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Suppressive effects of FR167653, an inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated kinase, on calreticulin mRNA expression induced by endoplasmic reticulum stresses.

Several endoplasmic reticulum chaperones are simultaneously transactivated in response to various forms of endoplasmic reticulum stresses. Calreticulin is one such chaperone. We here show that the compound FR167653 [1-[7-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-8-(4-pyridyl)pyrazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazin-2-yl]-2-phenylethanedione sulfate monohydrate] suppresses the transactivation of calreticulin following endoplasmic reticulum stress. FR167653, like SB203580 [4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)-imidazole], has been reported to inhibit p38 mitogen-activated kinase (p38 MAPK). In this study, FR167653 concentration-dependently inhibited the up-regulation of the calreticulin mRNA level following an endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by thapsigargin in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells and rat phechromocytoma PC12 cells. The compound concentration-dependently suppressed the transactivation of luciferase by thapsigargin in a reporter assay with a calreticulin promoter-luciferase conjugated reporter vector. SB203580 also significantly suppressed the transactivation of calreticulin by thapsigargin. Therefore, FR167653 regulated the mRNA expression of calreticulin at the transcriptional level without affecting the stability of the mRNA, as well as via inhibition of p38 MAPK activated by thapsigargin. FR167653 also inhibited the transactivation of calreticulin stimulated by two other endoplasmic reticulum stress inducers, tunicamycin and A23187. Moreover, the inhibitory action of the compound on the transactivation was observed in other cell lines. The calreticulin promoter region includes three sequential cis-acting endoplasmic reticulum stress response elements (ERSEs). As each of these ERSEs was sequentially deleted, there was an increasing loss of the transactivation by thapsigargin or tunicamycin. FR167653 inhibited the transactivation in all the reporter plasmid constructs containing the calreticulin promoter region with an ERSE/ERSEs. In conclusion, FR167653 is the first compound shown to inhibit the transactivation of calreticulin following various endoplasmic reticulum stresses. The suppressive effects of the compound were considered to be due to an inhibition of the signaling leading to ERSEs activation in the calreticulin promoter region via an inhibition of p38 MAPK, which is activated by endoplasmic reticulum stresses.

Animals↗

Ca(2+) movement from leaky sarcoplasmic reticulum during contraction of rat arterial smooth muscles.

To examine the Ca(2+) buffering function of the sarcoplasmic reticulum during arterial contraction, we studied Ca(2+) movement during stimulation with K(+) or norepinephrine in arteries with a leaky sarcoplasmic reticulum. Responses were compared in endothelium-denuded strips of femoral, mesenteric and carotid arteries of the rat. To make the sarcoplasmic reticulum leaky to Ca(2+), Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release channels of the sarcoplasmic reticulum were locked open by treatment with ryanodine plus caffeine. After ryanodine treatment, the contractile responses to K(+) (3-20 mM) were augmented when compared with control responses in femoral and mesenteric arteries, but were inhibited in the carotid artery. Similar results were obtained when the contractile responses to norepinephrine were determined. The inhibition by ryanodine of the K(+)- or norepinephrine-contractions seen in the carotid artery was reversed by pretreatment with cyclopiazonic acid (10 microM), an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase, but was not by charybdotoxin (100 nM), a blocker of Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels. We conclude that (1) after ryanodine treatment, Ca(2+) entering from the extracellular space during stimulation with K(+) or norepinephrine is first taken up into the leaky sarcoplasmic reticulum and then reaches the myofilaments in femoral and mesenteric arteries, while in the carotid artery, Ca(2+) leaked from the sarcoplasmic reticulum reaches mainly the plasma membrane from where it is extruded into the extracellular space, and (2) the different movement of Ca(2+) may be due to the relative location of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the smooth muscle cell of each artery.

Animals↗

The endoplasmic reticulum as an integrating signalling organelle: from neuronal signalling to neuronal death.

