Calcium-Pumping ATPases in Vesicles from Carrot Cells

Abstract

Ca²⁺-ATPases keep cytoplasmic [Ca²⁺] low by pumping Ca²⁺ into intracellular compartments or out of the cell. The transport properties of Ca²⁺-pumping ATPases from carrot (Daucus carota cv Danvers) tissue culture cells were studied. ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ transport in vesicles that comigrated with an endoplasmic reticulum marker, was stimulated three- to fourfold by calmodulin. Cyclopiazonic acid (a specific inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase) partially inhibited oxalate-stimulated Ca²⁺ transport activity; however, it had no effect on calmodulin-stimulated Ca²⁺ uptake driven by ATP or GTP. The results would suggest the presence of two types of Ca²⁺-ATPases, an endoplasmic reticulum- and a plasma membrane-type. Interestingly, incubation of membranes with [gamma³²P]ATP resulted in the formation of a single acyl [³²P]phosphoprotein of 120 kilodaltons. Formation of this phosphoprotein was dependent on Ca²⁺, but independent of Mg²⁺. Its enhancement by La³⁺ is characteristic of a phosphorylated enzyme intermediate of a plasma membrane-type Ca-ATPase. Calmodulin stimulated Ca²⁺ transport was decreased by W-7 (a calmodulin antagonist), ML-7 (myosin light chain kinase inhibitor) or thyroxine. Acidic phospholipids, like phosphatidylserine, stimulated Ca²⁺ transport, similar to their effect on the erythrocyte plasma membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase. These results would indicate that the calmodulin-stimulated Ca²⁺ transport originated in large part from a plasma membrane-type Ca²⁺ pump of 120 kilodaltons. The possibility of calmodulin-stimulated Ca²⁺-ATPases on endomembranes, such as the endoplasmic reticulum and secretory vesicles, as well as the plasma membrane is suggested.