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 and carbonylcyanide p-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.     

Quantitation of Ca2+ uptake by Arsenazo III-loaded liposomes

Arsenazo III-loaded liposomes are in wide use as model systems in the study of Ca2+ transport. The most sophisticated method for quantitation of Ca2+ uptake [E. B. Smaal et al. (1985) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 816, 418] utilizes the absorbance changes (650-700 nm) elicited by sequential additions of EDTA and A23187 to distinguish Ca2+-Arsenazo complexes which are outside and inside the liposomes. In this paper, the analytical approach of Smaal and co-workers is reevaluated and a straightforward treatment that allows calculation both of the concentration of Ca2+ inside liposomes and of total Ca2+ uptake (in moles/mole phospholipid) is developed.     

Heart sarcolemmal Ca2+ transport in endotoxin shock: I. Impairment of ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport

Effects of endotoxin administration on the ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ transport in canine cardiac sarcolemma were investigated. The results show that the sidedness of the sarcolemmal vesicles was not affected but the ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ transport in cardiac sarcolemma was decreased by 22 to 46% (p < 0.05) at 4 h following endotoxin administration. The kinetic analysis indicates that the V_max for ATP and for Ca²⁺ were decreased by 50% (p < 0.01) and 32% (p < 0.01), respectively, while the Km values for ATP and Ca²⁺ were not significantly affected after endotoxin administration. Magnesium (1–5 mM) stimulated while vanadate (0.25–3.0 M) inhibited the ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ transport, but the Mg²⁺-stimulated and the vanadate-inhibitable activities remained significantly lower in the endotoxin-treated animals. These data demonstrate that endotoxin administration impairs the ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ transport in canine cardiac sarcolemma and that the impairment is associated with a mechanism not affecting the affinity towards ATP and Ca²⁺. Additional experiments show that the Ca²⁺ sensitivity of the Ca²⁺-ATPase activity was indifferent between the control and endotoxic groups suggesting that endotoxic injury impairs Ca²⁺ pumping without affecting Ca²⁺-ATPase activity. Since sarcolemmal ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ transport plays an important role in the regulation of cytosolic Ca²⁺ homeostasis, an impairment in the sarcolemmal ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ transport induced by endotoxin administration may have a pathophysiological significance in contributing to the development of myocardial dysfunction in endotoxin shock.     

Mechanisms of Ca2+ transport in plasma membrane vesicles prepared from cultured pituitary cells. II. (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase-dependent Ca2+ transport activity

Purified plasma membrane vesicles from GH3 rat anterior pituitary cells exhibit a Mg2+-ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport activity. Concentrative uptake of Ca2+ is abolished by exclusion of either Mg2+ or ATP or by inclusion of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187. Furthermore, addition of A23187 to vesicles which have reached a steady state of ATP-supported Ca2+ accumulation rapidly and completely discharges accumulated cation. Ca2+ uptake is unaffected by treatment of vesicles with oligomycin, the uncoupler CCCP, or valinomycin and is greatly reduced in non-plasma membrane fractions. Likewise, Ca2+ accumulation is not stimulated by oxalate, consistent with the plasma membrane origin of this transport system. (Na+, K+)-ATPase participation in the Ca2+ transport process (i.e. via coupled Na+/Ca2+ exchange) was eliminated by omitting Na+ and including ouabain in the reaction medium. Ca2+ transport activity in GH3 vesicles has a similar pH dependence as that seen in a number of other plasma membrane systems and is inhibited by orthovanadate in the micromolar range. Inhibition is enhanced if the membranes are preincubated with vanadate for a short time. A kinetic analysis of transport indicates that the apparent Km for free Ca2+ and ATP are 0.7 and 125 microM, respectively. The average Vmax is 3.6 nmol of Ca2+/min/mg of protein at 37 degrees C. Addition of exogenous calmodulin or calmodulin antagonists had no significant effect on these kinetic properties. GH3 plasma membranes also contain a Na+/Ca2+ exchange system. The apparent Km for Ca2+ is almost 10-fold higher in this system than that for ATP-driven Ca2+ uptake. When both processes are compared under similar conditions, the Vmax of the exchanger is approximately 2-3 times that of ATP-dependent Ca2+ accumulation. Similar results are obtained when purified plasma membranes from bovine anterior pituitary glands were investigated. It is suggested that both Na+/Ca2+ exchange and the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase are important in controlling intracellular levels of Ca2+ in anterior pituitary cells.     

Induction of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake by mersalyl

1. The addition of mersalyl to aged mitochondria from rat kidneys, is followed by induction of an ATP-driven Ca2+ uptake which is sensitive to Ruthenium Red. 2. This Ca2+ influx requires Mg2+, albumin, and is accomplished by membrane energization. 3. The activation of Ca2+ uptake by the mercurial in the presence of ATP can be explained if it is assumed that the inorganic phosphate generated by ATPase activity, and trapped in the matrix by the thiol reagent, provides the negative potential which results in an electrophoresis cation influx.     

