ATPase activity of Chinese hamster P-glycoprotein

The molecular evolution of function in the CFTR chloride channel

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily includes many proteins of clinical relevance, with genes expressed in all domains of life. Although most members use the energy of ATP binding and hydrolysis to accomplish the active import or export of various substrates across membranes, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is the only known animal ABC transporter that functions primarily as an ion channel. Defects in CFTR, which is closely related to ABCC subfamily members that bear function as bona fide transporters, underlie the lethal genetic disease cystic fibrosis. This article seeks to integrate structural, functional, and genomic data to begin to answer the critical question of how the function of CFTR evolved to exhibit regulated channel activity. We highlight several examples wherein preexisting features in ABCC transporters were functionally leveraged as is, or altered by molecular evolution, to ultimately support channel function. This includes features that may underlie (1) construction of an anionic channel pore from an anionic substrate transport pathway, (2) establishment and tuning of phosphoregulation, and (3) optimization of channel function by specialized ligand–channel interactions. We also discuss how divergence and conservation may help elucidate the pharmacology of important CFTR modulators.

The lipid translocase, ABCA4: seeing is believing

Mutations to members of the A subfamily of ATP binding cassette (ABC) proteins are responsible for a number of diseases; typically they are associated with aberrant cellular lipid transport processes. Mutations to the ABCA4 protein are linked to a number of visual disorders including Stargardt's disease and retinitis pigmentosa. Over 500 disease-associated mutations in ABCA4 have been demonstrated; however, the genotype-phenotype link has not been firmly established. This shortfall is primarily because the function of ABCA4 in the visual cycle is not yet fully understood. One hypothesis suggests that ABCA4 mediates the trans-bilayer translocation of retinal-phosphatidylethanolamine conjugates to facilitate the retinal regeneration process in the visual cycle. This review examines the evidence to support, or refute, this working hypothesis on the function of this clinically important protein.

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.

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.

Modulator-induced interference in functional cross talk between the substrate and the ATP sites of human P-glycoprotein

The human P-glycoprotein (Pgp, ABCB1) is an ATP-dependent efflux pump for structurally unrelated hydrophobic compounds, conferring simultaneous resistance to and restricting bioavailability of several anticancer and antimicrobial agents. Drug transport by Pgp requires a coordinated communication between its substrate binding/translocating pathway (substrate site) and the nucleotide binding domains (NBDs or ATP sites). In this study, we demonstrate that certain thioxanthene-based Pgp modulators, such as cis-(Z)-flupentixol and its closely related analogues, effectively disrupt molecular cross talk between the substrate, and the ATP, sites without affecting the basic functional aspects of the two domains, such as substrate recognition, binding, and hydrolysis of ATP and dissociation of ADP following ATP hydrolysis. The allosteric modulator cis-(Z)-flupentixol has no effect on [alpha-(32)P]-8-azido-ATP binding to Pgp under nonhydrolytic conditions or on the K(m) for ATP during ATP hydrolysis. Both hydrolysis of ATP and vanadate-induced [alpha-(32)P]-8-azido-ADP trapping (following [alpha-(32)P]-8-azido-ATP breakdown) by Pgp are stimulated by the modulator. However, the ability of Pgp substrates (such as prazosin) to stimulate ATP hydrolysis and facilitate vanadate-induced trapping of [alpha-(32)P]-8-azido-ADP is substantially affected in the presence of cis-(Z)-flupentixol. Substrate recognition by Pgp as determined by [(125)I]iodoarylazidoprazosin ([(125)I]IAAP) binding both in the presence and in the absence of ATP is facilitated by the modulator, whereas substrate dissociation in response to vanadate trapping is considerably affected in its presence. In the Pgp F983A mutant, which is impaired in modulation by cis-(Z)-flupentixol, the modulator has a minimal effect on substrate-stimulated ATP hydrolysis as well as on substrate dissociation coupled to vanadate trapping. Finally, cis-(Z)-flupentixol has no effect on dissociation of [alpha-(32)P]-8-azido-ADP (or ADP) from vanadate-trapped Pgp, which is essential for subsequent rounds of ATP hydrolysis. Taken together, our results demonstrate a distinct mechanism of Pgp modulation that involves allosteric disruption of molecular cross talk between the substrate, and the ATP, sites without any direct interference with their individual functions.

