cADPR stimulates SERCA activity in Xenopus oocytes

The intracellular second messenger cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) induces Ca²⁺ release through the activation of ryanodine receptors (RyRs). Moreover, it has been suggested that cADPR may serve an additional role to modulate sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase (SERCA) pump activity, but studies have been complicated by concurrent actions on RyR. Here, we explore the actions of cADPR in Xenopus oocytes, which lack RyRs. We examined the effects of cADPR on the sequestration of cytosolic Ca²⁺ following Ca²⁺ transients evoked by photoreleased inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP₃), and by Ca²⁺ influx through expressed nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in the oocytes membrane. In both cases the decay of the Ca²⁺ transients was accelerated by intracellular injection of a non-metabolizable analogue of cADPR, 3-Deaza-cADPR, and photorelease of cADPR from a caged precursor demonstrated that this action is rapid (a few s). The acceleration was abolished by pre-treatment with thapsigargin to block SERCA activity, and was inhibited by two specific antagonists of cADPR, 8-NH₂-cADPR and 8-br-cADPR. We conclude that cADPR serves to modulate Ca²⁺ sequestration by enhancing SERCA pump activity, in addition to its well-established action on RyRs to liberate Ca²⁺.     

Evidence for Mechanistic Alterations of Ca2+ Homeostasis in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Altered cytosolic Ca²⁺ is implicated in the aetiology of many diseases including diabetes but there are few studies on the mechanism(s) of the altered Ca²⁺ regulation. Using human lymphocytes, we studied cytosolic calcium (Ca_i) and various Ca²⁺ transport mechanisms in subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and control subjects. Ca²⁺-specific fluorescent probes (Fura-2 and Fluo-3) were used to monitor the Ca²⁺ signals. Thapsigargin, a potent and specific inhibitor of the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase (SERCA), was used to study Ca²⁺- store dependent Ca²⁺ fluxes. Significant (P < 0.05) elevation of basal Ca_i levels was observed in lymphocytes from diabetic subjects. Ca_i levels were positively correlated with fasting, plasma glucose and HbAlc. There was also a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in plasma membrane calcium (PMCA) ATPase activity in diabetic subjects compared to controls. Cells from Type 2 diabetics exhibited an increased Ca²⁺ influx (as measured both by Fluo-3 fliorescence and C45a assays) as a consequence of of thapsigargin-mediated Ca²⁺ store depletion. Upon addition of Mn²⁺ (a surrogate of Ca²⁺), the fura-2 fluorescence decayed in an exponential fashion and the rate and extent of this decline was steeper and greater in cells from type 2 diabetic patients. There was also a significant (P < 0.05) difference in the Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchange activity in Type 2 diabetic patients, both under resting conditions and after challenging the cells with thapsigargin, when the internal store Ca²⁺ sequestration was circumvented. Pharmacological activation of protein kinase C (PKC) in cells from patients resulted in only partial inhibition of Ca²⁺ entry. We conclude that cellular Ca²⁺ accumulation in cells from Type 2 diabetes results from (a) reduction in PMCA ATPase activity, (b) modulation of Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchange and (3) increased Ca²⁺ influx across the plasma membrane.     

Relationship between plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase activity and acrosome reaction in guinea pig sperm

The results obtained by biochemical measurement demonstrated for the first time that significant decrease of the plasma membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase activity occurred during capacitation and acrosome reaction of guinea pig sperm. Ethaorynic acid, one kind of Ca²⁺-ATPase antagonists, inhibited the plasma membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase activity, but calmodulin (50μg/mL) and trifluoperazine (200- 500μmol/L) did not, suggesting that calmodulin is not involved in ATP-driven Ca²⁺ efflux from sperm. However, calmodulin is involved in the control of Ca²⁺ influx. TFP, one kind of calmodulin antagonists, accelerated the acrosome reaction and Ca²⁺ uptake into sperm cells significantly. Ca²⁺-ATPase antagonists, quercetin, sodium orthovandate, furosemide and ethacrynic acid promoted the acrosome reaction, but inhibited Ca2+ uptake, which cannot be explained by their inhibitory effects on the plasma membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase activity. It is speculated that this phenomenon might be caused by simultaneous inhibitions of the activities of Ca²⁺-ATPase present in the plasma membrane, the outer acrosome membrane and the outer mitochondrion membrane resulting in Ca²⁺ accumulation in the cytoplasm, which in turn blocks further Ca2+ entry through some negative feedback mechanism(s). The inhibitory effect of Ca²⁺-ATPase antagonist on glycolytic activity may also be the reason for Ca²⁺ accumulation in cytoplasm and inhibition of Ca²⁺ uptake.     

