The separate profile structures of the functional calcium pump protein and the phospholipid bilayer within isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes determined by X-ray and neutron diffraction

Carlos Gutiérrez-Merino: Synergy of Theory and Experimentation in Biological Membrane Research

Professor Carlos Gutiérrez-Merino, a prominent scientist working in the complex realm of biological membranes, has made significant theoretical and experimental contributions to the field. Contemporaneous with the development of the fluid-mosaic model of Singer and Nicolson, the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) approach has become an invaluable tool for studying molecular interactions in membranes, providing structural insights on a scale of 1-10 nm and remaining important alongside evolving perspectives on membrane structures. In the last few decades, Gutiérrez-Merino's work has covered multiple facets in the field of FRET, with his contributions producing significant advances in quantitative membrane biology. His more recent experimental work expanded the ground concepts of FRET to high-resolution cell imaging. Commencing in the late 1980s, a series of collaborations between Gutiérrez-Merino and the authors involved research visits and joint investigations focused on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and its relation to membrane lipids, fostering a lasting friendship.

The in vivo structure of biological membranes and evidence for lipid domains

Examining the fundamental structure and processes of living cells at the nanoscale poses a unique analytical challenge, as cells are dynamic, chemically diverse, and fragile. A case in point is the cell membrane, which is too small to be seen directly with optical microscopy and provides little observational contrast for other methods. As a consequence, nanoscale characterization of the membrane has been performed ex vivo or in the presence of exogenous labels used to enhance contrast and impart specificity. Here, we introduce an isotopic labeling strategy in the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis to investigate the nanoscale structure and organization of its plasma membrane in vivo. Through genetic and chemical manipulation of the organism, we labeled the cell and its membrane independently with specific amounts of hydrogen (H) and deuterium (D). These isotopes have different neutron scattering properties without altering the chemical composition of the cells. From neutron scattering spectra, we confirmed that the B. subtilis cell membrane is lamellar and determined that its average hydrophobic thickness is 24.3 ± 0.9 Ångstroms (Å). Furthermore, by creating neutron contrast within the plane of the membrane using a mixture of H- and D-fatty acids, we detected lateral features smaller than 40 nm that are consistent with the notion of lipid rafts. These experiments-performed under biologically relevant conditions-answer long-standing questions in membrane biology and illustrate a fundamentally new approach for systematic in vivo investigations of cell membrane structure.

Alterations in membrane caveolae and BKCa channel activity in skin fibroblasts in Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome

The Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is an inherited disorder of cholesterol synthesis caused by mutations in DHCR7 which encodes the final enzyme in the cholesterol synthesis pathway. The immediate precursor to cholesterol synthesis, 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) accumulates in the plasma and cells of SLOS patients which has led to the idea that the accumulation of abnormal sterols and/or reduction in cholesterol underlies the phenotypic abnormalities of SLOS. We tested the hypothesis that 7-DHC accumulates in membrane caveolae where it disturbs caveolar bilayer structure-function. Membrane caveolae from skin fibroblasts obtained from SLOS patients were isolated and found to accumulate 7-DHC. In caveolar-like model membranes containing 7-DHC, subtle, but complex alterations in intermolecular packing, lipid order and membrane width were observed. In addition, the BK(Ca) K(+) channel, which co-migrates with caveolin-1 in a membrane fraction enriched with cholesterol, was impaired in SLOS cells as reflected by reduced single channel conductance and a 50 mV rightward shift in the channel activation voltage. In addition, a marked decrease in BK(Ca) protein but not mRNA expression levels was seen suggesting post-translational alterations. Accompanying these changes was a reduction in caveolin-1 protein and mRNA levels, but membrane caveolar structure was not altered. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that 7-DHC accumulation in the caveolar membrane results in defective caveolar signaling. However, additional cellular alterations beyond mere changes associated with abnormal sterols in the membrane likely contribute to the pathogenesis of SLOS.

The sarcoplasmic Ca2+-ATPase: design of a perfect chemi-osmotic pump

The sarcoplasmic (SERCA 1a) Ca2+-ATPase is a membrane protein abundantly present in skeletal muscles where it functions as an indispensable component of the excitation-contraction coupling, being at the expense of ATP hydrolysis involved in Ca2+/H+ exchange with a high thermodynamic efficiency across the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane. The transporter serves as a prototype of a whole family of cation transporters, the P-type ATPases, which in addition to Ca2+ transporting proteins count Na+, K+-ATPase and H+, K+-, proton- and heavy metal transporting ATPases as prominent members. The ability in recent years to produce and analyze at atomic (2·3-3 Å) resolution 3D-crystals of Ca2+-transport intermediates of SERCA 1a has meant a breakthrough in our understanding of the structural aspects of the transport mechanism. We describe here the detailed construction of the ATPase in terms of one membraneous and three cytosolic domains held together by a central core that mediates coupling between Ca2+-transport and ATP hydrolysis. During turnover, the pump is present in two different conformational states, E1 and E2, with a preference for the binding of Ca2+ and H+, respectively. We discuss how phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated forms of these conformational states with cytosolic, occluded or luminally exposed cation-binding sites are able to convert the chemical energy derived from ATP hydrolysis into an electrochemical gradient of Ca2+ across the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane. In conjunction with these basic reactions which serve as a structural framework for the transport function of other P-type ATPases as well, we also review the role of the lipid phase and the regulatory and thermodynamic aspects of the transport mechanism.

What can be learned about the function of a single protein from its various X-ray structures: the example of the sarcoplasmic calcium pump

Improvements in the handling of membrane proteins for crystallization, combined with better synchrotron sources for X-ray diffraction analysis, are leading to clarification of the structural details of an ever increasing number of membrane transporters and receptors. Here we describe how this development has resulted in the elucidation at atomic resolution of a large number of structures of the sarcoplasmic Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA1a) present in skeletal muscle. The structures corresponding to the various intermediary states have been obtained after stabilization with structural analogues of ATP and of metal fluorides as mimicks of inorganic phosphate. From these results it is possible, in accordance with previous biochemical and molecular biology data, to give a detailed structural description of both ATP hydrolysis and Ca(2+) transport through the membrane, to serve as the starting point for a fuller understanding of the pump mechanism and, in future studies, on the regulatory role of this ubiquitous intracellular Ca(2+)-ATPase in cellular Ca(2+) metabolism in normal and pathological conditions.

