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.     

Studies on ion exchange equilibria and kinetics VI. Prediction of ion exchange equilibria of UO 2 2+ −Na+−H+ ternary system

Experimental data are reported for the ion exchange equilibria of the binary systems UO ₂ ²⁺ –H⁺, UO ₂ ²⁺ –Na⁺ and Na⁺–H⁺, and of the ternary system UO ₂ ²⁺ –Na⁺–H⁺ on a strong acid cation exchange resin 001X7 at 25 °C. It is found that the equilibria for any pairs of ions are essentially the same in binary and ternary mixtures and that the prediction method proposed by our laboratory for SO ₂ ^2– –Cl^––NO ₃ ^– -201X7 strong base anion exchange resin system is also applicable to the ternary system studied in this paper. The predictions of the ternary system UO ₂ ²⁺ –Na⁺–H⁺ based solely on the binary data without using resin phase activity coefficients are consistent with the experimental data.     

Partial rescue of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (NCX1) knock-out mouse by transgenic expression of NCX1

The null mutation of cardiac Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX1) gene in mice caused death of embryo in utero at embryonic day (ED) 9.0-9.5 and this embryonic lethality appears resulted from abnormal heart development. In the present study, we investigated whether transgenic re-expression of NCX1 in mutant cardiac myocytes could rescue these lethal defects. Transgenic mice expressing the canine NCX1 in a cardiac specific manner were bred into the NCX1 knock-out background but did not prevent the fetal lethality associated with the NCX1 null allele. However, the NCX1 knock-out embryos with an NCX1 transgene survived with heart beatings until ED 10.5 which was one day longer than the survival of the NCX1 knock-out embryos (ED 9.5). At ED 10.5, however, the partially rescued NCX1 embryos might have succumbed to the lack of an organized vasculature in the yolk sacs. The placental labyrinth layer was reduced in size and largely avascular. The transgenic re-expression of NCX1 rescued heart beatings and survived longer, but was still insufficient for the mice to be completely rescued. Importantly, NCX1 was observed to express in the yolk sac and the placenta of wild type mice. The results suggest that defects in extra-embryonic compartments are causal to the lethality, and that NCX1 may play an important role in establishing vascularization in extra-embryonic tissues.     

Spin dependence of low energy charge exchange between H 2 + and Na

The difference in charge exchange rate in collisions between spin oriented sodium atoms and H ₂ ⁺ ions has been measured at an energy of about 1 eV. H ₂ ⁺ was stored in a Penning trap and polarized by spin exchange with Na beam atoms from a hexapole magnet. The ion loss from the trap due to charge exchange was different as we depolarized the atomic beam. From the data we obtain a ratio of cross sections for singlet and triplet collisionsQ ₁/Q ₃=1.5±0.2 andQ ₃=1.2·10^?15 cm².     

Studies on ion exchange equilibria and kinetics: V. UO 2 2+ −Na+−H+ ternary cation exchange kinetics

The kinetics of particle-diffusion controlled ion exchange in the ternary system of cations UO ₂ ²⁺ –Na⁺–H⁺–001×7 strong acidic resin has been studied. In the [R–H⁺]/(Na⁺+UO ₂ ²⁺ ) system, the change of the amount of Na⁺ in the resin phase with time showed a high peak. In the [R–Na⁺]/(H⁺+UO ₂ ²⁺ ) system, the change of the amount of H⁺ in the resin phase with time also showed a high peak. In the [R₂–UO ₂ ²⁺ ]/(H⁺+Na⁺) system, the change of amount of H⁺ in the resin phase with time showed merely a small peak. This kinetic character of the ternary ion exchange system in the finite solution volume has been analyzed according to the Nerst-Planck equation, and on the whole, the trend of the experimental results is consistent with the resulting numerical solution of the set of Nerst-Planck equations.     

Kinetic study of the isotopic exchange of Na+ and Zn2+ ions on iron and chromium titanates

Iron(III) (FeTi) and chromium (III) titanates (CrTi) were prepared as cation exchange materials in a granular form. The rate of the isotopic exchange of Na⁺/*Na⁺ and Zn²⁺/*Zn²⁺ between aqueous solution and iron(III) and chromium(III) titanates in Na⁺ or Zn²⁺form has been carried out radiometrically in the 25-60 °C temperature range. The exchange rate is controlled by a particle diffusion mechanism and experimental and theoretical approaches have been used to obtain the rate of diffusion through the spherical particles of the exchangers. The values of self diffusion () of Na⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions were measured at different operation conditions, particle size, reaction temperatures and drying temperatures of the matrix. The values of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were calculated and their significance discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

New calculations on the ion-molecule processes C2H2(+) + H2 --> C2H3(+) + H and C2H2(+) + H2 --> C2H4+

New high-level quantum chemical calculations have been undertaken to understand the rates and mechanisms of the reactive and associative channels for the reactants C2H2(+) + H2. The reactive channel, which produces C2H3(+) + H, has been shown to be slightly endothermic, confirming earlier calculations at a somewhat lower level and in agreement with some recent experimental work. The associative channel, leading to C2H4+, has been shown to proceed via a transition state with negative energy relative to the reactants, so that association is predicted to be efficient. This result is in conflict with an earlier theoretical study but in agreement with low-temperature experimental measurements.     

