Voltage dependence of sodium-calcium exchange: predictions from kinetic models

Structure-Based Function and Regulation of NCX Variants: Updates and Challenges

The plasma-membrane homeostasis Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchangers (NCXs) mediate Ca²⁺ extrusion/entry to dynamically shape Ca²⁺ signaling/in biological systems ranging from bacteria to humans. The NCX gene orthologs, isoforms, and their splice variants are expressed in a tissue-specific manner and exhibit nearly 10⁴-fold differences in the transport rates and regulatory specificities to match the cell-specific requirements. Selective pharmacological targeting of NCX variants could benefit many clinical applications, although this intervention remains challenging, mainly because a full-size structure of eukaryotic NCX is unavailable. The crystal structure of the archaeal NCX_Mj, in conjunction with biophysical, computational, and functional analyses, provided a breakthrough in resolving the ion transport mechanisms. However, NCX_Mj (whose size is nearly three times smaller than that of mammalian NCXs) cannot serve as a structure-dynamic model for imitating high transport rates and regulatory modules possessed by eukaryotic NCXs. The crystal structures of isolated regulatory domains (obtained from eukaryotic NCXs) and their biophysical analyses by SAXS, NMR, FRET, and HDX-MS approaches revealed structure-based variances of regulatory modules. Despite these achievements, it remains unclear how multi-domain interactions can decode and integrate diverse allosteric signals, thereby yielding distinct regulatory outcomes in a given ortholog/isoform/splice variant. This article summarizes the relevant issues from the perspective of future developments.

Proton-modulated interactions of ions with transport sites of prokaryotic and eukaryotic NCX prototypes

The cytosolic pH decline from 7.2 to 6.9 results in 90% inactivation of mammalian Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchangers (NCXs) due to protons interactions with regulatory and transport domains ("proton block"). Remarkably, the pH titration curves of mammalian and prokaryotic NCXs significantly differ, even after excluding the allosteric effects through regulatory domains. This is fascinating since "only" three (out of twelve) ion-coordinating residues (T50S, E213D, and D240N) differ between the archaeal NCX_Mj and mammalian NCXs although they contain either three or two carboxylates, respectively. To resolve the underlying mechanisms of pH-dependent regulation, the ion-coordinating residues of NCX_Mj were mutated to imitate the ion ligation arrays of mammalian NCXs; the mutational effects were tested on the ion binding/transport by using ion-flux assays and two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy. Our analyses revealed that two deprotonated carboxylates ligate 3Na⁺ or 1Ca²⁺ in NCX prototypes with three or two carboxylates. The Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchange rates of NCX_Mj reach saturation at pH 5.0, whereas the Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchange rates of the cardiac NCX1.1 gradually increase even at alkaline pHs. The T50S replacement in NCX_Mj "recapitulates" the pH titration curves of mammalian NCX by instigating an alkaline shift. Proteolytic shaving of regulatory CBD domains activates NCX1.1, although the normalized pH-titration curves are comparable in trypsin treated and untreated NCX1.1. Thus, the T50S-dependent alkaline shift sets a dynamic range for "proton block" function at physiological pH, whereas the CBDs (and other regulatory modes) modulate incremental changes in the transport rates rather than affect the shape of pH dependent curves.

Structure-affinity insights into the Na+ and Ca2+ interactions with multiple sites of a sodium-calcium exchanger

Selective recognition and transport of Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions by sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) proteins is a primary prerequisite for Ca²⁺ signaling and homeostasis. Twelve ion-coordinating residues are highly conserved among NCXs, and distinct NCX orthologs contain two or three carboxylates, while sharing a common ion-exchange stoichiometry (3Na⁺ :1Ca²⁺ ). How these structural differences affect the ion-binding affinity, selectivity, and transport rates remains unclear. Here, the mutational effects of three carboxylates (E54, E213, and D240) were analyzed on the ion-exchange rates in the archaeal NCX from Methanococcus jannaschii and ion-induced structure-affinity changes were monitored by attenuated total reflection-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The D240N mutation elevated the ion-transport rates by twofold to threefold, meaning that the deprotonation of D240 is not essential for transport catalysis. In contrast, mutating E54 or E213 to A, D, N, or Q dramatically decreased the ion-transport rates. ATR-FTIR revealed high- and low-affinity binding of Na⁺ or Ca²⁺ with E54 and E213, but not with D240. These findings reveal distinct structure-affinity states at specific ion-binding sites in the inward-facing (IF) and outward-facing orientation. Collectively, two multidentate carboxylate counterparts (E54 and E213) play a critical role in determining the ion coordination/transport in prokaryotic and eukaryotic NCXs, whereas the ortholog substitutions in prokaryotes (aspartate) and eukaryotes (asparagine) at the 240 position affect the ion-transport rates differently (k_cat ), probably due to the structural differences in the transition state.

