Evidence for an inherent, ATP-stimulated uptake of calcium into chromaffin granules

Binding and aggregation of pro-atrial natriuretic factor by calcium

Analysis of atrial secretory granule content by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis followed by a 45Ca2+ overlay assay indicates that a 17,000 protein binds 45Ca2+. This protein, which can be immunostained by atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) antiserum, corresponds to proANF. Ca2+ binding is proportional to the amount of proANF and pH dependent. Generation of ANF-(1-98) by thrombin digestion of proANF does not affect Ca2+ binding. Blocking the carboxyl groups of proANF and the use of NH2-terminal fragments bearing those carboxyl groups demonstrated that the Ca(2+)-interaction site is probably located within the highly acidic portion (11-30) of the propeptide. Ca2+ binding to proANF induces its aggregation that can be verified by sedimentation. ProANF aggregation is Ca2+ dependent, being optimal at 10 mM, partially pH dependent, and greatly increased by high concentrations of proANF. However, because of its relatively low-binding affinity, Ca2+ can be substituted by other divalent cations such as Sr2+, Ba2+, or Mg2+. The high level of Ca2+ in atrial secretory granules and the aggregation of proANF in the presence of Ca2+ suggest a possible involvement of these physicochemical properties in the condensed state of the matrix of secretory granules. Indeed, detergent solubilization of the membrane of the secretory granules in presence of Ca2+ resulted only in a partial dissolution of the dense core matrix. We therefore postulate that, in the Golgi complex, proANF and Ca2+ associate to form a condensed aggregate that helps package secretory material into secretory vesicles.

Calcium is released by exocytosis together with catecholamines from bovine adrenal medullary cells

We have tested the hypothesis that exocytosis is a possible export route for calcium from bovine adrenal medullary cells. After prelabelling cells in primary tissue culture with 45Ca, evoked 45Ca export and catecholamine secretion show the same time course, a similar fraction of the total pool of 45Ca and catecholamine is released, and the same concentrations of carbamylcholine or KCl are required for half-maximal triggered release. Increasing the osmolarity of the extracellular medium or treating the cells with botulinum toxin type D inhibits both evoked catecholamine secretion and 45Ca export to the same extent without inhibiting 45Ca influx. Incorporation of 45Ca into chromaffin granules is very slow, however, and incorporated 45Ca is not immediately releasable. 45Ca entering the cell during short-term stimulation is not found in the releasable pool during a second period of triggered secretion. Our data suggest that chromaffin granules are the largest pool of intracellular calcium in bovine adrenal medullary cells and that most of the calcium in chromaffin granules does not rapidly exchange with cytoplasmic Ca, but can be released directly by exocytosis. Exocytosis does not appear to play a major role in exporting Ca that enters the cell during short-term stimulation.

Biochemical and immunological evidence for a calcium pump in chromaffin granules

ATP stimulated the accumulation of 45Ca2+ by chromaffin granule ghosts which contained 5 mM oxalate to trap transported calcium within the lumen. Inasmuch as the ATP-dependent 45Ca2+ transport was resistant to 25 mM ammonium acetate as well as the proton ionophore, carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone, the chromaffin granule proton translocating ATPase does not provide the energy for this process. Instead, we suggest that chromaffin granules contain a calcium translocating ATPase which catalyzes the 45Ca2+ uptake directly. The observation that chromaffin granules bind to a monoclonal antibody raised against a calcium pump from bovine brain supports this hypothesis.

