Calcium-binding protein regucalcin stimulates the uptake of Ca2+ by rat liver mitochondria

The effect of the calcium-binding protein regucalcin on the Ca2+ transport system in rat liver mitochondria was investigated. Ca2+ transport was assayed by the method of Millipore filtration to estimate mitochondrial 45Ca2+ accumulation. 45Ca2+ uptake was stimulated by the presence of regucalcin (1.0 and 2.0 microM). This stimulation was remarkable during 1.0 min after 45Ca2+ addition, while appreciable stimulation was no longer seen at 3 min. Regucalcin (2.0 microM)-induced stimulation of 45Ca2+ uptake was prevented by the presence of ruthenium red (1.0 microM) and lanthanum chloride (0.1 mM). Regucalcin (2.0 microM) did not increase the mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity during 3.0 min after Ca2+ addition. Meanwhile, 45Ca2+, which accumulated in the mitochondria during 5.0 min after 45Ca2+ addition, was not released by the addition of regucalcin. Regucalcin may stimulate Ca2+ uptake in rat liver mitochondria independently of the energy.     

Regucalcin-induced Ca2+ release from rat liver microsomes: the effect is inhibited by heparin

The effect of heparin on the calcium-binding protein regucalcin-stimulated Ca2+ release from rat liver microsomes was investigated. Ca2+ release was assayed by the method of Millipore filtration to estimate microsomal 45Ca2+ accumulation following the addition of 10 mM adenosine triphosphate. The addition of regucalcin (1.0 microM) or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3; 1.0 microM] stimulated 45Ca2+ release from rat liver microsomes. These effects were completely inhibited by the presence of heparin (10.0 micrograms/ml). Regucalcin did not enhance the effect of Ins(1,4,5)P3. These results suggest that regucalcin affects 45Ca2+ release involved in Ins(1,4,5)P3 action in rat liver microsomes.     

Effects of Ca2+ and V5+ on glucose-6-phosphatase activity in rat liver microsomes: the Ca2+ effect is reversed by regucalcin

The effect of regucalcin, a calcium-binding protein isolated from rat liver cytosol, on glucose-6-phosphatase in the microsomes of rat liver was investigated. Addition of Ca2+ up to 2.5 microM to the enzyme reaction mixture caused a significant increase of glucose-6-phosphatase activity in hepatic microsomes, while Ni2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Mn2+ and Co2+ (20 microM) did not have an appreciable effect. Vanadate (V5+) markedly inhibited the enzyme activity; a significant inhibitory effect was seen at 10 microM V5+. The Ca2+-induced increase of glucose-6-phosphatase activity was reversed by the presence of regucalcin; the effect was complete at 1.0 microM of the protein. Regucalcium had no effect on the basal activity of the enzyme. Meanwhile, the inhibitory effect of V5+ (10-100 microM) on glucose-6-phosphatase was not appreciably blocked by the presence of regucalcin (up to 2.0 microM). The present data suggest that hepatic microsomal glucose-6-phosphatase is uniquely regulated by Ca2+ and V5+, of various metals, and that the Ca2+ effect is reversed by regucalcin. The present study supports the view that regucalcin plays an important role as a regulatory protein in liver cell function related to Ca2+.     

Activation of hepatic microsomal Ca2+-adenosine triphosphatase by calcium-binding protein regucalcin

The effect of regucalcin, a calcium-binding protein isolated from rat liver cytosol, on Ca2+-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity in hepatic microsomes was investigated. Mg2+-ATPase activity was clearly increased by the presence of 50 microM Ca2+. Regucalcin (1.0-4.0 microM) caused a remarkable elevation (about 3-fold) of Ca2+-ATPase activity. Also, Mg2+-ATPase activity was increased (about 1.6-fold) by the presence of regucalcin (2.0 and 4.0 microM). Guanosine-5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPrs; 10(-5) and 10(-4) M) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidized form (NADP+; 10(-5) to 10(-3) M) or reduced form (NADPH; 10(-4) and 10(-3) M) significantly increased Ca2+-ATPase activity. These increases were not enhanced by the presence of regucalcin (2.0 microM). Of various metal ions, a comparatively low concentration of V5+ (10(-5) M) or Cd2+ (10(-6) M) significantly increased Ca2+-ATPase activity, while Hg2+, Zn2+, Cu2+ and Mn2+ did not have such an effect. Regucalcin (2.0 microM) did not enhance the effect of V5+ and Cd2+ on Ca2+-ATPase activity. The present finding, that regucalcin activates hepatic microsomal Ca2+-ATPase, suggests a cell physiological role of regucalcin as an activator in the microsomal Ca2+-pump activity. This action of regucalcin may not be influenced by other regulators.     