The endoplasmic reticulum is one of the largest intracellular organelles represented by continuous network of cisternae and tubules, which occupies the substantial part of neuronal somatas and extends into finest neuronal processes. The endoplasmic reticulum controls protein synthesis as well as their post-translational processing, and generates variety of nucleus-targeted signals through Ca(2+)-binding chaperones. The normal functioning of the endoplasmic reticulum signalling cascades requires high concentrations of free calcium ions within the endoplasmic reticulum lumen ([Ca(2+)](L)), and severe alterations in [Ca(2+)](L) trigger endoplasmic reticulum stress response, manifested by either unfolded protein response (UPR) or endoplasmic reticulum overload response (EOR). At the same time, the endoplasmic reticulum is critically involved in fast neuronal signalling, by producing local or global cytosolic calcium signals via Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release (CICR) or inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced Ca(2+) release (IICR). Both CICR and IICR are important for synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity. Several special techniques allowing real-time [Ca(2+)](L) monitoring were developed recently. Video-imaging of [Ca(2+)](L) in neurones demonstrates that physiological signalling triggers minor decreases in overall intraluminal Ca(2+) concentration due to strong activation of Ca(2+) uptake, which prevents severe [Ca(2+)](L) alterations. The endoplasmic reticulum lumen also serves as a "tunnel" which allows rapid transport of Ca(2+) ions within highly polarised nerve cells. Fluctuations of intraluminal free Ca(2+) concentration represent a universal mechanism, which integrates physiological cellular signalling with protein synthesis and processing. In pathological conditions, fluctuations in [Ca(2+)](L) may initiate either adaptive or fatal stress responses.

Animals↗

9-Methyl-7-bromoeudistomin D induces Ca2+ release from cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum.

9-Methyl-7-bromoeudistomin D (MBED), the most powerful caffeine-like releaser of Ca2+ from skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum, induced Ca2+ release from the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum. MBED (5 microM) and caffeine (1 mM) caused rapid Ca2+ release from the fragmented cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum in a Ca2+ electrode experiment. [3H]MBED bound to a single class of high-affinity binding sites in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes (Kd = 150 nM). These results suggest that MBED binds to a specific binding site on cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes to induce Ca2+ release from the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum. Thus, MBED is a useful probe for characterizing Ca2+ release the channels not only in skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum but also in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Animals↗

Polyribosomal attachment to rat liver and hepatoma endoplasmic reticulum in vitro. A method for its study.

A system for study and measurement of the attachment in vitro of exogenous polyribosomes to membranes has been presented. Its main features are use of low temperature, post-microsomal supernatant, pyrophosphate and citric acid to remove ribosomes from the surface of rough endoplasmic reticulum, and a method for quantitative separation of unattached from membrane-associated polyribosomes. The following were found. (1) Rough endoplasmic reticulum, from which ribosomes had been removed by treatment with pyrophosphate and citrate, bound over 50% of added polyribosomes, whereas the untreated (or control) rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum and the smooth endoplasmic reticulum treated with pyrophosphate-citrate did not bind polyribosomes. (2) The polyribosome-binding capacity of rough endoplasmic reticulum stripped of its ribosomes decayed upon storage of the membranes at 0-4 degrees C. The half-life of this decay was about 6 days whereas that of the polyribosome-binding capacity of hepatoma stripped rough endoplasmic reticulum was about 1.5 days. (3) Preparations of stripped rough endoplasmic reticulum after reassociation with polyribosomes in vitro were quite similar to preparations of native rough endoplasmic reticulum as viewed with the electron microscope. Evidence is presented to support the contention that association of polyribosomes with membranes was the result of polyribosomal reattachment to the membranes rather than trapping of the polyribosomes between vesicles of the membranes.

Animals↗

Heterogeneity of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases in liver endoplasmic reticulum.

