Eosin-5-maleimide Research Articles

Role of critical thiol groups on the matrix surface of the adenine nucleotide translocase in the mechanism of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore.

Opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) is sensitized to [Ca(2+)] by oxidative stress (diamide) and phenylarsine oxide (PAO). We have proposed that both agents cross-link two thiol groups on the adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) involved in ADP and cyclophilin-D (CyP-D) binding. Here, we demonstrate that blocking Cys(160) with 80 microM eosin 5-maleimide (EMA) or 500 microM N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) greatly decreased ADP inhibition of the MPTP. The ability of diamide, but not PAO, to block ADP inhibition of the MPTP was antagonized by treatment of mitochondria with 50 microM NEM to alkylate matrix glutathione. Binding of detergent-solubilized ANT to a PAO-affinity matrix was prevented by pre-treatment of mitochondria with diamide, EMA or PAO, but not NEM. EMA binding to the ANT in submitochondrial particles (SMPs) was prevented by pre-treatment of mitochondria with either PAO or diamide, implying that both agents modify Cys(160). Diamide and PAO pre-treatments also inhibited binding of solubilized ANT to a glutathione S-transferase-CyP-D affinity column, both effects being blocked by 100 microM EMA. Intermolecular cross-linking of adjacent ANT molecules via Cys(57) by copper phenanthroline treatment of SMPs was abolished by pre-treatment of mitochondria with diamide and PAO, but not with EMA. Our data suggest that PAO and diamide cause intramolecular cross-linking between Cys(160) and Cys(257) directly (not antagonized by 50 microM NEM) or using glutathione (antagonized by 50 microM NEM) respectively. This cross-linking stabilizes the "c" conformation of the ANT, reducing the reactivity of Cys(57), while enhancing CyP-D binding to the ANT and antagonizing ADP binding. The two effects together greatly sensitize the MPTP to [Ca(2+)].

Binding of hemoglobin to red cell membranes with eosin-5-maleimide-labeled band 3: analysis of centrifugation and fluorescence data.

We have studied the binding of hemoglobin to the red cell membrane by centrifugation and fluorescence methods. The intact red cell was labeled with eosin-5-maleimide (EM), which specifically reacts with lysine 430 of band 3. Even though this residue is not part of the cytoplasmic domain of band 3 (cdb3) associated with hemoglobin binding, fluorescence quenching was observed when hemoglobin bound to inside-out vesicles (IOVs). The use of fluorescence quenching to measure band 3 binding was quantitatively compared with the binding determined by centrifugation, which measures binding to band 3 and non-band 3 sites. For the centrifugation it was necessary to include the non-band 3 association constants determined from chymotrypsin-treated IOVs. The binding of hemoglobin to band 3 was interpreted in terms of the binding of two hemoglobin tetramers to each band 3 dimer. An anticooperative interaction associated with the conformational change produced when hemoglobin binds results in a 2.8-fold decrease in the intrinsic constant of (1.54 +/- 0.25) x 10(7) M(-1) for the binding of the second hemoglobin molecule. From the changes in lifetime produced by binding the first and second hemoglobin molecules, it was possible to show that the conformational change associated with binding the second hemoglobin molecule results in a decrease of the heme-eosin distance from 47.90 to 44.78 A. Reaction of cyanate with the alpha-amino group of hemoglobin (HbOCN) is shown to produce a very dramatic decrease in the binding of hemoglobin to both the band 3 and non-band 3 sites. The intrinsic constant for binding the first hemoglobin molecule to band 3 decreases by a factor of 29 to (5.34 +/- 0.15) x 10(5) M(-1). The anticooperative interaction is greater with the intrinsic constant decreasing by a factor of 3.8 for the binding of the second hemoglobin tetramer to band 3. In addition, the nature of the conformational change produced by binding hemoglobin is very different with the second HbOCN increasing the heme-eosin distance to 55.99 A. The utilization of eosin-5-maleimide-reacted red cell membrane to study hemoglobin binding makes it possible to directly study the binding to band 3. At the same time a sensitive probe of the conformational changes, which occur when hemoglobin binds to band 3, is provided.

