Vacuolar H+-ATPase in Diabetes, Hypertension, and Atherosclerosis

Vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) is a multisubunit protein complex which, along with its accessory proteins, resides in almost every eukaryotic cell. It acts as a proton pump and as such is responsible for regulating pH in lysosomes, endosomes, and the extracellular space. Moreover, V-ATPase has been implicated in receptor-mediated signaling. Although numerous studies have explored the role of V-ATPase in cancer, osteoporosis, and neurodegenerative diseases, research on its involvement in vascular disease remains limited. Vascular diseases pose significant challenges to human health. This review aimed to shed light on the role of V-ATPase in hypertension and atherosclerosis. Furthermore, given that vascular complications are major complications of diabetes, this review also discusses the pathways through which V-ATPase may contribute to such complications. Beginning with an overview of the structure and function of V-ATPase in hypertension, atherosclerosis, and diabetes, this review ends by exploring the pharmacological potential of targeting V-ATPase.

Yeast TLDc domain proteins regulate assembly state and subcellular localization of the V-ATPase

Yeast vacuoles perform crucial cellular functions as acidic degradative organelles, storage compartments, and signaling hubs. These functions are mediated by important protein complexes, including the vacuolar-type H+-ATPase (V-ATPase), responsible for organelle acidification. To gain a more detailed understanding of vacuole function, we performed cross-linking mass spectrometry on isolated vacuoles, detecting many known as well as novel protein-protein interactions. Among these, we identified the uncharacterized TLDc-domain-containing protein Rtc5 as a novel interactor of the V-ATPase. We further analyzed the influence of Rtc5 and of Oxr1, the only other yeast TLDc-domain-containing protein, on V-ATPase function. We find that both Rtc5 and Oxr1 promote the disassembly of the vacuolar V-ATPase in vivo, counteracting the role of the RAVE complex, a V-ATPase assembly chaperone. Furthermore, Oxr1 is necessary for the retention of a Golgi-specific subunit of the V-ATPase in this compartment. Collectively, our results shed light on the in vivo roles of yeast TLDc-domain proteins as regulators of the V-ATPase, highlighting the multifaceted regulation of this crucial protein complex.

Structural and functional understanding of disease-associated mutations in V-ATPase subunit a1 and other isoforms

The vacuolar-type ATPase (V-ATPase) is a multisubunit protein composed of the cytosolic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis catalyzing V1 complex, and the integral membrane complex, Vo, responsible for proton translocation. The largest subunit of the Vo complex, subunit a, enables proton translocation upon ATP hydrolysis, mediated by the cytosolic V1 complex. Four known subunit a isoforms (a1-a4) are expressed in different cellular locations. Subunit a1 (also known as Voa1), the neural isoform, is strongly expressed in neurons and is encoded by the ATP6V0A1 gene. Global knockout of this gene in mice causes embryonic lethality, whereas pyramidal neuron-specific knockout resulted in neuronal cell death with impaired spatial and learning memory. Recently reported, de novo and biallelic mutations of the human ATP6V0A1 impair autophagic and lysosomal activities, contributing to neuronal cell death in developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE) and early onset progressive myoclonus epilepsy (PME). The de novo heterozygous R740Q mutation is the most recurrent variant reported in cases of DEE. Homology studies suggest R740 deprotonates protons from specific glutamic acid residues in subunit c, highlighting its importance to the overall V-ATPase function. In this paper, we discuss the structure and mechanism of the V-ATPase, emphasizing how mutations in subunit a1 can lead to lysosomal and autophagic dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disorders, and how mutations to the non-neural isoforms, a2-a4, can also lead to various genetic diseases. Given the growing discovery of disease-causing variants of V-ATPase subunit a and its function as a pump-based regulator of intracellular organelle pH, this multiprotein complex warrants further investigation.

Tender love and disassembly: How a TLDc domain protein breaks the V-ATPase

Vacuolar ATPases (V-ATPases, V1 Vo -ATPases) are rotary motor proton pumps that acidify intracellular compartments, and, when localized to the plasma membrane, the extracellular space. V-ATPase is regulated by a unique process referred to as reversible disassembly, wherein V1 -ATPase disengages from Vo proton channel in response to diverse environmental signals. Whereas the disassembly step of this process is ATP dependent, the (re)assembly step is not, but requires the action of a heterotrimeric chaperone referred to as the RAVE complex. Recently, an alternative pathway of holoenzyme disassembly was discovered that involves binding of Oxidation Resistance 1 (Oxr1p), a poorly characterized protein implicated in oxidative stress response. Unlike conventional reversible disassembly, which depends on enzyme activity, Oxr1p induced dissociation can occur in absence of ATP. Yeast Oxr1p belongs to the family of TLDc domain containing proteins that are conserved from yeast to mammals, and have been implicated in V-ATPase function in a variety of tissues. This brief perspective summarizes what we know about the molecular mechanisms governing both reversible (ATP dependent) and Oxr1p driven (ATP independent) V-ATPase dissociation into autoinhibited V1 and Vo subcomplexes.

