Identification of an extracytoplasmic region of H+,K(+)-ATPase labeled by a K(+)-competitive photoaffinity inhibitor

K+ binding and proton redistribution in the E2P state of the H+, K+-ATPase

The H+, K+-ATPase (HKA) uses ATP to pump protons into the gastric lumen against a million-fold proton concentration gradient while counter-transporting K+ from the lumen. The mechanism of release of a proton into a highly acidic stomach environment, and the subsequent binding of a K+ ion necessitates a network of protonable residues and dynamically changing protonation states in the cation binding pocket dominated by five acidic amino acid residues E343, E795, E820, D824, and D942. We perform molecular dynamics simulations of spontaneous K+ binding to all possible protonation combinations of the acidic amino acids and carry out free energy calculations to determine the optimal protonation state of the luminal-open E2P state of the pump which is ready to bind luminal K+. A dynamic pKa correlation analysis reveals the likelihood of proton transfer events within the cation binding pocket. In agreement with in-vitro measurements, we find that E795 is likely to be protonated, and that E820 is at the center of the proton transfer network in the luminal-open E2P state. The acidic residues D942 and D824 are likely to remain protonated, and the proton redistribution occurs predominantly amongst the glutamate residues exposed to the lumen. The analysis also shows that a lower number of K+ ions bind at lower pH, modeled by a higher number of protons in the cation binding pocket, in agreement with the 'transport stoichiometry variation' hypothesis.

The cryo-EM structure of gastric H+,K+-ATPase with bound BYK99, a high-affinity member of K+-competitive, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine inhibitors

The gastric proton pump H⁺,K⁺-ATPase acidifies the gastric lumen, and thus its inhibitors, including the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine class of K⁺-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs), have potential application as acid-suppressing drugs. We determined the electron crystallographic structure of H⁺,K⁺-ATPase at 6.5 Å resolution in the E2P state with bound BYK99, a potent P-CAB with a restricted ring structure. The BYK99 bound structure has an almost identical profile to that of a previously determined structure with bound SCH28080, the original P-CAB prototype, but is significantly different from the previously reported P-CAB-free form, illustrating a common conformational change is required for P-CAB binding. The shared conformational changes include a distinct movement of transmembrane helix 2 (M2), from its position in the previously reported P-CAB-free form, to a location proximal to the P-CAB binding site in the present BYK99-bound structure. Site-specific mutagenesis within M2 revealed that D137 and N138, which face the P-CAB binding site in our model, significantly affect the inhibition constant (K_i) of P-CABs. We also found that A335 is likely to be near the bridging nitrogen at the restricted ring structure of the BYK99 inhibitor. These provide clues to elucidate the binding site parameters and mechanism of P-CAB inhibition of gastric acid secretion.

Computational insights into the interaction mechanism of triazolyl substituted tetrahydrobenzofuran derivatives with H(+),K(+)-ATPase at different pH

The interaction mechanism of triazolyl substituted tetrahydrobenzofuran derivatives (compound 1 (N, N-Dipropyl-1-(2-phenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzofuran-4-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-methanamine) and 2 (1-(2-Phenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzofuran-4-yl)-4-(morpholin-4-ylmethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazole)) with H(+),K(+)-ATPase at different pH were studied by induced-fit docking, QM/MM optimization and MM/GBSA binding free energy calculations of two forms (neutral and protonated form) of compounds. The inhibition activity of compound 1 is measured and almost unchanged at different pH, while the activity of compound 2 increases significantly with pH value decreased. This phenomenon could be explained by their protonated form percentages and the calculated binding free energies of protonated and neutral mixture of compounds at different pH. The binding free energy of protonated form is higher than that of neutral form of compound, and the protonated form could be a powerful inhibitor of H(+),K(+)-ATPase. By the decomposed energy comparisons of residues in binding sites, Asp137 should be the key binding site to protonated form of compound because of the hydrogen bond and electrostatic interactions. These calculation results could help for further rational design of novel H(+),K(+)-ATPase inhibitors.

Structure and Function of Cu(I)- and Zn(II)-ATPases

Copper and zinc are micronutrients essential for the function of many enzymes while also being toxic at elevated concentrations. Cu(I)- and Zn(II)-transporting P-type ATPases of subclass 1B are of key importance for the homeostasis of these transition metals, allowing ion transport across cellular membranes at the expense of ATP. Recent biochemical studies and crystal structures have significantly improved our understanding of the transport mechanisms of these proteins, but many details about their structure and function remain elusive. Here we compare the Cu(I)- and Zn(II)-ATPases, scrutinizing the molecular differences that allow transport of these two distinct metal types, and discuss possible future directions of research in the field.

Role of loop L5-6 connecting transmembrane segments M5 and M6 in biogenesis and functioning of yeast Pma1 H+-ATPase

The L5-6 loop is a short extracytoplasmic stretch (714-DNSLDID) connecting transmembrane segments M5 and M6 and forming along with segments M4 and M8 the core through which cations are transported by H+-, Ca2+-, K+,Na+-, H+,K+-, and other P2-ATPases. To study structure-function relationships within this loop of the yeast plasma membrane Pma1 H+-ATPase, alanine- and cysteine-scanning mutagenesis has been employed. Ala and Cys substitutions for the most conserved residue (Leu717) led to complete block in biogenesis preventing the enzyme from reaching secretory vesicles. The Ala replacement at Asp714 led to five-fold decrease in the mutant expression and loss of its activity, while the Cys substitution blocked biogenesis completely. Replacements of other residues did not lead to loss of enzymatic activity. Additional replacements were made for Asp714 and Asp720 (Asp®Asn/Glu). Of the substitutions made at Asp714, only D714N partially restored the mutant enzyme biogenesis and functioning. However, all mutant enzymes with substituted Asp720 were active. The expressed mutants (34-95% of the wild-type level) showed activity high enough (35-108%) to be analyzed in detail. One of the mutants (I719A) had three-fold reduced coupling ratio between ATP hydrolysis and H+ transport; however, the I719C mutation was rather indistinguishable from the wild-type enzyme. Thus, substitutions at two of the seven positions seriously affected biogenesis and/or functioning of the enzyme. Taken together, these results suggest that the M5-M6 loop residues play an important role in protein stability and function, and they are probably responsible for proper arrangement of transmembrane segments M5 and M6 and other domains of the enzyme. This might also be important for the regulation of the enzyme.

Protonated form: the potent form of potassium-competitive acid blockers

Potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) are highly safe and active drugs targeting H+,K+-ATPase to cure acid-related gastric diseases. In this study, we for the first time investigate the interaction mechanism between the protonated form of P-CABs and human H+,K+-ATPase using homology modeling, molecular docking, molecular dynamics and binding free energy calculation methods. The results explain why P-CABs have higher activities with higher pKa values or at lower pH. With positive charge, the protonated forms of P-CABs have more competitive advantage to block potassium ion into luminal channel and to bind with H+,K+-ATPase via electrostatic interactions. The binding affinity of the protonated form is more favorable than that of the neutral P-CABs. In particular, Asp139 should be a very important binding site for the protonated form of P-CABs through hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions. These findings could promote the rational design of novel P-CABs.

Gastric H+,K+-ATPase

The gastric H(+),K(+)-ATPase is responsible for gastric acid secretion. This ATPase is composed of two subunits, the catalytic α subunit and the structural β subunit. The α subunit with molecular mass of about 100 kDa has 10 transmembrane domains and is strongly associated with the β subunit with a single transmembrane segment and a peptide mass of 35 kDa. Its three-dimensional structure is based on homology modeling and site-directed mutagenesis resulting in a proton extrusion and K(+) reabsorption model. There are three conserved H3O(+)-binding sites in the middle of the membrane domain and H3O(+) secretion depends on a conformational change involving Lys(791) insertion into the second H3O(+) site enclosed by E795, E820, and D824 that allows export of protons at a concentration of 160 mM. K(+) countertransport involves binding to this site after the release of protons with retrograde displacement of Lys(791) and then K(+) transfer to E343 and exit to the cytoplasm. This ATPase is the major therapeutic target in treatment of acid-related diseases and there are several known luminal inhibitors allowing analysis of the luminal vestibule. One class contains the acid-activated covalent, thiophilic proton pump inhibitors, the most effective of current acid-suppressive drugs. Their binding sites and trypsinolysis allowed identification of all ten transmembrane segments of the ATPase. In addition, various K(+)-competitive inhibitors of the ATPase are being developed, with the advantage of complete and rapid inhibition of acid secretion independent of pump activity and allowing further refinement of the structure of the luminal vestibule of the E2 form of this ATPase.

Characterization of a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker of the gastric H,K-ATPase, 1-[5-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-(pyridin-3-ylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl]-N-methylmethanamine monofumarate (TAK-438)

Inhibition of the gastric H,K-ATPase by the potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) 1-[5-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-(pyridin-3-ylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl]-N-methylmethanamine (TAK-438), is strictly K(+)-competitive with a K(i) of 10 nM at pH 7. In contrast to previous P-CABs, this structure has a point positive charge (pK(a) 9.06) allowing for greater accumulation in parietal cells compared with previous P-CABs [e.g., (8-benzyloxy-2-methyl-imidazo(1,2-a)pyridin-3-yl)acetonitrile (SCH28080), pK(a) 5.6]. The dissociation rate of the compound from the isolated ATPase is slower than other P-CABs, with the t(1/2) being 7.5 h in 20 mM KCl at pH 7. The stoichiometry of binding of TAK-438 to the H,K-ATPase is 2.2 nmol/mg in the presence of Mg-ATP, vanadate, or MgP(i). However, TAK-438 also binds enzyme at 1.3 nmol/mg in the absence of Mg(2+). Modeling of the H,K-ATPase to the homologous Na,K-ATPase predicts a close approach and hydrogen bonding between the positively charged N-methylamino group and the negatively charged Glu795 in the K(+)-binding site in contrast to the planar diffuse positive charge of previous P-CABs. This probably accounts for the slow dissociation and high affinity. The model also predicts hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl of Tyr799 and the oxygens of the sulfonyl group of TAK-438. A Tyr799Phe mutation resulted in a 3-fold increase of the dissociation rate, showing that this hydrogen bonding also contributes to the slow dissociation rate. Hence, this K(+)-competitive inhibitor of the gastric H,K-ATPase should provide longer-lasting inhibition of gastric acid secretion compared with previous drugs of this class.