Functional Reconstitution of an ATP-Driven Ca-Transport System from the Plasma Membrane of Commelina communis L

The protein(s) that constitute(s) the ATP-driven Ca²⁺-translocator of plasma membrane enriched vesicles obtained by aqueous two-phase partitioning from leaves of Commelina communis L. has/have been solubilized and reincorporated into tightly sealed liposomes. The reconstituted Ca²⁺-transport system was studied using ATP-driven ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ import into the proteoliposomes as a measure of activity. The detergent, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio]-1-propane-sulfonate proved to be the most suitable and was used at 10 millimolar concentration, i.e. just above its critical micellar concentration. The presence of additional phospholipid (2 milligrams phosphatidylcholine per milliliter) and ATP (5 millimolar) improved the solubilization and/or reconstitution. The characteristics of the reconstituted system were similar to those of the plasma membrane-bound activity, including the apparent K_m for Ca²⁺ (5.2 micromolar), inhibition by relatively high levels of vanadate (IC₅₀ = 500 micromolar) and lacking response to added calmodulin. The reconstituted transport system was very strongly inhibited by erythrosine B (IC₅₀ = 0.01 micromolar) and had a low apparent K_m for ATP (11.4 micromolar). As in the plasma membrane vesicles, the protonophore carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone did not affect Ca²⁺-transport detectably in the reconstituted system. However, low levels of the Ca²⁺-ionophore A 23187 instantaneously discharged 90% of the Ca²⁺ associated with the vesicles, proving that it had been accumulated in the intravesicular volume in soluble, freely exchangeable form. Ca²⁺-transport in the reconstituted system was thus primary active, through a Ca²⁺-translocating ATPase. The system reported here may serve as a valuable tool for purifying the Ca²⁺-ATPase and for studying structural and functional aspects of the purified enzyme.     

Interaction of phytohormones and synthetic growth regulator melafen in the control of Ca2+ translocation across the plasma membrane of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber cells

Interference of phytohormones (jasmonic, gibberellic, and abscisic acids) and synthetic growth regulator melafen on Ca²⁺ translocation across the membrane of plasma membrane vesicles prepared from dormant potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tubers was studied. The activity of plasma membrane Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺-ATPase was stimulated by melafen and jasmonic and gibberellic acids and suppressed by abscisic acid. These substrances did not change the passive membrane permeability for Ca²⁺. The pattern of the effect of melafen on the activity of Ca²⁺,Mg²⁺-ATPase depended on the presence of phytohormones in incubation medium. When melafen and each phytohormone were simultaneously added to incubation medium, their effects were not additive, which indicates that the effects of the tested compounds on the Ca²⁺ uptake into the plasma membrane vesicles are interdependent. Apparently, the interaction between the phytohormones and plasma membrane components modulates the response to melafen.     

Kinetics and Energetics of Mg2+,ATP-Dependent Ca2+ Transport in the Plasma Membrane of Smooth Muscle Cells

