Identification of two conformationally sensitive cysteine residues at the extracellular surface of the Na,K-ATPase alpha-subunit

Displacement of the Na+/K+ pump's transmembrane domains demonstrates conserved conformational changes in P-type 2 ATPases

Cellular survival requires the ion gradients built by the Na⁺/K⁺ pump, an ATPase that alternates between two major conformations (E1 and E2). Here we use state-specific engineered-disulfide cross-linking to demonstrate that transmembrane segment 2 (M2) of the pump's α-subunit moves in directions that are inconsistent with distances observed in existing crystal structures of the Na⁺/K⁺ pump in E1 and E2. We characterize this movement with voltage-clamp fluorometry in single-cysteine mutants. Most mutants in the M1-M2 loop produced state-dependent fluorescence changes upon labeling with tetramethylrhodamine-6-maleimide (TMRM), which were due to quenching by multiple endogenous tryptophans. To avoid complications arising from multiple potential quenchers, we analyzed quenching of TMRM conjugated to R977C (in the static M9-M10 loop) by tryptophans introduced, one at a time, in M1-M2. This approach showed that tryptophans introduced in M2 quench TMRM only in E2, with D126W and L130W on the same helix producing the largest fluorescence changes. These observations indicate that M2 moves outward as Na⁺ is deoccluded from the E1 conformation, a mechanism consistent with cross-linking results and with proposals for other P-type 2 ATPases.

Transmembrane protein topology mapping by the substituted cysteine accessibility method (SCAM(TM)): application to lipid-specific membrane protein topogenesis

We provide an overview of lipid-dependent polytopic membrane protein topogenesis, with particular emphasis on Escherichia coli strains genetically altered in their lipid composition and strategies for experimentally determining the transmembrane organization of proteins. A variety of reagents and experimental strategies are described including the use of lipid mutants and thiol-specific chemical reagents to study lipid-dependent and host-specific membrane protein topogenesis by substituted cysteine site-directed chemical labeling. Employing strains in which lipid composition can be controlled temporally during membrane protein synthesis and assembly provides a means to observe dynamic changes in protein topology as a function of membrane lipid composition.

Cysteine accessibility in ClC-0 supports conservation of the ClC intracellular vestibule

ClC chloride channels, which are ubiquitously expressed in mammals, have a unique double-barreled structure, in which each monomer forms its own pore. Identification of pore-lining elements is important for understanding the conduction properties and unusual gating mechanisms of these channels. Structures of prokaryotic ClC transporters do not show an open pore, and so may not accurately represent the open state of the eukaryotic ClC channels. In this study we used cysteine-scanning mutagenesis and modification (SCAM) to screen >50 residues in the intracellular vestibule of ClC-0. We identified 14 positions sensitive to the negatively charged thiol-modifying reagents sodium (2-sulfonatoethyl)methanethiosulfonate (MTSES) or sodium 4-acetamido-4'-maleimidylstilbene-2'2-disulfonic acid (AMS) and show that 11 of these alter pore properties when modified. In addition, two MTSES-sensitive residues, on different helices and in close proximity in the prokaryotic structures, can form a disulfide bond in ClC-0. When mapped onto prokaryotic structures, MTSES/AMS-sensitive residues cluster around bound chloride ions, and the correlation is even stronger in the ClC-0 homology model developed by Corry et al. (2004). These results support the hypothesis that both secondary and tertiary structures in the intracellular vestibule are conserved among ClC family members, even in regions of very low sequence similarity.

Rat liver glucose-6-phosphatase system: light scattering and chemical characterization

Glucose-6-phosphatase is a multicomponent system located in the endoplasmic reticulum, involving both a catalytic subunit (G6PC) and several substrate and product carriers. The glucose-6-phosphate carrier is called G6PT1. Using light scattering, we determined K(D) values for phosphate and glucose transport in rat liver microsomes (45 and 33mM, respectively), G6PT1 K(D) being too low to be estimated by this technique. We provide evidence that phosphate transport may be carried out by an allosteric multisubunit translocase or by two distinct proteins. Using chemical modifications by sulfhydryl reagents with different solubility properties, we conclude that in G6PT1, one thiol group important for activity is facing the cytosol and could be Cys(121) or Cys(362). Moreover, a different glucose-6-phosphate translocase, representing 20% of total glucose-6-phosphate transport and insensitive to N-ethylmaleimide modification, could coexist with liver G6PT1. In the G6PC protein, an accessible thiol group is facing the cytosol and, according to structural predictions, could be Cys(284).