Allosteric modulation bypasses the requirement for ATP hydrolysis in regenerating low affinity transition state conformation of human P-glycoprotein

ATP-dependent drug transport by human P-glycoprotein (Pgp, ABCB1) involves a coordinated communication between its drug-binding site (substrate site) and the nucleotide binding/hydrolysis domain (ATP sites). It has been demonstrated that the two ATP sites of Pgp play distinct roles within a single catalytic turnover; whereas ATP binding or/and hydrolysis by one drives substrate translocation and dissociation, the hydrolytic activity of the other resets the transporter for the subsequent cycle (Sauna, Z. E., and Ambudkar, S. V. (2000) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 97, 2515-2520; Sauna, Z. E., and Ambudkar, S. V. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 11653-11661). Trapping of ADP (or 8-azido-ADP) and vanadate (ADP.Vi or 8-azido-ADP.Vi) at the catalytic site, following nucleotide hydrolysis, markedly reduces the affinity of Pgp for its transport substrate [125I]iodoarylazidoprazosin ([125I]IAAP), resulting in dissociation of the latter. Regeneration of the [125I]IAAP site requires an additional round of nucleotide hydrolysis. In this study, we demonstrate that certain thioxanthene-based allosteric modulators, such as cis-(Z)-flupentixol and its closely related analogs, induce regeneration of [125I]IAAP binding to vanadate-trapped (or fluoroaluminate-trapped) Pgp without any further nucleotide hydrolysis. Regeneration was facilitated by dissociation of the trapped nucleotide and vanadate. Once regenerated, the substrate site remains accessible to [125I]IAAP even after removal of the modulator from the medium, suggesting a modulator-induced relaxation of a constrained transition state conformation. Consistent with this, limited trypsin digestion of vanadate-trapped Pgp shows protection by cis-(Z)-flupentixol of two Pgp fragments (approximately 60 kDa) recognizable by a polyclonal antiserum specific for the NH2-terminal half. No regeneration was observed in the Pgp mutant F983A that is impaired in modulation by flupentixols, indicating involvement of the allosteric modulator site in the phenomenon. In summary, the data demonstrate that in the nucleotide-trapped low affinity state of Pgp, the allosteric site remains accessible and responsive to modulation by flupentixol (and its closely related analogs), which can reset the high affinity state for [125I]IAAP binding without any further nucleotide hydrolysis.

Expression, purification, and characterization of cysteine-free mouse P-glycoprotein

Cysteine-free mouse MDR3 P-glycoprotein (Pgp) was constructed by mutagenesis of the nine natural Cys to Ala. The Cys-free protein was expressed in Pichia pastoris and purified. Yield, purity, ATPase activity, K(m)(MgATP), and stimulation of ATPase by verapamil, were similar to wild-type mouse Ppg. Mouse Cys-free Pgp was superior in yield and stability to Cys-free human MDR1 Pgp. Mutants Y1040A and Y1040C were constructed in mouse Cys-free Pgp background. Both showed extremely low ATPase activity, strongly-impaired vanadate-trapping of ADP, and reduced photolabeling by 8-azido-ATP. The results are consistent with the conclusion that Tyr-1040 is located in the MgATP-binding site in NBD2 and is required for correct binding and/or orientation of bound MgATP substrate in Pgp as previously suggested by X-ray structures of other ABC transporters and by sequencing of photolabeled Pgp. The results also support our previous conclusion that both catalytic sites must be intact for normal function in Pgp.

Positive co-operative activity and dimerization of the isolated ABC ATPase domain of HlyB from Escherichia coli

The ATPase activity of the ABC (ATP-binding cassette) ATPase domain of the HlyB (haemolysin B) transporter is required for secretion of Escherichia coli haemolysin via the type I pathway. Although ABC transporters are generally presumed to function as dimers, the precise role of dimerization remains unclear. In the present study, we have analysed the HlyB ABC domain, purified separately from the membrane domain, with respect to its activity and capacity to form physically detectable dimers. The ATPase activity of the isolated ABC domain clearly demonstrated positive co-operativity, with a Hill coefficient of 1.7. Furthermore, the activity is (reversibly) inhibited by salt concentrations in the physiological range accompanied by proportionately decreased binding of 8-azido-ATP. Inhibition of activity with increasing salt concentration resulted in a change in flexibility as detected by intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence. Finally, ATPase activity was sensitive towards orthovanadate, with an IC50 of 16 microM, consistent with the presence of transient dimers during ATP hydrolysis. Nevertheless, over a wide range of protein or of NaCl or KCl concentrations, the ABC ATPase was only detected as a monomer, as measured by ultracentrifugation or gel filtration. In contrast, in the absence of salt, the sedimentation velocity determined by analytical ultracentrifugation suggested a rapid equilibrium between monomers and dimers. Small amounts of dimers, but apparently only when stabilized by 8-azido-ATP, were also detected by gel filtration, even in the presence of salt. These data are consistent with the fact that monomers can interact at least transiently and are the important species during ATP hydrolysis.

