Differentiated analysis of the secondary structure of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions in alpha- and beta-subunits of Na+,K+-ATPase by Raman spectroscopy.

Raman spectra of active Na+,K+-ATPase from pig kidney and membrane-bound products of its two-stage trypsinolysis, including alpha-subunit hydrophobic regions as well as the intact beta-subunit and hydrophobic regions of alpha- and beta-subunits, were measured to calculate the secondary structure of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions of the enzyme. Consequent comparison demonstrated unambiguously that (i) membrane-bound hydrophobic parts of polypeptide chains of Na+,K+-ATPase subunits are in the alpha-helical conformation; (ii) essential contents of the alpha-helix as well as beta-sheet are estimated to form the hydrophilic (mainly cytoplasmic) domain of the Na+,K+-ATPase alpha-subunit; (iii) the exoplasmic hydrophilic domain of the beta-subunit is shown to include several antiparallel beta-pleated sheets and a small amount of the alpha-helix and unordered conformations. The model of the secondary structure organization of hydrophilic domains as well as 8 hydrophobic transmembrane segments of the enzyme molecule was proposed on the basis of experimental results and predictional calculations.

Topology of Na+,K+-ATPase. Identification of the extra- and intracellular hydrophilic loops of the catalytic subunit by specific antibodies.

To study the topology of Na+,K+-ATPase monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for membrane-bound enzyme were produced. Using immunofluorescence staining of viable cells or smears of a pig kidney embryonic (PKE) cell line, two groups of MAbs were selected, namely those binding to extra- or intracellular portions of the alpha-subunit. The extracellular location of peptide loop 804-841 linking the Vth and VIth intramembrane hydrophobic segments was proved using MAb VG2.

Detailed structural analysis of exposed domains of membrane-bound Na+,K+-ATPase. A model of transmembrane arrangement.

Exposed regions of the alpha- and beta-subunits of membrane-bound Na+,K+-ATPase were in turn hydrolyzed with trypsin. Resistance of the beta-subunit to proteolysis was shown to be due mainly to the presence of disulfide bridge(s) in the molecule. A model for the spatial organisation of the enzyme in the membrane was proposed on the basis of detailed structural analysis of extramembrane regions of both subunits.

[A method of selective isolation of tryptophan- and cysteine-containing peptides by covalent chromatography. Analysis of the topography of the Na+,K+-ATPase alpha-subunit].

A procedure for highly selective isolation of tryptophan- and cysteine-containing peptides from protein hydrolysates has been developed on the basis of covalent chromatography. It includes incorporation of a thiol group into the tryptophan residues by sequential treatment of peptides with 2-nitrophenylsulfenyl chloride and beta-mercaptoethanol followed by immobilization on the corresponding supports via thiol-disulfide exchange. The technique is applicable to the analysis of the hydrolysate of the Na+, K+-ATPase alpha-subunit obtained by limited trypsinolysis of the membrane-bound enzyme.