Purification and characterization of (Na+, K+)-ATPase. V. Conformational changes in the enzyme Transitions between the Na-form and the K-form studied with tryptic digestion as a tool

Evidence for a Mg2+-induced conformational change at the ATP-binding site of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase demonstrated with a photoreactive ATP-analogue

1. The 3'-ribosyl ester of ATP with 2-nitro-4-azidophenyl propionic acid has been prepared and its ability to act as a photoaffinity label of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase has been tested. 2. In the dark 3'-O-[3-(2-nitro-4-azidophenyl)-propionyl]adenosine triphosphate (N3-ATP) is a substrate of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and a competitive inhibitor of ATP hydrolysis. 3. Upon irradiation by ultraviolet light, N3-ATP photolabels the high-affinity ATP-binding site and is covalently attached to the alpha-subunit and an approximately 12000-Mr component. 4. Photolabeling of the alpha-subunit by N3-ATP irreversibly inactivates (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. 5. Photoinactivation is strictly Mg2+-dependent. Na+ enhances the inactivation. ATP or ADP and K+ protect the enzyme against inactivation. 6. Mg2+, in concentrations required for photoinactivation, protects (Na+ + K+)-ATPase against inactivation by tryptic digestion under controlled conditions. 7. It is assumed that a conformational change of the ATP-binding site of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase occurs upon binding of Mg2+ to a low-affinity site.

Molecular considerations relevant to the mechanism of active transport

A small group of closely related proteins is responsible for all active transport in animal cells, and inorganic cations are the only substances transported by these enzymes. They share a common kinetic mechanism in which two fundamental conformations participate, each receiving and dispatching substrates from its unique side of the membrane. During transport, the cations must pass through their enzyme to cross the membrane and intense interest is currently focused on the possibility that the path which they follow lies within the interface between two discrete subunits in a dimeric structure. Although 'half-of-sites' behaviour, consistent with this hypothesis, has been reported, it is now known that systematic errors were responsible for this mistaken conclusion. The number of protomers which comprise a functional unit of active transport has not been determined.

Mechanistic implications of the potassium-potassium exchange carried out by the sodium-potassium pump

1. The magnitude of the K-K exchange carried out by the Na pump in human red cells was measured as a function of the external K concentration in cells with high and low intracellular K. The apparent K1/2 for external K and the Vm increased by the same proportion when intracellular K was raised. The result suggests that the K-K exchange is part of a ping-pong reaction mechanism. 2. The velocity of the exchange increases monotonically with intracellular phosphate and ATP concentration; neither substrate inhibits at very high concentration. 3. These results seem to require that the enzyme species which carries out the exchange is both phosphorylated and combined with ATP.

A transport model for the (Na+/K+)ATPase in liposomes including the (Na+/K+)-channel function

(Na+/K+)ATPase liposomes of various degrees of reconstitution are formed by varying the amount of phosphatidylcholine added to the soluble (Na+/K+)ATPase before vesicles are formed by cholate removal. In the presence of ATP, the reconstituted sodium pump effectuates (Na+/K+) antiport. In the absence of ATP, the reconstituted sodium pump forms a (Na+/K+) channel. The stable plateaus formed by (1) the active Na+ transport, (2) the active K+ transport, (3) the 'passive' Na+ flux, and (4) the 'passive' K+ flux are determined in the optimally and the partially reconstituted liposomes. The activities of all four vectorial functions vary in a tightly correlated fashion, suggesting that they are mediated by the same transport-active configuration of (Na+/K+)ATPase. A transport model which includes the active and the passive (Na+/K+) fluxes mediated by the sodium pump in liposomes is outlined.

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.

The steady-state kinetic mechanism of ATP hydrolysis catalyzed by membrane-bound (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from ox brain. III. A minimal model

A steady-state kinetic investigation of the effect of K+ on the Na+-enzyme activity of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in broken membrane preparations is reported. Analysis of the kinetic patterns obtained, together with the results reported in the first two articles of this series permit the following conclusions. 1. K+ inhibits the Na+-enzyme (the enzyme activity measured at micromolar substrate concentrations in the presence of Na+). The inhibition of non-competitive at low and competitive at higher K+ concentrations and is enhanced by free Mg2+. 2. The results indicate that the Na+-enzyme at steady-state tends to be accumulated in an enzyme-potassium complex when K+ is added. 3. The enzyme-potassium complex, in turn, binds Mg2+ in a dead-end fashion. The dissociation constant for the enzyme-K-Mg complex, estimated from the data, is 7.2 mM. The same value was obtained earlier for the Mg2+ inhibition constant of the substrate-free form of the (Na+ + K+)-enzyme (the enzyme activity measured with Na+ and K+ and at millimolar substrate concentrations) suggesting that the two constants describe the same equilibrium. 4. On the basis of the known (optimal) activity of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, relative to that of the Na+-ATPase, a rate constant condition is found which must be met if the Post-Albers kinetic scheme is to satisfy the data. Kinetic data for the phosphoenzyme indicate that this condition is not satisfied. 5. On the basis of the kinetic results a model for the hydrolytic action of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is proposed. This model encompasses the Post-Albers scheme but contains two distinctive hydrolysis cycles (an 'Na+-enzyme cycle' and a '(Na+ + K+)-enzyme cycle') with widely different affinities for the substrates. Only one of the cycles (the Na+-enzyme cycle) involves acid-stable phosphorylated enzyme intermediates at discernible steady-state concentrations. Which of the two main cycles is predominant in any particular system is determined by the concentration of ligands and substrates. 6. According to this scheme, an enzyme preparation may exhibit both a high (Na+-enzyme) and a low ((Na+ + K+)-enzyme) substrate affinity, without the necessity of assigning more than one substrate site to a particular enzyme unit at any one time.

