Purification and characterization of beta-leptinotarsin-h, an activator of presynaptic calcium channels

A new neuroactive protein, beta-leptinotarsin-h, has been purified to near-homogeneity from the hemolymph of the beetle Leptinotarsa haldemani by column chromatography. beta-Leptinotarsin-h has a molecular weight of 57 000. Rat brain synaptosomes incubated with appropriate radioactive precursors release acetylcholine (ACh), norepinephrine, and 4-aminobutyrate when exposed to beta-leptinotarin-h, but do not release lactate dehydrogenase. Release of ACh has been examined in some detail. Release of ACh varies with the concentration of beta-leptinotarsin-h in a rectangular hyperbolic fashion. Half-maximal release is stimulated by a concentration of 50 ng/mL. Altering the ionic composition of the bathing solution affects the release in a manner which suggests that neither Na+ channels nor K+ channels are affected by beta-leptinotarsin-h but that the beta-leptinotarsin-h acts to increase permeability to Ca2+. Varying the concentration of Ba2+, Sr2+, Co2+, and Cd2+ indicates that beta-leptinotarsin-h acts to open the voltage-sensitive presynaptic Ca2+ channel. beta-Leptinotarsin-h may be a useful tool for studying the Ca2+ channel associated with the release of neurotransmitters.     

Cell damage by cytolysin. Spontaneous recovery and reversible inhibition by divalent cations

Cytolysin-induced membrane damage (which requires low Ca2+) has been studied 1) in E by assay of hemolysis, 2) in Lettre cells by measurement of transmembrane potential, intracellular content of K+ and Na+, leakage of phosphoryl[3H]choline or 51Cr from [3H]choline-labeled or 51CrO4(2-)-labeled cells and leakage of lactate dehydrogenase, and 3) in phospholipid bilayers by measurement of electrical conductivity changes. In Lettre cells, damage is restricted and reversible: little lactate dehydrogenase leaks from cells that leak substantial amounts of Na+, K+, and phosphoryl[3H]choline; at low amounts of cytolysin, membrane potential and intracellular content of Na+ and K+ recover within minutes. In E and Lettre cells, membrane damage is inhibited by Zn2+, by high Ca2+, or by low pH. Inhibition is reversible: addition of EGTA to Zn2+-protected E or Lettre cells (incubated in the presence of cytolysin, low Ca2+ and Zn2+) initiates leakage; removal of Zn2+ (and cytolysin and Ca2+) by washing also initiates leakage; such leakage is again sensitive to Zn2+, high Ca2+, or H+. In phospholipid bilayers, channels induced by cytolysin (at low Ca2+) are partially closed by negative voltage; Ca2+, Zn2+, or H+ promote channel closure. Channels are re-opened (only partially in the case of Zn2+) by positive voltage. From all these results it is concluded that the action of cytolysin on membranes is similar to that of other pore-forming agents: damage does not necessarily lead to lysis of nucleated cells, and can be prevented by Ca2+, Zn2+, or H+.     

Selective inhibition of [3H]nitrendipine binding to brain and cardiac membranes by bacitracin

The effects of bacitracin were investigated on [3H]nitrendipine binding to rat brain and cardiac membranes in a low ionic strength (5 mM Tris-HCl) buffer. Bacitracin inhibited [3H]nitrendipine binding to rat brain and cardiac membranes with IC50 values of 400 +/- 100 and 4600 +/- 400 micrograms/mL, respectively. Scatchard analysis in brain membranes revealed that bacitracin inhibited [3H]nitrendipine binding primarily by reducing the Bmax but also by producing a small increase in the Kd. In brain membranes, Na+ (100 mM) and Ca2+ (2 mM) reduced the potency of bacitracin to inhibit [3H]nitrendipine binding by approximately sixfold with IC50 values of 2600 +/- 300 and 2100 +/- 400 micrograms/mL observed for bacitracin in the presence of 100 mM Na+ and 2 mM Ca2+, respectively. The EC50 values for the effects of Na+ and Ca2+ were 800 +/- 200 microM and 25 +/- 5 mM. K+, Mg2+, choline, and increasing the assay buffer of Tris-HCl to 50 mM also decreased the inhibition of [3H]nitrendipine binding by bacitracin. These results suggest that bacitracin specifically modulates [3H]nitrendipine binding in a cation-dependent manner and that brain and cardiac dihydropyridine binding sites are either biochemically different or exist in a different membrane environment.     