The cytosolic N-terminal domain of V-ATPase a-subunits is a regulatory hub targeted by multiple signals

Vacuolar H+-ATPases (V-ATPases) acidify several organelles in all eukaryotic cells and export protons across the plasma membrane in a subset of cell types. V-ATPases are multisubunit enzymes consisting of a peripheral subcomplex, V1, that is exposed to the cytosol and an integral membrane subcomplex, Vo, that contains the proton pore. The Vo a-subunit is the largest membrane subunit and consists of two domains. The N-terminal domain of the a-subunit (aNT) interacts with several V1 and Vo subunits and serves to bridge the V1 and Vo subcomplexes, while the C-terminal domain contains eight transmembrane helices, two of which are directly involved in proton transport. Although there can be multiple isoforms of several V-ATPase subunits, the a-subunit is encoded by the largest number of isoforms in most organisms. For example, the human genome encodes four a-subunit isoforms that exhibit a tissue- and organelle-specific distribution. In the yeast S. cerevisiae, the two a-subunit isoforms, Golgi-enriched Stv1 and vacuolar Vph1, are the only V-ATPase subunit isoforms. Current structural information indicates that a-subunit isoforms adopt a similar backbone structure but sequence variations allow for specific interactions during trafficking and in response to cellular signals. V-ATPases are subject to several types of environmental regulation that serve to tune their activity to their cellular location and environmental demands. The position of the aNT domain in the complex makes it an ideal target for modulating V1-Vo interactions and regulating enzyme activity. The yeast a-subunit isoforms have served as a paradigm for dissecting interactions of regulatory inputs with subunit isoforms. Importantly, structures of yeast V-ATPases containing each a-subunit isoform are available. Chimeric a-subunits combining elements of Stv1NT and Vph1NT have provided insights into how regulatory inputs can be integrated to allow V-ATPases to support cell growth under different stress conditions. Although the function and distribution of the four mammalian a-subunit isoforms present additional complexity, it is clear that the aNT domains of these isoforms are also subject to multiple regulatory interactions. Regulatory mechanisms that target mammalian a-subunit isoforms, and specifically the aNT domains, will be described. Altered V-ATPase function is associated with multiple diseases in humans. The possibility of regulating V-ATPase subpopulations via their isoform-specific regulatory interactions are discussed.

CryoEM of endogenous mammalian V-ATPase interacting with the TLDc protein mEAK-7

V-ATPases are rotary proton pumps that serve as signaling hubs with numerous protein binding partners. CryoEM with exhaustive focused classification allowed detection of endogenous proteins associated with porcine kidney V-ATPase. An extra C subunit was found in ∼3% of complexes, whereas ∼1.6% of complexes bound mEAK-7, a protein with proposed roles in dauer formation in nematodes and mTOR signaling in mammals. High-resolution cryoEM of porcine kidney V-ATPase with recombinant mEAK-7 showed that mEAK-7's TLDc domain interacts with V-ATPase's stator, whereas its C-terminal α helix binds V-ATPase's rotor. This crosslink would be expected to inhibit rotary catalysis. However, unlike the yeast TLDc protein Oxr1p, exogenous mEAK-7 does not inhibit V-ATPase and mEAK-7 overexpression in cells does not alter lysosomal or phagosomal pH. Instead, cryoEM suggests that the mEAK-7:V-ATPase interaction is disrupted by ATP-induced rotation of the rotor. Comparison of Oxr1p and mEAK-7 binding explains this difference. These results show that V-ATPase binding by TLDc domain proteins can lead to effects ranging from strong inhibition to formation of labile interactions that are sensitive to the enzyme's activity.

Endosomal v-ATPase as a Sensor Determining Myocardial Substrate Preference

The heart is a metabolically flexible omnivore that can utilize a variety of substrates for energy provision. To fulfill cardiac energy requirements, the healthy adult heart mainly uses long-chain fatty acids and glucose in a balanced manner, but when exposed to physiological or pathological stimuli, it can switch its substrate preference to alternative substrates such as amino acids (AAs) and ketone bodies. Using the failing heart as an example, upon stress, the fatty acid/glucose substrate balance is upset, resulting in an over-reliance on either fatty acids or glucose. A chronic fuel shift towards a single type of substrate is linked with cardiac dysfunction. Re-balancing myocardial substrate preference is suggested as an effective strategy to rescue the failing heart. In the last decade, we revealed that vacuolar-type H⁺-ATPase (v-ATPase) functions as a key regulator of myocardial substrate preference and, therefore, as a novel potential treatment approach for the failing heart. Fatty acids, glucose, and AAs selectively influence the assembly state of v-ATPase resulting in modulation of its proton-pumping activity. In this review, we summarize these novel insights on v-ATPase as an integrator of nutritional information. We also describe its exploitation as a therapeutic target with focus on supplementation of AA as a nutraceutical approach to fight lipid-induced insulin resistance and contractile dysfunction of the heart.

Coordinated conformational changes in the V1 complex during V-ATPase reversible dissociation

Vacuolar-type ATPases (V-ATPases) are rotary enzymes that acidify intracellular compartments in eukaryotic cells. These multi-subunit complexes consist of a cytoplasmic V₁ region that hydrolyzes ATP and a membrane-embedded V_O region that transports protons. V-ATPase activity is regulated by reversible dissociation of the two regions, with the isolated V₁ and V_O complexes becoming autoinhibited on disassembly and subunit C subsequently detaching from V₁. In yeast, assembly of the V₁ and V_O regions is mediated by the regulator of the ATPase of vacuoles and endosomes (RAVE) complex through an unknown mechanism. We used cryogenic-electron microscopy of yeast V-ATPase to determine structures of the intact enzyme, the dissociated but complete V₁ complex and the V₁ complex lacking subunit C. On separation, V₁ undergoes a dramatic conformational rearrangement, with its rotational state becoming incompatible for reassembly with V_O. Loss of subunit C allows V₁ to match the rotational state of V_O, suggesting how RAVE could reassemble V₁ and V_O by recruiting subunit C.