Regulation of the gating of BKCa channel by lipid bilayer thickness

Transmembrane segments of ion channels tend to match the hydrophobic thickness of lipid bilayers to minimize mismatch energy and to maintain their proper organization and function. To probe how ion channels respond to mismatch with lipid bilayers of different thicknesses, we examined the single channel activities of BK(Ca) (hSlo alpha-subunit) channels in planar bilayers of binary mixtures of DOPE (1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine) with phosphatidylcholines (PCs) of varying chain lengths, including PC 14:1, PC 18:1, PC 22:1, PC 24:1, and with porcine brain sphingomyelin. Bilayer thickness and structure was measured with small angle x-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. The open probability (P(o)) of the BK(Ca) channel was finely tuned by bilayer thickness, first decreasing with increases in bilayer thickness from PC 14:1 to PC 22:1 and then increasing from PC 22:1 to PC 24:1 and to porcine brain sphingomyelin. Single channel kinetic analyses revealed that the mean open time of the channel increased monotonically with bilayer thickness and, therefore, could not account for the biphasic changes in P(o). The mean closed time increased with bilayer thickness from PC 14:1 up to PC 22:1 and then decreased with further increases in bilayer thickness to PC 24:1 and sphingomyelin, correlating with changes in P(o). This is consistent with the proposition that bilayer thickness affects channel activity mainly through altering the stability of the closed state. We suggest a simple mechanical model that combines forces of lateral stress within the lipid bilayer with local hydrophobic mismatch between lipids and the protein to account for the biphasic modulation of BK(Ca) gating.

Antioxidant activity of the monoamine oxidase B inhibitor lazabemide

Free radical-induced damage to lipid and protein constituents of neuronal membranes contributes to the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). The development of an effective inhibitor of oxidative stress represents an important goal for the treatment of AD. In this study, the intrinsic antioxidant activity of lazabemide, a potent and reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), was tested in a membrane-based model of oxidative stress. Under physiologic-like conditions, lazabemide inhibited lipid peroxidation in a highly concentration-dependent manner. At low, pharmacologic levels of lazabemide (100.0 nM), there was a significant (P < 0.001) and catalytic reduction in lipid peroxide formation, as compared with control samples. The antioxidant activity of lazabemide was significantly more effective than that of either vitamin E or the MAO-B inhibitor, selegiline. The ability of lazabemide to inhibit oxidative damage is attributed to physico-chemical interactions with the membrane lipid bilayer, as determined by small angle x-ray diffraction methods. By partitioning into the membrane hydrocarbon core, lazabemide can inhibit the propagation of free radicals by electron-donating and resonance-stabilization mechanisms. These findings indicate that lazabemide is a potent and concentration-dependent inhibitor of membrane oxy-radical damage as a result of inhibiting membrane lipid peroxidation, independent of MAO-B interactions.

pH and ligand binding modulate the strength of protein-protein interactions in the Ca(2+)-ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes

The Ca(2+)-ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes couples the Ca(2+) transport to ATP hydrolysis through phosphorylation in its cytoplasmic catalytic domain. Interactions between protein domains and the role of monomer-monomer interactions remain unclear. Here, we report a differential scanning calorimetric study of the thermal unfolding of this protein. In the pH range 6-8, thermal unfolding of the Ca(2+)-ATPase in glycogen phosphorylase-free SR membranes shows a major endothermic peak with a critical temperature midpoint ranging between 51 and 55 degrees C, depending on pH, Ca(2+), Mg(2+)-ADP and KCl concentrations. The enthalpy change of the overall unfolding process ranged between 250 and 300 kcal/mol of Ca(2+)-ATPase monomer. Thermal denaturation of the Ca(2+)-ATPase in SR membranes is well fitted to an irreversible process that can be rationalized in terms of a non-two state process, N (native)right harpoon over left harpoon I (intermediate)-->D (denatured). Thermodynamic analysis show that this protein has a compact structure, implying a tight structural interconnection between catalytic and Ca(2+) transport domains. The apparent cooperative unit, defined by the van 't Hoff enthalpy to the overall unfolding enthalpy ratio, increased from 1.1 at pH 6 to 1.8 at pH 8, showing that monomer-monomer interactions are stronger at weakly basic pH than at weakly acidic pH. While micromolar Ca(2+) concentrations had only a weak effect on the cooperativity of the unfolding process, this is clearly increased by millimolar Mg(2+)-ADP. In addition, high ionic strength lowered the apparent cooperative unit to approximately 1.0 in the pH range 6-8. Taken together, these results suggest that protein-protein interactions are altered by variables that modulate the catalytic activity of this enzyme.

Distribution and fluidizing action of soluble and aggregated amyloid beta-peptide in rat synaptic plasma membranes

The effects of soluble and aggregated amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta) on cortical synaptic plasma membrane (SPM) structure were examined using small angle x-ray diffraction and fluorescence spectroscopy approaches. Electron density profiles generated from the x-ray diffraction data demonstrated that soluble and aggregated Abeta1-40 peptides associated with distinct regions of the SPM. The width of the SPM samples, including surface hydration, was 84 A at 10 degrees C. Following addition of soluble Abeta1-40, there was a broad increase in electron density in the SPM hydrocarbon core +/-0-15 A from the membrane center, and a reduction in hydrocarbon core width by 6 A. By contrast, aggregated Abeta1-40 contributed electron density to the phospholipid headgroup/hydrated surface of the SPM +/-24-37 A from the membrane center, concomitant with an increase in molecular volume in the hydrocarbon core. The SPM interactions observed for Abeta1-40 were reproduced in a brain lipid membrane system. In contrast to Abeta1-40, aggregated Abeta1-42 intercalated into the lipid bilayer hydrocarbon core +/-0-12 A from the membrane center. Fluorescence experiments showed that both soluble and aggregated Abeta1-40 significantly increased SPM bulk and protein annular fluidity. Physico-chemical interactions of Abeta with the neuronal membrane may contribute to mechanisms of neurotoxicity, independent of specific receptor binding.

