血清IL-6、IL-8、IgM抗体及T细胞亚群水平对新生儿先天性梅毒的诊断价值

目的:探讨血清白介素-6(IL-6)、白介素-8(IL-8)、IgM抗体及T细胞亚群对先天性梅毒新生儿的诊断价值。方法:选择2015年5月至2017年5月在我院进行临床治疗的先天性梅毒新生儿81例为观察组,另选同期来我院进行健康体检81例新生儿为对照组。比较两组患者血清IL-6、IL-8、T细胞亚群中CD~(3+)、CD~(4+)、CD~(8+)、CD~(4+)/CD~(8+)细胞及IgM抗体的阳性率。结果:治疗后,观察组血清IL-6、IL-8水平均明显高于对照组(P0.05),T细胞亚群中CD~(3+)、CD~(4+)、CD~(4+)/CD~(8+)明显低于对照组,而CD~(8+)T细胞比例高于对照组(P0.05)。19S-IgM-TP ELISA法检测出IgM的阳性率92.59%,明显高于TRUST法(74.07%)及TP-ELSA法(70.37%)(P0.05)。ROC曲线中,血清IL-8特异度为88.34%明显高于血清IL-6特异度81.48%、IgM抗体特异度60.13%、T细胞亚群特异度65.34%;IgM抗体的曲线面积88.91 cm~2明显大于IL-6的曲线面积45.09 cm~2、IL-8的曲线面积76.19 cm~2、T细胞亚群的曲线面积77.35 cm~2;T细胞亚群准备性67.89%明显高于IL-6准确性60.39%、IL-8准确性51.09%、IgM抗体准确性50.12;IgM抗体的灵敏度60.13%高于IL-6灵敏度59.19%、IL-8灵敏度42.35%、T细胞亚群灵敏度59.37%。具有比较意义(P0.05)。结论:血清IL-6、IL-8水平、T细胞亚群中CD~(3+)、CD~(4+)、CD~(8+)、CD~(4+)/CD~(8+)及IgM抗体阳性率是诊断先天性梅毒新生儿的重要指标。     

稻田土壤－作物－家畜系统中氮的循环研究

本文用Ｎ＾１５标记水稻和绿肥研究了稻田土壤－作物－家畜系统中氮的循环。Ｎ＾１５标记稻草喂羊,羊体回收饲料稻草Ｎ３１．１６％,羊粪２８．２６％,羊尿５．７２％,总回收６５．１４％,损失３４．８６％。将羊粪尿单施,稻谷回收饲料稻草Ｎ３．１９％,水稻全株回收４．８２％,水稻全株回收４．８２％,土壤残留１９．００％,损失１０．１４％。故羊体,水稻及土壤残留共回收饲料稻草Ｎ５４．９８％。将羊粪与尿素配施,则     

Plutonium,241Am,90sr,and137cs concentrations in some antarctic matrices

A radioecological survey in Antarctica shows that the^239+240Pu,²³⁸Pu,²⁴¹Am,⁹⁰Sr, and¹³⁷Cs activities were detectable in nearly all the samples. The activity level of^239+240Pu,²⁴¹Am, and¹³⁷Cs in antarctic sediments was about 5–20 times lower than in the northern Adriatic Sea sediments, but the²³⁸Pu activities were relatively high. It was interesting to note that the⁹⁰Sr concentrations in all the sediments tended to be low, which could be the result of the easier exchangeable behavior of⁹⁰Sr in water. High concentrations were detected in mosses and lichens and their activity levels were comparable to those in central Italy. The radionuclide ratio analyses show that the major part of^239+240Pu,²⁴¹Am,⁹⁰Sr, and¹³⁷Cs was a result of nuclear weapon tests. The higher²⁴¹Am/^239+240Pu ratio was observed and it could perhaps be the result of fallout of nuclear weapon tests prior to 1962. The²³⁸Pu/^239+240Pu ratio in the antarctic matrices was about seven times higher than in the Northern hemisphere and it could be inferred that the major part of²³⁸Pu was originating from the SNAP-9A satellite accident.     

