Mutations of the Walker B motif in the first nucleotide binding domain of multidrug resistance protein MRP1 prevent conformational maturation

Polymorphisms of the Multidrug Pump ABCG2: A Systematic Review of Their Effect on Protein Expression, Function, and Drug Pharmacokinetics

The widespread expression and polyspecificity of the multidrug ABCG2 efflux transporter make it an important determinant of the pharmacokinetics of a variety of substrate drugs. Null ABCG2 expression has been linked to the Junior blood group. Polymorphisms affecting the expression or function of ABCG2 may have clinically important roles in drug disposition and efficacy. The most well-studied single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), Q141K (421C>A), is shown to decrease ABCG2 expression and activity, resulting in increased total drug exposure and decreased resistance to various substrates. The effect of Q141K can be rationalized by inspection of the ABCG2 structure, and the effects of this SNP on protein processing may make it a target for pharmacological intervention. The V12M SNP (34G>A) appears to improve outcomes in cancer patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, but the reasons for this are yet to be established, and this residue's role in the mechanism of the protein is unexplored by current biochemical and structural approaches. Research into the less-common polymorphisms is confined to in vitro studies, with several polymorphisms shown to decrease resistance to anticancer agents such as SN-38 and mitoxantrone. In this review, we present a systematic analysis of the effects of ABCG2 polymorphisms on ABCG2 function and drug pharmacokinetics. Where possible, we use recent structural advances to present a molecular interpretation of the effects of SNPs and indicate where we need further in vitro experiments to fully resolve how SNPs impact ABCG2 function.

Multidrug-Resistance Transporter AbcA Secretes Staphylococcus aureus Cytolytic Toxins

Phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) are Staphylococcus aureus cytolytic toxins that lyse erythrocytes and neutrophils and have important functions in the S. aureus infectious process. The molecular mechanisms of PSM secretion, however, are not well understood. Here we report that knockout of the multidrug-resistance ABC transporter AbcA, which contributes to S. aureus resistance against antibiotics and chemicals, diminished the secreted amount of PSM, leading to the accumulation of PSM in the intracellular fraction. The amount of PSM in the culture supernatants of the abcA knockout mutants was restored by introduction of the wild-type abcA gene, whereas it was not completely restored by introduction of mutant abcA genes encoding AbcA mutant proteins carrying amino acid substitutions in the adenosine triphosphate binding motifs. The abcA knockout mutant exhibited attenuated virulence in a mouse systemic infection model. These findings suggest that the multidrug resistance transporter AbcA secretes PSMs and contributes to S. aureus virulence.

Differential functional rescue of Lys(513) and Lys(516) processing mutants of MRP1 (ABCC1) by chemical chaperones reveals different domain-domain interactions of the transporter

Multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) extrudes drugs as well as pharmacologically and physiologically important organic anions across the plasma membrane in an ATP-dependent manner. We previously showed that Ala substitutions of Lys(513) and Lys(516) in the cytoplasmic loop (CL5) connecting transmembrane helix 9 (TM9) to TM10 cause misfolding of MRP1, abrogating its expression at the plasma membrane in transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. Exposure of HEK cells to the chemical chaperones glycerol, DMSO, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and 4-aminobutyric acid (4-PBA) improved levels of K513A to wild-type MRP1 levels but transport activity was only fully restored by 4-PBA or DMSO treatments. Tryptic fragmentation patterns and conformation-dependent antibody immunoreactivity of the transport-deficient PEG- and glycerol-rescued K513A proteins indicated that the second nucleotide binding domain (NBD2) had adopted a more open conformation than in wild-type MRP1. This structural change was accompanied by differences in ATP binding and hydrolysis but no changes in substrate Km. In contrast to K513A, K516A levels in HEK cells were not significantly enhanced by chemical chaperones. In more permissive insect cells, however, K516A levels were comparable to wild-type MRP1. Nevertheless, organic anion transport by K516A in insect cell membranes was reduced by >80% due to reduced substrate Km. Tryptic fragmentation patterns indicated a more open conformation of the third membrane spanning domain of MRP1. Thus, despite their close proximity to one another in CL5, Lys(513) and Lys(516) participate in different interdomain interactions crucial for the proper folding and assembly of MRP1.

