Importance of Conserved N-domain Residues Thr 441 , Glu 442 , Lys 515 , Arg 560 , and Leu 562 of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca 2+ -ATPase for MgATP Binding and Subsequent Catalytic Steps: PLASTICITY OF THE NUCLEOTIDE-BINDING SITE

Nine single mutations were introduced to amino acid residues Thr441, Glu442, Lys515, Arg560, Cys561, and Leu562 located in the nucleotide-binding domain of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase, and the functional consequences were studied in a direct nucleotide binding assay, as well as by steady-state and transient kinetic measurements of the overall and partial reactions of the transport cycle. Some partial reaction steps were also examined in mutants with alterations to Phe487, Arg489, and Lys492. The results implicate all these residues, except Cys561, in high affinity nucleotide binding at the substrate site. Mutations Thr441 --> Ala, Glu442 --> Ala, and Leu562 --> Phe were more detrimental to MgATP binding than to ATP binding, thus pointing to a role for these residues in the binding of Mg2+ or to a difference between the interactions with MgATP and ATP. Subsequent catalytic steps were also selectively affected by the mutations, showing the involvement of the nucleotide-binding domain in these reactions. Mutation of Arg560 inhibited phosphoryl transfer but enhanced the E1PCa2 --> E2P conformational transition, whereas mutations Thr441 --> Ala, Glu442 --> Ala, Lys492 --> Leu, and Lys515 --> Ala inhibited the E1PCa2 --> E2P transition. Hydrolysis of the E2P phosphoenzyme intermediate was enhanced in Glu442 --> Ala, Lys492 --> Leu, Lys515 --> Ala, and Arg560 --> Glu. None of the mutations affected the low affinity activation by nucleotide of the phosphoenzyme-processing steps, indicating that modulatory nucleotide interacts differently from substrate nucleotide. Mutation Glu442 --> Ala greatly enhanced reaction of Lys515 with fluorescein isothiocyanate, indicating that the two residues form a salt link in the native protein

Identification of a Mutation Associated with Fatal Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome in the Fell and Dales Pony

The Fell and Dales are rare native UK pony breeds at risk due to falling numbers, in-breeding, and inherited disease. Specifically, the lethal Mendelian recessive disease Foal Immunodeficiency Syndrome (FIS), which manifests as B-lymphocyte immunodeficiency and progressive anemia, is a substantial threat. A significant percentage (∼10%) of the Fell ponies born each year dies from FIS, compromising the long-term survival of this breed. Moreover, the likely spread of FIS into other breeds is of major concern. Indeed, FIS was identified in the Dales pony, a related breed, during the course of this work. Using a stepwise approach comprising linkage and homozygosity mapping followed by haplotype analysis, we mapped the mutation using 14 FIS–affected, 17 obligate carriers, and 10 adults of unknown carrier status to a ∼1 Mb region (29.8 – 30.8 Mb) on chromosome (ECA) 26. A subsequent genome-wide association study identified two SNPs on ECA26 that showed genome-wide significance after Bonferroni correction for multiple testing: BIEC2-692674 at 29.804 Mb and BIEC2-693138 at 32.19 Mb. The associated region spanned 2.6 Mb from ∼29.6 Mb to 32.2 Mb on ECA26. Re-sequencing of this region identified a mutation in the sodium/myo-inositol cotransporter gene (SLC5A3); this causes a P446L substitution in the protein. This gene plays a crucial role in the regulatory response to osmotic stress that is essential in many tissues including lymphoid tissues and during early embryonic development. We propose that the amino acid substitution we identify here alters the function of SLC5A3, leading to erythropoiesis failure and compromise of the immune system. FIS is of significant biological interest as it is unique and is caused by a gene not previously associated with a mammalian disease. Having identified the associated gene, we are now able to eradicate FIS from equine populations by informed selective breeding

Mutation of Gly-94 in transmembrane segment M1 of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase interferes with Na(+) and K(+) binding in E(2)P conformation