Hepatic calcium-binding protein regucalcin decreases Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity in rat liver cytosol

The effect of regucalcin, a calcium-binding protein isolated from rat liver cytosol, on cytosolic Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity was investigated. The increase in cytosolic Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity with passage of incubation time was clearly prevented by the presence of regucalcin (1.0 microM). An appreciable effect of regucalcin was seen at 0.5 microM. The cytosolic Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity was fairly increased by increasing concentrations of added Ca2+ (0.25-1.0 mM). This increase was clearly blocked by the presence of regucalcin (1.0 microM). The inhibitory effect of regucalcin on the protein kinase activity was also seen with varying concentrations of calmodulin (2.5-15 micrograms). In the presence of regucalcin (1.0 microM), trifluoperazine (50 microM), an antagonist of calmodulin, significantly decreased the cytosolic Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity. These results suggest that regucalcin can regulate the Ca2(+)-calmodulin effect in liver cytosol.     

Effects of Ca2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+ on uridine diphosphate-glucuronyltransferase and beta-glucuronidase activities in rat liver microsomes

The effect of various metals on uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucuronyltransferase and beta-glucuronidase activities in rat liver microsomes was investigated. The presence of Mn2+, Cd2+, Zn2+, V5+, Ni2+, Co2+, Cu+ or Ca2+ (20 microM) in the enzyme reaction mixture did not cause a significant alteration of UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity in hepatic microsomes. Of these metals, Zn2+ and Cd2+ (20 microM) caused a remarkable increase in hepatic microsomal beta-glucuronidase activity. Appreciable effects of Zn2+ and Cd2+ on beta-glucuronidase activity were seen at 5.0 microM, and the effects were saturated at 50 microM. Ca2+ (5.0-50 microM) and/or the Ca2(+)-binding protein regucalcin (2.0 microM) did not have an appreciable effect on UDP-glucuronyltransferase and beta-glucuronidase activities in hepatic microsomes. Thus, Zn2+ and Cd2+ uniquely increased beta-glucuronidase activity. The Zn2(+)- and Cd2(+)-induced increase in beta-glucuronidase activity was completely reversed by the presence of an SH group-protecting reagent (dithiothreitol). The response of the microsomal enzyme to Zn2+ and Cd2+ (20 microM) was no longer seen after treatment with 0.2% Triton X-100 [polyoxyethylene(10)octylphenyl ether], indicating that the stimulation by these metals is dependent on membrane association. The present study suggests that, of various metals tested, Zn2+ and Cd2+ can uniquely increase hepatic microsomal beta-glucuronidase activity and that their effect is based on binding to membranous SH groups, beside the enzyme protein.     

Effect of the ionic strength and prostaglandin E2 on the free Ca2+ concentration and the Ca2+ influx in human red blood cells

Human red blood cells (RBCs) were loaded with the Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent dye fura-2 to investigate the effects of media ionic strength and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). [Ca2+]i of intact RBCs in a Ca(2+)-containing physiological (high) ionic strength (HIS) solution was 75.1 +/- 8.3 nM after 5 min incubation, increasing to 114.9 +/- 9.6 nM after 1 h. In Ca(2+)-containing low ionic strength (LIS) solutions, [Ca2+]i was significantly lower than in the Ca(2+)-containing HIS solution (p = 0.041 or 0.0385 for LIS solutions containing 200 or 250 mM sucrose, respectively), but, as in HIS solution, an increase of [Ca2+]i was seen after 1 h. In Ca(2+)-free (0 Ca2+ plus 15 microM EGTA) media, [Ca2+]i decreased (ranging from 15 to 21 nM), but were not significantly different in HIS or LIS, and did not change following 1 h incubation. The effect of the ionic strength and PGE2 on passive Ca2+ influx was investigated on ATP-depleted RBCs. Ca2+ influx was faster during the initial 10 min in comparison with the subsequent time period (10-45 min), both in HIS and LIS media, decreasing from 20.3 +/- 1.9 to 12.9 +/- 1.3 micromol/(lcells x h) in HIS, and from 36.7 +/- 5.3 to 8.6 +/- 1.2 micromol/(lcells x h) in LIS. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2; 10(-7)-10(-11) M), dissolved in deionised water or in ethanol, did not affect [Ca2+]i in either normal or in ATP-depleted RBCs suspended in Ca(2+)-containing HIS medium. Finally, the addition of carbachol (100 microM) did not affect [Ca2+]i. The present findings suggest that stimulation of the Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel by PGE2, reported in [J. Biol. Chem. 271 (1996) 18651], cannot be mediated via increased [Ca2+]i.     