SYNTHESIS AND IN VITRO AND IN VIVO EVALUATION OF [11C]METHYL-BIII277CL FOR IMAGING THE PCP-BINDING SITE OF THE NMDA RECEPTOR BY PET

ABSTRACT

A new benzomorphane derivative, [¹¹C]methyl-BIII277CL, was evaluated as a potential radiotracer for visualizing the PCP-binding site of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor by positron emission tomography (PET). Methyl-BIII277CL was prepared by reacting the desmethyl compound (BIII277CL) with dimethylsulfate. The pharmacological profile of methyl-BIII277CL was determined by in vitro receptor-screening assays. At a concentration of 100?nM, methyl-BIII277CL showed a significant interaction with the PCP-binding site of the NMDA receptor (79% inhibition of specific binding) and the σ1-binding site (46% inhibition). In displacement assays using mice cortical membranes, methyl-BIII277CL displayed a high affinity at the PCP-binding site of the NMDA receptor (K_i = 49 ± 14?nmol/L) and a 130-fold lower interaction with the σ1-binding site (K_i = 6.35 ± 0.26?µmol/L). For saturation experiments and in vivo studies, methyl-BIII277CL was radiolabeled with ¹¹C at the O-position of the desmethyl precursor (BIII277CL) using [¹¹C]methyliodide with a specific activity of 35–70?GBq/µmol at the end of synthesis (EOS). In saturation assays using rat whole brain membranes [¹¹C]methyl-BIII277CL showed a K_d of 6 ± 1?nmol/L and a B_max of 670 ± 154?fmol/mg protein. Biodistribution and PET studies in rats and pigs, however, indicated a lack of specific binding and unfavorable pharmacokinetics. Kinetic modeling using the 1-tissue compartment model demonstrated for [¹¹C]methyl-BIII277CL a low distribution volume (D_v = 0.98?mL/mL_tissue) and very high values for the kinetic parameters K₁ and k₂ (K₁ = 0.36?mL/mL_tissue/min and k₂ = 0.37?min^?1) in pig cortex. [¹¹C]methyl-BIII277CL, due to the lack of specificity in vivo, may not be a candidate for imaging the PCP-binding site of the NMDA receptor.     

Ischemic changes in myocardial ionic contents of the isolated perfused rat hearts as studied by NMR

Using³¹P-,²³Na- and³⁹K-NMR, we assessed ischemic changes in high energy phosphates and ion contents of isolated perfused rat hearts continuously and systematically. To discriminate intra- and extracellular Na⁺, a shift reagent (Dy(TTHA)^3–) was used in²³Na-NMR study. In³⁹K-NMR study, the extracellular K⁺ signal was suppressed by inversion recovery pulse sequence in order to obtain intracellular K⁺ signal without using shift reagnets. During the early period of ischemia, increases in intracellular Na⁺ and inorganic phosphate (Pi) were observed in addition to the well-documented decreases in creatine phosphate and ATP and a fall of intracellular pH, suggesting an augmented operation of Na⁺–H⁺ exchange triggered by a fall of the intracellular pH resulted from breakdown of ATP. At around 15 min of ischemia, a second larger increase in intracellular Na⁺ and a decrease in intracellular K⁺ were observed in association with a second increase in Pi. This was accompnanied by an abrupt rise of the ventricular end-diastolic pressure. As there was a depletion of ATP at this time, the increase in intracellular Na⁺ and associated decrease in intracellular K⁺ may be explained by inhibition of the Na⁺–K⁺ ATPase due to the depletion of ATP. A longer observation with³¹P-NMR revealed a second phosphate peak (at lower magnetic field to ordinary Pi peak) which increased its intensity as ischemic time lengthened. The pH of this 2nd peak changed in parallel with the changes in pH of the bathing solution, indicating the appearance of a compartment whose hydrogen concentration is in equilibrium with that of the external compartment. Thus, the peak could be used as an index of irreversible membrane damage of the myocardium.     

NhaK,a novel monovalent cation/H<Superscript>+</Superscript> antiporter of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis>

Four Na⁺/H⁺ antiporters, Mrp, TetA(L), NhaC, and MleN have so far been described in Bacillus subtilis 168. We identified an additional Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter, YvgP, from B. subtilis that exhibits homology to the cation: proton antiporter-1 (CPA-1) family. The yvgP-dependent complementation observed in a Na⁺(Ca²⁺)/H⁺ antiporter-defective Escherichia coli mutant (KNabc) suggested that YvgP effluxed Na⁺ and Li⁺. In addition, effects of yvgP expression on a K⁺ uptake-defective mutant of E. coli indicated that YvgP also supported K⁺ efflux. In a fluorescence-based assay of everted membrane vesicles prepared from E. coli KNabc transformants, YvgP-dependent Na⁺ (K⁺, Li⁺, Rb⁺)/H⁺ antiport activity was demonstrated. Na⁺ (K⁺, Li⁺)/H⁺ activity was higher at pH 8.5 than at pH 7.5. Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mn²⁺ did not serve as substrates but they inhibited YvgP antiport activities. Studies of yvgP expression in B. subtilis, using a reporter gene fusion, showed a significant constitutive level of expression that was highest in stationary phase, increasing as stationary phase progressed. In addition, the expression level was significantly increased in the presence of added K⁺ and Na⁺.     

