GTP-induced fusion of isolated pancreatic microsomal vesicles is increased by acidification of the vesicle lumen

The vacuolar-type H⁺-ATPase at a glance - more than a proton pump

The vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) has long been appreciated to function as an electrogenic H(+) pump. By altering the pH of intracellular compartments, the V-ATPase dictates enzyme activity, governs the dissociation of ligands from receptors and promotes the coupled transport of substrates across membranes, a role often aided by the generation of a transmembrane electrical potential. In tissues where the V-ATPase is expressed at the plasma membrane, it can serve to acidify the extracellular microenvironment. More recently, however, the V-ATPase has been implicated in a bewildering variety of additional roles that seem independent of its ability to translocate H(+). These non-canonical functions, which include fusogenicity, cytoskeletal tethering and metabolic sensing, are described in this Cell Science at a Glance article and accompanying poster, together with a brief overview of the conventional functions of the V-ATPase.

Differential involvement of vacuolar H(+)-ATPase in the refilling of thapsigargin- and agonist-mobilized Ca(2+) stores

Our objective was to evaluate the role of vacuolar H(+)-ATPase and proton gradients in the refilling of Ca(2+) stores in fura-2-loaded pancreatic acinar cells. Once depleted with a high level of ACh, the Ca(2+) stores were replenished with a Ca(2+)-containing solution. The degree of refilling was estimated with a second release in response to either ACh (ACh-releasable store) or thapsigargin (thapsigargin-releasable store), a specific inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) pumps. Both the protonophore nigericin and folimycin, a specific inhibitor of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase, reduced reuptake into the ACh-mobilized stores but not into the thapsigargin-releasable pools. These treatments effectively dissipated the subcellular pH gradients (revealed by confocal observation of the distribution of a marker for acidic compartments), and did not impair the [Ca(2+)](i) response to ACh in control cells. Our results indicate that thapsigargin and ACh release heterogeneous Ca(2+) stores which are differently operated by vacuolar proton ATPase.

Role of proton gradients and vacuola H(+)-ATPases in the refilling of intracellular calcium stores in exocrine cells

Numerous hormones and neurotransmitters activate cells by increasing cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)), a key regulatory factor for many cellular processes. A pivotal feature of these Ca(2+) signals is the release of Ca(2+) from intracellular stores, which is followed by activation of extracellular calcium influx, allowing refilling of the stores by SERCA pumps associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. Although the mechanisms of calcium release and calcium influx have been extensively studied, the biology of the Ca(2+) stores is poorly understood. The presence of heterogeneous calcium pools in cells has been previously reported [1] [2] [3]. Although recent technical improvements have confirmed this heterogeneity [4], knowledge about the mechanisms underlying Ca(2+) transport within the stores is very scarce and rather speculative. A recent study in polarized exocrine cells [5] has revealed the existence of Ca(2+) tunneling from basolateral stores to luminal pools, where Ca(2+) is initially released upon cell activation. Here, we present evidence that, during stimulation, Ca(2+) transported into basolateral stores by SERCA pumps is conveyed toward the luminal pools driven by proton gradients generated by vacuolar H(+)-ATPases. This finding unveils a new aspect of the machinery of Ca(2+) stores.

The lysosomal Ca2+ pool in MDCK cells can be released by ins(1,4,5)P3-dependent hormones or thapsigargin but does not activate store-operated Ca2+ entry

In several cell types, Ca2+ release from intracellular Ca2+ stores by Ins(1,4,5)P3 elicits Ca2+ influx from the extracellular space into the cytoplasm, termed store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). In MDCK cells, the Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive Ca2+ store giving rise to SOCE essentially overlaps with the thapsigargin (TG)-sensitive store. Recent evidence suggests that in MDCK cells lysosomes form a Ca2+ pool that is functionally coupled with the Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive Ca2+ store: Ca2+ can be selectively released from lysosomes by glycyl-L-phenylalanine naphthylamide, an agent inducing lysosomal swelling with subsequent and reversible permeabilization of the vesicular membranes. This compartment is also depleted by Ins(1,4,5)P3-dependent agonists or TG, indicating that it is part of a larger, Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive Ca2+ pool. Here we show that whereas SOCE is triggered by Ca2+ release from the entire Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive Ca2+ pool, selective Ca2+ release from lysosomes alone is unable to trigger SOCE. This finding is consistent with measurements of the store-operated cation current, a direct parameter for store-operated Ca2+ and Na+ entry into MDCK cells. Hence it is proposed that the Ins(1,4,5)P3-sensitive Ca2+ pool is composed of different intracellular compartments that do not uniformly stimulate Ca2+ entry into the cell.