The effects of ATP on the interactions between monovalent cations and the sodium pump in dialysed squid axons

1. The efflux of Na in dialysed axons of the squid has been used to monitor the sidedness of the interactions of the Na pump with Na(+) ions, K(+) ions and ATP. The axons were under conditions such that most of the Na efflux went through the Na pump by means of a complete cycle of ATP hydrolysis.2. With 310 mm-K(i) (+), 70 mm-Na(i) (+) and 10 mm-K(+) artificial sea water (ASW) more than 97% of the Na efflux was abolished by removal of ATP. The efflux of Na was stimulated by ATP with a K((1/2)) of about 200 mum. This is similar to the K((1/2)) of 150 mum found for the ATP dependence of a ouabain-sensitive Na,K-ATPase activity in membrane fragments isolated from squid optical nerves.3. A 100-fold reduction in the ATP concentration (from 3-5 mm to 30-50 mum) increased the apparent affinity of the Na pump for K(o) (+) about 8-fold. In addition, the maximal rate of K(o) (+)-stimulated Na efflux was reduced by a similar factor. Analogous results were seen in axons dialysed with 310 mm-K(i) (+) or without K(i) (+).4. The relative effectiveness of external monovalent cations as activators of the Na efflux was a function of the ATP concentration inside the axon. With 3-5 mm-ATP the order of effectiveness was K(+) > NH(4) (+) > Rb(+). With 30-50 mum-ATP the sequence was NH(4) (+) >> K(+) >> Rb(+). These results were not affected by the removal of K(i) (+).5. When the ATP concentration was 3 mm and the Na(i) (+) concentration 70 mm, the removal of K(i) (+) produced a slight and reversible increase in the total efflux of Na (15%) and no change in the ATP-dependent Na efflux. When the ATP concentration was reduced to 30-50 mum, or the Na(i) (+) concentration lowered to 5-10 mm, the removal of K(i) (+) reversibly increased the total and the ATP-dependent efflux of Na. The largest increase in Na efflux was seen when both ATP and Na(i) (+) were simultaneously reduced. The ATP-dependent extra Na efflux resulting from the exclusion of K(i) (+) was abolished by 10(-4)m-ouabain in the sea waters.6. The increase in the ATP-dependent Na efflux observed in axons dialysed with 0 K(i) (+) + 10 mm-K(+) ASW was not seen in axons perfused with 310 mm-K(i) (+) + 450 mm-K(+) ASW. However, both experimental conditions gave rise to a similar (and small) ATP-independent and ouabain-insensitive efflux of Na. This indicates that the effects on the Na pump of removing K(i) (+) are not due to the simultaneous membrane depolarization. In addition, it suggests that K(i) (+) has an inhibitory effect on the Na pump, and that that effect is antagonized by Na(i) (+) and ATP.7. The present results are consistent with the idea that the same conformation of the Na pump (and Na,K-ATPase) can be reached by interaction with external K(+) after phosphorylation and with internal K(+) before rephosphorylation. This enzyme conformation produces an enzyme-K complex from which K(+) ions are not easily released unless high concentrations of ATP are present. This also stresses a non-phosphorylating regulatory role of ATP.

Substituting manganese for magnesium alters certain reaction properties of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

MnCl2 was partially effective as a substitute for MgCl2 in activating the K+- dependent phosphatase reaction catalyzed by a purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase enzyme preparation from canine kidney medulla, the maximal velocity attainable being one-fourth that with MgCl2. Estimates of the concentration of free Mn2+ available when the reaction was half-maximally stimulated lie in the range of the single high-affinity divalent cation site previously identified (Grisham, C.M. and Mildvan, A.S. (1974) J. Biol. Chem. 249, 3187--3197). MnCl2 competed with MgCl2 as activator of the phosphatase reaction, again consistent with action through a single site. However, with MnCl2 appreciable ouabain-inhibitable phosphatase activity occurred in the absence of added KCl, and the apparent affinities for K+ as activator of the reaction and for Na+ as inhibitor were both decreased. For the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase reaction substituting MnCl2 for MgCl2 was also partially effective, but no stimulation in the absence of added KCl, in either the absence or presence of NaCl, was detectable. Moreover, the apparent affinity for K+ was increased by the substitution, although that for Na+ was decreased as in the phosphatase reaction. Substituting MnCl2 also altered the sensitivity to inhibitors. For both reactions the inhibition by ouabain and by vanadate was increased, as was binding of [48V] -vanadate to the enzyme; furthermore, binding in the presence of MnCl2 was, unlike that with MgCl2, insensitive to KCl and NaCl. Inhibition of the phosphatase reaction by ATP was decreased with 1 mM but not 10 mM KCl. Finally, inhibition of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase reaction by Triton X-100 was increased, but that by dimethylsulfoxide decreased after such substitution. These findings are considered in terms of Mn2+ at the divalent cation site being a better selector than Mg2+ of the E2 conformational states of the enzyme, states also selected by K+ and by dimethylsulfoxide and reactive with ouabain and vanadate; the E1 conformational states, by contrast, are those selected by Na+ and ATP, and also by Triton X-100.