Calcium ions play a crucial role in the excitation/contraction coupling in smooth muscles. I would like to interpret the biochemical mechanisms underlying Ca²⁺ exchange and dynamics of such an exchange in the smooth muscles. Particular emphasis is laid on the examination of kinetic, energetic, and catalytic properties of the membrane-linked energy-dependent Ca²⁺-transporting systems involved in regulation of the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration in smooth muscle cells (SMC). It was suggested that the Mg²⁺,ATP-dependent plasma membrane calcium pump (Ca²⁺,Mg²⁺-ATPase) plays a key role in regulation of the Ca²⁺ concentration in SMC. The purpose of this review is to analyze some of our own results concerning kinetic, energetic, and catalytic properties of the calcium pump of the SMC plasma membrane. In our experiments, we used different biochemical models (namely, fractions of the membrane subcellular structures, highly purified Ca²⁺,Mg²⁺-ATPase of the SMC plasma membrane solubilized and reconstituted in the lyposomes, and suspension of digitonin-treated SMC) and a number of methods (including preparative biochemistry, enzymology, membranology, tracer ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ flux analysis, and chemical and enzymological kinetics). We have shown that sodium azide-insensitive Mg²⁺,ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ accumulation in ureter smooth muscle microsomes is determined by two components. One component represents the Mg²⁺,ATP-dependent calcium pump of the sarcoplasmic reticulum functionally potentiated by Ca²⁺-precipitating permeating anions, oxalate or phosphate and inhibited by thapsigargin or cyclopiazonic acid, the highly selective inhibitors of the calcium pump of sarco(endo)plasmic rerticulum. Another component represents the Mg²⁺,ATP-dependent calcium pump of the plasma membrane functionally potentiated by phosphate. This pump is not inhibited by thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid. The effects of temperature, dielectric permeability (D), and ionic strength on the activity of purified Ca²⁺,Mg²⁺-ATPase solubilized from the myometrial sarcolemma were studied. The results suggest that changes in the polarity of the incubation medium markedly affect the activity of transport Ca²⁺,Mg²⁺-ATPase, and electrostatic interactions between the enzyme activity center and specific ligands (Mg·ADP^-, in particular) significantly contribute to the energetics of ATP hydrolysis. Therefore, our data show that changes in the incubation medium polarity significantly affects the ATP-hydrolase activity of Ca²⁺,Mg²⁺-ATPase solubilized from the SMC plasma membranes, and electrostatic interactions between the enzyme active sites and reactants (in particular, Mg·ADP^-) contribute to a significant extent to the energetics of ATP hydrolysis. We cannot rule out that under physiological conditions the local D values of the myoplasm may differ from that of water, and, moreover, may change (especially near the membrane surface) depending on the metabolic level of SMC. We suppose that local changes in the cytoplasmic D value will affect the plasma membrane calcium pump and, consequently, the efficiency of control of intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis in smooth muscle. So, our biochemical models are suitable experimental objects for studying the kinetic, energetic, and catalytic properties of the Mg²⁺,ATP-dependent calcium pump of the SMC plasma membrane. In addition, our data might be useful for screening of the mechanisms underlying the action of different physico-chemical factors involved in modulation of the contraction/relaxation cycle.     

Plasma Membrane Ca-ATPase of Radish Seedlings : II. Regulation by Calmodulin

The effect of calmodulin on the activity of the plasma membrane Ca-ATPase was investigated on plasma membranes purified from radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seedlings. Calmodulin stimulated the hydrolytic activity and the transport activity of the plasma membrane Ca-ATPase to comparable extents in a manner dependent on the free Ca²⁺ concentration. Stimulation was marked at low, nonsaturating Ca²⁺ concentrations and decreased increasing Ca²⁺, so that the effect of calmodulin resulted in an increase of the apparent affinity of the enzyme for free Ca²⁺. The pattern of calmodulin stimulation of the plasma membrane Ca-ATPase activity was substantially the same at pH 6.9 and 7.5, in the presence of ATP or ITP, and when calmodulin from radish seeds was used rather than that from bovine brain. At pH 6.9 in the presence of 5 micromolar free Ca²⁺, stimulation of the plasma membrane Ca-ATPase was saturated by 30 to 50 micrograms per milliliter bovine brain calmodulin. The calmodulin antagonist calmidazolium inhibited both basal and calmodulin-stimulated plasma membrane Ca-ATPase activity to comparable extents.     

