Vanadate-catalyzed, conformationally specific photocleavage of the Ca2(+)-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum

Decavanadate effects in biological systems

Vanadium biological studies often disregarded the formation of decameric vanadate species known to interact, in vitro, with high-affinity with many proteins such as myosin and sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump and also to inhibit these biochemical systems involved in energy transduction. Moreover, very few in vivo animal studies involving vanadium consider the contribution of decavanadate to vanadium biological effects. Recently, it has been shown that an acute exposure to decavanadate but not to other vanadate oligomers induced oxidative stress and a different fate in vanadium intracellular accumulation. Several markers of oxidative stress analyzed on hepatic and cardiac tissue were monitored after in vivo effect of an acute exposure (12, 24 h and 7 days), to a sub-lethal concentration (5 mM; 1 mg/kg) of two vanadium solutions ("metavanadate" and "decavanadate"). It was observed that "decavanadate" promote different effects than other vanadate oligomers in catalase activity, glutathione content, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial superoxide anion production and vanadium accumulation, whereas both solutions seem to equally depress reactive oxygen species (ROS) production as well as total intracellular reducing power. Vanadium is accumulated in mitochondria in particular when "decavanadate" is administered. These recent findings, that are now summarized, point out the decameric vanadate species contributions to in vivo and in vitro effects induced by vanadium in biological systems.

Distinct topologies of mono- and decavanadate binding and photo-oxidative cleavage in the sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase

UV irradiation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) ATPase in the presence of vanadate cleaves the enzyme at either of two different sites. Under conditions favoring the presence of monovanadate, and in the presence of Ca(2+), ADP, and Mg(2+), cleavage results in two fragments of 71- and 38-kDa electrophoretic mobility. On the other hand, under conditions permitting formation of decavanadate, and in the absence of Ca(2+) and ADP, cleavage results in two fragments of 88- and 21-kDa electrophoretic mobility. The amino terminus resulting from cleavage is blocked and resistant to Edman degradation. However, the initial photo-oxidation product can be reduced with NaB(3)H(4,) resulting in incorporation of radioactive (3)H label. Extensive digestion of the labeled protein with trypsin then yields labeled peptides that are specific for the each of the photo-oxidation conditions, and can be sequenced after purification. Collection of the Edman reaction fractional products reveals the radioactive label and demonstrates that Thr(353) is the residue oxidized by monovanadate at the phosphorylation site (i.e. Asp(351)). Correct positioning of monovanadate at the phosphorylation site requires binding of Mg(2+) and ADP to the Ca(2+)-dependent conformation of the enzyme. Subsequent hydrolytic cleavage is likely assisted by the neighboring Asp(601), and yields the 71- and 38-kDa fragments. On the other hand, Ser(186) (and possibly the following three residues: Val(187), Ile(188), and Lys(189)) is the residue that is photo-oxidized by decavanadate in the absence of ADP. Hydrolytic cleavage of the oxidized product at this site is likely assisted by neighboring acidic residues, and yields the 88- and 21-kDa fragments. The bound decavanadate, which we find to produce steric interference with TNP-AMP binding, must therefore extend to the A domain (i.e. small cytosolic loop) in order to oxidize Ser(186). This protein conformation is only obtained in the absence of Ca(2+).

Structure-function relationships in the Ca(2+)-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum: facts, speculations and questions for the future

Structural data on the Ca(2+)-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum are integrated with kinetic data on Ca2+ transport. The emphasis is upon ATPase-ATPase interactions, the requirement for phospholipids, and the mechanism of Ca2+ translocation. The possible role of cytoplasmic [Ca2+] in the regulation of the synthesis of Ca(2+)-ATPase is discussed.

The structure and interactions of Ca(2+)-ATPase

Electron crystallographic studies on membrane crystals of Ca(2+)-ATPase reveal different patterns of ATPase-ATPase interactions depending on enzyme conformation. Physiologically relevant changes in Ca2+ concentration and membrane potential affect these interactions. Ca2+ induced difference FTIR spectra of Ca(2+)-ATPase triggered by photolysis of caged Ca2+ are consistent with changes in secondary structure and carboxylate groups upon Ca2+ binding; the changes are reversed during ATP hydrolysis suggesting that a phosphorylated enzyme form of low Ca2+ affinity is the dominant intermediate during Ca2+ transport. A two-channel model of Ca2+ translocation is proposed involving the membrane-spanning helices M2-M5 and M4, M5, M6 and M8 respectively, with separate but interacting Ca2+ binding sites.

