Na,K-ATPase activity and epithelial interfaces in gills of the freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium amazonicum (Decapoda, Palaemonidae).

Diadromous freshwater shrimps are exposed to brackish water both as an obligatory part of their larval life cycle and during adult reproductive migration; their well-developed osmoregulatory ability is crucial to survival in such habitats. This study examines gill microsomal Na,K-ATPase (K-phosphatase activity) kinetics and protein profiles in the freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium amazonicum when in fresh water and after 10-days of acclimation to brackish water (21 per thousand salinity), as well as potential routes of Na+ uptake across the gill epithelium in fresh water. On acclimation, K-phosphatase activity decreases 2.5-fold, Na,K-ATPase alpha-subunit expression declines, total protein expression pattern is markedly altered, and enzyme activity becomes redistributed into different density membrane fractions, possibly reflecting altered vesicle trafficking between the plasma membrane and intracellular compartments. Ultrastructural analysis reveals an intimately coupled pillar cell-septal cell architecture and shows that the cell membrane interfaces between the external medium and the hemolymph are greatly augmented by apical pillar cell evaginations and septal cell invaginations, respectively. These findings are discussed regarding the putative movement of Na+ across the pillar cell interfaces and into the hemolymph via the septal cells, powered by the Na,K-ATPase located in their invaginations.

The crustacean gill (Na+,K+)-ATPase: allosteric modulation of high- and low-affinity ATP-binding sites by sodium and potassium.

The blue crab, Callinectes danae, tolerates exposure to a wide salinity range employing mechanisms of compensatory ion uptake when in dilute media. Although the gill (Na+,K+)-ATPase is vital to hyperosmoregulatory ability, the interactions occurring at the sites of ATP binding on the molecule itself are unknown. Here, we investigate the modulation by Na+ and K+ of homotropic interactions between the ATP-binding sites, and of phosphoenzyme formation of the (Na+,K+)-ATPase from the posterior gills of this euryhaline crab. The contribution of the high- and low-affinity ATP-binding sites to maximum velocity was similar for both Na+ and K+. However, in contrast to Na+, a threshold K+ concentration triggers the appearance of the high-affinity binding sites, displacing the saturation curve to lower ATP concentrations.Further, a low-affinity site for phosphorylation is present on the enzyme. These findings reveal notable differences in the catalytic mechanism of the crustacean (Na+,K+)-ATPase compared to the vertebrate enzyme.

Regulation by the exogenous polyamine spermidine of Na,K-ATPase activity from the gills of the euryhaline swimming crab Callinectes danae (Brachyura, Portunidae).

Euryhaline crustaceans rarely hyporegulates and employ the driving force of the Na,K-ATPase, located at the basal surface of the gill epithelium, to maintain their hemolymph osmolality within a range compatible with cell function during hyper-regulation. Since polyamine levels increase during the adaptation of crustaceans to hyperosmotic media, we investigate the effect of exogenous polyamines on Na,K-ATPase activity in the posterior gills of Callinectes danae, a euryhaline swimming crab. Polyamine inhibition was dependent on cation concentration, charge and size in the following order: spermine>spermidine>putrescine. Spermidine affected K(0.5) values for Na(+) with minor alterations in K(0.5) values for K(+) and NH(4)(+), causing a decrease in maximal velocities under saturating Na(+), K(+) and NH(4)(+) concentrations. Phosphorylation measurements in the presence of 20 microM ATP revealed that the Na,K-ATPase possesses a high affinity site for this substrate. In the presence of 10 mM Na(+), both spermidine and spermine inhibited formation of the phosphoenzyme; however, in the presence of 100 mM Na(+), the addition of these polyamines allowed accumulation of the phosphoenzyme. The polyamines inhibited pumping activity, both by competing with Na(+) at the Na(+)-binding site, and by inhibiting enzyme dephosphorylation. These findings suggest that polyamine-induced inhibition of Na,K-ATPase activity may be physiologically relevant during migration to fully marine environments.

Gill (Na+,K+)-ATPase in diadromous, freshwater palaemonid shrimps: species-specific kinetic characteristics and alpha-subunit expression.