Cation regulation by the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare (Crustacea: Isopoda: Oniscidea) during dehydration in air

Many terrestrial arthropods display tight osmotic and ionic regulation of the hemolymph during dehydration. In this study, we sought to quantify the level of regulation of the major hemolymph cations in the terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare (Isopoda, Oniscidea). Inulin space measurements showed that the hemolymph comprises 52 ± 2.2% of the hydrated water content but contributes 71 ± 9.8% of water losses during desiccation. Hemolymph concentrations of Na+, K+ and Ca2+ were measured in variably dehydrated animals using ion-selective microelectrodes and compared with predicted concentrations assuming no regulation. Na+ and Ca2+ are quite tightly regulated, showing respective concentration increases of 20.8% and 7.1% following a 50% reduction in hemolymph volume, but K+ showed no measurable regulation. The excreted cation fraction during desiccation is negligible. Sites of ion sequestration were examined by injecting 22Na and ??Ca into the hemolymph of hydrated animals and assaying tissue-specific activities following dehydration. Na+ is apparently sequestered non-specifically by an unknown mechanism. Ca2+ accumulates in the dorsal somatic tissues, possibly in the calcium pool of the cuticle. How A. vulgare avoids significant disruptions of E(m) and neuromuscular function in the absence of K+ regulation, and how it sequesters Na+, both pose intriguing challenges for future work.     

Cation concentrations in the hemolymph of Loligo pealei.

Hemolymph and protein-free hemolymph obtained from Loligo pealei were analyzed for cation concentration by the method of atomic absorption spectroscopy, for the following ions: Na+, K+, Ca++, and Mg++. No significant differences were seen in ion concentration between hemolymph and protein-free hemolymph. Of particular neurophysiological significance is that K+ ion concentration is much closer to that of seawater than previously reported.     

氯化钠胁迫对不同品种南瓜幼苗阳离子含量的影响

选择19个不同类型南瓜品种,研究了300 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫条件下,幼苗地上部和根系Na⁺、K⁺、Ca²⁺含量、Na⁺/K⁺、Na⁺/Ca²⁺、钠-钾和钠-钙运输选择性系数(S_Na⁺,K⁺和S_Na⁺,Ca²⁺值)的变化.结果表明：NaCl胁迫处理8 d后,不同品种南瓜幼苗Na⁺含量均明显增加,而K⁺含量下降,离子平衡被打破.青栗（Q₁）南瓜幼苗根系Na⁺含量、地上部Na⁺/K⁺、Na⁺/Ca²⁺、S_Na⁺,K⁺和S_Na⁺,Ca²⁺值均明显高于黑蜜南瓜（H₂）和黑籽南瓜（H₃）.不同品种南瓜幼苗体内Na⁺含量、地上部Na⁺/K⁺和Na⁺/Ca²⁺、S_Na⁺,K⁺和S_Na⁺,Ca²⁺值变化趋势与NaCI胁迫下不同品种南瓜幼苗盐害指数的结果基本一致,进一步验证了Q₁耐盐性强与NaCl胁迫下地上部Na⁺/K⁺、Na⁺/Ca²⁺、S_Na⁺,K⁺和S_Na⁺,Ca²⁺值较低以及K⁺、Ca²⁺含量较高有关;而H₂和H₃对盐敏感与NaCl胁迫下地上部Na⁺/K⁺、Na⁺/Ca²⁺、S_Na⁺,K⁺和S_Na⁺,Ca²⁺值较高,以及K⁺、Ca²⁺含量较低有关.     

