Temperature-sensitive nature of the rodB maturation in Bacillus subtilis.

The Mg2+ requirement of a morphological mutant of Bacillus subtlis, rodB strain 104 was highly temperature sensitive in the presence of halide or nitrate anions. Likewise the morphological change from rod shapes to spheres was dependent upon temperature, the same anions, and the Mg2+ concentration. The three factors interacted. Other rodB mutants behaved similarly. If the rodB strain 104 in its rod form was treated at high temperatures in the absence of either protein or peptidoglycan synthesis and restored to lower temperatures with the syntheses restarted, a partial temporary change toward cocci occurred. In the absence of halides or in the presence of Cl- but not Br-, the cells increased in volume when they changed from rods to cocci.     

Effect of chloride and bicarbonate ions on Mg2+ -ATPase of plasma membranes of bream (Abramis brama L.) brain sensitive to GABAA-ergic compounds

Effect of Cl and HCO3- ions on the Mg2+ -ATPase activity of the plasma membrane of bream brain was investigated. Cl- (5 or 10 mM) and HCO3- (1-5 mM) individually have low effect on the "basal" Mg2+ -ATPase. Simultaneous presence of Cl- and HCO3- in the incubation medium significantly increased the enzyme activity. Maximum effect of anions on the enzyme is observed in the presence of Cl- (approximately 7 mM) and HCO3- (approximately 3 mM). Br- can replace Cl- under joint effect with HCO3-, while I- has half maximum activity compared with Cl-. Bicuculline (7 microM) inhibits completely the joint effect of Cl- and HCO3- on the enzyme, while it has no effect on the "basal" Mg2+ -ATPase activity. SH-reagents (5, 5-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid, N-ethylmaleimide), oligomycine and orthovanadate inhibited the Cl-, HCO3- -activated Mg2+ -ATPase. The obtained results demonstrated that Mg2+ -ATPase of the bream brain sensitive to GABAergic ligands at a fixed concentrations of Cl- and HCO3- ions in the incubation medium is Cl-, HCO3- -activated by Mg2+ -ATPase, whose activity meets a number of requirements to the system which may be involved by GABAA receptors in the Cl-/HCO3- -exchange processes.     

Effect of GABAergic compounds on the anion-sensitive Mg2+-ATPase from bream (Abramis brama L.) brain

Preincubation of plasma membranes from bream brain with 10-8-10-4 M gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or muscimol increased the anion-sensitive Mg2+-ATPase activity. The activating effect of neurotransmitters on the Mg2+-ATPase is enhanced with increasing preincubation time of the membranes with the ligands, decreases with increasing Mg2+-ATP concentration in the incubation medium, and is inhibited in the presence of the GABAa-receptor antagonist, bicuculline (90 microgr;M). The anions Cl-, Br-, and I- stimulate the basal Mg2+-ATPase activity, and an effect of 10-4 M GABA in the presence of anions was not found. It is supposed that GABAergic chemicals modify the anion-sensitive Mg2+-ATPase in a receptor-dependent way.     

Rainbow trout red cells in vitro

Washed rainbow trout erythrocytes incubated at 14 degrees C in Eagle's minimal essential medium and Cortland saline displayed sharp reductions in volume and water content, nucleoside triphosphate, K+ and Cl- concentrations. Mg2+ and, to a lesser extent, Na+ concentrations increased. Cellular to medium Cl- ratios were indicative of membrane hyperpolarization. Morphological irregularities were also observed. Oxygen consumption and hemoglobin system organization were not grossly affected. Supplementation with pyruvate stabilized nucleoside triphosphate concentrations for at least 24 hr, and reduced rates of volume and compositional change to some extent. Addition of norepinephrine at physiologically realistic levels led to stabilization of Cl- content and reductions in Mg2+ accumulation and water loss. Transient but modest increases in K+ and Ca2+ were coupled, under these circumstances, with some decrease in Na+ concentration. Factors which may contribute to the dysfunctional status of these cells in vitro are discussed.     

