The Regulation of Intracellular Calcium

Cerebral cortical perfusion during and following resuscitation from cardiac arrest in dogs

Perfusion of the cerebral cortex during closed chest CPR in dogs, generating systolic pressures of 60 to 70 mmHg, is only 10% of pre-arrest blood flow. In contrast, internal cardiac massage produces normal cortical perfusion rates. Following a 20-min perfusion arrest, during pressure controlled reperfusion, cortical flow rates decay to less than 20% normal after 90 min of reperfusion. This appears to be due to increasing cerebral vascular resistance, and is not due to rising intracranial pressure. The post-arrest cortical hypoperfusion syndrome is prolonged with cortical flow remaining below 20% normal up to 18 hr post arrest. The use of a variety of calcium antagonists, including flunarizine, lidoflazine, verapamil, and Mg2+, immediately post-resuscitation maintains cerebral vascular resistance and cortical perfusion at normal levels. A prospective blind trial of the calcium antagonist lidoflazine following a 15-min cardiac arrest in dogs and resuscitation by internal massage, demonstrates amelioration of neurologic deficit in the early postresuscitation period.

Early amelioration of neurologic deficit by lidoflazine after fifteen minutes of cardiopulmonary arrest in dogs

A prospective, controlled, blind study was done to test the effect of a calcium entry blocker on the neurologic integrity of dogs after cardiopulmonary arrest. Ten male mongrel dogs were anesthetized, prepared with sterile technique, and instrumented for pulmonary arterial (PA) and systematic arterial pressure monitoring. A left thoracotomy and pericardotomy were performed. Cardiac arrest was produced by injecting KCl (1 mEq/kg) through the PA line, and the respirator was stopped. Full arrest was maintained for 15 minutes. Thereafter, the dogs were resuscitated with ventilation, internal massage, fluids, bicarbonate, epinephrine, and internal defibrillation. All dogs were resuscitated within 6 to 10 minutes. Five control dogs received saline placebo, and five dogs were treated with lidoflazine (1 mg/kg) IV drip immediately post resuscitation. All dogs were scored neurologically every two hours by a deficit grading scale. All treated dogs had spontaneous ventilation, reactive pupils and corneals, voluntary movements, and responses to tactile stimulation at 12 hours post resuscitation. Four of five control dogs had maximum deficit scores without improvement. The difference in neurologic scores between the treated and control groups became increasingly divergent with time, and was statistically significant (P less than .05) by four hours post resuscitation. Thus the calcium antagonist lidoflazine produces improvement in neurologic recovery in the first 12 hours after cardiopulmonary arrest in dogs.

Serum rapidly mobilizes calcium from an intracellular pool in quiescent fibroblastic cells

Addition of dialysed fetal bovine serum to quiescent cultures of Swiss 3T3 cells loaded with 45Ca2+ causes a very rapid increase in the rate of 45Ca2+ efflux from an intracellular pool. Exposure to serum for 2 min leads to a fall of 0.59 nmol Ca2+/mg protein in the intracellular Ca2+ content of the cells. Inhibitors of mitochondrial function prevent the stimulation of 45Ca2+ efflux by serum. The stimulation of 45Ca2+ efflux by serum is also observed in quiescent cultures of Rat-1, Swiss 3T6 and BHK cells and in secondary cultures of whole mouse embryo fibroblasts.

Ca2+-cardiolipin interaction in a model system. Selectivity and apparent high affinity

The interaction of cardiolipin with Ca2+ was assessed by measuring the cardiolipin-mediated extraction of 45Ca2+ from an aqueous to an organic (methylene chloride) phase. Cardiolipin binds Ca2+ with high affinity [Kd(apparent) = 0.70 +/- 0.17 microM (S.D.)]. Cation-cardiolipin interactions are selective. Interaction of cardiolipin with Ca2+ is insensitive to Na+, but is inhibited by divalent cations with Mn2+ greater than Zn2+ greater than Mg2+. In addition La3+ and Ruthenium red are particularly potent inhibitors of Ca2+ binding by cardiolipin. Cardiolipin-mediated extraction of Ca2+ into an aqueous phase is also inhibited by phosphatidylcholine. Inhibition of Ca2+-cardiolipin interaction by phosphatidylcholine (a phospholipid known to stabilize the bilayer conformation) may implicate inverted, non-bilayer lipid structures in the binding.