Characterization of Loops of the Yeast Mitochondrial ADP/ATP Carrier Facing the Cytosol by Site-Directed Mutagenesis

To characterize structural features of the regions of the yeast type 2 ADP/ATP carrier (yAAC2) facing the cytosol, we prepared its Cys-less mutant, in which all four cysteine residues were replaced by alanine residues. The Cys-less mutant functioned like native yAAC2, showing that the cysteine residues are not essential. We then prepared cysteine mutants by substituting Ser21 in the putative N-terminal region, Ala124 and Ser222 in the first and second loops facing cytosol, respectively, and Leu312 in the C-terminal region of the Cys-less mutant for cysteine and examined the labeling of the substituted cysteine residues of the mutants with the membrane-impermeable SH reagent eosin-5-maleimide (EMA) from the cytosol. EMA labeled all the mutants, showing that all regions containing mutated residues faced the cytosolic side. The effects of transport inhibitors on EMA labeling were also examined. From the results, the location and conformation of the region around mutated residues were discussed.

Specific Labeling of the Bovine Heart Mitochondrial Phosphate Carrier with Fluorescein 5-Isothiocyanate: ROLES OF LYS185 AND PUTATIVE ADENINE NUCLEOTIDE RECOGNITION SITE IN PHOSPHATE TRANSPORT

The amine/SH-modifying fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate (FITC) specifically labeled Lys(185) in the putative membrane-spanning region of the phosphate carrier from both the cytosolic and matrix sides of bovine heart mitochondria at 0 degrees C and pH 7.2, and the labeling inhibited the phosphate transport. Nonmodifying fluorescein derivatives having similar structural features to those of ADP and ATP (Majima, E., Yamaguchi, N., Chuman, H., Shinohara, Y., Ishida, M., Goto, S., and Terada, H. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 424-432) inhibited the specific FITC labeling and phosphate transport, but the nonfluorescein phenylisothiocyanate did not inhibit FITC labeling, suggesting that there is a region recognizing the adenine nucleotides in the phosphate carrier and that this region is closely associated with the transport activity. The phosphate transport inhibitor pyridoxal 5'-phosphate inhibited the specific FITC labeling, possibly due to competitive modification of Lys(185). In addition, FITC inhibited the ADP transport and specific labeling of the ADP/ATP carrier with the fluorescein SH reagent eosin 5-maleimide. Based on these results, we discuss the structural features of the phosphate carrier in relation to its transport activity.

Cysteine residues in the d-galactose–H+ symport protein of Escherichia coli: effects of mutagenesis on transport, reaction with N-ethylmaleimide and antibiotic binding

The galactose–H+ membrane-transport protein, GalP, of Escherichia coli is similar in substrate specificity and susceptibility to cytochalasin B and forskolin, to the human GLUT1 sugar-transport protein; furthermore, they are about 30% identical in amino acid sequence. Transport activities of both GalP and GLUT1 are inhibited by the thiol-group-specific reagent, N-ethylmaleimide. GalP contains only three cysteine residues at positions 19, 374 and 389, each of which we have mutated, singly and in combination, to serine. Each single change of Cys → Ser has only a minor effect on transport activity, whereas alteration of all three simultaneously profoundly diminishes Vmax for transport. The high level of expression of the GalP protein facilitates measurements of the reactivity of each mutant with N-ethylmaleimide or eosin 5-maleimide, which conclusively demonstrate that Cys374 is the site of covalent modification by the reagents. By comparing the reactivity of Cys374 in right-side-out and inside-out vesicles it appears that Cys374 is located on the cytoplasmic face of the GalP protein. Although impaired in transport activity, the ‘Cys-free’ mutant, with all three cysteine residues mutated into serine, binds cytochalasin B and forskolin with wild-type affinities. All these results are interpreted in terms of a 12-helix model of the folding of the protein, in which the relative orientations of helix 10, containing the reactive Cys374 residue, and helix 11, containing the unreactive Cys389 residue, can now be defined.

Cysteine residues in the D-galactose-H+ symport protein of Escherichia coli: effects of mutagenesis on transport, reaction with N-ethylmaleimide and antibiotic binding.