Detection and quantification of the vacuolar H+ATPase using the Legionella effector protein SidK

Acidification of secretory and endocytic organelles is required for proper receptor recycling, membrane traffic, protein degradation, and solute transport. Proton-pumping vacuolar H+ ATPases (V-ATPases) are responsible for this luminal acidification, which increases progressively as secretory and endocytic vesicles mature. An increasing density of V-ATPase complexes is thought to account for the gradual decrease in pH, but available reagents have not been sufficiently sensitive or specific to test this hypothesis. We introduce a new probe to localize and quantify V-ATPases. The probe is derived from SidK, a Legionella pneumophila effector protein that binds to the V-ATPase A subunit. We generated plasmids encoding fluorescent chimeras of SidK1-278, and labeled recombinant SidK1-278 with Alexa Fluor 568 to visualize and quantify V-ATPases with high specificity in live and fixed cells, respectively. We show that V-ATPases are acquired progressively during phagosome maturation, that they distribute in discrete membrane subdomains, and that their density in lysosomes depends on their subcellular localization.

Current progress in plant V-ATPase: From biochemical properties to physiological functions

Vacuolar-type adenosine triphosphatase (V-ATPase, VHA) is a highly conserved, ATP-driven multisubunit proton pump that is widely distributed in all eukaryotic cells. V-ATPase consists of two domains formed by at least 13 different subunits, the membrane peripheral V₁ domain responsible for ATP hydrolysis, and the membrane-integral V₀ domain responsible for proton translocation. V-ATPase plays an essential role in energizing secondary active transport and is indispensable to plants. In addition to multiple stress responses, plant V-ATPase is also implicated in physiological processes such as growth, development, and morphogenesis. Based on the identification of distinct V-ATPase mutants and advances in luminal pH measurements in vivo, it has been revealed that this holoenzyme complex plays a pivotal role in pH homeostasis of the plant endomembrane system and endocytic and secretory trafficking. Here, we review recent progress in comprehending the biochemical properties and physiological functions of plant V-ATPase and explore the topics that require further elucidation.

NDST3 deacetylates α-tubulin and suppresses V-ATPase assembly and lysosomal acidification

Lysosomes are key organelles maintaining cellular homeostasis in health and disease. Here, we report the identification of N‐deacetylase and N‐sulfotransferase 3 (NDST3) as a potent regulator of lysosomal functions through an unbiased genetic screen. NDST3 constitutes a new member of the histone deacetylase (HDAC) family and catalyzes the deacetylation of α‐tubulin. Loss of NDST3 promotes assembly of the V‐ATPase holoenzyme on the lysosomal membrane and thereby increases the acidification of the organelle. NDST3 is downregulated in tissues and cells from patients carrying the C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion linked to the neurodegenerative diseases amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Deficiency in C9orf72 decreases the level of NDST3, and downregulation of NDST3 exacerbates the proteotoxicity of poly‐dipeptides generated from the C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeats. These results demonstrate a previously unknown regulatory mechanism through which microtubule acetylation regulates lysosomal activities and suggest that NDST3 could be targeted to modulate microtubule and lysosomal functions in relevant diseases.

Rotary Ion-Translocating ATPases/ATP Synthases: Diversity, Similarities, and Differences

Ion-translocating ATPases and ATP synthases (F-, V-, A-type ATPases, and several P-type ATPases and ABC-transporters) catalyze ATP hydrolysis or ATP synthesis coupled with the ion transport across the membrane. F-, V-, and A-ATPases are protein nanomachines that combine transmembrane transport of protons or sodium ions with ATP synthesis/hydrolysis by means of a rotary mechanism. These enzymes are composed of two multisubunit subcomplexes that rotate relative to each other during catalysis. Rotary ATPases phosphorylate/dephosphorylate nucleotides directly, without the generation of phosphorylated protein intermediates. F-type ATPases are found in chloroplasts, mitochondria, most eubacteria, and in few archaea. V-type ATPases are eukaryotic enzymes present in a variety of cellular membranes, including the plasma membrane, vacuoles, late endosomes, and trans-Golgi cisternae. A-type ATPases are found in archaea and some eubacteria. F- and A-ATPases have two main functions: ATP synthesis powered by the proton motive force (pmf) or, in some prokaryotes, sodium-motive force (smf) and generation of the pmf or smf at the expense of ATP hydrolysis. In prokaryotes, both functions may be vitally important, depending on the environment and the presence of other enzymes capable of pmf or smf generation. In eukaryotes, the primary and the most crucial function of F-ATPases is ATP synthesis. Eukaryotic V-ATPases function exclusively as ATP-dependent proton pumps that generate pmf necessary for the transmembrane transport of ions and metabolites and are vitally important for pH regulation. This review describes the diversity of rotary ion-translocating ATPases from different organisms and compares the structural, functional, and regulatory features of these enzymes.

