UNCOUPLING OF CA2+ TRANSPORT FROM ATP HYDROLYSIS ACTIVITY OF SARCOPLASMIC-RETICULUM (CA2+ + MG2+)-ATPASE

In reconstituted rabbit skeletal muscle (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase proteoliposomes, Ca2+-uptake is decreased by more than 90% with T2 cleavage (Arg-198). However, no difference in the ATP dependence of hydrolysis activity is seen between SR and trypsin-treated SR. A large decrease in E-P formation and hydrolysis activity of the enzyme appear only at T3 cleavage, which represents the cleavage of A1 fragment to A1a + A1b forms. The disappearance of hydrolysis activity due to digestion is prior to the disappearance of E-P formation. No significant difference is found in the passive Ca2+ efflux between control SR and tryptically digested SR in the absence of Mg2+ + ruthenium red or in the presence of ATP. However, the passive Ca2+ efflux rate for tryptically digested SR is much larger than control SR in the presence of Mg2+ + ruthenium red. These results show that the Ca2+ channel cannot be closed after trypsin digestion of SR membranes by the presence of the Ca2+ channel inhibitors, Mg2+ and ruthenium red. In the reconstituted ATPase proteoliposomes, the Ca2+ efflux rates are the same regardless of digestion (T2); also, efflux is not affected by the presence or absence of Mg2+ + ruthenium red. These results indicate that T2 cleavage causes 'uncoupling' of the 'Ca2+-pump' from ATP hydrolytic activity. A theoretical model is developed in order to fit the extent of tryptic digestion of the A fragment of the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase polypeptide with the loss of Ca2+-transport. Fits of the theoretical equations to the data are consistent with that Ca2+-transport system appears to require a dimer of the polypeptide (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase.