Evidence for an endogenous protein inhibitor of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump in heart muscle

Role of endogenous regucalcin in transgenic rats: suppression of kidney cortex cytosolic protein phosphatase activity and enhancement of heart muscle microsomal Ca2+-ATPase activity

Rats were generated by pronuclear injection of the transgene with a cDNA construct encoding rat regucalcin that is a regulatory protein of Ca2+ signaling. Transgenic (TG) founders were fertile, transmitted the transgene at the expected frequency, and bred to homozygote. Western analysis of the cytosol prepared from the tissue of TG female rats (5-week-old) showed a remarkable expression of regucalcin (3.3 kDa) protein in the liver, kidney cortex, heart, lung, stomach, brain, spleen, muscle, colon, and duodenum. Regucalcin expression of TG male rats was seen in the liver, kidney cortex, heart, and lung. In wild-type (wt) male and female rats, regucalcin was mainly present in the liver and kidney cortex. Regucalcin inhibited protein phosphatase activity in rat kidney cortex cytosol and activated Ca2+-ATPase activity in rat heart muscle microsomes. The suppressive effect of regucalcin on protein phosphatase activity was significantly enhanced in the cytosol of kidney cortex of TG male and female rats as compared with those of wt rats. Likewise, heart muscle microsomal Ca2+-ATPase activity was significantly enhanced in TG rats. The changes in their enzyme's activities in TG rats were completely abolished in the presence of anti-regucalcin monoclonal antibody (100 ng/ml) in the enzyme reaction mixture. Moreover, the body weight of TG female rats was significantly lowered as compared with that of wt rats. Serum inorganic phosphorus concentration was significantly increased in TG male and female rats, while serum calcium, glucose, triglyceride, free cholesterol, albumin, and urea nitrogen concentrations were not significantly altered in TG rats. Regucalcin TG rats should be a useful model to define a regulatory role of endogenous regucalcin in the tissues in vivo.

Role of regucalcin as an activator of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase activity in rat heart muscle

The expression of regucalcin, a regulatory protein of Ca(2+) signaling, and its effect on Ca(2+) pump activity in the microsomes (sarcoplasmic reticulum) of rat heart muscle was investigated. The expression of regucalcin mRNA was demonstrated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis in heart muscle using rat regucalcin-specific primers. Results with Western blot analysis showed that regucalcin protein was present in the cytoplasm, although it was not detected in the microsomes. Microsomal Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was significantly increased in the presence of regucalcin (10(-10)-10(-8) M) in the enzyme reaction mixture. This increase was not seen in the presence of thapsigargin (TP) (10(-5) M), a specific inhibitor of the microsomal Ca(2+) pump enzyme. Regucalcin (10(-10)-10(-8) M) significantly stimulated ATP-dependent (45)Ca(2+) uptake by the microsomes. The effect of regucalcin (10(-8) M) in increasing microsomal Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was completely prevented in the presence of digitonin (10(-3) or 10(-2)%), which has a solubilizing effect on membranous lipid, or N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), a modifying reagent of sulfhydryl (SH) groups. Dithiothreitol (DTT; 5 mM), a protecting reagent of SH groups, increased markedly Ca(2+)-ATPase activity. In the presence of DTT (5 mM), regucalcin could not significantly enhance the enzyme activity. Also, the effect of regucalcin in increasing Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was completely inhibited by the addition of vanadate (1 mM), an inhibitor of phosphorylation of enzyme. In addition, the effect of regucalcin on Ca(2+)-ATPase activity was not significantly modulated in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (10(-4) M), inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (10(-3) M), or calmodulin (5 microg/ml) which is an intracellular signaling factor. The present study demonstrates that regucalcin can activate Ca(2+) pump activity in rat heart microsomes, and that the protein may act the SH groups of Ca(2+)-ATPase by binding to microsomal membranes.