Cross-linking mass spectrometry uncovers protein interactions and functional assemblies in synaptic vesicle membranes

Synaptic vesicles are storage organelles for neurotransmitters. They pass through a trafficking cycle and fuse with the pre-synaptic membrane when an action potential arrives at the nerve terminal. While molecular components and biophysical parameters of synaptic vesicles have been determined, our knowledge on the protein interactions in their membranes is limited. Here, we apply cross-linking mass spectrometry to study interactions of synaptic vesicle proteins in an unbiased approach without the need for specific antibodies or detergent-solubilisation. Our large-scale analysis delivers a protein network of vesicle sub-populations and functional assemblies including an active and an inactive conformation of the vesicular ATPase complex as well as non-conventional arrangements of the luminal loops of SV2A, Synaptophysin and structurally related proteins. Based on this network, we specifically target Synaptobrevin-2, which connects with many proteins, in different approaches. Our results allow distinction of interactions caused by 'crowding' in the vesicle membrane from stable interaction modules.

Lysosome as a Central Hub for Rewiring PH Homeostasis in Tumors

Cancer cells generate large quantities of cytoplasmic protons as byproducts of aberrantly activated aerobic glycolysis and lactate fermentation. To avoid potentially detrimental acidification of the intracellular milieu, cancer cells activate multiple acid-removal pathways that promote cytosolic alkalization and extracellular acidification. Accumulating evidence suggests that in addition to the well-characterized ion pumps and exchangers in the plasma membrane, cancer cell lysosomes are also reprogrammed for this purpose. On the one hand, the increased expression and activity of the vacuolar-type H⁺-ATPase (V-ATPase) on the lysosomal limiting membrane combined with the larger volume of the lysosomal compartment increases the lysosomal proton storage capacity substantially. On the other hand, enhanced lysosome exocytosis enables the efficient release of lysosomal protons to the extracellular space. Together, these two steps dynamically drive proton flow from the cytosol to extracellular space. In this perspective, we provide mechanistic insight into how lysosomes contribute to the rewiring of pH homeostasis in cancer cells.

Regulation and function of V-ATPases in physiology and disease

The vacuolar H⁺-ATPases (V-ATPases) are essential, ATP-dependent proton pumps present in a variety of eukaryotic cellular membranes. Intracellularly, V-ATPase-dependent acidification functions in such processes as membrane traffic, protein degradation, autophagy and the coupled transport of small molecules. V-ATPases at the plasma membrane of certain specialized cells function in such processes as bone resorption, sperm maturation and urinary acidification. V-ATPases also function in disease processes such as pathogen entry and cancer cell invasiveness, while defects in V-ATPase genes are associated with disorders such as osteopetrosis, renal tubular acidosis and neurodegenerative diseases. This review highlights recent advances in our understanding of V-ATPase structure, mechanism, function and regulation, with an emphasis on the signaling pathways controlling V-ATPase assembly in mammalian cells. The role of V-ATPases in cancer and other human pathologies, and the prospects for therapeutic intervention, are also discussed.

The Role of Secretory Pathways in Candida albicans Pathogenesis

Candida albicans is a fungus that is a commensal organism and a member of the normal human microbiota. It has the ability to transition into an opportunistic invasive pathogen. Attributes that support pathogenesis include secretion of virulence-associated proteins, hyphal formation, and biofilm formation. These processes are supported by secretion, as defined in the broad context of membrane trafficking. In this review, we examine the role of secretory pathways in Candida virulence, with a focus on the model opportunistic fungal pathogen, Candida albicans.

Interaction between the yeast RAVE complex and Vph1-containing Vo sectors is a central glucose-sensitive interaction required for V-ATPase reassembly

The yeast vacuolar H⁺-ATPase (V-ATPase) of budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is regulated by reversible disassembly. Disassembly inhibits V-ATPase activity under low-glucose conditions by releasing peripheral V₁ subcomplexes from membrane-bound V_o subcomplexes. V-ATPase reassembly and reactivation requires intervention of the conserved regulator of H⁺-ATPase of vacuoles and endosomes (RAVE) complex, which binds to cytosolic V₁ subcomplexes and assists reassembly with integral membrane V_o complexes. Consistent with its role, the RAVE complex itself is reversibly recruited to the vacuolar membrane by glucose, but the requirements for its recruitment are not understood. We demonstrate here that RAVE recruitment to the membrane does not require an interaction with V₁ Glucose-dependent RAVE localization to the vacuolar membrane required only intact V_o complexes containing the Vph1 subunit, suggesting that the RAVE-V_o interaction is glucose-dependent. We identified a short conserved sequence in the center of the RAVE subunit Rav1 that is essential for the interaction with Vph1 in vivo and in vitro Mutations in this region resulted in the temperature- and pH-dependent growth phenotype characteristic of ravΔ mutants. However, this region did not account for glucose sensitivity of the Rav1-Vph1 interaction. We quantitated glucose-dependent localization of a GFP-tagged RAVE subunit to the vacuolar membrane in several mutants previously implicated in altering V-ATPase assembly state or glucose-induced assembly. RAVE localization did not correlate with V-ATPase assembly levels reported previously in these mutants, highlighting both the catalytic nature of RAVE's role in V-ATPase assembly and the likelihood of glucose signaling to RAVE independently of V₁.