The use of the Ca2(+)-sensitive intramitochondrial dehydrogenases and entrapped fura-2 to study Sr2+ and Ba2+ transport across the inner membrane of mammalian mitochondria

In extracts of rat heart mitochondria, Sr2+ mimicked the activatory effects of Ca2+ on the Ca2(+)-sensitive intramitochondrial enzymes, pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphate phosphatase, isocitrate dehydrogenase (NAD+), and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, but at about tenfold higher concentrations (effective range approximately 1-100 muM) in each case. Ba2+ had no effect on extracted phosphatase, but did mimic the effect of Ca2+ on the other two enzymes with effective concentration ranges similar to those of Sr2+; as with Ca2+ and Sr2+, effective Ba2+ ranges were slightly (2-3-fold) raised by increases in ATP/ADP. In intact uncoupled rat heart mitochondria, the effects of Sr2+ and Ba2+ on the pyruvate and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenases were essentially similar to their effects in extracts. In fully coupled rat heart or liver mitochondria, the effective concentration ranges of extramitochondrial Sr2+, leading to activation of the matrix enzymes, were always approximately tenfold higher than those for Ca2+ under all conditions. Ba2+ did not affect pyruvate dehydrogenase in coupled mitochondria, but was shown to activate 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase in heart or liver mitochondria, and also isocitrate dehydrogenase (NAD+) in the latter; effective concentration ranges for extramitochondrial Ba2+ were approximately 100-fold greater than those for Ca2+, and like those for Ca2+ and Sr2+, were affected markedly by Mg2+ and spermine (which inhibit and promote mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, respectively) but, in contrast to Ca2+ and Sr2+, they were hardly affected at all by Na+ (which promotes mitochondrial Ca2+ egress). Ba2+ effects were also blocked by ruthenium red (an inhibitor of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake), but not so effectively as its blockage of the effects of Sr2+ and Ca2+. Ba2+ and Sr2+ both mimicked the inhibitory effects of extramitochondrial Ca2+ on the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, but only Sr2+ could mimic Ca2+ in exchanging for internal Ca2+ by this mechanism. Both Sr2+ and Ba2+ changed the fluorescent properties of fura-2 or indo-1 in a similar manner to Ca2+, but with higher kd values. In fura-2-loaded rat heart mitochondria, increases in matrix Sr2+ and Ba2+ and the effects of the transport effectors could be readily demonstrated.     

Adenosine triphosphatase activity associated with purified cholinergic synaptic vesicles of Torpedo marmorata.

A rapid method for purifying Torpedo electric organ vesicles is described, which employs an isoosmotic continuous sucrose-glycine gradient followed by chromagography on CPG-10-3000 porous glass beads. The synaptic vesicles have a buoyant density of 1.057 g/ml. The purified vesicles are free of cholinesterase, lactate dehydrogenase and Na+, K+-stimulated ATPase activity. They contain a ouabaininsensitive, Na+, K+-inhibited, Mg2+, Ca2+-stimulated ATPase activity. This is further stimulated by acetylcholine but not by choline.     

Does melatonin have a time-dependent effect on brain and gill ionic metabolism in a teleost, Anabas testudineus (Bloch)?

Exogenous administration of 0.20, 0.40 and 0.60 microg/g body weight melatonin over a 24 hr cycle caused an inhibition of Na+, K+ ATPase activity in both brain and gills of A. testudineus. However, Ca2+ ATPase activity in the brain was significantly inhibited by the highest dose, and that in the gill at all the doses of melatonin. Evening injection of melatonin had an inhibitory effect on both brain and gill Na+ K+ and Ca2+ ATPase activity. Melatonin treatment in the morning for 12 hrs did not have an effect on brain Na+, K+ ATPase, while Ca2+ ATPase was inhibited. Similar treatment stimulated Na+, K+ and Ca2+ ATPase activity in the gills. Sodium, potassium and calcium ions in the gill were significantly reduced in the evening treated group while no change was observed in the morning melatonin injected group. The results suggest that melatonin elicits a time-dependent effect on the enzymes and ionic content in the brain and gills of A. testudineus.     