Sidedness of the effects of sodium and potassium ions on the conformational state of the sodium-potassium pump

1. (Na,K)ATPase from kidney membranes has been reconstituted into proteoliposomes following solubilization in cholate, by the freeze-thaw sonication procedure described by Kasahara & Hinkle (1977). The method is rapid and convenient.2. Upon addition of ATP to the exterior medium the reconstituted vesicles sustain high rates of active (22)Na uptake and (86)Rb efflux with many properties similar to those of the Na/K pump in well characterized cells such as erythrocytes.3. Observations on both active and passive transport of (22) Na and (86)Rb indicate that the vesicle population is heterogeneous; about 40 per cent contain Na/K pumps and the remainder seem to be plain lipid vesicles.4. The major Na(+)- or K(+)-stabilized non-phosphorylated conformational forms of the (Na, K)ATPase, E(1). Na and E(2). (K) respectively, have been investigated in the proteoliposomes, with particular regard to sidedness of the actions of Na(+) and K(+).5. Tryptic digestion of the vesicles reveals the Na(+)- and K(+)-stabilized conformations E(1). Na and E(2). (K) as characterized originally for purified (Na, K)ATPase (Jørgensen, 1975). Controlled trypsinolysis of Tris(+)-loaded vesicles in a Na(+)-or K(+)-containing medium leads to typical biphasic (Na(+)) or simple exponential (K(+)) time courses respectively, for loss of ATP-dependent (22)Na uptake (assayed subsequent to the tryptic digestion in the presence of inophores valinomycin plus FCCP). Tryptic digestion of K(+)- or Rb(+)- or Tris(+)-loaded vesicles suspended in a Na(+) medium results only in the biphasic (E(1). Na) pattern of loss of ATP-dependent (22)Na uptake.6. ATP-dependent (22)Na uptake and (86)Rb efflux are reduced by about the same extent following a short tryptic digestion in a Na(+)-containing medium.7. Vanadate ions inhibit ATP-dependent (22)Na uptake into the vesicles, at low concentrations (K(0.5) approximately 2 x 10(-7)m), following pre-incubation together with Mg(2+) and K(+) ions. K(+) ions in the medium are effective, K(+) ions within the vesicle are not. Na(+) ions in the medium prevent inhibition by vanadate+Mg(2+) but do not reverse inhibition in vesicles pre-incubated with vanadate, Mg(2+) and K(+) ions.8. The results show that the conformational forms E(1). Na and E(2). (K) are stabilized by Na(+) or K(+) ions respectively, bound to sites on the Na/K pump normally facing the cytoplasm. The significance of this finding is discussed in relation to the cation transport function of the pump.

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+.

Effects of ATP and protons on the Na : K selectivity of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase studied by ligand effects on intrinsic and extrinsic fluorescence

The effect of pH and of ATP on the Na : K selectivity of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase has been tested under equilibrium conditions. The Na+ : K+-induced change in intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence and in fluorescence of eosin maleimide bound to the system has been used as a tool. 1 mol of eosin maleimide per mol of enzyme gives no loss in either ATPase or phosphatase activity and the fluorescence in the presence of Na+ is about 30% higher than in the presence of K+. Choline, protonated Tris, protonated histidine and Mg2+ have an 'Na+' effect on the extrinsic fluorescence, while Rb+, Cs+ and NH4+ have a 'K+' effect. Choline and protonated Tris have an Na+ effect on intrinsic fluorescence. A close correlation between the effect of Na+ compared to K+ on the fluorescence change and on Na+ activation of hydrolysis indicates that the observed changes in fluorescence are due to an effect of Na+ and of K+ on the internal sites of the system. The equilibrium between the two conformations, which are reflected by the difference in fluorescence with Na+ and K+, respectively, is highly influenced by the concentration of protons. At a given Na+ : K+ ratio, an increase in the proton concentration shifts the equilibrium towards the 'K+' fluorescence form while a decrease shifts the equilibrium towards the 'Na+' fluorescence form, i.e., protons increase the apparent affinity for K+ and vice versa, K+ increases pK values of importance for the Na+ : K+ selectivity. Conversely, a decrease in protons increases the apparent affinity for Na+ and vice versa, Na+ decreases the pK. ATP decreases the apparent pK for the protonation-deprotonation, i.e., ATP facilitates the deprotonation which accompanies Na+ binding. The results suggest two effects of ATP for the hydrolysis in the presence of Na+ and K+ : (i) at low ATP concentrations (K0.5 < 10 microM) on the K+-Na+ exchange on the internal sites and (ii) at higher, substrate, concentrations on the activation by K+ on the external sites.

Lack of gross protein structure changes in the working cycle of (Na+, K+)-dependent adenosinetriphosphatase. Evidence from infrared and intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy data

Infrared and tryptophan fluorescence spectra of practically all sufficiently stable functional complexes of a highly purified preparation of membrane-bound (Na+, K+)-dependent ATPase have been measured. The formation of any functional complex was not accompanied by any considerable change of either shape or position of the tryptophan fluorescence spectrum. Only in the presence of adenine nucleotides was there a small decrease of fluorescence intensity (by 5-8%), which apparently results from a change of the sample light scattering. Analysis of the results obtained leads to the conclusion that the environment of no more than one or a few tryptophan residues may differ in all the (Na+, K+)-ATPase complexes studies. A comparison of infrared protein spectra in the region of amide I band showed that at any wavenumber the differences between them did not exceed 3% of the maximum absorption. This means that no more than 3% of protein peptide groups can change their conformation upon transition between the enzyme functional states. These results, obtained by two independent techniques, allow us to conclude that even if changes of the internal protein structure occur during the working cycle of this transport system, if they have an extremely local character.