A microsomal fraction from rat liver was subfractionated into three rough endoplasmic reticulum fractions RIII, RII and RI, together with a smooth endoplasmic reticulum plus Golgi fraction. Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity was found in all fractions. Subsequently it was shown that Golgi fractions were essentially devoid of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity and the activity resided in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum fraction. The activity of the endoplasmic reticulum constituted some 20% of the homogenate activity, with the major fraction of this being associated with the RII fraction and the least with the RI fraction. With the exception of the activity of the RI fraction, which was a peripheral enzyme, all of the other enzyme activities were integral, requiring detergent or repeated freeze-thawing to effect solubilization. All of the activities appeared to be exposed at the external surface of the endoplasmic reticulum, as they were inactivated by trypsin under conditions where glucose 6-phosphatase was not. All of these activities displayed distinct sensitivities to both thermal and trypsin inactivation, yielding activity decays consistent with a single enzyme species being present in each case. The freeze-thaw-solubilized enzymes yielded single symmetrical peaks on sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation and polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The sedimentation coefficients for the enzymes in the smooth-endoplasmic-reticulum-plus-Golgi, RIII, RII and RI fractions were 3.2S, 4.2S, 4.5S and 4.5S respectively. Whereas the activity in the smooth-endoplasmic-reticulum-plus-Golgi fraction exhibited normal Michaelis kinetics, those in the other fractions yielded kinetics indicative of apparent negative co-operativity. All of the enzymes exhibited low Km values towards cyclic AMP. The enzymes did not appear to be regulated by Ca2+ or calmodulin. ZnCl2 was found to be a potent non-competitive inhibitor of the enzyme in all fractions. NaF was a weak non-competitive inhibitor. The bilayer fluidizing agent benzyl alcohol exerted dissimilar effects on the enzyme activities. It is concluded that the endoplasmic reticulum displays lateral heterogeneity, with single, rather distinct, cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases being found in the different fractions.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Uptake of calcium by the endoplasmic reticulum of the frog photoreceptor.

We studied retinal photoreceptors of Rana pipiens by using techniques designed to investigate calcium localization. Particularly useful were methods in which intracellular sites of calcium uptake were detected by incubation of saponin-treated isolated retinas in calcium-containing media, with oxalate present as a trapping agent. With these procedures, cell compartments accumulate deposits, which can be shown to contain calcium by x-ray microanalysis. Calcium accumulation was prominent in the rough endoplasmic reticulum in the myoid region. In addition, deposits were observed in agranular reticulum and in certain Golgi-associated compartments of the myoid region, in mitochondria, in axonal reticulum, and in agranular reticulum of presynaptic terminals. Calcium was also detected in the endoplasmic reticulum of retinas fixed directly upon isolation, by a freeze-substitution method. The factors influencing accumulation of calcium in the endoplasmic reticulum were evaluated by a semiquantitative approach based on determining the relative frequency of calcium oxalate crystals under varying conditions. Calcium accumulation was markedly enhanced by ATP. Studies with a nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue (adenylyl- imidodiphosphate ) and with inhibitors of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-Mg2+ ATPase (mersalyl and tetracaine) indicated that this ATP-dependent calcium uptake reflects an energy-dependent process roughly comparable to that in the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

The buffer barrier hypothesis, [Ca2+]i homogeneity, and sarcoplasmic reticulum function in swine carotid artery.