Evidence for a Ca2+ gradient across the plasma membrane of wheat protoplasts

Fluxes of Ca2+ across the plasma membrane of isolated wheat protoplasts have been measured both as net accumulation and as uptake under steady-state conditions. The ATPase inhibitors, orthovanadate and diethylstibesterol, and the divalent cation ionophore, A23187, were all found to enhance net Ca2+ accumulation by protoplasts. The uptake of Ca2+ under steady-state conditions was also stimulated by A23187 but relatively unaffected by a range of plant hormones or by red or far red light. Light treatments were compared to dark controls with protoplasts isolated from etiolated wheat. The results suggest that plant cells maintain a Ca2+ gradient across their plasma membrane but it appears not to be under phytochrome control.

Inducement of wound motility in intact giant algal cells

The cytoplasm (with its organelles) of intact cells of Ernodesmis verticillata (Chlorophyta) can be induced to contract in the presence of calcium ionophores and phenothiazine antipsychotics. The cell contents mimic wound-healing contraction if a combination of 10 microM A23187 and 10 microM chlorpromazine (or trifluoperazine) is present in a Ca2+-containing medium. The average incubation time is approx. 50 min for contraction. It is imperative that only fresh solutions of ionophores and phenothiazines are used, because stock solutions only 3 h old virtually double the response time of these cells. Separately, neither the ionophore nor the phenothiazines will induce contraction. The addition of 1.0 mM La3+ completely prevents induction of motility. With trifluoperazine, equimolar X-537A will substitute for A23187, but it takes three times as long to induce contraction. Motility cannot be induced in Ca2+-free media (containing 5.0 mM EGTA). It therefore appears that Ca2+ fluxes are responsible for triggering wound contraction in these giant algal cells. An influx of calcium ions from the external medium is suggested as being at least partially involved.

Calcium influx is not required for thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation of prolactin release from GH3 cells

TRH stimulation of prolactin release from GH3 cells is dependent on Ca2+; however, whether TRH-induced influx of extracellular Ca2+ is required for stimulated secretion remains controversial. We studied prolactin release from cells incubated in medium containing 110 mM K+ and 2 mM EGTA which abolished the electrical and Ca2+ concentration gradients that usually promote Ca2+ influx. TRH caused prolactin release and 45Ca2+ efflux from cells incubated under these conditions. In static incubations, TRH stimulated prolactin secretion from 11.4 +/- 1.2 to 19 +/- 1.8 ng/ml in control incubations and from 3.2 +/- 0.6 to 6.2 +/- 0.8 ng/ml from cells incubated in medium with 120 mM K+ and 2 mM EGTA. We conclude that Ca2+ influx is not required for TRH stimulation of prolactin release from GH3 cells.

Isolation of a fraction with Ca2+ ionophore properties from rat liver mitochondria

Isolation of a small protein with properties of a Ca2+ ionophore from calf heart mitochondria has recently been reported [A. Y. Jeng and A. E. Shamoo, 1980, J. Biol. Chem. 255, 6897, 6904]. We have isolated a fraction with similar physical and chemical properties from rat liver mitochondria. In particular, the hepatic preparation is able to bind Ca2+ with high affinity in such a fashion that the resultant complex is soluble in a hydrophobic phase. It will also transport Ca2+ through a stirred organic phase (Pressman cell). Interaction of the liver preparation with Ca2+ is sensitive to inhibitors of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. The hepatic preparation contains both protein and lipid components. The phospholipid components were identified and the behavior of a similar mixture of commercially available phospholipids was compared to that of the ionophore fraction from rat liver mitochondria. All of the Ca2+ binding properties of the rat liver preparation could be mimicked by the lipids. In a preliminary experiment, reduction of the phospholipid content of the preparation to less than one lipid phosphate per protein molecule (assuming a molecular weight of 3000 by analogy with the calf heart case) resulted in a protein that was unable to bind Ca2+. We, therefore, suggest that the ability of the preparation to interact with Ca2+ is due to the constituent phospholipids. Measurements of phospholipid-Ca2+ interactions in the model systems and under the conditions of low (microM) Ca2+ and phospholipid concentration utilized here demonstrated an affinity for Ca2+ (Ks approximately 1 microM) and a cation selectivity that have not previously been reported.