The importance of Gly-93 and Gly-94 in transmembrane segment M1 of the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase for interaction with Na(+) and K(+) was demonstrated by functional analysis of mutants Gly-93-Ala and Gly-94-Ala. In the crystal structures of the Ca(2+)-ATPase, the corresponding residues, Asp-59 and Leu-60, are located exactly where M1 bends. Rapid kinetic measurements of K(+)-induced dephosphorylation allowed determination of the affinity of the E(2)P phosphoenzyme intermediate for K(+). In Gly-94-Ala, the K(+) affinity was reduced 9-fold, i.e., to the same extent as seen for mutation of the cation-binding residue Glu-329. Furthermore, Gly-94-Ala showed strongly reduced sensitivity of the E(1)P-E(2)P equilibrium to Na(+), with accumulation of E(2)P even at 600 mM Na(+), indicating that interaction of E(2)P with extracellular Na(+) is impaired. On the contrary, in Gly-93-Ala, the affinity for K(+) was slightly increased, and the E(1)P-E(2)P equilibrium was displaced in favor of E(1)P. In both mutants, the affinity of the cytoplasmically facing sites of E(1) for Na(+) was reduced, but this effect was relatively small compared with the effects seen for E(2)P in Gly-94-Ala. Comparison with Ca(2+)-ATPase mutagenesis data suggests that the role of M1 in binding of the transported ions is universal among P-type ATPases, despite the low sequence homology in this region. Structural modeling of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase mutant Gly-94-Ala on the basis of the Ca(2+)-ATPase crystal structures indicates that the alanine side chain comes close to Ile-287 of M3, particularly in E(2)P, thus resulting in a steric clash that may explain the present observations

Dataset of lithium-ion battery degradation based on a forklift mission profile for state-of-health estimation and lifetime prediction

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are becoming an increasingly integral part of modern society, through consumer electronics, stabilisation of the electric grid, and electric vehicles. However, Lithium-ion batteries degrade in effectiveness over time; a degradation which is extremely dependent on the usage of the battery. Therefore, to study how a battery cell degrades under dynamic conditions, a realistic load profile was constructed based on the operation of forklifts. This profile was used to age three Lithium-ion battery cells at 45, 40, and 35°C and the response of the cells was measured on a second-by-second basis. Periodically the ageing was halted to perform a reference test of the cells allowing for the tracking of their degradation

Asparagine 706 and Glutamate 183 at the Catalytic Site of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca 2+ -ATPase Play Critical but Distinct Roles in E 2 States

Mutants with alteration to Asn(706) of the highly conserved (701)TGDGVND(707) motif in domain P of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase were analyzed for changes in transport cycle kinetics and binding of the inhibitors vanadate, BeF, AlF, and MgF. The fluorides likely mimic the phosphoryl group/P(i) in the respective ground, transition, and product states of phosphoenzyme hydrolysis (Danko, S., Yamasaki, K., Daiho, T., and Suzuki, H. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 14991-14998). Binding of BeF, AlF, and MgF was also studied for mutant Glu(183) --> Ala, where the glutamate of the (181)TGES(184) motif in domain A is replaced. Mutations of Asn(706) and Glu(183) have in common that they dramatically impede the function of the enzyme in E2 states, but have little effect in E1. Contrary to the Glu(183) mutant, in which E2P slowly accumulates (Clausen, J. D., Vilsen, B., McIntosh, D. B., Einholm, A. P., and Andersen, J. P. (2004) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 101, 2776-2781), E2P formation was not detectable with the Asn(706) mutants. Differential sensitivities of the mutants to inhibition by AlF, MgF, and BeF made it possible to distinguish different roles of Asn(706) and Glu(183). Hence, Asn(706) is less important than Glu(183) for gaining the transition state during E2P hydrolysis but plays critical roles in stabilization of E2P ground and E2.P(i) product states and in the major conformational changes associated with the Ca(2)E1P --> E2P and E2 --> Ca(2)E1 transitions, which seem to be facilitated by interaction of Asn(706) with domain A