Lilla Lachowicz

Protein kinases A and C phosphorylate purified Ca2+-ATPase from rat cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus.

The plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase (PMCA), the enzyme responsible for the maintenance of intracellular calcium homeostasis, is regulated by several independent mechanisms. In this paper we report that the protein kinases A and C differentially activate the Ca2+-ATPase purified from synaptosomal membranes of rat cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus. The effect of protein kinases was more pronounced for the cortical enzyme, whereas cerebellar and hippocampal Ca2+-ATPases were activated to a lesser degree. The preparation of Ca2+-ATPase contained the phosphoamino acids, i.e., P-Ser and P-Thr, indicating that the enzyme was purified in phosphorylated state. The phosphorylation of Ca2+-ATPase by PKA and PKC increased the amount of phosphoamino acids, but in a region-dependent manner. Using the specific antibodies against N-terminal portion of four main PMCA isoforms we have characterized the isoforms composition of Ca2+-ATPase purified from the nervous endings of examined brain areas. Our results indicate that the activity of calcium pump is related to its phosphorylated state, and that the phosphorylation is region-dependent. Moreover, the differences observed could be related to the composition of PMCA isoforms in the different brain areas. Phosphorylation of the plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase appears to be a mechanism to control its activity. The results support also the possible involvement of PKA and PKC.

Short-time effects of neuroactive steroids on rat cortical Ca2+-ATPase activity.

Recent experimental evidence indicates that some steroid hormones, apart from their well-documented genomic actions, could produce non-genomic rapid effects, and are potent modulators of the plasma membrane proteins, including voltage- and ligand-operated ion channels or G protein-coupled receptors. Neuroactive steroids, 17beta-estradiol, testosterone, pregnenolone sulfate and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, after a short-time incubation directly modulated the activity of plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase purified from synaptosomal membranes of rat cortex. The sulfate derivatives of dehydroepiandrosterone and pregnenolone applied at concentrations of 10-11-10-6 M, showed an inverted U-shape potency in the regulation of Ca2+-ATPase activity. At physiologically relevant concentrations (10-8-10-9 M) a maximal enhancement of the basal activity reached 200%. Testosterone (10-11-10-6 M) and 17beta-estradiol (10-12-10-9 M) caused a dose-dependent increase in the hydrolytic ability of Ca2+-ATPase, and the activity with the highest concentration of steroids reached 470% and 200%, respectively. All examined steroids decreased the stimulatory effect of a naturally existing activator of the calcium pump, calmodulin. The present study strongly suggests that the plasma membrane calcium pump could be one of the possible membrane targets for a non-genomic neuroactive steroid action.

Calmodulin effect on purified rat cortical plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase in different phosphorylation states

The plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase in neuronal tissue plays an important role in fine tuning of the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. The enzyme exhibits a high degree of tissue specificity and is regulated by several mechanisms. Here we analysed the relationship between separate modes of Ca(2+)-ATPase regulation, i.e., reversible phosphorylation processes mediated by protein kinases A and C, protein phosphatases PP1 and PP2A, and stimulation by calmodulin. The activity of PKA- or PKC-phosphorylated Ca(2+)-ATPase was influenced by the further addition of calmodulin, and this effect was more pronounced for PKC-phosphorylated calcium pump. In both cases the fluorescence study revealed the increased calmodulin binding, and for PKA-mediated phosphorylation it was correlated with a higher affinity of calcium pump for calmodulin. The incubation of Ca(2+)-ATPase with CaM prior to protein kinases action revealed that CaM presence counteracts the stimulatory effect of PKA and PKC. Under the in vitro assay cortical Ca(2+)-ATPase was a substrate for PP1 and PP2A. Protein phosphatases decreased both the basal activity of Ca(2+)-ATPase and its affinity for calmodulin. Fluorescence analysis confirmed the lowered ability of dephosphorylated Ca(2+)-ATPase for calmodulin binding. These results may suggest that interaction of CaM with calcium pump and its stimulatory action could be a partly separate phenomenon that is dependent on the phosphorylation state of Ca(2+)-ATPase.

Okadaic acid as a probe for regulation In Vitro of Mg2+,Ca2+-ATPase activity in rat cortical and cerebellar synaptosomal membranes

The in vitro effect of okadaic acid on basal phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-stimulated Mg(2+)-dependent Ca(2+)-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity in synaptosomal membranes isolated from rat brain cortex and cerebellum was investigated. The basal activity was enhanced by okadaic acid in both examined regions. This inhibitor differed in the regulation of Mg2+, Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in PMA- and cAMP-incubated membranes. Stimulation by calmodulin (CaM) of basal Mg2+, Ca(2+)-ATPase activity declined in cortex and cerebellum after treatment with okadaic acid. The presence of PMA or cAMP decreases the stimulatory effect of CaM. These results suggest that Mg2+, Ca(2+)-ATPase activity in the rat-brain synaptosomal membrane may be regulated in vitro by dephosphorylation processes.