Antioxidant and cytoprotective activities of the calcium channel blocker mibefradil

Mibefradil is a new calcium channel antagonist (CCA) that acts on both L- and T-type channels, with 10-fold selectivity for T-type channels. In this study, the structural interactions of mibefradil with cardiac membrane lipid bilayers were directly examined with small-angle x-ray diffraction approaches and correlated with lipid peroxidation and bovine aortic endothelial cell viability assays. Electron density profiles (A vs electrons/A3) calculated from the diffraction data (37 degrees C) demonstrated that mibefradil had an equilibrium location in the hydrocarbon core/headgroup region of the cardiac bilayer, 12-27 A from the center of the membrane. Mibefradil also effected a pronounced reduction in electron density 0-11 A from the center of the cardiac membrane concomitant with a 7.5% (3 A) decrease in membrane hydrocarbon core thickness; these changes in membrane structure were not observed with the phenylalkylamine verapamil, a CCA with some structural similarity to mibefradil. As a result of membrane physico-chemical interactions, mibefradil inhibited (10-500 nM) lipid peroxide formation in liposomes enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids. In aortic endothelial cells, mibefradil also inhibited loss of cell viability (IC50 of 2 microM) following acute oxy-radical generation by dihydroxyfumarate and Fe-ADP; the order of potency was mibefradil > verapamil > diltiazem. These findings indicate that the chemical structure of mibefradil contributes to biophysical interactions with the cell membrane that underlie antioxidant and cytoprotective activities in models of oxidative stress.

Vectorially oriented monolayers of detergent-solubilized Ca(2+) -ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum

A method for tethering proteins to solid surfaces has been utilized to form vectorially oriented monolayers of the detergent-solubilized integral membrane protein Ca(2+) -ATPase from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Bifunctional, organic self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) possessing "headgroup" binding specificity for the substrate and "endgroup" binding specificity for the enzyme were utilized to tether the enzyme to the substrate. Specifically, an amine-terminated 11-siloxyundecaneamine SAM was found to bind the Ca(2+)-ATPase primarily electrostatically. The Ca(2+)-ATPase was labeled with the fluorescent probe 5-(2-[(iodoacetyl)amino]ethyl)aminonaphthalene-1-sulfonic acid before monolayer formation. Consequently, fluorescence measurements performed on amine-terminated SAM/enzyme monolayers formed on quartz substrates served to establish the nature of protein binding. Formation of the monolayers on inorganic multilayer substrates fabricated by molecular beam epitaxy made it possible to use x-ray interferometry to determine the profile structure for the system, which was proved correct by x-ray holography. The profile structures established the vectorial orientation of the Ca(2+)-ATPase within these monolayers, to a spatial resolution of approximately 12 A. Such vectorially oriented monolayers of detergent-solubilized Ca(2+)-ATPase from SR make possible a wide variety of correlative structure/function studies, which would serve to elucidate the mechanism of Ca(2+) transport by this enzyme.

Lamellar stacking in three-dimensional crystals of Ca(2+)-ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum

Electron microscopy of multilamellar crystals of CA(2+)-ATPase currently offers the best opportunity for obtaining a high-resolution structure of this ATP-driven ion pump. Under certain conditions small, wormlike crystals are formed and provide views parallel to the lamellar plane, from which parameters of lamellar stacking can be directly measured. Assuming that molecular packing is the same, data from these views could supplement those obtained by tilting large, thin platelike crystals. However, we were surprised to discover that the lamellar spacing was variable and depended on the amount of glycerol present during crystallization (20% versus 5%). Projection maps (h,0,l) from these womklike crystals suggest different molecular contacts that give rise to the different lamellar spacings. Based on an orthogonal projection map (h,k,0) from collapsed, wormlike crystals and on x-ray powder patterns, we conclude that molecular packing within the lamellar plane is the same as that in thin, platelike crystals and is unaffected by glycerol. Finally, the orientation of molecules in the lamellar plane was characterized from freeze-dried, shadowed crystals. Comparing the profile of molecules in these multilamellar crystals with that previously observed in helical tubes induced by vanadate gives structural evidence of the conformational change that accompanies binding of calcium of Ca(2+)-ATPase.

Differential membrane interactions of calcium channel blockers. Implications for antioxidant activity

Lipid peroxidation causes cellular damage during aging and various diseases, including atherosclerosis. Chronic administration of highly lipophilic calcium channel blockers (CCB) may reduce lipid peroxidation as a result of concentration in cell membranes and altering physico-chemical properties of the lipid bilayer. In the study, small angle X-ray scattering was used to examine reconstituted cardiac membrane lipid bilayers in the presence of CCB with various antioxidant activities, including nisoldipine, nifedipine, and diltiazem. Analysis of one-dimensional electron density profiles demonstrated that these compounds have different molecular distributions relative to the center of the membrane: diltiazem (+/- 14-22 A), nifedipine (+/- 12-22 A), and nisoldipine (+/- 7-22 A). The overall hydrocarbon core width for control samples was 44 A and was unaffected by the addition of drugs at these concentrations (< 1% by mass). High resolution differential scanning calorimetry indicated that CCB markedly perturbed the thermotropic properties of liposomes, including thermal phase transition temperature and enthalpy, relative to control samples. The effects of these compounds on membrane thermotropic properties correlate with their reported antioxidant activities. These data support the hypothesis that calcium channel blockers have potent physico-chemical interactions with the membrane lipid bilayer, which may underlie their antioxidant activity.

