Characterization of Ca(2+)-dependent endogenous phosphorylation of 160,000- and 150,000-Dalton proteins of sarcoplasmic reticulum

Calsequestrin: a well-known but curious protein in skeletal muscle

Calsequestrin (CASQ) was discovered in rabbit skeletal muscle tissues in 1971 and has been considered simply a passive Ca²⁺-buffering protein in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) that provides Ca²⁺ ions for various Ca²⁺ signals. For the past three decades, physiologists, biochemists, and structural biologists have examined the roles of the skeletal muscle type of CASQ (CASQ1) in skeletal muscle and revealed that CASQ1 has various important functions as (1) a major Ca²⁺-buffering protein to maintain the SR with a suitable amount of Ca²⁺ at each moment, (2) a dynamic Ca²⁺ sensor in the SR that regulates Ca²⁺ release from the SR to the cytosol, (3) a structural regulator for the proper formation of terminal cisternae, (4) a reverse-directional regulator of extracellular Ca²⁺ entries, and (5) a cause of human skeletal muscle diseases. This review is focused on understanding these functions of CASQ1 in the physiological or pathophysiological status of skeletal muscle.

Inhibition by 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) of Ca2+ transport by SERCA1a: low concentrations of HNE open protein-mediated leaks in the membrane

Exposure of sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes to 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) resulted in inhibition of the maximal ATPase activity and Ca(2+) transport ability of SERCA1a, the Ca(2+) pump in these membranes. The concomitant presence of ATP significantly protected SERCA1a ATPase activity from inhibition. ATP binding and phosphoenzyme formation from ATP were reduced after treatment with HNE, whereas Ca(2+) binding to the high-affinity sites was altered to a lower extent. HNE reacted with SH groups, some of which were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and competition studies with FITC indicated that HNE also reacted with Lys(515) within the nucleotide binding pocket of SERCA1a. A remarkable fact was that both the steady-state ability of SR vesicles to sequester Ca(2+) and the ATPase activity of SR membranes in the absence of added ionophore or detergent were sensitive to concentrations of HNE much smaller than those that affected the maximal ATPase activity of SERCA1a. This was due to an increase in the passive permeability of HNE-treated SR vesicles to Ca(2+), an increase in permeability that did not arise from alteration of the lipid component of these vesicles. Judging from immunodetection with an anti-HNE antibody, this HNE-dependent increase in permeability probably arose from modification of proteins of about 150-160kDa, present in very low abundance in longitudinal SR membranes (and in slightly larger abundance in SR terminal cisternae). HNE-induced promotion, via these proteins, of Ca(2+) leakage pathways might be involved in the general toxic effects of HNE.

The voltage-dependent anion channel in endoplasmic/sarcoplasmic reticulum: characterization, modulation and possible function

In recent years, it has been recognized that there is a metabolic coupling between the cytosol, ER/SR and mitochondria. In this cross-talk, mitochondrial Ca(2+) homeostasis and ATP production and supply play a major role. The primary transporter of adenine nucleotides, Ca(2+)and other metabolites into and out of mitochondria is the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) located at the outer mitochondrial membrane, at a crucial position in the cell. VDAC has been established as a key player in mitochondrial metabolite and ion signaling and it has also been proposed that VDAC is present in extramitochondrial membranes. Thus, regulation of VDAC, as the main interface between mitochondrial and cellular metabolism, by other molecules is of utmost importance. This article reviews localization and function of VDAC, and focuses on VDAC as a skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum channel. The regulation of VDAC activity by associated proteins and by inhibitors is also presented. Several aspects of the physiological relevance of VDAC to Ca(2+) homeostasis and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis will be discussed.