Sodium-calcium exchangers (NCX): molecular hallmarks underlying the tissue-specific and systemic functions

NCX proteins explore the electrochemical gradient of Na(+) to mediate Ca(2+)-fluxes in exchange with Na(+) either in the Ca(2+)-efflux (forward) or Ca(2+)-influx (reverse) mode, whereas the directionality depends on ionic concentrations and membrane potential. Mammalian NCX variants (NCX1-3) and their splice variants are expressed in a tissue-specific manner to modulate the heartbeat rate and contractile force, the brain's long-term potentiation and learning, blood pressure, renal Ca(2+) reabsorption, the immune response, neurotransmitter and insulin secretion, apoptosis and proliferation, mitochondrial bioenergetics, etc. Although the forward mode of NCX represents a major physiological module, a transient reversal of NCX may contribute to EC-coupling, vascular constriction, and synaptic transmission. Notably, the reverse mode of NCX becomes predominant in pathological settings. Since the expression levels of NCX variants are disease-related, the selective pharmacological targeting of tissue-specific NCX variants could be beneficial, thereby representing a challenge. Recent structural and biophysical studies revealed a common module for decoding the Ca(2+)-induced allosteric signal in eukaryotic NCX variants, although the phenotype variances in response to regulatory Ca(2+) remain unclear. The breakthrough discovery of the archaebacterial NCX structure may serve as a template for eukaryotic NCX, although the turnover rates of the transport cycle may differ ~10(3)-fold among NCX variants to fulfill the physiological demands for the Ca(2+) flux rates. Further elucidation of ion-transport and regulatory mechanisms may lead to selective pharmacological targeting of NCX variants under disease conditions.

Steady-state function of the ubiquitous mammalian Na/H exchanger (NHE1) in relation to dimer coupling models with 2Na/2H stoichiometry

We describe the steady-state function of the ubiquitous mammalian Na/H exchanger (NHE)1 isoform in voltage-clamped Chinese hamster ovary cells, as well as other cells, using oscillating pH-sensitive microelectrodes to quantify proton fluxes via extracellular pH gradients. Giant excised patches could not be used as gigaseal formation disrupts NHE activity within the patch. We first analyzed forward transport at an extracellular pH of 8.2 with no cytoplasmic Na (i.e., nearly zero-trans). The extracellular Na concentration dependence is sigmoidal at a cytoplasmic pH of 6.8 with a Hill coefficient of 1.8. In contrast, at a cytoplasmic pH of 6.0, the Hill coefficient is <1, and Na dependence often appears biphasic. Results are similar for mouse skin fibroblasts and for an opossum kidney cell line that expresses the NHE3 isoform, whereas NHE1^−/− skin fibroblasts generate no proton fluxes in equivalent experiments. As proton flux is decreased by increasing cytoplasmic pH, the half-maximal concentration (K_1/2) of extracellular Na decreases less than expected for simple consecutive ion exchange models. The K_1/2 for cytoplasmic protons decreases with increasing extracellular Na, opposite to predictions of consecutive exchange models. For reverse transport, which is robust at a cytoplasmic pH of 7.6, the K_1/2 for extracellular protons decreases only a factor of 0.4 when maximal activity is decreased fivefold by reducing cytoplasmic Na. With 140 mM of extracellular Na and no cytoplasmic Na, the K_1/2 for cytoplasmic protons is 50 nM (pH 7.3; Hill coefficient, 1.5), and activity decreases only 25% with extracellular acidification from 8.5 to 7.2. Most data can be reconstructed with two very different coupled dimer models. In one model, monomers operate independently at low cytoplasmic pH but couple to translocate two ions in “parallel” at alkaline pH. In the second “serial” model, each monomer transports two ions, and translocation by one monomer allosterically promotes translocation by the paired monomer in opposite direction. We conclude that a large fraction of mammalian Na/H activity may occur with a 2Na/2H stoichiometry.

Time resolved kinetics of the guinea pig Na–Ca exchanger (NCX1) expressed in Xenopus oocytes: voltage and Ca2+ dependence of pre-steady-state current investigated by photolytic Ca2+concentration jumps

