The membrane potential modulates the ATP-dependent Ca pump of cardiac sarcolemma

The effect of membrane potential on the activity of the ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ pump of isolated canine ventricular sarcolemmal vesicles were investigated. The membrane potential was controlled by the intravesicular and extravesicular concentration of K⁺, and the initial rates of Ca²⁺ uptake both in the presence and the absence of valinomycin were determined. The rate of Ca²⁺ uptake was stimulated by a inside-negative potential induced in the presence of valinomycin. The valinomycin-dependent stimulation was enhanced by the addition of K⁺ channel blocker, tetraethylammonium ion or Ba²⁺. The electrogenicity of cardiac sarcolemmal ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ pump is suggested from the increase of Ca²⁺ uptake by negative potential induced by valinomycin.     

Essential sulfhydryl group of malic enzyme fromEscherichia coli

The activity of malic enzyme fromEscherichia coli was unaffected by the monovalent cations Na⁺ or Li⁺ at 10 mM. At 100 mM, Li⁺ or Na⁺ inhibited the enzyme activity by 88% and 83%, respectively. However, the enzyme activity was stimulated by 40–80-fold with 10 mM K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, or NH ₄ ⁺ . Less stimulation was observed with 100 mM of these stimulating cations. The stimulatory effect was lost after the enzyme was dialyzed against Tris-Cl buffer, but was regained after incubating the dialyzed enzyme with dithiothreitol. The regenerated enzyme was inactivated by 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid). The resulting inactive thionitrobenzoyl enzyme could be regenerated to the active thiol-enzyme by eithiothreitol or converted to the inactive thiocyanoylated enzyme by KCN. The thiocyanoylated enzyme was insensitive to K⁺ stimulation, which suggested the essentiality of the sulfhydryl groups of theE. coli malic enzyme.     

Involvement of cation channels and NH4+-sensitive K+ transporters in Na+ uptake by cowpea roots under salinity

Na⁺ accumulation was investigated in the roots of 11-d-old cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] plants. The relative contribution of different membrane transporters on Na⁺ uptake was estimated by applying Ca²⁺, K⁺, NH₄ ⁺, and pharmacological inhibitors. Na⁺ accumulation into the root symplast was decreased by half in the presence of 1 mM Ca²⁺ and it was almost abolished by 100 mM K⁺. The inhibitory effect of external NH⁴⁺ on Na⁺ accumulation was more pronounced in the roots of NH₄ ⁺-free growing plants. Na⁺ accumulation was reduced about 73 % by 0.1 mM flufenamate and it was almost blocked by 2 mM quinine. In addition, 20 mM tetraethylammonium and 1.0 mM Cs⁺ decreased Na⁺ accumulation by 28 and 30 %, respectively. These results evidenced that low-affinity Na⁺ uptake by cowpea roots depends on Ca²⁺-sensitive and Ca²⁺-insensitive pathways. The Ca²⁺-sensitive pathway is probably mediated by nonselective cation channels and the Ca²⁺-insensitive one may involve K⁺ channels and to a lesser extent NH₄ ⁺-sensitive K⁺ transporters.     

Dual effects of K ions upon the inactivation of the anomalous rectifier of the tunicate egg cell membrane

Summary Inactivation of the K inward current through the anomalous rectifier channel of the egg cell membrane of a tunicate,Halocynthia roretzi Drashe, was studied under voltage-clamp. The noise spectrum of the steady-state current recorded at hyperpolarized potentials was measured in solutions in which Na, Cs, Hydrazine, or Sr caused inactivation of the current. The unitary conductance estimated was independent of which cation caused inactivation. From the relation between the concentration of cations which caused inactivation and the extent of inactivation at fixed potentials, the binding of one inactivator to a channel was found to cause inactivation, and the potency of inactivation was Cs⁺>Hydrazine⁺>Na⁺>Li⁺, and Ba²⁺>Sr²⁺. The inactivation caused by Na⁺ was increased by K⁺ when [K] _o was lower than 20mm, but was decreased by K⁺ in higher K-ASW (artificial sea water). One K⁺ was found to inactivate the channel cooperatively with one Na⁺. Increase of inactivation by K⁺ was a dominant effect in Cs-ASW. The inactivation was explained quantitatively by a model assuming cooperative plugging by a monovalent inactivator and a K⁺.     