Biochemical characterization of the plasma membrane Ca2+ pumping ATPase activity present in the gill cells of Mytilus galloprovincialis LAM

• 1.1. In the plasma membrane of mussel gill cells an ouabain insensitive, Ca²⁺-activated ATPase activity is present. The ATPase has high Ca²⁺ affinity (K_ma = 0.3 μM).
• 2.2. The optimum assay conditions to evaluate the enzymatic activity of the Ca²⁺-stimulated ATPase at 19°C are: 120–300 mM KCl ionic strength, pH 7.0 and 2 mM ATP. As for mammalian enzymes, the Ca²⁺ ATPase activity is stimulated by DTT (0.5–1 mM) and it is inhibited by low concentrations of vanadate (10–50 μM) and -SH inhibitors such as PCMB and PCMBS (10 μM); the enzyme appears to be calmodulin insensitive.
• 3.3. Electrophoretic analyses of plasma membrane proteins demonstrate that: (a) Ca²⁺ at n-μM concentrations is necessary to activate ATP hydrolysis with consequent formation of the enzyme-phosphate complex; (b) the steady state concentration of the phosphorylated intermediate is increased in the presence of La³⁺; (c) the mol. wt of Ca²⁺ ATPase is about 140 kDa.
• 4.4. Low Ca²⁺ concentrations (n-μM) are sufficient to stimulate the ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ uptake by plasma membrane inside-out vesicles.
• 5.5. The results indicate that the Ca²⁺ pump present in the gill plasma membranes could be responsible for Ca²⁺ extrusion and therefore involved in maintaining the cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration within physiological levels.

     

Cyclopiazonic acid disturbs the regulation of cytosolic calcium when repetitive action potentials are evoked in Dionaea traps

Evoking of action potentials (APs) in the trap of Dionaea muscipula Ellis at intervals shorter than 20 s caused a gradual decrease in the amplitude of the APs. At longer intervals the amplitude was constant. The calcium ionophore A23187 (1 μM) caused a considerable decrease of AP amplitude. Pretreatment of a segment of the Dionaea trap with cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), which is a specific inhibitor of the Ca²⁺-ATPase in the sarcoplasmic seticulum of animal cells and in ER vesicles isolated from plant cells, only slightly affected the amplitude when APs were evoked every 10 min; however, it caused a considerable decrease in the amplitude when the stimulation was repeated every 2 min. Assuming that APs increase the concentration of cytosolic Ca²⁺ and the amplitude of AP depends on the gradient of Ca²⁺ across the plasma membrane, the effect of CPA on the AP amplitude indicates that CPA inhibits the sequestration of Ca²⁺ in Dionaea cells.     

Downregulation of TRPV6 channel activity by cholesterol depletion in Jurkat T cell line

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 6 (TRPV6) channels are key players in calcium metabolism of healthy and cancerous cells. Nevertheless, the mechanisms controlling abundance of these channels in plasma membrane of the cells to regulate Ca²⁺ transport is still poorly understood. In this study, we provide the first evidence that TRPV6 calcium channels and Ca ²⁺ influx in Jurkat T cell line are modulated by cholesterol, a main lipid component of the plasma membrane. Using patch‐clamp technique, we found that activity of TRPV6 channels decreased by cholesterol sequestration with methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (MβCD). Continuous measurement of intracellular Ca²⁺ revealed a reduction of Ca²⁺ influx into Jurkat cells following cholesterol depletion. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy analyses of MβCD‐treated cells detected the lower surface expression of the TRPV6 proteins in comparison with control cells. In general, our data showed that cholesterol regulates TRPV6 channel activity and TRPV6‐mediated Ca²⁺ influx in cells, apparently affecting the localization and density of the calcium channels in the plasma membrane of Jurkat T cells.     