Kinetic properties of the Na-Ca exchanger (guinea pig NCX1) expressed in Xenopus oocytes were investigated by patch clamp techniques and photolytic Ca(2+) concentration jumps. Current measured in oocyte membranes expressing NCX1 is almost indistinguishable from current measured in patches derived from cardiac myocytes. In the Ca-Ca exchange mode, a transient inward current is observed, whereas in the Na-Ca exchange mode, current either rises to a plateau, or at higher Ca(2+) concentration jumps, an initial transient is followed by a plateau. No comparable current was observed in membrane patches not expressing NCX1, indicating that photolytic Ca(2+) concentrations jumps activate Na-Ca exchange current. Electrical currents generated by NCX1 expressed in Xenopus oocytes are about four times larger than those obtained from cardiac myocyte membranes enabling current recording with smaller concentration jumps and/or higher time resolution. The apparent affinity for Ca(2+) of nonstationary exchange currents (0.1 mM) is much lower than that of stationary currents (6 muM). Measurement of the Ca(2+) dependence of the rising phase provides direct evidence that the association rate constant for Ca(2+) is about 5 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1) and voltage independent. In both transport modes, the transient current decays with a voltage independent but Ca(2+)-dependent rate constant, which is about 9,000 s(-1) at saturating Ca(2+) concentrations. The voltage independence of this relaxation is maintained for Ca(2+) concentrations far below saturation. In the Ca-Ca exchange mode, the amount of charge translocated after a concentration jump is independent of the magnitude of the jump but voltage dependent, increasing at negative voltages. The slope of the charge-voltage relation is independent of the Ca(2+) concentration. Major conclusions are: (1) Photolytic Ca(2+) concentration jumps generate current related to NCX1. (2) The dissociation constant for Ca(2+) at the cytoplasmic transport binding site is about 0.1 mM. (3) The association rate constant of Ca(2+) at the cytoplasmic transport sites is high (5 x 10(-8) M(-1)s(-1)) and voltage independent. (4) The minimal five-state model (voltage independent binding reactions, one voltage independent conformational transition and one very fast voltage dependent conformational transition) used before to describe Ca(2+) translocation at saturating Ca(2+) concentrations is valid for Ca(2+) concentrations far below saturation.

The glutamate transporter subtypes EAAT4 and EAATs 1-3 transport glutamate with dramatically different kinetics and voltage dependence but share a common uptake mechanism

Here, we report the application of glutamate concentration jumps and voltage jumps to determine the kinetics of rapid reaction steps of excitatory amino acid transporter subtype 4 (EAAT4) with a 100-μs time resolution. EAAT4 was expressed in HEK293 cells, and the electrogenic transport and anion currents were measured using the patch-clamp method. At steady state, EAAT4 was activated by glutamate and Na⁺ with high affinities of 0.6 μM and 8.4 mM, respectively, and showed kinetics consistent with sequential binding of Na⁺-glutamate-Na⁺. The steady-state cycle time of EAAT4 was estimated to be >300 ms (at −90 mV). Applying step changes to the transmembrane potential, V_m, of EAAT4-expressing cells resulted in the generation of transient anion currents (decaying with a τ of ∼15 ms), indicating inhibition of steady-state EAAT4 activity at negative voltages (<−40 mV) and activation at positive V_m (>0 mV). A similar inhibitory effect at V_m < 0 mV was seen when the electrogenic glutamate transport current was monitored, resulting in a bell-shaped I-V_m curve. Jumping the glutamate concentration to 100 μM generated biphasic, saturable transient transport and anion currents (K_m ∼ 5 μM) that decayed within 100 ms, indicating the existence of two separate electrogenic reaction steps. The fast electrogenic reaction was assigned to Na⁺ binding to EAAT4, whereas the second reaction is most likely associated with glutamate translocation. Together, these results suggest that glutamate uptake of EAAT4 is based on the same molecular mechanism as transport by the subtypes EAATs 1–3, but that its kinetics and voltage dependence are dramatically different from the other subtypes. EAAT4 kinetics appear to be optimized for high affinity binding of glutamate, but not rapid turnover. Therefore, we propose that EAAT4 is a high-affinity/low-capacity transport system, supplementing low-affinity/high-capacity synaptic glutamate uptake by the other subtypes.

Voltage and Ca(2+) dependence of pre-steady-state currents of the Na-Ca exchanger generated by Ca(2+) concentration jumps

The Ca(2+) concentration and voltage dependence of the relaxation kinetics of the Na-Ca exchanger after a Ca(2+) concentration jump was measured in excised giant membrane patches from guinea pig heart. Ca(2+) concentration jumps on the cytoplasmic side were achieved by laser flash-induced photolysis of DM-nitrophen. In the Ca-Ca exchange mode a transient inward current is generated. The amplitude and the decay rate of the current saturate at concentrations >10 microM. The integrated current signal, i.e., the charge moved is fairly independent of the amount of Ca(2+) released. The amount of charge translocated increases at negative membrane potentials, whereas the decay rate constant shows no voltage dependence. It is suggested that Ca(2+) translocation occurs in at least four steps: intra- and extracellular Ca(2+) binding and two intramolecular transport steps. Saturation of the amplitude and of the relaxation of the current can be explained if the charge translocating reaction step is preceded by two nonelectrogenic steps: Ca(2+) binding and one conformational transition. Charge translocation in this mode is assigned to one additional conformational change which determines the equilibrium distribution of states. In the Na-Ca exchange mode, the stationary inward current depends on the cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration and voltage. The K(m) for Ca(2+) is 4 microM for guinea pig and 10 microM for rat myocytes. The amplitude of the pre-steady-state current and its relaxation saturate with increasing Ca(2+) concentrations. In this mode the relaxation is voltage dependent.