Calsequestrin and the calcium release channel of skeletal and cardiac muscle

Calsequestrin is by far the most abundant Ca(2+)-binding protein in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of skeletal and cardiac muscle. It allows the Ca2+ required for contraction to be stored at total concentrations of up to 20mM, while the free Ca2+ concentration remains at approximately 1mM. This storage capacity confers upon muscle the ability to contract frequently with minimal run-down in tension. Calsequestrin is highly acidic, containing up to 50 Ca(2+)-binding sites, which are formed simply by clustering of two or more acidic residues. The Kd for Ca2+ binding is between 1 and 100 microM, depending on the isoform, species and the presence of other cations. Calsequestrin monomers have a molecular mass of approximately 40 kDa and contain approximately 400 residues. The monomer contains three domains each with a compact alpha-helical/beta-sheet thioredoxin fold which is stable in the presence of Ca2+. The protein polymerises when Ca2+ concentrations approach 1mM. The polymer is anchored at one end to ryanodine receptor (RyR) Ca2+ release channels either via the intrinsic membrane proteins triadin and junctin or by binding directly to the RyR. It is becoming clear that calsequestrin has several functions in the lumen of the SR in addition to its well-recognised role as a Ca2+ buffer. Firstly, it is a luminal regulator of RyR activity. When triadin and junctin are present, calsequestrin maximally inhibits the Ca2+ release channel when the free Ca2+ concentration in the SR lumen is 1mM. The inhibition is relieved when the Ca2+ concentration alters, either because of small changes in the conformation of calsequestrin or its dissociation from the junctional face membrane. These changes in calsequestrin's association with the RyR amplify the direct effects of luminal Ca2+ concentration on RyR activity. In addition, calsequestrin activates purified RyRs lacking triadin and junctin. Further roles for calsequestrin are indicated by the kinase activity of the protein, its thioredoxin-like structure and its influence over store operated Ca2+ entry. Clearly, calsequestrin plays a major role in calcium homeostasis that extends well beyond its ability to buffer Ca2+ ions.

Insight into the uncoupling mechanism of sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase using the phosphorylating substrate UTP

Ca(2+) transport and UTP hydrolysis catalyzed by sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase from skeletal muscle was studied. A passive Ca(2+) load inside microsomal vesicles clearly decreased the net uptake rate and the final accumulation of Ca(2+) but not the UTP hydrolysis rate, causing energy uncoupling. In the absence of passive leak, the Ca(2+)/P(i) coupling ratio was 0.7-0.8. UTP hydrolysis did not maintain a rapid component of Ca(2+) exchange between the cytoplasmic and lumenal compartments as occurs with ATP. The uncoupling process in the presence of UTP is associated with: (i) the absence of a steady state accumulation of ADP-insensitive phosphoenzyme; (ii) the cytoplasmic dissociation of Ca(2+) bound to the ADP-sensitive phosphoenzyme; and (iii) the absence of enzyme inhibition by cyclopiazonic acid. All these characteristics confirm the lack of enzyme conformations with low Ca(2+) affinity and point to the existence of an uncoupling mechanism mediated by a phosphorylated form of the enzyme. Suboptimal coupling values can be explained in molecular terms by the proposed functional model.

Surface plasmon resonance studies prove the interaction of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticular Ca(2+) release channel/ryanodine receptor with calsequestrin

A high affinity molecular interaction is demonstrated between calsequestrin and the sarcoplasmic reticular Ca(2+) release channel/ryanodine receptor (RyR) by surface plasmon resonance. K(D) values of 92 nM and 102 nM for the phosphorylated and dephosphorylated calsequestrin have been determined, respectively. Phosphorylation of calsequestrin seems not to influence this high affinity interaction, i.e. calsequestrin might always be bound to RyR. However, the phosphorylation state of calsequestrin determines the amount of Ca(2+) released from the lumen. Dephosphorylation of approximately 1% of the phosphorylated calsequestrin could be enough to activate the RyR channel half-maximally, as we have shown previously [Szegedi et al., Biochem. J. 337 (1999) 19].