Competitive Na(+) and Rb(+) binding in the minor groove of DNA

Sequence-dependent coordination of alkali ions to the nucleotide bases in the minor groove of AT-tract B-DNA has recently been inferred from X-ray crystallography, solution NMR and computer simulations. Here, we present new (23)Na and (87)Rb magnetic relaxation dispersion (MRD) data that demonstrate competitive and long-lived binding of Na(+) and Rb(+) ions in the minor groove of the B-DNA duplex [d(CGCGAATTCGCG)](2). The Na(+)/Rb(+) selectivity of the minor groove is found to be weak, consistent with local structural flexibility. The ion occupancies derived from the MRD data are substantially higher than previously reported, suggesting that groove-bound ions significantly influence the energetics and structural polymorphism of DNA in vivo. For example, in the presence of 0.20 M Na(+) and 0.56 M Rb(+) at 4 degrees C, the ApT site in the minor groove is occupied by a Rb(+) ion, a Na(+) ion, or a water molecule 40, 10, and 50% of the time, respectively. In the absence of Rb(+), the Na(+) occupancy increases to 50%. At 4 degrees C, the mean residence time of groove-bound ions is 0.2 +/- 0.1 micros for Rb(+) and 10 ns to 100 micros for Na(+). A shorter correlation time of 2 ns is attributed to counterions bridging cross-strand phosphate groups.     

Ionic dimers in He droplets: interaction potentials for Li2(+)-He,Na2(+)-He, and K2(+)-He and stability of the smaller clusters

We present post Hartree-Fock calculations of the potential energy surfaces (PESs) for the ground electronic states of the three alkali dimer ions Li(2) (+),Na(2) (+), and K(2) (+) interacting with neutral helium. The calculations were carried out for the frozen molecular equilibrium geometries and for an extensive range of the remaining two Jacobi coordinates, R and theta, for which a total of about 1000 points is generated for each surface. The corresponding raw data were then fitted numerically to produce analytic expressions for the three PESs, which were in turn employed to evaluate the bound states of the three trimers for their J=0 configurations: The final spatial features of such bound states are also discussed in detail. The possible behavior of additional systems with more helium atoms surrounding the ionic dopants is gleaned from further calculations on the structural stability of aggregates with up to six He atoms. The validity of a sum-of-potential approximation to yield realistic total energies of the smaller cluster is briefly discussed vis-a-vis the results from many-body calculations.     

Investigations of TsVM zeolite acidities with different degrees of exchange of Na+ by H+

The method of programmed thermal desorption of ammonia has been used to establish that on the surface of the sodium form of type TsVM zeolite having a modulus SiO₂/Al₂O₃= 34.5 there are two types of acidic centers having ammonia desorption activation energies E_d equal to 40–45 and 80–100 kJ/mole. Replacement of Na⁺ by H⁺ leads to the appearance of a third type of center with a value E_D=130–150 kJ/mole. In this case in the IR spectra of specimens saturated with ammonia a band appears at 1410 cm_–1, which is evidence for the presence of NH ₄ ⁺ ions. Increasing the degree of Na⁺ replacement by H⁺ leads to a nonproportional rapid increase in the concentration of highly energetic centers, which may be explained by the partial transfer of aluminum into cationic positions with the formation of additional acidic centers.Translated from Teoreticheskie i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 22, No. 6, pp. 752–755, November–December, 1986.     

Reduction of Na+ within a {Mg2Na2} Assembly

Ionic compounds containing sodium cations are notable for their stability and resistance to redox reactivity unless highly reducing electrical potentials are applied. Here we report that treatment of a low oxidation state {Mg₂Na₂} species with non-reducible organic bases induces the spontaneous and completely selective extrusion of sodium metal and oxidation of the Mg^I centers to the more conventional Mg^II state. Although these processes are also characterized by a structural reorganisation of the initially chelated diamide spectator ligand, computational quantum chemical studies indicate that intramolecular electron transfer is abetted by the frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO/LUMO) of the {Mg₂Na₂} ensemble, which arise exclusively from the 3s valence atomic orbitals of the constituent sodium and magnesium atoms.     

The collision complex in the exchange reaction Na + Na2. II. A study of the observables

The observables in the experiments on the exchange reaction Na + Na₂ (part I of this paper) are studied using a simple model for this exchange reaction.     

Theoretical investigation of the Na+ + H2 system. III. Trajectory calculations of vibrationally inelastic collision processes

On the basis of an analytical potential energy surface for the electronic ground state of the Na⁺ + H₂ system reported recently, extensive trajectory calculations have been performed to study the collision dynamics of vibrationally inelastic processes at total energies up to ～3 eV. Special attention is given to the relative efficiacy of translational and rotational energy, respectively, in promoting vibrational energy transfer. Vibrational transitions are found to be substantially enhanced by initial molecular rotation. Furthermore, the applicability of simple models is discussed.     

