A high-affinity, calmodulin-sensitive (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase and associated calcium-transport pump in the Ehrlich ascites tumor cell plasma membrane

Allosteric inhibitors of plasma membrane Ca2+ pumps: Invention and applications of caloxins

Plasma membrane Ca²⁺ pumps (PMCA) play a major role in Ca²⁺ homeostasis and signaling by extruding cellular Ca²⁺ with high affinity. PMCA isoforms are encoded by four genes which are expressed differentially in various cell types in normal and disease states. Therefore, PMCA isoform selective inhibitors would aid in delineating their role in physiology and pathophysiology. We are testing the hypothesis that extracellular domains of PMCA can be used as allosteric targets to obtain a novel class of PMCA-specific inhibitors termed caloxins. This review presents the concepts behind the invention of caloxins and our progress in this area. A section is also devoted to the applications of caloxins in literature. We anticipate that isoform-selective caloxins will aid in understanding PMCA physiology in health and disease. With strategies to develop therapeutics from bioactive peptides, caloxins may become clinically useful in cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, retinopathy, cancer and contraception.

Caloxin 1b3: a novel plasma membrane Ca(2+)-pump isoform 1 selective inhibitor that increases cytosolic Ca(2+) in endothelial cells

The purpose of this study was to invent an extracellular inhibitor selective for the plasma membrane Ca(2+) pump(s) (PMCA) isoform 1. PMCA extrude Ca(2+) from cells during signalling and homeostasis. PMCA isoforms are encoded by 4 genes (PMCA1-4). Pig coronary artery endothelium and smooth muscle express the genes PMCA1 and 4. We showed that the endothelial cells contained mostly PMCA1 protein while smooth muscle cells had mostly PMCA4. A random peptide phage display library was screened for binding to synthetic extracellular domain 1 of PMCA1. The selected phage population was screened further by affinity chromatography using PMCA from rabbit duodenal mucosa which expressed mostly PMCA1. The peptide displayed by the selected phage was termed caloxin 1b3. Caloxin 1b3 inhibited PMCA Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase in the rabbit duodenal mucosa (PMCA1) with a greater affinity (inhibition constant=17±2 μM) than the PMCA in the human erythrocyte ghosts (PMCA4, inhibition constant=45±4 μM). The affinity of caloxin 1b3 was also higher for PMCA1 than for PMCA2 and 3 indicating its selectivity for PMCA1. Consistent with an inhibition of PMCA1, caloxin 1b3 addition to the medium increased cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration in endothelial cells. Caloxin 1b3 is the first known PMCA1 selective inhibitor. We anticipate caloxin 1b3 to aid in understanding PMCA physiology in endothelium and other tissues.

Caloxins: a novel class of selective plasma membrane Ca2+ pump inhibitors obtained using biotechnology

Plasma membrane Ca2+ pumps (PMCA) extrude cellular Ca2+ with a high affinity and hence play a major role in Ca2+ homeostasis and signaling. Caloxins (selective extracellular PMCA inhibitors) would aid in elucidating the physiology of PMCA. PMCA proteins have five extracellular domains (exdoms). Our hypotheses are: 1) peptides that bind selectively to each exdom can be invented by screening a random peptide library, and 2) a peptide can modulate PMCA activity by binding to one of the exdoms. The first caloxin 2a1, selected for binding exdom 2 was selective for PMCA (Ki=529 microM). It has been used to examine the physiological role of PMCA. PMCA isoforms are encoded by four genes. PMCA isoform expression differs in various cell types, with PMCA1 and 4 being the most widely distributed. There are differences between PMCA1-4 exdom 1 sequences, which may be exploited for inventing isoform selective caloxins. Using exdom 1 of PMCA4 as a target, modified screening procedures and mutagenesis led to the high-affinity caloxin 1c2 (Ki=2.3 microM for PMCA4). It is selective for PMCA4 over PMCA1, 2, or 3. We hope that caloxins can be used to discern the roles of individual PMCA isoforms in Ca2+ homeostasis and signaling. Caloxins may also become clinically useful in cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, retinopathy, cancer, and contraception.

