Detailed characterization of the cooperative mechanism of Ca(2+) binding and catalytic activation in the Ca(2+) transport (SERCA) ATPase.

Expression of heterologous SERCA1a ATPase in Cos-1 cells was optimized to yield levels that account for 10-15% of the microsomal protein, as revealed by protein staining on electrophoretic gels. This high level of expression significantly improved our characterization of mutants, including direct measurements of Ca(2+) binding by the ATPase in the absence of ATP, and measurements of various enzyme functions in the presence of ATP or P(i). Mutational analysis distinguished two groups of amino acids within the transmembrane domain: The first group includes Glu771 (M5), Thr799 (M6), Asp800 (M6), and Glu908 (M8), whose individual mutations totally inhibit binding of the two Ca(2+) required for activation of one ATPase molecule. The second group includes Glu309 (M4) and Asn796 (M6), whose individual or combined mutations inhibit binding of only one and the same Ca(2+). The effects of mutations of these amino acids were interpreted in the light of recent information on the ATPase high-resolution structure, explaining the mechanism of Ca(2+) binding and catalytic activation in terms of two cooperative sites. The Glu771, Thr799, and Asp800 side chains contribute prominently to site 1, together with less prominent contributions by Asn768 and Glu908. The Glu309, Asn796, and Asp800 side chains, as well as the Ala305 (and possibly Val304 and Ile307) carbonyl oxygen, contribute to site 2. Sequential binding begins with Ca(2+) occupancy of site 1, followed by transition to a conformation (E') sensitive to Ca(2+) inhibition of enzyme phosphorylation by P(i), but still unable to utilize ATP. The E' conformation accepts the second Ca(2+) on site 2, producing then a conformation (E' ') which is able to utilize ATP. Mutations of residues (Asp813 and Asp818) in the M6/M7 loop reduce Ca(2+) affinity and catalytic turnover, suggesting a strong influence of this loop on the correct positioning of the M6 helix. Mutation of Asp351 (at the catalytic site within the cytosolic domain) produces total inhibition of ATP utilization and enzyme phosphorylation by P(i), without a significant effect on Ca(2+) binding.

Direct demonstration of Ca2+ binding defects in sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase mutants overexpressed in COS-1 cells transfected with adenovirus vectors.

Single mutations of specific amino acids within the membrane-bound region of the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ (SERCA)-1 ATPase interfere with Ca2+ inhibition of ATPase phosphorylation by Pi (1), suggesting that these residues may be involved in complexation of two Ca2+ that are known to bind to the enzyme. However, direct measurements of Ca2+ binding in the absence of ATP have been limited by the low quantities of available mutant protein. We have improved the transfection efficiency by means of recombinant adenovirus vectors, yielding sufficient expression of wild type and mutant SERCA-1 ATPase for measurements of Ca2+ binding to the microsomal fraction of the transfected cells. We find that in the presence of 20 microM Ca2+ and in the absence of ATP, the Glu771 --> Gln, Thr799 --> Ala, Asp800 --> Asn, and Glu908 --> Ala mutants exhibit negligible binding, indicating that the oxygen functions of Glu771, Thr799, Asp800, and Glu908 are involved in interactions whose single disruption causes major changes in the highly cooperative "duplex" binding. Total loss of Ca2+ binding is accompanied by loss of Ca2+ inhibition of the Pi reaction. We also find that, at pH 7.0, the Glu309 --> Gln and the Asn796 --> Ala mutants bind approximately half as much Ca2+ as the wild type ATPase and do not interfere with Ca2+ inhibition of the Pi reaction. At pH 6.2, the Glu309 --> Gln mutant does not bind any Ca2+, and its phosphorylation by Pi is not inhibited by Ca2+. On the contrary, the Asn796 --> Ala mutant retains the behavior displayed at pH 7.0. This suggests that in the Glu309 --> Gln mutant, ionization of acidic functions in other amino acids (e.g. Glu771 and Asp800) occurs as the pH is shifted, thereby rendering Ca2+ binding possible. In the Asn796 --> Ala mutant, on the other hand, the Glu309 carboxylic function allows binding of inhibitory Ca2+ even at pH 6.2. In all cases mutational interference with the inhibition of the Pi reaction by Ca2+ can be overcome by raising the Ca2+ concentration to the mM range, consistent with a general effect of mutations on the affinity of the ATPase for Ca2+.

Cell-specific promoter in adenovirus vector for transgenic expression of SERCA1 ATPase in cardiac myocytes.

Adenovirus-mediated transfer of cDNA encoding the chicken skeletal muscle sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA1) yielded selective expression in cultured chick embryo cardiac myocytes under control of a segment (-268 base pair) of the cell-specific cardiac troponin T (cTnT) promoter or nonselective expression in myocytes and fibroblasts under control of a constitutive viral [cytomegalovirus (CMV)] promoter. Under optimal conditions nearly all cardiac myocytes in culture were shown to express transgenic SERCA1 ATPase. Expression was targeted to intracellular membranes and was recovered in subcellular fractions with a pattern identical to that of the endogenous SERCA2a ATPase. Relative to control myocytes, transgenic SERCA1 expression increased up to four times the rates of ATP-dependent (and thapsigargin-sensitive) Ca2+ transport activity of cell homogenates. Although the CMV promoter was more active than the cTnT promoter, an upper limit for transgenic expression of functional enzyme was reached under control of either promoter by adjustment of the adenovirus plaque-forming unit titer of infection media. Cytosolic Ca2+ concentration transients and tension development of whole myocytes were also influenced to a similar limit by transgenic expression of SERCA1 under control of either promoter. Our experiments demonstrate that a cell-specific protein promoter in recombinant adenovirus vectors yields highly efficient and selective transgene expression of a membrane-bound and functional enzyme in cardiac myocytes.

Short and long range functions of amino acids in the transmembrane region of the sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase. A mutational study.

Mutational analysis of several amino acids in the transmembrane region of the sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase was performed by expressing wild type ATPase and 32 site-directed mutants in COS-1 cells followed by functional characterization of the microsomal fraction. Four different phenotype characteristics were observed in the mutants: (a) functions similar to those sustained by the wild type ATPase; (b) Ca2+ transport inhibited to a greater extent than ATPase hydrolytic activity; (c) inhibition of transport and hydrolytic activity in the presence of high levels of phosphorylated enzyme intermediate; and (d) total inhibition of ATP utilization by the enzyme while retaining the ability to form phosphoenzyme by utilization of P(i). Analysis of experimental observations and molecular models revealed short and long range functions of several amino acids within the transmembrane region. Short range functions include: (a) direct involvement of five amino acids in Ca2+ binding within a channel formed by clustered transmembrane helices M4, M5, M6, and M8; (b) roles of several amino acids in structural stabilization of the helical cluster for optimal channel function; and (c) a specific role of Lys297 in sealing the distal end of the channel, suggesting that the M4 helix rotates to allow vectorial flux of Ca2+ upon enzyme phosphorylation. Long range functions are related to the influence of several transmembrane amino acids on phosphorylation reactions with ATP or P(i), transmitted to the extramembranous region of the ATPase in the presence or in the absence of Ca2+.