Magnesium mediated change in physical state of phospholipid modulates membrane ATPase activity

During reconstitution of pig heart mitochondrial H(+)-ATPase in soybean phospholipid liposomes by the cholate dialysis method, Mg2+ greatly enhanced 32Pi-ATP exchange activity, ATPase activity and the sensitivity to oligomycin or DCCD of the reconstituted enzyme complex. The effect of Mg2+ on the lipid packing or fluidity of the reconstituted proteoliposomes was measured by means of spin labels, fluorescent probes and pyrene excimer formation efficiency. A difference in fluidity seemed to be localized near the polar faces of lipid bilayers of the reconstituted enzyme complex. Fluidity was less in the presence of Mg2(+)-containing and the Mg2(+)-'free' samples. Based on the results obtained a hypothetical scheme was proposed for Mg2(+)-mediated change in the physical state of phospholipid modulates incorporating H(+)-ATPase in liposomes. It postulated that Mg2+ may play a role in altering the lipid fluidity of the bilayers, which would induce a change of conformation of F0 portion (buried in the lipid core) of H(+)-ATPase complex. Such change could be transmitted to the soluble F1 portion, the conformation of which is in turn altered, resulting in higher enzymatic activity. Such an assumption was further supported by the results of a series of biochemical and biophysical experiments. Similar to its effect in the reconstitution of porcine heart mitochondrial H(+)-ATPase in liposomes, Mg2+ may also enhance the enzyme activity of reconstituted cytochrome C oxidase, porcine kidney medulla Na,K-ATPase, Ca-ATPase from rabbit sarcoplasmic reticulum and chloroplast H(+)-ATPase, in liposomes. It may be inferred that the structure and function of many membrane proteins are similarly modulated by Mg2+.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)