Calcium homeostasis in digitonin-permeabilized bovine chromaffin cells

The regulation of cytosolic calcium was studied in digitonin-permeabilized chromaffin cells. Accumulation of 45Ca2+ by permeabilized cells was measured at various Ca2+ concentrations in the incubation solutions. In the absence of ATP, there was a small (10-15% of total uptake) but significant increase in accumulation of Ca2+ into both the vesicular and nonvesicular pools. In the presence of ATP, the permeabilized cells accumulated Ca2+ into carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP)-sensitive and -insensitive pools. The CCCP-sensitive pool--mainly mitochondria--was active when the calcium concentration was greater than 1 microM and was not saturated at 25 microM. The Ca2+ sequestered by the CCCP-insensitive pool could be inhibited by vanadate and released by inositol trisphosphate, a combination suggesting that this pool was the endoplasmic reticulum. The CCCP-insensitive pool had a high affinity for calcium, with an EC50 of approximately 1 microM. When the Ca2+ concentration was adjusted to the level in the cytoplasm of resting cells (0.1 microM), the presumed endoplasmic reticulum pool was responsible for approximately 90% of the ATP-stimulated calcium uptake. At a calcium level similar to the acetylcholine-stimulated level in intact cells (5-10 microM), most of the Ca2+ (greater than 95%) went into the CCCP-sensitive pool.

Drug modification of protein thiophosphorylation in permeabilized chromaffin cells

Treatment of permeabilized chromaffin cells with low concentrations of the ATP analog adenosine-5?-O-(3-thiotriphosphate)[(35)S] results in (35)S incorporation into a small number of cellular proteins. Of these proteins, a 47 kilodalton protein is most heavily thiophosphorylated. Permeabilized cells were treated with various drugs known to influence cell functions, more specifically chromaffin granule function, to determine the kinase responsible for thiophosphorylation of the 47 kilodalton protein and if its thiophosphorylation is associated with a specific cell function. Several drugs which influence the activity of cell kinases were examined for their effect on secretion and thiophosphorylation of the 47 kilodalton protein. There was no qualitative effect of cAMP, cGMP or trifluoperazine on thiophosphorylation of the protein. Both cyclic nucleotides slightly enhanced secretion, while trifluoperazine enhanced only unstimulated catecholamine release. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate had no effect on secretion or (35)S incorporation into cell proteins. Only the free calcium concentration of the medium influenced thiophosphorylation of the 47 kilodalton protein, with increased calcium producing increased thiophosphorylation. Drugs affecting chromaffin vesicle functions were used to assess the relationship between specific functions and thiophosphorylation of the protein. Inhibition of nucleotide translocation with atractyloside or 4,4?diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2?disulfonic acid or inhibition of the proton translocating ATPase by N-ethylmaleimide inhibited thiophosphorylation of the 47 kilodalton protein, with little effect on secretion. Treatment with rotenone markedly enhanced secretion and thiophosphorylation of the protein. Calcium ionophores had no effect on thiophosphorylation of the protein. Dichloroacetic acid, which inhibits phosphorylation of mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase, had no effect on secretion and a variable effect on thiophosphorylation of the 47 kilodalton protein. The data suggest that thiophosphorylation of the protein may be associated with nucleotide translocation across the vesicle membrane.

Does the carrier of chromaffin granules transport the protonated or the uncharged species of catecholamines?

By osmotic lysis in the presence of urea ghosts (60-100 nmol catecholamine/mg prot.) were prepared from chromaffin granules (4-6 mumol catecholamine/mg prot.) of the bovine medulla. In the presence of 1-300 mumol/l 3H-catecholamine and ATP-Mg2+, ghosts show a net uptake of catecholamine. The net uptake is sensitive to reserpine or agents (uncouplers and ammonium) which diminish the electrochemical potential difference for protons at the granule membrane (delta p). The same uptake was found by 3H-counting or by fluorimetric measurements. At various pH-values (pH 6.2-8.2) the Km and Vmax of the ATP-stimulated rate of uptake of 3H-catecholamine into ghosts was determined (at 30 degrees C) to identify the species of catecholamine (protonated, uncharged, or anionic) which is the substrate for the granule carrier. The pH difference (delta pH = pHout - pHin) and the electrical potential difference (delta psi) were determined to calculate delta p under conditions of 3H-catecholamine uptake. When the pHout was increased (pH 6.2, 7.4, 8.2), the apparent Km of uptake decreased (50, 5, 1-2 mumol/l), showing a linear relation between pH and logarithm of Km. The Km was calculated for the uncharged catecholamine (with pK1 = 8.8 and pK2 = 10.0); it was nearly pH-independent and amounted to about 0.2 mumol/l. The Vmax declined only in the extreme pH-range. Between pH 6.6 and 7.8 Vmax and delta p showed a slight increase from 16 to 20 nmoles/(mg prot. X min) and from 110 to 140 mV, resp. In the same pH-range the pHin inside ghosts increased from pH 5.2 to 5.7, whereas delta psi was constant (30 mV). At constant pHout (= 7.3) ammonium (0-30 mmol/l) caused an increase of pHin from 5.5 to 6.6. The increase of pHin was accompanied by an increase of Km from 5 to 20 mumol/l 3H-catecholamine and by a decrease of both Vmax and delta p from 20 to 5 nmoles/(mg prot. X min) and from 123 to 85 mV, respectively. From the dependence of the Km of uptake on pHout is concluded that the uncharged species of catecholamine is transported, whereas the dependence of Km on pHin suggests that the translocation of the catecholamine-carrier complex across the granule membrane is not the rate-limiting step of catecholamine uptake.