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.

Biochemical characterization and NMR studies of the nucleotide-binding domain 1 of multidrug-resistance-associated protein 1: evidence for interaction between ATP and Trp653

Multidrug-resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1/ABCC1) is a human ATP-binding cassette transporter that confers cell resistance to antitumour drugs. Its NBDs (nucleotide-binding domains) bind/hydrolyse ATP, a key step in the activation of MRP1 function. To relate its intrinsic functional features to the mechanism of action of the full-size transporter, we expressed the N-terminal NBD1 domain (Asn(642) to Ser(871)) in Escherichia coli. NBD1 was highly purified under native conditions and was characterized as a soluble monomer. (15)N-labelling allowed recording of the first two-dimensional NMR spectra of this domain. The NMR study showed that NBD1 was folded, and that Trp(653) was a key residue in the NBD1-ATP interaction. Thus, interaction of NBD1 with ATP/ADP was studied by intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence. The affinity for ATP and ADP were in the same range (K (d(ATP))=118 microM and K (d(ADP))=139 microM). Binding of nucleotides did not influence the monomeric state of NBD1. The ATPase activity of NBD1 was magnesium-dependent and very low [V (max) and K (m) values of 5x10(-5) pmol of ATP x (pmol NBD1)(-1) x s(-1) and 833 microM ATP respectively]. The present study suggests that NBD1 has a low contribution to the ATPase activity of full-length MRP1 and/or that this activity requires NBD1-NBD2 heterodimer formation.

Synergy between conserved ABC signature Ser residues in P-glycoprotein catalysis

Functional roles of the two ABC signature sequences ("LSGGQ") in the N- and C-terminal nucleotide binding domains of P-glycoprotein were studied by mutating the conserved Ser residues to Ala. The two single mutants (S528A; S1173A) each impaired ATPase activity mildly, and showed generally symmetrical effects on function, consistent with equivalent mechanistic roles of the two nucleotide sites. Synergy between the two mutations when combined was remarkable and resulted in strong catalytic impairment. The Ser residues are not involved significantly in MgATP- or MgADP-binding or in interdomain communication between catalytic sites and drug binding sites. Retention of product MgADP is not the cause of reduced turnover. Mutation of Ser to Ala reduced the strength of interaction with the chemical transition state specifically, as shown by vanadate-ADP and beryllium fluoride-ADP trapping experiments. Therefore, the two conserved ABC signature motif Ser residues of P-glycoprotein cooperatively accelerate ATP hydrolysis via chemical transition state interaction. Because the transition state complex is currently believed to form in the dimerized state of the nucleotide binding domains, one may also conclude that both Ser-OH are necessary for correct formation of the dimer state.

Functional interaction between the two halves of the photoreceptor-specific ATP binding cassette protein ABCR (ABCA4). Evidence for a non-exchangeable ADP in the first nucleotide binding domain

