Fast kinetic analysis of conformational changes in mutants of the Ca(2+)-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum

Rapid quench experiments at 25 degrees C were carried out on selected mutants of the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase to assess the kinetics of the conformational changes of the dephosphoenzyme associated with ATP binding/phosphoryl transfer and the binding and dissociation of Ca(2+) at the cytoplasmically facing transport sites. The mutants Gly(233) --> Glu, Gly(233) --> Val, Pro(312) --> Ala, Leu(319) --> Arg, and Lys(684) --> Arg differed conspicuously with respect to the behavior of the dephosphoenzyme, although they were previously shown to display a common block of the transformation of the phosphoenzyme from an ADP-sensitive to an ADP-insensitive form. The maximum rate of the ATP binding/phosphoryl transfer reaction was reduced 3.6-fold in mutant Gly(233) --> Glu and more than 50-fold in mutant Lys(684) --> Arg, relative to wild type. In mutant Leu(319) --> Arg, the rate of the Ca(2+)-binding transition was reduced as much as 10-30-fold depending on the presence of ATP. In mutants Gly(233) --> Glu, Gly(233) --> Val, and Pro(312) --> Ala, the rate of the Ca(2+)-binding transition was increased at least 2-3-fold at acid pH but not significantly at neutral pH, suggesting a destabilization of the protonated form. The rate of Ca(2+) dissociation was reduced 12-fold in mutant Pro(312) --> Ala and 3.5-fold in Leu(319) --> Arg, and increased at least 4-fold in a mutant in which the putative Ca(2+) liganding residue Glu(309) was replaced by aspartate. The data support a model in which Pro(312) and Leu(319) are closely associated with the cation binding pocket, Gly(233) is part of a long-range signal transmission pathway between the ion-binding sites and the catalytic site, and Lys(684) is an essential catalytic residue that may function in the same way as its counterpart in the soluble hydrolases belonging to the haloacid dehalogenase superfamily.