Identification and Characterization of the Ca-ATPase which Drives Active Transport of Ca at the Plasma Membrane of Radish Seedlings

In microsomes from 24-hour-old radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seedlings ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ uptake occurs only in inside-out plasma membrane vesicles (F Rasi-Caldogno, MC Pugliarello, MI De Michelis [1987] Plant Physiol 83: 994-1000). A Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase activity can be shown in the same microsomes, when assays are performed at pH 7.5. The Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase is stimulated by the Ca²⁺ ionophore A₂₃₁₈₇ and is localized at the plasma membrane. Ca²⁺-dependent ATPase activity and ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ uptake present very similar saturation kinetics with erythrosin B (50% inhibition at about 0.1 micromolar), free Ca²⁺ (half-maximal rate at about 70 nanomolar), and MgATP (K_m 15-20 micromolar). Ca²⁺ uptake can be sustained by GTP or ITP at about 60% the rate measured in the presence of ATP; only very low Ca²⁺ uptake is sustained by CTP or UTP and none by ADP. These results indicate that the Ca²⁺-ATPase described in this paper is the enzyme which drives active transport of Ca²⁺ at the plasma membrane of higher plants.     

Genes for calcium-permeable channels in the plasma membrane of plant root cells

In plant cells, Ca²⁺ is required for both structural and biophysical roles. In addition, changes in cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_cyt) orchestrate responses to developmental and environmental signals. In many instances, [Ca²⁺]_cyt is increased by Ca²⁺ influx across the plasma membrane through ion channels. Although the electrophysiological and biochemical characteristics of Ca²⁺-permeable channels in the plasma membrane of plant cells are well known, genes encoding putative Ca²⁺-permeable channels have only recently been identified. By comparing the tissue expression patterns and electrophysiology of Ca²⁺-permeable channels in the plasma membrane of root cells with those of genes encoding candidate plasma membrane Ca²⁺ channels, the genetic counterparts of specific Ca²⁺-permeable channels can be deduced. Sequence homologies and the physiology of transgenic antisense plants suggest that the Arabidopsis AtTPC1 gene encodes a depolarisation-activated Ca²⁺ channel. Members of the annexin gene family are likely to encode hyperpolarisation-activated Ca²⁺ channels, based on their corresponding occurrence in secretory or elongating root cells, their inhibition by La³⁺ and nifedipine, and their increased activity as [Ca²⁺]_cyt is raised. Based on their electrophysiology and tissue expression patterns, AtSKOR encodes a depolarisation-activated outward-rectifying (Ca²⁺-permeable) K⁺ channel (KORC) in stelar cells and AtGORK is likely to encode a KORC in the plasma membrane of other Arabidopsis root cells. Two candidate gene families, of cyclic-nucleotide gated channels (CNGC) and ionotropic glutamate receptor (GLR) homologues, are proposed as the genetic correlates of voltage-independent cation (VIC) channels.     

Ca2+/H+ exchange in the plasma membrane of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves

A large number of plant Ca²⁺/H⁺ exchangers have been identified in endomembranes, but far fewer have been studied for Ca²⁺/H⁺ exchange in plasma membrane so far. To investigate the Ca²⁺/H⁺ exchange in plasma membrane here, inside-out plasma membrane vesicles were isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana leaves using aqueous two-phase partitioning method. Ca²⁺/H⁺ exchange in plasma membrane vesicles was measured by Ca²⁺-dependent dissipation of a pre-established pH gradient. The results showed that transport mediated by the Ca²⁺/H⁺ exchange was optimal at pH 7.0, and displayed transport specificity for Ca²⁺ with saturation kinetics at K _m = 47 μM. Sulfate and vanadate inhibited pH gradient across vesicles and decreased the Ca²⁺-dependent transport of H⁺ out of vesicles significantly. When the electrical potential across plasma membrane was dissipated with valinomycin and potassium, the rate of Ca²⁺/H⁺ exchange increased comparing to control without valinomycin effect, suggesting that the Ca²⁺/H⁺ exchange generated a membrane potential (interior negative), i.e. that the stoichiometric ratio for the exchange is greater than 2H⁺:Ca²⁺. Eosin Y, a Ca²⁺-ATPase inhibitor, drastically inhibited Ca²⁺/H⁺ exchange in plasma membrane as it does for the purified Ca²⁺-ATPase in proteoliposomes, indicating that measured Ca²⁺/H⁺ exchange activity is mainly due to a plasma membrane Ca²⁺ pump. These suggest that calcium (Ca²⁺) is transported out of Arabidopsis cells mainly through a Ca²⁺-ATPase-mediated Ca²⁺/H⁺ exchange system that is driven by the proton-motive force from the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase.     