Low-energy rotational inelastic collisions of H(+) + CO system

The quantum mechanical state-to-state rotational excitation cross sections have been computed using the ab initio ground electronic state potential energy surface of the system [M. Mladenovic and S. Schmatz, J. Chem. Phys. 109, 4456 (1998)] computed at coupled-cluster single and double and triple perturbative excitations method using correlation-consistent polarized valence quadruple zeta basis set where the asymptotic potential have been computed using the dipole moment, quadrupole moment, and the molecular polarizability components and fitted to this interaction potential. The anisotropy of the surface has been analyzed in terms of the multipolar expansion coefficients for the rigid-rotor surface. The integral cross sections for rotational excitations have been computed by solving close-coupled equations at very low collision energies (5-200 cm(-1)) and the corresponding rates have been obtained for a range of low temperatures (5-175 K). The j = 0 → j(') = 1 rotational excitation cross section (and rate) is found to be the dominant followed by the j = 0 → j(') = 2 in these collision energies. The close-coupling, coupled-state, and infinite-order sudden approximations coupling calculations have been performed in the energy range of 0.1-1.0 eV using vibrational ground potential. The rotational cross sections have been obtained by performing computationally accurate close-coupling calculations at 0.1 eV using vibrationally averaged potential (ν = 1) and compared with the results of vibrational ground potential.     

Solubility in the system Na2Cr2O7 + 2NH4Cl ⇆ (NH4)2Cr2O7 + 2NaCl-H2O

The solubility in the water-salt quaternary reciprocal system Na₂Cr₂O₇ + 2NH₄Cl ⇆ (NH₄)₂Cr₂O₇ + 2NaCl-H₂O has been investigated for the first time at 25, 50, and 75°C. Using a formal analytical model, the boundaries of the phase fields have been determined, and the univariant lines and invariant points have been calculated. The experimental data have been used to calculate the temperature and concentration parameters of the circular isohydric process of potassium dichromate preparation with the participation of ammonium salts as intermediates.     

Activity coefficients for the system NaCl+Na2SO4+H2O at various temperatures. Application of Pitzer's equations

The mean activity coefficients of NaCl in the system NaCl+Na₂SO₄+H₂O at various compositions were determined in the temperature range 5–45°C from the emf of potentiometric cells. By processing the results using Pitzer's equations the mixing parameters describing the non-ideal behavior of electrolytes were calculated. The temperature coefficients of the mixing parameters were determined and found not to be significant. The mixing parameters and temperature coefficients calculated for the binary mixture can be used to describe the behavior of multicomponent systems containing NaCl and Na₂SO₄, and eventually sea water.     

Entrapment of a weak polyanion and H+/Na+ exchange in confined polyelectrolyte microcapsules

An approach for the entrapment of a polyanion by polyelectrolyte microcapsules is reported. It is based on a reversal changing of microcapsule wall permeability from neutral to basic pH. Polyelectrolyte microcapsules were templated on latex (polystyrene) particles by the layer-by-layer adsorption of oppositely charged polymers of sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride), followed by core removal using tetrahydrofuran. In alkaline conditions, the microcapsules swell and become permeable for polymers. During encapsulation, the addition of salt ions increases the amount of the polymer encapsulated and contributes to its protonation because of redistribution of H+ ions across a semipermeable microcapsule wall. The redistribution of small ions across the microcapsule wall was tuned by adding salt according to the Donnan equilibrium and was characterized by H+ sensitive dyes.     

Theoretical study of HCN(+) + C2H2 reaction

A detailed theoretical investigation for the ion-molecule reaction of HCN (+) with C 2H 2 is performed at the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) and CCSD(T)/6-311++G(3df,2pd) (single-point) levels. Possible energetically allowed reaction pathways leading to various low-lying dissociation products are probed. It is shown that eight dissociation products P 1 (H 2C 3N (+)+H), P 2 (CN+C 2H 3 (+)), P 3 (HC 3N (+)+H 2), P 4 (HCCCNH (+)+H), P 5 (H 2NCCC (+)+H), P 6 (HCNCCH (+)+H), P 7 (C 2H 2 (+)+HCN), and P 8 (C 2H 2 (+)+HNC) are both thermodynamically and kinetically accessible. Among the eight dissociation products, P 1 is the most abundant product. P 7 and P 3 are the second and third feasible products but much less competitive than P 1 , followed by the almost negligible product P 2 . Other products, P 4 (HCCCNH (+)+H), P 5 (HCNCCH (+)+H), P 6 (H 2NCCC (+)+H), and P 8 (C 2H 2 (+)+HNC) may become feasible at high temperatures. Because the intermediates and transition states involved in the reaction HCN (+) + C 2H 2 are all lower than the reactant in energy, the title reaction is expected to be rapid, as is consistent with the measured large rate constant at room temperature. The present calculation results may provide a useful guide for understanding the mechanism of HCN (+) toward other pi-bonded molecules.