ATP dependence of anion uptake by isolated vacuoles: requirement for excess Mg2+

Vacuoles were isolated from barley mesophyll protoplasts. [14C]Malate or 36Cl- were taken up from the surrounding medium. Uptake was only slightly increased in the presence of equimolar levels of ATP and Mg2+ (as magnesium gluconate). In the presence of excess Mg2+ in the medium, ATP-stimulated uptake of malate and chloride increased several-fold. Stimulation by excess Mg2+ was not observed for ATP-stimulated amino acid uptake by isolated vacuoles. Stimulation of uptake by excess Mg2+ was observed at all malate concentrations upto 10 mmol.l-1. The content of Mg2+ needed for half-maximum stimulation was about 3.5 mmol.l-1 in the presence of 1 mmol.l-1 ATP. The increase in Mg2+ concentration had no effect on the tonoplast ATPase activity.     

Anion regulation of active transport of protons across the membrane of the synaptic vesicles of the brain

The dependence of active transport of H+ on the presence of anions in synaptic vesicle membranes from rat brain was studied. The H+ transport was measured by monitoring the acidification of the vesicles with a permeant weak base-acridine orange. The fluorescence changes in the latter were proportional to the magnitude of artificially imposed pH gradients (delta pH). The ATP-dependent generation of delta pH was completely dependent on the presence of a permeant anion, was maximal at 150 mM Cl- and was inhibited, when the medium osmolarity was further increased by sucrose or KCl. At 150 mM only Br-, similar to Cl-, behaved as permeant anions, whereas I- was effective only at low (5-20 mM) concentrations. The anions--SCN-, ClO4-, HSO3- and I-(10-20 mM) as well as 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2.2'-disulfonate (K0.5 = 14 microM) blocked the ATP-dependent generation of delta pH observed in the presence of Cl-, while other anions tested (F-, phosphate, bicarbonate, some organic anions) were virtually without effect and did not support the H+ transport. The dependence of the rate and extent of H+ accumulation on Cl- concentration was sigmoidal with a Hill coefficient of 2.8 and a Km value of 85-90 mM. The effects of anions point to the presence in the membrane of synaptic vesicles of an anion (chloride) channel whose conductance can regulate the H+ transport by switching it from an electrogenic to an electroneutral (coupled entry of H+ and Cl-) mode of operation.     

Isolation and characterization of Actinopolyspora halophila, gen. et sp. nov., an extremely halophilic actinomycete.

An actinomycete, isolated as a contaminant of a culture medium containing 25% NaCl, has been classified as Actinopolyspora halophila gen. et sp. nov. in the family Nocardiaceae. The morphology and biochemical characteristics of this organism distinguish it from other members of the family Nocardiaceae and other genera possessing a type IV cell wall. It requires high NaCl concentrations for growth and can grow in saturated NaCl. The lowest concentration permitting growth in liquid medium is 12%, and on solid medium, 10%. Colonies developing at lower salt concentrations contain holes resembling viral plaques. No growth occurred in a medium containing 30% KCl instead of NaCl. This organism can grow in simple media with NH4+ salts as nitrogen source and different sugars and other compounds as carbon source. Though it has a salt requirement almost as great as the extremely halophilic rods and cocci, it differs from these in containing diaminopimelic acid and in sensitivity to lysozyme; both properties suggest that it has a mucopeptide cell wall. It also contains some phospholipids common to other actinomycetes, but does not contain any phytanyl ether linked lipids characteristic of other extremely halophilic bacteria.     

Electron microscope study of the rod-to-coccus shape change in a temperature-sensitive rod- mutant of Bacillus subtilis.

The changes in cell morphology of Bacillus subtilis rodB during a temperature shift from 20 to 42 degrees C, in the absence of added anions, are described. At 20 degrees C the organisms grow as rods but gradually become spherical in shape when placed at 42 degrees C. The shape change is initiated by an increase in diameter at the cell equator, resulting in a bulged morphology, which is further modified to the morphology of a coccus. This change may involve a modification of the pattern of normal cylindrical extension such that incorporation of newly synthesized wall leads only to increase in diameter, perhaps from a growth zone of limited extent. The pattern of surface growth was followed by reconstructing the sequence of cross wall formation and pole construction in rods grown at 20 degrees C and in organisms incubated at 42 degrees C for 75 and 150 min. In thin section, wall forming the septum and nascent poles can be distinguished from the surface distal to the division site by the presence of raised tears, perhaps analogous to the wall bands of streptococci. By using an analog rotation technique involving the three-dimensional reconstruction of cells by mathematical rotation of axial thin sections about their longitudinal axis, it is shown that the proportion of septal wall increases during the shape change. In the coccal forms, all surface growth may arise from septal growth sites.     