Purification and functional characterization of a low-molecular-mass Ca2+,Mg2+- and Ca2+-ATPase modulator protein from rat brain cytosol

A low-molecular-mass modulator protein having a molecular mass of about 12 kDa has been purified from rat brain cytosol following gel filtration and FPLC/Mono Q anion-exchange chromatographic separation. A number of protein fractions were obtained from an FPLC column when eluted with a 0.1 M NaCl hold gradient. One fraction (peak no. 5) was found to stimulate Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase but inhibit Ca2+-ATPase isolated from goat spermatozoa. The S50 (concentration producing 50% stimulation) and I50 were found to be in the nanomolar range. The modulator seems to bind to Ca2+, Mg2+- or Ca2+-ATPase at a site distal from the ATP binding site. The binding to both the ATPases is reversible and non-competitive in nature. The inhibitory activity is found to depend significantly on -SH or -NH2 group(s) of the modulator, whereas no appreciable dependency of the stimulatory effect was apparent. The study indicates that the modulator is not a glycoprotein. CD analysis suggests that the protein exists as an unordered secondary structure. An immuno-cross-reactivity study with specific antibody and inhibition by thapsigargin suggests that the Ca2+,Mg2+- and Ca2+-ATPases from goat testes microsomal membranes are two isoforms of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic-reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) family. The modulator does not contain any Trp molecules, as evident from Trp fluorescence analysis. Amino acid analysis shows that glycine, serine, derivatives of tyrosine and phenylalanine are the predominant amino acids. The data suggest that the modulator is a negatively charged protein and is a good tool for distinguishing the regulation of Ca2+,Mg2+- and Ca2+-ATPase activities.

Phosphorylation and regulation of the Ca(2+)-pumping ATPase in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase

In cardiac muscle, a membrane-associated Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM kinase) phosphorylates the Ca(2+)-pumping ATPase in addition to its previously characterized substrates, phospholamban and Ca(2+)-release channel (ryanodine receptor). The phosphorylated amino acid in the Ca(2+)-ATPase has been identified as serine. Posphorylation of the Ca(2+)-ATPase is rapid and is reversible by a membrane-associated protein phosphatase, Ca(2+)-ATPase purified from cardiac SR underwent phosphorylation by exogenous CaM kinase, and the phosphorylated enzyme displayed twofold greater catalytic activity without alteration in its Ca(2+)-sensitivity. The phosphorylation of the Ca(2+)-ATPase was found to be isoform-specific in that the cardiac and slow-twitch skeletal muscle isoform (SERCA 2), but not the fast-twitch skeletal muscle isoform (SERCA 1), underwent phosphorylation by CaM kinase. Studies using SERCA 1 and SERCA 2 isoforms and their mutants expressed in a heterelogous cell system have resulted in i) confirmation of the isoform specificity of Ca(2+)-ATPase phosphorylation by CaM kinase, ii) identification of Ser38 as the site in SERCA 2 phosphorylated by CaM kinase, and iii) demonstration of phosphorylation-induced increase in Vmax of Ca2+ transport by the SERCA 2 enzyme. These observations suggest that in cardiac and slow-twitch skeletal muscle direct phosphorylation of the SR Ca(2+)-ATPase by the membrane-bound CaM kinase may serve to stimulate Ca2+ sequestration and therefore, the speed of muscle relaxation.

Purification, amino-terminal sequence and functional properties of a 64 kDa cytosolic protein from heart muscle capable of modulating calcium transport across the sarcoplasmic reticulum in vitro

