Extracellular ATP stimulates an amiloride-sensitive sodium influx in human lymphocytes

Extracellular ATP has been shown to increase the Na+ permeability of human lymphocytes by 3 to 12-fold. The kinetics of this ATP-induced response were studied by measuring 22Na+ influx into chronic lymphocytic leukemic lymphocytes incubated in low-sodium media without divalent cations. ATP-stimulated uptake of 22Na-ions was linear over 4 min incubation and this influx component showed a sigmoid dependence on ATP concentration. Hill analysis yielded a K1/2 of 160 microM and a n value of 2.5. The nucleotide ATP-gamma-S (1-2 mM) gave 30% of the permeability increase produced by ATP, but UTP (2 mM) and dTTP (2 mM) had no effect on 22Na influx. The amiloride analogs 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl) amiloride and 5-(N,N-hexamethylene) amiloride, which are potent inhibitors of Na(+)-H+ countertransport, abolished 72-95% of the ATP-stimulated 22Na+ influx. However, the involvement of Na(+)-H+ countertransport in the ATP-stimulated Na+ influx was excluded by three lines of evidence. Sodium influx was stimulated 7-fold by extracellular ATP but only 2.4-fold by hypertonic conditions which are known to activate Na(+)-H+ countertransport. Addition of ATP to lymphocytes produced no change in intracellular pH when these cells were suspended in isotonic NaCl media. Finally ATP caused a membrane depolarization of lymphocytes which is inconsistent with stimulation of electroneutral Na(+)-H+ exchange. These data suggest that ATP acts cooperatively to induce the formation of membrane channels which allow increased Na+ influx by a pathway which is partially inhibited by amiloride and its analogs.     

Changes in membrane potential and transport of ions through the S. typhimurium LT2 membrane induced by bacteriophages

Bacteriophages P22 and dp8 cause the membrane potential depolarization for 10-30 mV, reversal rapid H+ influx into bacteria and K+ exit from S. typhimurium LT2, these effects depend on infection plural and are observed only in the presence of Ca+2 in the medium. delta psi depolarization and K+ efflux induced by phage dp8 are increased with the growth of Mg+2 concentration from 0 to 2 mM. Changes of delta pH and also Na+,Ca+2 concentrations are not observed. In the presence of glucose phage infection leads to changes in H(+)-K(+)-exchange. The phages P22 and dp8 adsorption on bacteria causes changes in the form or turn of the channels in S. typhimurium membrane.     

Cation gradient dependence of the steps in thrombin stimulation of human platelets

Thrombin causes a dose-dependent depolarization of the transmembrane potential of normal human platelets which can be continuously measured by the fluorescent probe, 3,3'-dipropylthiodicarbocyanine, whose distribution across the plasma membrane has been shown to be dependent upon the membrane potential. The dose-dependent depolarization of the platelet's negative membrane potential by thrombin is in large part due to a rapid uptake of sodium. Both the membrane potential change and the rapid sodium influx can be inhibited by a fast acting analog of amiloride, a sodium channel blocker, while valinomycin, a potassium ionophore, has no effect on the potential change nor on the sodium uptake, suggesting that the transmembrane potassium gradient is not important in the thrombin-induced depolarization. Neither the secretion of serotonin nor that of lysosomal enzymes nor the secondary release of the fluorescent probe which correlates with the lysosomal enzyme secretion occur if treatment with valinomycin precedes activation by thrombin. It is thus apparent that: 1) the change in the membrane potential induced by thrombin is directly dependent upon the transmembrane sodium gradient and is primarily due to a dose-dependent sodium uptake by the platelets; and 2) the thrombin-induced secretory processes are dependent upon maintenance of the transmembrane potassium gradients.     

The control of mediator release from RBL-2H3 cells: roles for Ca2+, Na+, and protein kinase C1

