Disappearance of calcium-induced phase separation in phosphatidylserine-phosphatidylcholine membranes caused by protonation and by electric current.

Disappearance of Ca2+-induced phase separation in phosphatidylserine-phosphatidylcholine membrane has been studied under several conditions by monitoring electron spin resonance spectrum of spin-labeled phosphatidylcholine. The membranes were prepared in Millipore filters. Electron micrographs of the pre parations showed formation of multilayered structures lined on the pore surface. The phase separation was disappeared when the membrane was soaked in non-buffered salt solution (100 ml KCl, pH 5.5). It was markedly contrasting that when the bathing salt solution was buffered no disappearance was observed. Disappearance of the phase separation was also observed when the Ca2+-treated membrane was transferred to acidic salt solutions (less than or equal to pH 2.5) or to low ionic strength media (less than or equal to mM) buffered at pH 5.5, and then to the buffered salt solution (100 mM KCl, pH 5.5). These are due to replacement of Ca2+ by proton, proton-induced separation, followed by disappearance of the phase separation in the buffered salt solution. Biological significance of the competition between Ca2+ and proton for the phase separation or domain formation in the membranes was emphasized.     

Relation between phosphorylation and adenosine triphosphate-dependent Ca2+ binding of swine and bovine erythrocyte membranes

The correlation between the ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ binding and the phosphorylation of the membranes from swine and bovine erythrocytes was studied. The Ca²⁺ binding was measured by using ⁴⁵CaCl₂, and the phosphorylation by [γ-³²P]ATP was studied with the technique of SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. 200 mM NaCl and KCl markedly repressed the Ca²⁺ binding of swine erythrocyte membranes. The radioactivity of ³²P-labelled membranes was revealed mainly in 250 000 dalton protein and a lipid fraction. NaCl and KCl also repressed the phosphorylation of the lipid which was identified as triphosphoinositide by paper chromatography. The membranes prepared from trypsin-digested erythrocytes completely retained the Ca²⁺-binding activity, and lost 30% of $\text{(Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+ Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ activity. The Ca²⁺-binding and ATPase activity of isolated membranes decreased to 55% and to 0%, respectively, by tryptic digestion. Neither the Ca²⁺ binding nor the phosphorylation of polyphosphoinositides were detected in bovine erythrocyte membranes.These results suggest that the formation of triphosphoinositide rather than the $\text{(Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+ Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ of membranes is linked to the ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ binding of erythrocyte membranes.     

Ca2+-induced phase separation in phosphatidylserine,phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine mixed membranes

Ca²⁺-induced phase separation in phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylethanolamine/phosphatidylcholine model membranes was studied using spin-labeled phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine and compared with that in phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylcholine model membranes studied previously. The phosphatidyl-ethanolamine-containing membranes behaved in qualitatively the same way as did phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylcholine model membranes. There were some quantitative differences between them. The degree of phase separation was higher in the phosphatidylethanolamine-containing membranes. For example, the degree of phase separation in phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylethanolamine membranes containing various mole fractions of phosphatidylserine was 94–100% at 23°C and 84–88% at 40°C, while the corresponding value for phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylcholine membranes was 74–85% at 23°C and 61–79% at 40°C. Ca²⁺ concentration required for the phase separation was lower for phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylethanolamine than that for phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylcholine membranes; concentration to cause a half-maximal phase separation was $\text{1.4 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?7}}$ M for phosphatidylserine-phosphatidylethanolamine and $\text{1.2 · 10}{}^{\mathrm{?6}}$ M for phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylcholine membranes. The phase diagram of phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylethanolamine membranes in the presence of Ca²⁺ was also qualitatively the same as that of phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylcholine except for the different phase transition temperatures of phosphatidylethanolamine (17°C) and phosphatidylcholine (?15°C). These differences were explained in terms of a greater tendency for phosphatidylethanolamine, compared to phosphatidylcholine, to form its own fluid phase separated from the Ca²⁺-chelated solid-phase phosphatidylserine domain.     