Early intermediates in the transport cycle of the neuronal excitatory amino acid carrier EAAC1

Electrogenic glutamate transport by the excitatory amino acid carrier 1 (EAAC1) is associated with multiple charge movements across the membrane that take place on time scales ranging from microseconds to milliseconds. The molecular nature of these charge movements is poorly understood at present and, therefore, was studied in this report in detail by using the technique of laser-pulse photolysis of caged glutamate providing a 100-micros time resolution. In the inward transport mode, the deactivation of the transient component of the glutamate-induced coupled transport current exhibits two exponential components. Similar results were obtained when restricting EAAC1 to Na(+) translocation steps by removing potassium, thus, demonstrating (1) that substrate translocation of EAAC1 is coupled to inward movement of positive charge and, therefore, electrogenic; and (2) the existence of at least two distinct intermediates in the Na(+)-binding and glutamate translocation limb of the EAAC1 transport cycle. Together with the determination of the sodium ion concentration and voltage dependence of the two-exponential charge movement and of the steady-state EAAC1 properties, we developed a kinetic model that is based on sequential binding of Na(+) and glutamate to their extracellular binding sites on EAAC1 explaining our results. In this model, at least one Na(+) ion and thereafter glutamate rapidly bind to the transporter initiating a slower, electroneutral structural change that makes EAAC1 competent for further, voltage-dependent binding of additional sodium ion(s). Once the fully loaded EAAC1 complex is formed, it can undergo a much slower, electrogenic translocation reaction to expose the substrate and ion binding sites to the cytoplasm.

Functional differences between cardiac and renal isoforms of the rat Na+-Ca2+ exchanger NCX1 expressed in Xenopus oocytes

The transcript of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger gene NCX1 undergoes alternative splicing to produce tissue-specific isoforms. The cloned NCX1 isoforms were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and studied using a two-electrode voltage clamp method to measure Na+-Ca2+ exchanger activity. The cardiac isoform (NCX1.1) expressed in oocytes was less sensitive to depolarizing voltages and to activation by [Ca2+]i than the renal isoform (NCX1.3). The cardiac isoform of NCX1 is more sensitive to activation by protein kinase A (PKA) than the renal isoform which may be explained by preferential phosphorylation. The cardiac isoform of NCX1 is phosphorylated to a greater extent than the renal isoform. The action of PKA phosphorylation which increases the activity of the cardiac isoform of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger in oocytes was confirmed in adult rat ventricular cardiomyocytes by measuring Na+-dependent Ca2+ flux. We conclude that alternative splicing of NCX1 confers distinct functional characteristics to tissue-specific isoforms of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger.

Glutamate translocation of the neuronal glutamate transporter EAAC1 occurs within milliseconds

The activity of glutamate transporters is essential for the temporal and spatial regulation of the neurotransmitter concentration in the synaptic cleft, and thus, is crucial for proper excitatory signaling. Initial steps in the process of glutamate transport take place within a time scale of microseconds to milliseconds. Here we compare the steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetics of the neuronal heterologously expressed glutamate transporter EAAC1, cloned from the mammalian retina. Rapid transporter dynamics, as measured by using whole-cell current recordings, were resolved by applying the laser-pulse photolysis technique of caged glutamate with a time resolution of 100 micros. EAAC1-mediated pre-steady-state currents are composed of two components: A transport current generated by substrate-coupled charge translocation across the membrane and an anion current that is not stoichiometrically coupled to glutamate transport. The two currents were temporally resolved and studied independently. Our results indicate a rapid glutamate-binding step occurring on a submillisecond time scale that precedes subsequent slower electrogenic glutamate translocation across the membrane within a few milliseconds. The voltage-dependent steady-state turnover time constant of the transporter is about 1/10 as fast, indicating that glutamate translocation is not rate limiting. A third process, the transition to an anion-conducting state, is delayed with respect to the onset of glutamate transport. These rapid transporter reaction steps are summarized in a sequential shuttle model that quantitatively accounts for the results obtained here and are discussed regarding their functional importance for glutamatergic neurotransmission in the central nervous system.

Stoichiometry of Na+-Ca2+ exchange in inside-out patches excised from guinea-pig ventricular myocytes