Distribution and oligomeric association of splice forms of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase regulatory gamma-subunit in rat kidney

Renal Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase is associated with the gamma-subunit (FXYD2), a single-span membrane protein that modifies ATPase properties. There are two splice variants with different amino termini, gamma(a) and gamma(b). Both were found in the inner stripe of the outer medulla in the thick ascending limb. Coimmunoprecipitation with each other and the alpha-subunit indicated that they were associated in macromolecular complexes. Association was controlled by ligands that affect Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase conformation. In the cortex, the proportion of the gamma(b)-subunit was markedly lower, and the gamma(a)-subunit predominated in isolated proximal tubule cells. By immunofluorescence, the gamma(b)-subunit was detected in the superficial cortex only in the distal convoluted tubule and connecting tubule, which are rich in Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase but comprise a minor fraction of cortex mass. In the outer stripe of the outer medulla and for a short distance in the deep cortex, the thick ascending limb predominantly expressed the gamma(b)-subunit. Because different mechanisms maintain and regulate Na(+) homeostasis in different nephron segments, the splice forms of the gamma-subunit may have evolved to control the renal Na(+) pump through pump properties, gene expression, or both.

Conformational coupling: the moving parts of an ion pump

The Na,K-ATPase carries out the coupled functions of ATP hydrolysis and cation transport. These functions are performed by two distinct regions of the protein. ATP binding and hydrolysis is mediated by the large central cytoplasmic loop of about 430 amino-acids. Transmembrane cation transport is accomplished via coordination of the Na and K ions by side-chains of the amino-acids of several of the transmembrane segments. The way in which these two protein domains interact lies at the heart of the molecular mechanism of active transport, or ion pumping. We summarize evidence obtained from protein chemistry studies of the purified renal Na,K-ATPase and from bacterially expressed polypeptides which characterize these separate functions and point to various movements which may occur as the protein transits through its reaction cycle. We then describe recent work using heterologous expression of renal Na,K-ATPase in baculovirus-infected insect cells which provides a suitable system to characterize such protein motions and which can be employed to test specific models arising from recently acquired high resolution structural information on related ion pumps.

Structural similarities of Na,K-ATPase and SERCA, the Ca(2+)-ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum

The crystal structure of SERCA1a (skeletal-muscle sarcoplasmic-reticulum/endoplasmic-reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase) has recently been determined at 2.6 A (note 1 A = 0.1 nm) resolution [Toyoshima, Nakasako, Nomura and Ogawa (2000) Nature (London) 405, 647-655]. Other P-type ATPases are thought to share key features of the ATP hydrolysis site and a central core of transmembrane helices. Outside of these most-conserved segments, structural similarities are less certain, and predicted transmembrane topology differs between subclasses. In the present review the homologous regions of several representative P-type ATPases are aligned with the SERCA sequence and mapped on to the SERCA structure for comparison. Homology between SERCA and the Na,K-ATPase is more extensive than with any other ATPase, even PMCA, the Ca(2+)-ATPase of plasma membrane. Structural features of the Na,K-ATPase are projected on to the Ca(2+)-ATPase crystal structure to assess the likelihood that they share the same fold. Homology extends through all ten transmembrane spans, and most insertions and deletions are predicted to be at the surface. The locations of specific residues are examined, such as proteolytic cleavage sites, intramolecular cross-linking sites, and the binding sites of certain other proteins. On the whole, the similarity supports a shared fold, with some particular exceptions.

