Monovalent Cation Binding Research Articles

Monovalent cation binding to cubic insulin crystals

Two localized monovalent cation binding sites have been identified in cubic insulin from 2.8 A-resolution difference electron density maps comparing crystals in which the Na+ ions have been replaced by Tl+. One cation is buried in a closed cavity between insulin dimers and is stabilized by interaction with protein carbonyl dipoles in two juxtaposed alternate positions related by the crystal dyad. The second cation binding site, which also involves ligation with carbonyl dipoles, is competitively occupied by one position of two alternate His B10 side chain conformations. The cation occupancy in both sites depends on the net charge on the protein which was varied by equilibrating crystals in the pH range 7-10. Detailed structures of the cation binding sites were inferred from the refined 2-A resolution map of the sodium-insulin crystal at pH 9. At pH 9, the localized monovalent cations account for less than one of the three to four positive counterion charges necessary to neutralize the negative charge on each protein molecule. The majority of the monovalent counterions are too mobile to show up in the electron density maps calculated using data only at resolution higher than 10 A. Monovalent cations of ionic radius less than 1.5 A are required for crystal stability. Replacing Na+ with Cs+, Mg++, Ca++ or La+++ disrupts the lattice order, but crystals at pH 9 with 0.1 M Li+, K+, NH4+, Rb+ or Tl+ diffract to at least 2.8 A resolution.

Helix-coil transitions of ionic polysaccharides analyzed within the Poisson-Boltzmann cell model. 4. Effects of site-specific counterion binding

The cation specificity of the salt-induced conformational transition of κ-carrageenan is analyzed in terms of site-specific binding of certain monovalent cations to the κ-carrageenan helix. According to the analysis, a quite weak specific interaction is sufficient to account for the drastic ion specificity observed experimentally. Both thermodynamic data on the conformational transition and counterion NMR data on the binding of ions to the κ-carrageenan helix are well reproduced by the model

Asymmetrical properties of the Na-Ca exchanger in voltage-clamped, internally dialyzed squid axons under symmetrical ionic conditions.

In this work we have investigated whether the asymmetrical properties of the Na/Ca exchange process found in intact preparations are intrinsic to the exchange protein(s) or the result of the asymmetric ionic environment normally prevailing in living cells. The activation of the Na/Ca exchanger by Ca2+ ions, monovalent cations, ATP gamma S and the effect of membrane potential on the different operational modes of the exchanger (Nao/Cai, Cao/Nai, Cao/Cai, and Nao/Nai) was studied in voltage-clamped squid giant axons externally perfused and internally dialyzed with symmetrical ionic solutions. Under these conditions: (a) Ca ions activate with higher affinity from the inside (K1/2 = 22 microM) than from the outside (K1/2 = 300 microM); (b) experiments measuring the Cao-dependent Ca efflux in the conditions Lio-Trisi, Lio-Lii, Triso-Trisi, and Triso-Lii, show that the activating monovalent cation site on the exchanger faces the external surface; (c) ATP gamma S activates the Cao-dependent Ca efflux (Cao/Cai exchange) only at nonsaturating [Ca2+]i. Its effect appears to be on the Ca transport site since no alteration in the apparent affinity of the activating monovalent cation site was observed. The above results show that the Na/Ca exchange process is indeed a highly asymmetric transport mechanism. Finally, the voltage dependence of the components of the different exchange modes was measured over the range of +20 to -40 mV. The voltage dependence (approximately 26% change/25 mV) was found to be similar for all modes of operation of the exchanger except Nao/Nai exchange, which was found to be voltage insensitive. The sensitivity of the Cao/Cai exchange to voltage was found to be the same in the presence and in the complete absence of monovalent cations. This finding does not support the proposition that the voltage sensitivity of the Cao/Cao exchange is induced by the binding and transport of an external monovalent cation.