Aortic smooth muscle and endothelial plasma membrane Ca2+pump isoforms are inhibited differently by the extracellular inhibitor caloxin 1b1

Plasma membrane Ca2+pumps (PMCA) that expel Ca2+from cells are encoded by four genes (PMCA1–4). In this study, we show that aortic endothelium and smooth muscle differ in their PMCA isoform mRNA expression: endothelium expressed predominantly PMCA1, and smooth muscle expressed PMCA4 and a lower level of PMCA1. In this study, we report a novel peptide (caloxin 1b1, obtained by screening for binding to extracellular domain 1 of PMCA4), which inhibited PMCA extracellularly, selectively, and had a higher affinity for PMCA4 than PMCA1. It inhibited the PMCA Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activity in leaky erythrocyte ghosts (mainly PMCA4) with a Kivalue of 46 ± 5 μM, making it 10× more potent than the previously reported caloxin 2a1. It was isoform selective because it inhibited the PMCA1 Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase in human embryonic kidney-293 cells with a higher Kivalue (105 ± 11 μM) than for PMCA4. Caloxin 1b1 was selective in that it did not inhibit other ATPases. Because caloxin 1b1 had been selected to bind to an extracellular domain of PMCA, it could be added directly to cells and tissues to examine its effects on smooth muscle and endothelium. In deendothelialized aortic rings, caloxin 1b1 (200 μM) produced a contraction. It also increased the force of contraction produced by a submaximum concentration of phenylephrine. In aortic rings with endothelium intact, precontracted with phenylephrine and relaxed partially with a submaximum concentration of carbachol, caloxin 1b1 increased the force of contraction rather than potentiating the endothelium-dependent relaxation. In cultured cells, caloxin 1b1 increased the cytosolic [Ca2+] more in arterial smooth muscle cells than in endothelial cells. Thus caloxin 1b1 is the first highly selective extracellular PMCA inhibitor that works better on vascular smooth muscle than on endothelium.

Plasma membrane calcium pumps in smooth muscle: from fictional molecules to novel inhibitors

Plasma membrane Ca2+pumps (PMCA pumps) are Ca2+-Mg2+ATPases that expel Ca2+from the cytosol to extracellular space and are pivotal to cell survival and function. PMCA pumps are encoded by the genes PMCA1, -2, -3, and -4. Alternative splicing results in a large number of isoforms that differ in their kinetics and activation by calmodulin and protein kinases A and C. Expression by 4 genes and a multifactorial regulation provide redundancy to allow for animal survival despite genetic defects. Heterozygous mice with ablation of any of the PMCA genes survive and only the homozygous mice with PMCA1 ablation are embryolethal. Some PMCA isoforms may also be involved in other cell functions. Biochemical and biophysical studies of PMCA pumps have been limited by their low levels of expression. Delineation of the exact physiological roles of PMCA pumps has been difficult since most cells also express sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+pumps and a Na+-Ca2+-exchanger, both of which can lower cytosolic Ca2+. A major limitation in the field has been the lack of specific inhibitors of PMCA pumps. More recently, a class of inhibitors named caloxins have emerged, and these may aid in delineating the roles of PMCA pumps.Key words: ATPases, hypertension, caloxin, protein kinase A, protein kinase C, calmodulin.

Calcium transport and calcium activated ATPase activity in microsomal vesicles of rat gastric mucosa

1. Microsomal and plasma membrane vesicles, isolated from rat gastric mucosa, were found to exhibit Ca(2+)-dependent ATPase activities of 14.1 +/- 1.4 and 7.8 +/- 1.1 mumol/mg/hr, respectively. The optimum conditions for the microsomal Ca(2+)-ATPase was pH 6-7, and required Mg2+, while divalent cation such as Cu2+, Zn2+, Fe2+, Ba2+ and Cd2+ had no significant effect. 2. As in the case of Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase, the Ca2+ uptake activity of the microsomal membrane required Mg2+. Both processes were stimulated by submicro molar concentrations of Ca2+ and the apparent Km for Ca2+, Mg2+ ATPase and Ca2+ uptake activities were 0.06 microM and 0.02 microM, respectively. 3. Divalent cations Ba2+ and Fe2+, inhibited both microsomal activities, while Zn2+ and Cd2+ showed no effect on them. However, the monovalent cation K+ did not stimulate Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase and Ca2+ uptake activities. 4. The Ca2+ pumping ATPase of rat gastric mucosal microsome cross-reacted with a monoclonal antibody (mAb-5F10) against the human erythrocyte Ca2+ pump. The apparent molecular weight of mucosal Ca2+ pump was 98 kDa. 5. Close relationship between the kinetic parameters of Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase and Ca2+ uptake activities, and the cross reaction of 98 kDa protein of mucosal microsome with erythrocyte Ca2+ pump antibody, strongly suggest the expression of Ca2+ pump in rat gastric mucosa.