Inhibition of superoxide generation and of increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration by zinc in rat neutrophils stimulated with zymosan

The effect of Zn2+ on the O2- generation and change in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) of rat peritoneal neutrophils was studied. Zymosan (serum-treated zymosan (STZ))-induced O2- generation was inhibited by Zn2+ at concentrations as low as 10 microM. A large amount of the inhibition was observed in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ but the inhibition could not be restored by increasing the extracellular Ca2+ concentration, indicating that Zn2+ does not necessarily inhibit the O2- generation competitively with extracellular Ca2+. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, Zn2+ inhibited STZ-induced transient increase in [Ca2+]i in the concentration range that evoked a marked inhibition in the O2- generation. On the other hand, Zn2+ did not inhibit significantly STZ-induced uptake of 45Ca2+ from extracellular medium by the cells. From these results, it is suggested that Zn2+ inhibits STZ-induced release of Ca2+ from intracellular storage sites, resulting in the suppression of the activation mechanism of neutrophils.     

High extracellular Ca2+ alone stimulates osteoclast formation but inhibits in the presence of other osteoclastogenic factors

High ambient Ca2+ at bone resorption sites have been implicated to play an important role in the regulation of bone remodeling. The present study was performed to clarify the mode of high extracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+(e))-induced modulation of osteoclastogenesis and the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG), thereby to define its role in osteoclast formation. Mouse bone marrow cells were cocultured with osteoblastic cells in the absence or presence of osteoclastogenic factors such as 1,25-dihydroxyvitaminD3 (1,25-(OH)2vitD3)and macrophage colony-stimulating factor/soluble RANKL. Ca2+ concentration in media (1.8 mM) was adjusted to 3, 5, 7 or 10 mM. Osteoclast formation was confirmed by the appearance of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinuclear cells and the expression of osteoclast phenotypic markers (calcitonin receptor, vitronectin receptor, cathepsin K, matrix metalloproteinase-9, carbonic anhydrase 2). High Ca2+(e) alone significantly stimulated osteoclast formation in a dose-dependent manner. However, in the presence of highly osteoclastogenic factors, high Ca2+(e) significantly inhibited osteoclastogenesis. High Ca2+(e) alone continuously up-regulated RANKL expression while only transiently increased OPG expression. However, in the presence of 1,25-(OH)(2)vitD(3), high Ca2+(e) did not change the 1,25-(OH)2vitD3-induced RANKL expression while increased OPG expression. Taken together, these findings suggest that high Ca2+(e) alone increase osteoclastogenesis but inhibit in the presence of other osteoclastogenic factors. In addition, high CaCa2+(e)-induced osteoclastogenesis may be mediated by osteoblasts via up-regulation of RANKL expression. Meanwhile up-regulated OPG might participate in the inhibitory effect of high Ca2+(e) on 1,25-(OH)2vitD3-induced osteoclastogenesis.     

Cell-permeant small-molecule modulators of NAADP-mediated Ca2+ release

Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP, 1) is the most potent intracellular Ca2+ mobilizing agent in important mammalian cells and tissues, yet the identity of the NAADP receptor is elusive. Significantly, the coenzyme NADP is completely inactive in this respect. Current studies are restricted by the paucity of any chemical probes beyond NAADP itself, and importantly, none is cell permeant. We report simple nicotinic acid-derived pyridinium analogs as low molecular weight compounds that (1) inhibit Ca2+ release via the NAADP receptor (IC50 approximately 15 microM - 1 mM), (2) compete with NAADP binding, (3) cross the cell membrane of sea urchin eggs to inhibit NAADP-evoked Ca2+ release, and (4) selectively ablate NAADP-dependent Ca2+ oscillations induced by the external gastric peptide hormone agonist cholecystokinin (CCK) in murine pancreatic acinar cells.     