1. The stoichiometry (nx) of cardiac Na+-Ca2+ exchange was examined by measuring the reversal potential of the Na+-Ca2+ exchange current (INa-Ca) in large inside-out patches, 'macro patches', excised from intact guinea-pig ventricular cells. 2. Cytoplasmic application of Na+ (Na+i) or Ca2+ (Ca2+i) induced INa-Ca which showed properties similar to INa-Ca in the giant membrane patch. The outward INa-Ca was depressed by an exchanger inhibitory peptide, XIP. 3. The reversal potential of the XIP-sensitive current indicated that nx was approximately 4 (3.6-4.2) at 9-40 mM Na+i, and nx tended to increase as Na+i was increased. Proteolysis by trypsin did not significantly affect the stoichiometry. Similar results were obtained from the reversal potential of INa-Ca that was induced by application of both Na+i and Ca2+i. 4. At 0.1 microM Ca2+i, nx was approximately 4 (3.7-4. 4) at 6-25 mM Na+i and tended to increase as Na+i was increased. When Ca2+i was changed from 0.1 to 1 and 1000 microM at constant 50 mM Na+i, the value was approximately 4 (3.6-4.4). 5. When the extracellular Na+ (Na+o) and Ca2+ (Ca2+o) concentrations were varied in the presence of 25 or 9 mM Na+i and 1 microM Ca2+i, nx was almost constant ( approximately 4) over the range 0.3-20 mM Ca2+o and 10-145 mM Na+o. 6. These results indicated that the stoichiometry of Na+-Ca2+ exchange is different from generally accepted 3Na+:1Ca2+, and suggested that the stoichiometry is either 4Na+:1Ca2+ or variable depending on Na+i and Ca2+i.

Sodium/calcium exchange: its physiological implications

The Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, an ion transport protein, is expressed in the plasma membrane (PM) of virtually all animal cells. It extrudes Ca2+ in parallel with the PM ATP-driven Ca2+ pump. As a reversible transporter, it also mediates Ca2+ entry in parallel with various ion channels. The energy for net Ca2+ transport by the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and its direction depend on the Na+, Ca2+, and K+ gradients across the PM, the membrane potential, and the transport stoichiometry. In most cells, three Na+ are exchanged for one Ca2+. In vertebrate photoreceptors, some neurons, and certain other cells, K+ is transported in the same direction as Ca2+, with a coupling ratio of four Na+ to one Ca2+ plus one K+. The exchanger kinetics are affected by nontransported Ca2+, Na+, protons, ATP, and diverse other modulators. Five genes that code for the exchangers have been identified in mammals: three in the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger family (NCX1, NCX2, and NCX3) and two in the Na+/Ca2+ plus K+ family (NCKX1 and NCKX2). Genes homologous to NCX1 have been identified in frog, squid, lobster, and Drosophila. In mammals, alternatively spliced variants of NCX1 have been identified; dominant expression of these variants is cell type specific, which suggests that the variations are involved in targeting and/or functional differences. In cardiac myocytes, and probably other cell types, the exchanger serves a housekeeping role by maintaining a low intracellular Ca2+ concentration; its possible role in cardiac excitation-contraction coupling is controversial. Cellular increases in Na+ concentration lead to increases in Ca2+ concentration mediated by the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger; this is important in the therapeutic action of cardiotonic steroids like digitalis. Similarly, alterations of Na+ and Ca2+ apparently modulate basolateral K+ conductance in some epithelia, signaling in some special sense organs (e.g., photoreceptors and olfactory receptors) and Ca2+-dependent secretion in neurons and in many secretory cells. The juxtaposition of PM and sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum membranes may permit the PM Na+/Ca2+ exchanger to regulate sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+ stores and influence cellular Ca2+ signaling.

Ni2+ transport by the human Na+/Ca2+ exchanger expressed in Sf9 cells

The mechanism of Ni2+ block of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger was examined in Sf 9 cells expressing the human heart Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX1-NACA1). As predicted from the reported actions of Ni2+, its application reduced extracellular Na+-dependent changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration (measured by fluo 3 fluorescence changes). However, contrary to expectation, the reduced fluorescence was accompanied by measured 63Ni2+ entry. The 63Ni2+ entry was observed in Sf 9 cells expressing the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger but not in control cells. The established sequential transport mechanism of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger could be compatible with these results if one of the two ion translocation steps is blocked by Ni2+ and the other permits Ni2+ translocation. We conclude that, because Ni2+ entry was inhibited by extracellular Ca2+ and enhanced by extracellular Na+, the Ca2+ translocation step moved Ni2+, whereas the Na+ translocation step was inhibited by Ni2+. A model is presented to discuss these findings.

Time-resolved monitoring of electrogenic Na+-Ca2+ exchange in the isolated cardiac sarcolemma vesicles by using a rapid-response fluorescent probe

