Assembly of a Tyr122 Hydrophobic Cluster in Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+-ATPase Synchronizes Ca2+ Affinity Reduction and Release with Phosphoenzyme Isomerization

The mechanism whereby events in and around the catalytic site/head of Ca2+-ATPase effect Ca2+ release to the lumen from the transmembrane helices remains elusive. We developed a method to determine deoccluded bound Ca2+ by taking advantage of its rapid occlusion upon formation of E1PCa(2) and of stabilization afforded by a high concentration of Ca2+. The assay is applicable to minute amounts of Ca2+-ATPase expressed in COS-1 cells. It was validated by measuring the Ca2+ binding properties of unphosphorylated Ca2+-ATPase. The method was then applied to the isomerization of the phosphorylated intermediate associated with the Ca2+ release process E1PCa(2) -> E2PCa(2) -> E2P + 2Ca(2+). In the wild type, Ca2+ release occurs concomitantly with EP isomerization fitting with rate-limiting isomerization (E1PCa(2) -> E2PCa(2)) followed by very rapid Ca2+ release. In contrast, with alanine mutants of Leu(119) and Tyr(122) on the cytoplasmic part of the second transmembrane helix (M2) and Ile(179) on the A domain, Ca2+ release in 10 mu M Ca2+ lags EP isomerization, indicating the presence of a transient E2P state with bound Ca2+. The results suggest that these residues function in Ca2+ affinity reduction in E2P, likely via a structural rearrangement at the cytoplasmic part of M2 and a resulting association with the A and P domains, therefore leading to Ca2+ release.