基于Ti4+-IMAC富集的分枝菌酸小杆菌深度覆盖磷酸化蛋白质组研究

【目的】本研究以分枝菌酸小杆菌(Mycolicibacterium smegmatis)为研究对象,探索适于原核微生物理想的磷酸化富集方法。【方法】我们比较了二氧化钛(TiO₂)、Fe³⁺-NTA和Ti⁴⁺螯合在磷酸酯修饰的固相微球(Ti⁴⁺-IMAC) 3种不同富集方法磷酸化肽段的富集效率,并用不同分辨率的质谱仪评估富集稳定性。【结果】Ti⁴⁺-IMAC富集效率最高,磷酸化位点数是TiO₂或Fe³⁺-NTA方法的7倍以上;TiO₂和Fe³⁺-NTA方法富集到的磷酸化位点数相差不大,与已报道的用TiO₂方法富集的磷酸化位点数目接近。Ti⁴⁺-IMAC富集结果稳定性很好,高分辨率Lumos质谱仪鉴定到的磷酸化位点数是Velos的2.6倍。【结论】本研究较高效地实现了分枝菌酸小杆菌磷酸化事件的鉴定,共鉴定到2 280个磷酸化蛋白、10 880个磷酸化肽段及4 433个可信磷酸化位点,有望用于其他微生物的磷酸化蛋白质组学研究。     

Ni2+胁迫下嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌亚铁氧化应激效应

【目的】嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌(Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans)作为湿法冶金的主要功能菌,其在重金属Ni²⁺胁迫下的亚铁氧化应激机制还不清楚。【方法】在两步法培养体系中,设计由低到高Ni²⁺胁迫浓度,利用分光光度法、电化学法和实时荧光定量PCR法等从宏观到微观探究Ni²⁺胁迫下A.ferrooxidans菌亚铁氧化应激效应。【结果】两步培养法体系下A.ferrooxidans菌能够耐受较高浓度的Ni²⁺毒性(≤30 g/L Ni²⁺)。当Ni²⁺胁迫浓度增加至40 g/L时,与对照组(不添加Ni²⁺胁迫)相比,A.ferrooxidans亚铁氧化率和速率显著降低(24 h的亚铁氧化抑制率约为59.4%),亚铁氧化代谢相关的rus操纵子各功能基因的表达量也显著下调,尤其是基因cyc1(最高下调了16倍)和coxBACD(4个不同亚基最高下调2.7–7.4倍);同时Fe²⁺氧化相关的胞外电子传递能力也降低,对照组(0 g/L Ni²⁺,29.0µA)最大还原峰电流值高于实验组(40 g/L Ni²⁺,24.5µA)。【结论】超高浓度Ni²⁺胁迫环境对A.ferrooxidans菌有毒性,导致该菌rus操纵子上各功能基因表达量下调,同时造成胞外电子传递速率降低,最终致使A.ferrooxidans菌亚铁氧化能力降低。研究结果将为含Ni固废高效生物浸出提供理论支持。     

纳米铁氧化物对Pelotomaculum schinkii培养系丙酸厌氧降解产甲烷的影响

微生物能利用导电材料进行电子传递,提高种间电子传递效率。铁基纳米导电物质可以加速土壤及厌氧消化系统中微生物间的种间电子传递,促进有机废弃物的产甲烷过程。前期获得了厌氧丙酸富集培养系,互营丙酸氧化菌（Pelotomaculum schinkii）在培养系中占优势,本研究考察了10~4 000 mg/L 纳米铁氧化物对丙酸降解产甲烷过程的作用及微生物的影响。结果表明,低浓度的铁基纳米材料对丙酸降解有一定的促进作用,而高浓度会抑制产甲烷：10~1 000 mg/L纳米Fe₃O₄对产甲烷无明显影响,1 500~4 000 mg/L最大产甲烷速率抑制了26%~80%,延滞期增加了174%~222%;10~200 mg/L纳米Fe₂O₃使最大产甲烷速率提高了21%~29%,1 500~4 000 mg/L最大产甲烷速率抑制了48%~58%,延滞期增加了29%~85%。微生物群落解析结果表明,与对照相比,10~1 000 mg/L纳米Fe₂O₃使P. schinkii相对丰度略有增加,而4 000 mg/L纳米₃O₄/Fe₂O₃使P. schinkii的相对丰度下降了70.7%和55.9%,说明高浓度纳米铁氧化物会抑制P. schinkii的活性,导致丙酸降解及产甲烷速率降低。     