In previous studies we have described the inhibitory action of a cytosolic protein fraction from heart muscle on ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR); further this inhibition was shown to be blocked by an inhibitor antagonist, also derived from the cytosol (Narayanan et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 735: 53-66, 1983; Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. 67: 999-1006, 1989). Here we report the complete purification of the antagonist protein (AP) and characterization of its functional properties. AP was purified to homogeneity from rabbit heart cytosol using two procedures, one utilizing sequential DE52-cellulose and hydroxylapatite chromatography, and the other utilizing anion exchange chromatography on Mono Q HR 5/5 column in a Pharmacia FPLC system. The purified AP has an apparent molecular weight of 64 kDa; it is made up of about 43% hydrophobic and 57% hydrophilic residues with the following amino-terminal sequence: E-A-H-K-S-E-I-A-H-R-F-N-D-V-G-E-E-H-F-I-G-L-V-L-I-T-F-S-Q-Y-L-Q-K-X-P-Y- E-E-H-A . This partial amino acid sequence data indicate strong sequence homology to serum albumin (sequence homology: 85% to rat serum albumin and 74% to sheep and bovine serum albumin). The purified AP caused concentration-dependent-blockade of the inhibition of Ca2+ uptake by SR observed in the presence of the cytosolic Ca2+ uptake inhibitor protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ontogeny of cytosolic proteins capable of modulating sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium transport in heart muscle

In a previous study we described the inhibitory action of a cytosolic protein fraction from heart muscle on ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR); further, this inhibition was shown to be blocked by an inhibitor antagonist, also derived from the cytosol (Narayanan et al. Biochim Biophys Acta 735: 53-66, 1983). The present study investigated the ontogenetic expression of the activities of Ca2+ transport inhibitor and inhibitor antagonist in heart cytosol during fetal and postnatal development of the rat. The SR Ca2+ transport inhibitor activity was undetectable in the cytosol of fetal (15- or 20-days gestation) rat heart but was manifested in the cytosol as early as one day after birth and increased progressively thereafter to reach almost adult levels within the first two weeks of postnatal development. The activity of the SR Ca2+ transport inhibitor antagonist was barely detectable in the near-term (20 days gestation) fetus but increased substantially during early postnatal development, in parallel with the rise in activity of the inhibitor. The ontogenetic appearance and increase in the activities of the Ca2+ transport inhibitor and its antagonist correlated well with the concurrent appearance and increase in the amounts of two polypeptides of apparent molecular weights 43 kDa and 64 kDa, which we have tentatively identified as the inhibitor and inhibitor antagonist, respectively. The co-ordinated expression of both the inhibitor and inhibitor antagonist activities in the cytosol during the early postnatal period parallels the morphogenesis and functional maturation of SR in cardiac muscle suggesting likely involvement of these cytosolic proteins in the physiological regulation of SR function.

Are there stress resistant and susceptible myocardia?

The satisfactory analysis of the Na/K ATPase, its pumping component and the mechanism of action of the inhibitor digitalis remains elusive; yet the controversial inotropic effect of digitalis in the clinical setting has been known for over a century. There are also conflicting reports of the effect of urea and uremia on the cardiovascular system, and the evidence as it exists, suggests that urea may have two effects on the intact heart, by virtue of its extent of action on hydrogen bonding of water molecules, determined by which type of muscle constitutes the myocardium. If different types of myocardium do exist, they could well respond differently to inotropic agents. Evidence suggests that two types of myocardia, relatively stress resistant or susceptible may exist, analagous to known skeletal muscle differences.

Characterization of heart cytosolic proteins capable of modulating calcium uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum. 1. Isolation of a protein with protective activity and its identification as muscle albumin

A new type of regulation of the Ca-pumping activity of isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes has been investigated. An inhibitory and an antagonistic fraction were obtained after (NH4)2SO4 fractionation of cardiac muscle cytosol according to a published procedure [Narayanan et al. (1983) Biochem. Biophys. Acta 735, 53-66]. The former fraction inhibited Ca uptake by sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles in a concentration-dependent way. The inhibition could be prevented and even reversed by addition of the antagonistic fraction. The protein components of this latter fraction were resolved and separated using an anion-exchange chromatographic procedure (mono Q column in an FPLC system). A pure protein component with antagonistic properties was isolated. Biochemical (molecular mass, tryptic digestion pattern and antagonistic activity) and immunological (cross-reactivity with specific antibodies) analysis resulted in the identification of the purified antagonist protein as muscle albumin, a serum-albumin-like protein which is localized near the A/I junctions in the striated muscle cells. The protein may be involved in the regulation of Ca fluxes across the cisternal compartments of the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Characterization of heart cytosolic proteins capable of modulating calcium uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum. 2. Identification of actin isoforms with inhibitory activity