The structure, function, and cellular regulation of ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ release channels

The fundamental biological process of Ca2+ signaling is known to be important in most eukaryotic cells, and inositol 1,2,5-trisphosphate and ryanodine receptors, intracellular Ca2+ release channels encoded by two distantly related gene families, are central to this phenomenon. Ryanodine receptors in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal and cardiac muscle have a predominant role in excitation-contraction coupling, but the channels are also present in the endoplasmic reticulum of noncontractile tissues including the central nervous system and the immune system. In all, three highly homologous ryanodine receptor isoforms have been identified, all very large proteins which assemble as (homo)tetramers of approximately 2 MDa. They contain large cytoplasmically disposed regulatory domains and are always associated with other structural or regulatory proteins, including calmodulin and immunophilins, which can have marked effects on channel function. The type 1 isoform in skeletal muscle is electromechanically coupled to surface membrane voltage sensors, whereas the remaining isoforms appear to be activated solely by endogenous cytoplasmic second messengers or other ligands, including Ca2+ itself ("Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release"). This review concentrates on ryanodine receptor structure-function relationships as probed by a variety of methods and on the molecular mechanisms of channel modulation at the cellular level (including evidence for the regulation of gene expression and transcription). It also touches on the relevance of ryanodine receptors to complex cellular functions and disease.

The identification of the phosphorylated 150/160-kDa proteins of sarcoplasmic reticulum, their kinase and their association with the ryanodine receptor

In the present work we studied the relationship between the phosphorylated 150- and 160-kDa proteins and other SR proteins in the 150,000-170,000 range of molecular masses. on SDS-PAGE, the identification of their kinase, as well as the purification and structural interactions between these proteins and the rynodine receptor (RyR). The phosphorylated 150-kDa protein was identified as sarcalumenin based on: (a) its cross-reactivity with three different monoclonal antibodies specific for sarcalumenin. (b) its mobility in SDS-PAGE which was modified upon digestion with endoglycosidase H, (c) its elution from lentil-lectin column by alpha-methyl mannoside, (d) its resistance to trypsin, (e) its ability to bind Ca2+ and to stain blue with Stains-All. The phosphorylated 160-kDa protein was identified as the histidine-rich Ca2+ binding protein (HCP) based on: (a) its Ca(2+)-binding property and staining blue with Stains-All, (b) phosphorylation with the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent kinase. (c) its increased mobility in SDS-PAGE in the presence of Ca2+ (d) its heat stability and (e) its partial amino acid sequence. The endogenous kinase was identified as casein kinase II (CK II) based on the inhibition of the endogenous phosphorylation 160/150-kDa proteins by heparin, 5.6-dichlorobenzimidazole riboside, polyaspartyl peptide and hemin, and its ability to use [gamma-32P]GTP as the phosphate donor. The association of CK II with SR membranes, was demonstrated using specific polyclonal anti-CK II antibodies. The luminal location of CK II is suggested because CK II was extracted from the SR by l M NaCl only after their treatment with hypotonic medium, and CK II activity was inhibited with the charged inhibitors heparin and polyaspartyl peptide only after their incubation with the SR in the presence of NP-40. The 160- and 150-kDa proteins were purified on spermine-agarose column, and were phosphorylated by CK II. Like the endogenous phosphorylation of the 150/160-kDa proteins in SR. the phosphorylation of the purified proteins by CK II was inhibited by La3+ (Cl50 = 4 microM) and hemin. The results suggest the phosphorylation of the luminally located sarcalumenin and HCP with CK II.

