Regulation by Membrane Fluidity of the Allosteric Behavior of the (Ca2+)-Adenosine Triphosphatase from Escherichia coli

The allosteric properties of the membrane-bound (Ca(2+))-adenosine triphosphatase of an unsaturated fatty acid auxotroph of Escherichia coli were studied in membranes with different fatty acid compositions. The Hill coefficient of the inhibition by Na(+) ranged from 1.4, in the case where the auxotroph was grown with cis-vaccenic acid as supplement, to 2.8 when grown on linolenic acid. The results indicate that no fatty acid is particularly involved in the allosteric phenomena. A correlation between the values of the Hill coefficient and the double bond index or the ratio of the double bond index saturated to the fatty acids of the membrane was found. These facts are interpreted as a modulation by the membrane fluidity of the allosteric behavior of the membrane-bound enzyme. The general biological character of this phenomenon is discussed in this paper.     

Membrane Adenosine Triphosphatase of Escherichia coli: Activation by Calcium Ion and Inhibition by Monovalent Cations

Membrane ghost preparations of Escherichia coli K-12 obtained by osmotic lysis of lysozyme-induced spheroplasts were found to possess both Mg(++)- and Ca(++)-activated adenosine 5'-triphosphatase (ATPase, EC 3.6.1.3) activities. Maximal activities of 1.0 to 1.5 mumoles of orthophosphate released per min per mg of protein were obtained at pH 9.0 with a molar Mg(++) to adenosine 5'triphosphate (ATP) ratio of 2:5 and at pH 9.9 with a molar Ca(++) to ATP ratio of 1:5. These ATPase activities were not altered by ouabain, fluoride, N-ethylmaleimide, 2,4-dinitrophenol, cyanide, or dithionite, but were inhibited by low concentrations of azide, p-chloromercuribenzoate, and pentachlorophenol. Mg(++) ATPase was more susceptible to inhibition by azide than was Ca(++) ATPase. Fifty per cent inactivation of both activities was observed when membrane ghost preparations were preincubated at 66 C for 10 min. The Mg(++) and Ca(++) ATPase activities of these preparations were not additive, but did respond independently to inhibition by monovalent cations. Ca(++) ATPase was found to be very sensitive to inhibition by K(+), Na(+), Li(+), Rb(+), and Cs(+); Mg(++) ATPase was relatively insensitive to these ions. One possible interpretation of the results presented in this paper is that the membrane of E. coli possesses an ATPase which is activated by either Mg(++) or Ca(++) and that activation by Ca(++) increases the susceptibility of this enzyme to inhibition by monovalent cations. Increased susceptibility of E. coli membrane ATPase to inhibition by monovalent cations such as Na(+) and K(+) as a consequence of Ca(++) activation could represent a regulatory mechanism.     

Membrane Mg-(Ca)-Activated Adenosine Triphosphatase of Escherichia coli: Characterization in the Membrane-Bound and Solubilized States

The membrane-associated Mg(2+)-activated and Ca(2+)-activated adenosine 5'-triphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.3; ATPase) activities of Escherichia coli were further characterized. The degree of inhibition of membrane-bound Mg(2+)-(Ca(2+))-ATPase by a series of anions (i.e., sodium salts of nitrate, iodide, chloride, and acetate) was found to correlate with the relative chaotropic, or solubilizing, effectiveness of these anions. The enzyme was solubilized from washed membrane ghosts by treatment with 0.04% sodium lauryl sulfate at pH 9.0 and 37 C. Solubilized Mg(2+)-(Ca(2+))-ATPase exhibited an initial increase in activity, followed by fairly rapid inactivation, both ATPase activities being particularly cold-labile. The combined stabilizing effects of lauryl mercaptan (1-dodecanethiol), 0.01 m tris(hydroxymethyl)amino-methane-hydrochloride buffer (pH 9.0), 0.2 mm MgCl(2), and ambient temperature facilitated partial purification of the enzyme, the molecular weight of which was estimated to be approximately 100,000 by the gel filtration technique. In general, the membrane-associated Mg(2+)-(Ca(2+))-ATPase of E. coli resembles both mitochondrial membrane ATPase and the well-characterized membrane ATPases of Bacillus megaterium and Microcococcus lysodeikticus. It is of particular interest that N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), a known inhibitor of mitochondrial ATPase, of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and of the membrane-bound Mg(2+)-ATPase of Streptococcus faecalis was found to inhibit both the membrane-bound and the solubilized forms of E. coli Mg(2+)-(Ca(2+))-ATPase. The sensitivity of the membrane-associated Mg(2+)-(Ca(2+))-ATPase of E. coli to both anions and cations, its allotopic behavior, and its susceptibility to inhibition by DCCD favor the idea that this enzyme plays a key, probably polyfunctional, role in such biological activities of the membrane as oxidative phosphorylation and ion transport.     

