Helical stalk segments S4 and S5 of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae are optimized to impact catalytic site environment

Structural divergence between the two subgroups of P5 ATPases

Evolution of P5 type ATPases marks the origin of eukaryotes but still they remain the least characterized pumps in the superfamily of P-type ATPases. Phylogenetic analysis of available sequences suggests that P5 ATPases should be divided into at least two subgroups, P5A and P5B. P5A ATPases have been identified in the endoplasmic reticulum and seem to have basic functions in protein maturation and secretion. P5B ATPases localize to vacuolar/lysosomal or apical membranes and in animals play a role in hereditary neuronal diseases. Here we have used a bioinformatical approach to identify differences in the primary sequences between the two subgroups. P5A and P5B ATPases appear have a very different membrane topology from other P-type ATPases with two and one, respectively, additional transmembrane segments inserted in the N-terminal end. Based on conservation of residues in the transmembrane region, the two P5 subgroups most likely have different substrate specificities although these cannot be predicted from their sequences. Furthermore, sequence differences between P5A and P5B ATPases are identified in the catalytic domains that could influence key kinetic properties differentially. Together these findings indicate that P5A and P5B ATPases are structurally and functionally different.

Use of a fluorescent maleimide to probe structure-function relationships in stalk segments 4 and 5 of the yeast plasma-membrane H+-ATPase

In the yeast plasma-membrane H(+)-ATPase and other P-type ATPases, conformational changes are transmitted between cytoplasmic and membrane-embedded domains via a stalk region composed of cytoplasmic extensions of membrane segments 2, 3, 4, and 5. The present study has used a fluorescent maleimide (Alexa-488) to probe Cys residues introduced into stalk segments 4 and 5 of the yeast enzyme. In the case of S5, Cys substitutions along one face led to a constitutive, 5- to 10-fold activation of the ATPase in the absence of glucose. Based on homology with SERCA Ca(2+)-ATPase, this face is likely to be buried in the interior of the protein, close to the P domain. Three Cys residues on the opposite face of S5 (A668C, S672C, and D676C) were accessible to Alexa-488 under all conditions tested. In addition, three other Cys residues at or near the boundary between the two faces reacted with Alexa-488 only (V665C, L678C) or preferentially (Y689C) in plasma membranes from glucose-metabolizing cells; this result provides the first direct evidence for a change in conformation of S5 during glucose activation. For stalk segment 4, site-directed mutagenesis gave no sign of a role in glucose-dependent regulation. Rather, substitutions at 13 consecutive positions along S4 caused kinetic changes consistent with a shift in equilibrium from E2 to E1. Four Cys residues along this stretch of S4 (Q357C, K362C, S364C, and S368C) reacted with Alexa-488, indicating that they are exposed to the aqueous medium as predicted in the SERCA-based structural model.

Molecular architecture of the phosphorylation region of the yeast plasma membrane H+-ATPase

The molecular architecture of the yeast plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase phosphorylation region was explored by Fe(2+)-catalyzed cleavage. An ATP-Mg(2+).Fe(2+) complex was found to act as an affinity cleavage reagent in the presence of dithiothreitol/H(2)O(2). Selective enzyme cleavage required bound adenine nucleotide, either ATP or ADP, in the presence of Mg(2+). The fragment profile included a predominant N-terminal 61-kDa fragment, a minor 37-kDa fragment, and three prominent C-terminal fragments of 39, 36, and 30 kDa. The 61-kDa N-terminal and 39-kDa C-terminal fragments were predicted to originate from cleavage within the conserved MLT(558)GDAVG sequence. The 37-kDa fragment was consistent with cleavage within the S4/M4 sequence PVGLPA(340)V, while the 30-kDa and 36-kDa C-terminal fragments appeared to originate from cleavage in or around sequences D(646)TGIAVE and DMPGS(595)ELADF, respectively. The latter are spatially close to the highly conserved motif GD(634)GVND(638)APSL and conserved residues Thr(558) and Lys(615), which have been implicated in coordinating Mg(2+) and ATP. Overall, these results demonstrate that Fe(2+) associated with ATP and Mg(2+) acts as an affinity cleavage agent of the H(+)-ATPase with backbone cleavage occurring in conserved regions known to coordinate metal-nucleotide complexes. This study provides support for a three-dimensional organization of the phosphorylation region of the yeast plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase that is consistent with, but not identical to, typical P-type enzymes.