The galactose-H(+) membrane-transport protein, GalP, of Escherichia coli is similar in substrate specificity and susceptibility to cytochalasin B and forskolin, to the human GLUT1 sugar-transport protein; furthermore, they are about 30% identical in amino acid sequence. Transport activities of both GalP and GLUT1 are inhibited by the thiol-group-specific reagent, N-ethylmaleimide. GalP contains only three cysteine residues at positions 19, 374 and 389, each of which we have mutated, singly and in combination, to serine. Each single change of Cys-->Ser has only a minor effect on transport activity, whereas alteration of all three simultaneously profoundly diminishes V(max) for transport. The high level of expression of the GalP protein facilitates measurements of the reactivity of each mutant with N-ethylmaleimide or eosin 5-maleimide, which conclusively demonstrate that Cys(374) is the site of covalent modification by the reagents. By comparing the reactivity of Cys(374) in right-side-out and inside-out vesicles it appears that Cys(374) is located on the cytoplasmic face of the GalP protein. Although impaired in transport activity, the 'Cys-free' mutant, with all three cysteine residues mutated into serine, binds cytochalasin B and forskolin with wild-type affinities. All these results are interpreted in terms of a 12-helix model of the folding of the protein, in which the relative orientations of helix 10, containing the reactive Cys(374) residue, and helix 11, containing the unreactive Cys(389) residue, can now be defined.

Possible involvement of the adenine nucleotide translocase in the activation of the permeability transition pore induced by cadmium

Low levels of cadmium induce a rapid calcium efflux in energized rat kidney mitochondria. This is accompanied by the collapse of the transmembrane gradient in a partial CSA-sensitive fashion. The binding of 109Cd 2+ to mitochondria is a saturable function; in the presence of NEM, the binding of 2.5 nmol 109Cd 2+/mg of protein suffices to induce the opening of the permeability transition pore. It was found that cadmium bound mainly to proteins of molecular weight between 30 and 50 kDa. In the presence of the monothiol reagent NEM, the label is concentrated in the 30 kDa protein. Following the addition of the reducing agent dithiothreitol, calcium is reaccumulated and the membrane potential restored. This correlates with a significant loss of label in the 30 kDa protein region. The 30 kDa protein was identified as the adenine nucleotide translocase by labelling experiments with eosin 5-maleimide and experiments of reconstitution.

Copper sensitizes the mitochondrial permeability transition to carboxytractyloside and oleate.

Addition of 5 microM copper to rat kidney mitochondria enhances the effect of carboxyatractyloside and oleate on pore opening, in a cyclosporin A-sensitive fashion. The effects of the pair copper-carboxyatractyloside were observed on matrix Ca2+ efflux, mitochondrial swelling and on the transmembrane electric gradient. The effect of Cu2+ emphasizes the importance of membrane thiol groups located, probably, in the ADP/ATP translocase (ANT), on permeability transition. It was also found that Cu2+ does not block the fluorescent label of ANT by eosin 5-maleimide, but abolishes the inhibition by CAT on the labeling. This suggests that the binding of Cu2+ to cysteine residues of ANT promotes a conformational change in the carrier, strengthening the effect of CAT and oleate on membrane leakage.

The eosin-5-maleimide binding site on human erythrocyte band 3: investigation of membrane sidedness and location of charged residues by triplet state quenching.