Calcium ion-flux across phosphatidylcholine membranes mediated by ionophore A23187

The antibiotic A23187 carries Ca²⁺ across Müller-Rudin membranes made from $\text{1,2-}\text{dierucoyl}\text{-sn-}\text{glycero}\text{-3-}\text{phosphocholine}$ and $\text{n-}\text{decane}$. The conductance of the membranes is not increased by the Ca²⁺-transport. The flux depends linearly on Ca²⁺ concentration and ionophore concentration (above pH 6). It increases with increasing pH, approximately by a factor of 4–5 between pH 6 and pH 8. Maximal Ca²⁺-fluxes of about $\text{10}{}^{\mathrm{?10}}\text{mol}\text{·}\text{cm}{}^{\mathrm{?2}}\text{·}\text{s}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$ were found. A counter transport of H⁺ could not be detected.The complex formation between A23187 and Ca²⁺ in egg phosphatidylcholine vesicles was studied spectroscopically. The results are consistent with the formation of a 2 : 1 complex. Optical absorption measurements on single phosphatidylcholine membranes were used to calculate the concentration of membrane-bound ionophore A23187.     

Effect of pH,mono- and divalent cations on the mixing of phosphatidylglycerol with phosphatidylcholine. A monolayer (π, ΔV) and fluorescence study

The mixing of various molecular species of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine differing in their acyl chain lengths has been studied both in monolayers (π, Δ$\text{V}$), and in water dispersions (fluorescence polarization) with varying pH and ionic strength of the aqueous phase and in the presence of the divalent cations Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺. In dilauroylphosphatidylglycerol/dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine mixtures, both in monolayers and in water dispersions, no phase separation was detected at pH 2.9 where phosphatidylglycerol was protonated. With dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol/dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine mixtures, in monolayers and at the same pH, no phase separation was detected for surface pressures below $\text{π = 40}\text{mN}\text{·}\text{m}{}^{\mathrm{?1}}$. In monolayers, and under ionic conditions such that phosphatidylglycerol was ionized (pH 5.6, 10 mM NaCl) miscibility was observed with dilauroylphosphatidylglycerol and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and also with dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol and dilauroylphosphatidylcholine. Varying the ionic strength did not alter the miscibility of these lipids. The divalent cations Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ did not modify that of dilauroylphosphatidylglycerol with dilauroylphosphatidylcholine or with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine. Both in monolayers and in water dispersions, dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol and dilauroylphosphatidylcholine appeared to be at least partly miscible, in the presence of magnesium. Only in the presence of calcium and at high surface pressure might the monolayer data account for phase separation between these two lipids. The data presented demonstrate the existence of strong cohesive forces between phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol with a marked influence of the former on the physical state of the latter. From an analysis of the Δ$\text{V}$ data, it is suggested that intrafacial hydrogen bonds may play a significant role in stabilizing phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylglycerol mixtures.     

Ouabain-insensitive Na+-stimulated ATPase activity of basolateral plasma membranes from guinea-pig kidney cortex cells: II. Effect of Ca2+

The ouabain-insensitive, Mg²⁺-dependent, Na⁺-stimulated ATPase activity present in fresh basolateral plasma membranes from guinea-pig kidney cortex cells (prepared at pH 7.2) can be increased by the addition of micromolar concentrations of Ca²⁺ to the assay medium. The Ca²⁺ involved in this effect seems to be associated with the membranes in two different ways: as a labile component, which can be quickly and easily ‘deactivated’ by reducing the free Ca²⁺ concentration of the assay medium to values lower than 1 μM; and as a stable component, which can be ‘deactivated’ by preincubating the membranes for periods of 3–4 h with 2 mM EDTA or EGTA. Both components are easily activated by micromolar concentrations of Ca²⁺. The $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}$ of the system for Na⁺ is the same, 8 mM, whether only the stable component or both components, stable and labile, are working. In other words, the activating effect of Ca²⁺ on the Na⁺-stimulated ATPase is on the $\text{V}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>max</mtext>}}$, and not on the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}$ of the system for Na⁺. The activating effect of Ca²⁺ may be related to some conformational change produced by the interaction of this ion with the membranes, since it can also be obtained by resuspending the membranes at pH 7.8 or by ageing the preparations. Changes in the Ca²⁺ concentration may modulate the ouabain-insensitive, Na⁺-stimulated ATPase activity. This modulation could regulate the magnitude of the extrusion of Na⁺ accompanied by Cl^? and water that these cells show, and to which the Na⁺-ATPase has been associated as being responsible for the energy supply of this mode of Na⁺ extrusion.     