Properties of (Mg2 + Ca2+)-ATPase of erythrocyte membranes prepared by different procedures: influence of Mg2+, Ca2+, ATP, and protein activator.

Erythrocyte membranes prepared by three different procedures showed (Mg2+ + Ca2+)-ATPase activities differing in specific activity and in affinity for Ca2+. The (Mg2+ + Ca2+)-ATPase activity of the three preparations was stimulated to different extents by a Ca2+-dependent protein activator isolated from hemolysates. The Ca2+ affinity of the two most active preparations was decreased as the ATP concentration in the assay medium was increased. Lowering the ATP concentration from 2 mM to 2-200 microM or lowering the Mg:ATP ratio to less than one shifted the (Mg2+ + Ca2+)-ATPase activity in stepwise hemolysis membranes from mixed "high" and "low" affinity to a single high Ca2+ affinity. Membranes from which soluble proteins were extracted by EDTA (0.1 mM) in low ionic strength, or membranes prepared by the EDTA (1-10 mM) procedure, did not undergo the shift in the Ca2+ affinity with changes in ATP and MgCl2 concentrations. The EDTA-wash membranes were only weakly activated by the protein activator. It is suggested that the differences in properties of the (Mg2+ + Ca2+)-ATPase prepared by these three procedures reflect differences determined in part by the degree of association of the membrane with a soluble protein activator and changes in the state of the enzyme to a less activatable form.     

Non-respiring rat liver mitochondria do not have a Ca2+/2H+ antiporter

Liver mitochondria take up Ca2+ by the Ca2+ uniporter, whereas at steady state efflux is believed to occur mainly by means of a ruthenium red-insensitive Ca2+/2H+ antiporter. The latter activity was studied in respiration-inhibited mitochondria in the presence of ruthenium red and was measured as Ca2+ uptake following acidification of the matrix by addition of nigericin, which catalyzes K+/H+ exchange. Ca2+ uptake was stimulated by protonophorous uncoupling agents and inhibited by increasing the concentration of ruthenium red. However, the rates were always smaller than those obtained by addition of valinomycin instead of nigericin. This indicates that under these conditions, Ca2+ fluxes are not mediated by a Ca2+/2H+ antiporter but by residual uniporter activity.     

Na+-Ca2+ exchanger modulates Ca2+ content in intracellular Ca2+ stores in rat osteoblasts

Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) transports Ca2+ coupled with Na+ across the plasma membrane in a bi-directional mode. Ca2+ flux via NCX mediates osteogenic processes, such as formation of extracellular matrix proteins and bone nodules. However, it is not clearly understood how the NCX regulates cellular Ca2+ movements in osteogenic processes. In this study, the role of NCX in modulating Ca2+ content of intracellular stores ([Ca2+]ER) was investigated by measuring intracellular Ca2+ activity in isolated rat osteoblasts. Removal of extracellular Na+ elicited a transient increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Pretreatment of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (AS) against NCX depressed this transient Ca2+ rise and raised the basal level of [Ca2+]i. In AS-pretreated cells, the expression and activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), an osteogenic marker, were decreased. However, the cell viability was not affected by AS-pretreatment. Suppression of NCX activity by the AS-pretreatment decreased ATP-activated Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and significantly enhanced Ca2+ influx via store operated calcium influx (SOCI), compared to those of S-pretreated or control cells. These results strongly suggest that NCX has a regulatory role in cellular Ca2+ pathways in osteoblasts by modulating intracellular Ca2+ content.     

Modulator binding protein antagonizes activation of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase and Ca2+ transport of red blood cell membranes.

Red blood cells contain a protein that activates membrane-bound (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase and Ca2+ transport. The red blood cell activator protein is similar to a modulator protein that stimulates cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. Wang and Desai [Journal of Biological Chemistry 252:4175--4184, 1977] described a modulator-binding protein that antagonizes the activation of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase by modulator protein. In the present work, modulator-binding protein was shown to antagonize the activation of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase and Ca2+ transport by red blood cell activator protein. The results further demonstrate the similarity between the activator protein from human red blood cells and the modulator protein from bovine brain.     