As a major Ca exit system in myocytes, the electrogenic Na+-Ca2+ exchange is exposed to rapid changes of regulatory factors (e.g., cytosolic Ca) during the excitation-contraction coupling. The dynamic aspects of the exchanger response to regulatory factors have not been resolved in the past due to technical limitations. Here, we describe stopped-flow protocols for monitoring the electrogenic activity of Na+-Ca2+ exchange in cardiac sarcolemma vesicles by using a rapid-response voltage-sensitive dye Merocyanine-540 (M540). The M540 signal of Nao-dependent Ca efflux is generated by mixing the Ca-loaded vesicles with Na buffer, yielding 160 mM extravesicular Na and 6 microM Cafree. This signal is inhibited by a cyclic peptide blocker (FRCRCFa), by a Ca ionophore (ionomycin), or by an electrogenic uncoupler (valinomycin or FCCP). The M540 signal of Nao-dependent Ca efflux shows a rapid pre-steady-state burst (210 s-1), followed by slow steady-state phase (</=5 s-1). Extravesicular (cytosolic) Ni inhibits both phases with an IC50 of 0.80 +/- 0.24 mM. At an extravesicular pH of 6.0, the Nao-dependent Ca efflux is able to generate the M540 signal, thereby supporting the idea that the stoichiometry of Na+-Ca2+ exchange is not altered at low pH [Khanashvili, D., et al. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 10290-10297]. The M540 signal of Nao-dependent Ca efflux is lost when the extravesicular Cafree concentration drops to 0.2 microM. This effect cannot be explained by a lack of Ca access to extravesicular (cytosolic) transport sites, because the reaction of Nao-dependent Ca efflux utilizes intravesicular Ca as a substrate. These data suggest that in sarcolemma vesicles a regulatory cytosolic Ca site controls the exchanger activity. The properties of this putative regulatory site do not resemble the properties of the "slow" Ca regulatory mode, observed in electrophysiological studies. Under saturating ionic conditions, the Nao-dependent Ca efflux generates the initial rates of 21 mV/ms in the vesicles with a diameter of 3000-5000 A. If a site density of 300-400 exchangers/micrometer2 and a vesicular surface of 0.5 micrometer2 are assumed, each vesicle may contain 150-200 exchanger molecules with a maximal turnover rate of 4000-5000 s-1. This upper limit for turnover (no matter what the site density is) may put considerable restrictions on the exchanger capacity to mediate Ca entry in the cell under physiologically related conditions.

Current-voltage relations and steady-state characteristics of Na+-Ca2+ exchange: characterization of the eight-state consecutive transport model

An analytical expression for Na+-Ca2+ exchange currents in cardiac cells has been obtained for an eight-state model. The equation obtained has been used to derive theoretical expressions for current-voltage relationships, maximum Na+-Ca2+ exchange currents, and half-saturating concentrations for Na+ and Ca2+. These equations were analyzed over a wide range of cytoplasmic and extracellular Na+ and Ca2+ concentrations, under forward and reverse "zero-trans" conditions. Correspondence of theoretical results with those obtained from giant excised patch experiments are presented. Rate constants from published reports were used to evaluate turnover rates for Na+-Ca2+ exchange in the forward and reverse directions. A factor, epsilon, is introduced that permits prediction of the extent to which the Na+-Ca2+ exchange cycle is under voltage or diffusion control. This factor can be conveniently used for data interpretation and comparison. The derived equations also provide a foundation for continuing experimental evaluation of the fidelity of this model.

Unitary cardiac Na+, Ca2+ exchange current magnitudes determined from channel-like noise and charge movements of ion transport

The cardiac Na+, Ca2+ exchanger (NCX1) is thought to achieve a high turnover rate, but all estimates to date are indirect. Two new strategies demonstrate that maximum unitary exchange currents are about 1 fA (6000 unitary charges per s) and that they fluctuate between on and off levels similar to ion channel currents. First, exchange current noise has been identified in small cardiac patches with properties expected for a gated transport process. Noise power density spectra correlate well with exchanger inactivation kinetics, and the noise has a predicted bell-shaped dependence on the activation states of the exchanger. From the magnitudes of exchange current noise, maximum unitary exchange currents are estimated to be 0.6-1.3 fA. Second, charge movements with rates of approximately 5000 s-1 have been isolated for the transport of both Na+ and Ca2+ in giant membrane patches using nonsaturating ion concentrations. The Na+ transport reactions are disabled or "immobilized" by exchanger inactivation reactions, thus confirming that inactivation generates fully inactive exchanger states.

The cardiac Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger: relative rates of calcium and sodium movements and their modulation by protonation-deprotonation of the carrier

The exchange cycle of the cardiac Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger can be described as separate steps of Ca2+ and Na+ transport [Khananshvili, D. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 2437-2442]. In order to determine the relative rates of Na+ and Ca2+ movement during the Na(+)-Ca2+ and Ca(2+)-Ca2+ exchange modes, the ratios (R) of Na(+)-Ca2+/Ca(2+)-Ca2+ exchanges were estimated with saturating concentrations of ions at both sides of the membrane. The effect of extravesicular pH and voltage (potassium valinomycin) on the initial rates (t = 1 s) of Na(+)-Ca2+ and Ca(2+)-Ca2+ exchange were investigated by assuming that, under the conditions tested, the intravesicular pH (pH 7.4) is not affected. Na(+)- or Ca(2+)-preloaded sarcolemma vesicles were diluted rapidly in assay medium containing 45Ca and buffer (pH 5.0-10.9), and the reaction of 45Ca uptake was quenched by using a semi-rapid-mixing device. Under conditions in which [45Ca]o = [Ca]i = 250 microM, the pH-dependent curve of Ca(2+)-Ca2+ exchange shows a bell shape in the acidic range (pKa1 = 5.1 +/- 0.1 and pKa2 = 6.5 +/- 0.2) followed by activation of the exchange in the alkaline range (pKa3 = 10.0 +/- 0.2). With [45Ca]o = 250 microM and [Na]i = 160 mM, the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange increases monotonically from pH 5.0 to 9.5 (pKa1 = 5.1 +/- 0.1, pKa2 = 7.2 +/- 0.2, and pKa3 = 9.1 +/- 0.2). At pH < 6.1, the ratio of Na(+)-Ca2+/Ca(2+)-Ca2+ exchange is close to unity (R approximately 1), while it increases to R = 3-4 in the range of pH 7.1-9.3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Sodium-calcium exchange: derivation of a state diagram and rate constants from experimental data