Effect of Peroxide, Sodium, and Calcium on Brain Mitochondrial Respiration In Vitro: Potential Role in Cerebral Ischemia and Reperfusion

Mitochondrial pyruvate-supported respiration was studied in vitro under conditions known to exist following ischemia, i.e., elevated extramitochondrial Ca2+, Na+, and peroxide. Ca2+ alone (7-10 nmol/mg) decreased state 3 and increased state 4 respiration to 81 and 141% of control values, respectively. Sodium (15 mM) and/or tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBOOH; up to 2,000 nmol/mg protein) alone had no effect on respiration; however, Na+ or tBOOH in combination with Ca2+ dramatically altered respiration. Respiratory inhibition induced by Ca2+ and tBOOH does not involve pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) inhibition since PDH flux increased linearly with tBOOH concentration (R = 0.96). Calcium potentiated tBOOH-induced mitochondrial NAD(P)H oxidation and shifted the redox state of cytochrome b from 67 to 47% reduced. Calcium (5.5 nmol/mg) plus Na+ (15 mM) decreased state 3 and increased state 4 respiratory rates to 55 and 202% of control values, respectively. Sodium- as well as tBOOH-induced state 3 inhibition required mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake because ruthenium red addition before Ca2+ addition negated the effect. The increase in state 4 respiration involved Ca2+ cycling since ruthenium red immediately returned state 4 rates back to control values. The mechanisms for the observed Ca2(+)-, Na(+)-, and tBOOH-induced alterations in pyruvate-supported respiration in vitro are discussed and a multifactorial etiology for mitochondrial respiratory dysfunction following cerebral ischemia in vivo is proposed.     

Activation of Na-Ca exchange current by photolysis of "caged calcium".

Intracellular photorelease of Ca2+ from "caged calcium" (DM-nitrophen) was used to investigate the Ca(2+)-activated currents in ventricular myocytes isolated from guinea pig hearts. The patch-clamp technique was applied in the whole-cell configuration to measure membrane current and to dialyze the cytosol with a pipette solution containing the caged compound. In the presence of inhibitors for Ca2+, K+, and Na+ channels, concentration jumps of [Ca2+]i induced a rapidly activating inward Na-Ca exchange current which then decayed slowly (tau approximately 500 ms). The initial peak of the inward current and the time-course of current decay were voltage-dependent, and no reversal of the current direction was found between -100 and +100 mV. The observed shallow voltage dependence can be described in terms of the movement of an apparently fractional elementary charge (+0.44e-) across an energy barrier located symmetrically in the electrical field of the membrane. The currents were dependent on extracellular Na+ with a half-maximal activation at 73 mM and a Hill coefficient of 2.8. No change of membrane conductance was activated by the Ca2+ concentration jump when extracellular Na+ was completely replaced by Li+ or N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMG) or when the Na-Ca exchange was inhibited by extracellular Ni2+, La3+, or dichlorobenzamil (DCB). The velocity of relengthening after a twitch induced by photorelease of Ca2+ was only reduced drastically when both the sarcoplasmic reticulum and the Na-Ca exchange were inhibited suggesting that all other Ca2+ removing mechanisms have a low transport capacity under these conditions. In conclusion, we have used a novel approach to study Na-Ca exchange activity with photolysis of "caged" calcium. We found that in guinea pig heart muscle cells the Na-Ca exchange is a potent mechanism for Ca2+ extrusion, is weakly voltage-dependent (118 mV for e-fold change) and can be studied without contamination with other Ca(2+)-activated currents.     

Studies on mitochondrial Ca2+-transport and matrix Ca2+ using fura-2-loaded rat heart mitochondria

Rat heart mitochondria were incubated for 5 min at 30 degrees C and at approx. 40 mg protein.ml-1 and in the presence of 10 microM fura-2/AM. This allowed the entrapment of free fura-2 within the mitochondrial matrix and its use as a probe for Ca2+, but without affecting the apparent viability of the mitochondria. Parallel measurements of the activities of the intramitochondrial Ca2+-sensitive enzymes, pyruvate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase, allowed an assessment of their sensitivity to measured free Ca2+ within intact mitochondria incubated under different conditions; the enzymes responded to matrix Ca2+ over the approximate range 0.02-2 microM with half-maximal effects at about 0.3-0.6 microM Ca2+. Effectors of Ca2+-transport across the inner membrane (e.g., Na+, Mg2+, Ruthenium red, spermine) did not appear to affect these ranges, but did bring about expected changes in Ca2+ distribution across this membrane. Significantly, when mitochondria were incubated in the presence of physiological concentrations of both Na+ and Mg2+, and at low extramitochondrial Ca2+ (less than 400 nM), there was a gradient of Ca2+ (in:out) of less than unity; at higher extramitochondrial [Ca2+] (but still within the physiological range) the gradient was greater than unity indicating a highly cooperative nature of transmission of the Ca2+ signal into the matrix under such conditions.     