Characterization of N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive thiol groups required for the GTP-dependent fusion of endoplasmic reticulum membranes

The GTP-dependent fusion activity of endoplasmic reticulum membranes is thought to be required for the structural maintenance and post-mitotic regeneration of the endoplasmic reticulum. This fusion is sensitive to the thiol-alkylating agent N-ethylmaleimide. In many intracellular fusion events N-ethylmaleimide-sensitivity is associated with a homotrimeric ATPase called N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein or NSF. The addition of cytosol containing NSF is known to restore fusion activity to N-ethylmaleimide-treated membranes. We found that the inhibition of fusion of rat liver endoplasmic reticulum membranes (microsomes) by N-ethylmaleimide was not reversed by the addition of untreated cytosol. Fusion was also unaffected by treatment with a buffer known to remove NSF from membranes. Accordingly, no membrane-associated NSF was detected by immunoblot analysis. These data suggest that microsome fusion requires an N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive component distinct from NSF. This component was tightly associated with the membranes, so we used a number of chemical probes to characterize it in situ. Its thiol groups did not appear to be part of a GTP-binding site. They showed relatively low reactivity with sodium periodate, which induces the formation of disulphide bonds between proximate thiol groups. The thiols were not protected against N-ethylmaleimide by Zn2+, a potent inhibitor of fusion which is known to efficiently co-ordinate thiol groups. To characterize the topology of the fusion-related thiol groups we used bulky thiol-specific reagents prepared by conjugating BSA or 10 kDa aminodextran to the bifunctional reagent N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate. The inhibition of fusion by these reagents indicated that these thiols are highly exposed on the membranes. This exposure might be important for the function of these groups during GTP-triggered fusion.

Calcium ion homeostasis in smooth muscle

Ca2+ plays an important role in the regulation of smooth-muscle contraction. In this review, we will focus on the various Ca(2+)-transport processes that contribute to the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. Mainly the functional aspects will be covered. The smooth-muscle inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor and ryanodine receptor will be extensively discussed. Smooth-muscle contraction also depends on extracellular Ca2+ and both voltage- and Ca(2+)-release-activated plasma-membrane Ca2+ channels will be reviewed. We will finally discuss some functional properties of the Ca2+ pumps that remove Ca2+ from the cytoplasm and of the Ca2+ regulation of the nucleus.

Intravesicular acidification correlates with binding of ADP-ribosylation factor to microsomal membranes

The ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF), a highly conserved low molecular weight GTP-binding protein, has been implicated to function in intracellular protein transport to and within the Golgi complex. In pancreatic acinar cells the ARF is confined to the cytoplasmic faces of trans-Golgi stack membranes, a compartment known to maintain a low intravesicular pH, which is established by a chloride-dependent MgATP-driven proton pump. The present study shows that MgATP (2mM), but neither adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate in the presence of Mg2+ nor ATP in the absence of Mg2+, increases transfer of ARF from the surrounding medium into the vesicle membranes. The specific vacuolar-type proton pump inhibitor bafilomycin B1 (10 nM), the protonophore carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (10 microM), and replacement of chloride in the incubation buffer by acetate or nitrate resulted in an almost complete inhibition of the MgATP-dependent association of ARF to the vesicle membranes. The results demonstrate that redistribution of ARF to the vesicle membrane correlates with the intravesicular pH established by a vacuolar-type H(+)-ATPase. The intravesicular pH appears to be one mechanism by which certain low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins become relocated from the cytosol to their specific membrane vesicles.

H+ uptake increases GTP-induced connection of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate- and caffeine-sensitive calcium pools in pancreatic microsomal vesicles

Evidence suggests that GTP but not GTP gamma S activates Ca2+ movement between myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-sensitive and -insensitive Ca2+ pools (1). Measuring 45Ca2+ uptake into pancreatic microsomal vesicles we have determined the sizes of three different Ca2+ pools which release Ca2+ in response 1) to IP3, 2) to caffeine, and 3) to both IP3 and caffeine ("common" Ca2+ pool). In the presence of GTP the size of the IP3-sensitive Ca2+ pool is decreased whereas the "common" Ca2+ pool is increased as compared to control Ca2+ pool sizes in the presence of GTP gamma S. This effect of GTP is inhibited by bafilomycin B1, a specific inhibitor of vacuolar type H+ ATPases (2). We conclude that GTP induced connection between IP3- and caffeine-sensitive Ca2+ pools is triggered by intravesicular acidification and involves function of small GTP-binding proteins, known to mediate interorganelle transfer.