Transport of Ca2+ by diltiazem across the lipid bilayer in model liposomes.

The calcium channel antagonist diltiazem was examined for its ability to translocate Ca2+ from an aqueous medium to the nonpolar lipid milieu. We monitored the spectral changes caused by the drug-mediated cation transport at 37 degrees C in unilamellar vesicles made of dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and containing the calcium-sensitive dye arsenazo III trapped inside. Vesicle leakage or membrane fusion caused by diltiazem was assessed by the use of vesicles containing fluorescent indicators. These effects were, however, found to be insignificant compared with ion transport. The transport was negligible at temperatures below the liquid crystalline to gel transition temperature of DMPC indicating a carrier mechanism of ion transport. A quantitative analysis of the transport kinetics indicated that a 1:2 Ca(2+)-drug complex is formed inside the lipid. The calcium ionophoretic ability of diltiazem, combined with other related data, suggests a possible role for Ca2+ in the conformation of the drug in the lipid membrane milieu and in its interaction with the calcium channel.     

Heart sarcolemmal Ca2+ transport in endotoxin shock: II. Mechanism of impairment in ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport

The role of the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of sarcolemma and that of the alteration of membrane lipids in the endotoxin-induced impairment of the ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ transport in canine cardiac sarcolemma were investigated. The results indicate that the ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ transport in canine cardiac sarcolemma was decreased by 30–35% 4h after endotoxin administration. Phosphorylation of sarcolemma by the catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase or calmodulin stimulated ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ transport in both groups, however, the phosphorylation-stimulated activities remained significantly lower in endotoxic animals. Dephosphorylation of sarcolemma decreased ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ transport in both groups, yet, the time required to reach maximal dephosphorylation was reduced from 120 to 90 min 4 h post-endotoxin. Analysis of sarcolemmal membranes reveals that phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine contents were decreased while their respective lysophosphatide levels were increased significantly after endotoxin injection. Digestion of control heart sarcolemma with phospholipase A₂ inhibited Ca²⁺ transport and the inhibition was reversible by phosphatidylcholine. The inhibition caused by the in vivo administration of endotoxin was completely reversible by the addition of phosphatidylcholine. Based on these data, it is concluded that endotoxin administration impairs ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ transport in canine cardiac sarcolemma and that the impairment may be due to i) a defective phosphorylation of sarcolemma; ii) a reduced number of Ca²⁺ pumps; iii) an accelerated dephosphorylation of sarcolemma; and iv) an alteration in membrane phospholipid profile in response to phospholipase A activation.     

Differentiation between Ca2+ transport and ATP-induced Ca2+ binding by sarcoplasmic reticulum

The Ca²⁺ actively accumulated by sarcoplasmic reticulum isolated from skeletal muscle is composed of two fractions; one represented by intravesicular free Ca²⁺ and another represented by Ca²⁺ selectively bound to the membranes. Both of these Ca²⁺ fractions depend on ATP, although it is not clear whether ATP hydrolysis is essential for accumulation of the second Ca²⁺ fraction. The existence of the membrane-bound Ca²⁺ induced by ATP is clearly shown in experiments in which the Ca²⁺ retention by sarcoplasmic reticulum is measured in the presence and in the absence of X-537A, a Ca²⁺ ionophore, which makes the membrane permeable to Ca²⁺. Thus, in the presence of X-537A all Ca²⁺ accumulated due to ATP is bound to the membranes. This membrane-bound Ca²⁺ represents about 30 nmol/mg protein in the range of external $\text{p}\text{Ca}$ values of 7 to 3.5. The magnitude of this Ca²⁺ fraction is slightly higher whether or not the experiments are performed in the presence of oxalate, which greatly increased the intravesicular Ca²⁺ accumulation. Furthermore, taking advantage of the impermeability of sarcoplasmic reticulum to EGTA, it is possible to show the existence of the membrane-bound Ca²⁺ as a distinct fraction from that which exists intravesicularly.     

Regulation by Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of passive transport of Ca2+ in the myometrial sarcolemma

Closed vesiculate preparations of pig myometrium sarcolemma (predominantly with inside-out orientation) are characterized by passive permeability for Ca2+. The kinetics of Ca2+ release from the vesicles is exponential. Using the grapho-analytical subtraction method, the kinetic parameters of this reaction were determined. Myometrium sarcolemma contains endogenous Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase and phosphoprotein phosphatase which is inhibited by sodium o-vanadate. The Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation stimulates passive Ca2+ release from sarcolemmal vesicles. In the course of phosphorylation the capacity of the pool providing for rapid Ca2+ release increases by 61%, the initial rate of Ca2+ release showing a 28% increase. Trifluoroperazine, an inhibitor of Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent processes, eliminates the activating effect of phosphorylation on the rate of Ca2+ release from sarcolemmal vesicles.     

