| Abstract: | Spin-labeled calmodulin was synthesized and the effects of phospholipids on its conformation were examined by ESR spectroscopy. Phosphatidylserine (0.1-1.0 mM) increased the signal intensity of the ESR spectrum of spin-labeled calmodulin and decreased the apparent rotational correlation time in the presence of 0.1 mM CaCl2. This change was reversed by addition of excess calcium, and in the absence of calcium phosphatidylserine did not change the spectrum, suggesting that the change in spin-labeled calmodulin brought about by phosphatidylserine was not induced by a hydrophobic interaction of the two, but by inhibition of the binding of calcium to calmodulin. L-Serine and O-phospho-L-serine had no effect on the ESR signals of spin-labeled calmodulin. The effects of various other phospholipids were also examined. Their inhibitory activities were in the order phosphatidic acid greater than phosphatidylserine greater than phosphatidylglycerol = phosphatidylinositol; phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine had no effect on the spectra. The effects of these phospholipids were dependent on their binding activities toward calcium. Furthermore, phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine at 1 mM reduced the activity of calmodulin-dependent phosphodiesterase by 16.4 and 8.7%, respectively. These findings indicate that spin-labeled calmodulin did not interact with the phospholipids by a hydrophobic interaction, but that calcium binding to spin-labeled calmodulin interfered with phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol, and some of these phospholipids inactivated calmodulin. Thus the activity of calmodulin may be regulated in part by some phospholipids. |