ATP-dependent transport of Ca2+ in myocardium sarcolemma vesicles and its activation by phorbol esters

Highly purified pig myocardium sarcolemma vesicles possess the Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase activity (4.1 mumol Pi/mg protein/hour) and induce the ATP-dependent accumulation of 45Ca2+ (6.0 nmol/mg protein/min). This reaction is not stimulated by oxalate; Ca2+ are released from the vesicles by saponin and Na+ treatment, which suggests that Ca2+ transport against the concentration gradient is induced by myocardium sarcolemma vesicles and not by sarcoplasmic reticulum fragments. The phorbol ester possessing a biological activity of a growth-promoting factor and activating membrane-bound protein kinase C stimulates the Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase activity and the ATP-dependent accumulation of Ca2+, whereas its counterpart devoid of biological activity does not influence Ca2+ transport. Polymixin B, a specific inhibitor of protein kinase C, prevents the activating effect of phorbol esters on Ca2+ accumulation inside the vesicles. It is suggested that the ATP-dependent transport of Ca2+ in myocardium sarcolemma is controlled by Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent phosphorylation catalyzed by protein kinase C.     

Effects of micromolar concentrations of free calcium ions on the reduction of heart mitochondrial NAD(P) by 2-oxoglutarate.

1. The reduction of mitochondrial NAD(P) by 2-oxoglutarate was monitored as a measure of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase activity in its intramitochondrial locale. In the absence of ADP, steady-state reduction of NAD(P) by 0.5 mM-2-oxoglutarate in the presence of 0.5 mM-L-malate was markedly increased by extramitochondrial Ca2+, with 50% activation at pCa 6.58, when the Na+ concentration was 10 mM, the Pi concentration ws 5 mM and the added Mg2+ concentration was 1 mM. Omission of Pi resulted in 50% activation at pCa 6.77; omission of Mg2+ resulted in 50% activation at pCA greater than or equal to 7.3. 2. The activation of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase could be reversed on addition of an excess of EGTA. The rate of inactivation was dependent on the concentration of Na+, with K0.5 2.5 mM, which is consistent with the rate of withdrawal of Ca2+ from the mitochondria being the limiting factor. 3. The steady-state reduction of cytochrome c by 2-oxoglutarate (0.5 mM) also showed a marked dependence on pCa in the absence of ADP; in the presence of an excess of ADP, no such effect of Ca2+ was detectable. 4. Mitochondria from the hearts of senescent rats showed an undiminished rate of dehydrogenase activation by Ca2+ but a rate of inactivation by excess EGTA that was diminished by 40%. Direct studies of Ca2+ egress with Arsenazo III confirmed a decrement in rate with old age. 5. Studies of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase activity as a function of the mitochondrial context of Ca2+, as measured by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry, showed half-maximal activation at a mitochondrial content of 1.0 nmol of Ca2+/mg of protein, and saturation at 3 nmol/mg. 6. These findings support the model advanced by Denton, Richards & Chin [(1978) Biochem. J. 176, 899-906], of a control of the tricarboxylate cycle by intramitochondrial Ca2+, and demonstrate the range of mitochondrial Ca2+ content over which this may occur. In addition, they raise the possibility of a disturbance of this control mechanism in old age.     