ABCR, also known as ABCA4, is a member of the superfamily of ATP binding cassette transporters that is believed to transport retinal or retinylidene-phosphatidylethanolamine across photoreceptor disk membranes. Mutations in the ABCR gene are responsible for Stargardt macular dystrophy and related retinal dystrophies that cause severe loss in vision. ABCR consists of two tandemly arranged halves each containing a membrane spanning segment followed by a large extracellular/lumen domain, a multi-spanning membrane domain, and a nucleotide binding domain (NBD). To define the role of each NBD, we examined the nucleotide binding and ATPase activities of the N and C halves of ABCR individually and co-expressed in COS-1 cells and derived from trypsin-cleaved ABCR in disk membranes. When disk membranes or membranes from co-transfected cells were photoaffinity labeled with 8-azido-ATP and 8-azido-ADP, only the NBD2 in the C-half bound and trapped the nucleotide. Co-expressed half-molecules displayed basal and retinal-stimulated ATPase activity similar to full-length ABCR. The individually expressed N-half displayed weak 8-azido-ATP labeling and low basal ATPase activity that was not stimulated by retinal, whereas the C-half did not bind ATP and exhibited little if any ATPase activity. Purified ABCR contained one tightly bound ADP, presumably in NBD1. Our results indicate that only NBD2 of ABCR binds and hydrolyzes ATP in the presence or absence of retinal. NBD1, containing a bound ADP, associates with NBD2 to play a crucial, non-catalytic role in ABCR function.

Transition state analysis of the coupling of drug transport to ATP hydrolysis by P-glycoprotein

ATPase activity associated with P-glycoprotein (Pgp) is characterized by three drug-dependent phases: basal (no drug), drug-activated, and drug-inhibited. To understand the communication between drug-binding sites and ATP hydrolytic sites, we performed steady-state thermodynamic analyses of ATP hydrolysis in the presence and absence of transport substrates. We used purified human Pgp (ABCB1, MDR1) expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Figler, R. A., Omote, H., Nakamoto, R. K., and Al-Shawi, M. K. (2000) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 376, 34-46) as well as Chinese hamster Pgp (PGP1). Between 23 and 35 degrees C, we obtained linear Arrhenius relationships for the turnover rate of hydrolysis of saturating MgATP in the presence of saturating drug concentrations (kcat), from which we calculated the intrinsic enthalpic, entropic, and free energy terms for the rate-limiting transition states. Linearity of the Arrhenius plots indicated that the same rate-limiting step was being measured over the temperature range employed. Using linear free energy analysis, two distinct transition states were found: one associated with uncoupled basal activity and the other with coupled drug transport activity. We concluded that basal ATPase activity associated with Pgp is not a consequence of transport of an endogenous lipid or other endogenous substrates. Rather, it is an intrinsic mechanistic property of the enzyme. We also found that rapidly transported substrates bound tighter to the transition state and required fewer conformational alterations by the enzyme to achieve the coupling transition state. The overall rate-limiting step of Pgp during transport is a carrier reorientation step. Furthermore, Pgp is optimized to transport drugs out of cells at high rates at the expense of coupling efficiency. The drug inhibition phase was associated with low affinity drug-binding sites. These results are consistent with an expanded version of the alternating catalytic site drug transport model (Senior, A. E., Al-Shawi, M. K., and Urbatsch, I. L. (1995) FEBS Lett. 377, 285-289). A new kinetic model of drug transport is presented.

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.

Crystal structure of the nucleotide-binding domain of the ABC-transporter haemolysin B: identification of a variable region within ABC helical domains

The ABC-transporter haemolysin B is a central component of the secretion machinery that translocates the toxin, haemolysin A, in a Sec-independent fashion across both membranes of E. coli. Here, we report the X-ray crystal structure of the nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) of HlyB. The molecule shares the common overall architecture of ABC-transporter NBDs. However, the last three residues of the Walker A motif adopt a 3(10) helical conformation, stabilized by a bound anion. In consequence, this results in an unusual interaction between the Walker A lysine residue and the Walker B glutamate residue. As these residues are normally required to be available for ATP binding, for catalysis and for dimer formation of ABC domains, we suggest that this conformation may represent a latent monomeric form of the NBD. Surprisingly, comparison of available NBD structures revealed a structurally diverse region (SDR) of about 30 residues within the helical arm II domain, unique to each of the eight NBDs analyzed. As this region interacts with the transmembrane part of ABC-transporters, the SDR helps to explain the selectivity and/or targeting of different NBDs to their cognate transmembrane domains.

Overexpression, purification, and functional characterization of ATP-binding cassette transporters in the yeast, Pichia pastoris

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter superfamily is a large gene family that has been highly conserved throughout evolution. The physiological importance of these membrane transporters is highlighted by the large variety of substrates they transport, and by the observation that mutations in many of them cause heritable diseases in human. Likewise, overexpression of certain ABC transporters, such as P-glycoprotein and members of the multidrug resistance associated protein (MRP) family, is associated with multidrug resistance in various cells and organisms. Understanding the structure and molecular mechanisms of transport of the ABC transporters in normal tissues and their possibly altered function in human diseases requires large amounts of purified and active proteins. For this, efficient expression systems are needed. The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris has proven to be an efficient and inexpensive experimental model for high-level expression of many proteins, including ABC transporters. In the present review, we will summarize recent advances on the use of this system for the expression, purification, and functional characterization of P-glycoprotein and two members of the MRP subfamily.