1. The goal of this study was to evaluate the buffer barrier hypothesis in an intact arterial smooth muscle. Specifically, we investigated the interrelationships between intracellular [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i) homogeneity and sarcoplasmic reticulum function in swine carotid artery. 2. We measured focal changes in [Ca2+]i by exploiting the different characteristics of several [Ca2+]i indicators: (1) aequorin, which can detect focal increases in [Ca2+]i such as those that occur in the subplasmalemmal region ([Ca2+]pm); (2) fura-2, which is primarily a measure of mean cytoplasmic [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]c); and (3) force, which reflects increases in [Ca2+] near the contractile apparatus. We then estimated the relative degree of [Ca2+]i homogeneity with the aequorin/fura-2 ratio. Finally, we inhibited sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pumping with cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), an inhibitor of the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA). 3. We found that, after Ca2+ depletion, the sarcoplasmic reticulum could be partially reloaded with Ca2+ by manipulations that increased the aequorin signal relatively more than the fura-2 signal. Complete reloading required large increases in the fura-2 signal. These data suggest that increases in [Ca2+]pm (as measured with aequorin) can partially reload the sarcoplasmic reticulum, but complete reloading required increases in [Ca2+]c (as measured with fura-2). Reloading could be partially inhibited by 10 microM CPA, indicating that SERCA function was important for reloading. 4. In unstimulated arteries, 10 microM CPA increased the fura-2 signal without altering the aequorin signal, thereby decreasing the aequorin/fura-2 ratio. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ without CPA also reduced the aequorin/fura-2 ratio. These data suggest that resting cells have a [Ca2+] gradient with [Ca2+]pm > [Ca2+]c; this gradient is maintained by SERCA function. 5. CPA slowed the decline in the fura-2 signal observed when histamine stimulation was removed. This result is consistent with the concept of vectorial Ca2+ efflux in which Ca2+ pumping by SERCA reduces [Ca2+]c after stimulation. 6. Ca2+ depletion by prior treatment with 100 microM histamine and CPA transiently attenuated subsequent histamine-induced aequorin and fura-2 transients. The effect on contraction was smaller: a delay in contraction of approximately 10 s. These data suggest that histamine-induced Ca2+ release has at least a small role in the initial phase of contraction; however, other contractile mechanisms appear to be able to compensate for loss of Ca2+ release with only modest changes in contraction kinetics. 7. These data suggest that there is a complex interrelationship between smooth muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum function and [Ca2+] in at least two cytoplasmic compartments. [Ca2+]pm and [Ca2+]c can differentially regulate sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ filling; and sarcoplasmic reticulum function regulates [Ca2+]pm and [Ca2+]c.

Aequorin↗

Effects of pH on the myofilaments and the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skinned cells from cardiace and skeletal muscles.

1. The effects of decreasing pH from 7.40 to 6.20 on the tension developed by direct activation of the myofilaments and by Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum were studied comparatively in segments of single cells of skeletal muscle (frog semitendinosus) and cardiac muscle (rat ventricle) from which the sarcolemma had been removed by micro-dissection (skinned muscle cells). 2. The concentration of free Ca2+ in the solutions was buffered with ethylene glycol-bis (beta-aminoethylether N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). The change of the buffer capacity of a given [total EGTA] caused by varying pH and the uncertainty about the value of the equilibrium constant for Ca-EGTA have been taken into account in the interpretation of the results. 3. Decreasing pH from 7.40 to 6.20 produced an increase in the [free Ca2+] required for the myofilaments to develop 50% of the maximum tension by a factor of about 5 in skinned cardiac cells but of only 3 in skeletal muscle fibres. In addition, acidosis depressed the maximum tension developed in the presence of a saturating [free Ca2+] by approximately the same amount in the two tissues. 4. The pH optimum for loading the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skinned fibres from skeletal muscle decreased when the pCa (-log [free Ca2+]) in the loading solution decreased. The optimum was pH 7.40-7.00 for a loading at pCa 7.75, pH 7.00-6.60 at pCa 7.00 and pH 6.60-6.20 at pCa 6.00. 5. The pH optimum for loading the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skinned cardiac cells with a solution at pCa 7.75 was about pH 7.40 as in skeletal muscle fibres. But the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum could not be loaded with a [free Ca2+] much higher than pCa 7.75 because a higher [free Ca2+] triggered a Ca2+-induced release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. 6. The pH optimum of about 7.40 for the loading of the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum was also optimum for the Ca2+-induced release of Ca2+ from it. 7. It was concluded that the effects of acidosis on the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum accentuate the depressive action of decreasing pH on the myofilaments. This may explain the pronounced depression of contractility observed during acidosis in cardiac muscle. In contrast, a moderate acidosis causes an effect on skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum that could compensate for the depressive action on the myofilaments, which is, in addition, less pronounced than in cardiac muscle.