Adsorption of ruthenium red to phospholipid membranes

We have measured the distribution of the hexavalent ruthenium red cation (RuR) between water and phospholipid membranes, have shown the critical importance of membrane negative surface charge for RuR binding, and determined the association constant of RuR for different phospholipid bilayers. The studies were performed with liposomes made of mixtures of zwitterionic L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine (PC), and one of the negatively charged phospholipids: L-alpha-phosphatidylserine (PS), L-alpha-phosphatidylinositol (PI), or L-alpha-phosphatidylglycerol (PG). Lipid composition of PC:PX membranes was 1:0, 19:1, 9:1, and 4:1. Liposomes were processed using freeze-and-thaw treatment, and their size distribution was characterized by light scattering and electron microscopy. Experimental distribution isotherms of RuR obtained by ultracentrifugation and spectrophotometry can be reproduced with the Langmuir-Stern-Grahame model, assuming that RuR behaves in the diffuse double layer as an ion with effective valency < 6. In terms of this model, PC-PS, PC-PI, and PC-PG membranes were found to be electrostatically equivalent and the intrinsic association constants of RuR were obtained. RuR has highest affinity to PS-containing membranes; its association constant for PC-PI and PC-PG membranes is about 5 times smaller than that for PC-PS membranes. From the comparison of RuR binding to mixed negatively charged phospholipid membranes and RuR binding to sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), we conclude that the low-affinity RuR binding sites may indeed be associated with the lipid bilayer of SR.

Preparation and analysis of large, flat crystals of Ca(2+)-ATPase for electron crystallography

Obtaining large, flat, well ordered crystals represents the key to structure determination by electron crystallography. Multilamellar crystals of Ca(2+)-ATPase are a good candidate for this methodology, and we have optimized methods of crystallization and of preparation for cryoelectron microscopy. In particular, high concentrations of glycerol were found to prevent nucleation and to reduce stacking; thus, by seeding solutions containing 40% glycerol, we obtained thin crystals that were 5-30 microns in diameter and 2-10 unit cells thick. We found that removing vesicles and minimizing concentrations of divalent cations were critical to preparing flat crystals in the frozen-hydrated state. Finally, we developed two methods for determining the number of lamellae composing individual crystals, information that is required for structure determination of this crystal form. The first method, using low magnification images of freeze-dried crystals, is more practical in our case. Nevertheless, the alternative method, involving analysis of Laue zones from electron diffraction patterns of slightly tilted crystals, may be of general use in structure determination from thin, three-dimensional crystals.

Structure, transmembrane topology and helix packing of P-type ion pumps

Electron microscopy has recently provided improved structures for P-type ion pumps. In the case of Ca(2+)-ATPase, the use of unstained specimens revealed the structure of the transmembrane domain. The composition of this domain has been controversial due to the variety of methods used to study the number and exact locations of transmembrane crossings within the sequence. After reviewing the results from several members of the family, we found a consensus for 10 transmembrane segments, and also that 10 helices fitted well into the structure of Ca(2+)-ATPase. Thus, we present the most detailed model for transmembrane structure so far, in the hope of stimulating more precise experimental strategies.

Intracellular signaling through long-range linked functions in the Ca2+ transport ATPase

The Ca2+ transport ATPases of intracellular membranes exhibit an intracellular long-range functional linkage which is the basic mechanistic device for Ca2+ transport through ATP utilization. The functional linkage operates between a phosphorylation (catalytic) domain located in the extramembranous region, and a Ca2+ binding domain located in the membrane bound region of the enzyme. The two domains are separated by a distance of approximately 50 A, and are both affected by binding of a single molecule of the highly specific inhibitor, thapsigargin, to the enzyme. Functional and structural features are here described to explain the long-range linkage through the protein structure.

Changes in the relative occupancy of metal-binding sites in the profile structure of the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane induced by phosphorylation of the Ca2+ATPase enzyme in the presence of terbium: a time-resolved, resonance x-ray diffraction study

Time-resolved, terbium resonance x-ray diffraction experiments have provided the locations of three different high-affinity metal-binding/transport sites on the Ca2+ATPase enzyme in the profile structure of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membrane. By considering these results in conjunction with the known, moderate-resolution profile structure of the SR membrane (derived from nonresonance x-ray and neutron diffraction studies), it was determined that the three metal-binding sites are located at the "headpiece/stalk" junction in the Ca2+ATPase profile structure, in the "transbilayer" portion of the enzyme profile near the center of the membrane phospholipid bilayer, and at the intravesicular surface of the membrane profile. All three metal-binding sites so identified are simultaneously occupied in the unphosphorylated enzyme conformation. Phosphorylation of the ATPase causes a redistribution of metal density among the sites, resulting in a net movement of metal density toward the intravesicular side of the membrane, i.e., in the direction of calcium active transport. We propose that this redistribution of metal density is caused by changes in the relative binding affinities of the three sites, mediated by local structural changes at the sites resulting from the large-scale (i.e., long-range) changes in the profile structure of the Ca2+ATPase induced by phosphorylation, as reported in an accompanying paper. The implications of these results for the mechanism of calcium active transport by the SR Ca2+ATPase are discussed briefly.

Changes in the profile structure of the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane induced by phosphorylation of the Ca2+ ATPase enzyme in the presence of terbium: a time-resolved x-ray diffraction study

The design of the time-resolved x-ray diffraction experiments reported in this and an accompanying paper was based on direct measurements of enzyme phosphorylation using [gamma-32P]ATP that were employed to determine the extent to which the lanthanides La3+ and Tb3+ activate phosphorylation of the Ca2+ATPase and their effect on the kinetics of phosphoenzyme formation and decay. We found that, under the conditions of our experiments, the two lanthanides are capable of activating phosphorylation of the ATPase, resulting in substantial levels of phosphoenzyme formation and they slow the formation and dramatically extend the lifetime of the phosphorylated enzyme conformation, as compared with calcium activation. The results from the time-resolved, nonresonance x-ray diffraction work reported in this paper are consistent with the enzyme phosphorylation experiments; they indicate that the changes in the profile structure of the SR membrane induced by terbium-activated phosphorylation of the ATPase enzyme are persistent over the much longer lifetime of the phosphorylated enzyme and are qualitatively similar to the changes induced by calcium-activated phosphorylation, but smaller in magnitude. These results made possible the time-resolved, resonance x-ray diffraction studies reported in an accompanying paper utilizing the resonance x-ray scattering from terbium, replacing calcium, to determine not only the location of high-affinity metal-binding sites in the SR membrane profile, but also the redistribution of metal density among those sites upon phosphorylation of the Ca2+ATPase protein, as facilitated by the greatly extended lifetime of the phosphoenzyme.

