CAF. CAF showed a nearly two-fold increase in glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in relation to the control group in the cortex and a 59% increase in the GPx activity in the medulla. In conclusion, although the diet was administered for a short period of time, important results were found, especially those related to the lipid profile and oxidative stress, which may directly affect renal function.     

Hyposmotic stress causes ATP release and stimulates Na,K-ATPase activity in porcine lens

Purinergic receptors in lens epithelium suggest lens function can be altered by chemical signals from aqueous humor or the lens itself. Here we show release of ATP by intact porcine lenses exposed to hyposmotic solution (200 mOsm). 18α-glycyrrhetinic acid (AGA) added together with probenecid eliminated the ATP increase. N-ethylmaleimide (200 μM), an exocytotic inhibitor, had no significant effect on ATP increase. Lenses exposed to hyposmotic solution displayed a ~400% increase of propidium iodide (PI) entry into the epithelium. The increased ability of PI (MW 668) to enter the epithelium suggests possible opening of connexin and/or pannexin hemichannels. This is consistent with detection of connexin 43, connexin 50, and pannexin 1 in the epithelium and the ability of AGA + probenecid to prevent ATP release. Na,K-ATPase activity doubled in the epithelium of lenses exposed to hyposmotic solution. The increase of Na,K-ATPase activity did not occur when apyrase was used to prevent extracellular ATP accumulation or when AGA + probenecid prevented ATP release. The increase of Na,K-ATPase activity was inhibited by the purinergic P2 antagonist reactive blue-2 and pertussis toxin, a G-protein inhibitor, but not by the P2X antagonist PPADS. Hyposmotic solution activated Src family kinase (SFK) in the epithelium, judged by Western blot. The SFK inhibitor PP2 abolished both SFK activation and the Na,K-ATPase activity increase. In summary, hyposmotic shock-induced ATP release is sufficient to activate a purinergic receptor- and SFK-dependent mechanism that stimulates Na,K-ATPase activity. The responses might signify an autoregulatory loop initiated by mechanical stress or osmotic swelling.     

A possible mechanism for the Na,K-ATPase

A model previously described for the Ca²⁺ pump of sarcoplasmic reticulum has been modified in a thought experiment so that it has the properties of a Na,K-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase). When the two Ca²⁺-specific sites are changed into three Na⁺-specific sites, and the channel which opens in the actively transporting conformation made univalent- instead of divalent-cation-selective, the model has the properties of the Na-ATPase which is observed on red cell membranes in the absence of both Na⁺ and K⁺ externally. As in the model for the Ca-ATPase the driving force for transport is generated by a change in solvent structure so that a preformed ionic equilibrium is displaced in favour of less-highly hydrated species; in this case highly hydrated Mg²⁺ ions displace the less highly hydrated Na⁺ ions from binding sites; and Na⁺ diffuses out through a simultaneously opened channel. With the addition of three external K⁺-selective sites per α-polypeptide chain, and the constraint that pump units with their external sites occupied by any univalent cation cannot be phosphorylated by ATP, the model turns out to have the properties of a Na,K-ATPase. It operates in the $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ exchange, $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ exchange, $\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ exchange, K⁺-dependent phosphatase, uncoupled Na⁺ efflux and pump reversal modes. It is concluded that if the modified water in the cleft of the phospho-enzymes has properties similar to those of water at 5°C the pump is competent to exchange three intracellular Na⁺ ions for two extracellular K⁺ ions, and one intracellular Na⁺ ion but it is incapable of exchanging three Na⁺ ions for three K⁺ ions.     

Inhibition of Na,K-ATPase and sodium pump by protein kinase C regulators sphingosine, lysophosphatidylcholine, and oleic acid

The effects and modes of action of certain lipid second messengers and protein kinase C regulators, such as sphingosine, lysophosphatidylcholine (lyso-PC), and oleic acid, on Na,K-ATPase and sodium pump were examined. Inhibition of purified rat brain synaptosome Na,K-ATPase by these lipid metabolites, unlike that by ouabain, was subject to membrane dilution (i.e. inhibition being counteracted by increasing amounts of membrane lipids). Kinetic analysis, using the purified enzyme, indicated that sphingosine and lyso-PC were likely to interact, directly or indirectly, with Na+-binding sites of Na,K-ATPase located at the intracellular face of plasma membranes, a conclusion also supported by studies on Na,K-ATPase and 22Na uptake using the inside-out vesicles of human erythrocyte membranes. The studies also showed that ouabain (but not sphingosine and lyso-PC) increased the affinity constant (K0.5) for K+, whereas sphingosine and lyso-PC (but not ouabain) increased K0.5 for Na+. Sphingosine and lyso-PC inhibited 86Rb uptake by intact human leukemia HL-60 cells at potencies comparable to those for inhibitions of purified Na,K-ATPase and protein kinase C. It is suggested that Na,K-ATPase (sodium pump) might represent an additional target system, besides protein kinase C, for sphingosine and possibly other lipid second messengers.