Energy-Transducing Adenosine Triphosphatase from Escherichia coli: Purification, Properties, and Inhibition by Antibody

The membrane adenosine triphosphatase (E.C. 3.6.1.3) from Escherichia coli has been solubilized with Triton X-100 and purified to near homogeneity. The purified enzyme has a sedimentation coefficient of 12.9S in a sucrose gradient, corresponding to a molecular weight of about 360,000. On electrophoresis in gels containing sodium dodecyl sulfate, it dissociates into subunits with apparent molecular weights of 60,000, 56,000, 35,000, and 13,000. The purified enzyme loses activity and breaks down into subunits when stored in the cold. Guanosine 5'-triphosphate and inosine 5'-triphosphate are alternative substrates. Ca(2+) and, to a small extent, Co(2+) or Ni(2+) will substitute for Mg(2+) in the reaction. The K(m) for Mg-adenosine triphosphate of the membrane-bound enzyme is 0.23 mM, and for the pure enzyme it is 0.29 mM. Azide is a noncompetitive inhibitor of both the membrane-bound enzyme and the pure enzyme. P(i) is a noncompetitive inhibitor of the solubilized enzyme. An antibody to the purified enzyme was obtained from rabbits. The antibody inhibits the solubilized enzyme and virtually all of the adenosine triphosphate hydrolysis by membranes from cells grown aerobically or anaerobically. The antibody also inhibits the adenosine triphosphate-stimulated pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase (E.C. 1.6.1.1) of the E. coli membrane.     

Direct measurement of free Ca(2+) shows different regulation of Ca(2+) between the periplasm and the cytosol of Escherichia coli

As in eukaryotes, bacterial free Ca(2+) can play an important role as an intracellular signal. However, because free Ca(2+) is difficult to measure in live bacteria, most of the evidence for such a role is indirect. Gram-negative bacteria also have an outer membrane separating the external fluid from the periplasm as well as the cytosol where most bacterial metabolism takes place. Here we report, for the first time, direct measurement of free Ca(2+) in the periplasmic space of living Escherichia coli. Periplasmic free Ca(2+) was measured by targeting the Ca(2+)-activated photoprotein aequorin to this compartment using the N-terminal OmpT signal sequence. Cytosolic free Ca(2+) was determined using aequorin alone. We show that, under certain conditions, the periplasm can concentrate free Ca(2+), resulting in the inner membrane being exposed to free Ca(2+) concentrations several fold higher than in the bulk external fluid. Manipulation of periplasmic membrane-derived oligosaccharides (MDOs) altered the free Ca(2+) as predicted by the Donnan potential. With micromolar concentrations of external free Ca(2+), the periplasm concentrated free Ca (2+) some three to sixfold with respect to the external medium. A Ca(2+) gradient also existed between the periplasm and the cytosol under these conditions, the periplasmic free Ca(2+) being some one to threefold higher. At millimolar levels of external free Ca(2+), a similar concentration was detected in the periplasm, but the bacteria still maintained tight control of cytosolic free Ca(2+) in the micromolar range. We propose that the highly anionic MDOs in the periplasmic space generate a Donnan potential, capable of concentrating Ca(2+) in this compartment, where it may constitute a sink for regulation of Ca(2+)-dependent processes in the cytoplasm.     