Intramolecular distances within the Ca(2+)-ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum as estimated through fluorescence energy transfer between probes

Fluorescence energy transfer measurements have been carried out to estimate intramolecular distances between probes bound to Ca(2+)-transporting ATPase (Ca(2+)-ATPase) as well as distances between these probes and the phospholipid headgroup. The nucleotide binding site was monitored by using 1,N6-ethenoadenosine 5'-triphosphate, a fluorescent analogue of ATP, and also by labelling Lys515 with fluorescein 5'-isothiocyanate. Three different cysteine residues were individually labelled using the following probes: 5-[(2-iodoacetyl)aminoethyl]amino-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid (I-AEDANS), 7-chloro-4-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-Cl) and fluorescent maleimides. The surface of the membrane was labelled by reconstitution with fluorescent phospholipids (fluorescein and rhodamine derivatives). We found a distance of 4.1 nm from the nucleotide binding site to NBD (at Cys344), and the same distance to fluorescent maleimides (at Cys364). The AEDANS label (at Cys670,672) was found separated 3.5 nm from NBD, 4.4 nm from fluorescent maleimides, and 3.9 nm from the lipid matrix. The NBD label was 3.2 nm apart from fluorescent maleimides and 2.2 nm from the lipid matrix. Finally, fluorescent maleimides were found to be located 4.2 nm above the membrane surface. All these distances agree with a molecular model in which NBD is located in the stalk portion of the Ca(2+)-ATPase, near the surface of the membrane, and the rest of the probes are above it, in the globular domain of the protein.

Effect of Ca2+ binding on the profile structure of the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane using time-resolved x-ray diffraction

A number of studies have indicated that Ca(2+)-ATPase, the integral membrane protein of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membrane, undergoes some structural change upon Ca2+ binding to its high affinity binding sites (i.e., upon conversion of the E1 to the CaxE1 form of the enzyme). We have used x-ray diffraction to study the changes in the electron density profile of the SR membrane upon high-affinity Ca2+ binding to the enzyme in the absence of enzyme phosphorylation. The photolabile Ca2+ chelator DM-nitrophen was used to rapidly release Ca2+ into the extravesicular spaces throughout an oriented SR membrane multilayer and thereby synchronously in the vicinity of the high affinity binding sites of each enzyme molecule in the multilayer. A critical control was developed to exclude possible artifacts arising from heating and non-Ca2+ photolysis products in the membrane multilayer specimens upon photolysis of the DM-nitrophen. Upon photolysis, changes in the membrane electron density profile arising from high-affinity Ca2+ binding to the enzyme are found to be localized to three different regions within the profile. These changes can be attributed to the added electron density of the Ca2+ bound at three discrete sites centered at 5, approximately 30, and approximately 67 A in the membrane profile, but they also require decreased electron density within the cylindrically averaged profile structure of the Ca(2+)-ATPase immediately adjacent (< 15 A) to these sites. The locations of these three Ca2+ binding sites in the SR membrane profile span most of the membrane profile in the absence of enzyme phosphorylation,in agreement with the locations of lanthanide (Tb3+ and La3+) binding sites in the membrane profile determined independently by using resonance x-ray diffraction.

Three-dimensional cryo-electron microscopy of the calcium ion pump in the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane

The ATP-driven calcium pump (Ca(2+)-ATPase) is an integral membrane protein (M(r) 110K) which relaxes striated muscle by pumping calcium out of the cytoplasm into the sarcoplasmic reticulum against a large concentration gradient. Recent efforts have attempted to relate the sequence of Ca(2+)-ATPase to its structure and function. In particular, site-directed mutagenesis has identified critical amino-acid residues, and its predicted secondary structure, which includes ten transmembrane helices, has gained experimental support. But direct visualization of the molecule has so far been limited to the cytoplasmic domains at low resolution. We present here the three-dimensional structure of Ca(2+)-ATPase in the native sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane at 14 A resolution, determined by cryo-electron microscopy and helical image analysis. The structure shows an unexpected transmembrane organization, consisting of three distinct segments, one of which is highly inclined. These features can be related to earlier predictions of secondary structure.

Structural features of cation transport ATPases

Several cation transport ATPases, sharing the common feature of a phosphorylated intermediate in the process of ATP utilization, are compared with respect to their subunit composition and amino acid sequence. The main component of these enzymes is a polypeptide chain of MW slightly exceeding 100,000, comprising an extramembranous globular head which is connected through a stalk to a membrane-bound region. With reference to the Ca2+ ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum, it is proposed that the catalytic (ATP binding and phosphorylation) domain resides in the extramembranous globular head, while cation binding occurs in the membrane region. Therefore, these two functional domains are separated by a distance of approximately 50 A. Alignment of amino acid sequences reveals extensive homology in the isoforms of the same ATPases, but relatively little homology in different cation ATPases. On the other hand, all cation ATPases considered in this analysis retain a consensus sequence of high homology, spanning the distance between the phosphorylation site and the preceding transmembrane helix. It is proposed that this sequence provides long-range functional linkage between catalytic and cation-binding domains. Thereby, translocation of bound cation occurs through a channel formed by transmembrane helices linked to the phosphorylation site. Additional sequences at the carboxyl terminal provide regulatory domains in certain ATPases.

Bilayer structure and physical dynamics of the cytochrome b5 dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine interaction

Cytochrome b5 is a microsomal membrane protein which provides reducing potential to delta 5-, delta 6-, and delta 9-fatty acid desaturases through its interaction with cytochrome b5 reductase. Low angle x-ray diffraction has been used to determine the structure of an asymmetrically reconstituted cytochrome b5:DMPC model membrane system. Differential scanning calorimetry and fluorescence anisotropy studies were performed to examine the bilayer physical dynamics of this reconstituted system. These latter studies allow us to constrain structural models to those which are consistent with physical dynamics data. Additionally, because the nonpolar peptide secondary structure remains unclear, we tested the sensitivity of our model to different nonpolar peptide domain configurations. In this modeling approach, the nonpolar peptide moiety was arranged in the membrane to meet such chemically determined criteria as protease susceptibility of carboxyl- and amino-termini, tyrosine availability for pH titration and tryptophan 109 location, et cetera. In these studies, we have obtained a reconstituted cytochrome b5:DMPC bilayer structure at approximately 6.3 A resolution and conclude that the nonpolar peptide does not penetrate beyond the bilayer midplane. Structural correlations with calorimetry, fluorescence anisotropy and acyl chain packing data suggest that asymmetric cytochrome b5 incorporation into the bilayer increases acyl chain order. Additionally, we suggest that the heme peptide:bilayer interaction facilitates a discreet heme peptide orientation which would be dependent upon phospholipid headgroup composition.

