A synaptic vesicle fraction was prepared from the neocortex of guinea pig and the properties of its ATPase [EC 3. 6. 1. 3] were investigated. The following results were obtained.
1. ATP is split at a rate of 4.5μmoles/mg. protein/30 minutes at 20°C and pH 7.4 in the presence of 4.0m
M Mg
++, and the rate of splitting of ADP is about 20% of that of ATP. AMP does not serve as a substrate.
2. ATPase is activated about 10 fold by 4.0m
M Ca
++ or 8.0m
M Mg
++. The
Km for Ca
++ is 4.5×10
-4M and that for Mg
++ is 1.9x10
-4M.
3. 1.0m
M EDTA abolishes ATPase activity completely while 1.0m
M GEDTA has only a slight inhibitory effect. 4.0m
M Mg
++ and Ca
++ reverse the inhibitions caused by these chelating reagents.
4. In the absence of divalent cation, 0.10
M K
+ stimulates ATPase activity, while 0.60
M K
+ is inhibitory. The effect of Na
+ is similar to that of K
+. 1.0m
M EDTA abolishes the effect of Na
+ or K
+ on ATPase activity, whereas in the presence of 1.0m
M GEDTA the effect of Na
+ or K
+ is similar to that in the presence of Mg
++. When Mg
++ is present, the activating effect of 0.10
M Na
+ or K
+ is not clear, but the inhibitory effect 0.60
M Na
+ or K
+ increases.
5. Thiol blocking reagents depress ATPase activity. Glutathione and cysteine reverse the inhibition caused by these thiol blocking reagents.
6. Treatment by phospholipase C [EC 3. 1. 4. 3], freezing and thaw-ing, or 10m
M desoxycholic acid depress ATPase activity.
7. There is a slight competition between Mg
++ and Ca
++. 5.0×10
-4M DNP has no effect. Oligomycin and atractylate do not decrease the activation induced by Mg
++. No reduction of cytochrome
c is seen with 50m
M succinic acid as substrate.
8. Na
+ plus K
+ stimulates ATPase slightly in the presence of Mg
++ and ouabain abolishes this effect. With a more purified synaptic vesicle preparation, however, the inhibitory effect of ouabain is incomplete.
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