Seelochan Beharry

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.

Binding of N-retinylidene-PE to ABCA4 and a model for its transport across membranes.

ABCA4, also known as ABCR or the rim protein, is a member of the ABCA subfamily of ATP binding cassette transporters (Allikmets et al., 1997b; Azarian and Travis, 1997; Illing et al., 1997). It is organized into two tandem arranged halves with each half consisting of a transmembrane segment followed by a large extracellular domain, a multi-spanning membrane domain and a cytoplasmic nucleotide binding domain (Figure 64.1) (Bungert et al., 2001). ABCA4 is localized along the rims and incisures of rod and cone photoreceptor outer segment discs where it is thought to play a role in the visual cycle (Molday et al., 2000; Sun et al., 1999; Weng et al., 1999). Mutations in the gene encoding ABCA4 are responsible for a variety of autosomal recessive retinal degenerative diseases including Stargardt macular dystrophy, cone-rod dystrophy, and retinitis pigmentosa (Allikmets, 2000; Allikmets et al., 1997b; Cremers et al., 1998). Individuals who are heterozygous for selected Stargardt-causing mutations are at a high risk for developing age-related macular degeneration (Allikmets et al., 1997a).

Interaction of beef-heart mitochondrial F1-ATPase with immobilized ATP in the presence of dimethylsulfoxide

Dimethylsulfoxide [Me2SO, 30% (v/v)] promotes the formation of ATP from ADP and phosphate catalyzed by soluble mitochondrial F1-ATPase. The effects of this solvent on the interaction of beef-heart mitochondrial F1 with the immobilized ATP of Agarose-hexane-ATP were studied. In the presence of Me2SO, F1 bound less readily to the immobilized ATP, but once bound was more difficult to elute with exogenous ATP. This suggests that not only was the binding affinity for adenine nucleotide at the first binding site affected but that adenine nucleotide binding affinity at the second and/or third sites, which interact cooperatively with the first site to release bound nucleotide, was also affected. A reduction in the binding of [3H]ADP to these sites was shown. A change in the conformation of F1 in 30% (v/v) Me2SO was demonstrated by crosslinking and by the increased resistance of the enzyme to cold denaturation.

Changes in the adenine nucleotide content of beef-heart mitochondrial F1 ATPase during ATP synthesis in dimethyl sulfoxide

Beef-heart mitochondrial F1 ATPase can be induced to synthesize ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate in 30% Me2SO. We have analyzed the adenine nucleotide content of the F1 ATPase during the time-course of ATP synthesis, in the absence of added medium nucleotide, and in the absence and presence of 10 mM inorganic phosphate. The enzyme used in these investigations was either pretreated or not pretreated with ATP to produce F1 with a defined nucleotide content and catalytic or noncatalytic nucleotide-binding site occupancy. We show that the mechanism of ATP synthesis in Me2SO involves (i) an initial rapid loss of bound nucleotide(s), this process being strongly influenced by inorganic phosphate; (ii) a rebinding of lost nucleotide; and (iii) synthesis of ATP from bound ADP and inorganic phosphate.

Beef-heart mitochondrial F1-ATPase can use endogenous bound phosphate to synthesize ATP in dimethyl sulfoxide

Beer‐heart mitochondrial F1‐ATPase contained 5 mol of inorganic phosphate bound per mol of F1, following pretreatment with ATP. A portion of the phosphate, bound most likely at a catalytic site, reacted in dimethylsulfoxide with endogenous adenine nucleotide to form ATP.

Conformational change in beef-heart mitochondrial F1 ATPase to ATP synthesis mode induced by dimethylsulfoxide and ATP revealed by sulfhydryl group labeling