Role of the furosemide-sensitive Na+/K+ transport system in determining the steady-state Na+ and K+ content and volume of human erythrocytesin vitro andin vivo

Summary To study the physiological role of the bidirectionally operating, furosemide-sensitive Na⁺/K⁺ transport system of human erythrocytes, the effect of furosemide on red cell cation and hemoglobin content was determined in cells incubated for 24 hr with ouabain in 145mm NaCl media containing 0 to 10mm K⁺ or Rb⁺. In pure Na⁺ media, furosemide accelerated cell Na⁺ gain and retarded cellular K⁺ loss. External K⁺ (5mm) had an effect similar to furosemide and markedly reduced the action of the drug on cellular cation content. External Rb⁺ accelerated the Na⁺ gain like K⁺, but did not affect the K⁺ retention induced by furosemide. The data are interpreted to indicate that the furosemide-sensitive Na⁺/K⁺ transport system of human erythrocytes mediates an equimolar extrusion of Na⁺ and K⁺ in Na⁺ media (Na⁺/K⁺ cotransport), a 1:1 K⁺/K⁺ (K⁺/Rb⁺) and Na⁺/Na⁺ exchange progressively appearing upon increasing external K⁺ (Rb⁺) concentrations to 5mm. The effect of furosemide (or external K⁺/Rb⁺) on cation contents was associated with a prevention of the cell shrinkage seen in pure Na⁺ media, or with a cell swelling, indicating that the furosemide-sensitive Na⁺/K⁺ transport system is involved in the control of cell volume of human erythrocytes. The action of furosemide on cellular volume and cation content tended to disappear at 5mm external K⁺ or Rb⁺. Thein vivo red cell K⁺ content was negatively correlated to the rate of furosemide-sensitive K⁺ (Rb⁺) uptake, and a positive correlation was seen between mean cellular hemoglobin content and furosemide-sensitive transport activity. The transport system possibly functions as a K⁺ and waterextruding mechanism under physiological conditiosin vivo. The red cell Na⁺ content showed no correlation to the activity of the furosemide-sensitive transport system.     

Retention of radionuclides by some aquatic fresh water plants

The uptake of radionuclides ⁶⁰Co, ³²P and ¹³⁴Cs by some aquatic plants (Lemna gibba, Ceratophyllum demersum and Potamogeton crispus) present in the Ismailia Canal at different pH values and for different contamination periods was studied. The experimental results showed that the uptake generally decreases as the water pH increased. The tested macrophytes proved to be reliable biological indicators.     

Methionine Aminopeptidase II: A Molecular Chaperone for Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase

The monoclonal antibody to the β-subunit of H⁺/K⁺-ATPase (mAbHKβ) cross-reacts with a protein that acts as a molecular chaperone for the structural maturation of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca²⁺-ATPase. We partially purified a mAbHKβ-reactive 65-kDa protein from Xenopus ovary. After in-gel digestion and peptide sequencing, the 65-kDa protein was identified as methionine aminopeptidase II (MetAP2). The effects of MetAP2 on SR Ca²⁺-ATPase expression were examined by injecting the cRNA for MetAP2 into Xenopus oocytes. Immunoprecipitation and pulse-chase experiments showed that MetAP2 was transiently associated with the nascent SR Ca²⁺-ATPase. Synthesis of functional SR Ca²⁺-ATPase was facilitated by MetAP2 and prevented by injecting an antibody specific for MetAP2. These results suggest that MetAP2 acts as a molecular chaperone for SR Ca²⁺-ATPase synthesis.     