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 $\text{2 : 1}$.     

Isolation and characterization of smooth muscle cell membranes

A method for the isolation of guinea pig ileum smooth muscle cell membranes is described. The plasma membrane fraction possessed a (Na⁺, K⁺)-ATPase which was inhibitied by ouabain. The Mg²⁺-dependent ATPase of the membrane fraction was stimulated by 1 μM Ca²⁺. A basal ATPase, not dependent on Mg²⁺, was directly stimulated by Ca²⁺ in the range of 1 μM to 1 mM.The isolated membranes contracted in response to the following substances: ATP, angiotensin II and some of its analogs, bradykinin, acetylcholine and histamine. The contractility was inhibited by ouabain and chlorambucil-angiotensin II, but not by cytochalasin B. No contraction was produced by AMP, angiotensin I and adrenaline.     

Volume changes in activated human neutrophils: The role of Na+/H+ exchange

The apparent volume of neutrophils, as measured electronically with the Coulter counter, has been reported to increase upon treatment with chemotactic factors. The occurrence of a volume change was confirmed by forward angle light scattering and by isotopic measurements of intracellular water space in cells treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13, acetate (TPA) or formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP). Cell swelling was associated with an increase in the osmotic content of the cells, determined from Boyle-van't Hoff plots, and with an increase in Na⁺ content, measured by flame photometry. The volume change was inhibited by replacement of extracellular Na⁺ with K⁺ or N-methyl-D-glucamine⁺, or by addition of amiloride. Swelling was also inhibited by the 5-N-substituted analogs of amiloride, which are potent specific inhibitors of the Na⁺/H⁺ antiport. This pathway is activated in neutrophils by both TPA and FMLP. Activation of Na⁺/H⁺ exchange, determined as a Na⁺-dependent and amiloride-sensitive cytoplasmic alkalinization, was also found when neutrophils were treated with hypertonic solutions. The hypertonic activation of the antiport was similarly followed by cell swelling, detectable by electronic sizing. The results indicate that activation of Na⁺/H⁺ exchange can lead to significant cell swelling in neutrophils.     

The Effect of Dichlorophenyldimethylurea on Light-Stimulated 22Na+, 42K+ and 86Rb+ Absorption in Different Tissues of Phaseolus vulgaris Leaves

The light-stimulated absorption of ⁸⁶Rb⁺ by Phaseolus vulgaris L. leaf slices was found to be sensitive to dichlorophenyldimethylurea in air as well as in nitrogen, whereas light-stimulated ²²Na⁺ absorption in nitrogen was not sensitive to this inhibitor. The absorption of ²²Na⁺ is not affected by light in air. The absorption of ⁴²K⁺ is enhanced by a dichlorophenyldimethylurea-insensitive light effect under anaerobic conditions and further increased by light in the absence of the inhibitor. Light-enhanced ⁴²K⁺ absorption in air was also inhibited by dichlorophenyldimethylurea. Previous work showed that light-stimulated ⁸⁶Rb⁺ and ⁴²K⁺ absorption by Phaseolus vulgaris leaf slices is restricted to the guard cells. The present results are discussed with reference to the effect of light on stomatal opening.     

Characteristics of extracellular proteases produced by Bacillus laterosporus and Flavobacterium sp. isolated from gelatinfactory effluents

Forty bacterial isolates from the effluents of a gelatin factory (Jabalpur, India) were screened for protease activity and the two most potent producers were identified as Bacillus laterosporus and a Flavobacterium sp. The enzymes of both isolates were optimal at pH 8 and 60°C, with maximum activity after 90 min. The enzyme activity of B. laterosporus was suppressed by Fe²⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions but was enhanced by Ba²⁺ and Ca²⁺. That of Flavobacterium sp. was suppressed by Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions but enhanced by Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Fe²⁺. The enzyme activity of the former was strongly inhibited by KCN, whereas that of the latter was only slightly inhibited by 8-hydroxyquinoline.     