Mitochondrial Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release mediated by the Ca(2+) uniporter

We have reported that a population of chromaffin cell mitochondria takes up large amounts of Ca(2+) during cell stimulation. The present study focuses on the pathways for mitochondrial Ca(2+) efflux. Treatment with protonophores before cell stimulation abolished mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake and increased the cytosolic [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)](c)) peak induced by the stimulus. Instead, when protonophores were added after cell stimulation, they did not modify [Ca(2+)](c) kinetics and inhibited Ca(2+) release from Ca(2+)-loaded mitochondria. This effect was due to inhibition of mitochondrial Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange, because blocking this system with CGP37157 produced no further effect. Increasing extramitochondrial [Ca(2+)](c) triggered fast Ca(2+) release from these depolarized Ca(2+)-loaded mitochondria, both in intact or permeabilized cells. These effects of protonophores were mimicked by valinomycin, but not by nigericin. The observed mitochondrial Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release response was insensitive to cyclosporin A and CGP37157 but fully blocked by ruthenium red, suggesting that it may be mediated by reversal of the Ca(2+) uniporter. This novel kind of mitochondrial Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release might contribute to Ca(2+) clearance from mitochondria that become depolarized during Ca(2+) overload.     

The Effect of Membrane Lipid Composition on the Formation of Lipid Ultrananodomains

Some lipid mixtures form membranes containing submicroscopic (nanodomain) ordered lipid domains (rafts). Some of these nanodomains are so small (radius <5 nm) that they cannot be readily detected with Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-labeled lipid pairs with large Ro. We define such domains as ultrananodomains. We studied the effect of lipid structure/composition on the formation of ultrananodomains in lipid vesicles using a dual-FRET-pair approach in which only one FRET pair had Ro values that were sufficiently small to detect the ultrananodomains. Using this approach, we measured the temperature dependence of domain and ultrananodomain formation for vesicles composed of various mixtures containing a high-T_m lipid (brain sphingomyelin (SM)) or dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC)), low-T_m lipid (dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) or 1-palmitoyl 2-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC)), and a lower (28 mol %) or higher (38 mol %) cholesterol concentration. For every lipid combination tested, the thermal stabilities of the ordered domains were similar, in agreement with our prior studies. However, the range of temperatures over which ultrananodomains formed was highly lipid-type dependent. Overall, vesicles that were closest to mammalian plasma membrane in lipid composition (i.e., with brain SM, POPC, and/or higher cholesterol) formed ultrananodomains in preference to larger domains over the widest temperature range. Relative to DPPC, the favorable effect of SM on ultrananodomain formation versus larger domains was especially large. In addition, the favorable effect of a high cholesterol concentration, and of POPC versus DOPC, on the formation of ultrananodomains versus larger domains was greater in vesicles containing SM than in those containing DPPC. We speculate that it is likely that natural mammalian lipids are tuned to maximize the tendency to form ultrananodomains relative to larger domains. The observation that domain size is more sensitive than domain formation to membrane composition has implications for how membrane domain properties may be regulated in vivo.     

Characterisation of thapsigargin-releasable Ca(2+) from the Ca(2+)-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum at limiting [Ca(2+)