A mechanism is developed for Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange using a new approach made possible by the availability of computer software that allows the systematic search of a large parameter space for optimum sets of parameters to fit multiple sets of experimental data. The approach was to make the experimental data dictate the form of the mechanism: the qualitative features of the data dictating the number and nature of the states of the exchanger and their interrelationship, and the quantitative aspects of the data dictating the values of the rate constants that govern the amount of each state relative to the total amount of exchanger. A single set of experimental data served this initial purpose, namely, observations of equilibrium Ca(2+)-Ca2+ exchange in cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles (Slaughter et al., 1983, J. biol. Chem. 258, 3183-3190). From this data a minimum mechanism was induced having 56 states (SYM56), which gave satisfactory quantitative fits to the experimental data. With this set of parameters additional experimental data were fitted, from the same preparation, the single cardiac cell and the squid giant axon, with some changes in parameters, but none dramatic. In spite of the symmetric nature of the mechanism, i.e. binding constants for Na+ and Ca2+ do not depend on the orientation of the binding sites, the mechanism exhibits marked asymmetric behavior similar to that observed experimentally. Finally, in accounting for Ca(2+)-Ca2+ exchange in the absence of monovalent cations, Ca2+ influx becomes dependent on intracellular Ca(2+)--an unexpected outcome--exactly in keeping with the "essential activator" role of intracellular Ca2+ observed by DiPolo & Beaugé (1987, J. gen. Physiol. 90, 505-525). Observations of Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange in the retinal rod outer segment are well fitted with a simplified version of SYM56 comprising 25 states (namely, SYM25), supporting the notion that the exchanger in the retinal rod outer segment differs from that in cardiac sarcolemma and squid axon. Maximum turnover rate of 840 sec-1 for SYM56 and 20 sec-1 for SYM25 are comparable to those reported for the exchanger in cardiac muscle and retinal rod outer segment, respectively.

Kinetic models of Na-Ca exchange in ferret red blood cells. Interaction of intracellular Na, extracellular Ca, Cd, and Mn

The kinetic equation that best describes the intracellular Na dependence of Ca influx into ferret red cells is sequential; whether this implies that there is a conformation of the protein that has both Na and Ca ions bound remains to be determined. Cd and Mn substitute very well for Ca on the exchanger in ferret red cells; this suggests that the Ca-binding site does not contain an important thiol and that the one of the Na steps may be rate limiting.

Translocation mechanism of cardiac Na-Ca exchange

In single cardiac ventricular cells of guinea pig, we have studied the ionic translocation mechanism of the electrogenic Na-Ca exchange, that is, whether Na and Ca ions countercross the membrane simultaneously or consecutively. The dose-response relations between the external Ca ([Ca]o) and the outward Na-Ca exchange current were measured at three different internal Na concentrations ([Na]i) in the absence of external Na. Hyperbolic regression curves and Hanes-Woolf linear plots of the dose-response relation revealed that apparent Km values for external Ca (K'mCao) decrease progressively as [Na]i decreases. The ratio of K'mCao to apparent Imax value (I'max) showed a slight increasing tendency as [Na]i decreased. We previously interpreted the data as consistent with the simultaneous mechanism but without statistical analysis. Here we performed careful statistical analysis, which indicated that the K'max/I'max values were not significantly different among the different [Na]i at most of the potentials. This result suggests that Na-Ca exchange is likely to be a consecutive mechanism.

Charge movement during Na+ translocation by native and cloned cardiac Na+/Ca2+ exchanger

Na+/Ca2+ exchange is electrogenic and moves one net positive charge per cycle. Although the cardiac exchanger has a three-to-one Na+/Ca2+ stoichiometry, details of the reaction cycle are not well defined. Here we associate Na+ translocation by the cardiac exchanger with positive charge movement in giant membrane patches from cardiac myocytes and oocytes expressing the cloned cardiac Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. The charge movements are initiated by step increments of the cytoplasmic Na+ concentration in the absence of Ca2+. Giant patches from control oocytes lack both steady-state Na+/Ca2+ exchange current (INaCa) and Na(+)-induced charge movements. Charge movements indicate about 400 exchangers per micron 2 in guinea-pig sarcolemma. Fully activated INaCa densities (20-30 microA cm-2) indicate maximum turnover rates of 5,000 s-1. As has been predicted for consecutive exchange models, the apparent ion affinities of steady state INaCa increase as the counterion concentrations are decreased. Consistent with an electroneutral Ca2+ translocation, we find that voltage dependence of INaCa in both directions is lost as Ca2+ concentration is decreased. The principal electrogenic step seems to be at the extracellular end of the Na+ translocation pathway.