To better comprehend physiological adaptation to dilute media and the molecular mechanisms underlying ammonia excretion in palaemonid shrimps, we characterized the (Na+,K+)-ATPase from Macrobrachium amazonicum gills, disclosing high- (K(0.5) = 4.2+/-0.2 micromol L(-1); V = 33.9+/-1.9 U mg(-1)) and low-affinity (K(0.5) = 0.144+/-0.010 mmol L(-1); V = 232.9+/-15.3 U mg(-1)) ATP hydrolyzing sites. Stimulation by Na+ (K(0.5) = 5.5+/-0.3 mmol L(-1); V = 275.1+/-15.1 U mg(-1)), Mg2+ (K(0.5) = 0.79+/-0.06 mmol L(-1); V = 261.9+/-18.3 U mg(-1)), K+ (K(M) = 0.88+/-0.04 mmol L(-1); V = 271.8+/-10.9 U mg(-1)) and NH4(+) (K(M) = 5.0+/-0.2 mmol L(-1); V = 385.9+/-15.8 U mg(-1)) obeys single saturation curves, activity being stimulated synergistically by NH4(+) and K+. There is a single K+ binding site, NH4(+) binding to a second, exclusive site, stimulating activity by 33%, modulating K+ affinity. (Na+,K+)-ATPase activity constitutes approximately 80% of total ATPase activity (K(Iouabain) = 147.5+/-8.9 micromol L(-1)); Na+-, K+-, Ca2+-, V- and F(o)F(1)-ATPases are also present. M. amazonicum microsomal fractions possess approximately 2-fold less (Na+,K+)-ATPase alpha-subunit than M. olfersi, consistent with a 2.6-fold lower specific activity. These differences in (Na+, K+)-ATPase stimulation by ATP and ions, and specific activities of other ATPases, suggest the presence of distinct biochemical adaptations to life in fresh water in these related species.

K+ and NH4(+) modulate gill (Na+, K+)-ATPase activity in the blue crab, Callinectes ornatus: fine tuning of ammonia excretion.

To better comprehend the mechanisms of ionic regulation, we investigate the modulation by Na+, K+, NH4(+) and ATP of the (Na+, K+)-ATPase in a microsomal fraction from Callinectes ornatus gills. ATP hydrolysis obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with KM=0.61+/-0.03 mmol L(-1) and maximal rate of V=116.3+/-5.4 U mg(-1). Stimulation by Na+ (V=110.6+/-6.1 U mg(-1); K0.5=6.3+/-0.2 mmol L(-1)), Mg2+ (V=111.0+/-4.7 U mg(-1); K0.5=0.53+/-0.03 mmol L(-1)), NH4(+) (V=173.3+/-6.9 U mg(-1); K0.5=5.4+/-0.2 mmol L(-1)) and K+ (V=116.0+/-4.9 U mg(-1); K0.5=1.5+/-0.1 mmol L(-1)) followed a single saturation curve, although revealing site-site interactions. In the absence of NH4(+), ouabain (K(I)=74.5+/-1.2 micromol L(-1)) and orthovanadate inhibited ATPase activity by up to 87%; the inhibition patterns suggest the presence of F0F1 and K+-ATPases but not Na+-, V- or Ca2+-ATPase as contaminants. (Na+, K+)-ATPase activity was synergistically modulated by K+ and NH4(+). At 10 mmol L(-1) K+, increasing NH4(+) concentrations stimulated maximum activity to V=185.9+/-7.4 U mg(-1). However, at saturating NH4(+) (50 mmol L(-1)), increasing K+ concentrations did not stimulate activity further. Our findings provide evidence that the C. ornatus gill (Na+, K+)-ATPase may be particularly well suited for extremely efficient active NH4(+) excretion. At elevated NH4(+) concentrations, the enzyme is fully active, regardless of hemolymph K+ concentration, and K+ cannot displace NH4(+) from its exclusive binding sites. Further, the binding of NH4(+) to its specific sites induces an increase in enzyme apparent affinity for K+, which may contribute to maintaining K+ transport, assuring that exposure to elevated ammonia concentrations does not lead to a decrease in intracellular potassium levels. This is the first report of modulation by ammonium ions of C. ornatus gill (Na+, K+)-ATPase, and should further our understanding of NH4(+) excretion in benthic crabs.

Long-term exposure of the freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium olfersii to elevated salinity: effects on gill (Na+,K+)-ATPase alpha-subunit expression and K+-phosphatase activity.