The Ca(2+) binding sites of the Ca(2+)-ATPase of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) have been identified as two high-affinity sites orientated towards the cytoplasm, two sites of low affinity facing the lumen, and a transient occluded species that is isolated from both membrane surfaces. Binding and release studies, using (45)Ca(2+), have invoked models with sequential binding and release from high- and low-affinity sites in a channel-like structure. We have characterised turnover conditions in isolated SR vesicles with oxalate in a Ca(2+)-limited state, [Ca(2)](lim), where both high- and low-affinity sites are vacant in the absence of chelators (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1418 (1999) 48-60). Thapsigargin (TG), a high-affinity specific inhibitor of the Ca(2+)-ATPase, released a fraction of total Ca(2+) at [Ca(2+)](lim) that accumulated during active transport. Maximal Ca(2+) release was at 2:1 TG/ATPase. Ionophore, A23187, and Triton X-100 released the rest of Ca(2+) resistant to TG. The amount of Ca(2+) released depended on the incubation time at [Ca(2+)](lim), being 3.0 nmol/mg at 20 s and 0.42 nmol/mg at 1000 s. Rate constants for release declined from 0. 13 to 0.03 s(-1). The rapidly released early fraction declined with time and k=0.13 min(-1). Release was not due to reversal of the pump cycle since ADP had no effect; neither was release impaired with substrates acetyl phosphate or GTP. A phase of reuptake of Ca(2+) followed release, being greater with shorter delay (up to 200 s) following active transport. Reuptake was minimal with GTP, with delays more than 300 s, and was abolished by vanadate and at higher [TG], >5 microM. Ruthenium red had no effect on efflux, indicating that ryanodine-sensitive efflux channels in terminal cisternal membranes are not involved in the Ca(2+) release mechanism. It is concluded that the Ca(2+) released by TG is from the occluded Ca(2+) fraction. The Ca(2+) occlusion sites appear to be independent of both high-affinity cytoplasmic and low-affinity lumenal sites, supporting a multisite 'in line' sequential binding mechanism for Ca(2+) transport.     

Inhibition of plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase by CrATP. LaATP but not CrATP stabilizes the Ca(2+)-occluded state

The bidentate complex of ATP with Cr(3+), CrATP, is a nucleotide analog that is known to inhibit the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase and the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase, so that these enzymes accumulate in a conformation with the transported ion (Ca(2+) and Na(+), respectively) occluded from the medium. Here, it is shown that CrATP is also an effective and irreversible inhibitor of the plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase. The complex inhibited with similar efficiency the Ca(2+)-dependent ATPase and the phosphatase activities as well as the enzyme phosphorylation by ATP. The inhibition proceeded slowly (T(1/2)=30 min at 37 degrees C) with a K(i)=28+/-9 microM. The inclusion of ATP, ADP or AMPPNP in the inhibition medium effectively protected the enzyme against the inhibition, whereas ITP, which is not a PMCA substrate, did not. The rate of inhibition was strongly dependent on the presence of Mg(2+) but unaltered when Ca(2+) was replaced by EGTA. In spite of the similarities with the inhibition of other P-ATPases, no apparent Ca(2+) occlusion was detected concurrent with the inhibition by CrATP. In contrast, inhibition by the complex of La(3+) with ATP, LaATP, induced the accumulation of phosphoenzyme with a simultaneous occlusion of Ca(2+) at a ratio close to 1.5 mol/mol of phosphoenzyme. The results suggest that the transport of Ca(2+) promoted by the plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase goes through an enzymatic phospho-intermediate that maintains Ca(2+) ions occluded from the media. This intermediate is stabilized by LaATP but not by CrATP.     

Allosteric modulation of Leishmania donovani plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase by endogenous calmodulin.

The plasma membrane of the human pathogen Leishmania donovani possesses a high-affinity transmembrane Ca(2+)-ATPase that has its catalytic site oriented toward the cytoplasmic milieu (Ghosh, J., Ray, M., Sarkar, S., and Bhaduri, A. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 11345-11351). When the enzyme is studied in its more authentic, physiologically relevant, membrane-associated form, it exhibits pronounced sigmoidal kinetics with Ca2+ (K0.5 approximately 700 nM) in a trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid buffering system that effectively complexes all available Mg2+. Addition of exogenous Mg2+ (60 microM) completely abolishes sigmoidicity and establishes strictly hyperbolic kinetics, and the Km for Ca2+ reduces to 100 nM. Mg2+ can be replaced by heterologous calmodulin. The exclusive dependence of the enzyme on only Ca2+ for its activity and its positive allosteric modulation by Mg2+ distinguish this enzyme from other well-characterized plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPases. Employing this Ca(2+)-ATPase as the assay system, a soluble endogenous activating protein factor was purified that, by several criteria, corresponds to authentic calmodulin. The parasite calmodulin shifts the kinetics to hyperbolic kinetics, increases the Vmax 2-fold, and most important lowers the Km (approximately 100 nM) to a physiological level. The interaction with endogenous calmodulin thus converts the enzyme from a totally inactive to a fully active state.     