Mutation of Glu521 or Glu535 in cytoplasmic loop 5 causes differential misfolding in multiple domains of multidrug and organic anion transporter MRP1 (ABCC1)

The polytopic 5-domain multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1/ABCC1) extrudes a variety of drugs and organic anions across the plasma membrane. Four charged residues in the fifth cytoplasmic loop (CL5) connecting transmembrane helix 9 (TM9) to TM10 are critical for stable expression of MRP1 at the plasma membrane. Thus Ala substitution of Lys(513), Lys(516), Glu(521), and Glu(535) all cause misfolding of MRP1 and target the protein for proteasome-mediated degradation. Of four chemical chaperones tested, 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) was the most effective at restoring expression of MRP1 mutants K513A, K516A, E521A, and E535A. However, although 4-PBA treatment of K513A resulted in wild-type protein levels (and activity), the same treatment had little or no effect on the expression of K516A. On the other hand, 4-PBA treatment allowed both E521A and E535A to exit the endoplasmic reticulum and be stably expressed at the plasma membrane. However, the 4-PBA-rescued E535A mutant exhibited decreased transport activity associated with reduced substrate affinity and conformational changes in both halves of the transporter. By contrast, E521A exhibited reduced transport activity associated with alterations in the mutant interactions with ATP as well as a distinct conformational change in the COOH-proximal half of MRP1. These findings illustrate the critical and complex role of CL5 for stable expression of MRP1 at the plasma membrane and more specifically show the differential importance of Glu(521) and Glu(535) in interdomain interactions required for proper folding and assembly of MRP1 into a fully transport competent native structure.

Molecular mechanism of ATP-dependent solute transport by multidrug resistance-associated protein 1

Millions of new cancer patients are diagnosed each year and over half of these patients die from this devastating disease. Thus, cancer causes a major public health problem worldwide. Chemotherapy remains the principal mode to treat many metastatic cancers. However, occurrence of cellular multidrug resistance (MDR) prevents efficient killing of cancer cells, leading to chemotherapeutic treatment failure. Over-expression of ATP-binding cassette transporters, such as P-glycoprotein, breast cancer resistance protein and/or multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1), confers an acquired MDR due to their capabilities of transporting a broad range of chemically diverse anticancer drugs across the cell membrane barrier. In this review, the molecular mechanism of ATP-dependent solute transport by MRP1 will be addressed.

Effects of putative catalytic base mutation E211Q on ABCG2-mediated methotrexate transport

ABCG2 is a half-ATP binding cassette (ABC) drug transporter that consists of a nucleotide binding domain (NBD) followed by a transmembrane domain. This half-ABC transporter is thought to form a homodimer in the plasma membrane where it transports anticancer drugs across the biological membranes in an ATP-dependent manner. Substitution of the putative catalytic residue E211 with a nonacidic amino acid glutamine (E211Q) completely abolished its ATPase activity and ATP-dependent methotrexate transport, suggesting that ATP hydrolysis is required for the ATP-dependent solute transport. However, whether one ATP hydrolysis or two ATP hydrolyses in the homodimer of ABCG2 with the NBD.ATP.ATP.NBD sandwich structure is/are required for the ATP-dependent solute transport is not known yet. To address this question, we have made an YFP/ABCG2 fusion protein and expressed this 99 kDa fusion protein alone or along with the 70 kDa E211Q-mutated ABCG2 in BHK cells. Although membrane vesicles prepared from BHK cells expressing YFP/ABCG2 exert higher ATPase activity than that of wt ABCG2, the dATP-dependent methotrexate transport activities of these two proteins are the same. Interestingly, membrane vesicles prepared from BHK cells expressing both YFP/ABCG2 and E211Q-mutated ABCG2 (with a ratio of 1:1) form homodimers and heterodimer and exert 55% of wt ABCG2 ATPase activity that can be further enhanced by anticancer drugs, suggesting that the wt NBD in the heterodimer of YFP/ABCG2 and E211Q may be able to hydrolyze ATP. Furthermore, the membrane vesicles containing both YFP/ABCG2 and E211Q exert approximately 79% of wt ABCG2-mediated methotrexate transport activity, implying that the heterodimer harboring YFP/ABCG2 and E211Q may be able to transport the anticancer drug methotrexate across the biological membranes.