Small differences in tryptophan fluorescence spectra of 'sodium' and 'potassium' forms of (Na+, K+)-dependent adenosinetriphosphatase

A detailed comparative analysis of tryptophan fluorescence spectra of 'sodium' and 'potassium' forms of (Na+, K+)-activated ATPase was carried out. The 'potassium' form spectrum is shifted relative to that of the 'sodium' form by approximately 0.5-1 nm towards shorter wavelengths. The maximal amplitude of the difference spectrum for these forms makes up about 2% of maximal fluorescence intensity of any of the forms. The shape of the difference spectrum does not depend on the solution temperature or ionic strength. The spectral differences between the forms are reversible upon addition of a functionally opposite cation (K+ for 'sodium' form and vice versa) into the medium. The results suggest that if the differences in fluorescence spectra of the 'sodium' and 'potassium' forms of (Na+, K+)-ATPase resulted from the differences in the protein structure, they may be caused by an alteration in local environment of no more than one or two tryptophan residues.

Sensitivity of the (Na+ + k+)-atpase to state-dependent inhibitors. Effects of digitonin and Triton X-100

Treatment of a purified (NA+ + 5+)-ATPase preparation from dog kidney with digitonin reduced enzymatic activity, with the (Na+ + k+)-atpase reaction inhibited more than the K+-phosphatase reaction that is also catalyzed by this enzyme. Under the usual assay conditions oligomycin inhibits the (Na+ + k+)-atpase reaction but not the K+-phosphatase reaction; however, treatment with digitonin made the K+-phosphatase reaction almost as sensitive to oligomycin as the (Na+ + k+)-atpase reaction. The non-ionic detergents, Triton X-100, Lubrol WX and Tween 20, also conferred sensitivity to oligomycin on the K+-phosphatase reaction (in the absence of oligomycin all these detergents, unlike digitonin, inhibited the K+-phosphatase reaction more than the (Na+ + k+)-atpase reaction). Both digitonin and Triton markedly increased the K0.5 for K+ as activator of the K+-phosphatase reaction, with little effect on the K0.5 for K+ as activator of the (Na+ + k+)-ATpase reaction. In contrast, increasing the K0.5 for K+ in the K+-phosphatase reaction by treatment of the enxyme with acetic anhydride did not confer sensitivity to oligomycin. Both digitonin and Triton also increased the inhibition of the K+-phosphatase reaction by ATP and increased the inhibition by inorganic phosphate and vanadate. These observations are interpreted as digitonin and Triton favoring the E1 conformational state of the enzyme (manifested by sensitivity to oligomycin and a greater affinity for ATP at the low-affinity substrate sites), as opposed to the E2 state (manifested by insensitivity to oligomycin, greater sensitivity to phosphate and vanadate, and a lower K0.5 for K+ in the K+-phosphatase reaction). In addition, digitonin blocked activation of the phosphatase reaction by Na+ plus CTP. This effect is consistent with digitonin dissociating the catalytic subunits of the enzyme, the interaction of which may be essential for activation by Na+ plus nucleotide.

The order of release of sodium and addition of potassium in the sodium-potassium pump reaction mechanism

1. The characteristics of oligomycin inhibition of the Na--K pump of human red cell membranes was investigated. Oligomycin inhibition of the pump was found to be reversible. 2. Inhibition of Na--K ATPase activity was uncompetitive with respect to ATP in broken membrane preparations. In intact cells inhibition was uncompetitive with respect to both intracellular and extracellular Na. 3. Oligomycin did not significantly inhibit the K--K exchange if the cells were Na-free, but if the cells contained a small amount of Na, oligomycin inhibition of the K--K exchange became significant. Taken together with the findings described above, this indicates that oligomycin combines with E1P-Na conformation of the pump and not with any E2 conformation. 4. When measurements are made in solutions high in Na, oligomycin is a non-competitive inhibitor with respect to external K, but in Na-free solutions, oligomycin inhibition is uncompetitive with respect to external K. 5. These findings indicate that, in the normal operation of the pump, Na is released to the outside before K adds.

Defective conformational response in a selectively trypsinized (Na+ + K+)-ATPase studied with tryptophan fluorescence

1. Monitoring protein conformations of purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase with intrinsic fluorescence we have examined if altered conformational responses accompany the defective catalytic and transport processes in selectively modified 'invalid' (Na+ + K+)-ATPase which is obtained by graded tryptic digestion of the Na+ form of the protein. 2. The protein fluorescence intensity of the K+ form (E2K) of both control and invalid (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is 2--3% higher than that of the Na+ form (E1Na). By varying the NaCl concentration we found evidence for different fluorescence intensities of the two phosphoenzymes; E2P has the same fluorescence intensity as E2K and the intensity of E1P is similar to that of E1Na. The fraction of phosphoenzyme present as E2P can therefore be determined as the amplitude of the fluorescence change accompanying phosphorylation in the absence of K+ divided by the amplitude of the full response to K+. 3. Titration of the fluorescence responses of the invalid (Na+ + K+)-ATPase shows that the tryptic split alters the noise of the equilibria between the cation-bound conformations, E1Na and E2K, and between the phosphoforms, E1P and E2P, in the direction of the E1 forms. 4. Vanadate binds to the Mg2+-bound form of E2K and prevents further changes in fluorescence intensity of the protein. The conformative responses of invalid (Na+ + K+)-ATPase are insensitive to vanadate in agreement with the reduced vanadate binding affinity of this enzyme. 5. The defective conformative response of the invalid (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in relation to its catalytic defects, reduced Na+ transport, and insensitivity to vanadate suggest that the transitions between Na+ forms (E1) and K+ forms (E2) of the protein are coupled to the catalytic and transport reactions of the (Na+ + K+)-pump.