Effects of Fe(3+)-tumor cell interaction on Ca(2+)-uptake by Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

Fe3+ ions complexed by various ligands induce an increased Ca2+ uptake by Ehrlich carcinoma ascites cells that is proportional to the thermodynamic stability constant of the complex, and the greatest increase is observed with ferric lactate. The absence of ATPase inhibition showed by this ferric complex, suggests that an increased passive diffusion of Ca2+ due to structural modifications of the cell membrane is the most probable cause of this phenomenon.

ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake in brush border membranes of human term placenta

In this communication, an ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake was characterized in term human placental brush border membranes. Multiple freeze-thaw cycles greatly diminished uptake activity by 90 per cent, indicating an intravesicular accumulation of Ca2+. Kinetic studies indicate an apparent Km for Ca2+ of 0.22 +/- 0.04 microM and a Vmax of 441 +/- 137 pmoles/min/mg protein at 37 degrees C. The uptake was shown to have an optimum pH between 7.0 and 7.2, and was unaffected by the addition of oxalate, characteristics which are consistent with a plasma membrane origin of uptake. The process was temperature-dependent with a Q10 of 1.11 and was significantly inhibited (50 per cent) by 100 microM concentrations of trifluoperazine and vanadate. The characteristics of placental brush border Ca2+ uptake are similar to those of other Ca2+ uptake systems known to regulate intracellular calcium concentrations. By analogy, we suggest a similar role for this process in the maintenance of the low intracellular Ca2+ levels necessary for placental syncytiotrophoblast viability.

Separate, Ca2+-activated K+ and Cl- transport pathways in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

The net loss of KCl observed in Ehrlich ascites cells during regulatory volume decrease (RVD) following hypotonic exposure involves activation of separate conductive K+ and Cl- transport pathways. RVD is accelerated when a parallel K+ transport pathway is provided by addition of gramicidin, indicating that the K+ conductance is rate limiting. Addition of ionophore A23187 plus Ca2+ also activates separate K+ and Cl- transport pathways, resulting in a hyperpolarization of the cell membrane. A calculation shows that the K+ and Cl- conductance is increased 14- and 10-fold, respectively. Gramicidin fails to accelerate the A23187-induced cell shrinkage, indicating that the Cl- conductance is rate limiting. An A23187-induced activation of 42K and 36Cl tracer fluxes is directly demonstrated. RVD and the A23187-induced cell shrinkage both are: inhibited by quinine which blocks the Ca2+-activated K+ channel, unaffected by substitution of NO-3 or SCN- for Cl-, and inhibited by the anti-calmodulin drug pimozide. When the K+ channel is blocked by quinine but bypassed by addition of gramicidin, the rate of cell shrinkage can be used to monitor the Cl- conductance. The Cl- conductance is increased about 60-fold during RVD. The volume-induced activation of the Cl- transport pathway is transient, with inactivation within about 10 min. The activation induced by ionophore A23187 in Ca2+-free media (probably by release of Ca2+ from internal stores) is also transient, whereas the activation is persistent in Ca2+-containing media. In the latter case, addition of excess EGTA is followed by inactivation of the Cl- transport pathway. These findings suggest that a transient increase in free cytosolic Ca2+ may account for the transient activation of the Cl- transport pathway. The activated anion transport pathway is unselective, carrying both Cl-, Br-, NO-3, and SCN-. The anti-calmodulin drug pimozide blocks the volume- or A23187-induced Cl- transport pathway and also blocks the activation of the K+ transport pathway. This is demonstrated directly by 42K flux experiments and indirectly in media where the dominating anion (SCN-) has a high ground permeability. A comparison of the A23187-induced K+ conductance estimated from 42K flux measurements at high external K+, and from net K+ flux measurements suggests single-file behavior of the Ca2+-activated K+ channel. The number of Ca2+-activated K+ channels is estimated at about 100 per cell.

Experimental evidence for the probable involvement of calcium ion transport in 67Ga uptake by tumour cells

The study of 67Ga-citrate uptake and calcium transport in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells seems to indicate that their peculiar characteristic of increased permeability to extracellular calcium ion might be responsible for their 67Ga accumulation. Experiments performed under different conditions of extracellular calcium, temperature, and presence of ionophore and other plasma membrane modifying agents such as lanthanum appear to corroborate this hypothesis.