GTP-sensitivity of the energy-dependent Ca2+ storage pool in permeabilized pancreatic acinar cells

Isolated rabbit pancreatic acinar cells, permeabilized by saponin treatment and incubated in the presence of 0.1 microM free Ca2+, accumulated 3.3 nmol of Ca2+/mg of acinar protein in an energy-dependent pool. Part of this energy-dependent pool could be released by GTP in a polyethylene glycol-dependent manner. The kinetics of GTP-induced release of Ca2+ showed a biphasic pattern with an initial rapid phase followed by a sustained slower phase. In contrast, IP3-induced release of Ca2+ was completed within 30 s following addition of IP3. No reuptake of Ca2+ was observed following GTP- or IP3-induced release of Ca2+. The GTP effect was independent of IP3 and not inhibited by Ca2+, indicating that the IP3-operated Ca2+ channel is not involved in GTP-induced release of Ca2+. The size of the IP3-releasable pool was not affected by GTP, indicating that GTP, when added to permeabilized acinar cells, does not promote the coupling between IP3-insensitive and IP3-sensitive Ca2+ accumulating organelles. Thus, in permeabilized acinar cells, GTP and IP3 act on different Ca2+ sequestering pools. Interestingly, however, comparison of the size of the GTP-releasable pool with that of the IP3-releasable pool for the cell preparations used in the present study, revealed an inversed relationship, indicating that at the time of permeabilization the GTP-releasable pool can be coupled to a greater or lesser extent to the IP3-releasable pool. This suggests that, in the intact cell, a GTP-dependent mechanism may exist that controls the size of the IP3-releasable pool by coupling IP3-insensitive to IP3-sensitive organelles. Moreover, this suggests that the extent of coupling is preserved during permeabilization.

Ca2+ oscillations induced by histamine H1 receptor stimulation in HeLa cells: Fura-2 and patch clamp analysis

The response of HeLa cells to histamine H1 receptor stimulation is characterized by periodic increases in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration. The mechanisms underlying this oscillatory behaviour are not well understood. Fura-2 and patch clamp experiments carried out on HeLa cells have previously shown: (a) that Ca2+ oscillations are not initially dependent on the presence of external Ca2+, that external Ca2+ is required to maintain the oscillatory activity; (b) that a depolarization of the cell membrane leads to an inhibition of Ca2+ oscillations during the external Ca2+ dependent phase of the process; and (c) that Ca2+ oscillations can be abolished during this latter phase by the exogenous addition of Ca2+ channel blocking agents, such as Co2+ or La3+. The contribution of the inositol phosphate pathway to Ca2+ oscillations was more recently investigated in whole cell experiments performed with patch pipettes containing IP3 or the non-hydrolysable GTP analogue GTP-gamma S. Clear periodic current fluctuations were recorded using both patch pipette solutions. Assuming that the intracellular IP3 level remained constant under these conditions, these findings provide direct evidence that the Ca2+ oscillations in HeLa cells do not arise from a periodic production of IP3. The effect of the internal and external cell pH on the oscillatory process was also investigated in Fura-2 and patch clamp experiments. It was found that an increase in intracellular pH from 7.4 to 7.7 during the external Ca2+ dependent phase of the histamine stimulation abolishes the appearance of Ca2+ spikes whereas, a cellular acidification to pH 7.2 maintains or stimulates the Ca2+ oscillatory activity. The former effect was observed in the absence of Ca2+ in the bathing medium, indicating that the inhibitory action of alkaline pH was not related to a reduced Ca2+ entry. An increase in extracellular pH from 7.3 to 9.0 in contrast elicited an intracellular Ca2+ accumulation which resulted in most cases in an inhibition of the oscillatory process. This effect was dependent on external Ca2+ and was observed in alkaline internal pH conditions (pH 7.7). These observations suggest: (a) that the net Ca2+ influx in HeLa cells is strongly dependent on the cell internal and external pH; and (b) that the magnitude of this Ca2+ influx controls to a large extent the oscillation frequency. Finally, an inhibition of the histamine induced Ca2+ oscillatory activity was observed following the addition of the Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+)-release (CICR) inhibitor adenine to the external medium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)