Antigen-stimulated rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells release serotonin and other inflammatory mediators by a process that requires Ca2+ influx and increased cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels, and is mimicked by Ca2+ ionophores. We report here that the Ca2+ response to antigen and to ionomycin has two components, a Ca2+ spike and a Ca2+ plateau. In nominally Ca2+-free medium, both components of the Ca2+ response are inhibited and secretion does not occur. In Na+-free medium, the initial Ca2+ spike induced by antigen or ionomycin occurs, but the plateau is again absent and secretion is inhibited by 30 to 50%. Secretion is also reduced by 10(-4) M amiloride, an inhibitor of Na+ transport pathways, and by 10(-5) M concentrations of two amiloride analogs with greater activity than amiloride, respectively, against Na+ channels and Na+/Ca2+ exchange. Phorbol esters, which stimulate protein kinase C, enhance the Ca2+ plateau and secretion caused by suboptimal amounts of both antigen and ionomycin; this enhancement depends on extracellular Na+. The Na+ ionophore, monensin, mimics the Ca2+ plateau. From these data, we infer that the Ca2+ spike and plateau reflect separate responses of RBL-2H3 cells to antigen or ionomycin. We propose that the Ca2+ plateau results at least in part from the activation of a Na+-dependent Ca2+ influx pathway. One possible mechanism is that antigen binding stimulates a protein kinase C-regulated Na+ transport system. The resulting influx of Na+ may activate a Na+/Ca2+ antiporter that supports the Ca2+ plateau and mediator release.     

Activation of the Na+/H+ and Cl-/HCO3- exchange by stimulation of acid secretion in the parietal cell

Upon stimulation, the gastric parietal cell secretes a large quantity of isotonic HCl across its apical membrane which must be accompanied by the generation of base in the cytosol. The ability of this cell type to regulate cytosolic pH (pHi) was examined as a function of stimulation of acid secretion by histamine or forskolin. The pHi was estimated from the change of fluorescence of the trapped dye, 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein-bis-carboxyethylcarbo xy fluorescein in a purified cell suspension of rabbit parietal cells. Stimulation of the cell suspension raised pHi by an average of 0.13 +/- 0.038 pH units. The H+,K+-ATPase inhibitor, SCH28080 (2-methyl-8-[phenyl-methoxy]-imidazo-(1,2)-pyridine-3-acetonitrile) had only a small effect on the increase of pHi, therefore, was largely independent of H+,K+-ATPase activity. In Na+-free medium, where Na+/H+ exchange would be absent, the rise of pHi was only 0.03 pH units. This increase was blocked by SCH28080, showing that this small increment was the result of acid secretion. In Na+-containing medium, 90% of the increase was inhibited by an inhibitor of Na+/H+ exchange, dimethyl amiloride (DMA). This compound also blocked changes in pHi due to changes in extracellular Na+. Accordingly, most of the change in pHi upon stimulation of acid secretion by histamine and forskolin is due to activation of Na+/H+ exchange in the parietal cell basal-lateral membrane. The addition of DMA to stimulated, but not resting cells, gave a rapid acidification that was blocked by inhibition of anion exchange by 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), showing that anion exchange was also activated by stimulation. In single cell recording, canalicular and cytosolic pH were monitored simultaneously using 9-amino acridine and dimethyl carboxyfluorescein, respectively. Cytosolic alkalinization correlated with acid accumulation in the secretory canaliculus until a set point was reached. Thereafter, acidification continued without further change in pHi. To determine the role of Na+/H+ and Cl-/HCO3- exchange in acid secretion, Cl(-)-depleted cells were suspended in medium containing 40 mM Cl-. DMA and DIDS each blocked acid secretion by about 40%, but in combination, acid secretion was blocked by more than 90%. Thus, basal-lateral Na+/H+ and Cl-/HCO3- exchange activities are necessary for acid secretion across the apical membrane of the parietal cell.     

Extracellular Ca²+ alleviates NaCl-induced stomatal opening through a pathway involving H₂O₂-blocked Na+ influx in Vicia guard cells

