Ouabain sensitivity of a chimeric alpha subunit (Torpedo/rat) of the (Na,K)ATPase expressed in Xenopus oocyte

Multiple digitalis receptors A molecular perspective

The Na,K-ATPase is the only established receptor for cardiac glycosides like digoxin or ouabain. There are now known to be three different isoforms of its principal subunit. These isoforms can differ from one another in their intrinsic affinity for cardiac glycosides. Recent work examines the molecular structure of the binding site. The relative level of expression of the isoforms in cardiac tissue is modified in several developmental, hormonal, and pathological states, contributing to alterations in the digitalis sensitivity of the tissue.

The influence of beta subunit structure on the interaction of Na+/K(+)-ATPase complexes with Na+. A chimeric beta subunit reduces the Na+ dependence of phosphoenzyme formation from ATP

High-affinity ouabain binding to Na+/K(+)-ATPase (sodium- and potassium-transport adenosine triphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.37)) requires phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of the enzyme either by ATP or by inorganic phosphate. For the native enzyme (alpha/beta 1), the ATP-dependent reaction proceeds about 4-fold more slowly in the absence of Na+ than when saturating concentrations of Na+ are present. Hybrid pumps were formed from either the alpha 1 or the alpha 3 subunit isoforms of Na+/K(+)-ATPase and a chimeric beta subunit containing the transmembrane segment of the Na+/K(+)-ATPase beta 1 isoform and the external domain of the gastric H+/K(+)-ATPase beta subunit (alpha/NH beta 1 complexes). In the absence of Na+, these complexes show a rate of ATP-dependent ouabain binding from approximately 75-100% of the rate seen in the presence of Na+ depending on buffer conditions. Nonhydrolyzable nucleotides or treatment of ATP with apyrase abolishes ouabain binding, demonstrating that ouabain binding to alpha/NH beta 1 complexes requires phosphorylation of the protein. Buffer ions inhibit ouabain binding by alpha/NH beta 1 in the absence of Na+ rather than promote ouabain binding, indicating that they are not substituting for sodium ions in the phosphorylation reaction. The pH dependence of ATP-dependent ouabain binding in the presence or absence of Na+ is similar, suggesting that protons are probably not substituting for Na+. Hybrid alpha/NH beta 1 pumps also show slightly higher apparent affinities (2-3-fold) for ATP, Na+, and ouabain; however, these are not sufficient to account for the increase in ouabain binding in the absence of Na+. In contrast to phosphoenzyme formation and ouabain binding by alpha/NH beta 1 complexes in the absence of Na+, ATPase activity, measured as release of phosphate from ATP, requires Na+. These data suggest that the transition from E1P to E2P during the catalytic cycle does not occur when the sodium binding sites are not occupied. Thus, the chimeric beta subunit reduces or eliminates the role of Na+ in phosphoenzyme formation from ATP, but Na+ binding or release by the enzyme is still required for ATP hydrolysis and release of phosphate.

Location and properties of the digitalis receptor site in Na+/K(+)-ATPase

Since 1985, several research groups have shown that a number of amino acids in the catalytic alpha-subunit of Na+/K(+)-ATPase more or less strongly modulate the affinity of a digitalis compound like ouabain to the enzyme. However, scrutiny of these findings by means of chimeric Na+/K(+)-ATPase constructs and monoclonal antibodies has recently revealed that the modulatory effect of most of these amino acids does not at all result from direct interaction with ouabain, but rather originates from long-range effects on the properties of the digitalis binding matrix. Starting from this knowledge, the present review brings together the various pieces of evidence pointing to the conclusion that the interface between two interacting alpha-subunits in the Na+/K(+)-ATPase protodimer (alpha beta)2 provides the cleft for inhibitory digitalis intercalation.

Assembly of a hybrid from the alpha subunit of Na+/K(+)-ATPase and the beta subunit of H+/K(+)-ATPase

Messenger RNA for the alpha subunit of Torpedo californica Na+/K(+)-ATPase was injected into Xenopus oocytes together with that of the beta subunit of rabbit H+/K(+)-ATPase. The Na+/K(+)-ATPase alpha subunit was assembled in the microsomal membranes with the H+/K(+)-ATPase beta subunit, and became resistant to trypsin. These results suggest that the H+/K(+)-ATPase beta subunit facilitates the stable assembly of the Na+/K(+)-ATPase alpha subunit in microsomes.

Up-regulation of sodium pump activity in Xenopus laevis oocytes by expression of heterologous beta 1 subunits of the sodium pump

Recent evidence suggests that the beta subunit of the Na+ pump is essential for the alpha subunit to express catalytic activity and for assembly of the holoenzyme in the plasma membrane. We report here that injection into Xenopus laevis oocytes of cRNAs specific for beta 1 subunit isoforms of the Na+ pump of four species (Torpedo californica, chicken, mouse and rat) causes a time-dependent increase in the number of ouabain-binding sites, both in the plasma membrane and in internal membranes. Expression of the beta 1 subunit of the Na+ pump of mouse and rat in the oocytes could be substantiated by immunoprecipitation using a polyclonal antiserum against the mouse beta 1 subunit. Scatchard analysis in permeabilized cells disclosed that the affinity for ouabain is unchanged after expression of each of the beta 1 subunits. A proportional increase in ouabain-sensitive 86Rb+ uptake indicates that the additionally expressed ouabain-binding sites on the cell surface represent functional Na+ pumps. The findings support the concept of Geering. Theulaz, Verrey, Häuptle & Rossier [(1989) Am. J. Physiol. 257, C851-C858] that beta 1 subunits expressed in oocytes associate with an excess of endogenous alpha subunits of the Na+ pump to form a hybrid enzyme. In addition, all of the beta 1 isoforms investigated in the present study were also capable of combining with the co-expressed alpha 1 subunit of the Torpedo Na+ pump to produce a functional enzyme. Injection of cRNA encoding for the Torpedo alpha 1 subunit alone had no effect on the ouabain-binding capacity of the surface and intracellular membranes of the oocyte.

Ouabain- and Ca2(+)-sensitive ATPase activity of chimeric Na- and Ca-pump molecules

Chimeric ion-pumps, consisting of the N-terminal 2/3 of the alpha 1-subunit of the ouabain-sensitive chicken Na+,K(+)-ATPase and the C-terminal 1/3 of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2(+)-ATPase, were expressed in ouabain-insensitive mouse L cells. These chimeric molecules exhibited ouabain-sensitive ATPase activity very similar to that of the wild-type chicken Na+, K(+)-ATPase. This ATPase activity could be stimulated by adding Ca2+ to the assay system. These results suggest that the sites for ouabain-inhibition are restricted to the N-terminal 2/3 of the Na-pump, and the C-terminal 1/3 of the Ca-pump interacts with Ca2+.