Structure of a fluid dioleoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer determined by joint refinement of x-ray and neutron diffraction data. III. Complete structure

We present in this paper the complete structure of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) in the L alpha phase (66% RH, 23 degrees C) obtained by the joint refinement of neutron and x-ray lamellar diffraction data. The structural details obtained have previously required a large number of neutron diffraction experiments, using numerous specifically-deuterated phospholipid isomorphs (Büldt et al., 1978. Nature (Lond.). 271:182-184). The joint-refinement approach minimizes specific deuteration by utilizing independent neutron and x-ray data sets. The method yields a quasimolecular structure consisting of a series of multiatomic fragments that are each represented by one or several Gaussian distributions whose positions and widths can be determined to within 0.06 to 0.52 A exclusive of the methylene region. The image of DOPC at 66% RH (5.36 +/- 0.08 waters per lipid) is consistent with many aspects of bilayer structure previously determined by structural and spectroscopic studies. The most striking feature of the structure is the large amount of transbilayer thermal motion suggested by the widths and overlaps of the Gaussian envelopes of the quasimolecular fragments. We discuss the "dynamic bilayer thickness" which describes the minimum effective thickness of the hydrocarbon permeability barrier in terms of the thermal motion of the water. A gradient of thermal motion exists that increases in either direction away from the glycerol backbone which is the most constrained portion of the bilayer. The steric interactions between headgroups of apposed bilayers, expected at the hydration level of our experiments, are clearly revealed. A useful consequence of the quasimolecular structure is that average boundaries within bilayers calculated using composition and volumetric data and ad hoc assumptions can be related to the positions of the principal structural groups. Several measures of "bilayer thickness" in common use can be identified as the positions of the cholines for Luzzati's d1 (Luzzati and Husson. 1962. J. Cell Biol. 12:207-219) and the glycerols for Small's dL (Small. 1967. J. Lipid Res. 8:551-556). We do not know if these relations will be true at other hydrations or for other lipids. Of particular interest is the fact that the position of the carbonyl groups marks the average hydrocarbon/headgroup boundary. It must be emphasized, however, that this region of the bilayer must be generally characterized as one of tumultuous chemical heterogeneity because of the thermal motion of the bilayer.

Effects of melittin on molecular dynamics and Ca-ATPase activity in sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes: time-resolved optical anisotropy

We have studied the effect of melittin, a basic membrane-binding peptide, on Ca-ATPase activity and on protein and lipid dynamics in skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), using time-resolved phosphorescence and fluorescence spectroscopy. Melittin completely inhibits Ca-ATPase activity, with half-maximal inhibition at 9 +/- 1 mol of melittin bound to the membrane per mole of ATPase (0.1 mol of melittin per mole of lipid). The time-resolved phosphorescence anisotropy (TPA) decay of the Ca-ATPase labeled with erythrosin isothiocyanate (ERITC) shows that melittin restricts microsecond protein rotational motion. At 25 degrees C in the absence of melittin, the TPA is characterized by three decay components, corresponding to a rapid segmental motion (correlation time phi 1 = 2-3 microseconds), the uniaxial rotation of monomers or dimers (phi 2 = 16-22 microseconds), and the uniaxial rotation of larger oligomers (phi 3 = 90-140 microseconds). The effect of melittin is primarily to decrease the fraction of the more mobile monomer/dimer species (A2) while increasing the fractions of the larger oligomer (A3) and very large aggregates (A infinity). Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy of the lipid-soluble probe diphenylhexatriene (DPH) shows only a slight increase in the lipid hydrocarbon chain effective order parameter, corresponding to an increase in lipid viscosity that is too small to account for the large decrease in protein mobility or inhibition of Ca-ATPase activity. Thus the inhibitory effect of melittin correlates with its capacity to aggregate the Ca-ATPase and is consistent with previously reported inhibition of this enzyme under conditions that increase protein-protein interactions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Unsaturated aminophospholipids are preferentially retained by the fast skeletal muscle CaATPase during detergent solubilization. Evidence for a specific association between aminophospholipids and the calcium pump protein

When fast twitch skeletal muscle vesicles (SR) and purified calcium pump protein are stripped with the nonionic detergent C12E8 (octaethylene glycol dodecyl ether), not all the membrane phospholipids are removed from the calcium pump protein. Maximal extraction produces a remnant of 6-8 mol of phospholipid/mole of calcium ATPase (CaATPase). In contrast to native SR and the prestripped purified CaATPase, the remaining phospholipid is markedly enriched in phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylserine (PS) in both preparations; the remaining lipid is also enriched in phospholipid that is predominantly unsaturated. In addition, virtually all of the associated PE is plasmalogenic (96% as opposed to 63% in the native SR). The amino-specific cross-linking reagent DFDNB (1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid) and the amino binding reagent TNBS (2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid) were utilized to identify the monolayer of the native preparation where these phospholipids reside, and to determine which phospholipids are closely associated with the calcium pump protein following detergent treatment. These studies demonstrate that PE and PS are closely associated with the pump protein, PE residing almost exclusively in the outer monolayer of SR, while PS resides in the inner monolayer. Nonspecific phospholipid exchange protein was shown to be capable of exchanging phospholipids from donor vesicles into those phospholipids associated with the CaATPase; stripping of lipid-exchanged vesicles with C12E8 exhibited the same specificity with regard to head-group species (i.e., PE is markedly enriched in the extracted protein associated fraction). The results suggest that specific protein-lipid interactions exist, favoring the association of plasmalogenic aminophospholipids with the calcium pump protein.