To gain further insights into the function of extracellular Ca2+ in alleviating salt stress, Vicia faba guard cell protoplasts (GCPs) were patch-clamped in a whole-cell configuration. The results showed that 100 mM NaCl clearly induced Na+ influx across the plasma membrane in GCPs and promoted stomatal opening. Extracellular Ca2+ at 10 mM efficiently blocked Na+ influx and inhibited stomatal opening, which was partially abolished by La3+ (an inhibitor of plasma membrane Ca2+ channel) or catalase (CAT, a H?O? scavenger), respectively. These results suggest that the plasma membrane Ca2+ channels and H?O? possibly mediate extracellular Ca2+-blocked Na+ influx in GCPs. Furthermore, extracellular Ca2+ activated the plasma membrane Ca2+ channels under NaCl stress, which was partially abolished by CAT. These results, taken together, indicate that hydrogen peroxide (H?O?) likely regulates Na+ uptake by activating plasma membrane Ca2+ channels in GCPs. In accordance with this hypothesis, H?O? could mimic extracellular Ca2+ to activate Ca2+ channels and block Na+ influx in guard cells. A single-cell analysis of cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+](cyt)) using Fluo 3-AM revealed that extracellular Ca2+ induced the accumulation of cytosolic Ca2+ under NaCl stress, but had few effects on the accumulation of cytosolic Ca2+ under non-NaCl conditions. All of these results, together with our previous studies showing that extracellular Ca2+ induced the generation of H?O? in GCPs during NaCl stress, indicate that extracellular Ca2+ alleviates salt stress, likely by activating the H?O?-dependent plasma membrane Ca2+ channels, and the increase in cytosolic Ca2+ appears to block Na+ influx across the plasma membrane in Vicia guard cells, leading to stomatal closure and reduction of water loss.     

Effects of Lead Ions on Events Associated with Exocytosis in Isolated Bovine Adrenal Medullary Cells

Lead buffers (citrate and Tiron) were used to investigate the effects of low concentrations (0.1-6 microM) of Pb2+ on stimulus-secretion coupling in isolated bovine chromaffin cells. Nicotinic agonists and high K elicit secretion by enhancing Ca2+ influx into chromaffin cells. Pb2+ inhibited the catecholamine secretion in response to 500 microM carbachol and 77 mM K+ depolarization but was without significant effect on basal secretion. Pb2+ also inhibited the influx of 45Ca occurring in response to these agents. The K0.5 values for inhibition suggest that the carbachol-evoked flux is more sensitive to Pb2+ than influx in response to a direct depolarization. When extracellular calcium was lowered in the absence of Pb2+, both secretion and 45Ca entry were reduced. The effects of Pb2+ were comparable to those of lowered Ca2+. 22Na influx through nicotinic receptor-mediated channels, measured in the presence of tetrodotoxin (2 microM) and ouabain (50 microM), was inhibited by Pb2+. The results suggest that Pb2+ inhibits exocytotic catecholamine secretion by inhibiting Ca2+ influx. The differential sensitivity to Pb2+ of K- and carbachol-evoked 45Ca flux, coupled with the 22Na measurements, indicates that Pb2+ inhibits the movement of ions through acetylcholine-induced channels as well as through voltage-sensitive calcium channels.     

Proton permeability of the plasma membrane of rat cortical synaptosomes

1. Transmembrane pH gradients (acidic inside) and electrical gradients (negative inside) were estimated in cortical synaptosomes from the distribution of the weak base methylamine and the lipophilic cation tetraphenylphosphonium, respectively. 2. Acidic interior pH gradients were produced by outwardly directed K+ gradients in Na+-free media. External K+ accelerated the dissipation of preformed H+ gradients. The appearance of H+ in the medium was directly demonstrated by pH-stat titration of a weakly buffered medium. Amiloride failed to inhibit K+-induced H+ release. 3. Elevating K+ in the absence of Na+ did not affect the endogenous contents of noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin, as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. 4. H+ diffusion potentials were generated when outwardly directed H+ gradients were imposed onto the plasma membrane indicating an electrogenic H+ efflux which is not coupled to other ions. 5. At low K+ in the Na+-free sucrose medium, the plasma membrane potential Em (derived from distribution of tetraphenylphosphorium cation) did not approach a value for EK, the K+ equilibrium potential (calculated from K+ gradients). The deviation of Em from EK could be quantitatively described by a modified constant-field equation, taking a relative H+/K+ permeability coefficient of 12,400 into consideration. 6. It is concluded that synaptosomes have a H+ conductance pathway in their plasma membrane in addition to the Na+/H+ antiporter. H+ influx is driven by and leads to a reduction of Em. K+/H+ exchange resulted from the electrical coupling of K+ and H+ fluxes via parallel K+ and H+ channels. Since the Na+/H+ antiporter counteracts passive equilibration of H+ under physiological conditions, a continuous cycling of H+ across the plasma membrane will take place. A possible physiological role of the H+ leak in pHi regulation is discussed.     

