31P NMR lineshapes of beta-P (ATP) in the presence of Mg2+ and Ca2+: estimate of exchange rates.

The 31P NMR chemical shift of beta-P of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) undergoes a substantial change (approximately 2-3 ppm) upon chelation of divalent ions such as Mg2+ or Ca2+. In the presence of nonsaturating amounts of Mg2+ or Ca2+, the lineshape of this resonance depends on the characteristic association and dissociation rates of these metal-ATP complexes. A procedure for computer simulation of this lineshape is outlined. A comparison of computer-simulated lineshapes with the experimental lineshapes obtained at 121 MHz was used to determine the following dissociation rate of Mg2+ and Ca2+ from their ATP complexes at 20 degrees C and pH 8.0: Ca2+, greater than 3 X 10(5) s-1 (Hepes buffer); Mg2+, 1200 s-1 (no buffer), 1000 s-1 (Tris buffer) and 2100 s-1 (Hepes buffer). The limits of error are +/- 10% in these values. For the Mg2+ complexes, the rates were determined as a function of temperature to obtain activation energies (with a maximum deviation of 10% in the least-squares fit): 8.1 Kcal/mole (no buffer and Hepes buffer) and 6.8 kcal/mole (Tris buffer). Lineshapes of the beta-P resonance simulated as a function of Mg2+ concentration, using 2100 s-1 for the dissociation rate, are also presented. The computer simulation of lineshapes offers a reliable and straightforward method for the determination of exchange rates of diamagnetic cations from their ATP complexes, under a variety of sample conditions.