Effect of picrotoxin on the Cl-activated ATPase microsomal fraction of bream brain (Abramis brama L.)

It is found that picrotoxine in range concentrations 0.1-10 microM stimulates the basal Mg(2+)-ATPase from microsomal fraction of fish bream (Abramis brama L.), however decreases activating effect of 10(-5) M GABA on the enzyme. The stimulative effect of picrotoxine dependants on duration of preincubation with microsomes. It was established that basal Mg(2+)-ATP-ase activity was activated by anions (Cl- > Br- > I-). The activated effect of anions on the Mg(2+)-ATP-ase is decreased in the presence 1 microM picrotoxine. It was shown that in the dependence on concentration of the Mg(2+)-ATP (0.2 or 1 mM) in the incubation medium the picrotoxine serves as on activator or inhibitor of the enzyme activity. It is supposed that picrotoxine allosterially influences on the enzyme by the receptor-dependent way.     

Interconversion of large packets and small groups of cells of Micrococcus rubens: dependence upon magnesium and phosphate.

Micrococcus rubens, a gram-positive occus, usually forms large, cubic packets of more than 500 cells that are regularly arranged in three-dimensional cell groups. In medium with extremely low concentration of Mg2+ and phosphate, in which the cells can only grow on a agar surface, it formed small groups of 2 to 20 cells. Irregularly arraged cell groups of intermediated size were obtained in culture media containing intermediated concentrations of Mg2+ and phosphate. Mutants that formed irregular cell groups of intermediate size under normal culture conditions were also obtained.     

Aggregation equilibria of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase: evidence for anion-linked conformational transitions in the protomers of core and holoenzyme

The aggregation equilibria of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase core and holoenzyme have been studied by velocity sedimentation as a function of [NaCl] both in the presence and in the absence of MgCl2. Effects of other anions (F- and I-), pH, and temperature have also been examined. Diffusion coefficients obtained by quasi-elastic light scattering (QLS) at high and low salt concentrations were used in conjunction with sedimentation coefficients under these conditions to obtain molecular weights of the protomer and aggregates of the core enzyme. At low salt concentration, core aggregates to a tetramer in the absence of MgCl2 and to an octamer in the presence of MgCl2. Some ambiguity exists in the interpretation of the sedimentation and QLS data for holoenzyme. The sedimentation results are consistent with the formation of dimers at low salt, both in the presence and in the absence of MgCl2. In all cases, equilibrium constants were calculated assuming a simple monomer--j-mer stoichiometry. These equilibrium constants are extremely sensitive functions of the concentration and type of monovalent anion. In Cl-, aggregation of both core and holoenzyme begins abruptly when the salt concentration is reduced below approximately 0.2 M (at a protein concentration of approximately 0.30 mg/mL); for core, substitution of I- for Cl- suppresses aggregation while F- enhances aggregation at a fixed anion concentration. No specific effect of monovalent cations (Na+, NH4+) is observed; Mg2+ has no effect on holoenzyme dimerization and has little effect on the salt range of core aggregation, though the stoichiometries of the core aggregates in the presence and absence of Mg2+ differ. Anion effects on these equilibria were modeled by assuming that a class of anion-binding sites on the protomer is not present in the aggregate, so that anion release accompanies aggregation. Analytical expressions for several models of the effect of anions on the aggregation equilibria were derived by using the method of binding polynomials. The salt dependence of the aggregation equilibria in the absence of Mg2+ appears inconsistent with a model in which the anion-binding sites on the protomer are independent (noncooperative), but it is well described by a model in which anion binding to the protomers occurs in a completely cooperative manner. The molecular basis of this apparent cooperative effect of anions on the aggregation equilibria is proposed to be an allosteric effect of anions on conformational equilibria of the protomers of core polymerase and the holoenzyme. Implications of such a salt-dependent conformational transition for the DNA-binding interactions of the enzyme are considered.     