Spectral studies on the structure and monovalent cation binding to poly(1,3-propylene phosphate) ? a synthetic analogue of natural teichoic acids

A poly(1,3-propylene phosphate), (PPP), which can be considered as a synthetic analogue of naturally occurring teichoic acids, has been studied with infrared spectroscopy. Infrared spectra of PPP in acidic and alkali metal forms have been analyzed in detail and the conclusions concerning intermolecular interactions between phosphate diester groups and the monovalent cation binding to PPP of a different degree of polymerization (n) have been drawn out. It has been shown that in anhydrous PPP, acidic groups are extensively hydrogen bonded. The process of association of phosphate diester groups is rather complex, especially in the samples of lowern. The role of H-bonds in some solution properties of high-molecular PPP samples has been discussed.

Role of cysteine residues in tryptophanase for monovalent cation-induced activation

We cloned and sequenced the tryptophanase structural gene of Escherichia coli B/1t7-A strain. The results indicate that tryptophanase proteins of E. coli B/1t7-A and K-12 are identical. When cysteine residues in tryptophanase were chemically modified with 5,5′-dithio bis (2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), the stabilizing effect of the active cations such as K + and NH 4 + was abolished. In consideration of our previous results that Cys-298 was selectively modified by SH reagents [Honda T. et al. (1986) J. Chromatogr. 371, 353–360], Cys-298 seems to have a close relation to the expression of the effect of monovalent cations. Fluorescence decay measurement of the holoenzyme revealed that the fluorescence lifetime derived from the coenzyme, pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP), was dependent on coexisting monovalent cations, whereas that of the tryptophyl residue was not, in either the apo- or the holoenzyme preparation. The results of the synchrotrom small-angle X-ray scattering measurements showed that radii of gyration which reflect the size and shape of the enzyme were constant at around 38 Å irrespective of the presence or absence of the K + ion. These results suggest that the monovalent cations interact specifically with the PLP-binding site, and that the conformational change of enzyme protein caused by the monovalent-cation binding is limited to a small range. The above results are compatible with the possibility that Cys-298 is involved in the formation of “monovalent cation binding site” in the holoenzyme.

Thermodynamic parameters for the binding of divalent cations to gramicidin A incorporated into a lipid environment by Tl-205 nuclear magnetic resonance

Thermodynamic parameters, enthalpy and entropy, for the binding of the divalent cations, Mg+2, Ca+2, Sr+2, Ba+2, and Cd+2, to gramicidin A, incorporated into lysophosphatidylcholine, have been determined using a combination of Tl-205 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and competition binding. The binding process is thermodynamically driven by the enthalpy and not the entropy. The enthalpy values are related to the process involving the transfer of cations from an aqueous environment to an amide environment. A comparison is made between the thermodynamic parameters for the binding of monovalent and divalent cations to gramicidin A to illustrate the channel blocking ability of the divalent cations with respect to monovalent cation transport.

Amine cations promote concurrent conversion of prohistidine decarboxylase from Lactobacillus 30a to active enzyme and a modified proenzyme.

Activation of prohistidine decarboxylase (pi 6) from Lactobacillus 30a proceeds by an intramolecular, pH- and monovalent cation-dependent reaction in which its constituent pi chains are cleaved nonhydrolytically between Ser-81 and Ser-82 with loss of NH3 and conversion of Ser-82 to the pyruvoyl residue of active histidine decarboxylase (alpha beta)6. Amines with pKa values more than 7.0 substitute for K+ or NH4+ in the activation of prohistidine decarboxylase, but they also catalyze its inactivation in a competing reaction, pi 6----pi'6. Sequence analysis of the appropriate tryptic peptide from amine-inactivated prohistidine decarboxylase established that inactivation results from conversion of Ser-82 of the pi chain to an aminoacrylate residue. The inactivated proenzyme (pi'6) does not form histidine decarboxylase; this fact eliminates one of two postulated mechanisms of activation and, thus, favors activation by beta-elimination of the acyl group of an intermediate ester formed between Ser-81 and Ser-82. L-Histidine is bound by the proenzyme (Kd = 1.7 x 10(-4) M) and is an effective activator; one binding site is present per pi subunit. K+, NH4+, and Na+ competitively inhibit (Ki values = 2.8-4.4 x 10(-3) M) activation by histidine. The data suggest the presence of two classes of monovalent cation binding sites on prohistidine decarboxylase: one (near Ser-82) is readily saturable and one is unsaturable even by 2.4 M K+.

