The properties of ATPase of synaptic vesicle fraction

Ecto-ATPase of mammalian synaptosomes: identification and enzymic characterization

Intact synaptosomes isolated from mammalian brain tissues (rat, mouse, gerbil, and human) have an ATP hydrolyzing enzyme activity on their external surface. The synaptosomal ecto-ATPase(s) possesses characteristics consistent with those that have been described for ecto-ATPases of various other cell types. The enzyme has a high affinity for ATP (the apparent Km values are in the range of 2-5 X 10(-5) M), and is apparently stimulated equally well by either Mg2+ or Ca2+ in the absence of any other cations. The apparent activation constant for both divalent cations is approximately 4 X 10(-4) M in all mammalian brain tissues studied. The involvement of a non-specific phosphatase in the hydrolysis of externally added ATP is excluded. ATP hydrolysis is maximal in the pH range 7.4-7.8 for both divalent cation-dependent ATPase activities. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, 2,4-dinitrophenol, trifluoperazine, chlorpromazine, and p-chloromercuribenzoate (50 microM) inhibit the ecto-ATPase, whereas ouabain (1 mM) and oligomycin (3.5 micrograms X mg-1 protein) show little or no inhibition of this enzyme activity. Inhibitor data suggest that the Mg2+- and Ca2+-dependent ecto-ATPase may represent two different enzymes on the surface of synaptosomes.

MgATP-stimulated release of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone from isolated hypothalamic granules: evidence for a selective requirement for monovalent cations

The purpose of this study was to characterize the kinetics and monovalent ion requirements of the MgATP-stimulated release of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) from isolated hypothalamic granules. LHRH granules were obtained from homogenates of hypothalami of adult male rats by differential centrifugation and then incubated in buffered media containing KCl. Under these conditions, the pH optimum for the MgATP-stimulated release of LHRH was between 7.5 and 8.0; the rate of release was linear for the first 5 min of incubation; and the magnitude of the release was a saturable function of KCl concentration. When the potassium in the incubation mixture was replaced with various monovalent cations (Li+, Na+, Cs+, choline, or tetraethylammonium), the magnitude of the MgATP-stimulated release of LHRH was inversely related to the size of the cation; release in the presence of Li+ was 12%, whereas release in the presence of tetraethylammonium was 0% of the total LHRH. When the chloride in the incubation mixture was replaced with various monovalent anions (Br-, I-, or isethionate), the magnitude of the MgATP-stimulated release of LHRH was not related to the size of the anion. Moreover, inclusion of anion transport inhibitors in the incubation mixture did not affect LHRH release, suggesting that anion transport is not required for the MgATP-stimulated release of LHRH. In summary, we suggest that the MgATP-stimulated release of LHRH from isolated hypothalamic granules involves an enzymatic event and that this release process does not have a selective requirement for monovalent anions, but has a selective requirement for monovalent cations.

Effect of indomethacin on Ca2+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase in the synaptic vesicles of rat brain in vitro

1. Indomethacin inhibits calcium-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase (Ca2+-ATPase), calcium, magnesium-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase (Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase) and magnesium-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase (Mg2+-ATPase) activities in rat brain synaptic vesicles in vitro. 2. The Ca2+-ATPase activity is most strongly affected by this drug all of the activities of ATPases tested. 3. The decrease of Ca2+-ATPase activity by addition of indomethacin is due to a decrease of Vmax. 4. The Ki values for this drug for ATP and Ca2+ in Ca2+-ATPase were 1.13 mM and 0.68 mM, respectively.

Electrokinetic properties of synaptic vesicles and synaptosomal membranes

Using the technique of electrophoretic light scattering, we have measured the electrophoretic mobilities of synaptic vesicles and synaptosomal plasma membranes isolated from guinea-pig cerebral cortex. The electrophoretic mobility of synaptic vesicles is slightly greater than that of synaptosomal plasma membranes. Ca+2 and Mg+2 reduced the mobility of both species to the same extent at physiologically relevant concentrations (0-1 mM) and near-physiologic ionic strength. The extent of the reduction was not large (approximately 6% for synaptic vesicles in the presence of 100 mM KCl) at 1 mM divalent cation concentrations. At concentrations of approximately 2 mM and higher, Ca+2 reduced the mobility of synaptic vesicles more than did Mg/2. A similar but much smaller effect was observed in the case of synaptosomal plasma membranes. The addition of 1 mM Mg+2-ATP had no effect upon synaptic vesicle mobility either in the presence or absence of the ionophores nigericin or valinomycin. These data, together with earlier work (Siegel et al., 1978, Biophys. J. 22:341-346), demonstrate that substantial reduction of the average electrostatic surface charge density is not the most important role of divalent cations in promoting close approach of secretory granules and secretory cell membranes, and that it is certainly not the Ca+2-specific step in exocytosis.

Energy utilization in the uptake of catecholamines by synaptic vesicles and adrenal chromaffin granules

Several inhibitors of energy metabolism decreased the ATP-stimulated uptake of catecholamines by isolated synaptic vesicles from rat brain and by chromaffin granules from bovine adrenal medulla. Catecholamine uptake was inhibited by dinitrophenol, S-13 and oleic acid, which are known to block active transport by dissipating trans-membrane proton gradients. Thus a proton gradient appears to be involved in catecholamine transport. Both catecholamine uptake and vesicle-associated Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase were inhibited by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and tributyltin, which had previously been shown to inhibit the Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase of mitochondria. However, mitochondrial ATPase was not involved in catecholamine uptake as oligomycin and aurovertin, more specific inhibitors of mitochondrial ATPase, did not affect catecholamine uptake. It is suggested that ATP stimulates catecholamine uptake by serving as a substrate for the ATPase. Activity of this enzyme causes translocation of protons across the vesicle membrane establishing a trans-membrane proton gradient. The proton gradient drives the transport of catecholamines.