十溴联苯醚降解菌的分离鉴定、降解特性及降解机理

【背景】十溴联苯醚(decabromodiphenyl ether,BDE-209)是应用最广泛的溴代阻燃剂之一,其持久性毒性给生态环境和生物体带来了严重危害。【目的】分离出一株能有效降解BDE-209的好氧细菌并研究其降解特性及机理,以探究BDE-209的微生物降解规律。【方法】以BDE-209为唯一碳源,通过富集、分离和纯化,从活性污泥中筛选出BDE-209好氧降解细菌。采用高效液相色谱(high-performance liquid chromatography,HPLC)和液相色谱-质谱联用仪(liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry,LC-MS)分别检测BDE-209的浓度和中间产物。【结果】筛选得到一株BDE-209好氧降解细菌F,经鉴定初步判定为硝基还原假单胞菌(Pseudomonas nitroreducens)。在30℃、pH7.0、接种量为10%(体积分数)、葡萄糖浓度为250mg/L的优化降解条件下,对初始浓度为10mg/L的BDE-209的降解率可达76.2%。低浓度的Cd²⁺(≤5mg/L)未对BDE-209的微生物降解和菌体生长产生显著影响,而高浓度的Cd²⁺(≥15mg/L)对BDE-209的微生物降解和菌体生长则产生显著影响。BDE-209对细胞表面疏水性(cell surface hydrophobicity,CSH)具有一定的影响。BDE-209的微生物降解机理主要包括脱溴、羟基化、二苯醚键断裂和开环等过程。【结论】菌株F对BDE-209具有很好的降解能力,研究结果对BDE-209的好氧微生物降解及BDE-209污染环境的生物修复具有较好的科学意义。     

不同浓度Fe2+与Zn2+对羊草幼苗生长和生理特性的影响

以羊草幼苗为研究对象,通过调整全营养培养基(CK,0.05 mmol/L Fe²⁺、0.015 mmol/L Zn²⁺)中铁或者锌含量设置0、10倍、20倍Fe²⁺(Zn²⁺)浓度处理Fe₀(Zn₀)、Fe₁₀(Zn₁₀)、Fe₂₀(Zn₂₀),以及在高铁培养基中单独添加0.15 mmol/L Zn²⁺或同时添加10 mmol/L Ca²⁺、5 mmol/L Mg²⁺、20 mmol/L K⁺处理,测定培养6 d后幼苗生长指标和矿质元素含量、以及高铁(Fe₂₀)处理下幼苗根中抗氧化指标和相关基因表达量,探究不同浓度Fe²⁺、Zn²⁺对羊草幼苗生长、矿质元素吸收积累及抗氧化指标、基因表达的影响。结果表明：(1)缺锌(Zn₀)显著抑制羊草幼苗鲜重的增加和Zn元素的积累,但促进Fe、Mg元素的积累;高浓度锌(Zn₁₀、Zn₂₀)显著促进幼苗叶片生长和Zn元素的积累;缺铁(Fe₀)显著抑制幼苗的根长、鲜重和Fe元素的积累,促进Mg、Zn元素的积累;高浓度铁(Fe₁₀、Fe₂₀)显著抑制羊草幼苗根叶生长、根毛发育和Ca、Zn、Mg、K元素的积累。(2)增加Zn²⁺和Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、K⁺浓度无法恢复高铁胁迫对幼苗生长的抑制作用。(3)高浓度铁(Fe₂₀)处理羊草幼苗48 h后,根部过氧化物酶、超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶、谷胱甘肽还原酶活性和丙二醛、抗坏血酸、还原型谷胱甘肽含量显著升高;烟酰胺合成酶基因、过氧化物酶基因表达量显著下调,植物类萌发素蛋白基因表达量显著上调。研究发现,羊草幼苗生长发育和矿质元素积累对环境中Zn²⁺浓度变化不敏感,却受到环境中高浓度Fe²⁺的显著抑制,并造成严重的氧化胁迫伤害,这种伤害无法在添加Zn²⁺或同时添加Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、K⁺的条件下恢复。     