Ca2+-controlled conformational states of the Ca2+ transport enzyme of sarcoplasmic reticulum.

The fluorescent reagent, S-mercuric N-dansyl-cysteine, reacts specifically with thiols of the purified Ca2+-ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, producing an increase of fluorescence of fluorescence intensity at 500 nm (lambda ex = 335 nm). The reaction is stoichiometric, and the increase of the fluorescence intensity is proportional to the number of blocked thiols. Twelve reactive thiols per 10(5) daltons of ATPase peptide fall into roughly three classes. Blocking of the most reactive thiol entails little inhibition of enzyme activity. Blocking of the five thiols reacting next (intermediate class) results in almost complete inhibition of both phosphorylated intermediate formation and ATP hydrolysis. The second order rate constants of the reaction of thiols have been determined by stopped flow studies. The most reactive thiol and the six least reactive thiols can each be treated as a single class with respect to the rate constant; five thiols of intermediate reactivity appear to have different rate constants (k2, k3, ..k6). Of these constants, k1, corresponding to the most reactive thiol, does not change with [Ca2+]. Upon increasing [Ca2+] from 10(-9) to 10(-5) M, k2 increase and k7-12 decreases; the changes roughly parallel the activation of ATPase activity and the Ca2+ binding to the high affinity alpha sites (Ikemoto, N. (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250, 7219-7224). Upon further increase of [Ca2+] k2 decreases and k7-12 increase, in parallel with the inhibition of ATPase activity and with the Ca2+ binding to the low affinity gamma sites.     

Ca2+-dependent K+ transport in lymphocytes

The treatment of rat thymocytes with A23187 + Ca2+, ascorbate-phenazine methosulphate or propranolol induced quinine-sensitive fluxes of K+ (Rb+) suggesting the presence in the cell membrane of Ca2+-dependent K+ channels. Concanavalin A induced K+ channel activation only at very high doses (13 micrograms/ml). Neither quinine nor the increase of the K+ concentration in the medium to 30 mM prevented the stimulation of amino acid transport induced by concanavalin A, suggesting that the Ca2+-dependent K+ channel is not involved in the early phenomena of lymphocyte activation.     

Plasma membrane Ca2+ transport: stimulation by soluble proteins.

Inside-out membrane vesicles were prepared from human red blood cells. In the presence of ATP, these vesicles took up ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ against a chemical gradient. The active transport of Ca²⁺ was increased by addition of an activator protein of (Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺)-ATPase isolated from the membrane-free hemolysate of human red blood cells. A closely related protein, the protein modulator of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase from bovine brain, also increased the rate of active transport of ⁴⁵Ca²⁺. Addition of the calcium ionophore A23187 caused a rapid efflux of ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ from loaded, inside-out vesicles. When La³⁺ was added to the system in the presence of activator protein, the uptake of ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ was inhibited. Results are compatible with the interpretation that activity of the plasma membrane Ca²⁺ pump may be modulated by certain cytoplasmic proteins.     

Ca2+ transport and Ca2+-dependent ATP hydrolysis by Golgi vesicles from lactating rat mammary glands.

Ca2+ transport across mammary-gland Golgi membranes was measured after centrifugation of the membrane vesicles through silicone oil. In the presence of 2.3 microM free Ca2+ the vesicles accumulated 5.8 nmol of Ca2+/mg of protein without added ATP, and this uptake was complete within 0.5 min. In the presence of 1 mM-ATP, Ca2+ was accumulated at a linear rate for 10 min after the precipitation of intravesicular Ca2+ with 10 mM-potassium oxalate. ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake exhibited a Km of 0.14 microM for Ca2+ and a Vmax. of 3.1 nmol of Ca2+/min per mg of protein. Ca2+-dependent ATP hydrolysis exhibited a Km of 0.16 microM for Ca2+ and a Vmax. of 10.1 nmol of Pi/min per mg of protein. The stoichiometry between ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+-stimulated ATPase varied between 0.3 and 0.7 over the range 0.03-8.6 microM-Ca2+. Both Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+-stimulated ATPase were strongly inhibited by orthovanadate, which suggests that the major mechanism by which Golgi vesicles accumulate Ca2+ is through the action of the Ca2+-stimulated ATPase. However, Ca2+ uptake was also decreased by the protonophore CCCP (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone), indicating that it may occur by other mechanisms too. The effect of CCCP may be related to the existence of transmembrane pH gradients (delta pH) in these vesicles: the addition of 30 microM-CCCP reduced delta pH from a control value of 1.06 to 0.73 pH unit. Golgi vesicles also possess a Ca2+-efflux pathway which operated at an initial rate of 0.5-0.57 nmol/min per mg of protein.     