Design of a calcium-binding protein with desired structure in a cell adhesion molecule

Ca2+, "a signal of life and death", controls numerous cellular processes through interactions with proteins. An effective approach to understanding the role of Ca2+ is the design of a Ca2+-binding protein with predicted structural and functional properties. To design de novo Ca2+-binding sites in proteins is challenging due to the high coordination numbers and the incorporation of charged ligand residues, in addition to Ca2+-induced conformational change. Here, we demonstrate the successful design of a Ca2+-binding site in the non-Ca2+-binding cell adhesion protein CD2. This designed protein, Ca.CD2, exhibits selectivity for Ca2+ versus other di- and monovalent cations. In addition, La3+ (Kd 5.0 microM) and Tb3+ (Kd 6.6 microM) bind to the designed protein somewhat more tightly than does Ca2+ (Kd 1.4 mM). More interestingly, Ca.CD2 retains the native ability to associate with the natural target molecule. The solution structure reveals that Ca.CD2 binds Ca2+ at the intended site with the designed arrangement, which validates our general strategy for designing de novo Ca2+-binding proteins. The structural information also provides a close view of structural determinants that are necessary for a functional protein to accommodate the metal-binding site. This first success in designing Ca2+-binding proteins with desired structural and functional properties opens a new avenue in unveiling key determinants to Ca2+ binding, the mechanism of Ca2+ signaling, and Ca2+-dependent cell adhesion, while avoiding the complexities of the global conformational changes and cooperativity in natural Ca2+-binding proteins. It also represents a major achievement toward designing functional proteins controlled by Ca2+ binding.     

The liquidlike ordering of lipid A-diphosphate colloidal crystals: the influence of Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+ on the ordering of colloidal suspensions of lipid A-diphosphate in aqueous solutions

A comprehensive study was performed on electrostatically stabilized aqueous dispersion of lipid A-diphosphate in the presence of bound Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, and Na+ ions at low ionic strength (0.10-10.0-mM NaCl, 25 degrees C) over a range of volume fraction of 1.0 x 10(-4)< or =phi< or =4.95 x 10(-4). These suspensions were characterized by light scattering (LS), quasielastic light scattering, small-angle x-ray scattering, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, conductivity measurements, and acid-base titrations. LS and electron microscopy yielded similar values for particle sizes, particle size distributions, and polydispersity. The measured static structure factor, S(Q), of lipid A-diphosphate was seen to be heavily dependent on the nature and concentration of the counterions, e.g., Ca2+ at 5.0 nM, Mg2+ at 15.0 microM, and K+ at 100.0 microM (25 degrees C). The magnitude and position of the S(Q) peaks depend not only on the divalent ion concentration (Ca2+ and Mg2+) but also on the order of addition of the counterions to the lipid A-diphosphate suspension in the presence of 0.1-microM NaCl. Significant changes in the rms radii of gyration (R2G) 1/2 of the lipid A-diphosphate particles were observed in the presence of Ca2+ (24.8+/-0.8 nm), Mg2+ (28.5+/-0.7 nm), and K+ (25.2+/-0.6 nm), whereas the Na+ salt (29.1+/-0.8 nm) has a value similar to the one found for the de-ionized lipid A-diphosphate suspensions (29.2+/-0.8 nm). Effective particle charges were determined by fits of the integral equation calculations of the polydisperse static structure factor, S(Q), to the light-scattering data and they were found to be in the range of Z*=700-750 for the lipid A-diphosphate salts under investigation. The light-scattering data indicated that only a small fraction of the ionizable surface sites (phosphate) of the lipid A-diphosphate was partly dissociated (approximately 30%). It was also discovered that a given amount of Ca2+ (1.0-5.0 nM) or K+ (100 microM) influenced the structure much more than Na+ (0.1-10.0-mM NaCl) or Mg2+ (50 microM). By comparing the heights and positions of the structure factor peaks S(Q) for lipid A-diphosphate-Na+ and lipid A-diphosphate-Ca2+, it was concluded that the structure factor does not depend simply on ionic strength but more importantly on the internal structural arrangements of the lipid A-diphosphate assembly in the presence of the bound cations. The liquidlike interactions revealed a considerable degree of ordering in solution accounting for the primary S(Q) peak and also the secondary minimum at large particle separation. The ordering of lipid A-diphosphate-Ca2+ colloidal crystals in suspension showed six to seven discrete diffraction peaks and revealed a face-centered-cubic (fcc) lattice type (a=56.3 nm) at a volume fraction of 3.2 x 10(-4)< or =phi< or =3.9 x 10(-4). The K+ salt also exhibited a fcc lattice (a=55.92 nm) at the same volume fractions, but reveals a different peak intensity distribution, as seen for the lipid A-diphosphate-Ca2+ salt. However, the Mg2+ and the Na+ salts of lipid A-diphosphate showed body-centered-cubic (bcc) lattices with a=45.50 nm and a=41.50 nm, respectively (3.2 x 10(-4)< or =phi< or =3.9 x 10(-4)), displaying the same intensity distribution with the exception of the (220) diffraction peaks, which differ in intensity for both salts of lipid A-diphosphate.     