TI-205 nuclear magnetic resonance determination of the thermodynamic parameters for the binding of monovalent cations to gramicidins A and C

Thermodynamic parameters for the binding of the monovalent cations, Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+, NH4+, TI+, and Ag+, to gramicidin A and for the binding of TI+ to gramicidin C, incorporated into lysophosphatidylcholine, have been determined using a combination of TI-205 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and competition binding. The thermodynamic parameters, enthalpy and entropy, are discussed in terms of a process involving the transfer of cations from an aqueous to amide environment.

Binding of monovalent cations induces large changes in the secondary structure of Na +,K +-ATPase as probed by Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectra of active Na +,K +-ATPase from pig kidney in media containing Na + (E 1), K + (E 2) or without exogenous ions (E 1 conformation) were recorded in order to calculate the changes in the enzyme's secondary structure induced by binding of monovalent cations. It is demonstrated that: (i) K + binding to the E 1 form of the enzyme leads to conversion of ~ ̊ 100 peptide groups from the β-structure to α-helical conformation; (ii) the transition is reversible and fully reproducible in the E 1→E 2→E 1 and E 2→E 1→E 2 experimental schemes. Predictional calculations revealed polypeptide chain segments involved in the α ↔ β transformations. These segments reside mainly in the two highly conserved regions of the α-subunit in the cytoplasmic domain of Na +,K +-ATPase. A possible role for the β-subunit is discussed.

Topographical relationships among the monovalent cation binding sites of bovine plasma-activated protein C and des(1–41)-light-chain-activated bovine plasma protein C and a nitroxide spin label bound to their active site serine residues

The paramagnetic effect of a spin-labeled sulfonyl fluoride, 4-(2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-1-oxyl)-p-fluorosulfonylbenzamide (p-V), when bound to the active site serine residue of the proteases, bovine plasma-activated protein C (APC) and des(1–41)-light-chain-activated protein C (GDAPC), on the longitudinal relaxation rate (T1) of Tl+ bound to these same proteins has been examined by 205Tl+-NMR spectroscopy. The substantial shortening by bound p-V of the T1 for Tl+ has been employed to estimate the distances between Tl+ and the unpaired electron on each protein surface. Assuming that a single cation-binding site exists on each enzyme, electron-nuclear distances of 3.4–3.9 A have been calculated for each protein. This suggests that the removal of 41 amino acid residues and, concomitantly, all γ-carboxyglutamic acid, from the amino-terminal of the light chain of APC, does not significantly affect the protein topography in the region of the molecule probed by this technique.

Topographical relationships between the monovalent and divalent cation binding sites of des-1-41-light chain bovine plasma protein C and des-1-41-light chain-activated bovine plasma protein C.

The paramagnetic effect of Mn2+ on the longitudinal relaxation rate (T1)-1 of 205Tl+, when both cations are bound to des-1-41-light chain bovine plasma protein C (GDPC) and its activation product, des-1-41-light chain-activated bovine plasma protein C (GDAPC), has been assessed by 205Tl+ NMR spectroscopy. A substantial shortening of the T1 for Tl+ bound to either protein was observed in the presence of Mn2+, an effect not noted upon substitution of Mn2+ with the diamagnetic cation Ca2+, which is known to bind to these proteins in a similar fashion to Mn2+. This paramagnetic effect was employed to estimate distances between the monovalent and divalent cation sites in these proteins, approximately 6.7 +/- 0.2 A with GDPC and 8.3 +/- 0.2 A in GDAPC. These data suggest that a conformational alteration occurs upon activation of GDPC which leads to an increase in the distance between the monovalent and divalent cation sites.