The kinetic properties of a microsomal gill (Na+,K+)-ATPase from the freshwater shrimp, Macrobrachium olfersii, acclimated to 21 per thousand salinity for 10 days were investigated using the substrate p-nitrophenylphosphate. The enzyme hydrolyzed this substrate obeying cooperative kinetics at a rate of 123.6+/-4.9 U mg-1 and K0.5=1.31+/-0.05 mmol L-1. Stimulation of K+-phosphatase activity by magnesium (Vmax=125.3+/-7.5 U mg-1; K0.5=2.09+/-0.06 mmol L-1), potassium (Vmax=134.2+/-6.7 U mg-1; K0.5=1.33+/-0.06 mmol L-1) and ammonium ions (Vmax=130.1+/-5.9 U mg-1; K0.5=11.4+/-0.5 mmol L-1) was also cooperative. While orthovanadate abolished p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity, ouabain inhibition reached 80% (KI=304.9+/-18.3 micromol L-1). The kinetic parameters estimated differ significantly from those for freshwater-acclimated shrimps, suggesting expression of different isoenzymes during salinity adaptation. Despite the approximately 2-fold reduction in K+-phosphatase specific activity, Western blotting analysis revealed similar alpha-subunit expression in gill tissue from shrimps acclimated to 21 per thousand salinity or fresh water, although expression of phosphate-hydrolyzing enzymes other than (Na+,K+)-ATPase was stimulated by high salinity acclimation.

Structural and kinetic alterations of constitutive conidial alkaline phosphatase from the osmotically-sensitive mutant of Neurospora crassa.

The osmotically-sensitive os-1 mutant of Neurospora crassa overproduced conidial alkaline phosphatase. The enzyme was purified by Phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B chromatography and Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. PAGE analysis of the purified enzyme suggested the occurrence of aggregation and/or disaggregation phenomena. The enzyme is a glycoprotein containing 16% saccharide, with apparent molar mass of 137 kDa. Two protein bands (36 and 62 kDa) were observed in SDS-PAGE, suggesting that the native enzyme was a trimer. The pI was estimated to be 2.7, and optima of pH and temperature were 9.5 and 65 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme showed broad substrate specificity, hydrolyzing preferentially 4-nitrophenyl phosphate, O-phosphoamino-acids and 2-phosphoglycerate. The hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl phosphate was stimulated by Co(II) (26%), Ni(II) (23%) and Mg(II) ions (80%). The enzyme was stable for up to 6 months at 4 degrees C in 5 mmol/L Tris-HCl buffer and also upon storage at 25 degrees C for 10 d. The kinetic and structural properties of the conidial enzyme purified from the os-1 mutant were quite different from those of the wild type strain. The enzyme overproduction observed in the mutant may be related to cell wall alterations that affect the process of enzyme secretion.

Gill microsomal (Na+,K+)-ATPase from the blue crab Callinectes danae: Interactions at cationic sites.

Euryhaline crustaceans tolerate exposure to a wide range of dilute media, using compensatory, ion regulatory mechanisms. However, data on molecular interactions occurring at cationic sites on the crustacean gill (Na+,K+)-ATPase, a key enzyme in this hyperosmoregulatory process, are unavailable. We report that Na+ binding at the activating site leads to cooperative, heterotropic interactions that are insensitive to K+. The binding of K+ ions to their high affinity sites displaces Na+ ions from their sites. The increase in Na+ ion concentrations increases heterotropic interactions with the K+ ions, with no changes in K0.5 for K+ ion activation at the extracellular sites. Differently from mammalian (Na+,K+)-ATPases, that from C. danae exhibits additional NH4+ ion binding sites that synergistically activate the enzyme at saturating concentrations of Na+ and K+ ions. NH4+ binding is cooperative, and heterotropic NH4+ ion interactions are insensitive to Na+ ions, but Na+ ions displace NH4+ ions from their sites. NH4+ ions also displace Na+ ions from their sites. Mg2+ ions modulate enzyme stimulation by NH4+ ions, displacing NH4+ ion from its sites. These interactions may modulate NH4+ ion excretion and Na+ ion uptake by the gill epithelium in euryhaline crustaceans that confront hyposmotic media.

K+-Phosphatase activity of gill (Na+, K+)-ATPase from the blue crab, Callinectes danae: low-salinity acclimation and expression of the alpha-subunit.

