A new type of Ca(2+)-dependent, Mg(2+)-stimulated ATPase of rat liver plasma membrane

Nucleotide pyrophosphatases/phosphodiesterases on the move

Nucleotide pyrophosphatases/phosphodiesterases (NPPs) release nucleoside 5'-monophosphates from nucleotides and their derivatives. They exist both as membrane proteins, with an extracellular active site, and as soluble proteins in body fluids. The only well-characterized NPPs are the mammalian ecto-enzymes NPP1 (PC-1), NPP2 (autotaxin) and NPP3 (B10; gp130(RB13-6)). These are modular proteins consisting of a short N-terminal intracellular domain, a single transmembrane domain, two somatomedin-B-like domains, a catalytic domain, and a C-terminal nuclease-like domain. The catalytic domain of NPPs is conserved from prokaryotes to mammals and shows remarkable structural and catalytic similarities with the catalytic domain of other phospho-/sulfo-coordinating enzymes such as alkaline phosphatases. Hydrolysis of pyrophosphate/phosphodiester bonds by NPPs occurs via a nucleotidylated threonine. NPPs are also known to auto(de)phosphorylate this active-site threonine, a process accounted for by an intrinsic phosphatase activity, with the phosphorylated enzyme representing the catalytic intermediate of the phosphatase reaction. NPP1-3 have been implicated in various processes, including bone mineralization, signaling by insulin and by nucleotides, and the differentiation and motility of cells. While it has been established that most of these biological effects of NPPs require a functional catalytic site, their physiological substrates remain to be identified.

Threonine autophosphorylation and nucleotidylation of the hepatic membrane protein PC-1

The membrane protein plasma-cell-differentiation antigen 1 (PC-1) has been described as a phosphodiesterase-I/nucleotide pyrophosphatase and as an autophosphorylating protein kinase. It has been suggested, however, that PC-1 is not a real protein kinase and that the autophosphorylated enzyme represents a nucleotidylated derivative, which is formed on Thr238 (murine PC-1) as a catalytic intermediate during ATP hydrolysis [Belli, S.I., Mercuri, F.A., Sali, A.& Goding, J.W. (1995) Eur. J. Biochem. 228, 669-676]. We have investigated the proposed multifunctional role of PC-1 and show here that ATP hydrolysis and autophosphorylation represent two distinct catalytic reactions. The enzyme was radiolabeled when various concentrations (1-260 microM) of [alpha-32P]ATP or [alpha-32P]ADP, but not [gamma-32P]ATP, were used as substrates for the formation of the pyrophosphatase catalytic intermediate, especially in the presence of imidazole, which interferes with the hydrolysis of the nucleotidylated enzyme. In contrast, autoradiography revealed autophosphorylation only with [gamma-32P]ATP as the phosphoryl donor, and autophosphorylation has been shown to occur only at ATP concentrations below 5 microM. Autophosphorylation could also be differentiated from nucleotidylation by its higher resistance to alkaline treatment and its more basic pH optimum. An intestinal nucleotide pyrophosphatase with a structurally related catalytic site could not be autophosphorylated, which shows that autophosphorylation is not an intrinsic property of the nucleotide pyrophosphatase reaction. Autophosphorylation of PC-1 was associated with inactivation of its phosphodiesterase-I/nucleotide-pyrophosphatase activity. We propose that autophosphorylation of PC-1 on Thr238 at low ATP concentrations serves as an autoregulatory mechanism that makes Thr238 unavailable for participation in the hydrolysis of extracellular nucleotides when they become scarce.

Partial characterization of a new nucleotide binding glycoprotein of hepatocyte plasma membrane

Hepatocyte plasma membranes contain a glycosylated 230-kDa Ca(2+) -dependent, Mg(2+)-stimulated ATPase (pgp230), which consists of two subunits, one of 120 kDa and the other of 110 kDa. pgp230 can be enriched by the use of affinity chromatography on Concanavalin A-Sepharose, wheat germ lectin-Sepharose, and 5'-AMP-Sepharose. It has a high-affinity Ca2+ binding site. In the presence of Ca2+, it forms a phosphorylated intermediate by autocatalytic transfer of the terminal phosphate residue from ATP. Maximal Ca(2+)-dependent autophosphorylation is observed at pH 5-6. Photoaffinity labeling using 8-azido-[alpha-32P]ATP or [y-32P]ATP confirms the presence of ATP binding sites. Incubation with [alpha-32P]ATP leads to a rapid but transient labeling of pgp230. Various nucleotides, nucleotide receptor agonists, or antagonists inhibit Ca(2+)-dependent phosphorylation by [y-32P]ATP. The concentrations of half-maximal inhibition range from 10(-7) M to 10(-3) M. The rank order of inhibitory potency is: ATP > alpha,beta-methylene-ATP > CTP = TTP > y-4-amino-phenyl-ATP = 2-methyl-thio-ATP > UTP = GTP > GDP = ADP = beta,y-methylene-ATP = beta, y-methylene-TTP = beta,y-methylene-GTP = adenosine-5'-O-2-thiodiphosphate = CMP = AMP > adenosine > cytidine > guanosine = suramin > Reactive blue 2 > iso-butyl-methyl-xanthine > thymidine > uridine. These data suggest a nucleotide binding capacity of this new hepatocyte membrane glycoprotein. Further investigations should be carried out to reveal its biological function.

Effects of P2-purinoceptor antagonists on degradation of adenine nucleotides by ecto-nucleotidases in folliculated oocytes of Xenopus laevis

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of a number of P2-purinoceptor antagonists on degradation of adenine nucleotides by Xenopus laevis oocyte ecto-nucleotidase. Folliculated oocytes readily metabolize all three naturally-occurring nucleotides, the order of preferential substrates being ATP >ADP > AMP. The degradation of ATP and ADP was decreased significantly in the presence of several P2X- and P2Y-purinoceptor antagonists, including suramin, PPADS, Cibacron blue, Coomassie Brilliant blue, Evans blue, Trypan blue, Congo red, and PIT (each compound was used at 100 microM). All these compounds inhibited the degradation of ATP by up to 60%, whereas the hydrolysis of ADP was inhibited by Congo red and PIT by 75-80%. In addition, DIDS (100 microM) and TNP-ATP (100 microM) selectively inhibited the breakdown of ATP, and sodium azide (10 mM) selectively inhibited the breakdown of ADP. The enzymatic breakdown of either ATP or ADP was unaffected by 8-pSPT (100 microM), an antagonist of P1-purinoceptors, or by oxidized ATP (100 microM), an antagonist of P2Z-purinoceptors. The degradation of AMP was prevented completely by PIT (100 microM) and ingibited significantly by Congo red (100 microM). In conclusion, the present study shows that most of currently available antagonists of P2-purinoceptors inhibit the enzymatic breakdown of extracellular ATP and ADP. The inhibitory effect on ecto-nucleotidase activity should be taken into account when these antagonists are used in pharmacological experiments.