205Tl+ as a spectroscopic probe of the monovalent cation binding sites of bovine plasma activated protein C and des-1-41-light-chain-activated protein C.

The kinetic properties of the stimulation by Tl+ of the amidase activity of bovine plasma activated protein C (APC) and a limited-proteolytic derivative of this enzyme, des-1-41-light chain APC (GDAPC), which has no remaining gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues, have been compared, along with a 205Tl+ NMR analysis of the interaction of this cation with these enzymes, at 6 degrees C. In contrast to other monovalent cations, the productive kinetic complex of Tl+ and APC involves only a single Tl+ site, or class of sites, and is similar to GDAPC in this regard. In the case of each enzyme, the kinetic mechanism that best describes the participation of Tl+ is a rapid equilibrium type with random addition of the cation and substrate to the enzyme. The dissociation constants of the Tl+ X APC and Tl+ X GDAPC complexes have been determined by NMR analysis and have been found to be very similar to the same constants as calculated by kinetic means. These cation sites are also present intact on each zymogen, demonstrating that they are not generated as a result of activation. Our results also show that the Ca2+ binding sites of these proteins are exclusive of the T1+ site and that some interference with Tl+ binding is exercised by an active site-directed affinity label. We conclude that Tl+ can be effectively employed as a spectroscopic probe of the monovalent cation sites that serve an extensive stimulatory role in the amidolytic and esterolytic activities of APC.

Calcium ion as a probe of the monovalent cation center of sodium, potassium ATPase.

Sodium and potassium ion-transport adenosine triphosphatase from dog kidney was incubated with 0.4-2 mM Ca2+ at 23 degrees C for more than 2 min in the absence of monovalent inorganic cations, cooled to 0 degrees C, and phosphorylated from 1 mM Pi with 2.4 mM MgCl2. The resultant phosphoenzyme resembled that obtained by incubating the enzyme with K+ in place of Ca2+ in six respects. It was concluded that Ca2+ can occupy the monovalent cation-binding center for K+. The rate constant for release of Ca2+ from the dephosphoenzyme at 0 degrees C was 0.17 s-1. The rate of release from the phosphoenzyme was at least 7-fold slower. Phosphorylation stabilized the binding of Ca2+ to the enzyme in contrast to its destabilization of the corresponding K X enzyme complex. K-sensitive phosphoenzyme did not respond to free Ca2+. Thus Ca2+ was not easily accepted by nor released from the phosphoenzyme and would not be an effective substrate for transport. A selective barrier against Ca2+ between the monovalent cation binding center and the extracellular solution is proposed. Release of calcium from the dephosphoenzyme yielded a conformation that was not phosphorylated from Pi. The enzyme changed the conformation of its center for phosphorylation before or at the same time that it changed the conformation of its center for ion transport.

Ion binding to a membrane with surface charge layers

A model for the potential distribution across a charged biological membrane proposed previously by us [Biophys. J., 47 (1985) 673] is extended to a case which includes the effects of binding of monovalent cations. We assume that the membrane has a surface charge layer of thickness d which is permeable to electrolyte ions and in which the membrane-fixed charged groups are distributed at a uniform density N. We also assume that each charged group can bind one monovalent cation with an equilibrium constant K. In the limit of d → 0, keeping the product Nd constant, our model gives the most commonly used model in which ion binding is considered to occur only at the membrane surface (of zero thickness). It is shown that the amount of bound cations as well as the potential distribution are found to depend strongly on d. For example, in 0.1 M 1-1 electrolyte with K = 0.8 M −1, the reduction in magnitude of the surface potential at the outer surface of the surface charge layer of 10 Å thickness is about 40 ∼ 60% of that for the membrane having the surface charge layer of zero thickness, and the deviation of the amount of bound cations for the membrane of d = 10 Å from that predicted for d = 0 is 30–40%, indicating that the conventional model assuming d = 0 leads to a serious overestimation of the surface potential as well as the amount of bound cations onto the membrane.