Chimeras of X+, K+-ATPases. The M1-M6 region of Na+, K+-ATPase is required for Na+-activated ATPase activity, whereas the M7-M10 region of H+, K+-ATPase is involved in K+ de-occlusion

In this study we reveal regions of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase and H(+),K(+)-ATPase that are involved in cation selectivity. A chimeric enzyme in which transmembrane hairpin M5-M6 of H(+),K(+)-ATPase was replaced by that of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase was phosphorylated in the absence of Na(+) and showed no K(+)-dependent reactions. Next, the part originating from Na(+),K(+)-ATPase was gradually increased in the N-terminal direction. We demonstrate that chimera HN16, containing the transmembrane segments one to six and intermediate loops of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase, harbors the amino acids responsible for Na(+) specificity. Compared with Na(+),K(+)-ATPase, this chimera displayed a similar apparent Na(+) affinity, a lower apparent K(+) affinity, a higher apparent ATP affinity, and a lower apparent vanadate affinity in the ATPase reaction. This indicates that the E(2)K form of this chimera is less stable than that of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase, suggesting that it, like H(+),K(+)-ATPase, de-occludes K(+) ions very rapidly. Comparison of the structures of these chimeras with those of the parent enzymes suggests that the C-terminal 187 amino acids and the beta-subunit are involved in K(+) occlusion. Accordingly, chimera HN16 is not only a chimeric enzyme in structure, but also in function. On one hand it possesses the Na(+)-stimulated ATPase reaction of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase, while on the other hand it has the K(+) occlusion properties of H(+),K(+)-ATPase.

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.

Site-directed chemical labeling of extracellular loops in a membrane protein. The topology of the Na,K-ATPase alpha-subunit

We have mapped the membrane topology of the renal Na,K-ATPase alpha-subunit by using a combination of introduced cysteine mutants and surface labeling with a membrane impermeable Cys-directed reagent, N-biotinylaminoethyl methanethiosulfonate. To begin our investigation, two cysteine residues (Cys(911) and Cys(964)) in the wild-type alpha-subunit were substituted to create a background mutant devoid of exposed cysteines (Lutsenko, S., Daoud, S., and Kaplan, J. H. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 5249-5255). Into this background construct were then introduced single cysteines in each of the five putative extracellular loops (P118C, T309C, L793C, L876C, and M973C) and the resulting alpha-subunit mutants were co-expressed with the beta-subunit in baculovirus-infected insect cells. All of our expressed Na,K-ATPase mutants were functionally active. Their ATPase, phosphorylation, and ouabain binding activities were measured, and the turnover of the phosphoenzyme intermediate was close to the wild-type enzyme, suggesting that they are folded properly in the infected cells. Incubation of the insect cells with the cysteine-selective reagent revealed essentially no labeling of the alpha-subunit of the background construct and labeling of all five mutants with single cysteine residues in putative extracellular loops. Two additional mutants, V969C and L976C, were created to further define the M9M10 loop. The lack of labeling for these two mutants showed that although Met(973) is apparently exposed, Val(969) and Leu(976) are not, demonstrating that this method may also be utilized to define membrane aqueous boundaries of membrane proteins. Our labeling studies are consistent with a specific 10-transmembrane segment model of the Na,K-ATPase alpha-subunit. This strategy utilized only functional Na,K-ATPase mutants to establish the membrane topology of the entire alpha-subunit, in contrast to most previously applied methods.