The assignment of the Ca2+-ATPase activity of chromaffin granules to the proton translocating ATPase

CaATP is shown to function as a substrate for the proton translocating ATPase of chromaffin granule ghosts at concentrations which are comparable to that of MgATP. Using the initial rate of the proton pump activity as the measure (delta pH/delta t), an apparent Km-value of 139 +/- 8 microM was estimated for CaATP and 59 +/- 3 microM for MgATP. The maximal rate was markedly higher with MgATP than with CaATP, partly due to an inhibition of the hydrolytic activity at the higher concentrations of CaATP. The proton pump activity with CaATP was inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide at concentrations similar to that found for MgATP. No inhibition was observed with sodium vanadate in the concentration range 0-15 microM. Calmodulin and trifluoperazine had no effect on the overall ATPase activity with CaATP. These findings establish this activity as an intrinsic property of the chromaffin granules, i.e., linked to the H+-ATPase. No evidence was obtained for the presence of a Ca2+-translocating ATPase [Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase) in the chromaffin granules.

Further characteristics of the ATP-stimulated uptake of calcium into chromaffin granules

The ATP-stimulated uptake of 45Ca2+ [and [3H](-)-noradrenaline ([3H]NA)] into chromaffin granules and that into mitochondria are driven by a protonic gradient delta mu H+, composed of the components delta pH (concentration gradient of protons) and delta psi (electrical potential difference). The granular ATPase pumps protons into the matrix (delta pH inside acid, delta psi positive), but the mitochondrial ATPase ejects protons from the matrix (delta pH alkaline, delta psi negative inside). To show different driving forces of uptake, the rate of the ATP-stimulated uptake of 45Ca2+ (and [3H]NA) into chromaffin granules was compared with the rate of the ATP-stimulated uptake of 45Ca2+ into mitochondria (adrenomedullary or rat liver). In the presence of nitrate, the rate of the ATP-stimulated uptake of 45Ca2+ into chromaffin granules is higher than in the presence of acetate, because the lyotropic anion nitrate stimulates the granular ATPase and increases delta pH (acid inside). Compared with nitrate, the rate of the ATP-stimulated uptake of 45Ca2+ into mitochondria is higher in the presence of the proton-carrying anion acetate, which, after permeation, provides protons for ejection by the ATPase. In the absence of ATP, a valinomycin-mediated potassium influx (delta psi inside positive) stimulates the granular uptake of [3H]NA, which has an electrogenic component, but not the granular uptake of 45Ca2+, which is electroneutral. The electrogenic uptake of 45Ca2+ into mitochondria is stimulated by a valinomycin-mediated potassium efflux (delta psi negative inside). The ATP-stimulated uptake of 45Ca2+ into chromaffin granules is sensitive to ruthenium red, suggesting a carrier-mediated mechanism of uptake, and it is sensitive to atractyloside, indicating the simultaneous uptake of ATP. After collapse of delta pH by ammonia, the ATP-stimulated uptake of 45Ca2+ into chromaffin granules is abolished, but not that into mitochondria. In the presence of ammonia, the rate of the ATP-stimulated uptake of [3H]NA is very low, and an ATP-independent uptake of 45Ca2+ into chromaffin granules is observed which is similar to the ATP-independent Ca2+/Na+ exchange at the granular membrane.

