Long-term single-molecule Ca2+ flux recordings reveal mode-switching regulation of Ca2+-ATPases

Abstract

Calcium (Ca{superscript 2}) is a universal second messenger that governs processes ranging from muscle contraction and secretion to gene expression and cell fate. Ca{superscript 2}-ATPases establish and maintain steep Ca{superscript 2} gradients across intracellular membranes, yet how regulatory inputs modulate the underlying single-pump Ca{superscript 2} currents has remained inaccessible. Here we develop a non-saturating, self-regenerating single-vesicle assay that monitors over hours the zeptoampere (10-{superscript 2}{superscript 1} A) currents produced by individual Ca{superscript 2}-ATPases. In parallel, we establish a workflow to record single-molecule currents from human sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca{superscript 2}-ATPases (hSERCA) in native endoplasmic reticulum vesicles. Using reconstituted LMCA1, a bacterial SERCA homologue, we observe stochastic switching between minute-long pumping and inactive modes, as well as uncoupled Ca{superscript 2} leakage events that are suppressed by vanadate. Extravesicular pH controls a previously unrecognized dormant pre-activation mode that delays the onset of pumping, without measurably altering pumping rates or active-mode lifetimes. Extending the assay to endogenous hSERCA reveals delayed activation and ultraslow pumping/inactive mode-switching without detectable transprotein Ca{superscript 2} leakage. ATP and Ca{superscript 2} regulate the probability of hSERCA activation by modulating dormant-mode occupancy. Together, these results extend ultraslow mode-switching, previously observed only for proton pumps, to Ca{superscript 2}-ATPases and identify probability-gated entry into productive cycling as a distinct regulatory axis of human Ca{superscript 2}-ATPase regulation that can modulate the timing and heterogeneity of Ca{superscript 2} store refilling without changing on-cycle kinetics.