Bradykinin-induced potassium current in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells

Summary Bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) respond to bradykinin with an increase in cytosolic-free Ca²⁺ concentration, [Ca²⁺] _i , accompanied by an increase in surface membrane K⁺ permeability. In this study, electrophysiological measurement of K⁺ current was combined with⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux measurements to characterize the K⁺ flux pathway in BAECs. Bradykinin- and Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ currents were identified and shown to be blocked by the alkylammonium compound, tetrabutylammonium chloride and by the scorpion toxin,noxiustoxin, but not by apamin or tetraethylammonium chloride. Whole-cell and single-channel current analysis suggest that the threshold for Ca²⁺ activation is in the range of 10 to 100nm [Ca²⁺] _i . The whole-cell current measurement show voltage sensitivity only at the membrane potentials more positive than 0 mV where significant current decay occurs during a sustained depolarizing pulse. Another K⁺ current present in control conditions, an inwardly rectifying K⁺ current, was blocked by Ba²⁺ and was not affected bynoxiustoxin or tetrabutylammonium chloride. Efflux of⁸⁶Rb^– from BAEC monolayers was stimulated by both bradykinin and ionomycin. Stimulated efflux was blocked by tetrabutyl- and tetrapentyl-ammonium chloride and bynoxiustoxin, but not by apamin or furosemide. Thus,⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux stimulated by bradykinin and ionomycin has the same pharmacological sensitivity as the bradykinin- and Ca²⁺-activated membrane currents. The results confirm that bradykinin-stimulated⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux occurs via Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels. The blocking agents identified may provide a means for interpreting the role of the Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ current in the response of BAECs to bradykinin.     

Synthesis and evaluation of a bifunctional chelate for development of Bi(III)-labeled radioimmunoconjugates

A new bifunctional ligand C-DEPA was designed and synthesized as a component for antibody-targeted radiation therapy (radioimmunotherapy, RIT) of cancer. C-DEPA was conjugated to a tumor targeting antibody, trastuzumab, and the corresponding C-DEPA-trastuzumab conjugate was evaluated for radiolabeling kinetics with ^205/6Bi. C-DEPA-trastuzumab conjugate rapidly bound ^205/6Bi, and ^205/6Bi-C-DEPA-trastuzumab conjugate was stable in human serum for 72 h. The in vitro radiolabeling kinetics and serum stability data suggest that C-DEPA is a potential chelate for preclinical RIT applications using ²¹²Bi and ²¹³Bi.     

Effect of tissue specificity of brain soluble fractions on Na+, K+-ATPase activity

Previous evidence from this laboratory indicated that catecholamines and brain endogenous factors modulate Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity of the synaptosomal membranes. The filtration of a brain total soluble fraction through Sephadex G-50 permitted the separation of two fractions-peaks I and II-which stimulated and inhibited Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase, respectively (Rodríguez de Lores Arnaiz and Antonelli de Gomez de Lima, Neurochem. Res.11, 1986, 933). In order to study tissue specificity a rat kidney total soluble was fractionated in Sephadex G-50 and kidney peak I and II fractions were separated; as control, a total soluble fraction prepared from rat cerebral cortex was also processed. The UV absorbance profile of the kidney total soluble showed two zones and was similar to the profile of the brain total soluble. Synaptosomal membranes Na⁺, K⁺- and Mg²⁺-ATPases were stimulated 60–100% in the presence of kidney and cerebral cortex peak I; Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase was inhibited 35–65% by kidney peak II and 60–80% by brain peak II. Mg²⁺-ATPase activity was not modified by peak II fractions. ATPases activity of a kidney crude microsomal fraction was not modified by kidney peak I or brain peak II, and was slightly increased by kidney peak II or brain peak I. Kidney purified Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase was increased 16–20% by brain peak I and II fractions. These findings indicate that modulatory factors of ATPase activity are not exclusive to the brain. On the contrary, there might be tissue specificity with respect to the enzyme source.     

Sodium ATPase and Sodium/proton Antiporter Are Not Obligatory for Sodium Homeostasis of Enterococcus hirae at Acid pH

Enterococcus hirae grows in a broad pH range from 5 to 11. An E. hirae mutant 7683 lacking the activities of two sodium pumps, Na⁺-ATPase and Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter, does not grow in high Na⁺ medium at pH above 7.5. We found that 7683 grew normally in high Na⁺ medium at pH 5.5. Although an energy-dependent sodium extrusion at pH 5.5 was missing, the intracellular levels of Na⁺ and K⁺ were normal in this mutant. The Na⁺ influx rates of 7683 and two other strains at pH 5.5 were much slower than those at pH 7.5. These results suggest that Na⁺ elimination of this bacterium at acid pH is achieved by a decrease in Na⁺ entry and a normal K⁺ uptake.     