Modulation of the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor by endogenous phosphorylation of 160/150-kDa proteins of the sarcoplasmic reticulum

This paper demonstrates and characterizes the inhibition of ryanodine binding caused by the phosphorylation of the 160/150-kDa proteins in skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Inhibition of ryanodine binding was obtained by preincubation of SR membranes with ATP + NaF . The inhibition was characterized by the following findings: (a) If ATP was replaced by AdoPP[NH]P, inhibition of ryanodine binding activity was not observed. (b) The inhibitory effect of preincubation with ATP + NaF, like the phosphorylation of 150/160-kDa proteins, was Ca2+ dependent. (c) Inhibition of ryanodine binding, as the protein phosphorylation, was not observed if NaF (> 30 mM) was replaced with okadaic acid. (d) The optimal pH for the inhibition and the phosphorylation was about 7.0. (e) Both the phosphorylation of the 160/150-kDa proteins and inhibition of ryanodine binding were prevented by dichlorobenzimidazole riboside and hemin, inhibitors of casein kinase II. (f) Dephosphorylation of the 160/150-kDa proteins prevented the inhibition of ryanodine binding. (g) The presence of NP-40 during the phosphorylation prevented both the 160/150-kDa phosphorylation and the inhibition of ryanodine binding. Furthermore, a linear relationship was obtained between the degree of ryanodine binding inhibition and the level of phosphorylation of the 160/150-kDa proteins, as controlled by ATP or NaF concentrations. The binding affinity for Ca2+ of the ryanodine receptor (RyR) was modified by phosphorylation of the 160/150-kDa proteins, decreasing by up to 100-fold. The phosphorylation of the SR membranes resulted in an elimination of ryanodine binding sites with slight effect on the ryanodine binding affinity. These results suggest the modulation of the properties of the RyR by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of the 160/150-kDa proteins. The identification of the phosphorylated 160/150-kDa proteins, their kinase, and the structural interactions between them and the RyR are presented in the accompanying paper.

VDAC/porin is present in sarcoplasmic reticulum from skeletal muscle

In this study we demonstrate the existence of a protein with properties of the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) using multiple approaches as summarized in the following: (a) 35 and 30 kDa proteins in different SR preparations, purified from other membranal systems by Ca2+/oxalate loading and sedimentation through 55% sucrose, cross-react with four different VDAC monoclonal antibodies. (b) Amino acid sequences of three peptides derived from the SR 35 kDa protein are identical to the sequences present in VDAC1 isoform. (c) Similar to the mitochondrial VDAC, the SR protein is specifically labeled by [14C]DCCD. (d) Using a new method, a 35 kDa protein has been purified from SR and mitochondria with a higher yield for the SR. (e) Upon reconstitution into a planar lipid bilayer, the purified SR protein shows voltage-dependent channel activity with properties similar to those of the purified mitochondrial VDAC or VDAC1/porin 31HL from human B lymphocytes, and its channel activity is completely inhibited by the anion transport inhibitor DIDS and about 80% by DCCD. We also demonstrate the translocation of ATP into the SR lumen and the phosphorylation of the luminal protein sarcalumenin by this ATP. Both ATP translocation and sarcalumenin phosphorylation are inhibited by DIDS, but not by atractyloside, a blocker of the ATP/ADP exchanger. These results indicate the existence of VDAC, thought to be located exclusively in mitochondria, in the SR of skeletal muscle, and its possible involvement in ATP transport. Together with recent studies on VDAC multicompartment location and its dynamic association with enzymes and channels, our findings suggest that VDAC deserves attention and consideration as a protein contributing to various cellular functions.

A 60 kDa polypeptide of skeletal-muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum is a calmodulin-dependent protein kinase that associates with and phosphorylates several membrane proteins