Stalk segment 5 of the yeast plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase. Labeling with a fluorescent maleimide reveals a conformational change during glucose activation

Glucose is well known to cause a rapid, reversible activation of the yeast plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase, very likely mediated by phosphorylation of two or more Ser/Thr residues near the C terminus. Recent mutagenesis studies have shown that glucose-dependent activation can be mimicked constitutively by amino acid substitutions in stalk segment 5 (S5), an alpha-helical stretch connecting the catalytic part of the ATPase with transmembrane segment 5 (Miranda, M., Allen, K. E., Pardo, J. P., and Slayman, C. W. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 22485-22490). In the present work, the fluorescent maleimide Alexa-488 has served as a probe for glucose-dependent changes in the conformation of S5. Experiments were carried out in a "3C" version of the ATPase, from which six of nine native cysteines had been removed by site-directed mutagenesis to eliminate background labeling by Alexa-488. In this construct, three of twelve cysteines introduced at various positions along S5 (A668C, S672C, and D676C) reacted with the Alexa dye in a glucose-independent manner, as shown by fluorescent labeling of the 100 kDa Pma1 polypeptide and by isolation and identification of the corresponding tryptic peptides. Especially significant was the fact that three additional cysteines reacted with Alexa-488 more rapidly (Y689C) or only (V665C and L678C) in plasma membranes from glucose-metabolizing cells. The results support a model in which the S5 alpha-helix undergoes a significant change in conformation to expose positions 665, 678, and 689 during glucose-dependent activation of the ATPase.

Catalytic phosphorylation of Na,K-ATPase drives the outward movement of its cation-binding H5-H6 hairpin

The Na,K-ATPase undergoes conformational transitions during its catalytic cycle that mediate energy transduction between the phosphorylation and cation-binding sites. Structure-function studies have shown that transmembrane segments H5 and H6 in the alpha subunit of the enzyme participate in cation binding and transport. The Ca-ATPase crystal structure indicates that the H5 helix extends into the cytoplasmic ATP binding domain, finishing 4-5 A from the phosphorylation site. Here, we test whether the phosphorylation of the Na,K-ATPase leads to conformational changes in the cation-binding H5-H6 hairpin. Using as background an enzyme where all wild-type Cys in the transmembrane region were replaced, Cys were introduced in the joining loop and extracellular ends of H5 and H6. Mutated proteins were expressed in COS cells and probed with Hg(2+), [2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl]methanethiosulfonate (MTSET), and biotin-maleimide, applied to the extracellular media while placing the cells in two different media (K-medium and Na-medium). We assumed that under these treatment conditions most of the enzyme would be in one of two predominant conformations: E1 (K-medium) and E2P (Na-medium). The extent of enzyme inactivation by Hg(2+) or MTSET treatment was dependent on the targeted position; i.e., proteins carrying Cys in the outermost positions were more affected by treatment. Moreover, in the case of proteins carrying Cys at positions 785, 787, and 797, driving the enzyme to phosphorylated conformations (Na-media) led to a larger inactivation. Similarly, biotinylation of introduced Cys was also influenced by the enzyme conformation, with a larger extent of modification after treatment of cells in the Na-medium (E2P form). These results can be explained by the enzyme phosphorylation driving the outward movement of the H5 helix. Thus, they provide experimental evidence for a structure-function mechanism where, via H5, enzyme phosphorylation leads to a conformational change at the cation-binding site and the consequent cation translocation.