Conformational rearrangement of gastric H(+),K(+)-ATPase induced by an acid suppressant

Acid-related gastric diseases are associated with disorder of digestive tract acidification. The gastric proton pump, H(+),K(+)-ATPase, exports H(+) in exchange for luminal K(+) to generate a highly acidic environment in the stomach, and is a main target for acid suppressants. Here, we report the three-dimensional structure of gastric H(+),K(+)-ATPase with bound SCH28080, a representative K(+)-competitive acid blocker, at 7 Å resolution based on electron crystallography of two-dimensional crystals. The density of the bound SCH28080 is found near transmembrane (TM) helices 4, 5 and 6, in the luminal cavity. The SCH28080-binding site is formed by the rearrangement of TM helices, which is in turn transmitted to the cytoplasmic domains, resulting in a luminal-open conformation. These results represent the first structural evidence for a binding site of an acid suppressant on H(+),K(+)-ATPase, and the conformational change induced by this class of drugs.

The gastric HK-ATPase: structure, function, and inhibition

The gastric H,K-ATPase, a member of the P(2)-type ATPase family, is the integral membrane protein responsible for gastric acid secretion. It is an alpha,beta-heterodimeric enzyme that exchanges cytoplasmic hydronium with extracellular potassium. The catalytic alpha subunit has ten transmembrane segments with a cluster of intramembranal carboxylic amino acids located in the middle of the transmembrane segments TM4, TM5,TM6, and TM8. Comparison to the known structure of the SERCA pump, mutagenesis, and molecular modeling has identified these as constituents of the ion binding domain. The beta subunit has one transmembrane segment with N terminus in cytoplasmic region. The extracellular domain of the beta subunit contains six or seven N-linked glycosylation sites. N-glycosylation is important for the enzyme assembly, maturation, and sorting. The enzyme pumps acid by a series of conformational changes from an E(1) (ion site in) to an E(2) (ion site out) configuration following binding of MgATP and phosphorylation. Several experimental observations support the hypothesis that expulsion of the proton at 160 mM (pH 0.8) results from movement of lysine 791 into the ion binding site in the E(2)P configuration. Potassium access from the lumen depends on activation of a K and Cl conductance via a KCNQ1/KCNE2 complex and Clic6. K movement through the luminal channel in E(2)P is proposed to displace the lysine along with dephosphorylation to return the enzyme to the E(1) configuration. This enzyme is inhibited by the unique proton pump inhibitor class of drug, allowing therapy of acid-related diseases.

Analysis of the gastric H,K ATPase for ion pathways and inhibitor binding sites

New models of the gastric H,K ATPase in the E1K and E2P states are presented as the first structures of a K+ counter-transport P2-type ATPase exhibiting ion entry and exit paths. Homology modeling was first used to generate a starting conformation from the srCa ATPase E2P form (PDB code 1wpg) that contains bound MgADP. Energy minimization of the model showed a conserved adenosine site but nonconserved polyphosphate contacts compared to the srCa ATPase. Molecular dynamics was then employed to expand the luminal entry sufficiently to allow access of the rigid K+ competitive naphthyridine inhibitor, Byk99, to its binding site within the membrane domain. The new E2P model had increased separation between transmembrane segments M3 through M8, and addition of water in this space showed not only an inhibitor entry path to the luminal vestibule but also a channel leading to the ion binding site. Addition of K+ to the hydrated channel with molecular dynamics modeling of ion movement identified a pathway for K+ from the lumen to the ion binding site to give E2K. A K+ exit path to the cytoplasm operating during the normal catalytic cycle is also proposed on the basis of an E1K homology model derived from the E12Ca2+ form of the srCa ATPase (PDB code 1su4). Autodock analyses of the new E2P model now correctly discriminate between high- and low-affinity K+ competitive inhibitors. Finally, the expanded luminal vestibule of the E2P model explains high-affinity ouabain binding in a mutant of the H,K ATPase [Qiu et al. (2005) J. Biol. Chem. 280, 32349-32355].

Potassium-competitive acid blockade: a new therapeutic strategy in acid-related diseases

Current therapies to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease (PUD), and other acid-related diseases either prevent stimulation of the parietal cell (H2 receptor antagonists, H2RAs) or inhibit gastric H+,K+-ATPase (e.g., proton pump inhibitors, PPIs). Of the 2 approaches, the inhibition of the final step in acid production by PPIs provides more effective relief of symptoms and healing. Despite the documented efficacy of the PPIs, therapeutic doses have a gradual onset of effect and do not provide complete symptom relief in all patients. There is scope for further improvements in acid suppressive therapy to maximize healing and offer more complete symptom relief. It is unlikely that cholecystokinin2 (CCK2, gastrin) receptor antagonists, a class in clinical trials, will be superior to H2RAs or PPIs. However, a new class of acid suppressant, the potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs), is undergoing clinical trials in GERD and other acid-related diseases. These drugs block gastric H+,K+-ATPase by reversible and K+-competitive ionic binding. After oral doses, P-CABs rapidly achieve high plasma concentrations and have linear, dose-dependent pharmacokinetics. The pharmacodynamic properties reflect the pharmacokinetics of this group (i.e., the effect on acid secretion is correlated with plasma concentrations). These agents dose dependently inhibit gastric acid secretion with a fast onset of action and have similar effects after single and repeated doses (i.e., full effect from the first dose). Animal studies comparing P-CABs with PPIs suggest some important pharmacodynamic differences (e.g., faster and better control of 24-hr intragastric acidity). Studies in humans comparing PPIs with P-CABs will help to define the place of this new class in the management of acid-related diseases.

Inhibitor and ion binding sites on the gastric H,K-ATPase

The gastric H,K-ATPase catalyzes electroneutral exchange of H(+) for K(+) as a function of enzyme phosphorylation and dephosphorylation during transition between E(1)/E(1)-P (ion site in) and E(2)-P/E(2) (ion site out) conformations. Here we present homology modeling of the H,K-ATPase in the E(2)-P conformation as a means of predicting the interaction of the enzyme with two known classes of specific inhibitors. All known proton pump inhibitors, PPIs, form a disulfide bond with cysteine 813 that is accessible from the luminal surface. This allows allocation of the binding site to a luminal vestibule adjacent to Cys813 enclosed by part of TM4 and the loop between TM5 and TM6. K(+) competitive imidazo-1,2alpha-pyridines also bind to the luminal surface of the E(2)-P conformation, and their binding excludes PPI reaction. This overlap of the binding sites of the two classes of inhibitors combined with the results of site-directed mutagenesis and cysteine cross-linking allowed preliminary assignment of a docking mode for these reversible compounds in a position close to Glu795 that accounts for the detailed structure/activity relationships known for these compounds. The new E(2)-P model is able to assign a possible mechanism for acid secretion by this P(2)-type ATPase. Several ion binding side chains identified in the sr Ca-ATPase by crystallography are conserved in the Na,K- and H,K-ATPases. Poised in the middle of these, the H,K-ATPase substitutes lysine in place of a serine implicated in K(+) binding in the Na,K-ATPase. Molecular models for hydronium binding to E(1) versus E(2)-P predict outward displacement of the hydronium bound between Asp824, Glu820, and Glu795 by the R-NH(3)(+) of Lys791 during the conformational transition from E(1)P and E(2)P. The site for luminal K(+) binding at low pH is proposed to be between carbonyl oxygens in the nonhelical part of the fourth membrane span and carboxyl oxygens of Glu795 and Glu820. This site of K(+) binding is predicted to destabilize hydrogen bonds between these carboxylates and the -NH(3)(+) group of Lys791, allowing the Lys791 side chain to return to its E(1) position.

Osteocyte control of bone formation via sclerostin, a novel BMP antagonist

There is an unmet medical need for anabolic treatments to restore lost bone. Human genetic bone disorders provide insight into bone regulatory processes. Sclerosteosis is a disease typified by high bone mass due to the loss of SOST expression. Sclerostin, the SOST gene protein product, competed with the type I and type II bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptors for binding to BMPs, decreased BMP signaling and suppressed mineralization of osteoblastic cells. SOST expression was detected in cultured osteoblasts and in mineralizing areas of the skeleton, but not in osteoclasts. Strong expression in osteocytes suggested that sclerostin expressed by these central regulatory cells mediates bone homeostasis. Transgenic mice overexpressing SOST exhibited low bone mass and decreased bone strength as the result of a significant reduction in osteoblast activity and subsequently, bone formation. Modulation of this osteocyte-derived negative signal is therapeutically relevant for disorders associated with bone loss.