Body Plasma Membrane Vesicles from Paramecium Contain a Vanadate-Sensitive Ca--ATPase

Paramecia are an excellent model system for studying the mechanisms involved in sensory transductions and intracellular Ca²⁺ regulation. These cells have two functionally distinct plasma membrane domains, body and cilia. The body plasma membrane is responsible for transduction of sensory stimuli into receptor potentials and the ciliary membrane is required for Ca²⁺ action potentials. Although ciliary membrane vesicles (cmv) have been purified and well characterized, body plasma membranes have not. We have generated body plasma membrane vesicles (bmv) by homogenization of deciliated cells and purified them from the microsome fraction by a two-phase aqueous polymer separation. The major criteria for purity of the bmv fraction are: (i) It is enriched 15-fold for a known plasma membrane marker (immobilization antigen) while the marker activities for other membranes were all decreased. The protein banding pattern of bmv is generally similar to cmv on SDS-PAGE. (ii) It contains a vanadate-sensitive Ca²⁺-ATPase activity that has been suggested to be a plasma membrane Ca²⁺ pump. The specific activity of this bmv Ca²⁺-ATPase is increased 4-fold over that of the homogenate. (iii) The phospholipid, fatty acid, and sterol composition of the bmv fraction are indicative of plasma membranes because they are qualitatively similar to cmv. The bmv also contains a membrane-bound NADPH-dependent cytochrome c reductase activity, suggesting that it may play a role in body plasma membrane function. This purified bmv preparation is useful for studying the role of the body plasma membrane in Ca²⁺ regulation, sensory transduction, protein and lipid trafficking, and plasma membrane fusion events.     

The Identification of Histidine 712 as a Critical Residue for Constitutive TRPV5 Internalization

The epithelial Ca²⁺ channel TRPV5 constitutes the apical entry gate for Ca²⁺ transport in renal epithelial cells. Ablation of the trpv5 gene in mice leads to a reduced Ca²⁺ reabsorption. TRPV5 is tightly regulated by various calciotropic hormones, associated proteins, and other factors, which mainly affect channel activity via the C terminus. To further identify the role of the C terminus in TRPV5 regulation, we expressed channels harboring C-terminal deletions and studied channel activity by measuring intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) using fura-2 analysis. Removal of amino acid His⁷¹² elevated the [Ca²⁺]_i, indicating enlarged TRPV5 activity. In addition, substitution of the positively charged His⁷¹² for a negative (H712D) or neutral (H712N) amino acid also stimulated TRPV5 activity. This critical role of His⁷¹² was confirmed by patch clamp analysis, which demonstrates increased Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ currents for TRPV5-H712D. Cell surface biotinylation studies revealed enhanced plasma membrane expression of TRPV5-H712D as compared with wild-type (WT) TRPV5. This elevated plasma membrane presence also was observed with the Ca²⁺-impermeable TRPV5-H712D and TRPV5-WT pore mutants, demonstrating that the elevation is not due to the increased [Ca²⁺]_i. Finally, using an internalization assay, we demonstrated a delayed cell surface retrieval for TRPV5-H712D, likely causing the increase in plasma membrane expression. Together, these results demonstrate that His⁷¹² plays an essential role in plasma membrane regulation of TRPV5 via a constitutive endocytotic mechanism.     

Properties of enzyme activities involved in protein phosphorylatino-dephosphorylation of the thyroid plasma membranes