Extracellular ATP induces ion fluxes and inhibits growth of Friend erythroleukemia cells

Extracellular ATP (1 mM) inhibited the growth of Friend virus-infected murine erythroleukemia cells (MEL cells) but had no effect on dimethyl sulfoxide-induced differentiation. ATP (1 mM) also caused changes in the permeability of MEL cells to ions. There was an increased influx of 45Ca2+ from a basal level of 5 pmol/min to 18 pmol/min/10(6) cells to achieve a 2-fold increase in steady-state Ca2+ as measured at isotopic equilibration. Ca2+ influx was blocked by diisothiocyanostilbene disulfonate (DIDS), an inhibitor of anion transport. ATP also stimulated Cl- uptake, and this flux was inhibited by DIDS. The ratio of ATP stimulated Cl- to Ca2+ uptake was 1.6:1. K+ and Na+ influx were also stimulated by ATP, but phosphate uptake was inhibited; the Na+ influx dissipated the Na+ gradient and thus inhibited nutrient uptake. ATP-stimulated K+ influx was ouabain inhibitable; however, the total cellular K+ decreased due to an ATP-stimulated ouabain-resistant K+ efflux. Na+ influx and Ca2+ influx occurred by separate independent routes, since Na+ influx was not inhibited by DIDS. The effects observed were specific for ATP *K1/2 MgATP = 0.7 mM) since AMP, GTP, adenosine, and the slowly hydrolyzable ATP analogue adenyl-5'-yl imidodiphosphate were without effect. The major ionic changes in the cell were a decrease in K+ and increase in Na+; cytoplasmic pH and free Ca2+ did not change appreciably. These ATP-induced changes in ion flux are considered to be responsible for growth inhibition.     

Kinetic properties of electrogenic Na+/H+ antiport in membrane vesicles from an alkalophilic Bacillus sp.

The effects of imposed proton motive force on the kinetic properties of the alkalophilic Bacillus sp. strain N-6 Na+/H+ antiport system have been studied by looking at the effect of delta psi (membrane potential, interior negative) and/or delta pH (proton gradient, interior alkaline) on Na+ efflux or H+ influx in right-side-out membrane vesicles. Imposed delta psi increased the Na+ efflux rate (V) linearly, and the slope of V versus delta psi was higher at pH 9 than at pH 8. Kinetic experiments indicated that the delta psi caused a pronounced increase in the Vmax for Na+ efflux, whereas the Km values for Na+ were unaffected by the delta psi. As the internal H+ concentration increased, the Na+ efflux reaction was inhibited. This inhibition resulted in an increase in the apparent Km of the Na+ efflux reaction. These results have also been observed in delta pH-driven Na+ efflux experiments. When Na(+)-loaded membrane vesicles were energized by means of a valinomycin-induced inside-negative K+ diffusion potential, the generated acidic-interior pH gradients could be detected by changes in 9-aminoacridine fluorescence. The results of H+ influx experiments showed a good coincidence with those of Na+ efflux. H+ influx was enhanced by an increase of delta psi or internal Na+ concentration and inhibited by high internal H+ concentration. These results are consistent with our previous contentions that the Na+/H+ antiport system of this strain operates electrogenically and plays a central role in pH homeostasis at the alkaline pH range.     

Cation exchanges of yeast in the absence of magnesium.

Environmental Mg2+ was found to influence the K+/Na+ exchange rate of metabolizing yeast. Addition of EDTA increased the exchange rate and Mg2+ reversed the effect of EDTA. Yeast starved in the absence of Mg2+ exchanged cellular K+ or Na+ for external H+ when maintained at acidic pH. The exchange rate depended on cellular pH and showed the same kinetics for both K+ and Na+. At acidic pH, the presence of external cations neither inhibited H+ absorption nor changed the cation/H+ 1 : 1 stoichiometry. At neutral pH, external cations inhibited H+ influx but did not change the cation efflux. The K+/Na+ exchange is discussed as electrically coupled and the K+/H+ and Na+/H+ exchanges as electroneutral antiports.     