Probing the extracellular release site of the plasma membrane calcium pump

The plasma membrane Ca(2+) pump is known to mediate Ca(2+)/H(+) exchange. Extracellular protons activated (45)Ca(2+) efflux from human red blood cells with a half-maximal inhibition constant of 2 nM when the intracellular pH was fixed. An increase in pH from 7.2 to 8.2 decreased the IC(50) for extracellular Ca(2+) from approximately 33 to approximately 6 mM. Changing the membrane potential by >54 mV had no effect on the IC(50) for extracellular Ca(2+). This argues against Ca(2+) release through a high-field access channel. Extracellular Ni(2+) inhibited Ca(2+) efflux with an IC(50) of 11 mM. Extracellular Cd(2+) inhibited with an IC(50) of 1. 5 mM, >10 times better than Ca(2+). The Cd(2+) IC(50) also decreased when the pH was raised from 7.1 to 8.2, consistent with Ca(2+), Cd(2+), and H(+) competing for the same site. The higher affinity for inhibition by Ni(2+) and Cd(2+) is consistent with a histidine or cysteine as part of the release site. The cysteine reagent 2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl methanethiosulfonate did not inhibit Ca(2+) efflux. Our results are consistent with the notion that the release site contains a histidine.

Functional role of cysteine residues in the (Na,K)-ATPase alpha subunit

The structural-functional roles of 23 cysteines present in the sheep (Na,K)-ATPase alpha1 subunit were studied using site directed mutagenesis, expression, and kinetics analysis. Twenty of these cysteines were individually substituted by alanine or serine. Cys452, Cys455 and Cys456 were simultaneously replaced by serine. These substitutions were introduced into an ouabain resistant alpha1 sheep isoform and expressed in HeLa cells under ouabain selective pressure. HeLa cells transfected with a cDNA encoding for replacements of Cys242 did not survive ouabain selective pressure. Single substitutions of the remaining cysteines yielded functional enzymes, although some had reduced turnover rates. Only minor variations were observed in the enzyme Na(+) and K(+) dependence as a result of these replacements. Some substitutions apparently affect the E1<-->E2 equilibrium as suggested by changes in the K(m) of ATP acting at its low affinity binding site. These results indicate that individual cysteines, with the exception of Cys242, are not essential for enzyme function. Furthermore, this suggests that the presence of putative disulfide bridges is not required for alpha1 subunit folding and subsequent activity. A (Na,K)-ATPase lacking cysteine residues in the transmembrane region was constructed (Cys104, 138, 336, 802, 911, 930, 964, 983Xxx). No alteration in the K(1/2) of Na(+) or K(+) for (Na,K)-ATPase activation was observed in the resulting enzyme, although it showed a 50% reduction in turnover rate. ATP binding at the high affinity site was not affected. However, a displacement in the E1<-->E2 equilibrium toward the E1 form was indicated by a small decrease in the K(m) of ATP at the low affinity site accompanied by an increase in IC(50) for vanadate inhibition. Thus, the transmembrane cysteine-deficient (Na,K)-ATPase appears functional with no critical alteration in its interactions with physiological ligands.

Entrance port for Na(+) and K(+) ions on Na(+),K(+)-ATPase in the cytoplasmic loop between trans-membrane segments M6 and M7 of the alpha subunit. Proximity Of the cytoplasmic segment of the beta subunit

Based on the following observations we propose that the cytoplasmic loop between trans-membrane segments M6 and M7 (L6/7) of the alpha subunit of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase acts as an entrance port for Na(+) and K(+) ions. 1) In defined conditions chymotrypsin specifically cleaves L6/7 in the M5/M6 fragment of 19-kDa membranes, produced by extensive proteolysis of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase, and in parallel inactivates Rb(+) occlusion. 2) Dissociation of the M5/M6 fragment from 19-kDa membranes is prevented either by occluded cations or by competitive antagonists such as Ca(2+), Mg(2+), La(3+), p-xylylene bisguanidinium and m-xylylene bisguanidinium, or 1-bromo-2,4, 6-tris(methylisothiouronium)benzene and 1,3-dibromo-2,4,6-tris (methylisothiouronium)benzene (Br(2)-TITU(3+)). 3) Ca(2+) ions raise electrophoretic mobility of the M5/M6 fragment but not that of the other fragments of the alpha subunit. It appears that negatively charged residues in L6/7 recognize either Na(+) or K(+) ions or the competitive cation antagonists. Na(+) and K(+) ions are then occluded within trans-membrane segments and can be transported, whereas the cation antagonists are not occluded and block transport at the entrance port. The cytoplasmic segment of the beta subunit appears to be close to or contributes to the entrance port, as inferred from the following observations. 1) Specific chymotryptic cleavage of the 16-kDa fragment of the beta subunit to 15-kDa at 20 degrees C (Shainskaya, A., and Karlish, S. J. D. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 10309-10316) markedly reduces affinity for Br(2)-TITU(3+) and for Na(+) ions, detected by Na(+) occlusion assays or electrogenic Na(+) binding, whereas Rb(+) occlusion is unchanged. 2) Na(+) ions specifically protect the 16-kDa fragment against this chymotryptic cleavage.