Activation of a calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase associated with rabbit skeletal-muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) results in the phosphorylation of polypeptides of 450, 360, 165, 105, 89, 60, 34 and 20 kDa. Radioligand-binding studies indicated that a membrane-bound 60 kDa polypeptide contained both CaM- and ATP-binding domains. Under renaturing conditions on nitrocellulose blots, the 60 kDa polypeptide of the membrane exhibited CaM-dependent autophosphorylation activity, suggesting that it was the CaM-dependent protein kinase of SR. Ca2+/CaM-independent autophosphorylation of polypeptides of 62 and 45 kDa was found to occur in the light SR, whereas the Ca2+/CaM-dependent autophosphorylation activity was enriched in the heavy SR. Both these kinase activities were absent from transverse tubules, although these membranes were enriched in CaM-binding polypeptides of 160, 100 and 80 kDa. In the absence of Ca2+, CaM bound to a 33 kDa polypeptide of the membrane. The purified ryanodine receptor was not phosphorylated by the purified CaM kinase, although it was a substrate for protein kinase C. Affinity-purified antibodies to brain CaM kinase II cross-reacted with the 60 kDa polypeptide in Western blots and immunoprecipitated the 60 kDa polypeptide, along with the 360, 105, 89, 34 and 20 kDa phosphoproteins, from Nonidet-P-40-solubilized SR membranes. Antibodies raised against the 60 kDa kinase polypeptide did not cross-react with the other phosphoproteins, suggesting that these polypeptides were distinct and unrelated. Subcellular distribution of the 60 kDa kinase indicated the specific association of the polypeptide with the junctional-face membrane of SR. The CaM-dependent incorporation of 32P into various membrane proteins was inhibited by the CaM kinase II fragment (290-309), with an IC50 value of 2 nM for the inhibition of incorporation into the 60 kDa kinase polypeptide. Recent studies [Wang and Best (1992) Nature (London) 359, 739-741] have shown that a CaM kinase activity intrinsic to the membrane can inactivate the Ca(2+)-release channel of skeletal muscle SR. Since our results demonstrate that the 60 kDa polypeptide of SR is a CaM-dependent protein kinase, we suggest that this kinase, through its associations, may be responsible for gating the Ca(2+)-release channel.

A simple, fast, one-step method for the purification of the skeletal-muscle ryanodine receptor

In this paper we describe a simple, fast, one-step method for the purification of the skeletal-muscle ryanodine receptor. The ryanodine receptor from CHAPS-solubilized junctional sarcoplasmic-reticulum membranes was adsorbed to a spermine-agarose column and eluted by 2 mM-spermine. The purified receptor, consisting predominantly of a 450 kDa polypeptide on SDS/PAGE, binds [3H]ryanodine with a specific activity of approximately 300 pmol/mg of protein and with a high affinity (KD = 4.7 +/- 2 nM). The purified receptor appears to retain the pharmacological properties of the receptor in the original membranes. The purification resulted in over 80% recovery of the initial ryanodine-binding sites and about 30-96-fold purification. This simple and fast method is highly reproducible and suitable for purification of small as well as large quantities of ryanodine receptor.

Involvement of protein phosphorylation in activation of Ca2+ efflux from sarcoplasmic reticulum

Preincubation of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes with a combination of ATP and NaF resulted in inhibition of Ca2+ accumulation and stimulation of Ca(2+)-ATPase and Ca2+ efflux. Under the same conditions, the activity of the SR phosphoprotein phosphatase was inhibited and the phosphorylation of two polypeptides with apparent molecular masses of 160 and 150 kDa was obtained. The effect of ATP is specific, since the ATP analogue adenosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate did not replace for ATP. In the absence of NaF, ATP was ineffective. The phosphorylation of the 160 kDa and/or 150 kDa proteins and the stimulation of Ca2+ efflux are clearly related. The phosphorylation of both proteins and the increase in Ca2+ efflux show a similar dependence on the concentration of ATP. The level of protein phosphorylation and the stimulation of Ca2+ efflux were also controlled by the NaF concentration which inhibits the phosphatase and of net Ca2+ accumulation, as well as for the stimulation of phosphorylation of both polypeptides. Quantitative analysis revealed a linear correlation between these three activities. Dicyclohexylcarbodi-imide, which inhibited Ca2+ efflux, also inhibited the phosphorylation of the two polypeptides. These results suggest the involvement of the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of 160 kDa and/or 150 kDa polypeptides in the activation of Ca2+ release from SR membranes.