Animals↗

The effect of alloxan- and streptozotocin-induced diabetes on calcium transport in rat cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum. The possible involvement of long chain acylcarnitines.

Isolated working hearts from diabetic rats have a decreased ability to respond to increasing preload or afterload. The ability of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum to transport Ca2+ was examined in diabetic rats. Hearts were obtained from female Wistar rats 120 days or 7 days after the induction of diabetes by a single I.V. injection of either alloxan (65 mg/kg) or streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). At all Ca2+ concentrations tested (0.2-5.0 microM free Ca2+) cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum from 120-day diabetic rats showed a significant decrease in the rate of ATP-dependent tris-oxalate facilitated Ca2+ transport (62-73% of control). This was accompanied by a decrease in Ca2+ ATPase activity. The levels of long chain acylcarnitines associated with the microsomal sarcoplasmic reticulum preparation from 120-day diabetic rats were significantly higher than those present in sarcoplasmic reticulum from control rats. Palmitylcarnitine, the most abundant of the long chain acylcarnitines, in concentrations less than 7 microM was found to be a potent time-dependent inhibitor of Ca2+ transport in both control and diabetic rat sarcoplasmic reticulum preparations; inhibition of Ca2+ transport was found to be more marked in the control preparations. This would indicate that a degree of inhibition produced by the high endogenous levels of palmitylcarnitine may already be present in the diabetic rat preparations. Cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum prepared from acutely diabetic rats (7 days) did not show any decrease in Ca2+ transport ability. Levels of long chain acylcarnitines associated with the microsomal preparation enriched in sarcoplasmic reticulum were also unchanged. These findings suggest that the alteration in heart function in 120-day diabetic rats may be due to the buildup of cellular long chain acylcarnitines which inhibit sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ transport. The absence of any change in Ca2+-transport activity or levels of long chain acylcarnitines at 7 days suggests that the alterations seen in 120-day diabetic rats must be of gradual onset.

Animals↗

Role of sarcoplasmic reticulum in arterial contraction: comparison of ryanodines's effect in a conduit and a muscular artery.

Ryanodine interferes with sarcoplasmic reticulum function in various types of muscle; in vascular smooth muscle, it can inhibit contractions that depend on sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release, probably by depleting the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium store. We tested ryanodine and calcium channel blockers (verapamil, diltiazem, and nitrendipine) on small rings of rat thoracic aorta (RA) and bovine tail artery (BTA) to determine the relative contributions of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release and gated calcium entry to contractions induced by norepinephrine, caffeine, and 100 mM K depolarization. Ryanodine blocked caffeine contractions in both tissues and attenuated norepinephrine responses (by 52% in RA, 14% in BTA) but minimally altered potassium contractions. Calcium channel blockers almost completely abolished potassium contractions and reduced norepinephrine contractions (by 45% in RA, 82% in BTA) but hardly affected caffeine responses. The blocking effects of ryanodine and calcium channel antagonists on the norepinephrine responses were additive. Ryanodine had no effect on baseline tension in the standard media; however, when calcium extrusion via Na-Ca exchange was inhibited by low external sodium (0-calcium, low-sodium solution), tension increased progressively after introduction of ryanodine. This indicates that the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium released by ryanodine then accumulated in the cytosol and activated contraction; restoration of external sodium caused prompt relaxation. The smaller effects of caffeine and ryanodine in BTA indicate that sarcoplasmic reticulum plays a less important role in calcium control in this tissue, with gated calcium entry dominating. These functional findings are correlated with electron-microscopic evidence that BTA has about 60% less sarcoplasmic reticulum than does RA. Ryanodine appears to be a useful tool for determining the functional relevance of sarcoplasmic reticulum for contraction in different arterial smooth muscles.