Purification and properties of indole 2,3-dioxygenase from maize leaves

An indole 2,3-dioxygenase was purified ca 38-fold from maize leaves. The enzyme had an MW of about 98000, an optimum pH of 5.0 and the energy of activation was 9.1 kcal/mol. The K_max for indole was 1.4 × 10^?4 M. The enzyme was inhibited by diethyldithiocarbamate, salicylaldoxime and sodium dithionite. The inhibition by diethyldithiocarbamate was specifically reversed by Cu²⁺. The dialysed enzyme was stimulated by Cu²⁺. Four atoms of oxygen were utilized in the disappearance of 1 mole of indole. Inhibition of the enzyme by -SH compounds and -SH group inhibitors, and their partial removal by Cu²⁺ only, suggested the involvement of -SH groups in binding of Cu²⁺ at the catalytic site.     

Developmental changes in the45Ca2+ uptake byTrichoderma viride mycelium

The rate of the⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake by the submergedTrichoderma viride mycelium increased with the age of the culture from 6 h until a maximum which was reached at about 30 h, and then decreased until the uptake was virtually zero. The decrease in the rate of the⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake was accompanied by an increase of mycelial mass. The uptake rate could not be reactivated upon substituting the medium for a fresh one, without or with dilution of the mycelium. The results suggest that the rate of⁴⁵Ca²⁺ uptake reflects the biological age of the submerged culture. The surface-cultivated mycelium took up⁴⁵Ca²⁺ proportionally with time. The autoradiography of colonies showed that⁴⁵Ca²⁺ was distributed homogeneously throughout the mycelium during vegetative growth while conidiation was accompanied by a massive accumulation of⁴⁵Ca²⁺ in conidia. This work was supported by theSwiss National Science Foundation (joint Swiss-Slovak project 75LPJ041485) andSlovak Grant Agency (grant no. 1/1158/93).     

Regulation of rat brainstem tryptophan 5-monooxygenase. Calcium-dependent reversible activation by ATP and magnesium.

Tryptophan 5-monooxygenase in rat brainstem cytosol was activated about twofold by incubation with 0.5 mm ATP and 5 mm MgCl₂. The activation required micromolar concentrations of Ca²⁺ but was not dependent on either cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP. Rat brain cytosol was shown to possess an endogenous protein kinase which was markedly stimulated by the addition of Ca²⁺ using endogenous protein substrates. Following activation by ATP and Mg²⁺ in the presence of Ca²⁺, tryptophan 5-monooxygenase was reversibly deactivated to the original level by incubation at 30 °C after removal of Ca²⁺ by adding ethylene glycol bis(β-aminoethyl ether)N,N′-tetraacetic acid and was then reactivated by incubation at 30 °C after subsequent addition of Ca²⁺ and ATP. The deactivation was markedly inhibited by the omission of Mg²⁺ or by the addition of NaF.     

Trimethyltin chloride induced chloride secretion across rat distal colon

TMT (trimethyltin chloride), an organotin, is ubiquitous in the environment. The consumption of contaminated food may cause exposure of the human diet to this toxic compound. The present study was to investigate the effects of TMT on the regulation of ion transport across the rat distal colon. The rat colonic mucosa was mounted in Ussing chambers. The effects of TMT were assessed using the I_sc (short‐circuit current). Both apical and basolateral TMT induced, dose‐dependently, an increase in I_sc, which was due to a stimulation of Cl^? secretion as measured using ion substitution experiments and pharmacological manoeuvres. The secretion was also inhibited by several K⁺ channel blockers administrated at the basolateral side. When the apical side was permeabilized by nystatin, the TMT‐induced K⁺ conductance was effectively blocked by tetrapentylammonium, a Ca²⁺‐sensitive K⁺ channel blocker. The response of TMT was sensitive to the basolateral Ca²⁺ and the intracellular Ca²⁺ store, which could be disclosed by applying the inhibitors of ryanodine receptors and inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptors. In conclusion, TMT led to Cl^? secretion, which was essentially regulated by basolateral Ca²⁺‐sensitive K⁺ channels. These results suggest the importance of K⁺ channels in the toxicity hazard of TMT.     