Particle segregation in chromaffin granule membranes by forced physical contact

Bovine chromaffin granules were exposed to different isotonic non-ionic and ionic solutions (sucrose; Ca²⁺ - and Mg²⁺-free phosphate-buffered saline; $\text{Tris-HCl + NaCl}$; Ca²⁺- and Mg²⁺-free phosphate-buffered $\text{saline + sucrose; Tris-HCl + sucrose}$) at pH 7 and then frozen either in suspension or as firm pellets. Freezing was performed without prefixation or antifreeze treatments either by ‘standard’ techniques (approx. 1 mm³ suspended or pelleted material on gold specimen supports dipped into liquid Freon) or with increased cooling rates by spraying suspensions into liquid propane (‘spray-freezing’). Regardless of the freezing method, membrane-intercalated particles were always randomly distributed when chromaffin granules were frozen in suspension. In contrast, forced physical contact between granules produced by centrifugation ($\text{12 000 × g, 25}\text{min}$) provoked dispersal of membrane-intercalated particles, but only in the presence of ions. Sucrose or EDTA in an ionic environment had no inhibitory effect. The following conclusions are derived: (1) Even below the reported phase transition region particle clustering is possible. (2) Chromaffin granule membranes are not liable to thermotropic segregation of membrane-intercalated particles. (3) Although the low freezing rates of ‘standard’ freezing techniques produce large-scale segregation artefacts (by which suspended chromaffin granules are pushed together within the segregated solute) this does not result in intramembraneous particle segregation. (4) Forced physical contact produces a Ca²⁺-independent particle segregation, but only when repulsive electrostatic forces of membrane components are partially screened in an ionic environment. (5) This does not invalidate results obtained by others, showing Ca²⁺-mediated chromaffin granule agglomeration and segregation of membrane-intercalated particles, but it might indicate the occurrence of another, not directly Ca²⁺-dependent particle segregation mechanism in a prefusional stage of close membrane-to-membrane contact during exocytosis.     

Ca2+ transport mediated by a synthetic neutral Ca2+-ionophore in biological membranes

The effect of a synthetic neutral ligand on the Ca²⁺ permeability of several biological membranes has been investigated. The ligand had been previously shown to possess Ca²⁺-ionophoric activities in artificial phospholipid membranes. The neutral ionophore is able to transport Ca²⁺ across the membranes of erythrocytes and sarcoplasmic reticulum, when lipophilic anions such as tetraphenylborate or carbonylcyanide $\text{p-}\text{trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone}$ (FCCP) are present, presumably to facilitate the diffusion of the charged Ca²⁺-ionophore complex across the hydrophobic core of the membrane.In mitochondria, the neutral ionophore promotes the active transport of Ca²⁺ in response to the negative membrane potential generated by respiration, in the presence of the specific inhibitor of the natural carrier ruthenium red.     

ATP-dependent Ca2+ accumulation in intracellular membranes of guinea pig macrophages after saponin treatment

Ca²⁺ transport system in the intracellular membranes was studied by using saponin-treated macrophages of the guinea pig, in which the plasma membranes could be selectively destroyed. Saponin-treated macrophages could accumulate 3.1 nmoles $\text{Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{4 × 10}{}^6$ macrophages in the presence of Mg-ATP and sodium azide with an apparent affinity constant of 6 × 10⁶ M^?1. In the absence of sodium azide, the value of Ca²⁺ uptake of saponin-treated macrophages was 95 nmoles/4 × 10⁶ macrophages, and its affinity constant for Ca²⁺ was 3 × 10⁵ M^?1. Saponin-treated macrophages may be suitable for the studies of Ca²⁺ transport systems in the intracellular membranes.     

Sphingomyelinase of chicken erythrocyte membranes.

Most of the chicken erythrocyte's sphingomyelin is hydrolyzed when the chicken red blood cells are incubated in hypotonie solution at 37 °C.Addition of detergents, such as Triton X-100 or Na-cholate, is essential for hydrolysis of external [³H ]sphingomyelin by the erythrocyte membranes.Pure plasma membranes show relatively high sphingomyelinase activity while no activity could be detected in the soluble fraction of the cells. Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺ activate the enzyme while Ca²⁺ and EDTA strongly inhibit its activity. The optimal pH of the membrane-bound sphingomyelinase lies between pH 7.0–9.0. The detergents Triton X-100 and Na-cholate, at concentrations of 0.5% ($\text{w}\text{v}$) solubilize the membrane-bound enzyme. Human erythrocytes fail to exhibit sphingomyelinase activity.The correlation between the sphingomyelinase activity and its localization is discussed.     