Molecular and Cellular Regulation of the Gastric Proton Pump

The gastric H+, K+-ATPase is a proton pump that is responsible for gastric acid secretion and that actively transports protons and K+ ions in opposite directions to generate in excess of a million-fold gradient across the membrane under physiological conditions. This pump is also a target molecule of proton pump inhibitors which are used for the clinical treatment of hyperacidity. In this review, we wish to summarize the molecular regulation of this pump based on mutational studies, particularly those used for the identification of binding sites for cations and specific inhibitors. Recent reports by Toyoshima et al (2000, 2002) presented precise three-dimensional (3-D) structures of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-ATPase, which belongs to the same family as the gastric H+, K+-ATPase. We have studied the structure-function relationships for the gastric H+, K+-ATPase using 3-D structures constructed by homology modeling of the related SR Ca2+-ATPase, which was used as a template molecule. We also discuss in this review, the regulation of cell surface expression and synthesis control of the gastric proton pump.

The cavity structure for docking the K(+)-competitive inhibitors in the gastric proton pump

2-Methyl-8-(phenylmethoxy)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-acetonitrile (SCH 28080) is a reversible inhibitor specific for the gastric proton pump. The inhibition pattern is competitive with K(+). Here we studied the binding sites of this inhibitor on the putative three-dimensional structure of the gastric proton pump alpha-subunit that was constructed by homology modeling based on the structure of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) pump. Alanine and serine mutants of Tyr(801) located in the fifth transmembrane segment of the gastric proton pump alpha-subunit retained the (86)Rb transport and K(+)-dependent ATPase (K(+)-ATPase) activities. These mutants showed 60-80-times lower sensitivity to SCH 28080 than the wild type in the (86)Rb transport activity. The K(+)-ATPase activities of these mutants were not completely inhibited by SCH 28080. The sensitivity to SCH 28080 was dependent on the bulkiness of the side chain at this position. Therefore, the side chain of Tyr(801) is important for the interaction with this inhibitor. In the three-dimensional structure of the E(2) form (conformation with high affinity for K(+)) of the gastric proton pump, Tyr(801) faces a cavity surrounded by the first, fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth transmembrane segments and fifth/sixth, seventh/eighth, and ninth/tenth loops. SCH 28080 can dock in this cavity. However, SCH 28080 cannot dock in the same location in the E(1) form (conformation with high affinity for proton) of the gastric proton pump due to the drastic rearrangement of the transmembrane helices between the E(1) and E(2) forms. These results support the idea that this cavity is the binding pocket of SCH 28080.

Inhibition kinetics of the gastric H,K-ATPase by K-competitive inhibitor SCH28080 as a tool for investigating the luminal ion pathway

The gastric H,K-ATPase and the Na,K-ATPase both are stimulated by luminal K(+), but differ in sensitivity to K(+)-competitive inhibitors (ouabain and SCH28080), which implies a difference in structure near the luminal ion pathways in these two pumps. Knowledge of the amino acids in the H,K-ATPase that affect the mode of inhibition by SCH28080 and inhibitor affinity should provide insight into the regions of the membrane domain influencing the inhibitor selectivity and the luminal route to the ion transport site. Mutational scans in M4, 5, 6, and 8 have shown that amino acid residues affecting ion affinity (E343, K791, E795, E820, D824, E936) with either no or a lesser effect on the inhibitor affinity are located in the middle of the membrane domain. The residues significantly reducing inhibitor affinity, but not ion affinity (L809, P810, L811, T813, I816, Y925, T929), are located in the exoplasmic 5-6 loop and the luminal ends of M6 and M8. This suggests that the binding domain for SCH28080 contains the surface between L809 in the 5-6 loop and C813 at the luminal end of M6, approximately two helical turns out from the ion binding region, where it blocks an ion access pathway. The mutations that change inhibitor kinetics are on the opposing faces of M6 and M8 and apparently modify the normal ion pathway or, perhaps, create an alternate ion pathway.

Molecular modeling of SCH28080 binding to the gastric H,K-ATPase and MgATP interactions with SERCA- and Na,K-ATPases

We have used homology molecular modeling based on the srCaATPase E(2) conformation, pdb1kju, to predict side chains involved in docking the K(+) competitive inhibitor, SCH28080, to the H,K-ATPase. A model for SCH28080 binding between residues L809 and A335 in the same space utilized by omeprazole is proposed. We also describe modeling MgATP binding to the E(1) structure of the srATPase, pdb1eul, as a paradigm for the Na,K- and H,K-ATPases. The resulting model, E(1).MgATP, visualizes a conformation not yet available by crystallization and successfully predicts a range of published results, including backbone cleavages near V440 (N domain) and V712 (P domain) mediated by FeATP in the Na,K-ATPase. A separate model for MgATP docked to E(2) (pdb1kju) shows that access of the gamma phosphate to D351 is blocked by the A domain. The E(2). MgATP model explains FeATP-mediated cleavages of the Na,K-ATPase near V440 and E214 (A domain) and homologous results in the H,K-ATPase.

SCH28080, a K+-competitive inhibitor of the gastric H,K-ATPase, binds near the M5-6 luminal loop, preventing K+ access to the ion binding domain

Inhibition of the gastric H,K-ATPase by the imidazo[1,2-alpha]pyridine, SCH28080, is strictly competitive with respect to K+ or its surrogate, NH4+. The inhibitory kinetics [V(max), K(m,app)(NH4+), K(i)(SCH28080), and competitive, mixed, or noncompetitive] of mutants can define the inhibitor binding domain and the route to the ion binding region within M4-6. While mutations Y799F, Y802F, I803L, S806N, V807I (M5), L811V (M5-6), Y928H (M8), and Q905N (M7-8) had no effect on inhibitor kinetics, mutations P798C, Y802L, P810A, P810G, C813A or -S, I814V or -F, F818C, T823V (M5, M5-6, and M6), E914Q, F917Y, G918E, T929L, and F932L (M7-8 and M8) reduced the affinity for SCH28080 up to 10-fold without affecting the nature of the kinetics. In contrast, the L809F substitution in the loop between M5 and M6 resulted in an approximately 100-fold decrease in inhibitor affinity, and substitutions L809V, I816L, Y925F, and M937V (M5-6, M6, and M8) reduced the inhibitor affinity by 10-fold, all resulting in noncompetitive kinetics. The mutants L811F, Y922I, and I940A also reduced the inhibitor affinity up to 10-fold but resulted in mixed inhibition. The mutations I819L, Q923V, and Y925A also gave mixed inhibition but without a change in inhibitor affinity. These data, and the 9-fold loss of SCH28080 affinity in the C813T mutant, suggest that the binding domain for SCH28080 contains the surface between L809 in the M5-6 loop and C813 at the luminal end of M6, approximately two helical turns down from the ion binding region, where it blocks the normal ion access pathway. On the basis of a model of the Ca-ATPase in the E2 conformation (PDB entry 1kju), the mutants that change the nature of the kinetics are arranged on one side of M8 and on the adjacent side of the M5-6 loop and M6 itself. This suggests that mutations in this region modify the enzyme structure so that K+ can access the ion binding domain even with SCH28080 bound.

A model of reversible inhibitors in the gastric H+/K+-ATPase binding site determined by rotational echo double resonance NMR

Several close analogues of the noncovalent H(+)/K(+)-ATPase inhibitor SCH28080 (2-methyl-3-cyanomethyl-8-(phenylmethoxy)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine) have been screened for activity and examined in the pharmacological site of action by solid-state NMR spectroscopy. TMPIP, the 1,2,3-trimethyl analogue of SCH28080, and variants of TMPIP containing fluorine in the phenylmethoxy ring exhibited IC(50) values for porcine H(+)/K(+)-ATPase inhibition falling in the sub-10 microm range. Deuterium NMR spectra of a (2)H-labeled inhibitor titrated into H(+)/K(+)-ATPase membranes revealed that 80-100% of inhibitor was bound to the protein, and K(+)-competition (2)H NMR experiments confirmed that the inhibitor lay within the active site. The active binding conformation of the pentafluorophenylmethoxy analogue of TMPIP was determined from (13)C-(19)F dipolar coupling measurements using the cross-polarization magic angle spinning NMR method, REDOR. It was found that the inhibitor adopts an energetically favorable extended conformation falling between fully planar and partially bowed extremes. These findings allowed a model to be proposed for the binding of this inhibitor to H(+)/K(+)-ATPase based on the results of independent site-directed mutagenesis studies. In the model, the partially bowed inhibitor interacts with Phe(126) close to the N-terminal membrane spanning helix M1 and residues in the extracellular loop bridging membrane helices M5 and M6 and is flanked by residues in M4.

Structural modifications in the membrane-bound regions of the gastric H+/K+-ATPase upon ligand binding

Extensive trypsin proteolysis was used to examine the accessibility of membrane bound segments of the gastric H+/K+-ATPase under different experimental conditions known to induce either the E1 or the E2 conformation. Membrane-anchored peptides were isolated after trypsinolysis and identified by sequencing. We show that several membrane bound segments are involved in the conformational change. In the N-terminal region, a M1-M2 peptide (12 kDa) was found to be associated with the membrane fraction after digestion in the presence of K+ or in the presence of vanadate (12 kDa and 15 kDa). In the M3 and M4 region, no difference was observed for the peptide obtained in E1 or E2-K conformations, but the peptide generated in the presence of vanadate begins 12 amino-acid residues earlier in the sequence. Cytoplasmic loop region: we show here that a peptide beginning at Asp574 and predicted to end at Arg693 is associated with the membrane for a vanadate-induced conformation. In the M5-M6 region, the membrane-anchored peptide obtained on E1 is 39 amino acids shorter than the E2 peptide. In the M7-M8 region, the same peptide encompassing the M7 and M8 transmembrane segments was produced for E1 and E2 conformations.