Purification and characterization of the Ca2+-ATPase of plasma membranes from Ehrlich ascites mammary carcinoma cells

Ca2+-ATPase was isolated from plasma membranes of Ehrlich ascites mammary carcinoma cells by means of calmodulin affinity chromatography. The purification procedure included removal of endogenous calmodulin from a Triton X-100 solubilizate of the membranes by DEAE ion-exchange chromatography as an essential step. With respect to its molecular mass, activation by calmodulin, Ca2+-dependent phosphorylation and highly sensitive inhibition by orthovanadate, the purified enzyme resembles the Ca2+-ATPase of erythrocyte membranes. In contrast to the strong calmodulin dependence of the isolated enzyme the Ca2+-ATPase in native Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cell membranes cannot be remarkably stimulated by added calmodulin. It is suggested that the membrane-bound Ca2+-ATPase in the presence of Ca2+ is activated by interaction with endogenously bound calmodulin.

Effects of extracellular calcium on calcium transport during hyperthermia of tumor cells

The effects of different concentrations of extracellular ion calcium on the transport of calcium by tumor cells have been studied by means of the uptake of radiocalcium. Tumor cells incubated at 45 degrees C take up 4-10 times the amount of radioactivity incorporated by cells incubated at 37 degrees C. The difference is still greater (up to 100 times) for the intracellular incorporation as assessed by elimination of the membrane-bound calcium by EGTA treatment. The possible mechanisms involved in this differential behavior are discussed.

Characterization of a calcium-dependent ATPase in Entamoeba invadens

A high-affinity calcium-dependent ATPase (Ca2+-ATPase) was identified in a crude plasma membrane fraction from Entamoeba invadens (IP-1 strain). The Ca2+-ATPase activity was solubilized from the membrane by utilizing the non-ionic detergent octylglucoside. The activity had an apparent half maximal saturation constant of 0.4 +/- 0.05 microM for free calcium. The calcium activation of ATPase activity followed a cooperative mechanism (Hill number of 2.3 +/- 0.13) which suggests that two interacting sites were involved. The high-affinity Ca2+-ATPase appeared to be magnesium-independent, since by lowering contaminant free magnesium with trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid did not modify the activity observed with Ca2+. The apparent Km of the enzyme for ATP was 31 microM. The observed activity had an optimum pH of 8.8. The enzyme was insensitive to various agents such as Na+, K+, ouabain, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, KCN, NaN3, mersalyl, quercetin, ruthenium red and vanadate. Only lanthanum (0.5 mM) inhibited 100% the enzymatic activity. Calmodulin and trifluoperazine at the concentrations tested did not modify the Ca2+-ATPase activity.

A high affinity Ca2+-dependent ATPase in the surface membrane of the bloodstream stage of Trypanosoma rhodesiense

Addition of Ca2+ (0.01-1 mM) to a standard Trypanosoma rhodesiense Mg2+-ATPase assay failed to elicit any increase in activity. However, in the absence of externally added Mg2+ and using calcium-EGTA or calcium-CDTA to precisely maintain free metal ion concentration, it was possible to measure a specific Ca2+-ATPase. Cell fractionation studies revealed this ATPase to be predominantly associated with subcellular particles having an equilibrium density of 1.22 g cm-3 and identified as surface membrane. Using a discontinuous sucrose gradient, a surface membrane enriched (SME) fraction, only slightly contaminated with mitochondria as judged by dichlorophenolindophenol-linked alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase activity, was prepared. The SME fraction exhibited Ca2+-ATPase activity, using 200 nM free Ca2+, of 90 and 21 mU mg-1 protein, respectively, using CDTA and EGTA as buffering ligands. This latter result was most unexpected and indicated that the Ca2+-ATPase, in addition to having no Mg2+ requirement, was inhibited by submicromolar levels of Mg2+. The Ca2+-ATPase was found to have a K0.5 = 128 +/- 22 nM free Ca2+, the response to increasing Ca2+ concentration displaying an extremely high degree of co-operativity (Hill number (nH) = 4.9). The enzyme was found to be highly substrate-specific for ATP with K0.5 = 6.2 +/- 0.61 microM ATP. A Hill plot of the reaction velocity as a function of ATP concentration indicated two substrate binding sites (nH = 1.55). A range of potential modulators of ATPase activity were investigated, with only vanadate (V2O3-8) having any effect: 47% inhibition at 5.0 microM. The Ca2+-ATPase was unaffected by the calmodulin antagonists chlorpromazine (50 microM) and trifluoperazine (50 microM), whilst addition of calmodulin failed to produce any stimulation of activity. It is concluded that the kinetic properties of this ATPase are compatible with a potential role in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ in bloodstream T. rhodesiense.