The triplet probe eosin-5-maleimide (EMA) is a specific inhibitor of anion transport mediated by the erythrocyte membrane protein, band 3. It was previously shown that the eosin moiety is located close to the anion binding site when EMA is covalently bound to band 3 [Pan, R.-j., and Cherry, R. J. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 4880-4888]. In the present study the electrostatic properties and membrane sidedness of the EMA binding site of band 3 were further investigated by triplet state quenching. A series of stable nitroxyl free radicals, which are characterized by different charges, and I- were used as the quenchers. Time-resolved laser spectroscopy was employed to measure the triplet lifetime of EMA. It was found that the quenching reaction between the quenchers and band 3-bound EMA follows a linear Stern-Volmer plot. The quenching rate constants (Kq) of the quenchers are in the order of NH3+-TEMPO (Kq = 6.34 x 10(6) M-1 s-1) > TEMPO-Choline+ (Kq = 2.18 x 10(6) M-1 s-1) > TEMPO (Kq = 1.13 x 10(6) M-1 s-1) > I- (Kq = 2.46 x 10(5) M-1 s-1) > pyrroline-COO- (Kq = 2.18 x 10(4) M-1 s-1). Experiments with resealed ghosts and inside-out vesicles revealed that negatively charged quenchers can only access the EMA binding site from the extracellular side of the membrane while the positively charged quenchers acted from the cytoplasmic side. The ionic strength dependence of the quenching rate constants and the effects of pH on the quenching reaction were also studied. For both TEMPO-Choline+ and I-, the Kq values decreased as the ionic strength increased, but quenching by TEMPO was independent of the ionic strength variation over the same range. It was also found that at lower pH, the I- quenching rate constant increases but the TEMPO-choline+ quenching rate constant decreases. In both cases, the dependence of quenching on pH exhibited an apparent pKa of about 6.5, which suggests the involvement of one or more histidine residues. This notion gained further support from the finding that modification of His residues of band 3 by DEPC reduced I- quenching at pH 6. On the basis of these results, it is proposed that eosin is located in the anion transport channel such that it is accessible from both sides of the membrane. Histidine residues, which have previously been proposed to lie in the anion channel, probably are located on either side of the eosin probe where they contribute to electrostatic interactions which determine the Kq values for the charged quenchers.

Spectroscopic and Kinetic Characterization of Eosin–5-Maleimide

Eosin–5-maleimide (EM) is an increasingly important and widely used probe in the study of membrane protein structure and function. Yet little is known about its spectral properties in hydrophobic and hydrophilic environments. Furthermore, EM is hydrolyzed faster than the traditionalN-ethylmaleimide. To offer a more solid foundation for the use of EM in studies of membrane protein structure and function, we have undertaken a detailed study of the absorbance and fluorescence spectra of EM, eosin–5-maleic acid, and thel-cysteine and β-mercaptoethanol adducts of EM in aqueous and hydrophobic environments; we have studied the kinetics of hydrolysis of EM in various environments, and we have investigated the reaction kinetics of EM withl-cysteine.

Comparison of human red cell lysis by hypochlorous and hypobromous acids: insights into the mechanism of lysis

Human red blood cells are lysed by the neutrophil-derived oxidant hypochlorous acid (HOCl), although the mechanism of lysis is unknown. Hypobromous acid (HOBr), a similarly reactive oxidant, lysed red cells approx. 10-fold faster than HOCl. Therefore we compared the effects of these oxidants on thiols, membrane lipids and proteins to determine which reactions are associated with lysis. There was no difference in the loss of reduced glutathione or membrane thiols with either oxidant, but HOBr reacted more readily with membrane lipids and proteins. Bromohydrin derivatives of phospholipids and cholesterol were seen at approx. one-tenth the level of oxidant than chlorohydrins were. However, these products were detected only with high concentrations of HOCl or HOBr, which caused instant haemolysis. Membrane protein modification occurred at much lower doses of oxidant and was more closely correlated with lysis. SDS/PAGE analysis showed that band 3, the anion transport protein, was lost at the lowest dose of HOBr and at the higher concentrations of HOCl. Labelling the red cells with eosin 5-maleimide, a fluorescent label for band 3, suggested possible clustering of this protein in oxidant-exposed cells. There was also irreversible cross-linking of all the major membrane proteins; this reaction occurred more readily with HOBr. The results indicate that membrane protein modification is the reaction responsible for HOCl-mediated lysis. These effects, and particularly cross-link formation, might result in clustering of band 3 and other membrane and cytoskeletal proteins to form haemolytic pores.

Binding of the fluorescein derivative eosin Y to the mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier: characterization of the adenine nucleotide binding site.

As the SH-reactive fluorescein derivative eosin-5-maleimide (EMA) specifically labels Cys159 in the second loop facing the matrix space (loop M2) of the ADP/ATP carrier in bovine heart submitochondrial particles [Majima, E., Koike, H., Hong, Y.-M., Shinohara, Y., and Terada, H. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 22181-22187], we studied the interaction of non-SH-reactive eosin Y, an analog of EMA, with the carrier under various conditions to characterize its binding. Eosin Y was found to inhibit ADP transport by binding to loop M2 in submitochondrial particles, but not in mitochondria. Its Ki for transport (0.33 microM) was found to be very similar to its Kd (0.53 microM) for specific binding to the carrier. Bound eosin Y was displaced by the transport substrates ADP and ATP, but not by untransportable GTP, suggesting that eosin Y bound to the specific binding site of ADP and ATP. The three-dimensional structure and electrostatic features of eosin Y were very similar to those of ADP, and the hydrophobic property and divalent charge of eosin Y were very important for its binding to the carrier. Based on these results, the features of the binding site of the transport substrates are considered.