Multiple roles of charged amino acids in cytoplasmic loop 7 for expression and function of the multidrug and organic anion transporter MRP1 (ABCC1)

Multidrug resistance protein MRP1 mediates the ATP-dependent efflux of many chemotherapeutic agents and organic anions. MRP1 has two nucleotide binding sites (NBSs) and three membrane spanning domains (MSDs) containing 17 transmembrane helices linked by extracellular and cytoplasmic loops (CL). Homology models suggest that CL7 (amino acids 1141-1195) is in a position where it could participate in signaling between the MSDs and NBSs during the transport process. We have individually replaced eight charged residues in CL7 with Ala, and in some cases, an amino acid with the same charge, and then investigated the effects on MRP1 expression, transport activity, and nucleotide and substrate interactions. A triple mutant in which Glu(1169), Glu(1170), and Glu(1172) were all replaced with Ala was also examined. The properties of R1173A and E1184A were comparable with those of wild-type MRP1, whereas the remaining mutants were either poorly expressed (R1166A, D1183A) or exhibited reduced transport of one or more organic anions (E1144A, D1179A, K1181A, (1169)AAQA). Same charge mutant D1183E was also not expressed, whereas expression and activity of R1166K were similar to wild-type MRP1. The moderate substrate-selective changes in transport activity displayed by mutants E1144A, D1179A, K1181A, and (1169)AAQA were accompanied by changes in orthovanadate-induced trapping of [alpha-(32)P]azidoADP by NBS2 indicating changes in ATP hydrolysis or release of ADP. In the case of E1144A, estradiol glucuronide no longer inhibited trapping of azidoADP. Together, our results demonstrate the extreme sensitivity of CL7 to mutation, consistent with its critical and complex dual role in both the proper folding and transport activity of MRP1.

Interaction between the bound Mg.ATP and the Walker A serine residue in NBD2 of multidrug resistance-associated protein MRP1 plays a crucial role for the ATP-dependent leukotriene C4 transport

Structural analysis of human MRP1-NBD1 revealed that the Walker A S685 forms a hydrogen bond with the Walker B D792 and interacts with the Mg (2+) cofactor and the beta-phosphate of the bound Mg.ATP. We have found that substitution of the S685 with an amino acid that potentially prevents the formation of the hydrogen bond resulted in misfolding of the protein and significantly affect the ATP-dependent leukotriene C4 (LTC4) transport. In this report we tested whether the corresponding substitution in NBD2 would also result in misfolding of the protein. In contrast to the NBD1 mutations, none of the mutations in NBD2, including S1334A, S1334C, S1334D, S1334H, S1334N, and S1334T, caused misfolding of the protein. However, elimination of the hydroxyl group at S1334 in mutations including S1334A, S1334C, S1334D, S1334H, and S1334N drastically reduced the ATP binding and the ATP-enhanced ADP trapping at the mutated NBD2. Due to this low efficient ATP binding at the mutated NBD2, the inhibitory effect of ATP on the LTC4 binding is significantly decreased. Furthermore, ATP bound to the mutated NBD2 cannot be efficiently hydrolyzed, leading to almost completely abolishing the ATP-dependent LTC4 transport. In contrast, S1334T mutation, which retained the hydroxyl group at this position, exerts higher LTC4 transport activity than the wild-type MRP1, indicating that the hydroxyl group at this position plays a crucial role for ATP binding/hydrolysis and ATP-dependent solute transport.

The hydroxyl group of S685 in Walker A motif and the carboxyl group of D792 in Walker B motif of NBD1 play a crucial role for multidrug resistance protein folding and function

Structural analysis of MRP1-NBD1 revealed that the Walker A S685 forms hydrogen-bond with the Walker B D792 and interacts with magnesium and the beta-phosphate of the bound ATP. We have found that substitution of the D792 with leucine resulted in misfolding of the protein. In this report we tested whether substitution of the S685 with residues that prevent formation of this hydrogen-bond would also cause misfolding. Indeed, substitution of the S685 with residues potentially preventing formation of this hydrogen-bond resulted in misfolding of the protein. In addition, some substitutions that might form hydrogen-bond with D792 also yielded immature protein. All these mutants are temperature-sensitive variants. However, these complex-glycosylated mature mutants prepared from the cells grown at 27 degrees C still significantly affect ATP binding and ATP-dependent solute transport. In contrast, substitution of the S685 with threonine yielded complex-glycosylated mature protein that is more active than the wild-type MRP1, indicating that the interaction between the hydroxyl group of 685 residue and the carboxyl group of D792 plays a crucial role for the protein folding and the interactions of the hydroxyl group at 685 with magnesium and the beta-phosphate of the bound ATP play an important role for ATP-binding and ATP-dependent solute transport.