Cys(577) is a conformationally mobile residue in the ATP-binding domain of the Na,K-ATPase alpha-subunit

2-[4'-Maleimidylanilino]naphthalene 6-sulfonic acid (MIANS) irreversibly inactivates Na,K-ATPase in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Inactivation is prevented by 3 mM ATP or low K(+) (<1 mM); the protective effect K(+) is reversed at higher concentrations. This biphasic effect was also observed with K(+) congeners. In contrast, Na(+) ions did not protect. MIANS inactivation disrupted high affinity ATP binding. Tryptic fragments of MIANS-labeled protein were analyzed by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. ATP clearly protected one major labeled peptide peak. This observation was confirmed by separation of tryptic peptides in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealing a single fluorescently-labeled peptide of approximately 5 kDa. N-terminal amino acid sequencing identified the peptide (V(545)LGFCH...). This hydrophobic peptide contains only two Cys residues in all sodium pump alpha-subunit sequences and is found in the major cytoplasmic loop between M4 and M5, a region previously associated with ATP binding. Subsequent digestion of the tryptic peptide with V8 protease and N-terminal amino acid sequencing identified the modified residue as Cys(577). The cation-dependent change in reactivity of Cys(577) implies structural alterations in the ATP-binding domain following cation binding and occlusion in the intramembrane domain of Na,K-ATPase and expands our knowledge of the extent to which cation binding and occlusion are sensed in the ATP hydrolysis domain.

Membrane insertion kinetics of a protein domain in vivo. The bacterioopsin n terminus inserts co-translationally

The pathway by which segments of a polytopic membrane protein are inserted into the membrane has not been resolved in vivo. We have developed an in vivo kinetic assay to examine the insertion pathway of the polytopic protein bacterioopsin, the apoprotein of Halobacterium salinarum bacteriorhodopsin. Strains were constructed that express the bacteriorhodopsin mutants I4C:H(6) and T5C:H(6), which carry a unique Cys in the N-terminal extracellular domain and a polyhistidine tag at the C terminus. Translocation of the N-terminal domain was detected using a membrane-impermeant gel shift reagent to derivatize the Cys residue of nascent radiolabeled molecules. Derivatization was assessed by gel electrophoresis of the fully elongated radiolabeled population. The time required to translocate and fully derivatize the Cys residues of I4C:H(6) and T5C:H(6) is 46 +/- 9 and 61 +/- 6 s, respectively. This is significantly shorter than the elongation times of the proteins, which are 114 +/- 26 and 169 +/- 16 s, respectively. These results establish that translocation of the bacterioopsin N terminus and insertion of the first transmembrane segment occur co-translationally and confirm the use of the assay to monitor the kinetics of polytopic membrane protein insertion in vivo.

Glu-857 moderates K+-dependent stimulation and SCH 28080-dependent inhibition of the gastric H,K-ATPase