Mutational analysis of the K+-competitive inhibitor site of gastric H,K-ATPase

The gastric H,K-ATPase is inhibited selectively and K(+)-competitively from its luminal surface by protonated imidazo[1,2alpha]pyridines (e.g., SCH28080). Identification of the amino acids in the membrane domain that affect SCH28080 inhibition should provide a template for modeling a luminally directed vestibule in this enzyme, based on the crystal structure of the sr Ca-ATPase. Five conserved carboxylic residues, Glu343, Glu795, Glu820, Asp824, Glu936, and unique Lys791 in the H,K-ATPase were mutated, and the effects of mutations on the K(i) for SCH28080, V(max), and K(m,app)[NH(4)(+)] were measured. A kinetic analysis of the ATP hydrolysis data indicated that all of these residues significantly affect the interaction of NH(4)(+) ions with the protein but only three of them, Glu795, Glu936, and Lys791, greatly affected SCH28080 inhibition. A Glu795Asp mutation increased the K(i) from 64 +/- 11 to 700 +/- 110 nM. Since, however, the mutation Glu795Gln did not change the K(i) (86 +/- 31 nM), this site has a significant spatial effect on inhibitor kinetics. A Glu936Asp mutation resulted in noncompetitive kinetics while Gln substitution had no effect either on inhibitor affinity or on the nature of the kinetics, suggesting that the length of the Glu936 side chain is critical for the exclusive binding of the ion and SCH28080. Mutation of Lys791 to Ser, the residue present in the SCH28080-insensitive Na,K-ATPase, resulted in a 20-fold decrease in SCH28080 affinity, suggesting an important role of this residue in SCH28080 selectivity of the H,K-ATPase versus Na,K-ATPase. Mutations of Asp824, Glu343, and Glu820 increased the K(i) 2-3-fold, implying a relatively minor role for these residues in SCH28080 inhibition. It appears that the imidazopyridine moiety of SCH28080 in the protonated state interacts with residues near the negatively charged residues of the empty ion site from the luminal side (TM4, -5, -6, and -8) while the hydrophobic phenyl ring interacts with TM1 or TM2 (the latter conclusion based on previous data from photoaffinity labeling). The integrity of the SCH28080 binding site depends on the presence of Lys791, Glu936, and Glu795 in H,K-ATPase. A computer-generated model of this region illustrates the possible involvement of the residues previously shown to affect SCH28080 inhibition (Cys813, Ile816, Thr823, Met334, Val337) and may predict other residues that line the SCH28080 binding vestibule in the E(2) conformation of the pump.

Predicted location and limited accessibility of protein kinase A phosphorylation site on Na-K-ATPase

Regulation of Na-K-ATPase by cAMP-dependent protein kinase occurs in a variety of tissues. Phosphorylation of the enzyme's catalytic subunit at a classical phosphorylation consensus motif has been observed with purified enzyme. Demonstration of phosphorylation at the same site in normal living cells or tissues has been more difficult, however, making it uncertain that the Na-K-ATPase is a direct physiological substrate of the kinase. Recently, the structure of the homologous sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (SERCA1a) has been determined at 2.6 A resolution (Toyoshima C, Nakasako M, Nomura H, and Ogawa H. Nature 405: 647-655, 2000.), and the Na-K- ATPase should have the same fold. Here, the Na-K-ATPase sequence has been aligned with the Ca-ATPase structure to examine the predicted disposition of the phosphorylation site. The location is close to the membrane and partially buried by adjacent loops, and the site is unlikely to be accessible to the kinase in this conformation. Conditions that may expose the site or further bury it are discussed to highlight the issues facing future research on regulation of Na-K-ATPase by cAMP-dependent pathways.

A hybrid between Na+,K+-ATPase and H+,K+-ATPase is sensitive to palytoxin, ouabain, and SCH 28080

Na(+),K(+)-ATPase is inhibited by cardiac glycosides such as ouabain, and palytoxin, which do not inhibit gastric H(+),K(+)-ATPase. Gastric H(+),K(+)-ATPase is inhibited by SCH28080, which has no effect on Na(+),K(+)-ATPase. The goal of the current study was to identify amino acid sequences of the gastric proton-potassium pump that are involved in recognition of the pump-specific inhibitor SCH 28080. A chimeric polypeptide consisting of the rat sodium pump alpha3 subunit with the peptide Gln(905)-Val(930) of the gastric proton pump alpha subunit substituted in place of the original Asn(886)-Ala(911) sequence was expressed together with the gastric beta subunit in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast cells that express this subunit combination are sensitive to palytoxin, which interacts specifically with the sodium pump, and lose intracellular K(+) ions. The palytoxin-induced K(+) efflux is inhibited by the sodium pump-specific inhibitor ouabain and also by the gastric proton pump-specific inhibitor SCH 28080. The IC(50) for SCH 28080 inhibition of palytoxin-induced K(+) efflux is 14.3 +/- 2.4 microm, which is similar to the K(i) for SCH 28080 inhibition of ATP hydrolysis by the gastric H(+),K(+)-ATPase. In contrast, palytoxin-induced K(+) efflux from cells expressing either the native alpha3 and beta1 subunits of the sodium pump or the alpha3 subunit of the sodium pump together with the beta subunit of the gastric proton pump is inhibited by ouabain but not by SCH 28080. The acquisition of SCH 28080 sensitivity by the chimera indicates that the Gln(905)-Val(930) peptide of the gastric proton pump is likely to be involved in the interactions of the gastric proton-potassium pump with SCH 28080.

Effects of mutations in M4 of the gastric H+,K+-ATPase on inhibition kinetics of SCH28080

The effects of site-directed mutagenesis were used to explore the role of residues in M4 on the apparent Ki of a selective, K+-competitive inhibitor of the gastric H+,K+ ATPase, SCH28080. A double transfection expression system is described, utilizing HEK293 cells and separate plasmids encoding the alpha and beta subunits of the H+,K+-ATPase. The wild-type enzyme gave specific activity (micromoles of Pi per hour per milligram of expressed H+,K+-ATPase protein), apparent Km for ammonium (a K+ surrogate), and apparent Ki for SCH28080 equal to the H+, K+-ATPase purified from hog gastric mucosa. Amino acids in the M4 transmembrane segment of the alpha subunit were selected from, and substituted with, the nonconserved residues in M4 of the Na+, K+-ATPase, which is insensitive to SCH28080. Most of the mutations produced competent enzyme with similar Km,app values for NH4+ and Ki,app for SCH28080. SCH28080 affinity was decreased 2-fold in M330V and 9-fold in both M334I and V337I without significant effect on Km,app. Hence methionine 334 and valine 337 participate in binding but are not part of the NH4+ site. Methionine 330 may be at the periphery of the inhibitor site, which must have minimum dimensions of approximately 16 x 8 x 5 A and be accessible from the lumen in the E2-P conformation. Multiple sequence alignments place the membrane surface near arginine 328, suggesting that the side chains of methionine 334 and valine 337, on one side of the M4 helix, project into a binding cavity within the membrane domain.

Comparison of covalent with reversible inhibitor binding sites of the gastric H,K-ATPase by site-directed mutagenesis

The gastric H,K-ATPase is covalently inhibited by substituted pyridyl-methylsulfinyl-benzimidazoles, such as omeprazole, that convert to thiophilic probes of luminally accessible cysteines in the acid space. The K(+) competitive inhibitor, SCH28080, prevented inhibition of acid transport by omeprazole. In stably expressing HEK293 cells, the benzimidazole-reactive cysteines, Cys-321 (transmembrane helix (TM) 3), Cys-813 and Cys-822 (TM5/6), and Cys-892 (TM7/8) were mutated to the amino acids found in the SCH28080-resistant Na,K-ATPase and kinetic parameters of H,K-ATPase activity analyzed. Mutations of Cys-822 and Cys-892 had insignificant effects on the K(i(app)), K(m(app)) or V(max), but mutations of Cys-813 to threonine and Cys-321 to alanine decreased the affinity for SCH28080. Mutation of Cys-321 to alanine produced mixed kinetics of inhibition, still with higher affinity for the cation-free form of phosphoenzyme. Since the phenylmethoxy ring of the imidazo-pyridine inhibitors binds to TM1/2, as shown by earlier photoaffinity studies, and the mutations in TM6 (Cys-813 --> Thr) as well as the end of TM3 (Cys-321 --> Ala) decrease the affinity for SCH28080, the TM1/2, TM3, and TM6 helices lie within approximately 16 A of each other based on the size of the active, extended conformation of SCH28080.

Studies on the mechanism of action of the gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase inhibitor SPI-447

3-Amino-5-methyl-2(2-methyl-3-thienyl)- imidazo[1,2-a]thieno[3,2-c]pyridine, SPI-447, is a potent gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase inhibitor, but a detailed mechanism of the inhibition is unknown. This study was designed to investigate the mechanism by which SPI-447 inhibits gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase. For this purpose, the inhibitory action of SPI-447 on gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase from porcine gastric mucosa was compared with that of omeprazole (an irreversible inhibitor) and SCH28080 (a reversible inhibitor). All compounds produced dose-dependent inhibition of gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase, and the inhibitory intensities were increased under acidic conditions. The anti-H+,K(+)-ATPase actions of SPI-447 and SCH28080 were attenuated by dilution, but not influenced by glutathione pretreatment. In contrast, that of omeprazole was not influenced by dilution, but was suppressed by glutathione pretreatment. KCl addition reversed the inhibition of H+,K(+)-ATPase-mediated H(+)-transport by SPI-447 and SCH28080, but had no effect on that by omeprazole. The anti-gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase action of SPI-447 was additive with that of SCH28080. SPI-447 and SCH28080 had no effect on Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity. These findings indicated that the inhibitory mechanism of SPI-447 on gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase was similar to that of SCH28080, but different from that of omeprazole; i.e., 1) reversible, 2) SH-group independent, 3) K(+)-competitive, and 4) highly specific against gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase.