Inhibition by A23187 of conformational changes involved in the Ca(2+)-induced activation of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase.

We previously showed that A23187 in high ionophore/protein ratios almost completely inhibits the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase [Hara, H. & Kanazawa, T. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 16584-16590]. In an attempt to obtain information on the mechanism of this inhibition, the effects of A23187 on conformational changes involved in the Ca(2+)-induced activation of the enzyme were investigated. The purified enzyme from sarcoplasmic reticulum of rabbit skeletal muscle as well as the purified enzyme labeled with fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate (FITC) were preincubated with A23187 in the absence of Ca2+ at pH 7.0 and 0 degrees C for 45 min. The activation of the enzyme following addition of CaCl2 was assessed by determining the capacity for rapid formation of phosphoenzyme from ATP. This activation was strongly inhibited by the preincubation with A23187. This indicates that the previously observed inhibition of the Ca(2+)-ATPase is mostly due to hindrance of the Ca(2+)-induced activation of the enzyme. In the control, in which the FITC-labeled enzyme was preincubated without A23187, the fluorescence intensity of the bound FITC decreased in a biphasic manner upon addition of CaCl2. The first rapid phase of this fluorescence drop was unaffected by A23187, whereas its second slow phase was almost completely inhibited by this drug. These results show that the Ca(2+)-dependent conformational change is biphasic and that the second slow phase (but not the first rapid phase) of this conformational change is inhibited by A23187. This suggests that the observed inhibition of Ca2+ activation is attributed to hindrance of the second slow phase of the Ca(2+)-dependent conformational change.     

Synchronous Ca(2+) oscillation emerges from voltage fluctuations of Ca(2+) stores

Synchronous Ca(2+) oscillation occurs in various cell types to regulate cellular functions. However, the mechanism for synchronization of Ca(2+) increases between cells remains unclear. Recently, synchronous oscillatory changes in the membrane potential of internal Ca(2+) stores were recorded using an organelle-specific voltage-sensitive dye [Yamashita et al. (2006) FEBS J273, 3585-3597], and an electrical coupling model of the synchronization of store potentials and Ca(2+) releases has been proposed [Yamashita (2006) FEBS Lett580, 4979-4983]. This model is based on capacitative coupling, by which transient voltage changes can be synchronized, but oscillatory slow potentials cannot be communicated. Another candidate mechanism is synchronization of action potentials and ensuing Ca(2+) influx through voltage-dependent Ca channels. The present study addresses the question of whether Ca(2+) increases are synchronized by action potentials, and how oscillatory store potentials are synchronized across the cells. Electrophysiological and Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescence measurements in early embryonic chick retina showed that synchronous Ca(2+) oscillation was caused by releases of Ca(2+) from Ca(2+) stores without any evidence of action potentials in retinal neuroepithelial cells or newborn neurons. High-speed fluorescence measurement of store membrane potential surprisingly revealed that the synchronous oscillatory changes in the store potential were periodic repeats of a burst of high-frequency voltage fluctuations. The burst coincided with a Ca(2+) increase. The present study suggests that synchronization of Ca(2+) release is mediated by the high-frequency fluctuation in the store potential. Close apposition of the store membrane and plasma membrane in an epithelial structure would allow capacitative coupling across the cells.     

