Vanadate oligomer inhibition of passive and active Ca2+ translocation by the Ca2+ pump of sarcoplasmic reticulum

'Monovanadate' containing mainly monomeric, dimeric and tetrameric vanadate species or 'decavanadate', containing mainly decameric vanadate species inhibits the passive and the active efflux of Ca2+ through the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump. When the efflux of Ca2+ by sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles is not associated with ATP synthesis both vanadate solutions inhibit the passive efflux of Ca2+. However, only 'decavanadate' exerts noticeable effects when the efflux of Ca2+ is associated with ATP synthesis being the active efflux of Ca2+ almost completely inhibited by decameric species concentration as low as 40 microM.