Secretion of calcium into milk: review

Milk calcium exists in bound and ionized forms. Bound calcium is associated both with casein micelles and complexed to citrate and phosphate. Ionized calcium in milk is 1 to 4 millimolar, at least 1000 times its postulated concentration in the mammary alveolar cell. For this reason active transport mechanisms are necessary for transfer of this nutrient to the lumen of the mammary alveolus. Evidence that the major active transport system is a calcium adenosine triphosphatase residing in the membrane of the Golgi secretory vesicle is summarized. This adenosine triphosphatase appears to be activated by calcium concentrations in the micromolar range, to require magnesium ions, and to operate by phosphorylation of a 100,000 dalton enzyme intermediate. Metabolic processes are required to maintain a low concentration of calcium within the cytosol of the mammary alveolar cell. Because no evidence for sodium/calcium exchange could be found in the mammary gland of the lactating mouse, we suggest that these processes operate through a calcium adenosine triphosphatase in the basolateral membrane of the cell. Decreased calcium in the alveolar lumina decreased the integrity of the barrier between blood and milk. It is postulated from observations in other secretory systems that an increase in cystolic activity calcium may play a role in lactogenesis.

Electro-physiological measurements in cultured cellular spheroids

Human Glioma U-118 MG and hamster V-79-379A spheroids were used as models of the nodular structure often seen in poorly vascularized regions of solid tumours. K+, Ca2+ activities and membrane potentials were measured in the spheroids, using microelectrodes. Both stable and peak values were obtained. All values were included in the analysis to allow an accurate estimate of the relative number of electro-physiologically active cells at different depths in the spheroids. The relative number of active cells decreased drastically with depth although most cells in the corresponding regions looked morphologically viable. The amplitude values of potentials and K+ activities showed, however, no significant variations with depth. The Ca2+ activity varied largely between individual cells. The relative number of proliferative cells decreased with depth in the spheroids, in parallel to the decrease in the number of electro-physiologically active cells. The results indicate that the fraction of cells, in poorly vascularized regions, having normal metabolism might be fewer than what can be estimated only on a morphological basis. Thus, the amount of cells with the capacity to contribute to growth might be overestimated when inspecting histological sections.

Ca2+ ions can affect intracellular pH in mammalian cardiac muscle

Although intracellular pH (pHi) has important effects on both the mechanical and electrical properties of cardiac muscle, the control of pHi in the heart is still poorly understood. One important determinant of pHi appears to be the transmembrane Na+ gradient. It has therefore been suggested that Na+-H+ exchange assists in the control of pHi in heart as has been proposed for other excitable cells. However, pHi and the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) are interdependent in a variety of tissues and it has been shown recently that pHi can affect [Ca2+]i in cardiac muscle. As [Ca2+]i in cardiac muscle is also strongly influenced by the transmembrane Na+ gradient it is possible that the apparent Na+-dependence of pHi is secondary to changes in [Ca2+]i. Previous work in cardiac muscle has not been able to separate the effects of Na+-H+ exchange and [Ca2+]i on pHi (refs 4,5). Here we demonstrate in cardiac muscle that an increase in [Ca2+]i produces an intracellular acidification which cannot be ascribed to Na+-H+ exchange.

The role of calcium and the significance of calciumantagonists in some neurological and neurosurgical diseases

Calcium is an important intracellular 'second messenger' in the activation of contractile proteins in vascular smooth muscle cells. Intracellular calcium accumulation probably has a major pathological effect in the occurrence of ischemic cell damage. Calcium antagonists are a heterogenous group of substances with one property in common, that is they interfere with the transmembrane movement of calcium. Their therapeutic usefulness in cerebral vasospasms, migraine and cerebral ischemia is reviewed.