奥奈达希瓦氏菌CctA介导周质甲基橙还原的电子传递机理

电活性微生物奥奈达希瓦氏菌的胞外电子传递（extracellular electron transfer,EET）在污染物降解、环境修复、生物电化学传感、能源利用等方面具有广泛的应用潜力;四血红素细胞色素CctA （small tetraheme cytochrome）是希瓦氏菌周质空间中最丰富的蛋白质之一,能够参与多种氧化还原过程,但目前对CctA在EET中的行为和机理认识仍然有限。【目的】研究阐明CctA蛋白在希瓦氏菌模式菌株MR-1周质空间以偶氮染料作为电子受体的EET中的作用,补充和拓展希瓦氏菌的厌氧呼吸产能机制。【方法】以周质还原型偶氮染料甲基橙（methyl orange,MO）作为电子受体,在mteal reduction （Mtr）蛋白缺失菌株Δmtr中研究MO的周质还原特点,并通过基因敲除和回补表达研究CctA蛋白在周质电子传递中的作用。【结果】在缺失Mtr通道的情况下,细胞色素CctA可以介导周质空间的电子传递而还原MO。重组表达CctA在低水平时,MO在周质空间中的还原速率与其表达水平呈正相关,更高水平的CctA表达无助于进一步提高MO的还原速率。蛋白膜伏安结果展示了CctA与周质空间内其他高电位氧化还原蛋白的显著区别,可能参与构成一条低电位的MO还原通道。【结论】从分子动力学层面揭示了CctA在周质MO还原中的独特电子传递行为,为进一步推进对细菌周质电子传递机制的理解,以及通过合成生物学设计或改造胞外氧化还原系统、强化生物电化学在污染物降解中的应用提供了重要信息。     

异养微生物还原氧化铁的研究

所试的民养微生物能在静止状态含蔗糖和氧化铁的培养液中生长。它们在氧化蔗糖到CO₂时,伴随着Fe³⁺还原到Fe²⁺、Fe²⁺移动到基质表面与O₂接触后,又会氧化为Fe³⁺培养液Fe³⁺被还原的适宜pH和温度分别为7.0、25℃。若培养液中加入0．1％硝酸盐时,还原Fe³⁺的过程会停滞或减慢。     

两种大型真菌子实体对Cd2+的生物吸附特性

对两种多孔菌科大型真菌槐栓菌(Trametes robiniophila)和木蹄层孔菌(Fomes fomentarius)子实体生物吸附Cd²⁺的影响因素(包括吸附剂用量、初始pH、吸附时间、初始Cd²⁺浓度)和吸附特性进行分析。结果表明,槐栓菌和木蹄层孔菌对低浓度的Cd²⁺(10 mg/L)吸附的最适pH为6;Cd²⁺的去除率随吸附剂用量和吸附时间的增加而增大,槐栓菌和木蹄层孔菌均在吸附剂用量为2g/L时达到吸附平衡,槐栓菌在吸附时间为30 min时达到吸附平衡,而木蹄层孔菌在吸附时间为60 min时达到吸附平衡;槐栓菌和木蹄层孔菌对10 mg/L Cd²⁺的最大去除率分别为98%和94%。Langmuir等温吸附平衡模型比Freundlich等温吸附平衡模型能更好的拟合两种大型真菌对Cd²⁺的吸附过程;槐栓菌和木蹄层孔菌对10 mg/L Cd²⁺的最大吸附量分别为17.40 mg/g和8.91 mg/g。对实验数据进行动力学模型拟合可知,两种大型真菌对Cd²⁺的生物吸附过程均符合准二阶动力学模型。槐栓菌和木蹄层孔菌生物吸附低浓度Cd²⁺的化学反应机理可能为离子交换。     

重金属Cd2+和Cu2+胁迫下泥蚶消化酶活性的变化

为了探讨重金属Cd²⁺和Cu²⁺胁迫对泥蚶消化酶活性的影响,运用酶学分析的方法,按《渔业水质标准》（GB 11607）规定的Cd²⁺、Cu²⁺最高限量值的1、2、5、10倍设置重金属离子Cd²⁺、Cu²⁺浓度及其组合,研究了在重金属Cd²⁺、Cu²⁺胁迫下,30d内泥蚶3种消化酶活性的变化规律。结果表明：与空白对照组相比,在重金属Cd²⁺、Cu²⁺或其组合的胁迫下,较低浓度组泥蚶的淀粉酶活性实验前期增强（即被诱导）,实验后期减弱（即被抑制）,较高浓度组泥蚶的淀粉酶活性从实验一开始就减弱,并保持在较低水平,毒性比较,同一重金属高浓度 > 低浓度,不同重金属及其组合Cu²⁺ > （Cd²⁺+Cu²⁺）组合 > Cd²⁺;泥蚶脂肪酶的活性实验前期增强,实验后期转为微减弱或减弱,毒性比较,同一重金属高浓度 > 低浓度,不同重金属及其组合（Cd²⁺+Cu²⁺）组合 > Cu²⁺ > Cd²⁺;泥蚶胃蛋白酶的活性实验前期增强,且活性呈现升高-降低-再升高-再降低的变化,实验后期分别表现微增强、微减弱和减弱,毒性比较,同一重金属高浓度 > 低浓度,不同重金属及其组合（Cd²⁺+Cu²⁺）组合 > Cu²⁺ > Cd²⁺。可见：环境中的Cd²⁺和Cu²⁺对泥蚶的消化酶活性起着明显的影响作用。     