The equilibrium between different conformations of the unphosphorylated sodium pump: effects of ATP and of potassium ions, and their relevance to potassium transport

1. Changes in the intrinsic fluorescence of Na, K-ATPase protein have been used to monitor the interconversion of E(1) (low fluorescence) and E(2) (high fluorescence) forms of the unphosphorylated enzyme.2. In media lacking sodium and nucleotides, 1 mM-potassium was sufficient to convert practically all of the enzyme into the E(2) form. In media containing 1 mM-potassium, 1 mM-EDTA, and no sodium or magnesium, the addition of ATP, or its beta, gamma-imido or methylene analogues, converted the enzyme back into the E(1) form. The relation between nucleotide concentration and the fraction of the enzyme that was in the E(1) form could be described by a rectangular hyperbola, with a K((1/2)) of about 15 muM for ATP, 65 muM for adenylyl-imidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP) and 180 muM for adenylyl (beta, gamma-methylene)-diphosphonate (AMP-PCP). ADP also converted the enzyme back into the E(1) form, with a K((1/2)) of about 25 muM, but the relation between concentration and fraction converted was not well described by a rectangular hyperbola.3. In similar media containing 50 mM-potassium, much higher concentrations of ATP were required to convert the enzyme back into the E(1) form, and the conversion was probably incomplete.4. If we assume that ATP and potassium ions affect each other's binding solely by altering the equilibrium between E(1) and E(2) forms of the enzyme, we are able to conclude (i) that potassium ions bind to the E(1) form with a moderately low affinity, (ii) that, in the absence of nucleotides, the equilibrium between E(1)K and E(2)K is poised strongly in favour of E(2)K, (iii) that the binding of ATP to a low-affinity site alters the equilibrium constant for the interconversion of E(1)K and E(2)K by two to three orders of magnitude, so that, at saturating levels of ATP, the equilibrium is probably slightly in favour of E(1)K, and (iv) that in sodium-free, potassium-containing media, ATP will appear to bind to the enzyme more tightly than would be expected from the dissociation constant of the E(2)K. ATP complex.5. The pattern of the equilibrium constants for the various reactions between E(1), E(2), ATP and potassium is compatible with the hypothesis that the ATP-accelerated conversion of E(2)K into E(1)K, and the subsequent release of potassium ions from low-affinity inward-facing sites, are part of the normal sequence of events during potassium influx in physiological conditions.

5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine as an ATP site affinity probe for Na+, K+-ATPase

We have investigated the suitability of 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine (FSBA) as an ATP site affinity probe for the canine kidney Na+, K+-ATPase. The purified enzyme is slowly inactivated by this compound in suitable buffers, losing about half of its activity over a two-hour period. The rate of inactivation is more rapid in 0.1 M KCl than in 0.1 M NaCl. Low concentrations of ATP protect the enzyme against inactivation, with half-maximal effects at 4 microM ATP in 0.1 M NaCl and 350 microM ATP in 0.1 M KCl. ADP also protects against FSBA inhibition, but AMP is ineffective when present at 100 microM levels. This pattern is consistent with the previously described nucleotide specificity of the Na+, K+-ATPase. Addition of protective amounts of ATP after inactivation has occurred does not restore enzyme activity, indicating that inhibition is irreversible. Measurement of the concentration-dependence of FSBA inactivation suggests an apparent Kd for binding of this compound well above 1 mM, the solubility limit of the analog. This finding is reinforced by the failure of 1 mM FSBA to compete effectively with ATP for the high-affinity ATP site of the enzyme. Nevertheless, attachment of the analog to this site is indicated by its ability to prevent [3H]-ADP binding in proportion to the number of sites it has inactivated. Studies with [3H]-FSBA show that about 1 mole of the analog attaches specifically to the alpha subunit per mole of enzyme inactivated. A similar amount of nonspecific labeling also occurs with negligible effect on enzyme activity. These findings suggest that FSBA may be useful in probing the topography of the high-affinity ATP binding site of the Na+, K+-ATPase and related enzymes.

Effect of immobilization on stability and properties of N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase from Turbo cornutus

A mixture of glycosidases from the liver of the gastropod Turbo cornutus was co-immobilized with bovine serum albumin and glutaraldehyde, and then cast as membranes. The properties of immobilized N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase were studied. The recovery of N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase after immobilization was unaffected by increasing the concentration of glutaraldehyde, but was decreased by increasing the bovine serum albumin concentration. The immobilized enzyme showed enhanced resistance towards proteolytic and thermal inactivation. While the pH optimum for the soluble enzyme was 4.0, a bimodal pH curve with optima at 3.4 and 5.0 was observed after insolubilization. This bimodality was abolished when the immobilized enzyme was assayed in the presence of M NaCl. The Km values, for p-nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranoside, of the immobilized isoenzymes of N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase were larger than those of their soluble counterparts. No loss of activity could be detected in the membrane after using it for 24 consecutive assays or after storage for at least 50 days at 4 degrees.