Interaction of valinomycin and monovalent cations with the (Ca2+,Mg2+)-ATPase of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum.

The interactions of monovalent cations and of the K+-specific ionophore, valinomycin, with the Ca2+-ATPase of skeletal muscle of sarcoplasmic reticulum have been studied in the absence of cation gradients by their effects on enzyme turnover and on the ATP plus Ca2+-dependent enhanced fluorescence of the ATP analogue, 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrocyclohexyldienylidine)-adenosine 5'-triphosphate (TNP-ATP) (Watanabe, T., and Inesi, G. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 11510-11516). Monovalent cations decreased turnover-dependent TNP-ATP fluorescence in the series K+ greater than Rb+ approximately equal to Cs+ greater than Na+ greater than Li+ (K0.5 = 49, 73, 75, 94, and 246 mM, respectively), consistent with the known specificity of the monovalent cation binding site that stimulates turnover and E-P hydrolysis. Valinomycin (200 nmol/mg), in the absence of monovalent cations, decreased ATPase activity by 30% and abolished the stimulatory effects of 150 mM KCl or NaCl on turnover. The ionophore alone enhanced TNP-ATP fluorescence by 20% and altered the specificity and affinity of the site that inhibited TNP-ATP fluorescence to Cs+ greater than Rb+ greater than K+ approximately equal to Na+ greater than Li+ (K0.5 = 79, 111, 134, 136, and 270 mM, respectively), which follows the Hofmeister series for effectiveness of monovalent lyotropic cations. TNP-ATP binding was not affected by either monovalent cations or valinomycin. Inhibition of turnover-dependent TNP-ATP fluorescence appears to be a useful parameter for monitoring monovalent cation binding to the Ca2+-ATPase. It is concluded that the ionophore interacts directly with the Ca2+-ATPase, independent of its K+ conductance effects on the lipid bilayer, and modifies the affinity and specificity of the monovalent cation site, either by direct interaction or by the formation of a valinomycin-monovalent cation-enzyme complex.

Cation binding effects on the pH, thermal and urea denaturation transitions in alpha-lactalbumin.

The binding of monovalent (Na+, K+) and divalent (Ca2+, Mg2+) cations to bovine alpha-lactalbumin at 20 and 37 degrees C has been studied by means of intrinsic protein fluorescence. The values of apparent binding constants for these ions obtained at 37 degrees C are about one order of magnitude lower than those measured at 20 degrees C. Urea and alkali (pH greater than 10) induce unfolding transitions which involve stable partially unfolded intermediates for all metal ion-bound forms of alpha-lactalbumin. Heating induces similar partially unfolded states. Nevertheless, the partially unfolded states induced by heating, urea, alkaline or acidic treatments are somewhat different in their tryptophan residue environment properties. The results have been interpreted in terms of a simple scheme of equilibria between metal-free and metal-bound forms in their native, partially unfolded and unfolded states. The scheme provides an approach to the quantitative interpretation of any transition equilibrium shift induced by a low molecular mass species able to be bound by a protein.

Divalent cation-induced surface tension increase in acidic phospholipid membranes: Ion binding and membrane fusion

Chelation binding of divalent cations to phospholipid membranes may cause deformation in the headgroup regions of these lipid molecules. This deformation may be responsible for the observed large increase in surface tension of acidic phospholipid membranes induced by divalent cations. On the other hand, simple binding of monovalent cations without being followed by such a deformation of membrane molecules, does not result in a large surface tension increase in the membrane. A theoretical explanation for the above situation is given and the divalent cation-induced acidic phospholipid membrane fusion as well as other lipid membrane fusions are discussed in terms of the increased surface energy of membranes.

