Identification of a calmodulin-regulated Ca2+-ATPase in the endoplasmic reticulum

Plant Physiol. 1999 Apr;119(4):1165-76. doi: 10.1104/pp.119.4.1165.

Abstract

A unique subfamily of calmodulin-dependent Ca2+-ATPases was recently identified in plants. In contrast to the most closely related pumps in animals, plasma membrane-type Ca2+-ATPases, members of this new subfamily are distinguished by a calmodulin-regulated autoinhibitor located at the N-terminal instead of a C-terminal end. In addition, at least some isoforms appear to reside in non-plasma membrane locations. To begin delineating their functions, we investigated the subcellular localization of isoform ACA2p (Arabidopsis Ca2+-ATPase, isoform 2 protein) in Arabidopsis. Here we provide evidence that ACA2p resides in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In buoyant density sucrose gradients performed with and without Mg2+, ACA2p cofractionated with an ER membrane marker and a typical "ER-type" Ca2+-ATPase, ACA3p/ECA1p. To visualize its subcellular localization, ACA2p was tagged with a green fluorescence protein at its C terminus (ACA2-GFPp) and expressed in transgenic Arabidopsis. We collected fluorescence images from live root cells using confocal and computational optical-sectioning microscopy. ACA2-GFPp appeared as a fluorescent reticulum, consistent with an ER location. In addition, we observed strong fluorescence around the nuclei of mature epidermal cells, which is consistent with the hypothesis that ACA2p may also function in the nuclear envelope. An ER location makes ACA2p distinct from all other calmodulin-regulated pumps identified in plants or animals.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Base Sequence
  • Calcium-Transporting ATPases / genetics
  • Calcium-Transporting ATPases / metabolism*
  • Calmodulin / metabolism*
  • DNA, Plant / genetics
  • DNA, Recombinant / genetics
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Genes, Plant
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Protein Engineering
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Calmodulin
  • DNA, Plant
  • DNA, Recombinant
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Calcium-Transporting ATPases