The relipidation of delipidated Na,K-ATPase. An analysis of complex formation with dioleoylphosphatidylcholine and with dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine

Enzymatically inactive, delipidated Na,K-ATPase from dogfish rectal glands was titrated with dioleoylphosphatidylcholine and with dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine. The process of relipidation has the following characteristic properties. Enzymatic activities reappear independently of each other: first the phosphatase, then the ATPase. The properties of the phosphatase regenerated depend on the ratio of lipid/protein used; the ATPase seems to be independent of this ratio. The simplest model that is consistent with the above results and with the shapes of the titration curves, has the following requirements. Firstly, the enzyme is composed of two subunits that, as far as lipid binding is concerned, are identical and independent of each other. Secondly, lipid adds onto the enzyme as preformed clumps of 25 molecules of phosphatidylcholine or 18 molecules of phosphatidylethanolamine. Thirdly, each subunit binds two clumps of lipid, and binding shows positive cooperativity. Fourthly, when either subunit becomes saturated with lipid, the enzyme exhibits one form of phosphatase. Fifthly, when both subunits are saturated with lipid, the enzyme exhibits a second form of phosphatase and ATPase. The data and their analysis according to this model lead to the suggestion that Na,K-ATPase is a functional dimer, the interaction between subunits being influenced by the Na+ and K+ concentrations in the medium: K+ favouring the functional independence of the subunits and Na+ favouring their functional interaction.

Conformational changes of membrane-bound (Na+--K+)-ATPase as revealed by trypsin digestion

To distinguish ligand-induced structural states of the (Na+--K+)-ATPase, the purified membrane-bound enzyme isolated from rat kidneys was digested with trypsin in the presence of various combinations of Na+, K+, Mg++ and ATP. It was found that first the large and then the small polypeptide chain of the (Na+--K+)-ATPase was degraded, indicating that the lysine and arginine residues of the large chain are more exposed than are those of the small one. The (Na+--K+)-ATPase activity was inactivated in parallel with the degradation of the large polypeptide chain. After the degradation of the large polypeptide chain, about 75% of the (Na+--K+)-ATPase protein remained bound to the membrane, demonstrating that the split protein segments were only partially released. It was found that the combinations of ATP, Mg++, Na+ and K+ present during trypsin digestion influenced the time course and degree of degradation of the (Na+--K+)-ATPase protein. The degradations of the large and the small polypeptide chain were affected in parallel. Thus, certain ATP and ligand combinations influenced neither the degradation of the large nor the degradation of the small polypeptide chain, whereas by other combinations of ATP and ligands the degree of susceptibility of both polypeptide chains to trypsin was equally increased or reduced. In the absence of ATP the time course of trypsin digestion of the (Na+--K+)-ATPase was the same, whether Na+ or K+ was present. With low ATP concentrations (e.g., 0.1 mM), however, binding of Na+ or K+ led to different degradation patterns of the enzyme. If a high concentration of ATP (e.g. 10 mM) was present, Na+ and K+ also influenced the degradation pattern of the (Na+--K+)-ATPase, but differentially compared to that at low ATP concentrations, since the effects of Na+ and K+ were reversed. Furthermore, it was found that the degradation of the small chain was only influenced by certain combinations of ATP, Mg++, Na+ and K+ if the large chain was intact when the ligands were added to the enzyme. The described results demonstrate structural alterations of the (Na+--K+)-ATPase complex which are supposed to include a synchronous protrusion or retraction of both (Na+--K+)-ATPase subunits. The data further suggest that ATP and other ligands primarily alter the structure of the large (Na+--K+)-ATPase subunit. This structural alteration is presumed to lead to a synchronous movement of the small subunit of the enzyme. The structural state of the (Na+--K+)-ATPase is regulated by binding of Na+ or K+ to the enzyme-ATP complex. The effects of Na+ and K+ on the (Na+--K+)-ATPase structure are modulated by the ATP binding to "high affinity" and to "low affinity" ATP binding sites.

Sidedness of the ATP-Na+-K+ interactions with the Na+ pump in squid axons

Using dialysed squid axons we have been able to control internal and external ionic compositions under conditions in which most of the Na+ efflux goes through the Na+ pump. We found that (i) internal K+ had a strong inhibitory effect on Na+ efflux; this effect was antagonized by ATP, with low affinity, and by internal Na+, (ii) a reduction in ATP levels from 3 mM to 50 microM greatly increased the apparent affinity for external K+, but reduced its effectiveness compared with other monovalent cations, as an activator of Na+ efflux, and (iii) the relative effectiveness of different K+ congeners as external activator of the Na+ efflux, though affected by the ATP concentration, was not affected by the Na+/K+ ratio inside the cells. These results are consistent with the idea that the same conformation of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase can be reached by interaction with external K+ after phosphorylation and with internal K+ before rephosphorylation. They also stress a nonphosphorylating regulatory role of ATP.