FRET Microscopy in Yeast

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy is a powerful fluorescence microscopy method to study the nanoscale organization of multiprotein assemblies in vivo. Moreover, many biochemical and biophysical processes can be followed by employing sophisticated FRET biosensors directly in living cells. Here, we summarize existing FRET experiments and biosensors applied in yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, two important models of fundamental biomedical research and efficient platforms for analyses of bioactive molecules. We aim to provide a practical guide on suitable FRET techniques, fluorescent proteins, and experimental setups available for successful FRET experiments in yeasts.

Functional complementation reveals that 9 of the 13 human V-ATPase subunits can functionally substitute for their yeast orthologs

Vacuolar-type H⁺-ATPase (V-ATPase) is a highly conserved proton pump responsible for acidification of intracellular organelles and potential drug target. It is a multisubunit complex comprising a cytoplasmic V₁ domain responsible for ATP hydrolysis and a membrane-embedded V_o domain that contributes to proton translocation across the membrane. Saccharomyces cerevisiae V-ATPase is composed of 14 subunits, deletion of any one of which results in well-defined growth defects. As the structure of V-ATPase and the function of each subunit have been well-characterized in yeast, this organism has been recognized as a preferred model for studies of V-ATPases. In this study, to assess the functional relatedness of the yeast and human V-ATPase subunits, we investigated whether human V-ATPase subunits can complement calcium- or pH-sensitive growth, acidification of the vacuolar lumen, assembly of the V-ATPase complex, and protein sorting in yeast mutants lacking the equivalent yeast genes. These assessments revealed that 9 of the 13 human V-ATPase subunits can partially or fully complement the function of the corresponding yeast subunits. Importantly, sequence similarity was not necessarily correlated with functional complementation. We also found that besides all V_o domain subunits, the V₁ F subunit is required for proper assembly of the V_o domain at the endoplasmic reticulum. Furthermore, the human H subunit fully restored the level of vacuolar acidification, but only partially rescued calcium-sensitive growth, suggesting a specific role of the H subunit in V-ATPase activity. These findings provide important insights into functional homologies between yeast and human V-ATPases.

Functional reconstitution of vacuolar H+-ATPase from Vo proton channel and mutant V1-ATPase provides insight into the mechanism of reversible disassembly

The vacuolar H⁺-ATPase (V-ATPase; V₁V_o-ATPase) is an ATP-dependent proton pump that acidifies subcellular compartments in all eukaryotic organisms. V-ATPase activity is regulated by reversible disassembly into autoinhibited V₁-ATPase and V_o proton channel subcomplexes, a process that is poorly understood on the molecular level. V-ATPase is a rotary motor, and recent structural analyses have revealed different rotary states for disassembled V₁ and V_o, a mismatch that is likely responsible for their inability to reconstitute into holo V-ATPase in vitro Here, using the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we show that a key impediment for binding of V₁ to V_o is the conformation of the inhibitory C-terminal domain of subunit H (H_CT). Using biolayer interferometry and biochemical analyses of purified mutant V₁-ATPase and V_o proton channel reconstituted into vacuolar lipid-containing nanodiscs, we further demonstrate that disruption of H_CT's V₁-binding site facilitates assembly of a functionally coupled and stable V₁V_o-ATPase. Unlike WT, this mutant enzyme was resistant to MgATP hydrolysis-induced dissociation, further highlighting H_CT's role in the mechanism of V-ATPase regulation. Our findings provide key insight into the molecular events underlying regulation of V-ATPase activity by reversible disassembly.

Reciprocal Regulation of V-ATPase and Glycolytic Pathway Elements in Health and Disease

The ability of cells to adapt to fluctuations in glucose availability is crucial for their survival and involves the vacuolar proton-translocating ATPase (V-ATPase), a proton pump found in all eukaryotes. V-ATPase hydrolyzes ATP via its V₁ domain and uses the energy released to transport protons across membranes via its V_o domain. This activity is critical for pH homeostasis and generation of a membrane potential that drives cellular metabolism. A number of stimuli have been reported to alter V-ATPase assembly in yeast and higher eukaryotes. Glucose flux is one of the strongest and best-characterized regulators of V-ATPase; this review highlights current models explaining how glycolysis and V-ATPase are coordinated in both the Saccharomyces cerevisiae model fungus and in mammalian systems. Glucose-dependent assembly and trafficking of V-ATPase, V-ATPase-dependent modulations in glycolysis, and the recent discovery that glucose signaling through V-ATPase acts as a molecular switch to dictate anabolic versus catabolic metabolism are discussed. Notably, metabolic plasticity and altered glycolytic flux are critical drivers of numerous human pathologies, and the expression and activity of V-ATPase is often altered in disease states or can be pharmacologically manipulated as treatment. This overview will specifically discuss connections between V-ATPase and glycolysis in cancer.

Interaction of mammalian and plant H+/sucrose transporters with 14-3-3 proteins

The solute carrier 45 family (SLC45) was defined in the course of the Human Genome Project and consists of four members, A1-A4, which show only 20-30% identity of amino acid sequences among each other. All these members exhibit an identity of ∼20% to plant H⁺/sucrose cotransporters. Recently, we expressed members of the murine SLC45 family in yeast cells and demonstrated that they are, like their plant counterparts, H⁺/sucrose cotransporters. In contrast with the plant proteins, SLC45 transporters recognise also the monosaccharides glucose and fructose as physiological substrates and seem to be involved in alternative sugar supply as well as in osmoregulation of several mammalian tissues. In the present study, we provide novel insights into the regulation of SLC45 transporters. By screening for interaction partners, we found a 14-3-3 protein as a promising candidate for control of transport activity. Indeed, co-expression of the gamma isoform of murine 14-3-3 protein in yeast and Xenopus oocytes led to a significant decrease in transport rates of the murine SLC45 transporters as well as of the plant H⁺/sucrose transporter Sut1.