A molecular understanding of ATP-dependent solute transport by multidrug resistance-associated protein MRP1

Over a million new cases of cancers are diagnosed each year in the United States and over half of these patients die from these devastating diseases. Thus, cancers cause a major public health problem in the United States and worldwide. Chemotherapy remains the principal mode to treat many metastatic cancers. However, occurrence of cellular multidrug resistance (MDR) prevents efficient killing of cancer cells, leading to chemotherapeutic treatment failure. Numerous mechanisms of MDR exist in cancer cells, such as intrinsic or acquired MDR. Overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) drug transporters, such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp or ABCB1), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP or ABCG2) and/or multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1 or ABCC1), confers an acquired MDR due to their capabilities of transporting a broad range of chemically diverse anticancer drugs. In addition to their roles in MDR, there is substantial evidence suggesting that these drug transporters have functions in tissue defense. Basically, these drug transporters are expressed in tissues important for absorption, such as in lung and gut, and for metabolism and elimination, such as in liver and kidney. In addition, these drug transporters play an important role in maintaining the barrier function of many tissues including blood-brain barrier, blood-cerebral spinal fluid barrier, blood-testis barrier and the maternal-fetal barrier. Thus, these ATP-dependent drug transporters play an important role in the absorption, disposition and elimination of the structurally diverse array of the endobiotics and xenobiotics. In this review, the molecular mechanism of ATP-dependent solute transport by MRP1 will be addressed.

Transmembrane transport of endo- and xenobiotics by mammalian ATP-binding cassette multidrug resistance proteins

Multidrug Resistance Proteins (MRPs), together with the cystic fibrosis conductance regulator (CFTR/ABCC7) and the sulfonylurea receptors (SUR1/ABCC8 and SUR2/ABCC9) comprise the 13 members of the human "C" branch of the ATP binding cassette (ABC) superfamily. All C branch proteins share conserved structural features in their nucleotide binding domains (NBDs) that distinguish them from other ABC proteins. The MRPs can be further divided into two subfamilies "long" (MRP1, -2, -3, -6, and -7) and "short" (MRP4, -5, -8, -9, and -10). The short MRPs have a typical ABC transporter structure with two polytropic membrane spanning domains (MSDs) and two NBDs, while the long MRPs have an additional NH2-terminal MSD. In vitro, the MRPs can collectively confer resistance to natural product drugs and their conjugated metabolites, platinum compounds, folate antimetabolites, nucleoside and nucleotide analogs, arsenical and antimonial oxyanions, peptide-based agents, and, under certain circumstances, alkylating agents. The MRPs are also primary active transporters of other structurally diverse compounds, including glutathione, glucuronide, and sulfate conjugates of a large number of xeno- and endobiotics. In vivo, several MRPs are major contributors to the distribution and elimination of a wide range of both anticancer and non-anticancer drugs and metabolites. In this review, we describe what is known of the structure of the MRPs and the mechanisms by which they recognize and transport their diverse substrates. We also summarize knowledge of their possible physiological functions and evidence that they may be involved in the clinical drug resistance of various forms of cancer.