Molecular operations of the sodium-calcium exchanger revealed by conformation currents

The sodium-calcium exchanger is critical in the normal functioning of many cells. In heart muscle, it is the principal way by which the cells keep the concentration of intracellular calcium low, pumping out the Ca2+ that enters the cytosol through L-type Ca2+ channels. The exchanger may also contribute to the triggering of Ca2+ release during voltage-activated excitation-contraction coupling in heart. Time resolved examination of the conformational changes of macromolecules in living cells has so far been largely restricted to ion-channel proteins whose gating is voltage-dependent. We have now directly measured electrical currents arising from the molecular rearrangements of the sarcolemmal Na-Ca exchanger. Changes in the conformation of the exchanger protein were activated by a rapid increase in the intracellular calcium concentration produced by flash photolysis of caged calcium in voltage-clamped heart cells. Two components of membrane current were produced, reflecting a calcium-dependent conformational change of the transporter proteins and net transport of ions by the exchanger. The properties of these components provide evidence that the Na-Ca exchanger protein undergoes two consecutive membrane-crossing molecular transitions that each move charge, and that there are at least 250 exchangers per micron 2 turning over up to 2,500 times per second.

Na/Ca exchangers in collecting cells of rat kidney. A single tubule fura-2 study

Single pieces of fura-2-loaded cortical collecting tubule (CCT) isolated either from normal or adrenalectomized (ADX) rats were superfused in vitro, and the cytosolic calcium concentration [( Ca2+]i) was calculated from fluorescence recordings. The effects of altering the sodium gradient across cell membranes were investigated. Switching external sodium from 164 mM to 27 mM (low [Na+]o) had little effect on [Ca2+]i in normal tubules (106 +/- 9 versus 101 +/- 9 nM, n = 15) whereas it resulted in a large peak of [Ca2+]i in CCT from ADX-rats (270 +/- 32 versus 135 +/- 11 nM, n = 21). Since CCT from ADX rats are known to have a reduced Na-pump activity, the effect of ouabain treatment on CCT from normal rats was also tested. When CCT from normal rats were exposed to 1 mM of ouabain in the presence of 164 mM of [Na+]o, [Ca2+]i increased only moderately (123 +/- 15 versus 111 +/- 11 nM, n = 13); when the low [Na+]o solution was applied to these ouabain-treated tubules, a large and transient increase in [Ca2+]i was obtained (287 +/- 38 versus 123 +/- 15 nM, n = 13). This response was absent with [Ca2+]o = 0. The data suggest the presence of 3 Na+/1 Ca2+ exchangers in cell membranes of rat CCT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

ATP requirement of the sodium-dependent magnesium extrusion from human red blood cells

1. Competitive behaviour detectable in the stimulatory action of external sodium (Nao+) and internal magnesium (Mgi2+) corroborates the idea that Nao+-dependent Mg2+ extrusion is a Mgi2+-Nao+ exchange. 2. Mg2+-loaded resealed cells made from metabolically starved cells (with less than 5 mumols/l cells of ATP), show hardly any Nao+-dependent Mg2+ outflow. Incorporation of ATP during lysis-resealing restores this Mg2+ transport. Half-saturation for the effect is reached at an initial ATP concentration of about 150 mumols/l cells. 3. Adenylyl(beta, gamma-methylene) diphosphonate (AMP-PCP) and AMP had no restituting effect, indicating that in order to act ATP must be hydrolysed. 4. Nao+-dependent Mg2+ outflow is not inhibited by vanadate concentrations that completely block the Ca2+ or Na+ pump. Therefore, the Nao+-Mgi2+ exchange does not fall into the class of cation pumps of the E1E2 type. 5. Yet the fact that reversal of the Na+ gradient fails to reverse the direction of the Na+-dependent Mg2+ transport in human red cells (Lüdi & Schatzmann, 1987) and that at equal Na+ concentration inside and outside the rate of Mg2+ transport is still 50% of that at a Na+ concentration difference of approximately 100 mM across the membrane suggests that the Na+ gradient, or the cation gradients in general, are not the only driving forces for Mg2+ movement. The assumption that there is energy input from ATP hydrolysis is compatible with these observations, whereas proposing the action of a protein kinase fails to explain them. 6. It is concluded that the Nao+-Mgi2+ exchange system has an absolute requirement for ATP and that it is more probable that ATP is supplying energy for transport rather than activating transport by protein phosphorylation or simply by binding.