Adenosine triphosphatase activity associated with purified cholinergic synaptic vesicles of Torpedo marmorata

A rapid method for purifying Torpedo electric organ vesicles is described, which employs an isoosmotic continuous sucrose-glycine gradient followed by chromagography on CPG-10-3000 porous glass beads. The synaptic vesicles have a buoyant density of 1.057 g/ml. The purified vesicles are free of cholinesterase, lactate dehydrogenase and Na+, K+-stimulated ATPase activity. They contain a ouabaininsensitive, Na+, K+-inhibited, Mg2+, Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity. This is further stimulated by acetylcholine but not by choline.

The preparation and characterization of synaptic vesicles of high purity

Very pure preparations of synaptic vesicles have been obtained from guinea pig cerebral cortex and from the electromotor synapses of Torpedo marmorata by density gradient centrifugation in a zonal rotor followed by chromatography on columns of glass beads of controlled pore size. Markers for soluble cytoplasm (lactate dehydrogenase), plasma and endoplasmic membranes membranes (Na-K-ATPase; acetylcholinesterase, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase], mitochondrial membranes [cytochrome oxidase] and lysosomes [acid phosphatase] were used to assess contamination and were undetectable. The only enzymes detected in the highly purified preparations from guinea pig cerebral cortex were Mg- and Ca-activated ATPases, but their content relative to acetylcholine fell on chromatography suggesting that they may be constituents of non-cholinergic vesicles. Lipids analyses of the highly purified vesicles confirmed earlier results and showed that glycolipids and lysolecithin are present in negligible amounts; this suggests that lysolecithin is not required for exocytosis of synaptic vesicles. A discussion of the probable limiting concentration of acetycholine in cerebral cortical vesicles derived solely from cholinergic terminals suggests that from 13 to 56% of the vesicles isolated are cholinergic, depending on the assumptions made.

Adenosine triphosphatase activity in the neural lobe of the bovine pituitary gland

1. Homogenates of neural lobes of bovine pituitary glands were fractionated by differential and density-gradient ultracentrifugation and the distribution of adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity was studied. It was shown that all the activity was membrane-bound. 2. On the basis of ionic requirements the ATPase activity was grouped into three categories: (a) Mg(2+)-dependent, (b) Ca(2+)-dependent and (c) Mg(2+)+Na(+)+K(+)-dependent (ouabain-sensitive) ATPases. The activity in the absence of bivalent cations was negligible. The ratio between the activities of the three ATPases varied between the different subcellular fractions. 3. Preincubation of the subcellular fractions with deoxycholate increased the activity of the Mg(2+)+Na(+)+K(+)-dependent enzyme, whereas the Mg(2+)- and Ca(2+)-activated ATPases were either unaffected or slightly inhibited. Triton X-100 solubilized the Mg(2+)- and Ca(2+)-ATPases; however, the activity of the Mg(2+)+Na(+)+K(+)-ATPase was abolished by the concentration of Triton X-100 used. 4. All the subfractions displayed unspecific nucleotide triphosphatase activity towards GTP, ITP and UTP. These substrates inhibited the hydrolysis of ATP by all three ATPases. ADP also inhibited the ATPases. 5. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of extracts containing the Mg(2+)- and Ca(2+)-dependent ATPase activity solubilized by Triton X-100 revealed the presence of two enzymes; one activated by either Mg(2+) or Ca(2+) and the other activated only by Ca(2+). 6. In sucrose density gradients the distribution of vasopressin was different from that of all three types of ATPases. It is therefore suggested that the neurosecretory granules do not possess ATPase activity.

The "vesicle in a basket". A morphological study of the coated vesicle isolated from the nerve endings of the guinea pig brain, with special reference to the mechanism of membrane movements

Five points are discussed regarding the vesicular structure isolated by fractionation techniques from the brain and liver of the guinea pig. 1. One type of vesicle, fixed by OsO(4) and shown in thin sections, is identified with the coated vesicle that has been observed in many varieties of tissues. 2. The vesicle contained in a spherical polygonal "basketwork" shown by the negative-staining techniques is identical with the coated vesicle shown in sections. 3. Despite minute observation of this basketwork we could not confirm the existence of "hairlike projections" extending from the convex cytoplasmic surface of the vesicle. We are inclined to believe, therefore, that the hairlike projections are actually the superimposed visual images of the regular hexagons and pentagons of the network composing the basketwork. 4. We repeat the hypothesis originally advanced by Roth and Porter (1) that the "coating" of the coated vesicle plays a role in the mechanism of the infolding and fission of the membrane; we suggest that these events are caused by the transformation of the regular hexagons (of the coating) into regular pentagons. 5. Finally, we make a suggestion as to the nature of those vesicles which have on their surface subparticles which look like "elementary particles (2)."

Actomyosin-like protein isolated from mammalian brain

A protein with characteristics similar to actomyosin has been isolated from whole brain of rat and cat. It is soluble in 0.6 molar potassium chloride and insoluble in 0.1 molar potassium chloride. It superprecipitates with magnesium ions and adenosine triphosphate. It has adenosine triphosphatase activity stimulated by either magnesium or calcium ions. Both superprecipitation and adenosine triphosphatase activity are inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate and Mersalyl but not by ouabain.