Binding of monovalent cations to phosphatidylserine and modulation of Ca 2+- and Mg 2+-induced vesicle fusion

The effect of several monovalent cations on the Ca 2+-induced aggregation and fusion of sonicated phosphatidylserine (PS) vesicles is studied by monitoring the mixing of internal compartments of the fusing vesicles using the Tb/dipicolinic acid assay. The dissociation of the fluorescent Tb-dipicolinate complex which accompanies Ca 2+-induced vesicle fusion is determined directly and is due to leakage of contents and entry of medium into vesicles. PS vesicles do not fuse when the medium contains only monovalent cations (at pH 7.4), regardless of the cation concentration or whether there is aggregation of the vesicles. A mass-action kinetic analysis of the data provides estimates for the rate of aggregation, C 11 , and for the rate of fusion per se, f 11 . Values of f 11 increase dramatically with reduction in monovalent cation concentration and are primarily determined by binding ratios of Ca 2+ or Mg 2+ per PS. With 300 mM of monovalent cations, the fusion per se is essentially rate-limiting to the overall fusion process and values of f 11 are significantly larger with the monovalent cations which bind the least, i.e., according to the sequence tetramethylammonium > K + > Na + > Li + . With monovalent cations in concentrations of 100 mM or less, the aggregation is rate-limiting to the fusion and the overall initial fusion rates are determined by an interplay between aggregation and fusion rates. Under conditions of fast aggregation, the Ca 2+-induced fusion of small PS vesicles can occur within milliseconds or less.

Location of monovalent cation binding sites in the gramicidin channel.

Six syntheses of gramicidin A have been carried out, each with 90% 13 C enrichment of a single carbonyl carbon these being the formyl, Val-1, Trp-9, Trp-11, Trp-13, and Trp-15 carbonyl carbons. Each gramicidin A was incorporated as the channel state into phospholipid structures, and the chemical shift of the carbonyl carbon resonance was monitored by 13C NMR as a function of ion concentration. Plots of Na+- and Tl+-induced chemical shifts as a function of carbonyl location in the channel indicate two symmetrically related binding sites centered at the tryptophan carbonyls and separated by 23 A. The absence of ion-induced chemical shifts for the formyl and Val-1 carbonyl carbon resonances indicates that there is no binding site midway through the channel but rather a central free-energy barrier for ion transit through the channel. Ion induced chemical shifts of the tryptophan carbonyl carbon resonances at 100 mM Na+ verify that the tight binding constant (Kbt congruent to 70 M-1), observed with 23Na NMR, results from binding within the channel. This observation and the lateral, triangular distribution of the coordinating Trp-9, -11, and -13 carbonyls combine to provide an experimental demonstration that the carbonyls of the walls of the channel directly coordinate the ion, successfully competing with the polar solvent. With the binding sites verified and localized, it is possible to conclude that the transport mechanism for Na+ is well represented by the case of the two-site model [D. W. Urry, Venkatachalam, C. M., Spisni, A., Läuger, P. & Khaled, M. A. (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77, 2028--2032].

Binding of Monovalent Cations to Na+,K+-Dependent ATPase Purified from Porcine Kidney

We measured the amounts of Rb+ ions (a K+ congener) as well as Na+ and K+ ions bound to the ATPase during the ATPase reaction at pH 7.5 and 0 degrees C. The affinity of the Na+-binding sites for three Na+ ions decreased markedly but that of the K+-binding sites for two K+ or Rb+ ions increased markedly upon formation of an ADP-insensitive phosphorylated intermediate. Furthermore, the present experiment did not give any indication of a change in the Hill coefficient of 2, and showed an increase in the affinity of the K+-binding sites for Rb+ ions of about 28 times upon the formation of an ADP-insensitive EP. The enzyme state with a high affinity for Rb+ was maintained after the disappearance of EP. When the ATPase was treated with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), almost all the EP formed was ADP-sensitive. The formation of an ADP-sensitive EP with the NEM-treated enzyme induced no change in the affinities of the ATPase for Na+ and Rb+ ions.