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.

Proteolytic Cleavage of the Linker Region of the Human P-glycoprotein Modulates Its ATPase Function

P-glycoprotein (Pgp), an anticancer drug-translocating ATPase, is responsible for multidrug resistance in cancer. We have previously shown (Nuti, S. L., Mehdi, A., and Rao, U. S. (2000) Biochemistry 39, 3424-3432) that tryptic cleavage of Pgp results in the activation of basal and drug-stimulated ATPase functions of Pgp. To understand this phenomenon, we determined the sites cleaved by trypsin and further examined whether the modulation of Pgp function is trypsin-specific or the result of proteolysis in general. The effects of chymotrypsin and proteinase K on Pgp ATPase function were studied. The results show that proteolysis of Pgp irrespective of the protease employed resulted in the activation of basal ATPase activity. However, drug-stimulated ATPase activities were differentially modulated. Immunoblot analysis of proteolytic digests indicated that, irrespective of the protease employed, Pgp was predominantly cleaved in the middle of the molecule. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of Pgp tryptic and chymotryptic peptides indicated Arg(680) and Leu(682) as the sites of cleavage, respectively. These two cleavage sites are part of the predicted linker region that joins the two halves of Pgp. Together, these results suggest that the linker region in Pgp is primarily accessible to protease action and that cleavage of this region modulates Pgp ATPase function.

Identification of ligand-binding regions of P-glycoprotein by activated-pharmacophore photoaffinity labeling and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Energy dependent efflux pumps confer resistance to anticancer, antimicrobial, and antiparasitic drugs. P-glycoprotein (Pgp, ABCB1) mediates resistance to a broad spectrum of antitumor drugs. Compounds that themselves are nontoxic to cells have been shown to act as inhibitors of Pgp. The mechanism of binding and transport of low-molecular-mass ligands by Pgp is still incompletely understood. This study introduces a series of propafenone-related photoaffinity ligands, which combine high specificity and selectivity for Pgp with high labeling efficiency. Molecules are intrinsically photoactivatable in the arylcarbonyl group, which represents a pharmacophoric substructure for this group of ligand molecules. A detailed study of the structure-activity relationship for this type of photoligand is presented. In subsequent experiments, these ligands were used to characterize the drug-binding domain of propafenone-type analogs. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry shows that propafenone-type ligands preferentially label fragments assigned to putative transmembrane segments 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, and 12. Labeled fragments are also identified in a highly charged region of 15 amino acids in the second cytoplasmic loop. This region corresponds to the so-called EAA-like motif, which has been proposed to play a role in the interaction between transmembrane domain and nucleotide binding domain of peroxisomal ATP-binding cassette transporters. In addition, a region in cytoplasmic loop 3 and between TM12 and the N terminus of the Walker A sequence of NBD2 are labeled by the ligands. Therefore, a number of confined protein regions contribute to the drug-binding domain of propafenone-type analogs.

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.

The mechanism of action of multidrug-resistance-linked P-glycoprotein

P-glycoprotein (Pgp), the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter, confers multidrug resistance to cancer cells by extruding cytotoxic natural product amphipathic drugs using the energy of ATP hydrolysis. Our studies are directed toward understanding the mechanism of action of Pgp and recent work deals with the assessment of interaction between substrate and ATP sites and elucidation of the catalytic cycle of ATP hydrolysis. The kinetic analyses of ATP hydrolysis by reconstituted purified Pgp suggest that ADP release is the rate-limiting step in the catalytic cycle and the substrates exert their effect by modulating ADP release. In addition, we provide evidence for two distinct roles for ATP hydrolysis in a single turnover of Pgp, one in the transport of drug and the other in effecting conformational changes so as to reset the transporter for the next catalytic cycle. Detailed kinetic measurements determined that both nucleotide-binding domains behave symmetrically and during individual hydrolysis events the ATP sites are recruited in a random manner. Furthermore, only one nucleotide site hydrolyzes ATP at any given time, causing (in this site) a conformational change that drastically decreases (>30-fold) the affinity of the second site for ATP-binding. Thus, the blocking of ATP-binding to the second site while the first one is in catalytic conformation appears to be the basis for the alternate catalytic cycle of ATP hydrolysis by Pgp, and this may be applicable as well to other ABC transporters linked with the development of multidrug resistance.