Na+, K+-ATPase activity and serotonin transport in the rat brain synaptosomes fractions after acute 1,2-dichloroethane intoxication and nicotinamide administration

Alterations of Na+,K+-ATPase activity and serotoninergic system functioning were investigated in brain synaptosomes fractions of rats under experimental acute 1,2-dichloroethane (DChE) intoxication. It was shown that Na+,K+-ATPase activity was markedly increased (by 41,8%) in a period of 24 h after DChE intoxication and decreased (by 27%) after 48 h intoxication. The level of [2-14C]-serotonin uptake by synaptosomes was progressively diminished after 24 and 48 h after DChE injection whereas the activity of monoamine uptake proved to be unchanged. Nicotinamide (200 mg/kg of body weight) was administered to rats subjected to DChE 1, 24 and 36 h after poisoning. The treatment of rats with nicotinamide resulted in some normalization of brain synaptosomal Na+, K+-ATPase activity and serotonin uptake controlled at 48 h after DChE intoxication.     

产木聚糖酶白地霉培养特性及部分纯化的酶学特性

本文对白地霉Ref1的培养特性、产酶条件和酶学特性进行了初步研究。结果表明:该菌为低温型菌株,其最佳生长条件为pH6、20℃和酵母膏作为氮源;最佳产酶条件为pH3-7、15℃及以酵母膏氮源;条件优化后产酶可达118.7U/mL,可溶蛋白含量可达到60μg/mL,酶溶液的比活可达到1250U/mg蛋白质;该木聚糖酶的最适反应温度和pH分别为50℃和5,金属离子Mg2+、Na+和8mmol/L的Fe2+、Cu2+、Zn2+等对木聚糖酶的活性有抑制作用,而Ca2+、4mmol/L的Fe2+、Cu2+、Zn2+和8mmol/L的Mn2+等对该酶反应则有促进作用;该木聚糖酶在保温2h后在15-40℃范围内能保持80%以上的酶活性,在50℃时能保持68%的酶活性;用lineweaver-Burk作图法(双倒数作图法)求得该酶的最大反应速度Vmax和Km值分别为163.38mmol/mg/min和0.75mg/mL。     

The effect of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and cyclopiazonic acid on the difference FTIR spectra of sarcoplasmic reticulum induced by photolysis of caged-ATP and caged-Ca2+.

The photochemical release of Ca2+ from caged-Ca2+ in the absence of ATP, and the release of ATP from caged-ATP in the presence of Ca2+ induce characteristic difference FTIR spectra on rabbit sarcoplasmic reticulum that are related to the formation of Ca2-E1 and E approximately P intermediates of the Ca(2+)-ATPase, respectively. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (10 nmol/mg protein) abolished both the Ca(2+)-and ATP-induced difference FTIR spectra parallel with inhibition of ATPase activity. Cyclopiazonic acid (50 nmol/mg protein) inhibited the Ca(2+)-induced difference spectrum measured in the absence of ATP, but had no significant effect on the ATP-induced difference spectrum measured in the presence of 1 mM Ca2+. The dog kidney Na+,K(+)-ATPase did not give significant difference spectrum after photolysis of caged-ATP in Ca(2+)-free media containing 90 mM Na+ and 10 mM K+, with or without ouabain. We propose that both the Ca2+ and the ATP-induced difference FTIR spectra of the Ca(2+)-ATPase reflect the occupancy of the high-affinity Ca2+ transport site of the enzyme.     

Na+-dependent alkaline earth metal uptake in cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles

The ability of alkaline earth metals (M2+) to substitute for Ca2+ in Na+-Ca2+ exchange was examined in sarcolemmal vesicles isolated from the canine heart. 85Sr2+ and 133Ba2+, in addition to 45Ca2+, were used to determine the characteristics of Na+-M2+ exchange. The Na+i-dependent M2+ uptake was measured as a function of time, with t ranging from 0.5 to 360 s, [Na+]i = 140 mM and [M2+]o = 40 microM. This function was linear for Ca2+ and Sr2+ uptake for approx. 6 s and for Ba2+ for about 60 s. Plateau levels were achieved within 120 s for Ca2+ and Sr2+ but Ba2+ took considerably longer. The Km values for Na+-M2+ exchange, derived from Eadie-Hofstee plots, were 30, 58, and 73 microM for Ca2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+, respectively. The Na+i-dependent uptake of all three ions was stimulated in the presence of 0.36 microM valinomycin. Na+-Ca2+ exchange was also measured in the presence of either 20 microM Sr2+ or 100 microM Ba2+. Both of these ions behaved (at these concentrations) as competitive inhibitors of Na+-Ca2+ exchange with the KI being 32 microM for Sr2+ and 92 microM for Ba2+. Passive efflux was determined by first allowing Na+-M2+ exchange to continue to plateau values and then diluting the loaded vesicles in the presence of EGTA. The rate constants for the passive efflux were 8.4, 6.3 and 4.4 min-1 for Ca2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+, respectively.     