Interaction of Cu+ with mitochondria.

The uptake of Cu+ by rat liver mitochondria is rapid and extensive. Respiration is stimulated by 10 microM Cu+ then inhibited and the inhibition could not be relieved with uncoupling agents. Collapse of the membrane potential is induced by 5-10 microM Cu+. These effects are partially inhibited by radical scavengers indicating the involvement of radical production in these events. Reduction of the GSH content and production of peroxidation products by higher amounts of Cu+ was also demonstrated. Swelling of non-respiring rat liver and heart mitochondria in sodium or lithium acetate was used to study effects of Cu+ on the Na+/H+ exchanger. Swelling is stimulated by 5-100 microM Cu+. In the presence of a radical scavenger the swelling is reduced. In sodium nitrate media diltiazem-sensitive stimulated swelling is observed. Amiloride was found to inhibit Cu(+)-induced efflux of Ca2+. At high concentrations of Cu+, a general increase in permeability was the dominant feature.     

离子色谱法测定尿液中的C2O42-、Ca2+、Mg2+

利用离子色谱法测定尿液中的草酸根、钙、镁离子：测定草酸根时，先在尿液中加入氯化钙使之转化成草酸钙沉淀，分离后用盐酸溶解草酸钙沉淀，然后进行测定测定钙、镁离子时，在酸性尿液中加入氧化剂过硫酸钾，在微沸状态下氧化尿液中的有机物，从而避免对色谱柱的污染：草酸根、钙、镁离子的回收率分别为108．3％～109．7％、94．9％～100．7％、97．2％～97.4％，相对标准偏差分别为2．4％、2.5％、3．1％。     

A tryptophan-containing open-chain framework for tuning a high selectivity for Ca2+ and 13C NMR observation of a Ca2+-indole interaction in aqueous solution

Two molecular architectures featuring the cation-responsive tryptophan indole were designed and investigated for the development of a novel fluorescent chemosensor for Ca2+. We observed that the Trp-based open-framework chemosensor EW2 exhibits remarkable selectivity for Ca2+ over Mg2+, Ba2+, K+, Na+, and Li+ in water between pH 4.6 and 7.0 on the basis of Ca2+-induced high fluorescence enhancement of the Trp residue. A combined 13C NMR and CD spectroscopic study has demonstrated a dynamic reorientation of the indole ring due to the cation-indole interaction accompanying the Ca2+-induced dramatic fluorescence enhancement. The results suggest that the highly sensitive, metal-ion-dependent Trp indolyl C(3) chemical shifts may serve as a promising indicator for monitoring metal ion-indole noncovalent interaction in solution.     

Association of (Ca + Mg)-ATPase activity with ATP-dependent Ca uptake in vesicles prepared from human erythrocytes.

Ghost membranes prepared from human erythrocytes exhibit 2 distinct (Ca + Mg)-ATPase1 activities (Quist and Roufogalis, Arch Biochem Biophys 168:240, 1975). (Ca + Mg)-ATPase activity dependent on a water soluble protein fraction is selectively lost from ghost membranes during preparation of vesicles under low ionic strength, slightly alkaline conditions. In this study, the Ca2+ dependence of the remaining membrane bound (Ca + Mg)-ATPase activity and ATP-dependent Ca uptake in vesicles were compared. The Ca2+ activation curves for (Ca + Mg)-ATPase activity and Ca uptake into vesicles were parallel over a Ca2+ range of 0.3-330 micrometer, and both curves have 2 apparent KA values for Ca2+ of 0.45 and 100 micrometer. Addition of a concentrated soluble protein fraction containing predominantly spectrin to the vesicles increased (Ca + Mg)-ATPase activity over twofold but did not affect the rate of Ca uptake. These findings suggest that the (Ca + Mg)-ATPase activity remaining in vesicles after extraction of the water soluble proteins is associated with the Ca pump whereas (Ca + Mg)-ATPase activity dependent on the soluble protein fraction is associated with some other function.