Replacement of the positively charged Walker A lysine residue with a hydrophobic leucine residue and conformational alterations caused by this mutation in MRP1 impair ATP binding and hydrolysis

MRP1 (multidrug resistance protein 1) couples ATP binding/hydrolysis at its two non-equivalent NBDs (nucleotide-binding domains) with solute transport. Some of the NBD1 mutants, such as W653C, decreased affinity for ATP at the mutated site, but increased the rate of ATP-dependent solute transport. In contrast, other NBD1 mutants, such as K684L, had decreased ATP binding and rate of solute transport. We now report that mutations of the Walker A lysine residue, K684L and K1333L, significantly alter the tertiary structure of the protein. Due to elimination of the positively charged group and conformational alterations, the K684L mutation greatly decreases the affinity for ATP at the mutated NBD1 and affects ATP binding at the unmutated NBD2. Although K684L-mutated NBD1 can bind ATP at higher concentrations, the bound nucleotide at that site is not efficiently hydrolysed. All these alterations result in decreased ATP-dependent solute transport to approx. 40% of the wild-type. In contrast, the K1333L mutation affects ATP binding and hydrolysis at the mutated NBD2 only, leading to decreased ATP-dependent solute transport to approx. 11% of the wild-type. Consistent with their relative transport activities, the amount of vincristine accumulated in cells is in the order of K1333L> or =CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator)>K684L>>>wild-type MRP1. Although these mutants retain partial solute transport activities, the cells expressing them are not multidrug-resistant owing to inefficient export of the anticancer drugs by these mutants. This indicates that even partial inhibition of transport activity of MRP1 can reverse the multidrug resistance caused by this drug transporter.

Insight in eukaryotic ABC transporter function by mutation analysis

With regard to structure-function relations of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters several intriguing questions are in the spotlight of active research: Why do functional ABC transporters possess two ATP binding and hydrolysis domains together with two ABC signatures and to what extent are the individual nucleotide-binding domains independent or interacting? Where is the substrate-binding site and how is ATP hydrolysis functionally coupled to the transport process itself? Although much progress has been made in the elucidation of the three-dimensional structures of ABC transporters in the last years by several crystallographic studies including novel models for the nucleotide hydrolysis and translocation catalysis, site-directed mutagenesis as well as the identification of natural mutations is still a major tool to evaluate effects of individual amino acids on the overall function of ABC transporters. Apart from alterations in characteristic sequence such as Walker A, Walker B and the ABC signature other parts of ABC proteins were subject to detailed mutagenesis studies including the substrate-binding site or the regulatory domain of CFTR. In this review, we will give a detailed overview of the mutation analysis reported for selected ABC transporters of the ABCB and ABCC subfamilies, namely HsCFTR/ABCC7, HsSUR/ABCC8,9, HsMRP1/ABCC1, HsMRP2/ABCC2, ScYCF1 and P-glycoprotein (Pgp)/MDR1/ABCB1 and their effects on the function of each protein.

Functional analysis of the human variants of breast cancer resistance protein: I206L, N590Y, and D620N

Previous studies have shown that the V12M and Q141K variants of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) can affect expression and function of the transporter. In this study, the effects of the I206L, N590Y, and D620N variants on protein expression, plasma membrane localization, and transport activity of BCRP were investigated. Wild-type BCRP and the three variants were stably expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells. Confocal microscopy analysis showed that the three variants were predominantly routed to the plasma membrane of HEK cells. The expression level of I206L in the plasma membrane was approximately 45% of that of wild-type protein, whereas the N590Y and D620N levels were increased approximately 3.6-fold and 2.4-fold, respectively, as determined by immunoblotting. All three variants transported mitoxantrone, pheophorbide a, and BODIPY FL-prazosin. After normalization for differences in BCRP expression, I206L, N590Y, and D620N exhibited approximately 2-fold, 0.3-fold, and 0.5-fold wild-type efflux activities, respectively. The variants also conferred resistance to mitoxantrone and topotecan. Mitoxantrone and topotecan resistance by I206L and N590Y was approximately 2-fold and 0.3-fold of the wild-type BCRP resistance levels, respectively. Although D620N conferred a topotecan resistance similar to that of the wild-type protein, its level of mitoxantrone resistance was decreased by 50%. After normalization to BCRP expression levels, ATPase activities of I206L were not significantly different from those of wild-type protein, whereas N590Y and D620N exhibited approximately 30% and 50% of wild-type ATPase activities, respectively. These results suggest that I206L has the lowest protein expression and the highest activity, whereas N590Y and D620N display higher expression and lower activity, relative to wild-type BCRP.