The rabbit H,K-ATPase alpha- and beta-subunits were transiently expressed in HEK293 T cells. The co-expression of the H,K-ATPase alpha- and beta-subunits was essential for the functional H,K-ATPase. The K+-stimulated H,K-ATPase activity of 0.82 +/- 0.2 micromol/mg/h saturated with a K0.5 (KCl) of 0.6 +/- 0.1 mM, whereas the 2-methyl-8-(phenylmethoxy)imidazo[1,2a]pyridine-3-acetonitrile (SCH 28080)-inhibited ATPase of 0.62 +/- 0.07 micromol/mg/h saturated with a Ki (SCH 28080) of 1.0 +/- 0.3 microM. Site mutations were introduced at the N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-reactive residue, Glu-857, to evaluate the role of this residue in ATPase function. Variations in the side chain size and charge of this residue did not inhibit the specific activity of the H,K-ATPase, but reversal of the side chain charge by substitution of Lys or Arg for Glu produced a reciprocal change in the sensitivity of the H,K-ATPase to K+ and SCH 28080. The K0.5 for K+stimulated ATPase was decreased to 0.2 +/-.05 and 0.2 +/-.03 mM, respectively, in Lys-857 and Arg-857 site mutants, whereas the Ki for SCH 28080-dependent inhibition was increased to 6.5 +/- 1.4 and 5.9 +/- 1.5 microM, respectively. The H,K-ATPase kinetics were unaffected by the introduction of Ala at this site, but Leu produced a modest reciprocal effect. These data indicate that Glu-857 is not an essential residue for cation-dependent activity but that the residue influences the kinetics of both K+ and SCH 28080-mediated functions. This finding suggests a possible role of this residue in the conformational equilibrium of the H,K-ATPase.

Stabilization of the H,K-ATPase M5M6 membrane hairpin by K+ ions. Mechanistic significance for p2-type atpases

The integral membrane protein, the gastric H,K-ATPase, is an alpha-beta heterodimer, with 10 putative transmembrane segments in the alpha-subunit and one such segment in the beta-subunit. All transmembrane segments remain within the membrane domain following trypsinization of the intact gastric H,K-ATPase in the presence of K+ ions, identified as M1M2, M3M4, M5M6, and M7, M8, M9, and M10. Removal of K+ ions from this digested preparation results in the selective loss of the M5M6 hairpin from the membrane. The release of the M5M6 fragment is directed to the extracellular phase as evidenced by the accumulation of the released M5M6 hairpin inside the sealed inside out vesicles. The stabilization of the M5M6 hairpin in the membrane phase by the transported cation as well as loss to the aqueous phase in the absence of the transported cation has been previously observed for another P2-type ATPase, the Na, K-ATPase (Lutsenko, S., Anderko, R., and Kaplan, J. H. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 92, 7936-7940). Thus, the effects of the counter-transported cation on retention of the M5M6 segment in the membrane as compared with the other membrane pairs may be a general feature of P2-ATPase ion pumps, reflecting a flexibility of this region that relates to the mechanism of transport.

Characterization of disulfide cross-links between fragments of proteolyzed Na,K-ATPase. Implications for spatial organization of trans-membrane helices

This study characterizes disulfide cross-links between fragments of a well defined tryptic preparation of Na,K-ATPase, 19-kDa membranes solubilized with C12E10 in conditions preserving an intact complex of fragments and Rb occlusion (Or, E., Goldshleger, R., Tal, D. M., and Karlish, S. J. D. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 6853-6864). Upon solubilization, cross-links form spontaneously between the beta subunit, 19- and 11.7-kDa fragments of the alpha subunit, containing trans-membrane segments M7-M10 and M1/M2, respectively. Treatment with Cu2+-phenanthroline (CuP) improves efficiency of cross-linking. Sequencing and immunoblot analysis have shown that the cross-linked products consist of a mixture of beta-19 kDa dimers ( approximately 65%) and beta-19 kDa-11.7 kDa trimers ( approximately 35%). The alpha-beta cross-link has been located within the 19-kDa fragment to a 6.5-kDa chymotryptic fragment containing M8, indicating that betaCys44 is cross-linked to either Cys911 or Cys930. In addition, an internal cross-link between M9 and M10, Cys964-Cys983, has been found by sequencing tryptic fragments of the cross-linked product. The M1/M2-M7/M10 cross-link has not been identified directly. However, we propose that Cys983 in M10 is cross-linked either to Cys104 in M1 or internally to Cys964 in M9. Based on this study, cross-linking induced by o-phthalaldehyde (Or, E., Goldshleger, R., and Karlish, S. J. D. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 8197-8207), and information from the literature, we propose an approximate spatial organization of trans-membrane segments of the alpha and beta subunits.