The Peripheral Stalk of Rotary ATPases

Rotary ATPases are a family of enzymes that are thought of as molecular nanomotors and are classified in three types: F, A, and V-type ATPases. Two members (F and A-type) can synthesize and hydrolyze ATP, depending on the energetic needs of the cell, while the V-type enzyme exhibits only a hydrolytic activity. The overall architecture of all these enzymes is conserved and three main sectors are distinguished: a catalytic core, a rotor and a stator or peripheral stalk. The peripheral stalks of the A and V-types are highly conserved in both structure and function, however, the F-type peripheral stalks have divergent structures. Furthermore, the peripheral stalk has other roles beyond its stator function, as evidenced by several biochemical and recent structural studies. This review describes the information regarding the organization of the peripheral stalk components of F, A, and V-ATPases, highlighting the key differences between the studied enzymes, as well as the different processes in which the structure is involved.

The Vacuolar ATPase - A Nano-scale Motor That Drives Cell Biology

The vacuolar H⁺-ATPase (V-ATPase) is a ~1 MDa membrane protein complex that couples the hydrolysis of cytosolic ATP to the transmembrane movement of protons. In essentially all eukaryotic cells, this acid pumping function plays critical roles in the acidification of endosomal/lysosomal compartments and hence in transport, recycling and degradative pathways. It is also important in acid extrusion across the plasma membrane of some cells, contributing to homeostatic control of cytoplasmic pH and maintenance of appropriate extracellular acidity. The complex, assembled from up to 30 individual polypeptides, operates as a molecular motor with rotary mechanics. Historically, structural inferences about the eukaryotic V-ATPase and its subunits have been made by comparison to the structures of bacterial homologues. However, more recently, we have developed a much better understanding of the complete structure of the eukaryotic complex, in particular through advances in cryo-electron microscopy. This chapter explores these recent developments, and examines what they now reveal about the catalytic mechanism of this essential proton pump and how its activity might be regulated in response to cellular signals.

Rotating with the brakes on and other unresolved features of the vacuolar ATPase

The rotary ATPase family comprises the ATP synthase (F-ATPase), vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) and archaeal ATPase (A-ATPase). These either predominantly utilize a proton gradient for ATP synthesis or use ATP to produce a proton gradient, driving secondary transport and acidifying organelles. With advances in EM has come a significant increase in our understanding of the rotary ATPase family. Following the sub nm resolution reconstructions of both the F- and V-ATPases, the secondary structure organization of the elusive subunit a has now been resolved, revealing a novel helical arrangement. Despite these significant developments in our understanding of the rotary ATPases, there are still a number of unresolved questions about the mechanism, regulation and overall architecture, which this mini-review aims to highlight and discuss.

Breaking up and making up: The secret life of the vacuolar H+ -ATPase

The vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase; V₁ V_o -ATPase) is a large multisubunit proton pump found in the endomembrane system of all eukaryotic cells where it acidifies the lumen of subcellular organelles including lysosomes, endosomes, the Golgi apparatus, and clathrin-coated vesicles. V-ATPase function is essential for pH and ion homeostasis, protein trafficking, endocytosis, mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), and Notch signaling, as well as hormone secretion and neurotransmitter release. V-ATPase can also be found in the plasma membrane of polarized animal cells where its proton pumping function is involved in bone remodeling, urine acidification, and sperm maturation. Aberrant (hypo or hyper) activity has been associated with numerous human diseases and the V-ATPase has therefore been recognized as a potential drug target. Recent progress with moderate to high-resolution structure determination by cryo electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography together with sophisticated single-molecule and biochemical experiments have provided a detailed picture of the structure and unique mode of regulation of the V-ATPase. This review summarizes the recent advances, focusing on the structural and biophysical aspects of the field.

Regulation of Vacuolar H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) Reassembly by Glycolysis Flow in 6-Phosphofructo-1-kinase (PFK-1)-deficient Yeast Cells

Yeast 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase (PFK-1) has two subunits, Pfk1p and Pfk2p. Deletion of Pfk2p alters glucose-dependent V-ATPase reassembly and vacuolar acidification (Chan, C. Y., and Parra, K. J. (2014) Yeast phosphofructokinase-1 subunit Pfk2p is necessary for pH homeostasis and glucose-dependent vacuolar ATPase reassembly. J. Biol. Chem. 289, 19448-19457). This study capitalized on the mechanisms suppressing vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) in pfk2Δ to gain new knowledge of the mechanisms underlying glucose-dependent V-ATPase regulation. Because V-ATPase is fully assembled in pfk2Δ, and glycolysis partially suppressed at steady state, we manipulated glycolysis and assessed its direct involvement on V-ATPase function. At steady state, the ratio of proton transport to ATP hydrolysis increased 24% after increasing the glucose concentration from 2% to 4% to enhance the glycolysis flow in pfk2Δ. Tighter coupling restored vacuolar pH when glucose was abundant and glycolysis operated below capacity. After readdition of glucose to glucose-deprived cells, glucose-dependent V1Vo reassembly was proportional to the glycolysis flow. Readdition of 2% glucose to pfk2Δ cells, which restored 62% of ethanol concentration, led to equivalent 60% V1Vo reassembly levels. Steady-state level of assembly (100% reassembly) was reached at 4% glucose when glycolysis reached a threshold in pfk2Δ (≥40% the wild-type flow). At 4% glucose, the level of Pfk1p co-immunoprecipitated with V-ATPase decreased 58% in pfk2Δ, suggesting that Pfk1p binding to V-ATPase may be inhibitory in the mutant. We concluded that V-ATPase activity at steady state and V-ATPase reassembly after readdition of glucose to glucose-deprived cells are controlled by the glycolysis flow. We propose a new mechanism by which glucose regulates V-ATPase catalytic activity that occurs at steady state without changing V1Vo assembly.