Oxidative Stress, Thiol Reagents, and Membrane Potential Modulate the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition by Affecting Nucleotide Binding to the Adenine Nucleotide Translocase

Stimulation of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) in de-energized mitochondria by phenylarsine oxide (PheArs) is greater than that by diamide and t-butylhydroperoxide (TBH), yet the increase in CyP binding to the inner mitochondrial membrane (Connern, C. P. and Halestrap, A. P. (1994) Biochem. J. 302, 321-324) is less. From a range of nucleotides tested only ADP, deoxy-ADP, and ATP inhibited the MPT. ADP inhibition involved two sites with Ki values of about 1 and 25 microM which were independent of [Ca2+] and CyP binding. Carboxyatractyloside (CAT) abolished the high affinity site. Following pretreatment of mitochondria with TBH or diamide, the Ki for ADP increased to 50-100 microM, whereas pretreatment with PheArs or eosin maleimide increased the Ki to >500 microM; only one inhibitory site was observed in both cases. Eosin maleimide is known to attack Cys159 of the adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) in a CAT-sensitive manner (Majima, E., Shinohara, Y., Yamaguchi, N., Hong, Y. M., and Terada, H. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 9530-9536), and here we demonstrate CAT-sensitive binding of the ANT to a PheArs affinity column. In adenine nucleotide-depleted mitochondria, no stimulation of the MPT by uncoupler was observed in the presence or absence of thiol reagents, suggesting that membrane potential may inhibit the MPT by increasing adenine nucleotide binding through an effect on the ANT conformation. We conclude that CsA and ADP inhibit pore opening in distinct ways, CsA by displacing bound CyP and ADP by binding to the ANT. Both mechanisms act to decrease the Ca2+ sensitivity of the pore. Thiol reagents and oxidative stress may modify two thiol groups on the ANT and thus stimulate pore opening by both means.

Towards the localization of the essential arginine residues in the band 3 protein of human red blood cell membranes

The effects of 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenylglyoxal (HNPG), on the binding of eosin-5-maleimide (EMA), and diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC) to the anion transport system in the human red blood cell membrane, have been investigated. HNPG is a reversibly binding, arginine-specific, anion transport competitive inhibitor, known to act on the anion binding site. The EMA reaction site is an external facing lysine residue (Lys-430) in the 17 kDa transmembrane segment. The DEPC reaction site is an intracellular histidine (His-819) in the 35 kDa fragment. The results show that inhibition of the transport system with EMA increases in presence of HNPG to about 2.3 times. This finding suggests a positive cooperativity between the HNPG and EMA binding site and give evidence that the essential arginine is either nearby or allosterically linked to Lys-430. The inhibition of the cells with DEPC was nearly unchanged or slightly decreased in the presence of 10 mM HNPG. These results suggest that the intracellular His-residue which reacts with DEPC is not a part of the transport pathway. Our experiments with 4,4′-dinitrostilbene-2,2′-disulfonate (DNDS) have shown that its affinity to the transport system does not change after pre-treatment with phenylglyoxal (PG). We also found that the binding of [ 14C]phenylglyoxal (PG) to band 3 reduces significantly in presence of chloride. This is another evidence for the direct involvement of arginine residues in substrate binding.