Treatment of beef‐heart mitochondrial F1 ATPase with 5,5′‐dithiobis(2‐nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) results in the incorporation of 1 mol DTNB/mol F1 without loss of ATPase activity. Incorporation is not prevented by ATP. Labeling occurs predominantly on an α‐subunit, but also with a significant degree of modification of γ‐ and ε‐subunits. It is suggested that the modified sulfhydryl groups of the α‐, γ‐ and ε‐subunits are in proximity so that only one can be modified by the reagent. Guanidine hydrochloride (0.3 M) dissociates F1 into its subunits. Eight sulfhydryl groups/mol F1 can be modified under these conditions. Guanidine hydrochloride does not cause dissociation of F1 in the presence of 30% (v/v) dimethylsulfoxide (Me2SO) and 2 mM ATP. Under these conditions a second molecule of DTNB is incorporated into F1 with nearly equal modification of the ε‐subunit and an α‐subunit. It is proposed that Me2SO and ATP induce a more stable conformation of F1, which is resistant to dissociation by guanidine hydrochloride, but in which the site of reaction with DTNB is made more accessible by the guanidine hydrochloride to permit the simultaneous modification of an α‐subunit and the ε‐subunit. Ths conformation is probably that which occurs during ATP synthesis by F1 in the presence of Me2SO.

Properties of Bound Inorganic Phosphate on Bovine Mitochondrial F1F0-ATP Synthase

Beef-heart mitochondrial F1F0-ATP synthase contained six molecules of bound inorganic phosphate (Pi). This phosphate exchanged completely with exogenous 32Pi when the enzyme was exposed to 30% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and then returned to a DMSO-free buffer (Beharry and Bragg 2001). Only two molecules were replaced by 32Pi when the enzyme was not pretreated with DMSO. These two molecules of 32Pi were not displaced from the enzyme by the treatment with 1 mM ATP. Similarly, two molecules of bound 32Pi remained on the DMSO-pretreated enzyme following addition of ATP, that is, four molecules of 32Pi were displaced by ATP. The ATP-resistant 32Pi was removed from the enzyme by pyrophosphate. It is proposed that these molecules of 32Pi are bound at an unfilled adenine nucleotide-binding noncatalytic site on the enzyme. Brief exposure of the enzyme loaded with two molecules of 32Pi to DMSO, followed by removal of the DMSO, resulted in the loss of the bound 32Pi and in the formation of two molecules of bound ATP from exogenous ADP. A third catalytic site on the enzyme was occupied by ATP, which could undergo a Pi ↔ ATP exchange reaction with bound Pi The presence of two catalytic sites containing bound Pi is consistent with the X-ray crystallographic structure of F1 (Bianchet, et al., 1998). Thus, five of the six molecules of bound Pi were accounted for. Three molecules of bound Pi were at catalytic sites and participated in ATP synthesis or Pi ↔ ATP exchange. Two other molecules of bound Pi were present at a noncatalytic adenine nucleotide-binding site. The location and role of the remaining molecule of bound Pi remains to be established. We were unable to demonstrate, using chemical modification of sulfhydryl groups by iodoacetic acid, any gross difference in the conformation of F1F0 in DMSO-containing compared with DMSO-free buffers.

Phosphate exchange and ATP synthesis by DMSO-pretreated purified bovine mitochondrial ATP synthase.

Purified soluble bovine mitochondrial F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase contained 2 mol of ATP, 2 mol of ADP and 6 mol of P(i)/mol. Incubation of this enzyme with 1 mM [(32)P]P(i) caused the exchange of 2 mol of P(i)/mol of F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase. The labelled phosphates were not displaced by ATP. Transfer of F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase to a buffer containing 30% (v/v) DMSO and 1 mM [(32)P]P(i) resulted in the loss of bound nucleotides with the retention of 1 mol of ATP/mol of F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase. Six molecules of [(32)P]P(i) were incorporated by exchange with the existing bound phosphate. Removal of the DMSO by passage of the enzyme through a centrifuged column of Sephadex G-50 resulted in the exchange of one molecule of bound [(32)P]P(i) into the bound ATP. Azide did not prevent this [(32)P]P(i)<-->ATP exchange reaction. The bound labelled ATP could be displaced from the enzyme by exogenous ATP. Addition of ADP to the DMSO-pretreated F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase in the original DMSO-free buffer resulted in the formation of an additional molecule of bound ATP. It was concluded that following pretreatment with and subsequent removal of DMSO the F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase contained one molecule of ATP at a catalytic site which was competent to carry out a phosphate-ATP exchange reaction using enzyme-bound inorganic radiolabelled phosphate. In the presence of ADP an additional molecule of labelled ATP was formed from enzyme-bound P(i) at a second catalytic site. The bound phosphate-ATP exchange reaction is not readily accommodated by current mechanisms for the ATP synthase.