Effects of ATP on the intermediary steps of the reaction of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. IV. Effect of ATP on K0.5 for Na+ and on hydrolysis at different pH and temperature

The pH optimum for (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) depends on the combination of monovalent cations, on the ATP concentration and on temperature. ATP decreases the Na+ concentration necessary for half maximum activation, K0.5 for Na+ (Na+ + K+ = 150 mM), and the effect is pH and temperature dependent. At a low ATP concentration a decrease in pH leads to an increase in K0.5 for Na+, while at the high ATP concentration it leads to a decrease. K0.5 for ATP for hydrolysis decreases with an increase in pH. The fractional stimulation by K+ in the presence of Na+ decreases with the ATP concentration, and at a low ATP concentration K+ becomes inhibitory, this being most pronounced at 0 degrees C. The results suggest that (a) ATP at a given pH has two different effects: it increases the Na+ relative to K+ affinity on the internal site (K0.5 for ATP at pH 7.4, 37 degrees C, is less than 10 microM); it increases the molar activity in the presence of Na+ + K+ (K0.5 for ATP at pH 7.4, 37 degrees , is 127 microM), (b) binding of the cations to the external as well as the internal sites leads to pK changes (Bohr effect) which are different for Na+ and for K+, i.e. the selectivity for Na+ relative to K+ depends both on ATP and on the degree of protonation of certain groups on the system, (c) ATP involves an extra dissociable group in the determination of the selectivity of the internal site, and thereby changes the effect of an increase in protonation of the system from a decrease to an increase in selectivity for Na+ relative to K+.

Conformational changes of membrane-bound (Na+-K+)-ATPase as revealed by antibody inhibition

As different structural states of the (Na+-K+)-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) may lead to a changed reactivity to antibodies, the influence of Na+, K+, Mg++, Pi and ATP on the reaction between highly purified (Na+-K+)-ATPase and antibodies directed against the membrane-bound enzyme was measured. The antigen antibody reaction was registered by measuring the antibody inhibition of (Na+-K+)-ATPase activity. In the membrane-bound but not in the solubilized enzyme four different degrees of antibody inhibition were obtained at equilibrium of the antigen antibody reaction if different combinations of Na+, K+, Mg++ and ATP were present during the incubation with the antibodies. Corresponding to the different degrees of inhibition, different rates of enzyme inhibition were measured. (a) The smallest degree of enzyme inhibition was obtained when (i) only Mg++, (ii) Mg++ and Na+ or (iii) Mg++ and K+ were present during the antigen antibody reaction. (b) The enzyme activity was inhibited more strongly if Na+, Mg++ and ATP were present together. (c) It was inhibited even more if only (i) Na+, (ii) K+, (iii) ATP or both (iv) ATP and Na+, (v) ATP and K+, (vi) ATP and Mg++, or if (vii) no ATP and activating ions were present. (d) The highest degree of antibody inhibition was obtained if Mg++, ATP and K+ were present together. In the presence of Mg++ plus ADP and in the presence of Mg++ plus the ATP analog adenylyl (beta-gamma-methylene) diphosphonate, Na+ and K+ did not influence the degree of antibody inhibition as they did in the presence of Mg++ plus ATP. It was further found that the degree of antibody inhibition in the presence of Mg++, ATP and K+ was affected by the sequence of which K+ and ATP were added to the enzyme prior to the addition of the antibodies. It is suggested that by antibody inhibition different conformations of the (Na+-K+)-ATPase could be detected. These conformations may possibly not occur in the solubilized enzyme and therefore do not seem to be necessarily linked to the intermediary steps of the ATP hydrolysis of the enzyme. The structural changes which are induced by Na+ and K+ in the presence of Mg++ plus ATP are proposed to occur during the Na+-K+ transport.

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.

Activation by lithium ions of the inside sodium sites in (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

1. Purified pig kidney ATPase was incubated in 30--160 mM Tris-HCl with various monovalent cations. 130 mM LiCl stimulated a ouabain-sensitive ATP hydrolysis (about 5% of the maximal (Na+ + K) activity), whereas 160 mM Tris-HCl did not stimulate hydrolysis. Similar results were obtained with human red blood cell broken membranes. 2. In the absence of Na+ and with 130 mM LiCl, the ATPase activity as a function of KCl concentration showed an initial slight inhibition (50 micrometer KCl) followed by an activation (maximal at 0.2 mM KCl) and a further inhibition, which was total at mM KCl. In the absence of LiCl, the rate of hydrolysis was not affected by any of the KCl concentrations investigated. 3. The lithium-activation curve for ATPase activity in the absence of both Na+ and K+ had sigmoid characteristics. It also showed a marked dependence on the total LiCl + Tris-HCl concentration, being inhibited at high concentrations. This inhibition was more noticeable at low LiCl concentrations. 4. In the absence of Na+, 130 mM Li+ showed promoted phosphorylation of ATPase from 1 to 3 mM ATP in the presence of Mg2+. In enzyme treated with N-ethylmaleimide, the levels of phosphorylation in Li+-containing solutions, amounted to 40% of those in Na+- and up to 7 times of those in K+-containing solutions. 5. The total (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity was markedly inhibited at high buffer concentrations (Tris-HCl, Imidazole-HCl and tetramethylammonium-HEPES gave similar results) in cases when either the concentration of Na+ or K+ (or both) was below saturation. On the other hand, the maximal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity was not affected (or very slightly) by the buffer concentration. 6. Under standard conditions (Tris-HCl + NaCl = 160 mM) the Na+-activation curve of Na+-ATPase had a steep rise between 0 and 2.5 mM, a fall between 2.5 and 20 mM and a further increase between 20 and 130 mM. With 30 mM Tris-HCl, the curve rose more steeply, inhibition was noticeable at 2.5 mM Na+ and was completed at 5 mM Na+. With Tris-HCl + NaCl = 280 mM, the amount of activation decreased and inhibition at intermediate Na+ concentrations was not detected.