Ionophores and intact cells. II. Oleficin acts on mitochondria and induces disintegration of the mitochondrial genome in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The non-macrolid polyene antibiotic oleficin, which has been shown to function as an ionophore of Mg2+ in isolated rat liver mitochondria, preferentially inhibited growth of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae on non-fermentable substrates. It uncoupled and inhibited respiration of intact cells and converted both growing and resting cells into respiration-deficient mutants. The mutants arose as a result of fragmentation of the mitochondrial genome. Another antibiotic known to be an ionophore of divalent cations, A23187, also selectively inhibited growth of the yeast on non-fermentable substrates, but did not produce the respiration-deficient mutants, neither antibiotic inhibited the energy-dependent uptake of divalent cations by yeast cells nor opened the plasma membrane for these cations. The results indicate that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae both oleficin and A23187 preferentially affected the mitochondrial membrane without acting as ionophores in the plasma membrane.

Concanavalin A binding and Ca2+ fluxes in rat spleen cells

Addition of the mitogenic lectin concanavalin A to rat spleen cells results in a small increase in the steady-state Ca2+ content of the cells. 45Ca2+ fluxes were measured under conditions where artifacts due to Ca2+ binding to concanavalin A could be excluded. Both 45Ca2+ influx into and efflux from these cells are significantly activated by the lectin. If 45Ca2+ is added 30 min after concanavalin A the rate of influx is further enhanced. The increase in 45Ca2+ influx correlates well with binding of concanavalin A to the cells. At low concentrations (optimal mitogenic) of the lectin (1 and 3 micrograms/ml) no significant increase in 45Ca2+ influx occurs but an increase in 45Ca2+ efflux is still observed. The results suggest that concanavalin A binding to the cell surface causes an increase in Ca2+ influx into the cells and that activation of Ca2+ efflux occurs as a response to an increase in the cytosolic Ca2+ activity. Thus, Ca2+ may well play a role in triggering lymphocyte activation.

Calcium uptake in isolated hepatic plasma-membrane vesicles

A liver plasma-membrane fraction capable of Ca2+ uptake was isolated. The fraction exhibited high Na+, K+-ATPase, low glucose-6 phosphatase activity, and transported alanine in a Na+-dependent fashion. The uptake of Ca2+ was ATP-dependent; UTP, GTP, or CTP did not substitute for ATP. The presence of oxalate did not significantly alter the rate of uptake. The pH optimum of the reaction was basic (no uptake was visible at pH 6.8). These properties are at variance with those of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ uptake system, which is oxalate-dependent, and has an acid pH optimum. The ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake has a Km(Ca2+) of 1.4 X 10(-8) M and a Vmax of transport of 30 nmol X mg protein-1 X min-1. No conclusive results were obtained on the calmodulin-sensitivity of the process: addition of calmodulin to the vesicles did not stimulate uptake, and the anti-calmodulin drug trifluoperazine had no inhibitory effect. However, another anti-calmodulin drug (R24571) had a limited, but statistically significant, inhibitory action. A partial release of the accumulated Ca2+ from the vesicles could be induced by the addition of Na+, and incubation of the vesicles in a high Na+ medium (as compared to high K+ medium) resulted in lower (about 25%) calcium uptake. Partial release of the accumulated Ca2+ could be induced also by the addition of H+. The releasing effect of H+, taken together with the absence of Ca2+ uptake at acid pH, suggests the possibility of a H+/Ca2+ exchange.

Wound-healing motility in the green alga Ernodesmis: calcium ions and metabolic energy are required

Wounding a giant cell of the marine alga Ernodesmis verticillata (Kützing) Børgesen (Chlorophyta) induces two concomitant motility phenomena: longitudinal contraction of the protoplasm away from the wound site, and centripetal contraction of the cut end around the central vacuole. Healing is complete within 30 min of wounding. Mechanical extrusion of the protoplasm into the medium with a teasing needle is followed by contraction of the protoplasm into numerous spherical protoplasts within 60 min. Utilizing a simple defined medium, it is shown that motility is almost completely inhibited by the absence of exogenous free Ca(2+), with 5.0 mM ethylene glycol bis-(β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid present. This inhibition is reversible by rinsing the cells with Ca(2+)-containing medium. Similarly, extruded cytoplasm fails to exhibit motility in Ca(2+)-free medium. The threshold concentration of exogenous free Ca(2+) is approx. 10(-7) M for wound-induced contraction. The ions Ba(2+), Cd(2+) and Sr(2+) will substitute for Ca(2+), but the rate of contraction is one-half that with Ca(2+) present. Although darkness has no inhibitory effect, lower temperature (15°C), cyanide, or micromolar amounts of phosphorylation uncouplers reversibly slow protoplasmic motility in wounded cells and extruded cytoplasm. Carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone and carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone are especially potent inhibitors. These results indicate that cellular wound healing utilizes metabolic energy and requires exogenous free Ca(2+), implying that motility in Ernodesmis is a true contractile process. Since 1.0 mM La(3+) completely and reversibly prevents contraction, it is postulated that Ca(2+) fluxes may actually trigger motility.