Recent Insights into the Structure, Regulation, and Function of the V-ATPases

The vacuolar (H(+))-ATPases (V-ATPases) are ATP-dependent proton pumps that acidify intracellular compartments and are also present at the plasma membrane. They function in such processes as membrane traffic, protein degradation, virus and toxin entry, bone resorption, pH homeostasis, and tumor cell invasion. V-ATPases are large multisubunit complexes, composed of an ATP-hydrolytic domain (V1) and a proton translocation domain (V0), and operate by a rotary mechanism. This review focuses on recent insights into their structure and mechanism, the mechanisms that regulate V-ATPase activity (particularly regulated assembly and trafficking), and the role of V-ATPases in processes such as cell signaling and cancer. These developments have highlighted the potential of V-ATPases as a therapeutic target in a variety of human diseases.

Control of lysosomal biogenesis and Notch-dependent tissue patterning by components of the TFEB-V-ATPase axis in Drosophila melanogaster

In vertebrates, TFEB (transcription factor EB) and MITF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor) family of basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) transcription factors regulates both lysosomal function and organ development. However, it is not clear whether these 2 processes are interconnected. Here, we show that Mitf, the single TFEB and MITF ortholog in Drosophila, controls expression of vacuolar-type H(+)-ATPase pump (V-ATPase) subunits. Remarkably, we also find that expression of Vha16-1 and Vha13, encoding 2 key components of V-ATPase, is patterned in the wing imaginal disc. In particular, Vha16-1 expression follows differentiation of proneural regions of the disc. These regions, which will form sensory organs in the adult, appear to possess a distinctive endolysosomal compartment and Notch (N) localization. Modulation of Mitf activity in the disc in vivo alters endolysosomal function and disrupts proneural patterning. Similar to our findings in Drosophila, in human breast epithelial cells we observe that impairment of the Vha16-1 human ortholog ATP6V0C changes the size and function of the endolysosomal compartment and that depletion of TFEB reduces ligand-independent N signaling activity. Our data suggest that lysosomal-associated functions regulated by the TFEB-V-ATPase axis might play a conserved role in shaping cell fate.

Proton Transport and pH Control in Fungi

Despite diverse and changing extracellular environments, fungi maintain a relatively constant cytosolic pH and numerous organelles of distinct lumenal pH. Key players in fungal pH control are V-ATPases and the P-type proton pump Pma1. These two proton pumps act in concert with a large array of other transporters and are highly regulated. The activities of Pma1 and the V-ATPase are coordinated under some conditions, suggesting that pH in the cytosol and organelles is not controlled independently. Genomic studies, particularly in the highly tractable S. cerevisiae, are beginning to provide a systems-level view of pH control, including transcriptional responses to acid or alkaline ambient pH and definition of the full set of regulators required to maintain pH homeostasis. Genetically encoded pH sensors have provided new insights into localized mechanisms of pH control, as well as highlighting the dynamic nature of pH responses to the extracellular environment. Recent studies indicate that cellular pH plays a genuine signaling role that connects nutrient availability and growth rate through a number of mechanisms. Many of the pH control mechanisms found in S. cerevisiae are shared with other fungi, with adaptations for their individual physiological contexts. Fungi deploy certain proton transport and pH control mechanisms not shared with other eukaryotes; these regulators of cellular pH are potential antifungal targets. This review describes current and emerging knowledge proton transport and pH control mechanisms in S. cerevisiae and briefly discusses how these mechanisms vary among fungi.

Molecular Interactions and Cellular Itinerary of the Yeast RAVE (Regulator of the H+-ATPase of Vacuolar and Endosomal Membranes) Complex

The RAVE complex (regulator of the H(+)-ATPase of vacuolar and endosomal membranes) is required for biosynthetic assembly and glucose-stimulated reassembly of the yeast vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase). Yeast RAVE contains three subunits: Rav1, Rav2, and Skp1. Rav1 is the largest subunit, and it binds Rav2 and Skp1 of RAVE; the E, G, and C subunits of the V-ATPase peripheral V1 sector; and Vph1 of the membrane Vo sector. We identified Rav1 regions required for interaction with its binding partners through deletion analysis, co-immunoprecipitation, two-hybrid assay, and pulldown assays with expressed proteins. We find that Skp1 binding requires sequences near the C terminus of Rav1, V1 subunits E and C bind to a conserved region in the C-terminal half of Rav1, and the cytosolic domain of Vph1 binds near the junction of the Rav1 N- and C-terminal halves. In contrast, Rav2 binds to the N-terminal domain of Rav1, which can be modeled as a double β-propeller. Only the V1 C subunit binds to both Rav1 and Rav2. Using GFP-tagged RAVE subunits in vivo, we demonstrate glucose-dependent association of RAVE with the vacuolar membrane, consistent with its role in glucose-dependent V-ATPase assembly. It is known that V1 subunit C localizes to the V1-Vo interface in assembled V-ATPase complexes and is important in regulated disassembly of V-ATPases. We propose that RAVE cycles between cytosol and vacuolar membrane in a glucose-dependent manner, positioning V1 and V0 subcomplexes and orienting the V1 C subunit to promote assembly.