Tryptophan fluorescence of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase as a tool for study of the enzyme mechanism

1. The protein fluorescence intensity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is enhanced following binding of K+ at low concentrations. The properties of the response suggest that one or a few tryptophan residues are affected by a conformational transition between the K-bound form E2 . (K) and a Na-bound form E1 . Na. 2. The rate of the conformational transition E2 . (K) leads to E . Na has been measured with a stopped-flow fluorimeter by exploiting the difference in fluorescence of the two states. In the absence of ATP the rate is very slow, but it is greatly accelerated by binding of ATP to a low affinity site. 3. Transient changes in tryptophan fluorescence accompany hydrolysis of ATP at low concentrations, in media containing Mg2+, Na+ and K+. The fluorescence response reflects interconversion between the initial enzyme conformation, E1 . Na and the steady-state turnover intermediate E2 . (K). 4. The phosphorylated intermediate, E2P can be detected by a fluorescence increase accompanying hydrolysis of ATP in media containing Mg2+ and Na+ but no K+. 5. The conformational states and reaction mechanism of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase are discussed in the light of this work. The results permit a comparison of the behaviour of the enzyme at both low and high nucleotide concentrations.

The effect of sodium on inorganic phosphate- and p-nitrophenyl phosphate-facilitated ouabain binding to (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase

The effect of the hydrolysis product Pi and the artificial substrate p-nitrophenyl phosphate (p-nitrophenyl-P) on ouabain binding to (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase was investigated. The hypothesis that (Mg2+ + p-nitrophenyl-P)-supported ouabain binding might be due to Pi release and thus (Mg2+ + Pi)-supported could not be confirmed. The enzyme . ouabain complexes obtained with different substrates were characterized according to their dissociation rates after removal of the ligands facilitating binding. The character of the enzyme . ouabain complex is determined primarily by the monovalent ion present during ouabain binding, but, qualitatively at least, it is immaterial whether binding was obtained with p-nitrophenyl phosphate or Pi. The presence or absence of Na+ during binding has a special influence upon the character of the enzyme . ouabian complex. Without Na+ and in the presence of Tris ions the complex obtained with (Mg2+ + Pi) and that obtained with (Mg2+ + p-nitrophenyl-P) behaved in a nearly identical manner, both exhibiting a slow decay. High Na+ concentration diminished the level of Pi-supported ouabain binding, having almost no effect on p-nitrophenyl phosphate-supported binding. Both enzyme . ouabain complexes, however, now resembled the form obtained with (Na+ + ATP), as judged from their dissociation rates and the K+ sensitivity of their decay. The complexes obtained at a high Na+ concentration underwent a very fast decay which could be slowed considerably after adding a low concentration of K+ to the resuspension medium. The most stable enzyme . ouabain complex was obtained in the presence of Tris ions only, irrespective of whether p-nitrophenyl phosphate of Pi facilitated complex formation. The presence of K+ gave rise to a complex whose dissociation rate was intermediate between those of the complexes obtained in the presence of Tris and a high Na+ concentration. It is proposed that the different ouabain dissociation rates reflect different reactive states of the enzyme. The resemblance between the observations obtained in phosphorylation and ouabain binding experiments is pointed out.

Conformational transitions between Na+-bound and K+-bound forms of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, studied with formycin nucleotides

1. Fluorescence measurements have shown that formycin triphosphate (FTP) or formycin diphosphate (FDP) bound to (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) in Na+-containing media can be displaced by the following ions (listed in order of effectiveness): Tl+, K+, Rb+, NH4+, Cs+. 2. The differences between the nucleotide affinities displayed by the enzyme in predominantly Na+ and predominantly K+ media in the absence of phosphorylation, are thought to reflect changes in enzyme conformation. These changes can therefore be monitored by observing the changes in fluorescence that accompany net binding or net release of formycin nucleotides. 3. The transition from a K+-bound form (E2-(K)) to an Na+-bound form (E1-Na) is remarkably slow at low nucleotide concentrations, but is accelerated if the nucleotide concentration is increased. This suggests that the binding of nucleotide to a low-affinity site on E2-(K) accelerates its conversion to E1-Na; it supports the hypothesis that during the normal working of the pump, ATP, acting at a low affinity site, accelerates the conversion of dephosphoenzyme, newly formed by K+-catalysed hydrolysis of E2P, to a form in which it can be phosphorylated in the presence of Na+. 4. The rate of the reverse transformation, E1-Na to E2-(K), varies roughly linearly with the K+ concentration up to the highest concentration at which the rate can be measured (15 mM). Since much lower concentrations of K+ are sufficient to displace the equilibrium to the K-form, we suggest that the sequence of events is: (i) combination of K+ with low affinity (probably internal) binding sites, followed by (ii) spontaneous conversion of the enzyme to a form, E2-(K), containing occluded K+. 5. Mg2+ or oligomycin slows the rate of conversion of E1-Na to E2-(K) but does not significantly affect the rate of conversion of E2-(K) to E1-Na. 6. In the light of these and previous findings, we propose a model for the sodium pump in which conformational changes alternate with trans-phosphorylations, and the inward and outward fluxes of both Na+ and K+ each involve the transfer of a phosphoryl group as well as a change in conformation between E1 and E2 forms of the enzyme or phosphoenzyme.