Bovine thyroid tissue exhibited cAMP-dependent and Ca²⁺-dependent protien kinase activities as well as a basal (cAMP- and Ca²⁺-independent) one, and phosphoprotein phosphatase activity. Although the former two protein kiniase activities were not clearly demonstrated using endogenous protein as substrate, they were clearly shown in soluble, particulate and plasma membrane fractions using exogenous histones as substrate. The highest specific activities were in the plasma membrane. The apparent K_m values of cAMP and Ca²⁺ for the membrane-bound protein kinase were 5·10^?8 M and 8.3·10^?4M (in the presence of 1 mM EGTA), respectively. The apparent K_m values of Mg²⁺ were 7·10^?4 M (without cAMP and Ca²⁺, 5·10^?4 M (with cAMP) and 1.3·10^?3 M (with Ca²⁺), and those ATP were 3.5·10^?5 M (with or without cAMP) and 8.5·10^?5 M (with Ca²⁺). The Ca²⁺-dependent protein kinase could be dissociated from the membrane by EGTA-washing. The enzyme activity so released was further activated by added phospholipid (phosphatidylserine/1,3-diolein), but not by calmodulin. Phosphoprotein phosphatase activity was also clearly demonstrated in all of the fractions using ³²P-labeled mixed histones as substrate. The activity was not modified by either cAMP or Ca²⁺, but was sitmulated by a rather broad range (5–25 mM) of Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺. NaCl and substrate concentrations also influenced the activity. Pyrophosphate, ATP, inorganic phosphate and NaF inhibited the activity in a dose-dependent manner. Trifluoperazine, chlorpromazine, dibucaine and Triton X-100 (above 0.05%, w/v) specifically inhibited the Ca²⁺-dependent protein kinase in plasma membranes. Repetitive phosphorylation of intrinsic and extrinsic proteins by the membrane-bound enzyme activities clearly showed an important co-ordination of them at the step of protein phosphorylation. These findings suggest that these enzyme activities in plasma membranes may contribute to regulation of thyroid function in response to external stimuli.     

Calcium and proton transport in membrane vesicles from barley roots

Ca²⁺ uptake by membrane fractions from barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv CM72) roots was characterized. Uptake of ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ was measured in membrane vesicles obtained from continuous and discontinuous sucrose gradients. A single, large peak of Ca²⁺ uptake coincided with the peak of proton transport by the tonoplast H⁺-ATPase. Depending on the concentration of Ca²⁺ in the assay, Ca²⁺ uptake was inhibited 50 to 75% by those combinations of ionophores and solutes that eliminated the pH gradient and membrane potential. However, 25 to 50% of the Ca²⁺ uptake in the tonoplast-enriched fraction was not sensitive to ionophores but was inhibited by vanadate. The results suggest that ⁴⁵Ca uptake was driven by the low affinity, high capacity tonoplast Ca²⁺/nH⁺ antiporter and also by a high affinity, lower capacity Ca²⁺-ATPase. The Ca²⁺-ATPase may be associated with tonoplast, Golgi or contaminating vesicles of unknown origin. No Ca²⁺ transport was specifically associated with the distinct peak of endoplasmic reticulum that was identified by NADH cytochrome c reductase, choline phosphotransferase, and dolichol-P-man-nosyl synthase activities. A small shoulder of Ca²⁺ uptake in the plasma membrane region of the gradient was inhibited by vanadate and erythrosin B and may represent the activity of a separate plasma membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase. Vesicle volumes were estimated using electron spin resonance techniques, and intravesicular Ca²⁺ concentrations were estimated to be as high as 5 millimolar. ATP-driven uptake of Ca²⁺ created 800- to 2000-fold concentration gradients within minutes. Problems in interpreting the effects of Ca²⁺ on ATP-generated pH gradients are discussed and the suggestion is made that Ca²⁺ dissipates pH gradients by a different mechanism than is responsible for Ca²⁺ uptake into tonoplast vesicles.     

Calcium pump activity of the renal plasma membrane and renal microsomes

ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ uptake distinct from that of the mitochondria is found in both plasma membrane and microsomal membranes of rat kidney. Activity attributed to these fractions is enhanced by ammonium oxalate and is apparently insensitive to NaN₃. In contrast, rat kidney mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake is blocked by NaN₃. The pH of optimal activity is significantly higher for the mitochondrial fraction. Microsomal membrane Ca²⁺ uptake differs from that of the plasma membrane. Microsomal membranes are four times as active as the plasma membrane at high (5 mM) ATP levels. Apparent K_m values for Mg²⁺-ATP differ in the two preparations with a higher affinity for Mg²⁺-ATP found in the plasma membrane Ca²⁺ uptake activity of the plasma membrane preparation is readily inhibited by Na⁺. Sucrose gradient density fractionation indicates that the observed microsomal membrane Ca²⁺ pump activity is associated with membrane vesicles derived from the endoplasmic reticulum. Ca²⁺ pump activity of both plasma membrane and microsomal fraction is depressed din the adrenalectomized rat. This activity is not restored by a single natriuretic dose of aldosterone.     