Interactions of vanadate oligomers with sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase

Upon addition of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), the line width of tetrameric vanadate signal of 51V-NMR spectra narrowed in the presence of ATP and Ca2+, whereas monomeric vanadate line widths were broadened. Thus, ATP decreases the affinity of the enzyme for tetravanadate whereas it induces the interaction with monomeric vanadate. In the presence of Ca2+ it was observed that tetrameric and decameric vanadate bind to SR ATPase whereas monomeric vanadate only binds to SR when ATP is present. However, decameric vanadate clearly differs from vanadate oligomers present in monovanadate solutions in preventing the accumulation of Ca2+ by sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles coupled to ATP hydrolysis. Mg2+ increased the inhibitory effect promoted by decavanadate whereas a slight enhancement of Ca2+ uptake was observed in the presence of monovanadate. For 5 mM Mg2+, a nominal 2 mM vanadium 'decavanadate' solution containing about 190 to 200 microM decameric and less than 100 microM monomeric species depressed the rate of Ca2+ uptake by 50% whereas a nominal 2 mM monovanadate solution containing about 662 microM monomeric, 143 microM dimeric and 252 microM tetrameric species had no effect on the rate of Ca2+ accumulation. However, 2 mM 'decavanadate' inhibits by 75% the SR Ca(2+)-ATPase activity whereas the presence of 2 mM 'monovanadate' produces an inhibitory effect below 50%. Therefore, the Ca:ATP stoichiometry of Ca2+ transport is enhanced by monovanadate. In the presence of oxalate, inhibition of SR Ca(2+)-ATPase activity by these solutions is enhanced to 97% and 86% whereas in the presence of the ionophore lasalocid, the inhibitory values were 87% and 19% for 2 mM decavanadate and 2 mM monovanadate solutions, respectively. Apparently, the increase of vesicular Ca2+ concentration counteracts monovanadate inhibition of SR Ca(2+)-ATPase activity but it does not significantly affect decavanadate inhibition.

Synergistic activation of the human red cell calcium ATPase by magnesium and vanadate

The Ca(2+)-ATPase activity of human red cells was studied on calmodulin-free membrane fragments after previous incubation with Mg2+ and vanadate. In the presence of EGTA (5 mM), the activity was slightly affected by either ion alone. However, when added together, both Ca2+ affinity and Vmax were increased up to levels found with calmodulin (0.3 microM). This synergistic activation was not abolished by proteinase inhibitors (iodoacetamide, 10 mM; leupeptin, 200 microM; pepstatin A, 100 microM; phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride, 100 microM), neomycin (200 microM), washing with EDTA (5 mM) or by both incubating and washing with delipidized serum albumin (1 mg/ml). During preincubation under optimal Mg2+ and vanadate conditions, the replacement of K+ by Na+ or Li+ was without effect. Co2+ or Zn2+ (10 mM) could not substitute for Mg2+, whereas Mn2+ almost replaced it at equimolar amounts. By contrast, addition of ATPMg (2 mM) decreased the activation by about one-half. Like calmodulin, pretreatment with Mg2+ plus vanadate also increased the affinity for ATP and elicited appearance of a second (low) affinity site (apparent Km = 120 microM). The fluorescence depolarization of 1,6-diphenyl- and 1-(4-trimethylammonium phenyl)-6-phenyl 1,3,5-hexatriene incorporated into membrane fragments was not affected after preincubating with Mg2+, vanadate or Mg2+ plus vanadate. The results show that Mg2+ and vanadate are acting neither via proteolysis or fatty acid production nor by facilitating phospholipid metabolism or altering membrane fluidity. They may be enhancing the Ca(2+)-ATPase activity by stabilizing the E1 conformer or promoting an enzyme conformation which facilitates the E2-E1 transition.

Immunological relatedness of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase and the Na+,K(+)-ATPase

The effect of anti-ATPase antibodies with epitopes near Asp-351 (PR-8), Lys-515 (PR-11) and the ATP binding domain (D12) of the Ca(2+)-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum (EC 3.6.1.38) was analyzed. The PR-8 and D12 antibodies reacted freely with the Ca(2+)-ATPase in the native membrane, indicating that their epitopes are exposed on the cytoplasmic surface. Both PR-8 and D12 interfered with the crystallization of the Ca(2+)-ATPase, suggesting that their binding sites are at interfaces between ATPase molecules. PR-11 had no effect on ATPase-ATPase interactions or on the ATPase activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum. The epitope of PR-11 is suggested to be the VIDRC sequence at residues 520-525, while that of D12 at residues 670-720 of the Ca(2+)-ATPase. The use of predictive algorithms of antigenicity for identification of potential antigenic determinants in the Ca(2+)-ATPase is analyzed.