Proton pump-linked Mg2+-ATPase activity in isolated rat liver lysosomes

ATPase activity in highly purified rat liver lysosome preparations was evaluated in the presence of other membrane cellular ATPase inhibitors, and compared with lysosome ATP-driven proton translocating activity. Replacement of 5 mM Mg2+ with equimolar Ca2+ brought about a 50% inhibition in divalent cation-dependent ATPase activity, and an 80% inactivation of ATP-linked lysosomal H+ pump activity. In the presence of optimal concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2+, ATPase activity was similar to that seen in an Mg2+ medium. Mg2+-dependent ATPase activity was greatly inhibited (from 70 to 80%) by the platinum complexes; cis-didimethylsulfoxide dichloroplatinum(II) (CDDP) at approximately 90 microM and cis-diaminedichloroplatinum(II) at twofold higher concentrations. Less inhibition, about 30 and 45%, was obtained with N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and N-ethylmaleimide, and the maximal effect occurred in the 50-100 microM and 0.1-1.5 mM ranges, respectively. The concentration dependence of inhibition by the above drugs was determined for both proton pumping and ATPase activities, and half-maximal inhibition concentration of each activity was found at nearly similar values. A micromolar concentration of carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) prevented ATP from setting up a pH gradient across the lysosomal membranes, but stimulated Mg2+-ATPase activity significantly. ATPase activity in Ca2+ medium was also inhibited by CDDP and stimulated by FCCP, but both effects were two- to threefold less than those observed in Mg2+ medium. FCCP failed to stimulate ATPase activity in a CDDP-supplemented medium, thus suggesting that the same ATPase activity fraction was sensitive to both CDDP and FCCP. Mg2+-ATPase activity, like the proton pump, was anion dependent. The lowest activity was recorded in a F-medium, and increased in the order of F- less than SO2-4 less than Cl- approximately equal to Br-. The CDDP-sensitive ATPase activity observed, supported by Mg2+ and less so by Ca2+, may be related to lysosome proton pump activity.     

Role of calcium and calmodulin in hemidesmosome formation in vitro

Intact epithelial sheets were removed from rabbit corneas using Dispase II, a bacterial neutral protease. The freed sheets were placed on denuded corneal basal laminae and incubated at 35 degrees C for 3, 6, 18, or 24 h. Epithelial-basal lamina preparations were incubated in culture medium that either contained (a) varying concentrations of Ca2+ ions, (b) calmodulin antagonists, (c) exogenous calmodulin following an initial 6-h incubation in the presence of antagonists, or that lacked (d) Mg2+ ions. Tissues were processed for electron microscopy, and micrographs were taken of basal cell membranes. At least four experiments were conducted for each treatment, and for each experiment the total number of hemidesmosomes were counted along the basal membrane-basal lamina surface of eight cells. The number of hemidesmosomes formed was directly proportional to the increasing concentration of Ca2+. The presence of absence of Mg2+ ions did not change the numbers of hemidesmosomes formed. Calmodulin antagonists inhibited hemidesmosome formation, and this inhibition was reversed by the addition of calmodulin. Thus, hemidesmosome formation is Ca2+ dependent and appears to be mediated by a calmodulin-regulated mechanism.     

Effects of Mg2+, anions and cations on the Ca2+ + Mg2+-activated ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum.

In a previous paper [Gould, East, Froud, McWhirter, Stefanova & Lee (1986) Biochem. J. 237, 217-227] we presented a kinetic model for the activity of the Ca2+ + Mg2+-activated ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum. Here we extend the model to account for the effects on ATPase activity of Mg2+, cations and anions. We find that Mg2+ concentrations in the millimolar range inhibit ATPase activity, which we attribute to competition between Mg2+ and MgATP for binding to the nucleotide-binding site on the E1 and E2 conformations of the ATPase and on the phosphorylated forms of the ATPase. Competition is also suggested between Mg2+ and MgADP for binding to the phosphorylated form of the ATPase. ATPase activity is increased by low concentrations of K+, Na+ and NH4+, but inhibited by higher concentrations. It is proposed that these effects follow from an increase in the rate of dephosphorylation but a decrease in the rate of the conformational transition E1'PCa2-E2'PCa2 with increasing cation concentration. Li+ and choline+ decrease ATPase activity. Anions also decrease ATPase activity, the effects of I- and SCN- being more marked than that of Cl-. These effects are attributed to binding at the nucleotide-binding site, with a decrease in binding affinity and an increase in 'off' rate constant for the nucleotide.     

