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S Fleischer

Publications and source records attributed to S Fleischer.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

31P-NMR studies of oriented multilayers formed from isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum and reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum.

31P-NMR spectra were obtained from oriented multilayer preparations of normal sarcoplasmic reticulum and reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum with lipid to protein ratios varying between 41 : 1 and 110 : 1. The dependence of the 31P-NMr spectra on the alignment of the membranes with respect to the magnetic field was used to draw two conclusions about the motion of the phospholipid molecules that contribute to the observed spectra. First, the phosphate group and the two adjacent methylene groups are able to rapidly rotate (i.e., tau R much less than 10-5 S) around the normal to the plane of the membrane. Second, the restricted internal motion of the phosphate group and the glycerol CH2OP group is very similar to that found in liposomes formed from sarcoplasmic reticulum phospholipids. Calibration experiments showed that all (100 +/- 7%) of the phospholipid molecules in the membrane can be accounted for in the observed spectra. Thus, essentially all the phospholipid molecules in the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes have the same motion in the polar headgroup region as found in model bilayer membranes. Since a large fraction of the phospholipid molecules (between one-quarter and one-half, depending on ;the lipid to protein ratio) are immediately surrounding the calcium-pump protein, we conclude that the calcium-pump protein does not perturb the motion of these 'boundary-layer' lipids.

Animals↗

Phospholipid requirements for the reconstitution of complex-III vesicles exhibiting controlled electron transport.

Phospholipid requirements for the reconstitution of Complex-III vesicles exhibiting respiratory control (electron-transport control) were studied. Vesicles prepared from pure phosphatidylethanolamine gave maximal control ratios. Phosphatidylcholine alone did not support respiratory control, although these vesicles were capable of maintaining stable K+-diffusion gradients. Apparently Complex III cannot insert into a bilayer of phosphatidylcholine. Formation of mixed phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine (6:1, w/w) vesicles was sufficient, however, to allow Complex-III insertion and to restore respiratory control. Mixtures of acidic phospholipids with either phosphatidylethanolamine or phosphatidylcholine did not improve respiratory control over that obtained with pure phosphatidylethanolamine. Phosphatidylethanolamine from bovine heart mitochondria, soya beans or Escherichia coli was equally effective in reconstituting respiratory control, suggesting that the specificity is referable to the head group and not to the fatty-acid moiety.

Animals↗

Functional characteristics of reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes as a function of the lipid-to-protein ratio.

The ATP-induced Ca2+ accumulation efficiency and rates of Ca2+ uptake of the reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum (RSR) model membrane system were measured over an extended range of lipid-to-protein (L/P) molar ratios and were compared to those of isolated light sarcoplasmic reticulum (LSR). Highly purified sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), dissociated in the presence of deoxycholate, was reconstituted for several L/P ratios, according to the same procedure, forming closed membranes vesicles composed of greater than 95% Ca2+ pump protein and SR lipids which were capable of ATP-induced Ca2+ accumulation in the absence of oxalate or other Ca2+ precipitating agents. This suggests that dissociation of SR and reconstitution to form RSR does not significantly affect the ability of the Ca2+ pump protein incorporated into the SR lipid bilayer to establish Ca2+ gradients. Electron micrographs of fixed and stained dispersions of RSR revealed a structural organization of the membrane that was dependent upon the L/P molar ratio. RSR with L/P greater than 88 were composed of closed vesicles whose membranes stained asymmetrically, similar to that observed for LSR. Closed vesicles of RSR with L/P less than 88 were composed of membrane that stained symmetrically. In addition, reconstituted SR preparations with well-defined L/P molar ratios greater than 88 possess a functional behavior similar to that of LSR (in the absence of oxalate, energy efficiencies are 60-70% and apparent initial uptake rates are 80% that of isolated LSR controls); RSR preparations with L/P less than 88 are characterized by significantly depressed values of the energy efficiencies and apparent initial uptake rates especially at low L/P ratios. Thus, we are the first to report a reconstituted SR model membrane system capable of attaining rates of Ca2+ uptake comparable to isolated LSR controls at comparable L/P ratios in the absence of oxalate or other Ca2+ precipitating agents.

Animals↗

Comparison of the profile structures of isolated and reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes.

The profile structures of functional reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum (RSR) membranes were investigated as a function of the lipid/protein (L/P) ratio via x-ray diffraction studies of hydrated oriented multilayers of these membranes to a resolution of 10-15 A, and neutron diffraction studies on these multilayers to lower resolutions. Our results at this stage of investigation indicate that reconstitution of SR with variable amounts of Ca2+ pump protein for L/P ratios greater than 88 results in closed membraneous vesicles in which the Ca2+ pump protein is distributed asymmetrically in the membrane profile; a majority of the protein density is contained primarily in the extravesicular half of the membrane profile whereas a relatively lesser portion of the protein spans the hydrocarbon core of the RSR membranes. These RSR membranes are functionally similar and resemble isolated light sarcoplasmic reticulum in both profile structure and function at a comparable L/P ratio. Reconstitution with greater amounts of Ca2+ pump protein (e. g. L/P approximately 50-60) resulted in substantially less functional membranes with a dramatically thicker profile structure.

Animals↗

Purification, characterization, and reconstitution of the Ca2+-transport system (high-affinity Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase) of the human erythrocyte membrane.

