Calcium-induced potassium pathway in sided erythrocyte membrane vesicles

We have characterized the asymmetric effect of Ca²⁺ on passive K⁺ permeability in erythrocyte membranes, using inside out and right-side out vesicles. Ca²⁺, but not Mg²⁺, can induce an increase in K⁺ uptake in inside out vesicles. The half-maximal concentration of Ca²⁺ required to induce the K⁺ uptake is 0.2 mM, and the permeability increase is not specific for K⁺. Thus, the Ca²⁺-induced permeation process in inside out vesicles is changed from that in the energy-depleted intact cell which requires only micromolar concentrations of Ca²⁺ and is specific for K⁺. Removal of spectrin had no effect on the vesicle permeability increase due to Ca²⁺. Studies with $\text{N-}\text{ethylmaleimide}$ show that the vesicle channel opening is mediated by a protein and passage is controlled by sulfhydryl groups; furthermore, the Ca²⁺-induced vesicle pathway is distinct from the normal channel for passive K⁺ leak in the absence of Ca²⁺. The protein is sensitive to its phospholipid environment since removal of easily accessible phospholipid head groups on the cytoplasmic face of the vesicles inhibits the Ca²⁺-stimulated channel opening.