Adenosine(5')hexaphospho(5')adenosine stimulation of a Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+)-release channel from skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Stimulation of a Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+)-release channel from skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum by various adenosine(5')oligophospho(5')adenosines (ApnA, n = 2-6) by a rapid quenching technique using radioactive calcium was studied. Ap4A, Ap5A and Ap6A, as well as adenosine 5'-[beta, gamma-methylene]triphosphate (AdoPP [CH2]P), a non-hydrolyzable ATP analogue, stimulated the Ca(2+)-release channel, whereas Ap2A and Ap3A had no effect. At a concentration of 0.5 mM, the order of stimulation was AdoPP[CH2]P less than Ap4A less than Ap5A much less than Ap6A. As well as having the highest affinity (0.44 mM for half-maximal stimulation), Ap6A showed an extraordinarily high Hill coefficient of 3.3 (1.9 for AdoPP[CH2]P, 2.1 for Ap5A). The stimulating effect of Ap6A was reversible, yet its dissociation proceeded very slowly. Stimulation of Ca2+ release by Ap6A was counteracted by Mg2+ and ruthenium red. A 2',3'-dialdehyde derivative of Ap6A, which is a chemical probe for amino groups, stimulated irreversibly the Ca(2+)-release channel and modified some high-molecular-mass sarcoplasmic reticulum proteins, possibly including the channel protein. Our data suggest that Ap6A stimulates the Ca2+ channel by binding to the activation site of the channel subunit and simultaneously preventing the spontaneous decay of the Ca2+ channel by keeping together two of the four channel subunits by bridging them with its two adenosine groups.