牛病毒性腹泻病毒Erns蛋白的中华仓鼠卵巢细胞表达及免疫原性分析

本研究利用中华仓鼠卵巢(Chinese hamster ovary,CHO)细胞表达系统制备牛病毒性腹泻病毒(bovine viral diarrhea virus,BVDV) E^rns蛋白,并分析其免疫原性。以BVDV-1 NADL标准毒株基因序列为基础,构建BVDV E^rns蛋白重组真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1-BVDV-E^rns,转染悬浮培养的CHO细胞,进行上清分泌表达。SDS-PAGE分析E^rns蛋白的表达和纯化,并用抗His单克隆抗体和BVDV阳性血清进行Western blotting鉴定纯化蛋白;进一步使用纯化的E^rns蛋白免疫新西兰大白兔,通过间接酶联免疫吸附试验(enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)和细胞间接免疫荧光(indirect immunofluorescence,IFA)实验检测血清抗体水平及其免疫反应活性,用病毒中和实验测定免疫兔血清的中和抗体滴度。BCA蛋白定量试剂盒检测纯化的E^rns     

Glycerol Dehydrogenase from Cellulomonas sp. NT3060: Purification and Characterization

NAD⁺-dependent glycerol dehydrogenase from Cellulomonas sp. NT3060 was purified by a procedure of 10 steps involving crystallization. Dihydroxyacetone was identified as the oxidation product of glycerol with the enzyme. The purified enzyme did not lose activity on heating below 60°C. The enzyme oxidized other alcohols such as 1,2-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol and glycerol-α-monochlorohydrin, beside glycerol. The enzyme activity was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺. Oxidation of glyberol was activated by Na⁺ and reduction of dihydroxyacetone was activated by K⁺ at pH 7.5.     

Characterization of Nucleoside Triphosphatase Activity in Isolated Pea Nuclei and Its Photoreversible Regulation by Light

A nucleoside triphosphatase (NTPase) present in highly purified preparations of pea nuclei was partially characterized. The activity of this enzyme was stimulated by divalent cations (Mg²⁺ = Mn²⁺ > Ca²⁺), but was not affected by the monovalent cations, Na⁺ and K⁺. The Mg²⁺-dependent activity was further stimulated by concentrations of Ca²⁺ in the low micromolar range. It could catalyze the hydrolysis of ATP, GTP, UTP, and CTP, all with a pH optimum of 7.5. The nuclear NTPase activity was not inhibited by vanadate, oligomycin, or nitrate, but was inhibited by relatively low concentrations of quercetin and the calmodulin inhibitor, compound 48/80. The NTPase was stimulated more than 50% by red light, and this effect was reversed by subsequent irradiation with far-red light. The photoreversibility of the stimulation indicated that the photoreceptor for this response was phytochrome, an important regulator of photomorphogenesis and gene expression in plants.     