Detection of Cl- binding to band 3 by double-quantum-filtered 35Cl nuclear magnetic resonance

We have applied double-quantum-filtered (DQF) NMR of 35Cl to study binding of Cl- to external sites on intact red blood cells, including the outward-facing anion transport sites of band 3, an integral membrane protein. A DQF 35Cl NMR signal was observed in cell suspensions containing 150 mM KCl, but the DQF signal can be totally eliminated by adding 500 microM 4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DNDS), an inhibitor that interferes with Cl- binding to the band 3 transport site. Therefore, it seems that only the binding of Cl- to transport sites of band 3 can give rise to a 35Cl DQF signal from red blood cell suspensions. In accordance with this concept, analysis of the single quantum free induction decay (FID) revealed that signals from buffer and DNDS-treated cells were fitted with a single exponential function, whereas the FID signals of untreated control cells were biexponential. The DQF signal remained after the cells were treated with eosin-5-maleimide (EM), a noncompetitive inhibitor of chloride exchange. This result supports previous reports that EM does not block the external chloride binding site. The band 3-dependent DQF signal is shown to be caused at least in part by nonisotropic motions of Cl- in the transport site, resulting in incompletely averaged quadrupolar couplings.

Anisotropy Decay Measurement of Segmental Dynamics of the Anion Binding Domain in Erythrocyte Band 3

Time-resolved anisotropy was utilized to detect nanosecond segmental motions of the band 3 intramembrane domain. Band 3 at lysine 430 was fluorescently labeled in ghost membranes by fluorescein or eosin maleimide treatment of intact human erythrocytes followed by hypotonic lysis. Single lifetimes for fluorescein (3.8-4.1 ns) and eosin (3.2-3.4 ns) were observed. Phase-modulation measurement of anisotropy decay indicated a segmental motion model, r(t) = exp(-t/tau 1c)[r infinity + (ro-r infinity) exp(-t/tau 2c)], defined by rotational correlation times corresponding to band 3 segmental motion (tau 1c, 30-70 ns) and rapid fluorescein motion in its binding pocket (tau 2c, 200-400 ps), and a residual anisotropy (r infinity, 0.23-0.28) describing hindered fluorescein motion. In PBS at pH 7.4, tau 1c, tau 2c, and r infinity were 44 ns, 307 ps, and 0.24, respectively, predicting a steady-state anisotropy of 0.24, in agreement with the measured value of 0.23. Factors that might influence band 3 structure/dynamics were examined. Whereas pH (range 5-10) had little effect on r(t), [NaCl] addition (0-150 mM) remarkably decreased tau 1c from 68 to 44 ns. The decrease in tau 1c correlated with solution ionic strength, and did not depend on osmolality (studied by mannitol addition), or specific anion interactions (comparing Cl, Br, F, SO4, citrate). The ionic strength effect was not observed in fluorescein-labeled carbonic anhydrase and trypsin-cleaved band 3, suggesting a specific effect on intact band 3. Anisotropy decay was relatively insensitive to external lectin or internal 2,3-DPG binding, but was sensitive to temperature, membrane fluidity, urea denaturation, fluid-phase viscosity, and aldehyde fixation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

35Cl nuclear magnetic resonance line broadening shows that eosin-5-maleimide does not block the external anion access channel of band 3

It has been suggested that Lys-430 of band 3, with which eosin-5-maleimide (EM) reacts, is located in the external channel through which anions gain access to the external transport site, and that EM inhibits anion exchange by blocking this channel. To test this, we have used 35Cl nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to measure Cl- binding to the external transport site in control and EM-treated human red blood cells. Intact cells were used rather than ghosts, because in this case all line broadening (LB) results from binding to external sites. In an NMR spectrometer with a 9.4-T magnetic field, red blood cells at 50% concentration (v/v) in 150 mM Cl- medium at 3 degrees C caused 19.0 +/- 1.2 Hz LB. Of this, 7.9 +/- 0.7 Hz was due to Cl- binding to the high affinity band 3 transport sites, because it was prevented by an apparently competitive inhibitor of anion exchange, 4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DNDS). The LB was not due to hemoglobin released from the cells, as little LB remained in the supernatant after cells were removed by centrifugation. Saturable Cl- binding remained in EM-treated cells, although the binding was no longer DNDS-sensitive, because EM prevents binding of DNDS. The lower limit for the rate at which Cl- goes from the binding site to the external medium is 2.15 x 10(5) s-1 for control cells and 1.10 x 10(5) s-1 for EM-treated cells, far higher than the Cl- translocation rate at 3 degrees C (about 400 s-1). Thus, EM does not inhibit Cl- exchange by blocking the external access channel. EM may therefore be useful for fixing band 3 in one conformation for studies of Cl- binding to the external transport site.

