Applications of new saturation transfer electron paramagnetic resonance methodology to the rotational dynamics of the Ca-ATPase in sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes

T. C. Squier, D. D. Thomas

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Abstract

The presence of small amounts of weakly immobilized probes can result in large systematic errors in the measurement of correlation times (tau r) from saturation transfer EPR spectra. However, we have recently developed experimental methodology to minimize these errors (Squier and Thomas, Biophys. J., 49:921–935). In the present study we have applied this methodology to the measurement of the rotational motion of the Ca-ATPase in sarcoplasmic reticulum. This analysis involves the estimate of tau r from line-shape parameters (spectral line-height ratios) and intensity parameters (spectral integral), coupled with digital subtractions to remove spectral components corresponding to weakly immobilized probes. We have analyzed the ST-EPR spectra of the Ca-ATPase over a range of temperatures and find that, unlike line-shape parameters, intensity parameters are little affected by the subtraction of the weakly immobilized spectral component (W). Thus, tau r values from intensity parameters are a more reliable measurement of rotational motion. As reported previously, an analysis with line-shape parameters yields a nonlinear Arrhenius plot of protein mobility. However, the plot is linear when intensity parameters or corrected spectra are used, consistent with the theory for the hydrodynamic properties of a membrane protein of unchanging size and shape in a fluid bilayer. An analysis with line-shape parameters yields different effective tau r values in different spectral regions, and these tau r values are temperature-dependent. However, correction of spectra for W yields temperature-independent tau r ratios, indicating that the motional anisotropy is temperature-independent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)937-942
Number of pages6
JournalBiophysical journal
Volume49
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1986

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (GM 27906, AM 32961), the American Heart Association (83-1021), the National Science Foundation (PCM 8004612), and the Muscular Dystrophy Association of America. DDT is supported by an Established Investigatorship of the American Heart Association.

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