Dependence of batrachotoxin block of axoplasmic transport on sodium

Batrachotoxin (BTX) in the low concentration range of 19-190 nM blocks axoplasmic transport in the desheathed cat peroneal nerve in vitro. When the level of Na+ in the incubation medium was reduced to 10 mM, the blocking effect of BTX was much diminished, and in an Na+-free medium BTX had no effect on transport at all. The blocking action of BTX with Na+ present was inhibited by increasing the concentration of Ca2+ in the experimental medium. Relatively small increases were effective with a maximum protection seen when the Ca2+ concentrations were 7-10 mM. The results support the view that an increase in axonal Na+ is inhibitory to the transport mechanism. The results are discussed on the basis of the recently developed transport filament model of axoplasmic transport which takes into account an obligatory role for Ca2+ in transport and its axonal regulation. The possible relation of intraaxonal Na+ concentration to the Ca2+ level is also discussed.

Amiloride stimulation of sodium transport in the presence of calcium and a divalent cation chelator

Amiloride in nM to microM concentrations stimulates the short circuit current (Isc) of the toad urinary bladder by as much as 120% when applied in conjunction with apical Ca2+ and a divalent cation chelator. A significant decrease in transepithelial resistance (Rt) is observed simultaneously. This response is spontaneously reversible and its amplitude is dependent upon apical sodium concentrations. The stimulated Isc persisted when acetazolamide (1 mM) was introduced, HPO2-4 substituted for HCO-3 or SO2-4 replaced Cl-. Consequently, the increase in Isc is not due to the change of Cl-, H+ or HCO-3 flux. This behavior in a 'tight' epithelium may be related to the mechanism controlling apical sodium permeability.

Role of calcium in the regulation of sugar transport in the avian erythrocyte: effects of the calcium ionophore, A23187

The tissue/medium distribution of the nonmetabolized glucose analog [14C]-3-O-methyl-D-glucose was measured in pigeon erythrocytes and related to changes in 45Ca uptake and efflux, total calcium content and ATP levels. Sugar transport was not affected by changes in external Ca2+. However, both sugar and 45Ca influx were increased by the Ca-ionophore A23187. In the absence of external Ca2+, the ionophore caused a delayed increase in sugar transport and net loss of calcium, probably through releasing Ca2+ from internal storage sites into the cytoplasm. Increasing internal Na+ through Na+ pump inhibition or using the sodium ionophore monensin did not alter influx of sugar or 45Ca, indicating Na+-Ca2+ exchange was absent in these cells. The results are consistent with A23187 causing increased Ca2+ influx or release from mitochondrial storage and the resulting rise in cytoplasmic Ca2+ stimulating hexose transport. Experiments with low Mg++ and high K+ media and measurements of ATP levels exclude alternative explanations for the action of A23187. We conclude that sugar transport regulation in avian erythrocytes is Ca2+-dependent and resembles that in muscle in its basic mechanism. It differs in the response to some modulating agents, largely because of a different pattern of Ca2+ fluxes in these cells.

Bovine milk-associated calcium as an uncoupling factor of mitochondrial respiration

Attempts to obtain coupled mitochondria from lactating bovine mammary tissue proved unsuccessful. To ascertain the nature of the uncoupling factor(s) responsible, we chose mitochondria of rat liver as a test system for their established isolation with retention of coupled respiration. Isolated, coupled rat liver mitochondria were uncoupled immediately by addition of microliter amounts of bovine milk and aqueous milk fractions. Dialysis of whey resulted in loss of the uncoupling factor, whereas boiling did not prevent the uncoupling effect. Inclusion in whey of the calcium chelator ethylene glycol-bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid protected rat liver mitochondria from the uncoupling effect. Mitochondrial swelling paralleled whey-induced respiratory uncoupling. When monitored by both oxygen consumption and swelling experiments, loss of respiratory control was correlated with the ionic calcium content of bovine milk. These findings suggest that high ionic calcium in bovine milk caused uncoupling. Extensive washings to remove or chelate calcium or inhibit mitochondrial calcium uptake were ineffective in preventing bovine mammary mitochondrial uncoupling. The implications of these findings suggest large amounts of compartmentalized intracellular calcium in bovine mammary tissue.