Osmoregulation inBacillus subtilisunder potassium limitation: a new inducible K+-stimulated, VO43–-inhibited ATPase

Bacillus subtilis exhibited an inducible K+-transporting ATPase activity with apparent Kmand maximum velocity Vmaxof 12.9 µM and 25.1 µmol·min–1·(g cell protein)–1, respectively, when cultivated on a synthetic medium containing less than 400 µM K+. Due to this enzyme, the growth rate of the bacterium in synthetic medium was not changed down to 115 µM K+, and the bacterium was able to grow down to 20 µM K+. The limiting K+concentration was higher in media with osmolarity increased by NaCl or sucrose. The ATPase was inhibited by micromolar concentrations of vanadate (Ki= 1.6 µM). The ATPase activity was not stimulated by any other monovalent cation. The subunit of this ATPase, with an Mrof 52 000, covalently bound the gamma phosphate group of ATP. This phosphorylated intermediate was unstable in neutral and basic pH as well as in the presence of potassium and was stable in acid pH. The enzyme did not show immunological cross-reactivity with antibody against Kdp ATPase of Escherichia coli.Key words: Kdp-like, potassium transport, Bacillus subtilis, transport ATPase, P-type ATPase.

Ontogeny of P-glycoprotein in mouse intestine, liver, and kidney

BACKGROUND

P-glycoprotein (Pgp) is an ATP-dependent, integral plasma-membrane efflux pump that is constitutively expressed on (i) adult apical brush-border epithelial cells of the intestine, (ii) the bile canalicular face of hepatocytes, and (iii) the brush border epithelium of renal proximal tubules. This Pgp tissue distribution and localization affects the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of Pgp substrates. Little is known regarding the ontogeny of Pgp expression in these tissues.

METHODS

Postnatal expression of Pgp on brush border membranes of small intestine, liver, and kidney as a function of maturity from birth through adulthood was determined using Western immunoblotting and immunohistochemical techniques. Tissue was isolated from FVB mice at four different ages: day of life 0 (D0), day of life 7 (D7), day of life 21 (D21), and adult (Ad). The relative expression of Pgp protein on Western immunoblots was assessed by scanning densitometry and indexed as a percentage (mean+/-SEM) of the adult levels.

RESULTS

On Western immunoblots, Pgp expression was limited at birth (19+/-6% of Ad) and increased significantly with maturation in intestine (ANOVA, P<0.005). In contrast, hepatic (113+/-12% of Ad) and renal (96+/-15% of Ad) Pgp expression were at adult levels at birth. The tissue-specific developmental pattern of Pgp expression was confirmed by immunohistochemistry.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that Pgp is expressed in a tissue-specific and developmentally regulated fashion and speculate that developmental modulation of intestine-Pgp expression may affect the oral bioavailability of Pgp substrates.

Identification and localization of three photobinding sites of iodoarylazidoprazosin in hamster P-glycoprotein

P-glycoprotein is an ATP-dependent drug-efflux pump which can transport a diverse range of structurally and functionally unrelated substrates across the plasma membrane. Overexpression of this protein may result in multidrug resistance and is a major cause of the failure of cancer chemotherapy. The most commonly used photoreactive substrate is iodoarylazidoprazosin. Its binding domains within the P-glycoprotein have so far been inferred from indirect methods such as epitope mapping. In this study, the binding sites were refined and relocalized by direct analysis of photolabeled peptides. P-glycoprotein-containing plasma membrane vesicles of Chinese hamster ovary B30 cells were photoaffinity-labeled with iodoarylazidoprazosin. After chemical cleavage behind tryptophan residues or enzymatic cleavage behind lysine residues, the resulting 125I-labeled peptides were separated by tricine/PAGE and HPLC and subjected to Edman sequencing. The major photoaffinity binding sites of iodoarylazidoprazosin were localized in the amino-acid regions 248-312 [transmembrane segment (TM)4 to TM5], 758-800 (beyond TM7 to beyond TM8) and 1160-1218 (after the Walker A motif of the second nucleotide-binding domain). Therefore the binding pocket of iodoarylazidoprazosin is made up of at least three binding epitopes.