长潭水库铁锰含量与环境因子的季节性变化相关性分析及铁锰氧化菌群的富集培养

【背景】目前对水库水体污染原因的研究往往专注于水体的富营养化、pH值、溶解氧、氨氮、菌落总数指标的变化,而重金属含量与环境因子的季节性变化相关性分析研究较少,同时对于典型季节原位微生物种群的多样性差异研究尚未见报道。【目的】研究浙江省台州市长潭水库底部水中正二价金属离子(二价锰离子Mn²⁺;二价铁离子Fe²⁺)浓度与不同环境因子的季节性变化规律,并对其相关性进行分析;富集平水期(2月)和丰水期(8月)水库底部水体中功能微生物菌群,分析其种类和丰度的差异。【方法】分别检测12个月的水库水Mn²⁺和Fe²⁺浓度及多种环境因子(水体溶解氧浓度、pH值、总磷浓度、浊度、水库环境温度及降水量),过滤并富集培养水库底部水体的功能微生物菌群,对其16S rRNA基因V3-V4区测序并分析其菌群结构。【结果】长潭水库水中Mn²⁺和Fe²⁺浓度呈季节性变化,每年的春夏交替季节水体中铁锰含量从零开始慢慢升高,至夏秋高温季节水体中Mn²⁺和Fe²⁺浓度达到最高值,然后慢慢降低,至秋末冬初检测不到含量。在检测的多种环境因子中,水体溶解氧浓度、水库环境温度及降水量呈明显的季节性规律变化。Mn²⁺和Fe²⁺浓度与温度、降水量和浊度有正相关性,与溶解氧浓度、pH值和总磷浓度有负相关性,其中在正负相关性分析中两种金属离子的浓度与溶解氧浓度的相关性最强,其次是环境温度及降水量。丰水期和平水期中富集获得的功能微生物菌群的种类和丰度差异很大,从属水平上分类,丰水期时菌群只包含不动杆菌(Acinetobacter)和鲑色沉积物杆状菌(Sediminibacterium)这2个属的菌株,含量各占约50%;平水期时菌群则主要由杆菌属(Bacillariophyta) (47.62%)和Limnohabitans(9.52%)等9个属的菌株构成。富集获得的平水期和丰水期的两个可培养的菌群均具有去除水库水中Mn²⁺的功能,去除率分别约为35.9%和11.4%。【结论】长潭水库底部水体中Mn²⁺和Fe²⁺浓度与不同环境因子均呈季节性规律变化,它们之间呈现不同的正负相关性,丰水期和平水期的功能微生物菌群结构差异很大。本研究为利用微生物进行重金属污染水体的治理储备了微生物资源,为实现国家“美丽乡村”的建设目标提供一定的参考价值。     

The sodium cycle: A novel type of bacterial energetics

The progress of bioenergetic studies on the role of Na⁺ in bacteria is reviewed. Experiments performed over the past decade on several bacterial species of quite different taxonomic positions show that Na⁺ can, under certain conditions, substitute for H⁺ as the coupling ion. Various primary Na⁺ pumps ( generators) are described, i.e., Na⁺-motive decarboxylases, NADH-quinone reductase, terminal oxidase, and ATPase. The formed is shown to be consumed by Na⁺ driven ATP-synthase, Na⁺ flagellar motor, numerous Na⁺, solute symporters, and the methanogenesis-linked reverse electron transfer system. InVibrio alginolyticus, it was found that , generated by NADH-quinone reductase, can be utilized to support all three types of membrane-linked work, i.e., chemical (ATP synthesis), osmotic (Na⁺, solute symports), and mechanical (rotation of the flagellum). InPropionigenum modestum, circulation of Na⁺ proved to be the only mechanism of energy coupling. In other species studied, the Na⁺ cycle seems to coexist with the H⁺ cycle. For instance, inV. alginolyticus the initial and terminal steps of the respiratory chain are Na⁺ - and H⁺-motive, respectively, whereas ATP hydrolysis is competent in the uphill transfer of Na⁺ as well as of H⁺. In the alkalo- and halotolerantBacillus FTU, there are H⁺ - and Na⁺-motive terminal oxidases. Sometimes, the Na⁺-translocating enzyme strongly differs from its H⁺-translocating homolog. So, the Na⁺-motive and H⁺-motive NADH-quinone reductases are composed of different subunits and prosthetic groups. The H⁺-motive and Na⁺-motive terminal oxidases differ in that the former is ofaa ₃-type and sensitive to micromolar cyanide whereas the latter is of another type and sensitive to millimolar cyanide. At the same time, both Na⁺ and H⁺ can be translocated by one and the sameP. modestum ATPase which is of the F₀F₁-type and sensitive to DCCD. The sodium cycle, i.e., a system composed of primary generator(s) and consumer(s), is already described in many species of marine aerobic and anaerobic eubacteria and archaebacteria belonging to the following genera:Vibrio, Bacillus, Alcaligenes, Alteromonas, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Propionigenum, Clostridium, Veilonella, Acidaminococcus, Streptococcus, Peptococcus, Exiguobacterium, Fusobacterium, Methanobacterium, Methanococcus, Methanosarcin, etc. Thus, the sodium world seems to occupy a rather extensive area in the biosphere.     