Interaction of anions and ATP with the coated vesicle proton pump

ATP-driven proton transport in intact clathrin-coated vesicles requires the presence of a permeant anion, such as Cl-, to provide charge compensation during the electrogenic movement of protons. Using the purified (H+)-ATPase from clathrin-coated vesicles in both the detergent-solubilized and reconstituted states, we have studied the direct effects of anions on the activity of this enzyme. Both proton transport and ATP hydrolysis by the purified enzyme are independent of the presence of Cl-. In addition, proton transport does not occur even at high Cl- concentrations unless K+ and valinomycin are present to dissipate the membrane potential generated. These results indicate that the anion channel which provides for Cl- flux in intact coated vesicles is not a component of the purified (H+)-ATPase. Inhibition of ATPase activity is observed in the presence of I-, NO3-, or SO4(2-), with 50% inhibition occurring at 350 mM I-, 50 mM NO3-, or 40 mM SO4(2-). The presence of ATP lowers the concentration of I- required for 50% inhibition from 350 mM to 100 mM and increases the maximal inhibition observed in the presence of NO3- from 65% to 100%. Two separate mechanisms appear to be responsible for anion inhibition of the (H+)-ATPase. Thus, I- and high concentrations of NO3- (in the presence of ATP) cause inhibition by dissociation of the (H+)-ATPase complex, while SO4(2-) and NO3- (in the absence of ATP) cause inhibition without dissociation of the complex, suggesting the existence of an inhibitory anion binding site on the enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Bacterial cell shape regulation: testing of additional predictions unique to the two-competing-sites model for peptidoglycan assembly and isolation of conditional rod-shaped mutants from some wild-type cocci.

The two-competing-sites model for peptidoglycan assembly for bacterial cell shape regulation suggests that in rods, bacterial cell shape depends on the balance between two reactions (sites), one responsible for lateral wall elongation and the other responsible for septum formation. The two reactions compete with each other so that no lateral wall can be formed during septum formation and vice versa. When the site for lateral wall elongation overcomes that for septum formation, long rods or filaments are formed and cell division may be blocked. When the reaction leading to septum formation is hyperactive compared with the other, coccobacilli or cocci are formed. Other bacteria carry only one site for peptidoglycan assembly and can grow only as cocci. The two-competing-sites model predicts that two different types of cocci exist (among both morphology mutants and wild-type strains); one carries only the site for septum formation, whereas the other also carries the site for lateral wall elongation, the former site predominating over the latter. As a consequence of the inhibition (by antibiotics or by mutations) of septum formation in wild-type cocci of various species and in coccoid morphology mutants, some cocci are expected to undergo transition to rod shape and others are not. We have evaluated these predictions and show that they are in agreement. In fact, we found that among wild-type cocci belonging to 13 species, those of 6 species formed rods, whereas the remaining organisms maintained their coccal shape when septa were inhibited by antibiotics. Some coccoid morphology mutants of rod-shaped bacteria underwent coccus-to-rod transition after septum inhibition by antibiotics, whereas others maintained their coccal shape. When a mutation that causes septum inhibition was expressed in a morphology mutant of Klebsiella pneumoniae grown as a coccus, transition to rod shape was observed. A total of 914 mutants unable to form colonies at 42 degrees C were isolated from the coccoid species mentioned above. Between 75 and 95% of the mutants isolated from the species that formed rods when septum formation was inhibited by antibiotics but none of those isolated from the others underwent coccus-to-rod transition upon incubation at the nonpermissive temperature.     

Properties of the membrane-bound 5'-nucleotidase and utilization of extracellular ATP in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Vibrio parahaemolyticus utilized ATP, ADP or AMP as the sole source of carbon. About three times higher activity of membrane-bound 5'-nucleotidase was observed in cells grown in the presence of these nucleotides than in their absence: and therefore the enzyme seems to be inducible. Since the 5'-nucleotidase activity could be measured with whole cells, the active site of this enzyme appears to be outwardly oriented. Both Mg2+ and Cl- were required for activity. Among the divalent cations tested, Mn2+ and Co2+ could replace Mg2+ to some extent, whereas Zn2+ strongly inhibited activity. Among the anions tested, Br-, I- and NO3- could replace Cl-, but SO4(2-) and CH3COO- could not. When cells were grown with ATP, Cl- was indispensable and Zn2+ strongly inhibited growth. Therefore, it is concluded that extracellular ATP and other 5'-nucleotides are cleaved by the membrane-bound 5'-nucleotidase outside the cells and that the adenosine produced is then utilized.     