Instrumental role of Na+ in NMDA excitotoxicity in glucose-deprived and depolarized cerebellar granule cells

In glucose-deprived cerebellar granule cells, substitution of extracellular Na+ with Li+ or Cs+ prevented N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced excitotoxicity. NMDA stimulated 45Ca2+ accumulation and ATP depletion in a Na-dependent manner, and caused neuronal death, even if applied while Na,K-ATPase was inhibited by 1 mM ouabain. The cells treated with NMDA in the presence of ouabain accumulated sizable 45Ca2+ load but most of them failed to elevate cytosolic [Ca2+] upon mitochondrial depolarization. Na/Ca exchange inhibitor, KB-R7943, inhibited Na-dependent and NMDA-induced 45Ca2+ accumulation but only if Na,K-ATPase activity was compromised by ouabain. In cells energized by glucose and exposed to NMDA without ouabain, KB-R7943 reduced NMDA-elicited ionic currents by 19% but failed to inhibit 45Ca2+ accumulation. It appears that a large part of NMDA-induced Ca2+ influx in depolarized and glucose-deprived cells is mediated by reverse Na/Ca exchange. A high level of reverse Na/Ca exchange operation is maintained by a sustained Na+ influx via NMDA channels and depolarization of the plasma membrane. In cells energized by glucose, however, most Ca2+ enters directly via NMDA channels because Na,K-ATPase regenerating Na+ and K+ concentration gradients prevents Na/Ca exchange reversal. Since under these conditions Na/Ca exchange extrudes Ca2+, its inhibition destabilizes Ca2+ homeostasis.     

A membrane potential-sensitive Na+-H+ exchange system in flagella isolated from sea urchin spermatozoa

Sea urchin sperm motility is activated by a Na+-dependent increase of internal pH. A flagellar preparation was used in the present study to investigate this ionic mechanism. Using 22Na and a pH electrode, the stoichiometry of Na+ uptake to H+ release in the isolated flagella was found to be 1.09 +/- 0.11. Reversing the Na+ gradient induced reacidification of the intraflagellar pH as measured by [14C]methylamine, while reversal of the H+ gradient resulted in a Na+ efflux. Furthermore, a parallel inhibition of both ionic movements was observed with increasing external [K+]. These results indicate that Na+ and H+ are coupled through an exchanger. Measurements of the membrane potential (psi) with [3H]tetraphenylphosphonium showed depolarization by K+, suggesting its inhibitory effect on the exchanger is through changes in psi. This is further supported by the following experiments. (a) Cs+ by itself had little effect on either psi or the Na+/H+ exchange, but in the presence of the ionophore valinomycin it depolarized psi and inhibited the exchange. (b) Tetraphenylphosphonium a highly permeant cation, at 2.5 mM caused depolarization and inhibition of the exchange, and these effects were reversible by repolarization of psi with valinomycin. The inhibitory effect of depolarization was not due to the electrogenicity of the exchange since both directions of the exchange were inhibited. It is proposed that the flagellar exchange is basically a electroneutral process but has a charged regulatory component (a gate or a conformational change) which confers the observed potential sensitivity.     

Role of Na+/H+ exchange in thrombin- and arachidonic acid-induced Ca2+ influx in platelets

Platelet activation is accompanied by an increase of cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i, (due to both extracellular Ca2+ influx and Ca2+ movements from the dense tubular system) and an Na+ influx associated with H+ extrusion. The latter event is attributable to the activation of Na+/H+ exchange, which requires Na+ in the extracellular medium and is inhibited by amiloride and its analogs. The present study was carried out to determine whether a link exists between Ca2+ transients (measured by the quin2 method and the 45CaCl2 technique) and Na+/H+ exchange activation (studied with the pH-sensitive intracellular probe, 6-carboxyfluorescein) during platelet stimulation. Washed human platelets, stimulated with thrombin and arachidonic acid, showed: (1) a large and rapid [Ca2+]i rise, mostly due to a Ca2+ influx through the plasma membrane; (2) a marked intracellular alkalinization. Both phenomena were markedly inhibited in the absence of extracellular Na+ or in the presence of an amiloride analog (EIPA). Monensin, a cation exchanger which elicits Na+ influx and alkalinization, and NH4Cl, which induces alkalinization only, were able to evoke an increase in [Ca2+]i, mostly as an influx from the extracellular medium. Our results suggest that Ca2+ influx induced by thrombin and arachidonic acid in human platelets is strictly dependent on Na+/H+-exchange activation.     