Regulation of the Ca2+-pump by calmodulin in intact cells

ATP-enriched human red cells display high rates of Ca2+-dependent ATP hydrolysis (16 mmol . litre cells-1 . h-1) with a high Ca2+ affinity (K0.5 approximately 0.2 microM). The finding suggests a mechanism for regulation of cell Ca2+ levels, involving highly-cooperative stimulation of active Ca2+ extrusion following binding of calmodulin to the (Ca2+ +Mg2+)-ATPase.

The mechanism of calcium transport in mitochondria isolated from the marine mussel, Mytilus edulis (L.)

Isolated mussel mitochondria produced a less pronounced transient stimulation of respiration upon the addition of Ca2+ in a reaction medium containing Pi and a slower rate of Ca2+ transport compared to rat liver mitochondria. The initial rates of Ca2+ transport in the absence of Pi were more similar and both types of mitochondria possessed a sigmoidal relationship between the initial rate of Ca2+ transport and the free Ca2+ concentration ("Km" approximately 5 microM). Ruthenium red produced an equal maximal inhibition of the initial rate of Ca2+ transport in both types of mitochondria but mussel mitochondria were rather more resistant to the inhibitor. The major difference found was that approximately 15 nmoles La3+ mg protein-1 was required to produce maximal inhibition of the initial rate of Ca2+ transport in mussel mitochondria compared to approximately 1.0 nmole La3+ mg protein-1 in rat liver mitochondria. It is concluded that mussel mitochondria possess a comparable Ca2+ transporter to vertebrate mitochondria and possible reasons for resistance to La3+ are discussed.

Evidence that TRH stimulates secretion of TSH by two calcium-mediated mechanisms

Thyrotropin-released hormone (TRH) stimulation of thyrotropin (TSH) release from mouse thyrotropic tumor (TtT) cells is dependent on Ca2+. We demonstrate that TRH action in TtT cells does not require extracellular Ca2+ but that Ca2+ influx induced by TRH can augment TSH secretion. TRH caused a 46% increase in 45Ca2+ uptake by TtT cells in medium with 100 micro M Ca2+. The increment in 45Ca2+ uptake caused by TRH was dependent on the concentration of Ca2+ in the medium. In contrast to the effect of 50 mM K+, which also causes Ca2+ influx, TRH caused 45Ca2+ efflux and TSH release from TtT cells even when the concentration of Ca2+ in the medium was lowered below 100 micro M. TRH stimulated TSH release during perifusion in medium in which the free Ca2+ concentration was lowered to approximately 0.02 micro M, and reintroduction of Ca2+ into the medium simultaneously with TRH markedly increased TSH release. We suggest that TRH may affect Ca2+ metabolism in TtT cells by both extracellular Ca2+-independent and -dependent mechanisms and that this dual mechanism of action serves to augment further TSH secretion induced by TRH.

Calcium ions and the control of proliferation in normal and cancer cells

Several lines of evidence suggest tha Ca2+ ions control cell proliferation: Ca2+ entry into cytoplasm acts as a general mitogen; serum and serum-replacements induce Ca2+ influx; the Ca2+ concentrations in growth media required to support the proliferation of normal cells are much higher than those required for cancer cells; serum and growth factors reduce the Ca2+ requirements of normal cells; tumour promoters alter Ca2+ fluxes via a mechanism used principally by growth factors. Minor supporting evidence includes the effects of various drugs and viruses, and the behaviour of tumour cell mitochondria and intercellular junctions. It is still not possible to decide exactly where and when inside cells the critical effect of Ca2+ on proliferation occurs, but we discuss at length the practical problems of understanding Ca2+ movements in tissue-culture cells. Carried to its logical conclusion, present evidence suggests that an overridden or bypassed Ca2+ control process may be the key, common determinant of unrestrained proliferation in cancer cells.