Vanadium inhibition of human parietal lobe ATPases.

In vitro influence of vanadate and vanadyl ions on the activities of Na,K- and Ca,Mg-ATPase from synaptosomal membranes of the parietal lobe of the human brain were compared. 1. Vanadate and vanadyl inhibit the enzymes activities in the investigated fraction. 2. Vanadate is a more effective inhibitor of both ATPases in the concentrations above 50 microM and vanadyl is an effective inhibitor in a very low concentration (10 nM). 3. Vanadate seems to be an uncompetitive inhibitor of Na,K-ATPase (K1 = 880 nM).

Effects of N- and C-terminal fragments of substance P on ATPase and monoamine oxidase activities in rat brain.

The in vitro influence of substance P (SP) C- and N-terminal fragments on the Na+,K(+)-ATPase and Ca2+,Mg2(+)-ATPase and monoamine oxidase (MAO) from synaptosomal membrane and extra-synaptosomal mitochondria were studied. The obtained results indicate: 1. C-terminal fragment of SP (SP6-11) in 10 microM concentration stimulates the Ca2+,Mg2(+)-ATPase activities from cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Na+,K(+)-ATPase from cerebral cortex is hardly sensitive to the action of this fragment. 2. N-terminal fragment of SP (SP1-5) in 10 microM concentration increases Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity from cerebral cortex and hippocampus. 3. N-terminal tetrapeptide (SP1-4) exerts no influence on ATPases independently from their brain localization. 4. The activity of monoamine oxidase after use of C- and N-terminal fragments is unchanged.

The influence of substance P and its fragments on endogenous phosphorylation of synaptosomal membrane protein (synapsin) from cerebral cortex of rat brain

1. The effects of substance P and its fragments and analogue of a C-terminal fragment on cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of synapsin I in synaptosomal membranes (SM) from cerebral cortex were investigated. 2. SP(I-II) and SP(1-4) at 10(-3) M caused a marked stimulation of synapsin I phosphorylation. 3. A C-terminal fragment of SP (SP6-11) had no effect on phosphorylation of synapsin 1. 4. Analogue of C-terminal fragment [(Tyr8)SP6-11] at 10(-3) M distinctly inhibits phosphorylation of synapsin I. 5. These data suggest that SPI-II and its C- and N-terminal fragments have a modulator function against the phosphorylation of some rat brain proteins.

Effects of analogues of substance P fragments on the MAO activity in rat brain

The influence in vitro of analogues of Sp5-11 and SP6-11 substance P fragments on the activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in homogenates and crude mitochondrial fractions of rat brain was examined. The rat brain was divided into: I--cerebral cortex, II--hippocampus, III--midbrain, IV--thalamus with hypothalamus, V--cerebellum and VI--medulla oblongata. The obtained results proved that the analogues of SP fragments inhibit selectively the activity of the enzyme in the homogenates of cerebral cortex, hippocampus, midbrain and cerebellum. In the crude mitochondrial fractions the applied analogues of SP fragments caused a slight increase of the enzyme activity. The most significant changes in the activity of MAO were observed in hippocampus homogenate fraction.

Ca2+Mg2+-atpase activity of synaptosome fraction and synaptosomal membranes from different areas of rat brain

1. Crude synaptosomal fractions obtained from four areas of rat brain were studied; cerebral cortex, hippocampus, midbrain, thalamus with hypothalamus, using the Cotman & Matthews method (1971) Biochim, biophys. Acta 249, 350-394. 2. The purity of synaptosomal fractions was controlled by electron microscopy, and by determination of some marker enzymes such as: LDH, MAO, AChE and cytochrome-c oxidase. 3. Synaptosomes were disrupted by hypoosmotical shock. 4. Crude synaptosomal membrane preparations indicated on increased Ca2+ Mg2+ -ATPase activity in comparison to the activity of this enzyme in synaptosomal fractions. 5. The incubation of crude synaptosomal membranes with cAMP and theophylline caused the subsequent increase of Ca2+ Mg2+ -ATPase activity, but mainly, in hippocampal region.

Characterization of 130kDa protein from rat cerebellum synaptosomal membranes phosphorylated by PKC

1. The effect of endogenous PMA-stimulated phosphorylation of the protein in the molecular weight range of 130 kDa in rat cerebellum synaptosomal membranes was examined. 2. The 50% inhibition of the phosphorylation of 130 kDa protein by 5 microM polymyxin B was observed after 6 min of preincubation. 3. The sensitivity of 130 kDa protein for phosphorylation in the presence of exogenous protein kinase C suggests, that this protein could serve as a physiological substrate of protein kinase C. 4. Partial characterization of 130 kDa protein was performed. Upon incubation with [gamma-32P]ATP the 130 kDa protein formed Ca(2+)-dependent, hydroxylamine-sensitive phosphointermediate, which was inhibited by 50 microM vanadate, but not 0.5 mM vanadyl. 5. One-dimensional peptide mapping by proteolysis of 130 kDa protein with V8 protease was obtained.