Calmodulin regulation of Ca2+ transport in human erythrocytes.

Inside-out vesicles of human erythrocytes took up Ca2+ against an electrochemical gradient. This Ca2+ uptake was dependent on ATP and was stimulated by calmodulin. Treatment of vesicles with 1 mM-EDTA exposed an apparent low-CA2+-affinity Ca2+-transport component with Kd of about 100 microM-Ca2+ or more. This was converted into a single high-Ca2+-affinity transport activity of Kd about 2.5 microM-Ca2+ in the presence of 2 micrograms of calmodulin/ml, showing that the decrease in transport activity after EDTA treatment was reversible. Vesicles not extracted with EDTA showed mainly apparent high-Ca2+-affinity kinetics even in the absence of added calmodulin. Trifluoperazine (30 microM) and calmodulin-binding protein (20 micrograms/ml) inhibited about 50% of the high-affinity Ca2+ uptake and (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase (Ca2+-activated, Mg2+-dependent ATPase) activity of these vesicles, indicating that the vesicles isolated by the procedure used retained some calmodulin from the erythrocytes. Comparison of Ca2+ transport and (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activities in inside-out vesicles yielded a variable Ca2+/P1 stoichiometric ratio. At low free Ca2+ concentrations (below 20 micro-Ca2+), a Ca2+/P1 ration of about 2 was found, whereas at higher Ca2+ concentrations the stoichiometry was approx. 1. The stoichiometry was not significantly altered by calmodulin.     

Proton gradient formation during transport of Ca2+ by sarcoplasmic reticulum.

(i) Hydrolysis of ATP by leaky sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles generates less protons than does hydrolysis of intact membranes. Even under conditions where the hydrolysis of ATP does not produce protons (pH 6.0) intact membranes still release protons during Ca²⁺ uptake. (ii) The fluorescence of 9-amino-6-chloro-2-methoxyacridine increases suddenly after triggering the transport of Ca²⁺ and declines when Ca²⁺ has been accumulated by the vesicles. The behavior of atebrin is opposite to that of 9-aminoacridine. The rate of the fluorescence change is much higher than the rate of Ca²⁺ translocation, and the maximum fluorescence does not depend on the amount of Ca²⁺ accumulated. (iii) The fluorescence of 3,3′-dipentyloxadicarbocyanine increases at a rate similar to that of Ca²⁺ uptake and declines when 70–80% of Ca²⁺ has been accumulated. (iv) The results suggest quite clearly that a proton gradient, which forms rapidly, is the motive force for sustaining the Ca²⁺ transport. A transient transmembrane electrical potential develops as a secondary effect during Ca²⁺ translocation.     

Ca2+-transporting properties of myometrial plasma cell membrane Ca2+, Mg2+-ATPase reconstituted in liposomes

Purified myometrium cells plasma membrane Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase was reconstitute in liposomes in functionally active state by the method of cholate dialysis: it showed ATP-hydrolase activity increased by 0.8 microM A23187 average 4 times and it showed Mg2+, ATP-dependent Ca(2+)-transporting activity. Reconstituted system transported Ca2+ at an initial rate of 114.4 +/- 16.3 nmol.min-1.mg-1 with the stoichiometry Ca2+: ATP = 1: (3.2-3.7). Calmodulin increased by 30% the initial rate of Ca(2+)-accumulation by the proteoliposomes with reconstituted Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase; 0.1 mM orthovanadate decreased by 80% Ca(2+)-accumulation by this system. Ca2+, Mg(2+)-ATPase reconstituted in liposomes is just Ca(2+)-transporting ATPase of the plasma membrane. Obtained enzyme preparate can be utilised for study of the properties of this important energy-dependent Ca(2+)-transporting system of smooth muscle cell.     

Ca2+ transport by the synaptosomal plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase and the effect of thioridazine

Thioridazine inhibits the activity of the synaptic plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase from pig brain and slightly decreases the rate of Ca(2+) accumulation by synaptic plasma membrane vesicles in the absence of phosphate. However, in the presence of phosphate, thioridazine increases the rate of Ca(2+) accumulation into synaptic plasma membrane vesicles. Phosphate anions diffuse through the membrane and form calcium phosphate crystals, reducing the free Ca(2+) concentration inside the vesicles and the rate of Ca(2+) leak. The higher levels of Ca(2+) accumulation obtained in the presence of thioridazine could be explained by a reduction of the rate of slippage on the plasma membrane ATPase.