Location of high-affinity metal binding sites in the profile structure of the Ca+2-ATPase in the sarcoplasmic reticulum by resonance x-ray diffraction

Resonance x-ray diffraction measurements on the lamellar diffraction from oriented multilayers of isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes containing a small concentration of lanthanide (III) ions (lanthanide/protein molar ratio approximately 4) have allowed us to calculate both the electron density profile of the SR membrane and the separate electron density profile of the resonant lanthanide atoms bound to the membrane to a relatively low spatial resolution of approximately 40 A. Analysis of the membrane electron density profile and modeling of the separate low resolution lanthanide atom profile, using step-function electron density models based on the assumption that metal binding sites in the membrane profile are discrete and localized, resulted in the identification of a minimum of three such binding sites in the membrane profile. Two of these sites are low-affinity, low-occupancy sites identified with the two phospholipid polar headgroup regions of the lipid bilayer within the membrane profile. Up to 20% of the total lanthanide (III) ions bind to these low-affinity sites. The third site has relatively high affinity for lanthanide ion binding; its Ka is roughly an order of magnitude larger than that for the lower affinity polar headgroup sites. Approximately 80% of the total lanthanide ions present in the sample are bound to this high-affinity site, which is located in the "stalk" portion of the "headpiece" within the profile structure of the Ca+2 ATPase protein, approximately 12 A outside of the phospholipid polar headgroups on the extravesicular side of the membrane profile. Based on the nature of our results and on previous reports in the literature concerning the ability of lanthanide (III) ions to function as Ca+2 analogues for the Ca+2 ATPase we suggest that we have located a high-affinity metal binding site in the membrane profile which is involved in the active transport of Ca+2 ions across the SR membrane by the Ca+2 ATPase.

Fluid bilayer structure determination by the combined use of x-ray and neutron diffraction. II. "Composition-space" refinement method

This is the second of two papers describing a method for the joint refinement of the structure of fluid bilayers using x-ray and neutron diffraction data. We showed in the first paper (Wiener, M. C., and S. H. White. 1990. Biophys. J. 59:162-173) that fluid bilayers generally consist of a nearly perfect lattice of thermally disordered unit cells and that the canonical resolution d/hmax is a measure of the widths of quasimolecular components represented by simple Gaussian functions. The thermal disorder makes possible a "composition space" representation in which the quasimolecular Gaussian distributions describe the number or probability of occupancy per unit length across the width of the bilayer of each component. This representation permits the joint refinement of neutron and x-ray lamellar diffraction data by means of a single quasimolecular structure that is fit simultaneously to both diffraction data sets. Scaling of each component by the appropriate neutron or x-ray scattering length maps the composition space profile to the appropriate scattering length space for comparison to experimental data. Other extensive properties, such as mass, can also be obtained by an appropriate scaling of the refined composition space structure. Based upon simple bilayer models involving crystal and liquid crystal structural information, we estimate that a fluid bilayer with hmax observed diffraction orders will be accurately represented by a structure with approximately hmax quasimolecular components. Strategies for assignment of quasimolecular components are demonstrated through detailed parsing of a phospholipid molecule based upon the one-dimensional projection of the crystal structure of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine. Finally, we discuss in detail the number of experimental variables required for the composition space joint refinement. We find fluid bilayer structures to be marginally determined by the experimental data. The analysis of errors, which takes on particular importance under these circumstances, is also discussed.

Distances between functional sites of the Ca2+ + Mg2(+)-ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum using Co2+ as a spectroscopic ruler

Cobalt ion inhibits the Ca2+ + Mg2(+)-ATPase activity of sealed sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles, of solubilized membranes and of the purified enzyme. To use Co2+ appropriately as a spectroscopic ruler to map functional sites of the Ca2+ + Mg2(+)-ATPase, we have carried out studies to obtain the kinetic parameters needed to define the experimental conditions to conduct the fluorimetric studies. 1. The apparent K0.5 values of inhibition of this ATPase are 1.4 mM, 4.8 mM and 9.5 mM total Co2+ at pH 8.0, 7.0 and 6.0, respectively. The inhibition by Co2+ is likely to be due to free Co2+ binding to the enzyme. Millimolar Ca2+ can fully reverse this inhibition, and also reverses the quenching of the fluorescence of fluorescein-labeled sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes due to Co2+ binding to the Ca2+ + Mg2(+)-ATPase. Therefore, we conclude that Co2+ interacts with Ca2+ binding sites. 2. Co2+.ATP can be used as a substrate by this enzyme with Vmax of 2.4 +/- 0.2 mumol ATP hydrolyzed min-1 (mg protein)-1 at 20-22 degrees C and pH 8.0, and with a K0.5 of 0.4-0.5 mM. 3. Co2+ partially quenches, about 10 +/- 2%, the fluorescence of fluorescein-labeled sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ + Mg2(+)-ATPase upon binding to this enzyme at pH 8.0. From the fluorescence data we have estimated an average distance between Co2+ and fluorescein in the ATPase of 1.1-1.8 nm or 1.3-2.1 nm for one or two equidistant Co2+ binding sites, respectively. 4. Co2+.ATP quenches about 20-25% of the fluorescence of fluorescein-labeled Ca2+ + Mg2(+)-ATPase, from which we obtain a distance of 1.1-1.9 nm between Co2+ and fluorescein located at neighbouring catalytic sites.

Large-scale structural changes in the sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase appear essential for calcium transport

Model refinement calculations utilizing the results from time-resolved x-ray diffraction studies indicate that specific, large-scale changes (i.e., structural changes over a large length scale or long range) occur throughout the cylindrically averaged profile structure of the sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase upon its phosphorylation during calcium active transport. Several physical-chemical factors, all of which slow the kinetics of phosphoenzyme formation, induce specific, large-scale changes throughout the profile structure of the unphosphorylated enzyme that in general are opposite to those observed upon phosphorylation. These results suggest that such large-scale structural changes in the ATPase occurring upon its phosphorylation are required for its calcium transport function.