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.     

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.     

Ouabain resistance of the epithelial cell line (Ma104) is not due to lack of affinity of its pumps for the drug

Na⁺, K⁺-pumps of most eukaryotic animal cells bind ouabain with high affinity, stop pumping, and consequently loose K⁺, detach from each other and from the substrate, and die. Lack of affinity for the drug results in ouabain resistance. In this work, we report that Ma104 cells (epithelial from Rhesus monkey kidney) have a novel form of ouabain-resistance: they bind the drug with high affinity (Km about 4×10^–8 m), they loose their K⁺ and stop proliferating but, in spite of these, up to 100% of the cells remain attached in 1.0 m ouabain, and 53% in 1.0 mm. When 4 days later ouabain is removed from the culture medium, cells regain K⁺ and resume proliferation. Strophanthidin, a drug that attaches less firmly than ouabain, produces a similar phenomenon, but allows a considerably faster recovery. This reversal may be associated to the fact that, while in ouabain-sensitive MDCK cells Na⁺, K⁺-ATPases blocked by the drug are retrieved from the plasma membrane, those in Ma104 cells remain at the cell-cell border, as if they were cell-cell attaching molecules. Cycloheximide (10 g/ml) and chloroquine (10 m) impair this recovery, suggesting that it also depends on the synthesis and insertion of a crucial protein component, that may be different from the pump itself. Therefore ouabain resistance of Ma104 cells is not due to a lack of affinity for the drug, but to a failure of its Na⁺, K⁺-ATPases to detach from the plasma membrane in spite of being blocked by ouabain.We wish to thank Dr. E. Rodríguez-Boulán for the generous supply of Ma104 cells, as well as acknowledge the generous economic support of the National Research Council (CONACYT) of Mexico. Confocal experiments were performed in the Confocal Microscopy Unit of the Physiology Department, CINVESTAV.     

Internal radiotherapy of painful bone metastases

Internal radiotherapy is effective in the treatment of metastatic bone pain and can improve quality of life. A number of controlled studies using various agents have shown a mean response rate in pain relief of 70–80% of treated patients. Some investigators prefer radionuclides which emit low beta particles for the treatment of bone pain, because the assumption of lower bone marrow toxicity of this agents. However, neither dosimetric data for radiation absorbed dose to the bone marrow nor clinical blood count depression have shown any significant differences between these agents. Other researchers suggest enhanced antitumoral effects using high-energy beta emitters and propose aggressive first-line treatment in the early disease stage instead of using these radiopharmaceuticals only in end-stage patients suffering intractable bone pain. Another approach consists of including other treatment modalities such as autologous stem cell rescue or in combination with chemo or bisphosphonate therapy to a radionuclide treatment scheme. Future research should focus more on the curative effects of combination with radiosensitizer, for example, chemotherapy, or repeated treatments with bone seeking agents.     

Metabolism of NAD+ in Nuclei of Saccharomyces cerevisiae during Stimulation of Its Biosynthesis by Nicotinamide

The activities of nuclear enzymes involved in NAD⁺ metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain 913a-1 and its mutant 110 previously selected as an NAD⁺ producer were investigated. The presence of extracellular nicotinamide increased the total NAD⁺ pool in the cells and increased [³H]nicotinic acid incorporation; however, NAD⁺ concentration in isolated nuclei decreased slightly. The stimulating effect of nicotinamide on intracellular synthesis of NAD⁺ correlated with increases in ADP-ribosyl transferase, NAD⁺-pyrophosphorylase, and NAD⁺ ase activities.     

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.