Covalent labeling of the cytoplasmic or luminal domains of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase with fluorescent azido dyes

Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles were incubated with azido derivatives of Cascade blue (ACB), Lucifer yellow (ALY), 2,7-naphthalene-disulfonic acid (ANDS), and fluorescein (AF) for 0.1-24 h at 2 degrees C. All four dyes gave intense reaction with the cytoplasmic domain of the Ca(2+)-ATPase on photoactivation after brief incubation. The penetration of the dyes into the luminal space of the SR was determined after centrifugation through Sephadex microcolumns to remove the external dye, followed by photolabeling and gel electrophoresis of the photolabeled proteins. The reaction of ACB and ANDS with the Ca(2+)-ATPase and with calsequestrin increased progressively during incubation up to 24 h indicating their slow accumulation in the luminal space, while ALY and AF did not show significant penetration into the vesicles. The distribution of the covalently attached ACB in the Ca(2+)-ATPase was tested by tryptic proteolysis after labeling exclusively from the outside (OS), from the inside (IS) or from both sides (BS). In all cases intense ACB fluorescence was seen in the A fragment with inhibition of ATPase activity. In the OS preparations the A1, while in IS the A2 fragment was more intensely labeled. There was no significant incorporation of ACB into the region of B fragment identified by FITC fluorescence. The crystallization of the Ca(2+)-ATPase by EGTA + decavanadate was completely inhibited in the BS samples after labeling either in the Ca2E1 or E2V conformation. There was no inhibition of crystallization in the OS preparations. In the IS preparations labeled in the Ca2E1 state the crystallization was impaired, while in the E2V state there was only slight disorganization of the crystals. The total amount of ACB photoincorporated into SR proteins after incubation for 24 h was 1.75 nmol/mg protein; 2/3 of this labeling occurred from the outside and 1/3 from the inside. Similar level of labeling was obtained in media that stabilize the E1 or the E2 conformation of the Ca(2+)-ATPase.

Differences in the susceptibility of various cation transport ATPases to vanadate-catalyzed photocleavage

Illumination of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles by ultraviolet light in the presence of 1 mM vanadate causes photocleavage of the Ca(2+)-ATPase into two fragments (Vegh et al. (1990) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1023, 168-183). In the absence of Ca2+ the photocleavage occurs in the N-terminal half of the molecule near the phosphate acceptor Asp-351. In the presence of 2 mM Ca2+ the photocleavage shifts to the C-terminal half of the ATPase, near the FITC binding site (Lys-515). About half of the Ca(2+)-ATPase was cleaved rapidly, accompanied by nearly complete, irreversible loss of ATPase activity when illuminated in the presence of 2 mM CaCl2; further cleavage of the enzyme was slow and affected primarily the C-terminal fragment produced in the presence of Ca2+. Solubilization of the Ca(2+)-ATPase with C12E8 did not affect the site of photocleavage in either conformation. The vanadate-induced Ca(2+)-ATPase crystals were disrupted during photocleavage, while the binding of anti-ATPase antibodies directed against the phosphorylation site (PR-8) and against the FITC binding region (PR-11) was enhanced. The bovine kidney Na+,K(+)-ATPase was insensitive to photocleavage under conditions where about half the Ca(2+)-ATPase was fragmented. The slight cleavage of the pig gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase after prolonged illumination produced fragments that are distinct from the fragments of the Ca(2+)-ATPase.

Vanadate promotes photooxidative cleavage and inactivation of muscle phosphofructokinase

During irradiation in the presence of decavanadate, the subunits of phosphofructokinase underwent progressive degradation to a fragment of about 78,000 daltons. This cleavage pattern was altered when the photoirradiation was performed in the presence of monomeric vanadate with formation of several smaller peptides. The specificity of the decavanadate induced cleavage was proved by the resistance of other enzymes to the treatment and by the effects of phosphofructokinase ligands. During irradiation, the activity of the enzyme declined. Differences between the rate of inactivation and of cleavage of enzyme subunits suggest the occurrence of multiple processes.

Emerging views on the structure and dynamics of the Ca2(+)-ATPase in sarcoplasmic reticulum

The ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport in sarcoplasmic reticulum involves transitions between several structural states of the Ca2(+)-ATPase, that occur without major changes in the secondary structure. The rates of these transitions are modulated by the lipid environment and by interactions between ATPase molecules. Although the Ca2(+)-ATPase restricts the rotational mobility of a population of lipids, there is no evidence for specific interaction of the Ca2(+)-ATPase with phospholipids. Fluorescence polarization and energy transfer (FET) studies, using site specific fluorescent indicators, combined with crystallographic, immunological and chemical modification data, yielded a structural model of Ca2(+)-ATPase in which the binding sites of Ca2+ and ATP are tentatively identified. The temperature dependence of FET between fluorophores attached to different regions of the ATPase indicates the existence of 'rigid' and 'flexible' regions within the molecule characterized, by different degrees of thermally induced structural fluctuations.