[2-3H]ATP synthesis and 3H NMR spectroscopy of enzyme-nucleotide complexes: ADP and ADP.Vi bound to myosin subfragment 1.

The synthesis of [2-3H]ATP with specific activity high enough to use for 3H NMR spectroscopy at micromolar concentrations was accomplished by tritiodehalogenation of 2-Br-ATP. ATP with greater than 80% substitution at the 2-position and negligible tritium levels at other positions had a single 3H NMR peak at 8.20 ppm in 1D spectra obtained at 533 MHz. This result enables the application of tritium NMR spectroscopy to ATP utilizing enzymes. The proteolytic fragment of skeletal muscle myosin, called S1, consists of a heavy chain (95 kDa) and one alkali light chain (16 or 21 kDa) complex that retains myosin ATPase activity. In the presence of Mg2+, S1 converts [2-3H]ATP to [2-3H]ADP and the complex S1.Mg[2-3H]ADP has ADP bound in the active site. At 0 degrees C, 1D 3H NMR spectra of S1.Mg[2-3H]ADP have two broadened peaks shifted 0.55 and 0.90 ppm upfield from the peak due to free [2-3H]ADP. Spectra with good signal-to-noise for 0.10 mM S1.Mg[2-3H]ADP were obtained in 180 min. The magnitude of the chemical shift caused by binding is consistent with the presence of an aromatic side chain being in the active site. Spectra were the same for S1 with either of the alkali light chains present, suggesting that the alkali light chains do not interact differently with the active site. The two broad peaks appear to be due to the two conformations of S1 that have been observed previously by other techniques. Raising the temperature to 20 degrees C causes small changes in the chemical shifts, narrows the peak widths from 150 to 80 Hz, and increases the relative area under the more upfield peak. Addition of orthovanadate (Vi) to produce S1.Mg[2-2H]ADP.Vi shifts both peaks slightly more upfield without changing their widths or relative areas.