Effect of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) on the Mn-superoxide dismutase from rat liver and heart mitochondria

Summary.  The manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) converts superoxide anions to hydrogen peroxide plus oxygen, providing the first line of defense against oxidative stress in mitochondria. Heart mitochondria exhibited higher Mn-SOD activity than liver mitochondria. In mitochondria from both tissues Mn-SOD activity decreased after incubation at low oxygen concentration (hypoxic mitochondria). The effects of free Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_f) and free Mg²⁺ ([Mg²⁺]_f) on normoxic and hypoxic mitochondria from either organ were tested. In normoxic mitochondria from either tissue, both [Ca²⁺]_f and [Mg²⁺]_f activated the enzyme, although [Mg²⁺]_f was less efficient as an activator and the effect was lower in heart than in liver mitochondria. When added simultaneously, high [Ca²⁺]_f and [Mg²⁺]_f exhibited additive effects which were more pronounced in heart mitochondria and were observed regardless of whether mitochondria had been incubated under normal or low oxygen. The data suggest that [Ca²⁺]_f plays a role in regulating Mn-SOD in concert with the activation of aerobic metabolism. Received April 2, 2001 Accepted August 16, 2001     

Ca(2+) dynamics in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum in sensory neurons: direct visualization of Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release triggered by physiological Ca(2+) entry

In cultured rat dorsal root ganglia neurons, we measured membrane currents, using the patch-clamp whole-cell technique, and the concentrations of free Ca(2+) in the cytosol ([Ca(2+)](i)) and in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) ([Ca(2+)](L)), using high- (Fluo-3) and low- (Mag-Fura-2) affinity Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent probes and video imaging. Resting [Ca(2+)](L) concentration varied between 60 and 270 microM. Activation of ryanodine receptors by caffeine triggered a rapid fall in [Ca(2+)](L) levels, which amounted to only 40--50% of the resting [Ca(2+)](L) value. Using electrophysiological depolarization, we directly demonstrate the process of Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release triggered by Ca(2+) entry through voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels. The amplitude of Ca(2+) release from the ER lumen was linearly dependent on I(Ca).     

Inhibition of membrane erythrocyte (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase by hemin

Red blood cell lysis is a common symptom following severe or prolonged oxidative stress. Oxidative processes occur commonly in sickle cells, probably mediated through denatured hemoglobin and the accumulation of ferric hemes in the membranes. Calmodulin-stimulated (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase from sickle red cell membranes is partially inactivated (Leclerc et al. (1987) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 897, 33-40). In this study (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity from normal adult erythrocyte membranes was measured in the presence of hemin. We report a time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of the activity of the enzyme by hemin due to a decrease in the maximum velocity. Only a mild inhibitory effect was observed in the presence of iron-free protoporphyrin IX, indicating the catalytic influence of the iron. Experiments carried out with hemin (ferric iron) liganded with imidazole or with reduced protoheme (ferrous iron) liganded with carbon monoxide, demonstrated that the inhibition requires that hemin be capable of binding additional ligands. The inhibition was not influenced by the absence of oxygen but was prevented by addition of bovine serum albumin. Addition of butylated hydroxytoluene, a protective agent of lipid peroxidation, failed to prevent the inhibition of calmodulin-stimulated (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase. As dithiothreitol partially restores the enzyme activity, we postulated that hemin interacts with the thiol groups of the enzyme.     

A Novel Phosphorylated Lipid Counteracts Activation of the Renal Plasma Membrane (Ca2+ + Mg2+)ATPase by Endogenous Phosphatidylinositol-4-Phosphate

The plasma membrane (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)ATPase is activated by acidic phospholipids in reconstituted systems. In this report it is shown that reversible phosphorylation of endogenous phosphatidylinositol regulates the renal plasma membrane (Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺)ATPase, and that a novel phosphorylated lipid that can be isolated from the same membrane strongly counteracts the stimulatory effect of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate.     