Alkaloids↗

Endoplasmic reticulum stress causes thyroglobulin retention in this organelle and triggers activation of nuclear factor-kappa B via tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2.

Perturbing the endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis of thyroid cell lines with thapsigargin, a specific inhibitor of the sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) adenosine triphosphatases, and tunicamycin, an inhibitor of the N-linked glycosylation, blocked Tg in the endoplasmic reticulum. This event was signaled outside the endoplasmic reticulum and resulted in activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/stress-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) stress response pathways. Activation of the JNK/stress-activated protein kinase signaling pathway was assessed by measuring the amount of phospho-JNK and the activity of JNK by kinase assays. Activation of the NF-kappa B signaling pathway was assessed by measuring the level of inhibitory subunit I kappa B alpha, DNA binding, and transcriptional activity of NF-kappa B. Cycloheximide treatment, at a dose able to profoundly inhibit protein synthesis in FRTL-5 cells, obliterated the decrease in the level of the inhibitory subunit I kappa B alpha produced by thapsigargin and tunicamycin. Therefore, protein synthesis was required to generate a signal from stressed endoplasmic reticulum. This substantiates the hypothesis that endoplasmic reticulum retention of newly synthesized Tg and other cargo (secretory and membrane) proteins functions upstream of signal activation. Dominant negative TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) inhibited activation of NF-kappa B, which was also inhibited in embryonic fibroblasts derived from TRAF2(-/-) mice, respect to their normal counterpart. These data extend the recent demonstration that TRAF2 mediated JNK activation in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress and strongly strengthened the idea that endogenous stress signals initiated in the endoplasmic reticulum proceed by a pathway similar to that initiated by plasma membrane receptors in response to extracellular signals.

Animals↗

Alpha(S1)-casein is required for the efficient transport of beta- and kappa-casein from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus of mammary epithelial cells.

In lactating mammary epithelial cells, interaction between caseins is believed to occur after their transport out of the endoplasmic reticulum. We show here that, in alpha(S1)-casein-deficient goats, the rate of transport of the other caseins to the Golgi apparatus is highly reduced whereas secretion of whey proteins is not significantly affected. This leads to accumulation of immature caseins in distended rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae. Casein micelles, nevertheless, were still observed in secretory vesicles. In contrast, no accumulation was found in mammary epithelial cells which lack beta-casein. In mammary epithelial cells secreting an intermediate amount of alpha(S1)-casein, less casein accumulated in the rough endoplasmic reticulum, and the transport of alpha(S1)-casein to the Golgi occurred with kinetics similar to that of control cells. In prolactin-treated mouse mammary epithelial HC11 cells, which do not express alpha(S)-caseins, endoplasmic reticulum accumulation of beta-casein was also observed. The amount of several endoplasmic reticulum-resident proteins increased in conjunction with casein accumulation. Finally, the permeabilization of rough endoplasmic reticulum vesicles allowed the recovery of the accumulated caseins in soluble form. We conclude that optimal export of the caseins out of the endoplasmic reticulum is dependent upon alpha(S1)-casein. Our data suggest that alpha(S1)-casein interacts with the other caseins in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and that the formation of this complex is required for their efficient export to the Golgi.

Acid Phosphatase↗

Reduction in sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase activity contributes to age-related changes in the calcium content and relaxation rate of rabbit aortic smooth muscle.