Nucleotide dissociation from NBD1 promotes solute transport by MRP1

MRP1 transports glutathione-S-conjugated solutes in an ATP-dependent manner by utilizing its two NBDs to bind and hydrolyze ATP. We have found that ATP binding to NBD1 plays a regulatory role whereas ATP hydrolysis at NBD2 plays a dominant role in ATP-dependent LTC4 transport. However, whether ATP hydrolysis at NBD1 is required for the transport was not clear. We now report that ATP hydrolysis at NBD1 may not be essential for transport, but that the dissociation of the NBD1-bound nucleotide facilitates ATP-dependent LTC4 transport. These conclusions are supported by the following results. The substitution of the putative catalytic E1455 with a non-acidic residue in NBD2 greatly decreases the ATPase activity of NBD2 and the ATP-dependent LTC4 transport, indicating that E1455 participates in ATP hydrolysis. The mutation of the corresponding D793 residue in NBD1 to a different acidic residue has little effect on ATP-dependent LTC4 transport. The replacement of D793 with a non-acidic residue, such as D793L or D793N, increases the rate of ATP-dependent LTC4 transport. Along with their higher transport activities, their Michaelis constant Kms (ATP) are also higher than that of wild-type. Coincident with their higher Kms (ATP), their Kds derived from ATP binding are also higher than that of wild-type, implying that the rate of dissociation of the bound nucleotide from the mutated NBD1 is faster than that of wild-type. Therefore, regardless of whether the bound ATP at NBD1 is hydrolyzed or not, the release of the bound nucleotide from NBD1 may bring the molecule back to its original conformation and facilitate the protein to start a new cycle of ATP-dependent solute transport.

Mutation of the aromatic amino acid interacting with adenine moiety of ATP to a polar residue alters the properties of multidrug resistance protein 1

Structural analyses of several bacterial ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters indicate that an aromatic amino acid residue in a nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) interacts with the adenine ring of the bound ATP and contributes to the ATP binding. Substitution of this aromatic residue with a polar serine residue in bacterial histidine transporter completely abolished both ATP binding and ATP-dependent histidine transport. However, substitution of the aromatic amino acid residue in the human cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator with a polar cysteine residue did not have any effect on the ATP-dependent chloride channel function of the protein. To determine whether the other eucaryotic ABC transporters use the strategy analogous to that in some bacterial ABC transporters, the aromatic Trp653 residue in NBD1 and the Tyr1302 residue in NBD2 of human multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) was mutated to either a different aromatic residue or a polar cysteine residue. Substitution of the aromatic residue with a different aromatic amino acid, such as W653Y or Y1302W, did not affect ATP-dependent leukotriene C4 (LTC4) transport. In contrast, substitution of the aromatic residue with a polar cysteine residue, such as W653C or Y1302C, decreased the affinity for ATP, resulting in greatly increased Kd values for ATP binding or Km values for ATP in ATP-dependent LTC4 transport. Interestingly, although substitution of the aromatic Trp653 in NBD1 of MRP1 with a polar cysteine residue greatly decreases the affinity for ATP, the ATP-dependent LTC4 transport activities are much higher than that of wild-type MRP1, supporting our hypothesis that the increased release rate of the bound ATP from the mutated NBD1 facilitates the protein to start a new cycle of ATP-dependent solute transport.

Mapping of the MRPm5 epitope to the cytosolic region between transmembrane helices 13 and 14 in the drug and organic anion transporter, MRP1 (ABCC1)

Multidrug resistance in human tumour cells is often associated with increased expression of the 190kDa multidrug resistance protein, MRP1, that belongs to the ATP-binding cassette superfamily of transport proteins. MRP1 is also an efficient transporter of many organic anions. In the present study, we have mapped the epitope of the MRP1-specific murine monoclonal antibody (MAb) MRPm5 to the decapeptide (1063)FFERTPSGNL(1072) located in the cytoplasmic loop (CL6) linking transmembrane helices 13 and 14 in the third membrane spanning domain of the protein. Several amino acids in the cytoplasmic loops of MRP1 have been reported to be important for its transport function; nevertheless, MAb MRPm5 does not inhibit vesicular uptake of the high affinity substrate leukotriene C(4). None of the other MRP1-reactive MAbs described to date map to CL6 of MRP1 which in turn enhances the utility of MAb MRPm5 for both clinical and experimental investigations of this transporter.