Intracellular Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript> Pools and Fluxes in Cardiac Muscle-Derived H9c2 Cells

Relevant Ca²⁺ pools and fluxes in H9c2 cells have been studied using fluorescent indicators and Ca²⁺-mobilizing agents. Vasopressin produced a cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ peak with half-maximal effective concentration of 6 nM, whereas thapsigargin-induced Ca²⁺ increase showed half-maximal effect at 3 nM. Depolarization of the mitochondrial inner membrane by protonophore was also associated with an increase in cytoplasmic Ca²⁺. Ionomycin induced a small and sustained depolarization, while thapsigargin had a small but transient effect. The thapsigargin-sensitive Ca²⁺ pool was also sensitive to ionomycin, whereas the protonophore-sensitive Ca²⁺ pool was not. The vasopressin-induced cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ signal, which caused a reversible discharge of the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ pool, was sensed as a mitochondrial Ca²⁺ peak but was unaffected by the permeability transition pore inhibitor cyclosporin A. The mitochondrial Ca²⁺ peak was affected by cyclosporin A when the Ca²⁺ signal was induced by irreversible discharge of the intracellular Ca²⁺ pool, i.e., adding thapsigargin. These observations indicate that the mitochondria interpret the cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ signals generated in the reticular store.     

The respiration of brain mitochondria and its regulation by monovalent cation transport

The Na⁺ and K⁺ permeability properties of rat brain mitochondria were determined to explain the influences of these cations upon respiration. A new procedure for isolating exceptionally intact mitochondria with minimal contamination by synaptosomes was developed for this purpose.Respiration was uncoupled by Na⁺ and less so by K⁺. Uncoupling was maximal in the presence of EDTA plus P_i and was decreased by Mg²⁺. Maximal uncoupler-stimulated respiration rates were inhibited by Na⁺ but largely unaffected by K⁺. The inhibition by Na⁺ was relatively insensitive to Mg²⁺. Membrane Na⁺ and K⁺ conductances as well as neutral exchanges (Na⁺/H⁺ and K⁺/H⁺ antiport activities) were determined by swelling measurements and correlated with metabolic effects of the cations.Cation conductance, i.e. electrophoretic Na⁺ or K⁺ permeation, was increased by EDTA (Na⁺ > K⁺) and decreased by Mg²⁺. Magnesium preferentially suppressed Na⁺ conductance so as to reverse the cation selectivity (K⁺ > Na⁺). Neutral cation/H⁺ exchange rates (Na⁺ > K⁺) were not influenced by chelator or Mg²⁺.The extent of cation-dependent uncoupling of respiration correlated best with the inner membrane conductance of the ion according to an empirical relationship derived with the model K⁺ conductor valinomycin. The metabolic influences of Na⁺ and K⁺ can be explained in terms of coupled flow of these ions with protons and their effect upon the H⁺ electrochemical gradient although alternative possibilities are discussed. These in vitro studies are compared to previous observations in situ to assess their physiological significance.     

Implications of calcium nutrition on the response of Phaseolus vulgaris L. to salinity

The effect of Ca²⁺ level in the growth medium on the response of germination and early seedling growth of Phaseolus vulgaris to NaCl salinity was investigated. When NaCl concentration was increased germination and early seedling growth was decreased. The addition of Ca²⁺ to the media increased both germination percentage and seedling growth. Chloride concentrations were not affected by the level of Ca²⁺. Potassium and Ca²⁺ concentrations and transport from roots to shoots were decreased by NaCl, but were restored by increasing Ca²⁺ in the medium. The opposite was true for Na⁺. Leakage of NO₃ ^- and H₂PO₄ ^- was increased by salinity and reduced by high Ca²⁺ in the medium. The results are discussed in terms of the beneficial effects of calcium for plant growth under saline conditions.     

l-Arginine uptake into renal brush border membrane vesicles

The uphill uptake of l-arginine by renal brush border membrane vesicles was found to be energized by a Na⁺ gradient (extravesicular > intravesicular) in the presence of a membrane potential (inside negative). The uptake was specific for Na⁺. Either a K⁺-diffusion potential, generated by valinomycin, or a H⁺-diffusion potential, generated by the mitochondrial uncoupler, carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, provided the electrical driving force. The Na⁺ gradient-dependent l-arginine transport system was shared by specific basic amino acids and l-cystine, but not by d-arginine nor other classes of amino acids. The molecular structure of the basic amino acid recognized by the carrier was postulated.