Studies on (Na+ +K+) activated ATPase. XLI. Effects of N-ethylmaleimide on overall and partial reactions

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.

(Na/ + K+)ATPase has one functioning phosphorylation site per alpha subunit

(Na+ + K+)ATPase contains two different subunits, a catalytic subunit (alpha) and a subunit with uncertain function (beta). The enzyme binds ATP, ouabain and vanadate, and can be phosphorylated by ATP as well as by inorganic phosphate. From the previously reported maximal binding and phosphorylation capacities of 3.5--4.3 nmol P per mg protein (based on Lowry protein determination) and the earlier molecular weight value of approximately 250,000, a molar binding and phosphorylation capacity of 0.87--1.07 mol per mol enzyme was derived. As it is generally agreed that the enzyme molecule contains two alpha subunits or even a multiple of two, it has been suggested that the enzyme operates by means of a so-called "half-of-the-sites mechanism" whereby only of the two alpha subunits can be phosphorylated at any one time. We now present evidence that every alpha subunit can be phosphorylated simultaneously, which rules out the operation of such a mechanism.

Studies on (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase. XLVI. Effect of cation-induced conformational changes on sulfhydryl group modification

(1) (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.6.3) contains 34 sulfhydryl groups on the catalytic subunit, and two on the glycoprotein subunit. Under native conditions, only sulfhydryl groups on the catalytic subunit are accessible to modifying reagents. (2) The degree of inhibition of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity by N-ethylmaleimide and 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) depends on the cations present in the reaction medium. Mg2+ strongly enchances the inhibitory effects of both sulfhydryl reagents. The effects of Mg2+ on the inhibition by 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) are counteracted by the addition of Na+ or K+. Na+ has no more effect than choline on the inhibition by 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), but it enhances the inhibitory effect of N-ethylmaleimide at low Na+ concentrations (less than 10 mM). Low concentrations of K+ (less than 10 mM) slightly protect the enzyme against modification. (3) Titration of residual sulfhydryl groups reveals that these ions do not only influence modification of essential sulfhydryl groups, but also that of sulfhydryl groups which are not essential for the enzyme activity. (4) These results indicate that Na+, K+ and Mg2+ have marked effects on the conformation of the catalytic subunit of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. Various enzyme conformations can be induced, depending on the concentration and the kind of cation added. The largest effects are observed after addition of Mg2+.

Studies on (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase. XLIV. Single phosphate incorporation during dual phosphorylation by inorganic phosphate and adenosine triphosphate

(Na+ + K+)-ATPase can be phosphorylated by its substrate ATP as well as by its product inorganic phosphate. The maximal capacity for phosphorylation by either of these two substances is one mol phosphate per mol enzyme. In order to investigate whether the enzyme molecule possesses only on phosphorylation site common to ATP and Pi, or two phosphorylation sites, one for ATP and one for Pi, dual phosphorylation of the enzyme has been carried out. Under conditions, which are maximally favourable for each type of phosphorylation, successive phosphorylation by Pi and ATP leads to a maximal incorporation of only one mol phosphate per mol enzyme. The phosphorylation capacity for ATP decreases by the same amount as the Pi-phosphorylation level increases, without an effect on the apparent affinity for ATP. The results can be explained by assuming either a single common phosphorylation site for Pi and ATP, or a conformational change of the enzyme following phosphorylation by Pi, which excludes phosphorylation by ATP.

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.

Studies on (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase. XLII. Evidence for two classes of essential sulfhydryl groups

1. Preincubation of purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) preparations from rabbit kidney outer medulla with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) inhibits the (Na+ + 5+)-ATPase and K+-stimulated 4-nitro-phenylphosphatase activities. Phosphorylation of the enzyme by ATP and the Na+-stimulated ATPase activity are inhibited to the same extent as the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity, whereas the K+-stimulated 4-nitrophenylphosphatase activity is inhibited much less. 2. Titration with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) in sodium dodecyl sulphate shows the presence of 36 reactive sulfhydryl groups per molecule (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (Mr = 250 000). 3. Treatment with N-ethylmaleimide, resulting in complete inhibition of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity, leads to modification of 26 sulfhydryl groups, whereas treatment with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) results in modification of 12 sulfhydryl groups under the same conditions. 4. The reaction of N-ethylmaleimide with an essential SH-group is not prevented by previous blocking of sulfhydryl groups with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid). 5. These findings indicate the existence of at least two classes of sulfhydryl groups on the enzyme, each containing at least one vital group. The difference between these classes consists in their different reactivity towards 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) and N-ethylmaleimide.