OBJECTIVE: Elevated blood pressure is a common effect of aging that results from alterations in the calcium (Ca2+) homeostatic mechanisms in vascular smooth muscle cells. The sarcoplasmic reticulum is a primary subcellular organelle involved in Ca2+ homeostasis in vascular smooth muscle. This study was therefore undertaken to delineate possible age-associated changes that occur in the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ homeostatic mechanisms. METHODS: Relaxation rates after phenylephrine-induced contractions in aortic smooth muscle from rabbits of increasing age were evaluated in the presence of thapsigargin, a sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor. In addition, electron probe X-ray microanalysis (EPMA) was used to analyze the total calcium content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and cytosol in aortic smooth muscle from rabbits of various ages. RESULTS: The relaxation rate of rabbit aorta contracted with phenylephrine declined with age, the decline being progressively reduced when Ca2+ uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum was abolished by thapsigargin. EPMA measurements demonstrated an increased cytosolic calcium content and possibly reduced sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content in arteries from older animals compared with arteries from juvenile animals. CONCLUSIONS: Reuptake of Ca2+ by the sarcoplasmic reticulum is necessary for optimal relaxation of rabbit aorta after a maximal, agonist-induced contraction. The present data suggest that impaired activity of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump associated with aging may contribute to the increased cytosolic calcium content and elevated resting tone of aortic smooth muscle obtained from older rabbits.

Aging↗

Analysis of the arrangement of protein components in the sarcomplasmic reticulum of rat skeletal muscle.

The nature of the protein components and their location in the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane were studied using sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles isolated from rat skeletal muscle and purified by a density gradient centrifugation system. On the basis of analysis by means of sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis, the protein components appear to be similar if not identical with those reported by others for rabbit sarcoplasmic reticulum, and the relative amount of each component is also similar to that found with rabbit sarcoplasmic reticulum. Evidence is presented that radioiodine-labeled diazotized diiodosulfanilic acid is a nonpermeant labeling agent of the protein components of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles; this agent minimally disturbs the functional activities of these membranes. By means of this labeling agent and perturbing agents, it is concluded that the protein components with molecular weights greater than 120,000 and the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-adenosine triphosphatase partially or totally reside on or at the external surface of the sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles. In the case of the adenosine triphosphatase, highly controlled trypsin treatment cleaves the molecule into two products, a 65,000 molecular weight fragment and a 56,000 molecular weight fragment. The evidence indicates that the 65,000 molecular weight component of the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-adenosine triphosphatase is located in a more exposed fashion on the external surface of the vesicles than the 56,000 molecular weight compoenet and that some adenosine triphosphatase molecules have a more exposed position on the external surface of the vesicle than others. The protein components designated by MacLennan (MacLennan, D. H. (1975) Can. J. Biochem. 53, 251-261) as "calsequestrin" and "high affinity Ca2+ binding protein" are shown not to be on the external surface of the rat sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicle but rather to reside either within the core of the membrane or on the inside surface of the vesicle. The results of this study are in agreement with the model for the organization of the protein components of the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrene recently proposed by MacLennan (MacLennan, D. H. (1975) Can. J. Biochem. 53, 251-261).

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

The effects of ryanodine on passive calcium fluxes across sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes.

Ryanodine at concentrations of 0.01-10 microM increased, while greater concentrations of 10-300 microM decreased the calcium permeability of both rabbit fast twitch skeletal muscle junctional and canine cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes. Ryanodine did not alter calcium binding by either sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes or the calcium binding protein, calsequestrin. Therefore, the effects by this agent appear to involve only changes in membrane permeability, and the characteristics of the calcium permeability pathway affected by ryanodine were those of the calcium release channel. Consistent with this, the actions by ryanodine were localized to junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes and were not observed with either longitudinal sarcoplasmic reticulum or transverse tubular membranes. In addition, passage of the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes through a French press did not diminish the effects of ryanodine indicating that intact triads were not required. Under the conditions used for the permeability studies, the binding of [3H]ryanodine to skeletal junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes was specific and saturable, and Scatchard analyses indicated the presence of a single binding site with a Kd of 150-200 nM and a maximum capacity of 10.1-18.9 pmol/mg protein. [3H]ryanodine binding to this site and the increase in membrane calcium permeability caused by low concentrations of ryanodine had similar characteristics suggesting that actions at this site produce this effect. Depending on the assay conditions used, ryanodine (100-300 microM) could either increase or decrease ATP-dependent calcium accumulation by skeletal muscle junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes indicating that the alterations of sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane calcium permeability caused by this agent can be determined in part by the experimental environment.