ATP-stimulated accumulation of calcium by chromaffin granules and mitochondria from the adrenal medulla

In the presence of high concentrations of free Ca2+ (10(-5) - 10(-4) M) chromaffin granules and adrenal medullary mitochondria take up large amounts of Ca2+. At low levels of buffered free Ca2+ (less than 10(-8) M), these mitochondria release almost all of their stored calcium, whereas chromaffin granules retain the major part of their calcium pool. In the presence of MgATP and at less than 10(-8) M free Ca2+, the mitochondria do not take up significant amounts of Ca2+. Chromaffin granules, however, under the same conditions, show active MgATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake even at nM-concentrations of free Ca2+. The implications of these results for the calcium metabolism of chromaffin cells are discussed.

Role of calcium in triggering the release of transmitters at the neuromuscular junction

Calcium ions have a key role in triggering the release of packaged transmitter at the amphibian neuromuscular junction and of the chromaffin granules at the adrenal medulla. It is suggested that (i) proteins on the vesicle and plasma membranes are of particular importance in promoting membrane fusion and exocytosis (ii) they may be divalent cation-stimulated ATPases, which form the calcium-binding sites or have a specific calcium-binding protein in close molecular apposition (iii) these ATPases in synaptic vesicles and chromaffin granules also generate a protonmotive force which is associated with the uptake of transmitter (iv) the osmotic properties of the vesicle may be important during fission, but it is not suggested that chemiosmotic effects are involved in Ca2+-triggered fusion (v) the action of calcium is markedly co-operative (vi) the adrenal medullary cell and the n.m.j. may differ in the Ca2+-binding site; there is evidence for the involvement of calmodulin in granule-plasmalemma fusion in the chromaffin cells, but not at present (surprisingly) for a role of this Ca2+-binding protein at the n.m.j. (vii) exocytosis requires MgATP (viii) phosphorylation of the ATPase may well be involved; phosphorylation via cAMP does not seem to be involved in fusion in either system (ix) the ATPase may undergo configurational changes during exocytosis and is markedly sensitive to the physical state of its phospholipid environment and to the oxidation of its -SH groups.

Phosphatidylinositol metabolism in the adrenal medulla

Changes in phosphoinositide metabolism due to muscarinic stimulation of the adrenal medulla are reviewed. Evidence is presented that muscarinic receptors inhibit catecholamine secretion by the bovine gland and that muscarinic agonists do not cause entry of calcium ions. Results are inconsistent with the theory that phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis opens calcium 'gates'. Polyphosphoinositide metabolism is also reviewed and the suggestion made that phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate may regulate the activity of the calcium pump ATPase in cells where phosphoinositide-linked receptors promote calcium influx.

Uptake of Ca2+ by isolated secretory vesicles from adrenal medulla

Intact secretory vesicles isolated from bovine adrenal medulla contain 94 nmol Na+ per mg of protein, and Ca2+ influx into the vesicles is inhibited by increasing concentrations of extravesicular Na+ (but not of K+, Li+ or choline+) or by addition of the Na+ ionophore monensin. Thus Ca2+ influx in determined by the Na+ gradient across the vesicular membrane. Half maximal inhibition of Ca2+ influx occurs with 34 nM Na+ extravesicularly. The fact that Ca2+ can also be released from the vesicles by inversion of the Na+ gradient provides direct evidence that an Na+-Ca2+ exchange may operate. According to an analysis of the inhibition of Ca2+ uptake by Na+ in a Hill plot 2 Na+ would be exchanged for 1 Ca2+. Ca2+ influx into the vesicles increases with temperature (energy of activation; 16 kcal/mol), can be observed already with 10(-7) M free Ca2+ and increases up to 10(-4) M Ca2+. Ca2+ influx is not affected by Mg2+ but Sr2+ is inhibitory. Since the process is only slightly influenced by the pH of the incubation medium and is insensitive to Mg2+-ATP or inhibitors of the proton translocating Mg2+-ATPase the electrochemical proton gradient across the vesicular membrane does not affect directly the Ca2+ influx into the secretory vesicles. Ca2+ uptake is insensitive to ruthenium red and oligomycin.