Allosteric crosstalk between peptide-binding, transport, and ATP hydrolysis of the ABC transporter TAP

The transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) is essential for intracellular transport of protein fragments into the endoplasmic reticulum for loading of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. On the cell surface, these peptide-MHC complexes are monitored by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. To study the ATP hydrolysis of TAP, we developed an enrichment and reconstitution procedure, by which we fully restored TAP function in proteoliposomes. A TAP-specific ATPase activity was identified that could be stimulated by peptides and blocked by the herpes simplex virus protein ICP47. Strikingly, the peptide-binding motif of TAP directly correlates with the stimulation of the ATPase activity, demonstrating that the initial peptide-binding step is responsible for TAP selectivity. ATP hydrolysis follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a maximal velocity V(max) of 2 micromol/min per mg TAP, corresponding to a turnover number of approximately 5 ATP per second. This turnover rate is sufficient to account for the role of TAP in peptide loading of MHC molecules and the overall process of antigen presentation. Interestingly, sterically restricted peptides that bind but are not transported by TAP do not stimulate ATPase activity. These results point to coordinated dialogue between the peptide-binding site, the nucleotide-binding domain, and the translocation site via conformational changes within the TAP complex.

Correlation between steady-state ATP hydrolysis and vanadate-induced ADP trapping in Human P-glycoprotein. Evidence for ADP release as the rate-limiting step in the catalytic cycle and its modulation by substrates

P-glycoprotein (Pgp) is a transmembrane protein conferring multidrug resistance to cells by extruding a variety of amphipathic cytotoxic agents using energy from ATP hydrolysis. The objective of this study was to understand how substrates affect the catalytic cycle of ATP hydrolysis by Pgp. The ATPase activity of purified and reconstituted recombinant human Pgp was measured using a continuous cycling assay. Pgp hydrolyzes ATP in the absence of drug at a basal rate of 0.5 micromol x min x mg(-1) with a K(m) for ATP of 0.33 mm. This basal rate can be either increased or decreased depending on the Pgp substrate used, without an effect on the K(m) for ATP or 8-azidoATP and K(i) for ADP, suggesting that substrates do not affect nucleotide binding to Pgp. Although inhibitors of Pgp activity, cyclosporin A, its analog PSC833, and rapamycin decrease the rate of ATP hydrolysis with respect to the basal rate, they do not completely inhibit the activity. Therefore, these drugs can be classified as substrates. Vanadate (Vi)-induced trapping of [alpha-(32)P]8-azidoADP was used to probe the effect of substrates on the transition state of the ATP hydrolysis reaction. The K(m) for [alpha-(32)P]8-azidoATP (20 microm) is decreased in the presence of Vi; however, it is not changed by drugs such as verapamil or cyclosporin A. Strikingly, the extent of Vi-induced [alpha-(32)P]8-azidoADP trapping correlates directly with the fold stimulation of ATPase activity at steady state. Furthermore, P(i) exhibits very low affinity for Pgp (K(i) approximately 30 mm for Vi-induced 8-azidoADP trapping). In aggregate, these data demonstrate that the release of Vi trapped [alpha-(32)P]8-azidoADP from Pgp is the rate-limiting step in the steady-state reaction. We suggest that substrates modulate the rate of ATPase activity of Pgp by controlling the rate of dissociation of ADP following ATP hydrolysis and that ADP release is the rate-limiting step in the normal catalytic cycle of Pgp.