Effects of lanthanum on calcium-dependent phenomena in human red cells

Lanthanum (0.25 mM) does not penetrate into fresh or Mg²⁺-depleted cells, whereas it does into ATP-depleted or $\text{ATP + 2,3-diphosphoglycerate-depleted cells}$, into cells containing more than 3 mM calcium, or cells stored for more than 4 weeks in acid/citrate/dextrose solution. In fresh cells loaded with calcium, extracellular lanthanum blocks the active Ca²⁺-efflux completely and inhibits $\text{(Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+ Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) activity to about 50%. In Mg²⁺-depleted cells Ca²⁺-Ca²⁺ exchange is inhibited by lanthanum. Ca²⁺-leak is unaffected by lanthanum up to 0.25 mM concentration; higher lanthanum concentrations reduce leak rate. In NaCl medium Ca²⁺-leak ± S.D. amounts to $\text{0.28 ± 0.08 μ}\text{mol/l}$ of cells per min, whereas in KCl medium to $\text{0.15 ± 0.04 μ}\text{mol/l}$ of cells per min at 2.5 mM [Ca²⁺]_e and 0.25 mM [La³⁺]_e pH 7.1.Lanthanum inhibits Ca²⁺-dependent rapid K⁺ transport in ATP-depleted and propranolol-treated red cells, i.e. whenever intracellular calcium is below a critical level. The inhibition of the rapid K⁺ transport can be attributed to protein-lanthanum interactions on the cell surface, since lanthanum is effectively detached from the membrane lipids by propranolol.Lanthanum at 0.2–0.25 mM concentration has no direct effect on the morphology of red cells. The shape regeneration of Ca²⁺-loaded cells, however, is blocked by lanthanum owing to Ca²⁺-pump inhibition. Using lanthanum the transition in cell shape can be quantitatively correlated to intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations.     

In vitro stimulation of human red blood cell Ca2+-ATPase by thyroid hormone

Ca²⁺-ATPase activity in human erythrocyte ghosts previously washed to remove endogenous thyroid hormone is stimulated $\text{in}\text{vitro}$ by physiologic concentrations of thyroxine (T₄) and triiodothyronine (T₃). Two- to three-fold increases (P <0.005) in Ca²⁺-ATPase activity occurred after 60–120 minutes' exposure of membranes to iodothyronines at concentrations of T₄ and T₃ of 10^?8 M to 10^?12 M. T₄ was more active than T₃ and its activity did not depend upon prior conversion to T₃. The Ca²⁺-ATPase effect represents an extranuclear action of thyroid hormone in a human cell model.     

Dissociation between Ca2+-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase activities in plasma membranes of rat duodenum

The presence of Ca²⁺-ATPase activities with high-affinity sites for Ca²⁺ in brush border as well as basolateral plasma membranes of rat duodenal epithelium has been reported previously (Ghijsen, W.E.J.M. and van Os, C.H. (1979) Nature 279, 802–803). Since both plasma membranes contain alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1), which also can be stimulated by Ca²⁺, the substrate specificity of Ca²⁺-induced ATP-hydrolysis has been studied to determine whether or not alkaline phosphatase and Ca²⁺-ATPase are two distinct enzymes. In basolateral fragments, the rate of Ca²⁺-dependent ATP-hydrolysis was greater than that of ADP, AMP and $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphate}$ at Ca²⁺ concentrations below 25 μM. At 0.2 mM Ca²⁺ the rates of ATP, ADP, AMP and $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphate}$ hydrolysis were not significantly different. In brush border fragments the rates of ATP, ADP and AMP hydrolysis were identical at low Ca²⁺, but at 0.2 mM Ca²⁺, Ca²⁺-induced hydrolysis of ADP and AMP was greater than either ATP or $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphate}$. Alkaline phosphatase in brush border and basolateral membranes was inhibited by 75% after addition of 2.5 mM theophylline. Ca²⁺-stimulated ATP hydrolysis at 1 μM Ca²⁺ was not sensitive to theophylline in basolateral fragments while the same activity in brush border fragments was totally inhibited. At 0.2 mM Ca²⁺, Ca²⁺-induced ATP hydrolysis in both basolateral and brush border membranes was sensitive to theophylline. Oligomycin and azide had no effect on Ca²⁺-stimulated ATP hydrolysis, either at low or at high Ca²⁺ concentrations. Chlorpromazine fully inhibited Ca²⁺-stimulated ATP hydrolysis in basolateral fragments at 5 μM Ca²⁺, while it had no effect in brush border fragments. From these results we conclude that, (i) Ca²⁺-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase are two distinct enzymes, (ii) high-affinity Ca²⁺-ATPase is exclusively located in basolateral plasma membranes, (iii) alkaline phosphatase activity, present on both sides of duodenal epithelium, is stimulated slightly by low Ca²⁺ concentrations, but this Ca²⁺-induced activity is inhibited by theophylline and shows no specificity with respect to ATP, ADP or AMP.     