The Ca2+-transport system of human erythrocyte membranes was solubilized by deoxycholate in the presence of the nonionic detergent Tween 20 and was purified by calmodulin affinity chromatography. The method yields a functional enzyme, which as compared with the erythrocyte membrane was purified 207-fold based on specific activity, and about 330-fold based on protein content. The activity of the isolated enzyme can be increased about 9-fold by the addition of calmodulin, resulting in a specific activity of 10.1 mumoles/mg . min at 37 degrees C. Triton X-100 and deoxycholate stimulate the calmodulin-deficient Ca2+-ATPase in a concentration dependent manner, which results in a loss of the calmodulin-sensitivity. The Ca2+-transport ATPase could be reconstituted after solubilization of the ATPase by deoxycholate and controlled dialysis near room temperature. The system was reconstituted to form membraneous vesicles capable of energized Ca2+ accumulation. The membrane vesicles showed a protein to lipid ratio (approx. 60% protein and 40% lipid) similar to that of the original erythrocyte membrane. The stimulation by calmodulin of the calmodulin-depleted membrane-bound and partially purified Ca2+-ATPase is strongly time dependent. At a Ca2+-concentration of 40 microM and low calmodulin concentrations, approx. 120 min are required to regain full activity. This time period is decreased to about 15 min in the presence of a high excess of calmodulin. Vice versa, at fixed concentrations of calmodulin, the time necessary for regain of full activity is decreased as the Ca2+ concentrations is increased. The dependence of the Ca2+-ATPase activity on the calmodulin concentration shows strong deviation from Michaelis-Menten kinetics at Ca2+ concentrations below (4--10 microM) and above (200 microM) the optimum concentration of 40 microM. Mathematical analysis of the results at 200 microM Ca2+ leads to the assumption that 4 calmodulin molecules interact with one oligomer of Ca2+-ATPase consisting of 4 identical subunits.

Biological Transport, Active↗

Essential sulfhydryl for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide binding in D-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase.

Chemical derivatization studies have been directed at the sulfhydryl group of D-beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, a lipid-requiring enzyme. Reaction with N-ethylmaleimide leads to progressive and parallel loss of both enzymic activity and coenzyme binding. Both functions are lost when 1 equiv of sulfhydryl is derivatized per mol of enzyme. Inactivation of the enzyme with methylmercury or with air oxidation also leads to loss of coenzyme binding. We conclude that a single "essential" sulfhydryl is required for coenzyme binding and consequently for enzymic activity. Only two "accessible" cysteine residues can be derivatized even at high levels of N-ethylmaleimide, whereas derivatization of the remaining three "inacessible" cysteines requires denaturation of the enzyme. The enzyme can apparently be labeled in the accessible, but nonessential, sulfhydryl in the presence of coenzyme which protects against inactivation by N-ethylmaleimide. Such selective covalent labeling of the nonessential sulfhydryl makes possible future biophysical studies of enzyme-phospholipid interaction of a functional enzyme using extrinsic probes.

Binding Sites↗

Reconstitution of the Ca2+-transport system of human erythrocytes.

The (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-dependent ATPase of human erythrocyte 'ghosts' was solubilized and reconstituted to form membranous vesicles capable of energized Ca2+ accumulation. The erythrocyte 'ghosts' for this purpose were prepared by using isoosmotic freeze-haemolysis in the presence of Tween 20 and proteinase inhibitors to stabilize the preparation. The reconstitution procedure is similar to that developed by Meissner & Fleischer [(1974) J. Biol. Chem. 249, 302-309] for skeletal-muscle sarcoplasmic-reticulum in that: (1) deoxycholate is used for the solubilization of the membrane; (2) controlled dialysis at near room temperature, rather than 0 degree C, is required in order to obtain a functional preparation capable of Ca2+ accumulation; and (3) membrane vesicles can be reassembled with protein/lipid ratio (approx. 60% protein and 40% lipid) similar to that of the original membrane.

Biological Transport↗

Cramps, muscle pain, and tubular aggregates.

A 31-year-old man had a nine-year history of exercise-induced cramps and muscle pain without myoglobinuria. Results of laboratory investigations differentiated his condition from the known disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Light and electron microscopic examination of a muscle biopsy specimen showed tubular aggregates confined to type II fibers. Although the relationship of tubular aggregates to muscle cramps is uncertain, this association has been described previously and may be significant.

Adult↗

Correlation of ultrastructure of reconstituted sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane vesicles with variation in phospholipid to protein ratio.

We have previously described the reconstitution of functional membrane vesicles with lipid content similar to that of the normal sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane (approximately 1.0 mumol of phospholipid/mg of protein). The present study describes methodology to prepare reconstituted membrane vesicles with defined phospholipid to protein ratio, both lower and higher than that of the original membrane. The Ca2+ loading rate and efficiency are greatest in the membranes of highest protein content (0.38 mumol of phospholipid/mg of protein), decline slowly as the lipid content is quadrupled, and decrease markedly as the lipid content is quadrupled again. Such membranes of defined composition can be used to study lipid-protein interaction and to correlate membrane structure with composition. The number of particles observed by freeze-fracture electron microscopy can be correlated with protein content, whereas the percentage of smooth domain is proportional to the lipid content of the reconstituted membrane. Since 90% or more of the protein of the reconstituted membrane is the calcium pump protein, the number of particles observed by freeze-fracture is directly proportional to the amount of calcium pump protein in the membrane. The number of pump molecules calculated to be in the membrane is greater by a factor of two than the number of particles which we observed. This multiplicity ratio could be greater depending upon the assumptions made regarding the width of the membrane (see "Appendix"). Thus, it would appear that the particles consist of two or more molecules of pump protein. The change in protein concentration of the membrane is reflected also in thin sections and by negative staining. In thin sections, the broad inner and outer 70 A bands become discontinuous and patchy and, in the limit, approach a symmetrical 20,20,20 A trilayer as the protein content of the membrane becomes small. In an analogous fashion, the concentration of particles at the surface of the membrane, observed by negative staining, decreases with increasing lipid concentration in the membrane. Thus, the correlation of composition with structure can be observed by each of the three methods of sample preparation for electron microscopic analysis.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