The synthesis and evaluation of a solution phase indexed combinatorial library of non-natural polyenes for reversal of P-glycoprotein mediated multidrug resistance

A combinatorial library of polyenes, based on (-)-stipiamide, has been constructed and evaluated for the discovery of new multidrug resistance reversal agents. A palladium coupling was used to react each individual vinyl iodide with a mixture of the seven acetylenes at near 1:1 stoichiometry. The coupling was also used to react each individual acetylene with the mixture of six vinyl iodides to create 13 pools indexed in two dimensions for a total of 42 compounds. Individual compounds were detected at equimolar concentration. The vinyl iodides, made initially using a crotylborane addition to generate the anti1,2-hydroxylmethyl products, were now made using a more efficient norephedrine propionate boron enolate aldol reaction. The indexed approach, ideally suited for cellular assays that involve membrane-bound targets, allowed for the rapid identification of reversal agents using assays with drug-resistant human breast cancer MCF7-adrR cells. Intersections of potent pools identified new compounds with promising activity. Aryl dimension pools showed R = ph and naphthyl as the most potent. The acetylene dimension had R' = phenylalaninol and alaninol as the most potent. Isolated individual compounds, both active and nonpotent, were assayed to confirm the library results. The most potent new compound was 4ek (R = naphthyl, R' = phenylaninol) at 1.45 microM. Other nonnatural individual naphthyl-amide compounds showed potent MDR reversal including the morpholino-amide 4ej (1.69 microM). Synergistic activities attributed to the two ends of the molecule were also identified. Direct interaction with Pgp was established by ATPase and photoaffinity displacement assays. The results indicate that both ends of the polyene reversal agent are involved in Pgp interaction and can be further modified for increased potency.

Use of chemical chaperones in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to enhance heterologous membrane protein expression: high-yield expression and purification of human P-glycoprotein

Utilizing human P-glycoprotein (P-gp), we investigated methods to enhance the heterologous expression of ATP-binding cassette transporters in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Human multidrug resistance gene MDR1 cDNA was placed in a high-copy 2 mu yeast expression plasmid under the control of the inducible GAL1 promoter or the strong constitutive PMA1 promoter from which P-gp was expressed in functional form. Yeast cells expressing P-gp were valinomycin resistant. Basal ATPase activity of P-gp in yeast membranes was 0. 4-0.7 micromol/mg/min indicating excellent functionality. P-glycoprotein expressed in the protease-deficient strain BJ5457 was found in the plasma membrane and was not N-glycosylated. By use of the PMA1 promoter, P-gp could be expressed at 3% of total membrane protein. The expression level could be further enhanced to 8% when cells were grown in the presence of 10% glycerol as a chemical chaperone. Similarly, glycerol enhanced protein levels of P-gp expressed under control of the GAL1 promoter. Glycerol was demonstrated to enhance posttranslational stability of P-gp. Polyhistidine-tagged P-gp was purified by metal affinity chromatography and reconstituted into proteoliposomes in milligram quantities and its ATPase activity was characterized. Turnover numbers as high as 12 s(-1) were observed. The kinetic parameters K(MgATP)(M), V(max), and drug activation were dependent on the lipid composition of proteoliposomes and pH of the assay and were similar to P-gp purified from mammalian sources. In conclusion, we developed a system for cost-effective, high-yield, heterologous expression of functional P-gp useful in producing large quantities of normal and mutant P-gp forms for structural and mechanistic studies.

Activation of the human P-glycoprotein ATPase by trypsin

The human MDR1 gene product, P-glycoprotein (Pgp), a tandemly duplicated molecule containing two putative ATP- and perhaps two drug-binding sites, is responsible for multidrug resistance in tumors. In this report, we characterized the effects of trypsinization of Pgp on its ATPase function. Incubation of Pgp-containing membranes with trypsin at a ratio of 1000:1 (w/w) resulted in a gradual increase in the basal- and the drug-stimulated ATPase activities of Pgp in a time-dependent manner. The maximal basal-, verapamil-, and vinblastine-stimulated ATPase activities of the trypsinized Pgp were approximately 1.8-, 1.5-, and 1.75-fold higher than the activities of the native Pgp, respectively. Increased basal- and drug-stimulated ATPase activities of the Pgp were also observed when the ratio of membrane protein to trypsin in the incubation mixtures was raised to 10:1 (w/w). Immunoblotting analysis of Pgp tryptic digests using Pgp-specific NH(2)11, C219, and C494 antibodies together revealed the degradation of full-length Pgp and formation of at least eight peptides migrating in the 36-60 kDa range. Immunoprecipitation reactions using NH(2)11 and C494 antibodies have suggested that the peptides originating from the NH(2) half of Pgp are in strong association with the COOH half of the peptide. These findings suggest that while Pgp fragments together exhibit the ATPase functional characteristics, Pgp possesses a cleavage activation site or region, and its cleavage leads to the activation of basal ATPase function of Pgp.