Characterization of gill (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

Bass gill microsomal preparations contain both a Na+, K+ and Mg2+-dependent ATPase, which is completely inhibited by 10(-3)M ouabain and 10(-2)M Ca2+, and also a ouabain insensitive ATP-ase activity in the presence of both Mg2+ and Na+. Under the optimal conditions of pH 6.5, 100 mM Na+, 20 mM K+, 5 mM ATP and 5 mM Mg2+, (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity at 30 degrees C is 15.6 mumole Pi hr/mg protein. Bass gill (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is similar to other (Na+ + K+)-ATPases with respect to the sensitivity to ionic strength, Ca2+ and ouabain and to both Na+/K+ and Mg2+/ATP optimal ratios, while pH optimum is lower than poikilotherm data. The enzyme requires Na+, whereas K+ can be replaced efficiently by NH+4 and poorly by Li+. Both Km and Vm values decrease in the series NH+4 greater than K+ greater than Li+. The break of Arrhenius plot at 17.7 degrees C is close to the adaptation temperature. Activation energies are scarcely different from each other and both lower than those generally reported. The Km for Na+ poorly decreases as the assay temperature lowers. The comparison with literature data aims at distinguishing between distinctive and common features of bass gill (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.     

K+ and NH4(+) modulate gill (Na+, K+)-ATPase activity in the blue crab, Callinectes ornatus: fine tuning of ammonia excretion

To better comprehend the mechanisms of ionic regulation, we investigate the modulation by Na+, K+, NH4(+) and ATP of the (Na+, K+)-ATPase in a microsomal fraction from Callinectes ornatus gills. ATP hydrolysis obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with KM=0.61+/-0.03 mmol L(-1) and maximal rate of V=116.3+/-5.4 U mg(-1). Stimulation by Na+ (V=110.6+/-6.1 U mg(-1); K0.5=6.3+/-0.2 mmol L(-1)), Mg2+ (V=111.0+/-4.7 U mg(-1); K0.5=0.53+/-0.03 mmol L(-1)), NH4(+) (V=173.3+/-6.9 U mg(-1); K0.5=5.4+/-0.2 mmol L(-1)) and K+ (V=116.0+/-4.9 U mg(-1); K0.5=1.5+/-0.1 mmol L(-1)) followed a single saturation curve, although revealing site-site interactions. In the absence of NH4(+), ouabain (K(I)=74.5+/-1.2 micromol L(-1)) and orthovanadate inhibited ATPase activity by up to 87%; the inhibition patterns suggest the presence of F0F1 and K+-ATPases but not Na+-, V- or Ca2+-ATPase as contaminants. (Na+, K+)-ATPase activity was synergistically modulated by K+ and NH4(+). At 10 mmol L(-1) K+, increasing NH4(+) concentrations stimulated maximum activity to V=185.9+/-7.4 U mg(-1). However, at saturating NH4(+) (50 mmol L(-1)), increasing K+ concentrations did not stimulate activity further. Our findings provide evidence that the C. ornatus gill (Na+, K+)-ATPase may be particularly well suited for extremely efficient active NH4(+) excretion. At elevated NH4(+) concentrations, the enzyme is fully active, regardless of hemolymph K+ concentration, and K+ cannot displace NH4(+) from its exclusive binding sites. Further, the binding of NH4(+) to its specific sites induces an increase in enzyme apparent affinity for K+, which may contribute to maintaining K+ transport, assuring that exposure to elevated ammonia concentrations does not lead to a decrease in intracellular potassium levels. This is the first report of modulation by ammonium ions of C. ornatus gill (Na+, K+)-ATPase, and should further our understanding of NH4(+) excretion in benthic crabs.