A chimeric gastric H+,K+-ATPase inhibitable with both ouabain and SCH 28080

2-Methyl-8-(phenylmethoxy)imidazo(1,2-a)pyridine-3acetonitrile+ ++ (SCH 28080) is a K+ site inhibitor specific for gastric H+,K+-ATPase and seems to be a counterpart of ouabain for Na+,K+-ATPase from the viewpoint of reaction pattern (i.e. reversible binding, K+ antagonism, and binding on the extracellular side). In this study, we constructed several chimeric molecules between H+,K+-ATPase and Na+,K+-ATPase alpha-subunits by using rabbit H+,K+-ATPase as a parental molecule. We found that the entire extracellular loop 1 segment between the first and second transmembrane segments (M1 and M2) and the luminal half of the M1 transmembrane segment of H+, K+-ATPase alpha-subunit were exchangeable with those of Na+, K+-ATPase, respectively, preserving H+,K+-ATPase activity, and that these segments are not essential for SCH 28080 binding. We found that several amino acid residues, including Glu-822, Thr-825, and Pro-829 in the M6 segment of H+,K+-ATPase alpha-subunit are involved in determining the affinity for this inhibitor. Furthermore, we found that a chimeric H+,K+-ATPase acquired ouabain sensitivity and maintained SCH 28080 sensitivity when the loop 1 segment and Cys-815 in the loop 3 segment of the H+,K+-ATPase alpha-subunit were simultaneously replaced by the corresponding segment and amino acid residue (Thr) of Na+,K+-ATPase, respectively, indicating that the binding sites of ouabain and SCH 28080 are separate. In this H+, K+-ATPase chimera, 12 amino acid residues in M1, M4, and loop 1-4 that have been suggested to be involved in ouabain binding of Na+, K+-ATPase alpha-subunit are present; however, the low ouabain sensitivity indicates the possibility that the sensitivity may be increased by additional amino acid substitutions, which shift the overall structural integrity of this chimeric H+,K+-ATPase toward that of Na+,K+-ATPase.

Structural aspects of the gastric H,K ATPase

The gastric H,K ATPase is an alpha beta heterodimeric member of the eukaryotic alkali-cation P-type ion-motive ATPase family. The alpha subunit is composed of 1033 amino acids and the beta subunit of 291 amino acids with 6 or 7 potential N-linked glycosylation sites. Much effort has been expended to define the membrane domain of P-type ATPases. A membrane domain of the large subunit consisting of 10 membrane-spanning sequences is suggested by a combination of methods such as (1) tryptic digestion, separation, and sequencing of membrane peptides, (2) labeling with extracytoplasmic reagents, and (3) in vitro translation of hydrophobic segments. The beta subunit has a single transmembrane segment with strong hydrophobic interactions with the alpha subunit. Blue native gel electrophoresis shows that the enzyme is an (alpha-beta)2 dimer. Cross-linking with Cu-phenanthroline provides evidence that association is between the alpha subunits, and the potential SH groups that are Cu sensitive are at cysteine 565 and cysteine 615, in the region of the large cytoplasmic loop between the fourth and fifth transmembrane segments. No cross-linking is observed in the membrane domain. ATP prevents cross-linking because of a conformational change at the surface of the protein induced by ATP or by direct binding of the nucleotide at the site of cross-linking. The WGA binding properties of the beta subunit allow investigation of the region of interaction with the alpha subunit. Thus, digestion of the enzyme by trypsin followed by SDS solubilization and selective elution from a WGA column resulted in coelution of the membrane fragment containing TM7 and TM8. This result demonstrates major hydrophobic interaction between the seventh and eighth transmembrane segments and the beta subunit. An antibody generated against rat parietal cells also recognized shared epitopes in the same region of both the alpha and beta subunits. Biochemical investigation of the arrangement of the transmembrane segments has been hindered by the lack of effective cross-linking reagents probably because of the compact arrangement of this domain, preventing even Cu access. A series of antiulcer drugs has been developed that have a unique chemistry related to their inhibition of the gastric H,K ATPase. They are 2-(substituted pyridyl methylsulfinyl) benzimidazoles, weak bases with a pKa of 4.0. After accumulation in the acidic space generated by the H,K ATPase either in vivo or in vitro, they undergo acid-catalyzed conversion to a tetracyclic sulfenamide which reacts with luminally accessible SH residues to form stable disulfide derivatives. In the particular case of pantoprazole, 2-(3,4-dimethoxy-2-pyridyl-methylsulfinyl)-5-difluoromethoxy benzimidazole, reaction is confined largely to cysteine 813, placed between the fifth and sixth transmembrane segments. The 5 azido analog of pantoprazole provided acid transport-dependent inhibition of the isolated transporting ATPase by this photoactivatable covalent SH reagent. The inhibited enzyme was then photolyzed, cleaved with trypsin, and the membrane fragments compared before and after photolysis. Disappearance of the segment corresponding to TM3,4 and a relative loss of the segment corresponding to TM7,8 suggests close proximity of these two membrane pairs to the loop joining the fifth and sixth transmembrane segments, in particular TM3,4. Use of this type of covalent, photoactivatable site-specific reagent to determine loop proximity can be extended to other acid transporters.

Sites of reaction of the gastric H,K-ATPase with extracytoplasmic thiol reagents

The vesicular gastric H,K-ATPase catalyzes an electroneutral H for K exchange allowing acidification of the intravesicular space. There is a total of 28 cysteines present in the alpha subunit of the gastric H,K-ATPase, of which 10 are found in the predicted transmembrane segments and their connecting loop, and 9 are present in the beta subunit, of which 6 are disulfide-linked. To determine which of these was accessible to extracytoplasmic attack, the enzyme was inhibited by four different substituted 2-pyridylmethylsulfinyl benzimidazoles, 5-methoxy-2-[(4-methoxy-3, 5-dimethyl-2-pyridyl)methylsulfinyl]-1H-benzimidazole (omeprazole), 2-[(4-trifluoroethoxy-3-methyl-2-pyridyl)methylsulfinyl]-1H-ben zimida zole (lansoprazole), 5-difluoromethoxy-2-[3, 4-methoxy-2-pyridyl)methylsulfinyl]-1H-benzimidazole (pantoprazole), and 2-[(4-(3-methoxypropoxy)-3-methyl)-2-pyridyl)methylsulfinyl]-1H-++ +benzi midazole (rabeprazole), under acid transporting conditions. All of these compounds are weak bases that accumulate in the acidic space generated by the pump and undergo an acid catalyzed rearrangement to a cationic sulfenamide, which forms disulfides with accessible cysteines. The relative rates of acid activation of these compounds corresponded to the relative rates of inhibition of ATPase activity and acid transport. Fragmentation of the enzyme by trypsin followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that omeprazole bound covalently to one of the two cysteines in the domains containing the fifth and sixth transmembrane segments and their extracytoplasmic loop and to cysteine 892 in the loop between the seventh and eighth transmembrane segments, but inhibition correlated with the reaction with cysteines in the fifth and sixth domain. Lansoprazole bound to the cysteines in these two domains as well as to cysteine 321 toward the extracytoplasmic end of the third transmembrane segments. Pantoprazole bound only to either cysteine 813 or 822 in the fifth and sixth transmembrane region. The inhibition of Rabeprazole correlated also with its binding to this part of the protein, but this compound continued to bind after full inhibition, eventually binding also to cysteines 321 and 892. No binding was found to any of the cysteines in the seventh to tenth transmembrane segments. Thermolysin digestion of the isolated omeprazole-labeled fifth and sixth transmembrane pair showed that cysteine 813 was the site of labeling. It is concluded that binding of these sided reagents to cysteine 813 in the loop between transmembrane (TM)5 and TM6 is sufficient for inhibition of ATPase activity and acid transport by the gastric acid pump. Of the 10 cysteines present in the membrane and extracytoplasmic domain, only three are exposed sufficiently to allow reactivity with these cationic thiol reagents. The binding to cysteine 813 defines the location of the extracytoplasmic loop between TM5 and TM6 and places the carboxylic acids 820 and 824 conserved between the gastric H,K- and the Na,K-ATPases in TM6, consistent with their assumed role in cation binding.

Mutational analysis of putative SCH 28080 binding sites of the gastric H+,K+-ATPase

A compound, SCH 28080 (2-methyl-8-(phenylmethoxy)imidazo [1,2-a]pyridine-3-acetonitrile), reversibly inhibits gastric and renal ouabain-insensitive H+,K+-ATPase, but not colonic ouabain-sensitive H+,K+-ATPase. By using the functional expression system and site-directed mutagenesis, we analyzed the putative binding sites of SCH 28080 in gastric H+,K+-ATPase alpha-subunit. It was previously reported that the binding site of SCH 28080, which is a K+-site inhibitor specific for gastric H+,K+-ATPase, was in the first extracellular loop between the first and second transmembrane segments of the alpha-subunit; Phe-126 and Asp-138 were putative binding sites. However, we found that all the mutants in the first extracellular loop including Phe-126 and Asp-138 retained H+, K+-ATPase activity and sensitivity to SCH 28080. Therefore, amino acid residues in the first extracellular loop are not directly involved in the SCH 28080 binding nor indispensable for the H+, K+-ATPase activity. Here we propose a candidate residue that is important for the binding with SCH 28080, Glu-822 in the sixth transmembrane segment. Mutations of Glu-822 to Asp and Ala (mutants termed E822D and E822A, respectively) decreased the ATPase activity to about 45% and 35% of the wild-type enzyme, respectively, while the mutations to Gln and Leu abolished the activity. Mutant E822A showed a significantly lower affinity for K+ than the wild-type enzyme, indicating that Glu-822 is involved in determining the affinity for K+. The sensitivity of mutant E822D to SCH 28080 was 8 times lower than that of the wild-type enzyme. The counterpart of Glu-822 in gastric H+,K+-ATPase is Asp in Na+,K+-ATPase and other colonic ouabain-sensitive H+,K+-ATPase, which are insensitive to SCH 28080. These results suggest that Glu-822 is one of important sites that bind with SCH 28080.