Rearrangement of intramembranous particles and fusion promoted in chicken erythrocytes by intracellular Ca2+

Ca²⁺ was introduced into fresh and ATP-depleted chicken erythrocytes through the aid of the ionophore A-23187.Intracellular Ca²⁺ (10–40 mM) induced fusion in ATP-depleted cells after 30–60 min incubation at 37°C, but not in fresh cells. Fresh cells underwent a higher degree of haemolysis than ATP-depleted cells after accumulation of Ca²⁺. Uptake of Ca²⁺ was the same in these two systems.Intracellular Ca²⁺ induced rearrangement of intramembranous particles, as revealed by freeze-etching studies. The intramembranous particles in the protoplasmic face of fractured membranes obtained from fresh cells incubated with 1 mM of Ca²⁺ were more scattered and their density was lower than in control cells. Incubation with higher concentrations of Ca²⁺ (10–40 mM) induced transient changes in the intramembranous particles' density with the appearance of protrusions and depressions on the protoplasmic and exoplasmic faces of the fractured membranes, respectively. These effects were reversible upon removal of Ca²⁺ by washing the cells with ethyleneglycol $\text{bis}\text{(α-}\text{aminoethylether}\text{)-N,N′-}\text{tetraacetic}$ acid; rearrangement of intramembranous particles was less evident after accumulation of Ca²⁺ in ATP-depleted cells, whose fractured membranes did not contain any protrusions or depressions.Transferring Ca²⁺-loaded cells to the cold caused the formation of large smooth areas devoid of intramembranous particles in the protoplasmic face of the fractured membranes.Cells containing Ca²⁺ appeared spherical, and removal of Ca²⁺ restored the normal oval shape of chicken erythrocytes.     

(Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase in enriched sarcolemma from dog heart

An enriched fraction of plasma membranes was prepared from canine ventricle by a process which involved thorough disruption of membranes by vigorous homogenization in dilute suspension, sedimentation of contractile proteins and mitochondria at $\text{3000 × g}$ followed by sedimentation of a microsomal fraction at $\text{200 000 × g}$. The microsomal suspension was then fractionated on a discontinuous sucrose gradient. Particles migrating in the density range 1.0591–1.1083 were characterized by ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ activity and [³H]ouabain binding as being enriched in sarcolemma and were comprised of nonaggregated vesicles of diameter approx. 0.1 μm. These fractions contained $\text{(Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{+ Mg}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ which appeared endogenous to the sarcolemma. The enzyme was solubilized using Triton X-100 and 1 M KCl and partially purified. Optimal Ca²⁺ concentration for enzyme activity was 5–10 μM. Both Na⁺ and K⁺ stimulated enzyme activity. It is suggested that the enzyme may be involved in the outward pumping of Ca²⁺ from the cardiac cell.     

Trans to Cis proton concentration gradients accelerate ionophore A23187-mediated net fluxes of Ca2+ across the human red cell membrane

Ionophore A23187-mediated net influx of Ca²⁺ in ATP-depleted human red cells was studied as a function of the pH and the proton concentration gradient across the membranes. Utilizing the Ca²⁺-induced increase in K⁺ conductance of the cell membranes, various CCCP-mediated proton gradients were raised across the membranes of cells suspended in unbuffered salt solutions with different K⁺ concentrations. In ionophore-mediated equilibrium the concentration ratios of ionized Ca between ATP-depleted, DIDS-treated cells and their suspension medium were equal to the concentration ratios of protons raised to the second power. With no proton concentration gradient across the membranes the net influxes of Ca²⁺ as a function of pH resembled a titration curve of a weak acid, with half maximal net influx at pH 7.3, at 100 μM extracellular Ca²⁺. With cellular pH fixed at various values, the net influx of Ca²⁺ was determined as a function of the proton concentration gradient. A linear relationship between the logarithm of net influx and the difference between extracellular and cellular pH was found at all cellular pH values tested, but the proton concentration gradient acceleration was a function of the cellular pH. Accelerations between 10- and 40- times per unit ΔpH were found and net effluxes were correspondingly decreased. The results are discussed in relation to present models of the mechanism of ionophore A23187-mediated Ca²⁺ transport. The importance of the proton concentration gradient dependency is discussed in relation to the induced oscillations in K⁺-conductance of human red cell membranes previously reported (Vestergaard-Bogind and Bennekou (1982) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 688, 37ndash;44).     