Senescence-Related Changes in ATP-Dependent Uptake of Calcium into Microsomal Vesicles from Carnation Petals

Microsomal membrane vesicles isolated from the petals of young carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv White Sim) flowers accumulate Ca²⁺ in the presence of ATP. The specific activity of ATP-dependent uptake is ~20 nanomoles per milligram of protein per 30 minutes. The membranes also hydrolyze ATP, but Ca²⁺ stimulation of ATP hydrolysis was not discernible above the high background of Ca²⁺-insensitive ATPase activity. The initial velocity of uptake showed a sigmoidal rise with increasing Ca²⁺ concentration, suggesting that Ca²⁺ serves both as substrate and activator for the enzyme complex mediating its uptake. The concentration of Ca²⁺ at half maximal velocity of uptake (S_0.5) was 12.5 micromolar and the Hill coefficient (n_H) was 2.5. The addition of calmodulin to membrane preparations that had been isolated in the presence of chelators did not promote ATP-dependent accumulation of Ca²⁺, although this may reflect the fact that the treatment with chelators did not fully remove endogenous calmodulin. Transport of Ca²⁺ into membrane vesicles was unaffected by 50 micromolar ruthenium red and 5 micromolar sodium azide, indicating that uptake is primarily into vesicles of non-mitochondrial origin. By subfractionating the microsomes on a linear sucrose gradient, it was established that the ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ transport activity comigrates with endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane. During post-harvest development of cut flowers, ATP-dependent uptake of Ca²⁺ into microsomal vesicles declined by ~70%. This occurred before the appearance of petal-inrolling and the climacteric-like rise in ethylene production, parameters that denote the onset of senescence. There were no significant changes during this period in S_0.5 or n_H, but V_max for ATP-dependent Ca²⁺ uptake decreased by ~40%. A similar decline in ATP-dependent uptake of Ca²⁺ into microsomal vesicles was induced by treating young flowers with physiological levels of exogenous ethylene.     

The Ca-Transport ATPase of Plant Plasma Membrane Catalyzes a nH/Ca Exchange

Microsomal vesicles from 24-hour-old radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seedlings accumulate Ca²⁺ upon addition of MgATP. MgATP-dependent Ca²⁺ uptake co-migrates with the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase on a sucrose gradient. Ca²⁺ uptake is insensitive to oligomycin, inhibited by vanadate (IC₅₀ 40 micromolar) and erythrosin B (IC₅₀ 0.2 micromolar) and displays a pH optimum between pH 6.6 and 6.9. MgATP-dependent Ca²⁺ uptake is insensitive to protonophores. These results indicate that Ca²⁺ transport in these microsomal vesicles is catalyzed by a Mg²⁺-dependent ATPase localized on the plasma membrane. Ca²⁺ strongly reduces ΔpH generation by the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase and increases MgATP-dependent membrane potential difference (Δψ) generation. These effects of Ca²⁺ on ΔpH and Δψ generation are drastically reduced by micromolar erythrosin B, indicating that they are primarily a consequence of Ca²⁺ uptake into plasma membrane vesicles. The Ca²⁺-induced increase of Δψ is collapsed by permeant anions, which do not affect Ca²⁺-induced decrease of ΔpH generation by the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase. The rate of decay of MgATP-dependent ΔpH, upon inhibition of the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase, is accelerated by MgATP-dependent Ca²⁺ uptake, indicating that the decrease of ΔpH generation induced by Ca²⁺ reflects the efflux of H⁺ coupled to Ca²⁺ uptake into plasma membrane vesicles. It is therefore proposed that Ca²⁺ transport at the plasma membrane is mediated by a Mg²⁺-dependent ATPase which catalyzes a nH⁺/Ca²⁺ exchange.