The conformation of an inhibitor bound to the gastric proton pump

Substituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines are pharmaceutically important small molecule inhibitors of the gastric H+/K+-ATPase, the membrane-bound therapeutic target for peptic ulcer disease. A non-perturbing analytical technique, rotational resonance NMR spectroscopy, was used to measure a precise (to +/-0.2 A) distance between atomic sites in a substituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine, TMPIP, bound to H+/K+-ATPase at its high-affinity site in the intact, native membrane. The structural analysis of the enzyme-inhibitor complex revealed that the flexible moiety of TMPIP adopts a 'syn-type' conformation at its site of action. Hence, the conformation of an inhibitor has been resolved directly under near-physiological conditions, providing a sound experimental basis for rational design of many active compounds of pharmaceutical interest. Chemically restraining the flexible moiety of compounds like TMPIP in the syn-type binding conformation was found to increase activity by over 2 orders of magnitude. Such information is normally only available after extensive synthesis of related compounds and multiple screening approaches.

Exploring an antifungal target in the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase of fungi

The plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase is a promising new antifungal target that is readily probed with the sulfhydryl-reactive reagent omeprazole. Inhibition of the H(+)-ATPase by omeprazole is closely linked to cell killing, and it has been suggested that enzyme inhibition may result from a covalent interaction within the first two transmembrane segments (M1 and M2) (Monk et al. (1995) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1239, 81-90). In this study, the molecular nature of this interaction was examined by screening a series of 26 well-characterized pma1 mutations residing in the first two transmembrane segments of the H(+)-ATPase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Only two pma1 mutants, A135G and G158D,G156C, were found to significantly decrease the sensitivity of cells for omeprazole. In contrast, enhanced sensitivity was observed at a number of positions, with D140C(A) and M128C producing the most significant increases in sensitivity. The introduction of cysteine at various locations within this region only marginally affected omeprazole sensitivity, suggesting that this region was not a direct site of covalent modification. Rather, its conformation influences omeprazole binding at some other locus. In order to determine the sidedness of the omeprazole interaction, a novel in vitro assay system was exploited that utilized liposomes co-reconstituted with the H(+)-ATPase and the light-driven proton pump bacteriorhodopsin. Omeprazole was found to completely inhibit proton transport by the H(+)-ATPase at 50 microM in this system. An asymmetrically-distributed chemical trap system involving glutathione was used to demonstrate that this inhibition appears localized to the extracellular portion of the enzyme. This work indicates that omeprazole can inhibit the H(+)-ATPase from its extracellular face, and this inhibition is influenced by changes in the M1, M2 region of the protein.

Amino acids Val115-Ile126 of rat gastric H(+)-K(+)-ATPase confer high affinity for Sch-28080 to Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase

Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase is inhibited by cardiac glycosides and is insensitive to Sch-28080, an inhibitor of gastric H(+)-K(+)-ATPase. Gastric H(+)-K(+)-ATPase is not inhibited by cardiac glycosides. Both ouabain and, Sch-28080 binding are inhibited by K+, and it has been suggested that the inhibitors bind to corresponding regions on the alpha-subunit of each ion pump. For identification of regions of each pump that interact with the specific inhibitors, chimeric alpha-subunits consisting of selected regions from Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and gastric H(+)-K(+)-ATPase have been prepared. One chimera (gM1/2) has been constructed from cDNA of the sheep alpha1-subunit of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase by replacement of the last 12 amino acids of the first predicted transmembrane region (Ile99-Ile110) with corresponding amino acids from rat gastric H(+)-K(+)-ATPase. gM1/2 was expressed in yeast cells together with either the rat Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase beta 1-subunit (NK beta 1) or rat gastric H(+)-K(+)-ATPase beta-subunit (HK beta). Western blots show that the expression level of the chimeric alpha-subunit was comparable to the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase alpha 1. Ouabain binds with high affinity to gM1/2+NK beta 1 [ouabain binding affinity (Kd) = 9.5 nM] but not to gM1/2+HK beta. The Kd for ouabain binding to Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase was 7.8 nM. Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity of gM1/2+NK beta 1 was inhibited both by ouabain and Sch-28080. The 50% inhibition concentration for Sch-28080 was 20-60 nM. Sch-28080 at 10 microM did not inhibit Mg(2+)- and Pi-dependent ouabain binding to gM1/2+NK beta 1. Ouabain (0.75 mM) inhibited palytoxin-induced K+ efflux from yeast cells expressing either gM1/2+NK beta 1 or gM1/2+NK beta, and Sch-28080 increased the palytoxin-induced K+ efflux from yeast cells expressing gM1/2+NK beta 1 or gM1/2+HK beta. These results implicate a small number of amino acids in the first transmembrane part of gastric H(+)-K(+)-ATPase as partial determinants of the sensitivity to Sch-28080. The data also suggest that ouabain and Sch-28080 do not bind to the same site on the chimera.

In vitro translation analysis of integral membrane proteins

A method of in vitro translation scanning was applied to a variety of polytopic integral membrane proteins, a transition metal P type ATPase from Helicobacter pylori, the SERCA 2 ATPase, the gastric H+,K+ ATPase, the CCK-A receptor and the human ileal bile acid transporter. This method used vectors containing the N terminal region of the gastric H+,K+ ATPase or the N terminal region of the CCK-A receptor, coupled via a linker region to the last 177 amino acids of the beta-subunit of the gastric H+,K+ ATPase. The latter contains 5 potential N-linked glycosylation sites. Translation of vectors containing the cDNA encoding one, two or more putative transmembrane domains in the absence or presence of microsomes allowed determination of signal anchor or stop transfer properties of the putative transmembrane domains by the molecular weight shift on SDS PAGE. The P type ATPase from Helicobacter pylori showed the presence of 8 transmembrane segments with this method. The SERCA 2 Ca2+ ATPase with this method had 9 transmembrane co-translational insertion domains and coupled with other evidence these data resulted in a 11 transmembrane segment model. Translation of segments of the gastric H+,K+ ATPase provided evidence for only 7 transmembrane segments but coupled with other data established a 10 membrane segment model. The G7 protein, the CCK-A receptor showed the presence of 6 of the 7 transmembrane segments postulated for this protein. Translation of segments of the human ileal bile acid transporter showed the presence of 8 membrane insertion domains. However, translation of the intact protein provided evidence for an odd number of transmembrane segments, resulting in a tentative model containing 7 or 9 transmembrane segments. Neither G7 type protein appeared to have an arrangement of sequential topogenic signals consistent with the final assembled protein. This method provides a useful addition to methods of determining membrane domains of integral membrane proteins but must in general be utilized with other methods to establish the number of transmembrane alpha-helices.

Transmembrane carboxyl residues are essential for cation-dependent function in the gastric H,K-ATPase

The K+-dependent ATPase activity of the H,K-ATPase was irreversibly inhibited by the carboxyl activating reagent, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD). The inhibition was first order and displayed a concentration dependence with the K0.5 (DCCD) = 0.65 +/- 0.04 mM. KCl protected 70% of the ATPase activity from DCCD-dependent inhibition in a concentration-dependent manner with a K0.5 (K+) = 0.58 +/- 0.1 mM KCl. DCCD modification selectively inhibited the K+-dependent rather than ATP-dependent partial reactions including eosin fluorescence responses and ligand-stabilized initial tryptic cleavage patterns of the membrane-associated enzyme. DCCD modification also inhibited the binding of 86Rb+ and the fluorescent responses of the K+-competitive, fluorescent inhibitor 1-(2-methylphenyl)-4-methylamino-6-methyl-2, 3-dihydropyrrolo[3,2-c]quinoline. [14C]DCCD was incorporated into the H,K-ATPase in a time course identical to that describing the inactivation of the K+-dependent ATPase activity of the H,K-ATPase. A component of the [14C]DCCD incorporated into the H,K-ATPase was K+-sensitive where K+ reduced the [14C]DCCD incorporated into the enzyme by 1.6 nmol of [14C]DCCD/mg of protein. Membrane-associated tryptic peptides resolved from the [14C]DCCD-modified H,K-ATPase exhibited various K+ sensitivities with peptides at 23, 9.6, 8.2, 7.1, and 6.1 kDa containing 10-78%, 23-52%, 24-36%, 2%, and 3-4% K+-sensitivity, respectively. The N-terminal sequence of the K+-sensitive, approximately 23- and 9.6-kDa peptides was LVNE857, a C-terminal fragment of the ATPase alpha-subunit. The mass of the smaller peptide limited the residue assignment to the transmembrane M7/M8 domains and an intervening extracytoplasmic loop. An N-terminal sequence, SD840IM, was obtained from a 3.3-kDa, [14C]DCCD-labeled peptide resolved from a V8 digest of the partially purified alpha-subunit. This mass was sufficient to include LVNE but would exclude M8 and the intervening loop between M7 and M8. Glu857 is a unique residue present in each of the proteolytic preparations of the H,K-ATPase modified by [14C]DCCD. These data provide functional evidence of the selective inactivation of the K+-dependent partial reactions of the H,K-ATPase and show that Glu857 located at the M7 boundary in the C terminus of the pump molecule is a significant site of DCCD modification. These data are interpreted to indicate that this carboxyl residue is important for cation binding function.