Action Potentials↗

Association of gylcogenolysis with cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum fragments isolated from dog cardiac muscle possess a calcium-accumulating system associated with a series of enzymes linked to glycogenolysis. These enzymes include: adenylate cyclase, cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, phosphorylase b kinase, phosphorylase (b/a, 30/1),"debrancher" enzyme, and glycogen (0.3 to 0.7 mg/mg of protein). The sarcoplasmic reticulum preparation produced glucose 1-phosphate and glucose from either endogenous or exogenous glycogen. Both the calcium-accumulating and glycogenolytic enzymes sediment in a single peak at 33% sucrose on a linear continous sucrose density gradient, and the complex remains intact throughout repeated washing. Glycogen particles appear to be associated with the sarcoplasmic reticulum in situ as well as in the isolated microsomal fraction. The sarcoplasmic reticulum-glycogenolytic complex, monitored by a linked enzyme spectrophotometric assay, shows several features: (a) activation of phosphorylase activity to peak rate occurs over a very rapid time course which cannot be duplicated using combinations of purified enzymes; (b) activation is inhibited by protein kinase inhibitor; (c) phosphorylase b functions as in the purified form with respect to AMP (Km, 0.3 mM); (d) in the presence of limiting amounts of glycogen, optimal phosphorylase b activity in the sarcoplasmic reticulum requires the presence of debrancher, and the activity is sensitive to inhibitors of that enzyme such as Tris, which suggests the possiblity that the enzymes bear a specific structual relationship to the glycogen present. Phosphorylase b leads to a activation in the sarcoplasmic reticulum was completely resistant to ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl either)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). Inhibition of calcium accumulation by or release of bound calcium from sarcoplasmic reticulum by X537A (RO 2-2985) did not alter the EGTA resistance. These results suggest that cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum is a complex organelle containing functions that may be related to excitation-contraction coupling and intermediary metabolism.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

The production of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and formation of an abnormal amorphous material by the immature 5-day-old chick hepatocytes in culture under the influence of phenobarbital.

The experiment was performed to see if the 5-day-old chick hepatocytes which normally do not produce smooth endoplasmic reticulum in culture, would do so under the influence of phenobarbital. The results indicated that under the influence of phenobarbital, the 5-day hepatocyte produces a small amount of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. However, a more significant observation is that the 5-day-old hepatocytes in the presence of phenobarbital also produce a large amount of amorphous material which is deposited in circumscribed areas of the cytoplasm. It appears that the amorphous material is initially deposited into the cisternal space of the rough endoplasmic reticulum which dilates and the membrane fragments to release the amorphous substance into the cytoplasm. The 5-day-old chick hepatocytes produce a lot more amorphous material than the 11-day-old cells, which formed so little. If, as suggested by many authors (Banjo & Nemeth, 1976; Ernster & Orrenius, 1965; Orrenius, 1965; Orrenius, Ericsson & Ernster, 1965, some of the enzymes produced as a result of the stimulation of the cells by phenobarbital are inseparably located on the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum (RER and SER), i.e. the enzymes are only stable when attached to the membrane, it may be that the large amount of enzymes produced by the hypertrophied rough and endoplasmic reticulum (Banjo & Nemeth, 1976) in the 5-day-old hepatocytes in culture under the influence of phenobarbital could not find enough smooth endoplasmic reticulum membrane for attachment in the same 5-day-old cells whose capacity for producing smooth endoplasmic reticulum is very limited. Therefore, this large amount of enzyme and the few membranes are not organized and are therefore liberated, as the amorphous material, into the cytoplasm. The 11-day-old hepatocytes, on the other hand, formed very little amorphous material, and this may be due to its high capacity to make smooth endoplasmic reticulum membranes. It is suggested that the large amount of amorphous material liberated in the 5-day-old cells represents the unorganized enzymes and membranes.

Animals↗