Nucleoplasmic Ca(2+)loading is regulated by mobilization of perinuclear Ca(2+)

Regulation of nucleoplasmic calcium (Ca(2+)) concentration may occur by the mobilization of perinuclear luminal Ca(2+)pools involving specific Ca(2+)pumps and channels of both inner and outer perinuclear membranes. To determine the role of perinuclear luminal Ca(2+), we examined freshly cultured 10 day-old embryonic chick ventricular cardiomyocytes. We obtained evidence suggesting the existence of the molecular machinery required for the bi-directional Ca(2+)fluxes using confocal imaging techniques. Embryonic cardiomyocytes were probed with antibodies specific for ryanodine-sensitive Ca(2+)channels (RyR2), sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)ATPase (SERCA2)-pumps, and fluorescent BODIPY derivatives of ryanodine and thapsigargin. Using immunocytochemistry techniques, confocal imaging showed the presence of RyR2 Ca(2+)channels and SERCA2-pumps highly localized to regions surrounding the nucleus, referable to the nuclear envelope. Results obtained from Fluo-3, AM loaded ionomycin-perforated embryonic cardiomyocytes demonstrated that gradual increases of extranuclear Ca(2+)from 100 to 1600 nM Ca(2+)was localized to the nucleus. SERCA2-pump inhibitors thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid showed a concentration-dependent inhibition of nuclear Ca(2+)loading. Furthermore, ryanodine demonstrated a biphasic concentration-dependence upon active nuclear Ca(2+)loading. The concomitant addition of thapsigargin or cyclopiazonic acid with ryanodine at inhibitory concentrations caused an significant increase in nuclear Ca(2+)loading at low concentrations of extranuclear added Ca(2+). Our results show that the perinuclear lumen in embryonic chick ventricular cardiomyocytes is capable of autonomously regulating nucleoplasmic Ca(2+)fluxes.     

Generation of specific Ca(2+) signals from Ca(2+) stores and endocytosis by differential coupling to messengers

It remains unclear how different intracellular stores could interact and be recruited by Ca(2+)-releasing messengers to generate agonist-specific Ca(2+) signatures. In addition, refilling of acidic stores such as lysosomes and secretory granules occurs through endocytosis, but this has never been investigated with regard to specific Ca(2+) signatures. In pancreatic acinar cells, acetylcholine (ACh), cholecystokinin (CCK), and the messengers cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP), and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) evoke repetitive local Ca(2+) spikes in the apical pole. Our work reveals that local Ca(2+) spikes evoked by different agonists all require interaction of acid Ca(2+) stores and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), but in different proportions. CCK and ACh recruit Ca(2+) from lysosomes and from zymogen granules through different mechanisms; CCK uses NAADP and cADPR, respectively, and ACh uses Ca(2+) and IP(3), respectively. Here, we provide pharmacological evidence demonstrating that endocytosis is crucial for the generation of repetitive local Ca(2+) spikes evoked by the agonists and by NAADP and IP(3). We find that cADPR-evoked repetitive local Ca(2+) spikes are particularly dependent on the ER. We propose that multiple Ca(2+)-releasing messengers determine specific agonist-elicited Ca(2+) signatures by controlling the balance among different acidic Ca(2+) stores, endocytosis, and the ER.     

Inhibition of the erythrocyte (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase by nonheme iron.

The erythrocyte calmodulin-stimulated (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase (CaM-ATPase), an integral membrane protein, is inhibited in different types of congenital hemolytic anemias for which oxidative processes appear as a common feature. The oxidation of hemoglobin and its degradation lead to the accumulation of ferric heme (hemin) and nonheme iron in the red cell. We have shown previously that hemin inhibits the activity of the enzyme of normal erythrocyte (Leclerc et al. (1988) Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 946, 49-56) involving an oxidation of thiol groups. The present study demonstrates that nonheme iron also inhibits the CaM-ATPase activity. In contrast with hemin, the inhibition of the enzyme induced by the nonheme treatment is prevented by butylated hydroxytoluene, a protecting agent of unsaturated phospholipid peroxidations, while dithiothreitol, a reducing agent of protein disulfide bridges, does not restore the activity of the enzyme. We conclude that nonheme iron inhibits the enzyme at least in part, through the peroxidation of phospholipids of the membrane bilayer.