Half-site modification of Lys-480 of the Na+,K+-ATPase alpha-chain with pyridoxal 5'-diphospho-5'-adenosine reduces ATP-dependent phosphorylation stoichiometry from half to a quarter

Pig and dog kidney Na+,K+-ATPase preparations, irrespective of specific activity, showed approximately 0.5 mol of maximum phosphorylation/mol alpha-chain for ATP or acetyl phosphate (AcP) at steady state conditions. Pyridoxal 5'-diphospho-5'-adenosine (AP2PL)-treated pig kidney enzymes containing approximately 0.5 mol of AP2PL probe at Lys-480/mol (Tsuda, T., Kaya, S., Funatsu, H., Hayashi, Y., and Taniguchi, K. (1998) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 123, 169-174) showed a quarter-site phosphorylation by ATP and half-site phosphorylation from AcP. The addition of 10 microM ATP to the Mg2+-Na+-bound AP2PL enzyme induced rapid quarter-site phosphorylation (47/s), followed by two different AP2PL fluorescence changes, a rapid decrease (29/s) and a slow increase (1.1/s). The addition of 1 mM AcP to the Mg2+-Na+-bound AP2PL enzyme induced a slow half-site phosphorylation (3/s), followed by a monophasic AP2PL fluorescence increase (1.2/s). After treatment of the AP2PL enzyme with fluorescein 5'-isothiocyanate to modify Lys-501 fully, the Mg2+-Na+-dependent phosphorylation capacity from ATP of the resulting AP2PL-fluorescein 5'-isothiocyanate enzyme was reduced to approximately 6% without significant changes in half-site phosphorylation capacity with respect to AcP, dynamic AP2PL fluorescence change by ATP and change by AcP. These data and others support the hypothesis that the functional membrane-bound Na+, K+-ATPase has tetrameric properties.

ATP and acetyl phosphate induces molecular events near the ATP binding site and the membrane domain of Na+,K+-ATPase. The tetrameric nature of the enzyme

The addition of ATP to Mg2+-Na+-bound-probe labeled Na+,K+-ATPase preparations containing approximately 0.5 mol of pyridoxal 5'-diphospho-5'-adenosine (AP2PL) probe at Lys-480 and approximately 0.9 mol of fluorescein 5'-isothiocyanate (FITC) probe at Lys-501 showed a decrease and an increase in the AP2PL fluorescence intensity with neither significant ATP-dependent phosphorylation nor FITC fluorescence change. The rate constants for the fluorescence change increased nearly linearly with increasing ATP concentrations. The substitution of AcP for ATP decreased the FITC fluorescence rather monophasically, 8.5/s, which was followed by the half-site phosphorylation with same amount of components with different rate constant, 7.2 and 4.6/s, followed by a much slower increase in the two components of AP2PL fluorescence, 1.4 and 0.2/s. The addition of Na+ with increasing concentrations of ATP to the K+-bound AP2PL-FITC enzymes induced accelerations in the decrease and an increase in the AP2PL fluorescence intensity with two different increases in the FITC fluorescence intensity, showing that the same concentration of ATP is capable of inducing four different fluorescence changes. The addition of ATP to the Mg2+-Na+-bound enzymes modified with N-[p-(2-benzimidazolyl)phenyl]-maleimide (BIPM) at Cys-964 and retaining full Na+,K+-ATPase activity induced two different increases in BIPM fluorescence intensity. Each rate constant for the BIPM fluorescence change versus concentrations of ATP gave two intersecting straight lines. These data and the stoichiometries of fluorescence probe bindings and ATP- and AcP-dependent phosphorylation provide strong support for the conclusion that the functional membrane-bound Na+,K+-ATPase is a tetramer.