Role of carboxylate residues adjacent to the conserved core Walker B motifs in the catalytic cycle of multidrug resistance protein 1 (ABCC1)

MRP1 belongs to subfamily "C" of the ABC transporter superfamily. The nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs) of the C family members are relatively divergent compared with many ABC proteins. They also differ in their ability to bind and hydrolyze ATP. In MRP1, NBD1 binds ATP with high affinity, whereas NBD2 is hydrolytically more active. Furthermore, ATP binding and/or hydrolysis by NBD2 of MRP1, but not NBD1, is required for MRP1 to shift from a high to low affinity substrate binding state. Little is known of the structural basis for these functional differences. One minor structural difference between NBDs is the presence of Asp COOH-terminal to the conserved core Walker B motif in NBD1, rather than the more commonly found Glu present in NBD2. We show that the presence of Asp or Glu following the Walker B motif profoundly affects the ability of the NBDs to bind, hydrolyze, and release nucleotide. An Asp to Glu mutation in NBD1 enhances its hydrolytic capacity and affinity for ADP but markedly decreases transport activity. In contrast, mutations that eliminate the negative charge of the Asp side chain have little effect. The decrease in transport caused by the Asp to Glu mutation in NBD1 is associated with an inability of MRP1 to shift from high to low affinity substrate binding states. In contrast, mutation of Glu to Asp markedly increases the affinity of NBD2 for ATP while decreasing its ability to hydrolyze ATP and to release ADP. This mutation eliminates transport activity but potentiates the conversion from a high to low affinity binding state in the presence of nucleotide. These observations are discussed in the context of catalytic models proposed for MRP1 and other ABC drug transport proteins.

ATP binding to the first nucleotide binding domain of multidrug resistance-associated protein plays a regulatory role at low nucleotide concentration, whereas ATP hydrolysis at the second plays a dominant role in ATP-dependent leukotriene C4 transport

Multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1) transports solutes in an ATP dependent manner by utilizing its two nonequivalent nucleotide binding domains (NBDs) to bind and hydrolyze ATP. The two NBDs possess different properties (Gao, M., Cui, H. R., Loe, D. W., Grant, C. E., Almquist, K. C., Cole, S. P., and Deeley, R. G. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 13098-13108; Hou, Y., Cui, L., Riordan, J. R., and Chang, X. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 20280-20287) and may play different roles during solute transport. We now report that NBD1 has moderately higher affinity for ATP than NBD2. The consequence of this difference is that the overall Kd value for wild-type MRP1 is mainly determined by ATP binding at NBD1. This conclusion is supported by the following: 1) mutation of the cysteine residue at 682 to alanine (C682A) in Walker A motif in NBD1 decreases the Kd value, indicating increased affinity for ATP; 2) mutation of the alanine residue at 1331 to cysteine (A1331C) in the Walker A motif of NBD2 does not have an effect on the Kd value; and 3) photolabeling of the protein with a cysteine residue in the Walker A motif of NBD1 is much more sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide modification than the protein with a cysteine residue in the Walker A motif of NBD2. In contrast, the Km for ATP in support of LTC4 transport is mainly determined by ATP hydrolysis at NBD2. This conclusion is supported by the following: 1) although mutation of A1331C does not have an effect on the Kd value, the Km values measured from LTC4 transport by proteins with this mutation in NBD2 are much higher than the proteins with wild-type NBD2, implying that the A1331C mutation affects ATP binding/hydrolysis at NBD2; and 2) ATP-dependent LTC4 transport by the protein with a cysteine residue in the Walker A motif of NBD2 is much more sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide modification than the protein with a cysteine residue in the Walker A motif of NBD1. Our previous results indicated that ATP binding at NBD1 at low concentration enhanced ATP binding/hydrolysis at NBD2. All of these results support the notion that ATP binding at NBD1 at low concentration plays a more important regulatory role than the binding at high ATP concentration and that ATP hydrolysis at NBD2 plays a dominant role in the ATP-dependent LTC4 transport.