H+/Ca2+ exchange in rabbit renal cortical endosomes

Summary We have examined the effect of second messengers on ATP-driven H⁺ transport in an H⁺ ATPase-bearing endosomal fraction isolated from rabbit renal cortex. cAMP (0.1mm) had no effect on H⁺ transport. Acridine orange fluorescence in the presence of 0.5mm Ca²⁺ (+1mm EGTA) was 19±6% of control. Inhibition of ATP-driven H⁺ transport by Ca²⁺ was concentration dependent; 0.25 and 0.5mm Ca²⁺ (+1mm EGTA) inhibited acridine orange fluorescence by 50 and 80%, respectively. Ca²⁺ also produced a concentration-dependent increase in the rate of pH-gradient dissipation. Ca²⁺ did not affect ATP hydrolysis. ATP-dependent Br^– uptake was virtually unchanged in the presence of 0.5mm Ca²⁺ (+1mm EGTA). These vesicles were also shown to transport Ca²⁺ in an ATP-dependent mode. Inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate had no effect on ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ uptake. These results are consistent with the co-existence of an H⁺ ATPase and an H⁺/Ca²⁺ exchanger on these endosomes, the latter transport system using the H⁺ gradient to energize Ca²⁺ uptake. Attempts to demonstrate an H⁺/Ca²⁺ antiporter in the absence of ATP have been unsuccessful. Yet, when a pH gradient was established by preincubation with ATP and residual ATP was subsequently removed by hexokinase + glucose, stimulation of Ca²⁺ uptake could be demonstrated. A Ca²⁺-dependent increase in H⁺ permeability and an ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ uptake might have important implications for the regulation of vacuolar H⁺ ATPase activity as well as the homeostasis of cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration.     

Intracellular calcium content of human erythrocytes: Relation to sodium transport systems

Summary To study the possible role of intracellular Ca (Ca _i ) in controlling the activities of the Na⁺–K⁺ pump, the Na⁺–K⁺ cotransport and the Na⁺/Li⁺ exchange system of human erythrocytes, a method was developed to measure the amount of Ca embodied within the red cell. For complete removal of Ca associated with the outer aspect of the membrane, it proved to be essential to wash the cells in buffers containing less than 20nm Ca. Ca was extracted by HClO₄ in Teflon^® vessels boiled in acid to avoid Ca contaminations and quantitated by flameless atomic absorption. Ca _i of fresh human erythrocytes of apparently healthy donors ranged between 0.9 and 2.8 mol/liter cells. The mean value found in females was significantly higher than in males. The interindividual different Ca contents remained constant over periods of more than one year. Sixty to 90% of Ca _i could be removed by incubation of the cells with A23187 and EGTA. The activities of the Na⁺–K⁺ pump, of Na⁺–K⁺ cotransport and Na⁺/Li⁺ exchange and the mean cellular hemoglobin content fell with rising Ca _i ; the red cell Na⁺ and K⁺ contents rose with Ca _i . Ca depletion by A23187 plus EGTA as well as chelation of intracellular Ca²⁺ by quin-2 did not significantly enhance the transport rates. It is concluded that the large scatter of the values of Ca _i of normal human erythrocytes reported in the literature mainly results from a widely differing removal of Ca associated with the outer aspect of the membrane.     

Light and electron microscopic autoradiography of substantia nigra of rat after intraventricular administration of tritium labelled norepinephrine,dopamine, serotonin and the precursors

Summary In autoradiographies of substantia nigra in rat, it has been observed that after intraventricular injections of ³H-dopamine and ³H-norepinephrine respectively the silvergrains are accumulated in nigra neurons and their dendritic branches. The incorporation was more pronounced in the case of ³H-norepinephrine than ³H-dopamine. This seems to indicate that exogenous norepinephrine may have stronger affinity to nigra neurons and their dendrites than exogenous dopamine. In addition, some ³H-dopamine and ³H-norepinephrine labelled nerve terminals were observed in axo-dendritic synapses. In contrast to these data, ³H-5HTP and ³H-5HT administration showed almost all silver grains accumulated in the neuropil when observed in light microscopic autoradiography. Electron micrographs further reveal that the incorporation of ³H-5HTP and ³H-5HT was mostly within axo-dendritic boutons with more frequent dense core vesicles. These data again strongly suggest that substantia nigra receives a large number of serotoninergic fibres forming axo-dendritic synapses which may play an important role in modulation of substantia nigra function.Dr. Parizek was on leave of absence from the Charles University, Faculty of Medicine, Hradec Králové, Czechoslovakia.     