Interactions between fragments of trypsinized Na,K-ATPase detected by thermal inactivation of Rb+ occlusion and dissociation of the M5/M6 fragment

This work provides evidence for interactions between fragments of "19-kDa membranes," a trypsinized preparation of Na,K-ATPase that retains cation occlusion and ouabain binding. Previously, we reported rapid thermal inactivation of Rb+ occlusion at 37 degreesC (Or, E., David, P., Shainskaya, A., Tal, D. M., and Karlish, S. J. D. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 16929-16937). We describe here the detailed kinetics of thermal inactivation. In the range 25-35 degreesC, a two-step model (N left and right arrow U --> I, where N is the native species, U is the reversibly unfolded intermediate, and I is the irreversibly denatured form) fits the data. Reversibility of inactivation has been observed at 25 degreesC, consistent with the model. At 37 degreesC and higher temperatures, the data can be fitted to the simple mechanism N --> I, i.e. U is not significant as an intermediate. Occluded cations (Na+, Rb+, K+, Tl+, NH4+, and Cs+) and ouabain protect strongly against thermal inactivation. Ca2+, Ba2+, and La3+ ions do not protect. Proteolysis experiments provide independent evidence that disorganization can occur in stages, first in transmembrane segments and then in extra-membrane segments of the fragments. Analysis of selective dissociation of the M5/M6 fragment at 37 degreesC (Lutsenko, S., and Kaplan, J. H. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 92, 7936-7940), using a specific antibody, showed that inactivation of Rb+ occlusion precedes dissociation of the fragment, and only approximately 50% of the fragment is released when occlusion is fully inactivated. In the presence of Ca2+ ions, occlusion is inactivated, but the M5/M6 fragment is not released. The experiments demonstrate that occlusion is inactivated by disruption of interactions between fragments of 19-kDa membranes, and only then does the M5/M6 fragment dissociate. Interactions between the M5/M6 and M7/M10 fragments seem to be essential for maintenance of Rb+ occlusion.

Probing of the membrane topology of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase with sequence-specific antibodies. Evidence for plasticity of the c-terminal domain

The topology of Ca2+-ATPase in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles was investigated with the aid of sequence-specific antibodies, produced against oligopeptides corresponding to sequences close to the membranous portions of the protein. The antisera in competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays only reacted with intact SR vesicles to a limited extent, but most epitopic regions were exposed by low concentrations of nondenaturing detergent, octaethylene glycol dodecyl ether (C12E8) or after removal of cytosolic regions by proteinase K. In particular, these treatments exposed the loop regions in the C-terminal domain, including L7-8, the loop region located between transmembrane segments M7 and M8, with a putative intravesicular position, which had immunochemical properties very similar to those of the C terminus with a documented cytosolic exposure. In contrast to this, the reactivity of the N-terminal intravesicular loop regions L1-2 and L3-4 was only increased by C12E8 treatment but not by proteinase K proteolysis. Complexation of Ca2+-ATPase with beta,gamma-CrATP stabilized the C-terminal domain of Ca2+-ATPase against proteinase K proteolysis and reaction with most of the antisera, but immunoreactivity was maintained by the L6-7 and L7-8 loops. Immunoelectron microscopic analyses of vesicles following negative staining, thin sectioning, and the SDS-digested freeze-fracture labeling method suggested that the L7-8 epitope, in contrast to L6-7 and the C terminus, can be exposed on either the intravesicular or cytosolic side of the membrane. A preponderant intravesicular location of L7-8 in intact vesicles is suggested by the susceptibility of this region to proteolytic cleavage after disruption of the vesicular barrier with C12E8 and in symmetrically reconstituted Ca2+-ATPase proteoliposomes. In conclusion, our data suggest an adaptable membrane insertion of the C-terminal Ca2+-ATPase domain, which under some conditions permits sliding of M8 through the membrane with cytosolic exposure of L7-8, of possible functional significance in connection with Ca2+ translocation. On the technical side, our data emphasize that extreme caution is needed when using nondenaturing detergents or other treatments like EGTA at alkaline pH to open up vesicles for probing of intravesicular location with antibodies.

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.