Comparison of the effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid and its derivative baclofen on the activity of Purkinje cells of frog cerebellum in vitro

The inhibitory effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and its synthetic derivative baclofen were compared in frog cerebellum in vitro. Baclofen inhibited synaptic transmission from parallel fibres to the Purkinje cells in EC50 concentrations approximately 200-fold lower than for GABA. In addition to its inhibitory effect, GABA induced temporary facilitation of responses in the dendrite zone by a mechanism dependent on the presence of a normal Cl- concentration; the inhibitory phase was only partly sensitive to reduction of the Cl- concentration in the medium and to the administration of picrotoxin. The action of baclofen, which was unaffected by these treatments, requires an intact catecholamine and serotonin pool, since it is ineffective in reserpine-treated animals. Both substances also influence the excitability of parallel fibres. In solutions with a high Mg2+ and a low Ca2+ concentrations GABA inhibits the spontaneous activity of Purkinje cells by acting on the postsynaptic membrane of the soma and the primary dendrites. The effect of baclofen is evidently the outcome of inhibition of transmitter release from presynaptic endings.     

Conditions for reciprocal conversion of oligomeric forms of heart mitochondrial creatine kinase

A procedure for purifying creatine kinase from bovine heart mitochondria, including enzyme extraction from mitochondria with salt solutions, concentration on cellulose phosphate gel and gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300 has been developed. Using ultracentrifugation in a sucrose density gradient and gel filtration, it was demonstrated that mitochondrial creatine kinase is present in solution as a mixture of two main forms, i. e., an octamer and a dimer. The distribution of the oligomeric forms is not influenced by changes in the ionic strength from 0.02 to 0.25, temperature (5-20 degrees C), freezing-thawing and the nature of monovalent anions (Cl-, NO3-, CH3COO-) and cations (Na+, K+) present in the medium. At pH 6.0, the predominant form is the octamer; an increase in pH induces its dissociation. An equilibrious mixture of the creatine kinase reaction substrates in the presence of Mg2+ also causes octamer dissociation; no dissociation is observed in the absence of Mg2+ or in the presence of one of the substrates. The non-working couple of substrates, Mg-ADP and creatine, causes dissociation of the octamer in the presence of Cl-, but not of CH3COO-. It is assumed that the dissociating effect of the substrates is due to conformational changes in the subunits concomitant with the formation of the creatine kinase active center in the course of catalysis. At physiological concentrations of nucleotide substrates, the degree of octamer dissociation depends on pH, creatine phosphate/creatine ratio and Pi. It is assumed that the above factors may regulate the reversible conversion of the octamer into the dimer in vivo.     

Microfluorometric analysis of Cl- permeability and its relation to oscillatory Ca2+ signalling in glucose-stimulated pancreatic beta-cells

The cytoplasmic concentrations of Cl-([Cl-]i) and Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) were measured with the fluorescent indicators N-(ethoxycarbonylmethyl)-6-methoxyquinilinum bromide (MQAE) and fura-2 in pancreatic beta-cells isolated from ob/ob mice. Steady-state [Cl-]i in unstimulated beta-cells was 34 mM, which is higher than expected from a passive distribution. Increase of the glucose concentration from 3 to 20 mM resulted in an accelerated entry of Cl- into beta-cells depleted of this ion. The exposure to 20 mM glucose did not affect steady-state [Cl-]i either in the absence or presence of furosemide inhibition of Na+, K+, 2 Cl- co-transport. Glucose-induced oscillations of [Ca2+]i were transformed into sustained elevation in the presence of 4,4' diisothiocyanato-dihydrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (H2DIDS). A similar effect was noted when replacing 25% of extracellular Cl- with the more easily permeating anions SCN-, I-, NO3- or Br-. It is concluded that glucose stimulation of the beta-cells is coupled to an increase in their Cl- permeability and that the oscillatory Ca2+ signalling is critically dependent on transmembrane Cl- fluxes.