Mechanism of free radical-induced hemolysis of human erythrocytes: hemolysis by water-soluble radical initiator.

Hemolysis of human erythrocytes induced by free radicals initiated from water-soluble, 2,2'-azobis(amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) has been investigated. The formation of the radical detected as DMPO (5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide) adduct depended on temperature and AAPH concentration in a similar manner as hemolysis. The curve for the formation of DMPO--radical adduct, however, did not correspond directly to the hemolysis curve. The product of thiobarbituric acid-reactive materials, which reflect the extent of lipid peroxidation, could not be related directly to the hemolysis curve, too. During the hemolysis, the fluidity of the erythrocyte membrane did not change in appearance. To study whether band 3 proteins participate in the hemolysis or not, eosin-5-maleimide (EMI)-labeled ghosts were incubated in the presence of AAPH. High molecular weight band 3 was formed, and the induced circular dichrosim spectrum of the bound EMI was changed, indicating a conformational change of band 3. It was observed that ascorbic acid suppressed the hemolysis and the oxidation of band 3 dose dependently to produce an induction period. This result shows that specifically blocking band 3 oxidation inhibits the hemolysis, despite lipid peroxidation. Further, it was observed that the EMI-labeled erythrocytes revealed distinct clusters by incubation with AAPH. This means a redistribution of band 3 proteins to form hemolytic holes in the membrane. However, the time course of the conformational change of band 3 during the redistribution was not also correspondent to the hemolysis curve. These results indicate that either lipid peroxidation or redistribution of oxidized band 3 is not attributed only by itself to the hemolysis. Thus, the hemolysis was interpreted by a simple competitive reaction model between lipid peroxidation and redistribution of oxidized band 3. This model explained well the hemolysis curves.

Evidence that eosin-5-maleimide binds close to the anion transport site of human erythrocyte band 3: a fluorescence quenching study.

The interaction between eosin-5-maleimide (EMA), an inhibitor of the anion transport protein, band 3, and I-, a transportable substrate, was investigated by fluorescence quenching. The Stern-Volmer plot for the quenching reaction between EMA-labeled band 3 and I- exhibits downward curvature both in human erythrocyte ghosts and in purified band 3. The quenching reaction is insensitive to the viscosity of the bulk phase. The shape of the Stern-Volmer plot becomes more linear with increasing temperature. Following the approach of Blatt et al. [(1986) Biophys. J. 50, 349-356], we have developed a binding-diffusion model which is in good agreement with the quenching data. The model supposes that EMA is located in a compartment or "pocket" in band 3 which is separate from the bulk phase and contains a binding site or sites for the quencher. Quenching of band 3-bound EMA fluorescence by I- is inhibited by DIDS and by the transportable anions Cl-, HCO3-, and Br-. Analysis of these experiments yields dissociation constants for the anions which are in reasonable agreement with those determined from transport kinetics and by NMR. We thus deduce that the quencher binding site is the anion binding/transport site on band 3. We propose that EMA is located in the wall of the anion access channel such that it does not inhibit anion binding. The methods described in this report should facilitate detailed studies of anion binding to the transport site on band 3 under a variety of experimental conditions.

Stabilities of the fluorescent SH-reagent eosin-5-maleimide and its adducts with sulfhydryl compounds

The stabilities of the SH-reagent eosin-5-maleimide (EMA) and its adducts with the SH-compounds L-cysteine, N-acetyl- l-cysteine and glutathione (reduced form) were studied under various conditions in comparison with those of the adducts of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM). Studies by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry showed that EMA was less stable than NEM at neutral and moderately alkaline pH values. EMA formed a succinimide-type adduct with SH-compounds, and then underwent further modification by nucleophilic attack of OH − or an amino group. The succinimide-type adducts with acetylcysteine and glutathione were converted to open-type adducts, in which the succinimide ring was cleaved, whereas the adduct with cysteine was modified to a thiazine-type adduct. Kinetic analyses showed that these open-type and thiazine-type adducts were readily formed and were stable at moderately alkaline pH values such as pH 8.0 or 9.0.