Ca2+ displacement by polymyxin B from sarcolemma isolated by ‘gas dissection’ from cultured neonatal rat myocardial cells

Amphiphilic, cationic Polymyxin B is shown to displace Ca²⁺ from ‘gas dissected’ cardiac sarcolemma in a dose-dependent, saturable fashion. The Ca²⁺ displacement is only partially reversible, 57% and 63%, in the presence of 1 mM or 10 mM Ca²⁺, respectively. Total Ca²⁺ displaced by a non-specific cationic probe, lanthanum (La³⁺), at maximal displacing concentration (1 mM) was $\text{0.172 ± 0.02}\text{nmol/μg}$ membrane protein. At 0.1 mM, Polymyxin B displaced 42% of the total La³⁺-displaceable Ca²⁺ or $\text{0.072 ± 0.01}\text{nmol/μg}$ protein. 5 mM Polymyxin displaced Ca²⁺ in amounts equal to those displaced by 1 mM La³⁺. Pretreatment of the membranes with neuraminidase (removal of sialic acid) and protease leads to a decrease in La³⁺-displaceable Ca²⁺ but to an increase in the fraction displaced by 0.1 mM Polymyxin from 42% to 54%. Phospholipase D (cabbage) treatment significantly increased the La³⁺-displaceable Ca²⁺ to $\text{0.227 ± 0.02}\text{nmol/μg}$ protein ($\text{P < 0.05}$), a gain of 0.055 nmol. All of this phospholipid specific increment in bound Ca²⁺ was displaced by 0.1 mM Polymyxin B. The results suggest that Polymyxin B will be useful as a probe for phospholipid Ca²⁺-binding sites in natural membranes.     

Cation/proton antiport systems in Escherichia coli.

Three distinct systems which function as proton/cation antiports have been identified in $\text{E.}\text{coli}$ by the ability of the ions to dissipate the ΔpH component of the protonmotive force in everted vesicles. System I exchanges H⁺ for K⁺, Rb⁺ or Na⁺; System II has Na⁺ and Li⁺ as substrates; and System III catalyzes proton exchange for Ca²⁺, Mn²⁺ or Sr²⁺.     

Transport parameters and stoichiometry of active calcium ion extrusion in intact human red cells

Ca²⁺-transport and its energy consumption were studied in intact human red cells loaded with Ca²⁺ by the aid of the ionophore A23187.After the complete elimination of the ionophore the passive Ca²⁺-permeability of the membrane returned to its normal low value, except when the intracellular Ca²⁺-concentration was higher than 3 mM or the ATP level fell below 100 μM. Within these limits the rate of Ca²⁺-extrusion was independent of the cellular ATP content but was greatly enhanced by increasing [Ca²⁺]_i and reached a plateau at about 1 mM intracellular Ca²⁺-concentration. The maximum rate of Ca²⁺-efflux was about 85 μmol/l of cells per min at 37°C, pH 7.4. The activation energy of active Ca²⁺-extrusion was found to be 15 200 cal/mol, and the optimum pH in the suspension was 7.7.Ca²⁺-efflux was not connected with the counter-transport of cations.The Ca²⁺-pump was not affected by ouabain or oligomycin and only partial inhibition could be achieved by the SH-reagents: ethacrynic acid, $\text{N-}\text{ethylmaleimide}$ and $\text{p-}\text{chloromercuribenzoate}$ or with propranolol and ruthenium red. An 80 to 95% inhibition of the active Ca²⁺-extrusion was brought about by 50–250 μM lanthanum, which in the above concentrations caused no aggregation or haemolysis. The inhibition of the Ca²⁺-pump by lanthanum was found to be reversible, the site of inhibition being at the external surface of the cell membrane.To examine the energy consumption of the Ca²⁺-extrusion, ATPase activity was assessed by measuring inorganic phosphate liberation in Ca²⁺-loaded red cells the metabolism of which was inhibited by iodoacetamide + Na⁺-tetrathionate. Ca²⁺-activated ATPase activity connected with the Ca²⁺-pump was distinguished from other Ca²⁺-ATPase by using the non-penetrating inhibitor, lanthanum. The molar ratio of Ca²⁺-transported per ATP split was found to be $\text{2 : 1}$.