ATP binding, not hydrolysis, at the first nucleotide-binding domain of multidrug resistance-associated protein MRP1 enhances ADP.Vi trapping at the second domain

Multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1) transports solutes in an ATP-dependent manner by utilizing its two nonequivalent nucleotide binding domains (NBDs) to bind and hydrolyze ATP. We found that ATP binding to the first NBD of MRP1 increases binding and trapping of ADP at the second domain (Hou, Y., Cui, L., Riordan, J. R., and Chang, X. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 5110-5119). These results were interpreted as indicating that the binding of ATP at NBD1 causes a conformational change in the molecule and increases the affinity for ATP at NBD2. However, we did not distinguish between the possibilities that the enhancement of ADP trapping might be caused by either ATP binding alone or hydrolysis. We now report the following. 1) ATP has a much lesser effect at 0 degrees C than at 37 degrees C. 2) After hexokinase treatment, the nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue, adenyl 5'-(yl iminodiphosphate), does not enhance ADP trapping. 3) Another nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue, adenosine 5'-(beta,gamma-methylene)triphosphate, whether hexokinase-treated or not, causes a slight enhancement. 4) In contrast, the hexokinase-treated poorly hydrolyzable ATP analogue, adenosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) (ATPgammaS), enhances ADP trapping to a similar extent as ATP under conditions in which ATPgammaS should not be hydrolyzed. We conclude that: 1) ATP hydrolysis is not required to enhance ADP trapping by MRP1 protein; 2) with nucleotides having appropriate structure such as ATP or ATPgammaS, binding alone can enhance ADP trapping by MRP1; 3) the stimulatory effect on ADP trapping is greatly diminished when the MRP1 protein is in a "frozen state" (0 degrees C); and 4) the steric structure of the nucleotide gamma-phosphate is crucial in determining whether binding of the nucleotide to NBD1 of MRP1 protein can induce the conformational change that influences nucleotide trapping at NBD2.

ATP binding to the first nucleotide-binding domain of multidrug resistance protein MRP1 increases binding and hydrolysis of ATP and trapping of ADP at the second domain

Multidrug resistance protein (MRP1) utilizes two non-equivalent nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs) to bind and hydrolyze ATP. ATP hydrolysis by either one or both NBDs is essential to drive transport of solute. Mutations of either NBD1 or NBD2 reduce solute transport, but do not abolish it completely. How events at these two domains are coordinated during the transport cycle have not been fully elucidated. Earlier reports (Gao, M., Cui, H. R., Loe, D. W., Grant, C. E., Almquist, K. C., Cole, S. P., and Deeley, R. G. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 13098-13108; Hou, Y., Cui, L., Riordan, J. R., and Chang, X. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 20280-20287) indicate that intact ATP is observed bound at NBD1, whereas trapping of the ATP hydrolysis product, ADP, occurs predominantly at NBD2 and that trapping of ADP at NBD2 enhances ATP binding at NBD1 severalfold. This suggested transmission of a positive allosteric interaction from NBD2 to NBD1. To assess whether ATP binding at NBD1 can enhance the trapping of ADP at NBD2, photoaffinity labeling experiments with [alpha-(32)P]8-N(3)ADP were performed and revealed that when presented with this compound labeling of MRP1 occurred at both NBDs. However, upon addition of ATP, this labeling was enhanced 4-fold mainly at NBD2. Furthermore, the nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue, 5'-adenylylimidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP), bound preferentially to NBD1, but upon addition of a low concentration of 8-N(3)ATP, the binding at NBD2 increased severalfold. This suggested that the positive allosteric stimulation from NBD1 actually involves an increase in ATP binding at NBD2 and hydrolysis there leading to the trapping of ADP. Mutations of Walker A or B motifs in either NBD greatly reduced their ability to be labeled by [alpha-(32)P]8-N(3)ADP as well as by either [alpha-(32)P]- or [gamma-(32)P]8-N(3)ATP (Hou et al. (2000), see above). These mutations also strongly diminished the enhancement by ATP of [alpha-(32)P]8-N(3)ADP labeling and the transport activity of the protein. Taken together, these results demonstrate directly that events at NBD1 positively influence those at NBD2. The interactions between the two asymmetric NBDs of MRP1 protein may enhance the catalytic efficiency of the MRP1 protein and hence of its ATP-dependent transport of conjugated anions out of cells.