Design and development of a simple laboratory model to detect <Superscript>15</Superscript>N enrichment in cyanobacterial biomass and extra cellular ammonia using <Superscript>15</Superscript>N gas

A laboratory scale working model that could detect the ¹⁵N enrichment in cyanobacterial biomass and extracellular ammonia, using ¹⁵N gas under in vitro conditions was designed and fabricated. Using the model, ¹⁵N enrichment of 0.48% atom excess was detected in the cyanobacterial biomass on the 30 d after inoculation. The ¹⁵N enrichment increased linearly in the extracellular ammoniacal fraction from the 20 d onward. The model would prove to be a useful tool to quantify the extent of ¹⁵N enrichment under in vitro conditions using ¹⁵N gas.     

CD4CD8 thymocytes are induced to cell death by a small dose of puromycin via ER stress

When the CD4⁺CD8⁺ thymic lymphoma cells were treated with puromycin, we found that most of the cells died at 0.3-1 μg/ml of puromycin within 24 h. However, cell death was greatly reduced when the dose of puromycin was increased. Similar dose-pattern of cell death was observed in thymocytes and the sensitivity to puromycin was greater in CD4⁺CD8⁺ thymocytes than CD4⁺CD8⁻ thymocytes. The induction of apoptosis was blocked by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, and to some extent by transfection of Bcl-xL or Bcl-2 genes. Expression of GRP78 was up-regulated after treatment with a small dose of puromycin, and the cell death by puromycin was blocked in the presence of caspase 12 inhibitor. These results indicated that the induction of cell death by low-dose puromycin was due to endoplasmic reticulum stress. Furthermore, we found that dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, and puromycin worked synergistically to induce cell death in thymocytes.     

Characterization of K+-dependent and K+-independentp-nitrophenylphosphatase activity of synaptosomes

These experiments examined effects of several ligands on the K⁺ p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity of the (Na⁺,K⁺)-ATPase in membranes of a rat brain cortex synaptosomal preparation. K⁺-independent hydrolysis of this substrate by the synaptosomal preparation was studied in parallel; the rate of hydrolysis in the absence of K⁺ was approximately 75% less than that observed when K⁺ was included in the incubation medium. The response to the H⁺ concentrations was different: K⁺-independent activity showed a pH optimum around 6.5–7.0, while the K⁺-dependent activity was relatively low at this pH range. Ouabain (0.1 mM) inhibited K⁺-dependent activity 50%; a concentration 10 times higher did not produce any appreciable effect on the K⁺-independent activity. Na⁺ did not affect K⁺-independent activity at all, while the same ligand concentration inhibited sharply the K⁺-dependent activity; this inhibition was not competitive with the substrate,p-nitrophenyl phosphate. K⁺-dependent activity was stimulated by Mg²⁺ with low affinity (millimolar range), and 3 mM Mg²⁺ produced a slight stimulation of the activity in absence of K⁺, which could be interpreted as Mg²⁺ occupying the K⁺ sites. Ca²⁺ had no appreciable effect on the activity in the absence of K⁺. However, in the presence of K⁺ a sharp inhibition was found with all Ca²⁺ concentrations studied. ATP (0.5 mM) did not affect the K⁺-independent activity, but this nucleotide behaved as a competitive inhibitor top-nitrophenylphosphate. Pi inhibited activity in the presence of K⁺, competively to the substrate, so it could be considered as the second product of the reaction sequence.Abbreviations used p-NPP p-nitrophenylphosphate - p-NPPase rho-nitrophenylphosphatase activity     

Cl−, Na+, and H+ fluxes during the acidification of rabbit reticulocyte endocytic vesicles

The ionic fluxes associated with the ATP-dependent acidification of endocytic vesicles were studied in a preparation isolated from rabbit reticulocytes enriched for transferrin-transferrin receptor complexes. No vesicle acidification was observed in the absence of intra- and extravesicular ions (sucrose_in/sucrose_out), while maximal acidification was observed with NaCl_in/KCl_out·K _in ⁺ was a poor substitute for Na _in ⁺ , and Cl _out ^– could be replaced by other anions with the following efficacy of acidification: Cl^–>Br^–>I^–>PO ₄ ^3– >gluconate>SO ₄ ^2– . Flux studies using³⁶Cl^– and²²Na⁺ showed that the vesicles had a permeability for Cl^– and Na⁺, and that ATP-dependent H⁺ pumping was accompanied by a net influx of Cl^– and a net efflux of Na⁺ provided that there was a Na⁺ concentration gradient. After 3 mins, the time necessary to maximal acidification, the electrical charge generated by the entrance of H⁺ was countered to about 45% by the Cl^– influx and to about 42% by the Na⁺ efflux. These studies demonstrated that both Cl^– and Na⁺ fluxes are necessary for optimal endocytic vesicle acidification.