Perturbation of the Vacuolar ATPase: A NOVEL CONSEQUENCE OF INOSITOL DEPLETION

Depletion of inositol has profound effects on cell function and has been implicated in the therapeutic effects of drugs used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder. We have previously shown that the anticonvulsant drug valproate (VPA) depletes inositol by inhibiting myo-inositol-3-phosphate synthase, the enzyme that catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step of inositol biosynthesis. To elucidate the cellular consequences of inositol depletion, we screened the yeast deletion collection for VPA-sensitive mutants and identified mutants in vacuolar sorting and the vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase). Inositol depletion caused by starvation of ino1Δ cells perturbed the vacuolar structure and decreased V-ATPase activity and proton pumping in isolated vacuolar vesicles. VPA compromised the dynamics of phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate (PI3,5P2) and greatly reduced V-ATPase proton transport in inositol-deprived wild-type cells. Osmotic stress, known to increase PI3,5P2 levels, did not restore PI3,5P2 homeostasis nor did it induce vacuolar fragmentation in VPA-treated cells, suggesting that perturbation of the V-ATPase is a consequence of altered PI3,5P2 homeostasis under inositol-limiting conditions. This study is the first to demonstrate that inositol depletion caused by starvation of an inositol synthesis mutant or by the inositol-depleting drug VPA leads to perturbation of the V-ATPase.

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.

Protein-protein interactions within the ensemble, eukaryotic V-ATPase, and its concerted interactions with cellular machineries

The V1VO-ATPase (V-ATPase) is the important proton-pump in eukaryotic cells, responsible for pH-homeostasis, pH-sensing and amino acid sensing, and therefore essential for cell growths and metabolism. ATP-cleavage in the catalytic A3B3-hexamer of V1 has to be communicated via several so-called central and peripheral stalk units to the proton-pumping VO-part, which is membrane-embedded. A unique feature of V1VO-ATPase regulation is its reversible disassembly of the V1 and VO domain. Actin provides a network to hold the V1 in proximity to the VO, enabling effective V1VO-assembly to occur. Besides binding to actin, the 14-subunit V-ATPase interacts with multi-subunit machineries to form cellular sensors, which regulate the pH in cellular compartments or amino acid signaling in lysosomes. Here we describe a variety of subunit-subunit interactions within the V-ATPase enzyme during catalysis and its protein-protein assembling with key cellular machineries, essential for cellular function.

Structure of the vacuolar H+-ATPase rotary motor reveals new mechanistic insights

Vacuolar H(+)-ATPases are multisubunit complexes that operate with rotary mechanics and are essential for membrane proton transport throughout eukaryotes. Here we report a ∼ 1 nm resolution reconstruction of a V-ATPase in a different conformational state from that previously reported for a lower-resolution yeast model. The stator network of the V-ATPase (and by implication that of other rotary ATPases) does not change conformation in different catalytic states, and hence must be relatively rigid. We also demonstrate that a conserved bearing in the catalytic domain is electrostatic, contributing to the extraordinarily high efficiency of rotary ATPases. Analysis of the rotor axle/membrane pump interface suggests how rotary ATPases accommodate different c ring stoichiometries while maintaining high efficiency. The model provides evidence for a half channel in the proton pump, supporting theoretical models of ion translocation. Our refined model therefore provides new insights into the structure and mechanics of the V-ATPases.

Understanding the apparent stator-rotor connections in the rotary ATPase family using coarse-grained computer modeling

Advances in structural biology, such as cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) have allowed for a number of sophisticated protein complexes to be characterized. However, often only a static snapshot of a protein complex is visualized despite the fact that conformational change is frequently inherent to biological function, as is the case for molecular motors. Computer simulations provide valuable insights into the different conformations available to a particular system that are not accessible using conventional structural techniques. For larger proteins and protein complexes, where a fully atomistic description would be computationally prohibitive, coarse-grained simulation techniques such as Elastic Network Modeling (ENM) are often employed, whereby each atom or group of atoms is linked by a set of springs whose properties can be customized according to the system of interest. Here we compare ENM with a recently proposed continuum model known as Fluctuating Finite Element Analysis (FFEA), which represents the biomolecule as a viscoelastic solid subject to thermal fluctuations. These two complementary computational techniques are used to answer a critical question in the rotary ATPase family; implicit within these motors is the need for a rotor axle and proton pump to rotate freely of the motor domain and stator structures. However, current single particle cryo-EM reconstructions have shown an apparent connection between the stators and rotor axle or pump region, hindering rotation. Both modeling approaches show a possible role for this connection and how it would significantly constrain the mobility of the rotary ATPase family.