Ca uptake by isolated SR membranes is inhibited by a cytosolic factor derived from heart cells. The inhibitory activity resides in the fraction of soluble proteins which precipitates in 30% saturated (NH4)2SO4 [Narayanan et al. (1982) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 108, 1158-1164]. In the present study, the mechanism of inhibition and the properties of the inhibitor have been analysed. The cytosolic inhibitor activates a Ca-release pathway, thereby uncoupling Ca loading and Ca-dependent ATPase activity of SR vesicles. Analysis of some general physiochemical characteristics of the endogenous inhibitor (e.g. thermolability, protein profile, solubility properties, interaction with ion-exchange resins) showed it to be distinct from free fatty acids which might contaminate the cytosolic fraction. Rather, it indicated that the inhibitor is related to myofibrillar or cytoskeletal structures. By means of an affinity-chromatography procedure using muscle albumin coupled to Sepharose 4B, a protein component was obtained from the inhibitor fraction. The characteristics of this protein closely resembled those of the endogenous inhibitor. A protein with similar characteristics was also obtained using a DNase-I-affinity chromatography column. The isolated protein was identified as actin. Inhibition of Ca uptake by the isolated inhibitor protein was reversed by muscle albumin and by stoichiometric amounts of DNase I. The potency of inhibition of various actin preparations was found to be highly variable and dependent on the tissue source. Our results indicate that particular minor actin isoforms present in heart cytosol display the greatest inhibitory activity (IC50 15-20 micrograms/ml).

Inhibition of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump by cytosolic protein(s) endogenous to heart and slow skeletal muscle but not fast skeletal muscle

Cytosol from rabbit heart and slow and fast skeletal muscles was fractionated using (NH4)2SO4 to yield three cytosolic protein fractions, viz., CPF-I (protein precipitated at 30% saturation), CPF-II (protein precipitated between 30 and 60% saturation), and cytosol supernatant (protein soluble at 60% saturation). The protein fractions were dialysed and tested for their effects on ATP-dependent, oxalate-supported Ca2+ uptake by sarcoplasmic reticulum from heart and slow and fast skeletal muscles. CPF-I from heart and slow muscle, but not from fast muscle, caused marked inhibition (up to 95%) of Ca2+ uptake by sarcoplasmic reticulum from heart and from slow and fast muscles. Neither unfractionated cytosol nor CPF-II or cytosol supernatant from any of the muscles altered the Ca2+ uptake activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Studies on the characteristics of inhibition of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ uptake by CPF-I (from heart and slow muscle) revealed the following: (a) Inhibition was concentration- and temperature-dependent (50% inhibition with approx. 80 to 100 micrograms CPF-I; seen only at temperatures above 20 degrees C). (b) The inhibitor reduced the velocity of Ca2+ uptake without appreciably influencing the apparent affinity of the transport system for Ca2+. (c) Inhibition was uncompetitive with respect to ATP. (d) Sarcoplasmic reticulum washed following exposure to CPF-I showed reduced rates of Ca2+ uptake, indicating that inhibition results from an interaction of the inhibitor with the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane. (e) Concomitant with the inhibition of Ca2+ uptake, CPF-I also inhibited the Ca2+-ATPase activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum. (f) Heat-treatment of CPF-I led to loss of inhibitor activity, whereas exposure to trypsin appeared to enhance its inhibitory effect. (g) Addition of CPF-I to Ca2+-preloaded sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles did not promote Ca2+ release from the vesicles. These results demonstrate the presence of a soluble protein inhibitor of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump in heart and slow skeletal muscle but not in fast skeletal muscle. The characteristics of the inhibitor and its apparently selective distribution suggest a potentially important role for it in the in vivo regulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump, and therefore in determining the duration of Ca2+ signal in slow-contracting muscle fibers.