Relationship of the decreases in protein synthesis and intracellular Na+ during friend murine erythroleukemic cell differentiation

The earliest known ionic event during Friend murine erythroleukemic (MEL) cell differentiation along the erythroid pathway is a 45% drop in intracellular sodium concentration ([Na+]i) due to a decrease in Na+ influx (Lannigan, D. A., and Knauf, P. A. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 7322-7324). We have analyzed the mechanism of the decreased Na+ influx. The Na+ influx in uninduced cells was insensitive to dimethylamiloride, bumetanide, and diisothiocyanostilbene disulfonate. The intracellular pH (pHi) did not change up to 15 h after dimethyl sulfoxide induction, at which time Na+ influx has decreased by approximately 40%; thus, the decrease in Na+ influx is not coupled to a change in pHi. A substantial amount of the decrease in Na+ influx seems to result from a drop in amino acid-dependent Na+ transport. This reduction in amino acid-dependent Na+ influx reflects a decrease in net Na+ influx rather than solely in Na+/Na+ exchange and can account for an appreciable portion of the reduction in [Na+]i seen during differentiation. The drop in amino acid-dependent Na+ influx could not be explained by membrane depolarization but was correlated with a decrease in protein synthesis. Inhibition of protein synthesis in uninduced cells by cycloheximide also caused a decrease in Na+ influx. We conclude that during differentiation the reduction in protein synthesis decreases amino acid-dependent Na+ influx which in turn causes a drop in [Na+]i leading to a reduction in the Na+/K+ pump rate.     

Extracellular ATP causes Ca2(+)-dependent and -independent insulin secretion in RINm5F cells. Phospholipase C mediates Ca2+ mobilization but not Ca2+ influx and membrane depolarization

The mechanism by which extracellular ATP stimulates insulin secretion was investigated in RINm5F cells. ATP depolarized the cells as demonstrated both by using the patch-clamp technique and a fluorescent probe. The depolarization is due to closure of ATP-sensitive K+ channels as shown directly in outside-out membrane patches. ATP also raised cytosolic Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i). At the single cell level the latency of the [Ca2+]i response was inversely related to ATP concentration. The [Ca2+]i rise is due both to inositol trisphosphate mediated Ca2+ mobilization and to Ca2+ influx. The former component, as well as inositol trisphosphate generation, were inhibited by phorbol myristate acetate which uncouples agonist receptors from phospholipase C. This manoeuvre did not block Ca2+ influx or membrane depolarization. Diazoxide, which opens ATP-sensitive K+ channels, attenuated membrane depolarization and part of the Ca2+ influx stimulated by ATP. However, the main Ca2+ influx component was unaffected by L-type channel blockers, suggesting the activation of other Ca2+ conductance pathways. ATP increased the rate of insulin secretion by more than 12-fold but the effect was transient. Prolonged exposure to EGTA dissociated the [Ca2+]i rise from ATP-induced insulin secretion, since the former was abolished and the latter only decreased by about 60%. In contrast, vasopressin-evoked insulin secretion was more sensitive to Ca2+ removal than the accompanying [Ca2+]i rise. Inhibition of phospholipase C stimulation by phorbol myristate acetate abrogated vasopressin but only reduced ATP-induced insulin secretion by 34%. These results suggest that ATP stimulates insulin release by both phospholipase C dependent and distinct mechanisms. The Ca2+)-independent component of insulin secretion points to a direct triggering of exocytosis by ATP.     

Interaction of external H+ with the Na+-H+ exchanger in renal microvillus membrane vesicles

We examined the effects of external H+ on the kinetics of Na+-H+ exchange in microvillus membrane vesicles isolated from the rabbit renal cortex. The initial rate of Na+ influx into vesicles with internal pH 6.0 was optimal at external pH 8.5 and was progressively inhibited as external pH was reduced to 6.0. A plot of 1/V versus [H+]o was linear and yielded apparent KH = 35 nM (apparent pK 7.5). In vesicles with internal pH 6.0 studied at external pH 7.5 or 6.6, apparent KNa was 13 or 54 mM, Ki for inhibition of Na+ influx by external Li+ was 1.2 or 5.2 mM, Ki for inhibition by external NH4+ was 11 or 50 mM, and Ki for inhibition by external amiloride was 7 or 25 microM, respectively. These findings were consistent with competition between each cation and H+ at a site with apparent pK 7.3-7.5. Lastly, stimulation of 22Na efflux by external Na+ (i.e. Na+-Na+ exchange) was inhibited as external pH was reduced from 7.5 to 6.0, also consistent with competition between external H+ and external Na+. Thus, in contrast with internal H+, which interacts at both transport and activator sites, external H+ interacts with the renal microvillus membrane Na+-H+ exchanger at a single site, namely the external transport site, where H+, Na+, Li+, NH4+, and amiloride all compete for binding.     