The transport of cations in mitochondria

The present paper has reviewed several factors related to ion transport and examined the properties of cation transport in mitochondria. The analysis suggests that: (1) The concept that a metabolically dependent electrical potential across the mitochondrial membrane plays a role in determining ion fluxes and steady-state concentrations is not justified and the data indicate that such exchanges are generally electroneutral. (2) Generally, the influx and efflux of an ion proceed by the same mechanism with at least one exception. (3) There are indications that some of the steps in transport are common to several cations. (4) The idea that carrier or ionophoric molecules are involved in cation transport has been examined in some detail together with the possible involvement of some known mitochondrial components. In particular, a model has been introduced in which local charge imbalances produced by H+ fluxes serve as the driving force of transport. The molecules of the complex are arranged in series in a tripartite arrangement including a filter or gate, a nonselective channel and an H+-transferring portion linked to either electron transport or the ATPase. Parts of this model have been introduced by other investigators. Models in which different portions of channels have differing functions have been proposed previously for other transport systems.

Ni2+, a new inhibitor of mitochondrial calcium transport

1. The effect of Ni2+ on respiration, volume changes and Ca2+ movements was investigated in rat liver mitochondria. 2. Ni2+ inhibited Ca2+ uptake into respiring mitochondria, Ca2+-stimulated respiration and swelling in Ca2+ salts, whereas it did not inhibit either state 4 and DNP-stimulated respiration, or swelling in K+ salt in the presence of valinomycin. 3. The inhibitory concentration of Ni2+ dependent strongly on the applied Ca2+ concentration. As revealed by direct methods, 50% inhibition of Ca2+ influx was achieved by approx. 2-fold excess of Ni2+. 4. If added to Ca2+-loaded mitochondria, Ni2+ gave rise to slow Ca2+ release and inhibited uncoupler-induced efflux slightly. 5. It is concluded that Ni2+ is a potent inhibitor of mitochondrial Ca2+ transport. Ca2+ influx is far more sensitive to inhibition than Ca2+ efflux.

Sodium-dependent and calcium-dependent calcium transport by rat brain microsomes

Microsomal vesicles prepared from rat brain contain a Na+-Ca2+ exchange transport system capable of accumulating Ca2+ in a time- and temperature-dependent manner. The Ca2+ accumulated by these vesicles was released by the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 but not by EGTA. The Km value for Ca2+ uptake was 23 microM with a maximal velocity of 21 nmol Ca2+/mg per min. Ca2+ uptake was significantly inhibited by La3+, Sr2+, Mn2+ and Ba2+ and to a lesser extent by Mg2+. 45Ca2+ accumulated by Na+-dependent uptake could be released by 40Ca2+, indicating the presence of a Ca2+-Ca2+ exchange activity in the microsomes. Ca2+-Ca2+ exchange was stimulated in Li+- and K+-containing media as compared to choline+ media. Microsomes also catalyzed ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake (in the absence of Na+ gradient). The Ca2+ sequestered by this mechanism could be released by extravesicular Na+, indicating that both the ATP-dependent and the Na+-dependent Ca2+ uptake systems are present in the same membrane. The microsomal preparation used did not contain measurable amounts of succinate dehydrogenase activity or oligomycin-azide-dinitrophenol sensitive ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake. Thus, the Ca2+ accumulation observed was not due to contaminating mitochondria. The preparation was enriched for 5'-nucleotidase and (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (plasma membrane markers) as well as antimycin A-resistant NADPH-dependent cytochrome c reductase activity (an endoplasmic reticulum marker).

Calmodulin pharmacology

Calmodulin (CaM) is a major intracellular receptor for Ca2+. CaM is thus a crucial receptor to consider in pharmacological modification of cellular activity. Potential mechanisms by which drugs may modify CaM effectiveness are considered in the context of its interaction with Ca2+ and in turn with its various effectors. Some examples of established drug mechanisms are considered. A wide range of chemical compounds representing diverse pharmacological classes are anti-CaM under some conditions. No simple relationships have been established between molecular level events and therapeutic applicability of anti-CaM compounds.