Effect of increasing the level of omega-3 fatty acids on rat skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum

The effect of dietary supplementation with fish oil as compared to corn oil on the lipid dynamics and calcium ATPase activity of rat skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum was examined. After four-week supplementation with fish oil, the levels of eicosapentaenoic (20:5 omega 3), docosapentaenoic (22:5 omega 3) and docosahexaenoic (22:6 omega 3) acids in the total lipids were 5.3, 5.5 and 28.1% of the total fatty acids, respectively. In contrast, with corn oil only 22:6 was found (8.9%). The level of these fatty acids in phosphatidylethanolamine from the membranes of animals fed fish oil was 4.2 (20:5), 5.4 (22:5) and 49.1% (22:6); and for phosphatidylcholine it was 5.4 (20:5), 4.6 (22:5) and 17.4% (22:6). Again, in corn oil fed animals, only 22:6 was found in appreciable amounts, namely 28.3% in phosphatidylethanolamine and 1.8% in phosphatidylcholine. The steady state fluorescence anisotropy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) was used to assess lipid order and was found to be only slightly less for membranes from animals supplemented with fish oil (0.120) as compared to those supplemented with corn oil (0.124). The calcium ATPase was found to be unaffected by supplementation consistent with the observed modest changes in lipid order as well as with suggestions that the enzyme is relatively insensitive to the level of unsaturation. It could be argued that if large increases in fatty acyl polyunsaturation in mammalian cell membranes would lead to marked alterations in bulk membrane lipid motional properties, this may not be in the interest of preserving physiological function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Structure of CaATPase: electron microscopy of frozen-hydrated crystals at 6 A resolution in projection

Thin, three-dimensional crystals of CaATPase have been studied at high resolution by electron crystallography. These crystals were grown by adding purified CaATPase to appropriate concentrations of lipid, detergent and calcium. A thin film of crystals was then rapidly frozen and maintained in the frozen-hydrated state during electron microscopy. The resulting electron diffraction patterns extend to 4.1 A resolution and images contain phase data to 6 A resolution. By combining Fourier amplitudes from electron diffraction patterns with phases from images, a density map has been calculated in projection. Comparison of this map from unstained crystals with a previously determined map from negatively stained crystals reveals distinct contributions from intramembranous and extramembranous protein domains. On the basis of this distinction and of the packing of molecules in the crystal, we have proposed a specific arrangement for the ten alpha-helices that have been suggested as spanning the bilayer.

Effect of protease digestion on the secondary structure of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2(+)-ATPase as seen by FT-i.r. spectroscopy

1. Upon controlled protein cleavage the catalytic activity of the Ca2(+)-ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum is drastically reduced concomitantly with small but significant changes in secondary structure as seen by Fourier transformed infrared (FT-i.r.) spectroscopy, although no loss of protein bound to the membrane is found. 2. FT-i.r. band fitting procedures show a reduction in the beta-sheet and turns content of the protein which is accompanied by an increase in alpha-helix and/or random structure. 3. These changes in the secondary structure of the protein appear to be well correlated to the tryptic digestion pattern and also to changes in the ATP hydrolysis rate of the Ca2(+)-ATPase. 4. It is concluded that these small changes reflect the disruption of key domains of the protein, which lie outside of the membrane matrix, leading to loss of enzymatic activity. 5. FT-i.r. spectroscopy appears to be a very useful technique to study changes in secondary structure of proteins.

Three-dimensional crystals of CaATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum. Symmetry and molecular packing

Structural studies of CaATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum have so far been restricted to low resolution due to the poor order of two-dimensional crystal forms. However, we report that three-dimensional microcrystals of detergent-solubilized CaATPase diffract to 7.2 A in x-ray powder patterns and may therefore provide an opportunity to study CaATPase structure at higher resolutions. In the present study, we have characterized the symmetry and molecular packing of negatively stained crystals by electron microscopy (em). By altering the detergent-to-lipid ratio, different sized crystals were produced, which adhere to an em grid in different orientations. Thus, we obtained micrographs of three different projections and from these determined unit cell dimensions to be 151 X 51 X 158 A and the three-dimensional space group to be C2 with an angle beta very close to 90 degrees; x-ray powder patterns of hydrated, unstained crystals yielded dimensions of 166 X 58 X 164 A. Micrographs from each of two principal projections were averaged to produce two-dimensional density maps. Based on these maps and on the previously determined low-resolution structure of CaATPase, a packing diagram for these three-dimensional crystals is presented and major intermolecular contacts are proposed.

Effects on ATPase activity of monoclonal antibodies raised against (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase from rabbit skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum and their correlation with epitope location

A total of 28 monoclonal antibodies have been raised against the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase of rabbit skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum. Epitope mapping, using protein fragments generated by proteolysis, indicates that these antibodies include examples binding to at least four distinct epitopes on the A1 and B tryptic fragments of the ATPase. Competition data also show that the 28 antibodies are directed against at least five spatially distinct regions. Altogether, nine inhibitory antibodies were produced: six of these inhibitory antibodies mapped to the same spatial region, although they appear to bind to two distinct epitopes located within the hinge region and the nucleotide-binding domains of current structural models; one antibody bound to an epitope located within the phosphorylation domain and the stalk-transmembranous region designated M4S4 by Brandl, Green, Korczak & MacLennan [(1986) Cell 44, 597-607]. Two of the inhibitory antibodies recognized assembled epitopes exclusively and could not be mapped. Binding to four of the five identified spatial regions was without effect on activity. These data show that the inhibition of catalytic activity by monoclonal antibodies is achieved only by binding to defined regions of the ATPase and they may therefore provide useful probes of structure-function relationships.

Effect of phosphorylation on scallop sarcoplasmic reticulum

Fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum prepared from the cross-striated adductor muscle of the deep sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) was phosphorylated with inorganic phosphate to the E2P (ADP-insensitive) form. Negative staining of these preparations showed that the Ca-ATPase was organized into a quasi-crystalline array, which differed from the 'dimer ribbon' structure previously reported for the membrane under relaxing conditions (Castellani & Hardwicke, J. cell. Biol. 97 (1983) 557-61; Castellani et al., J. molec. Biol. 185 (1985) 579-94). In this new form there was only a single Ca-ATPase per unit cell. Dephosphorylation of the E2P membranes and incubation with substrate or substrate analogues in the absence of Ca2+ caused the 'dimer ribbon' structure to appear. These results imply that rotation of at least half of the Ca-ATPase subunits in the scallop sarcoplasmic reticulum may occur about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the membrane on conversion from the E2P state to the state corresponding to that existing in the relaxed muscle.