Sulphate and phosphate transport in the renal proximal tubule

Experiments performed on microperfused proximal tubules and brush-border membrane vesicles revealed that inorganic phosphate is actively reabsorbed in the proximal tubule involving a 2 Na+-HPO2-4 or H2PO-4 co-transport step in the brush-border membrane and a sodium-independent exit step in the basolateral cell membrane. Na+-phosphate co-transport is competitively inhibited by arsenate. The transtubular transport regulation is mirrored by the brush-border transport step: it is inhibited by parathyroid hormone intracellularly mediated by cyclic AMP. Transepithelial inorganic phosphate (Pi) transport and Na+-dependent Pi transport across the brush-border membrane correlates inversely with the Pi content of the diet. Intraluminal acidification as well as intracellular alkalinization led to a reduction of transepithelial Pi transport. Data from brush-border membrane vesicles indicate that high luminal H+ concentrations reduce the affinity for Na+ of the Na+-phosphate co-transport system, and that this mechanism might be responsible for the pH dependence of phosphate reabsorption. Contraluminal influx of Pi from the interstitium into the cell could be partly inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS). It is not, however, changed when dicarboxylic acids are present or when the pH of the perfusate is reduced to pH 6. Sulphate is actively reabsorbed, involving electroneutral 2 Na+-SO2-4 co-transport through the brush-border membrane. This transport step is inhibited by thiosulphate and molybdate, but not by phosphate or tungstate. The transtubular active sulphate reabsorption is not pH dependent, but is diminished by the absence of bicarbonate. The transport of sulphate through the contraluminal cell side is inhibited by DIDS and diminished when the capillary perfusate contains no bicarbonate or chloride. The latter data indicate the presence of an anion exchange system in the contraluminal cell membrane like that in the erythrocyte membrane.     

Regulation of internal pH of sea urchin sperm. A role for the Na/K pump

In the absence of sodium, sea urchin sperm have an acidic internal pH. The addition of sodium, lithium, or ammonium, but not of potassium ions, induces an internal alkalization. If potassium is added in the presence of sodium, a further alkalization is obtained; in contrast, potassium addition in presence of Li+ or NH+4 does not change the internal pH. The K+-induced pHi change is inhibited by ouabain and when sperm are depleted of their ATP. A large part of the potassium influx is stimulated by Na+, but not Li+, and inhibited by ouabain and cellular ATP depletion. We conclude that activity of Na/K-ATPase pumps located in the plasma membrane of sea urchin sperm could play a role in regulating the internal pH of sea urchin sperm by recycling sodium ions that enter the cell through Na/H countermovements.     

pH gradient as an additional driving force in the renal re-absorption of phosphate.

The effects of the Na+ gradient and pH on phosphate uptake were studied in brush-border membrane vesicles isolated from rat kidney cortex. The initial rates of Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake were measured at pH 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5 in the presence of sodium gluconate. At a constant total phosphate concentration, the transport values at pH 7.5 and 8.5 were similar, but at pH 6.5 the influx was 31% of that at pH 7.5. However, when the concentration of bivalent phosphate was kept constant at all three pH values, the effect of pH was less pronounced; at pH 6.5, phosphate influx was 73% of that measured at pH 7.5. The Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake was also influenced by a transmembrane pH difference; an outwardly directed H+ gradient stimulated the uptake by 48%, whereas an inwardly directed H+ gradient inhibited the uptake by 15%. Phosphate on the trans (intravesicular) side stimulated the Na(+)-gradient-dependent phosphate transport by 59%, 93% and 49%, and the Na(+)-gradient-independent phosphate transport by 240%, 280% and 244%, at pH 6.5, 7.5 and 8.5 respectively. However, in both cases, at pH 6.5 the maximal stimulation was seen only when the concentration of bivalent trans phosphate was the same as at pH 7.5. In the absence of a Na+ gradient, but in the presence of Na+, an outwardly directed H+ gradient provided the driving force for the transient hyperaccumulation of phosphate. The rate of uptake was dependent on the magnitude of the H+ gradient. These results indicate that: (1) the bivalent form of phosphate is the form of phosphate recognized by the carrier on both sides of the membrane; (2) protons are both activators and allosteric modulators of the phosphate carrier; (3) the combined action of both the Na+ (out/in) and H+ (in/out) gradients on the phosphate carrier contribute to regulate efficiently the re-absorption of phosphate.