The kinetic properties of a microsomal gill (Na(+), K(+)) ATPase from the blue crab, Callinectes danae, acclimated to 15 per thousand salinity for 10 days, were analyzed using the substrate p-nitrophenylphosphate. The (Na(+), K(+))-ATPase hydrolyzed the substrate obeying Michaelian kinetics at a rate of V=102.9+/-4.3 U.mg(-1) with K(0.5)=1.7+/-0.1 mmol.L(-1), while stimulation by magnesium (V=93.7+/-2.3 U.mg(-1); K(0.5)=1.40+/-0.03 mmol.L(-1)) and potassium ions (V=94.9+/-3.5 U.mg(-1); K(0.5)=2.9+/-0.1 mmol.L(-1)) was cooperative. K(+)-phosphatase activity was also stimulated by ammonium ions to a rate of V=106.2+/-2.2 U. mg(-1) with K(0.5)=9.8+/-0.2 mmol.L(-1), following cooperative kinetics (n(H)=2.9). However, K(+)-phosphatase activity was not stimulated further by K(+) plus NH(4) (+) ions. Sodium ions (K(I)=22.7+/-1.7 mmol.L(-1)), and orthovanadate (K(I)=28.1+/-1.4 nmol.L(-1)) completely inhibited PNPPase activity while ouabain inhibition reached almost 75% (K(I)=142.0+/-7.1 micromol.L(-1)). Western blotting analysis revealed increased expression of the (Na(+), K(+))-ATPase alpha-subunit in crabs acclimated to 15 per thousand salinity compared to those acclimated to 33 per thousand salinity. The increase in (Na(+), K(+))-ATPase activity in C. danae gill tissue in response to low-salinity acclimation apparently derives from the increased expression of the (Na(+), K( (+) ))-ATPase alpha-subunit; phosphate-hydrolyzing enzymes other than (Na(+), K(+))-ATPase are also expressed. These findings allow a better understanding of the kinetic behavior of the enzymes that underlie the osmoregulatory mechanisms of euryhaline crustaceans.

Gill (Na+,K+)-ATPase from the blue crab Callinectes danae: modulation of K+-phosphatase activity by potassium and ammonium ions.

The kinetic properties of a microsomal gill (Na(+),K(+))-ATPase from the blue crab Callinectes danae were analyzed using the substrate p-nitrophenylphosphate. The (Na(+),K(+))-ATPase hydrolyzed PNPP obeying cooperative kinetics (n=1.5) at a rate of V=125.4+/-7.5 U mg(-1) with K(0.5)=1.2+/-0.1 mmol l(-1); stimulation by potassium (V=121.0+/-6.1 U mg(-1); K(0.5)=2.1+/-0.1 mmol l(-1)) and magnesium ions (V=125.3+/-6.3 U mg(-1); K(0.5)=1.0+/-0.1 mmol l(-1)) was cooperative. Ammonium ions also stimulated the enzyme through site-site interactions (n(H)=2.7) to a rate of V=126.1+/-4.8 U mg(-1) with K(0.5)=13.7+/-0.5 mmol l(-1). However, K(+)-phosphatase activity was not stimulated further by K(+) plus NH(4)(+) ions. Sodium ions (K(I)=36.7+/-1.7 mmol l(-1)), ouabain (K(I)=830.3+/-42.5 micromol l(-1)) and orthovanadate (K(I)=34.0+/-1.4 nmol l(-1)) completely inhibited K(+)-phosphatase activity. The competitive inhibition by ATP (K(I)=57.2+/-2.6 micromol l(-1)) of PNPPase activity suggests that both substrates are hydrolyzed at the same site on the enzyme. These data reveal that the K(+)-phosphatase activity corresponds strictly to a (Na(+),K(+))-ATPase in C. danae gill tissue. This is the first known kinetic characterization of K(+)-phosphatase activity in the portunid crab C. danae and should provide a useful tool for comparative studies.

Modulation by ammonium ions of gill microsomal (Na+,K+)-ATPase in the swimming crab Callinectes danae: a possible mechanism for regulation of ammonia excretion.

The modulation by Na(+), K(+), NH(4)(+) and ATP of the (Na(+),K(+))-ATPase in a microsomal fraction from Callinectes danae gills was analyzed. ATP was hydrolyzed at high-affinity binding sites at a maximal rate of V=35.4+/-2.1 Umg(-1) and K(0.5)=54.0+/-3.6 nM, obeying cooperative kinetics (n(H)=3.6). At low-affinity sites, the enzyme hydrolyzed ATP obeying Michaelis-Menten kinetics with K(M)=55.0+/-3.0 microM and V=271.5+/-17.2 Umg(-1). This is the first demonstration of a crustacean (Na(+),K(+))-ATPase with two ATP hydrolyzing sites. Stimulation by sodium (K(0.5)=5.80+/-0.30 mM), magnesium (K(0.5)=0.48+/-0.02 mM) and potassium ions (K(0.5)=1.61+/-0.06 mM) exhibited site-site interactions, while that by ammonium ions obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics (K(M)=4.61+/-0.27 mM). Ouabain (K(I)=147.2+/-7.microM) and orthovanadate (K(I)=11.2+/-0.6 microM) completely inhibited ATPase activity, indicating the absence of contaminating ATPase and/or neutral phosphatase activities. Ammonium and potassium ions synergistically stimulated the enzyme, increasing specific activities up to 90%, suggesting that these ions bind to different sites on the molecule. The presence of each ion modulates enzyme stimulation by the other. The modulation of (Na(+),K(+))-ATPase activity by ammonium ions, and the excretion of NH(4)(+) in benthic crabs are discussed.