Probing the cytoplasmic LOOP1 domain of the yeast plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase by targeted factor Xa proteolysis

The cytoplasmic domain linking transmembrane segments 2 and 3 (LOOP1) of the yeast H(+)-ATPase was probed by the introduction of unique factor Xa recognition sites. Three sites, I170EGR, I254EGR and I275EGR, representing different structural regions of the LOOP1 domain, were engineered by site-specific mutagenesis of the PMA1 gene. In each case, multiple amino acid substitutions were required to form the factor Xa sites, which enabled an analysis of clustered mutations. Both I170EGR and I275EGR-containing mutants grew at normal rates, but showed prominent growth resistance to hygromycin B and sensitivity to low external pH. The engineered I254EGR site within the predicted beta-strand region produced a recessive lethal phenotype, indicating that mutations G254I and F257R were not tolerated. Mutant I170EGR- and I275EGR-containing enzymes showed relatively normal Km and Vmax values, but they displayed a strong insensitivity to inhibition by vanadate. An I170EGR/I275EGR double mutant was more significantly perturbed showing a reduced Vmax and pronounced vanadate insensitivity. The I170EGR site within the putative alpha-helical stalk region was cleaved to a maximum of 10% by factor Xa under non-denaturing conditions resulting in a characteristic 81 kDa fragment, whereas the I275EGR site, near the end of the beta-strand region, showed about 30-35% cleavage with the appearance of a 70 kDa fragment. A I170EGR/I275EGR double mutant enzyme showed about 55-60% cleavage. The cleavage profile for the mutant enzymes was enhanced under denaturing conditions, but was unaffected by MgATP or MgATP plus vanadate. Cleavage at the I275EGR position had no adverse effects on ATP hydrolysis or proton transport by the H(+)-ATPase making it unlikely that this localized region of LOOP1 influences coupling. Overall, these results suggest that the local region encompassing I275EGR is accessible to factor Xa, while the region around I170EGR appears buried. Although there is no evidence for gross molecular motion at either site, the effects of multiple amino acid substitutions in these regions suggest that the LOOP1 domain is conformationally active, and that perturbations in this domain affect the distribution of conformational intermediates during steady-state catalysis.

Functional expression of gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase and site-directed mutagenesis of the putative cation binding site and catalytic center

Gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase was functionally expressed in the human kidney HEK293 cell line. The expressed enzyme catalyzed ouabain-resistant K(+)-dependent ATP hydrolysis. The K(+)-ATPase activity was inhibited by SCH 28090, a specific inhibitor of gastric proton pump, in a dose-dependent manner. By using this functional expression system in combination with site-directed mutagenesis, we investigated effects of mutations in the putative cation binding site and the catalytic center of the gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase. In Na+,K(+)-ATPase, the glutamic acid residue in the 4th transmembrane segment is regarded as one of the residues responsible for the K(+)-induced conformational change (Kuntzweiler, T. A., Wallick, E. T., Johnson, C. L., and Lingrel, J. B. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 2993-3000). When the corresponding glutamic acid (Glu-345) of H+,K(+)-ATPase was mutated to aspartic acid, lysine, or valine, the SCH 28080-sensitive K(+)-ATPase activity was abolished. However, when this residue was replaced by glutamine, about 50% of the activity was retained. This mutant showed a 10-fold lower affinity for K+ (Km = 2.6 mM) compared with the wild-type enzyme (Km = 0.24 mm). Thus, Glu-345 is important in determining the K+ affinity of H+,K(+)-ATPase. When the aspartic acid residue in the phosphorylation site was mutated to glutamic acid, this mutant showed no SCH 28080-sensitive K(+)-ATPase activity. Thus, amino acid replacement of the phosphorylation site is not tolerated and a stringent structure appears to be required for enzyme activity. When the lysine residue in the fluorescein isothiocyanate binding site (part of ATP binding site) was mutated to arginine, asparagine, or glutamic acid, the SCH 28080-sensitive K(+)-ATPase activity was eliminated. However, the mutant in which this residue was changed to glutamine had about 30% of the activity, suggesting that amino acid replacement of this site is tolerated to a certain extent.

Genetic probing of the first and second transmembrane helices of the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Structural features of the putative helical hairpin region comprising transmembrane segments 1 (TM1) and 2 (TM2) of the yeast plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase were probed by site-directed mutagenesis. The importance of phenylalanine residues Phe-116, Phe-119, Phe-120, Phe-126, Phe-144, Phe-159, and Phe-163 was explored by alanine replacement mutagenesis. It was found that substitutions at all positions, except Phe-120 and Phe-144, produced viable enzymes, although a range of cellular growth phenotypes were observed like hygromycin B resistance and low pH sensitivity, which are linked to in vivo action of the H(+)-ATPase. Lethal positions Phe-120 and Phe-144, could be replaced with tryptophan to produce viable enzyme, although the F144W mutant was highly perturbed. ATP hydrolysis measurements showed that Km was not significantly altered for most mutant enzymes, whereas Vmax was moderately reduced with two mutants, F144W and F163A, showing less than 50% of the normal activity. Double Phe-->Ala mutations in TM1 and TM2 were constructed to examine whether such substitutions would result in a higher degree of enzyme destabilization. Mutant F116A/F119A was viable and gave a normal phenotype, while F159A/F163A was not viable. Other double mutants, F116A/F159A and F119AF/159A, which are predicted to lie juxtaposed on TM1 and TM2, produced non-functional enzymes. However, a viable F119V/F159A mutant was isolated and showed hygromycin B resistance. These results suggest that double mutations eliminating 2 phenylalanine residues strongly destabilize the enzyme. A putative proline kink at Gly-122/Pro-123 in TM1 is not essential for enzyme action since these residues could be variously substituted (G122A or G122N; P123A, P123G, or P123F) producing viable enzymes with moderate effects on in vitro ATP hydrolysis or proton transport. However, several substitutions produced prominent growth phenotypes, suggesting that local perturbations were occurring. The location of Pro-123 is important because Gly-122 and Pro-123 could not be exchanged. In addition, a double Pro-Pro created by a G122P mutation was lethal, suggesting that maintenance of an alpha-helical structure is important. Other mutations in the hairpin, including modification of a buried charged residue, E129A, were not critical for enzyme action. These data are consistent with the view that the helical hairpin comprising TM1 and TM2 has important structural determinants that contribute to its overall stability and flexibility.

Novel aromatic isothiouronium derivatives which act as high affinity competitive antagonists of alkali metal cations on Na/K-ATPase

This paper describes properties of a novel family of aromatic isothiouronium derivatives, which act as Na(+)-like competitive antagonists on renal Na/K-ATPase. The derivatives are reversible competitors of Rb+ and Na+ occlusion. Ki values of the most potent compounds, 1-bromo-2,4,6-tris(methylisothiouronium)benzene (Br-TITU) and 1,3-dibromo-2,4,6-tris(methylisothiouronium)benzene(Br2-TITU ), 0.65 and 0.32 microM, respectively, are 15-30-fold lower than Ki values of the bis-guanidinium derivatives described previously (David, P., Mayan, H., Cohen, H., Tal, D. M., and Karlish, S. J. D. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 1141-1149), and represent the lowest reported values for cation antagonists. Using fluorescein-labeled Na/K-ATPase, all derivatives have been shown to stabilize the E1 conformation when bound at high affinity sites (i.e. they are sodium-like). In addition, in one condition (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.1), high concentrations of Br-TITU (KD approximately 10 microM) appear to stabilize an E2 conformation. We propose a model which allows for simultaneous binding of the antagonists to high affinity cytoplasmic sites and low affinity sites, which may be at the extracellular surface. Blockage of cation occlusion by the isothiouronium derivatives at the cytoplasmic surface probably occurs at the entrance to the occlusion sites, which is recognized both by Na+ antagonists and by Na+ or K+ ions. Unlike the alkali metal cations, the Na+ antagonists are not occluded or transported (see also Or, E., David, P., Shainskaya, A., Tal, D. M., and Karlish, S. J. D. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 16929-16937). The isothiouronium derivatives appear to be promising candidates for further development as affinity labels of cation binding domains, for kinetic analysis of isoforms or mutated Na/K pumps, or as probes of other cation transport proteins.

Properties of the reversible K(+)-competitive inhibitor of the gastric (H+/K+)-ATPase, SK&F 97574. I. In vitro activity

SK&F 97574 (3-butyryl-4-(2-methylamino)-8-(2-hydroxyethoxy)quinoline), is a potent inhibitor of the (H+/K+)-ATPase in membrane vesicles isolated from porcine gastric mucosa. It inhibits (H+/K+)-ATPase activity in lyophilised vesicles in a kinetically competitive manner with respect to the activating cation, K+, with an inhibition constant (Ki) of 0.46 +/- 0.003 microM. Inhibition of (H+/K+)-ATPase activity is freely reversible. Binding of SK&F 97574 was shown to be mutually exclusive and the previously reported reversible (H+/K+)-ATPase inhibitors, SCH 28080 and MDPQ. Therefore, despite its structural dissimilarity, SK&F 97574 appears to bind to the same lumenal region of the (H+/K+)-ATPase identified as the binding site for these compounds. SK&F 97574 is a weak base (pKa = 6.86), and would therefore be expected to accumulate in the acidic compartment at the lumenal face of the parietal cell. In intact gastric vesicles (which have the lumenal face of the ATPase on the interior), SK&F 97574 inhibited ATP-dependent H(+)-transport with a similar potency to ATPase activity. SK&F 97574 is therefore relatively membrane permeable, and would be predicted to gain access readily to its site of action in vivo. The effect of pH on inhibition of H+/K(+)-ATPase activity by SK&F 97574 is consistent with its being active only in its protonated form. The selectivity of SK&F 97574 for the gastric (H+/K+)-ATPase was tested by examining its ability to inhibit a closely related p-class pump, the (Na+/K+)-ATPase from dog kidney. SK&F 97574 was found to have a 60-fold greater sensitivity for the former enzyme. The (Na+/K+)-ATPase was not inhibited in a K(+)-competitive manner by SK&F 97574, indicating an entirely different, probably nonspecific, mechanism.

The membrane topology of the rat sarcoplasmic and endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPases by in vitro translation scanning

The membrane topology of the rat endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ ATPases were investigated using in vitro transcription/translation of fusion vectors containing DNA sequences encoding putative membrane-spanning domains. The sequences of these Ca2+ ATPases are identical except for the COOH-terminal end, which contains an additional predicted transmembrane segment in the ER ATPase. The M0 and M1 fusion vectors (Bamberg, K., and Sachs, G. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 16909-16919) encode the NH2-terminal 101 (M0 vector) or 139 (M1 vector) amino acids of the H,K-ATPase alpha subunit followed by a linker region for insertion of putative transmembrane sequences and, finally, the COOH-terminal 177 amino acids of the H,K-ATPase beta subunit containing five N-linked glycosylation consensus sequences. The linker region was replaced by the putative transmembrane domains of the Ca2+ ATPases, either individually or in pairs. Transcription and translation were performed using [35S]methionine in a reticulocyte lysate system in the absence or presence of canine pancreatic microsomes. The translated fusion protein was identified by autoradiography following separation using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. When testing single transmembrane segments, this method detects signal anchor activity with M0 or stop transfer activity with M1. The first four predicted SERCA transmembrane domains acted as both signal anchor and stop transfer sequences. A construct containing the fifth predicted transmembrane segment was able to act only as a stop transfer sequence. The sixth transmembrane segment did not insert cotranslationally into the membrane. The seventh was able to act as both a signal anchor and stop transfer sequence, and the eighth showed stop transfer ability in the M1 vector. The ninth transmembrane segment had both signal anchor and stop transfer capacity, whereas the tenth transmembrane segment showed only stop transfer sequence properties. The eleventh transmembrane sequence, unique to the ER Ca2+ ATPase, had both signal anchor and stop transfer properties. These translation data provide direct experimental evidence for 8 or 9 of the 10 or 11 predicted transmembrane sequences in the current topological models for the SR or ER Ca2+ ATPases, respectively.

The yeast plasma membrane proton pumping ATPase is a viable antifungal target. I. Effects of the cysteine-modifying reagent omeprazole

The yeast plasma membrane proton pumping ATPase (H(+)-ATPase) was investigated as a potential molecular target for antifungal drug therapy by examining the inhibitory effects of the sulfhydryl-reactive reagent omeprazole on cell growth, glucose-induced medium acidification and H(+)-ATPase activity. Omeprazole inhibits the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the human pathogenic yeast Candida albicans in a pH dependent manner. Omeprazole action is closely correlated with inhibition of the H(+)-ATPase and is fungicidal. Glucose-dependent medium acidification is correspondingly blocked by omeprazole and appears to require the H(+)-ATPase to proceed through its reaction cycle. A strong correlation is observed between inhibition of medium acidification and H(+)-ATPase activity in plasma membranes isolated from treated cells. The inhibitory properties of omeprazole are blocked by pre-treatment of activated drug with beta-mercaptoethanol, which is consistent with the expected formation of a sulfhydryl-reactive sulfenamide derivative. Mutagenesis of the three putative membrane sector cysteine residues (C148S, C312S, C867A) in the S. cerevisiae H(+)-ATPase suggests that covalent modification of the conserved C148 residue may be important for inhibition of ATPase activity and cell growth. Other mutations (M128C and G158D/G156C) mapping near C148 support the importance of this region by modulating omeprazole inhibition of the H(+)-ATPase. These findings suggest that the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase may serve as an important molecular target for antifungal intervention.

Primary structure and functional expression of the mouse and frog alpha-subunit of the gastric H(+)-K(+)-ATPase

The H(+)-K(+)-ATPase of the gastric parietal cells is responsible for the acidification of the stomach lumen. This heterodimeric protein belongs to the family of cation-translocating P-type ATPases, which includes the closely related Na(+)-ATPase. We have cloned the alpha-subunit cDNA of the Xenopus and murine gastric H(+)-K(+)-ATPase (alpha H-K). We have expressed Xenopus and murine alpha H-K along with the previously cloned gastric H(+)-K(+)-ATPase beta-subunit of rabbit (beta H-K) in Xenopus oocytes by cRNA injection. An antibody directed against the beta H-K coimmunoprecipitates under nondenaturing conditions the alpha H-K of both species, demonstrating assembly of the alpha/beta complex. Additionally, we demonstrate the presence of K(+)-transporting H(+)-K(+)-ATPase in the plasma membrane of oocytes by 86Rb- uptake. The H(+)-K(+)-ATPase-mediated K+ uptake was inhibited by the gastric H(+)-K(+)-ATPase inhibitor Sch-28080, but not by ouabain, and shows K(+)-dependent activation (K1/2 approximately 2 mM). Furthermore, H(+)-K(+)-ATPase-expressing oocytes show a Sch-28080 inhibitable proton extrusion. Our data indicate that the expressed H(+)-K(+)-ATPase behaves functionally in oocytes as in the gastric gland.

Determination of the sidedness of the carboxy-terminus of the Na+/K(+)ATPase alpha-subunit using lactoperoxidase iodination

The orientation of the carboxy-terminal pair of tyrosines of the Na+/K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit with respect to the plane of the plasma membrane was determined. The approach was based on lactoperoxidase-catalysed radioiodination of the tyrosine residues accessible on the surface of the enzyme molecule in intact cells of a pig kidney embryonic cell line and those accessible in a broken plasma membrane fraction and in isolated membrane-bound Na+/K(+)-ATPase. The labeled alpha-subunit was isolated by SDS gel electrophoresis followed by electroblotting. Then the COOH-terminal amino acids were hydrolyzed by carboxypeptidases B and Y. Radioactivity and quantitative analysis of the protein and released amino acids showed that the COOH-terminal tyrosine residues of the alpha-subunit were only accessible to modification only when lactoperoxidase had access to the inner side of the plasma membrane. Therefore, the COOH-terminus of the Na+/K(+)-ATPase alpha-subunit is located on the cytoplasmic surface of the pump molecule and its polypeptide chain must have an even number of transmembrane segments.

Pharmacological aspects of acid secretion

The secretion of gastric acid is regulated both centrally and peripherally. The finding that H2-receptor antagonists are able to reduce or abolish acid secretion due to vagal, gastrinergic, and histaminergic stimulation shows that histamine plays a pivotal role in stimulation of the parietal cell. In the rat, the fundic histamine is released from the ECL cell, in response to gastrin, acetylcholine, or epinephrine, and histamine release is inhibited by somatostatin or by the H3-receptor ligand, R-alpha-methyl histamine. The parietal cell has a muscarinic, M3, receptor responsible for [Ca]i regulation. Blockade of muscarinic receptors by atropine can be as effective as H2-receptor blockade in controlling acid secretion. However, general effects on muscarinic receptors elsewhere produce significant side effects. The different receptor pathways converge to stimulate the gastric H+,K(+)-ATPase, the pump responsible for acid secretion by the stomach. This enzyme is an alpha,beta heterodimer, present in cytoplasmic membrane vesicles of the resting cell and in the canaliculus of the stimulated cell. It has been shown that acid secretion by the pump depends on provision of K+Cl- efflux pathway becoming associated with the pump. As secretion occurs only in the canaliculus, this K+Cl- pathway is activated only when the pump inserts into the canalicular membrane. Transport by the enzyme involves reciprocal conformational changes in the cytoplasmic and extracytoplasmic domain. These result in changes in sidedness and affinity for H3O+ and K+, enabling active H+ for K+ exchange. The acid pump inhibitors of the substituted benzimidazole class, such as omeprazole, are concentrated in the canaliculus of the secreting parietal cell and are activated there to form sulfenamides. The omeprazole sulfenamide, for example, reacts covalently with two cysteines in the extracytoplasmic loops between the fifth and sixth transmembrane and the seventh and eighth transmembrane segments of the alpha subunit of the H+,K(+)-ATPase, forming disulfide derivatives. This inhibits ATP hydrolysis and H+ transport, resulting in effective, long-lasting regulation of acid secretion. Therefore, this class of acid pump inhibitor is significantly more effective and faster acting than the H2 receptor antagonists. K+ competitive antagonists bind to the M1 and M2 transmembrane segments of the alpha subunit of the acid pump and also abolish ATPase activity. These drugs should also be able to reduce acid secretion more effectively than receptor antagonists and provide shorter acting but complete inhibition of acid secretion.

Structure, transmembrane topology and helix packing of P-type ion pumps

Electron microscopy has recently provided improved structures for P-type ion pumps. In the case of Ca(2+)-ATPase, the use of unstained specimens revealed the structure of the transmembrane domain. The composition of this domain has been controversial due to the variety of methods used to study the number and exact locations of transmembrane crossings within the sequence. After reviewing the results from several members of the family, we found a consensus for 10 transmembrane segments, and also that 10 helices fitted well into the structure of Ca(2+)-ATPase. Thus, we present the most detailed model for transmembrane structure so far, in the hope of stimulating more precise experimental strategies.