Erythrocyte membrane (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase in human protein-energy malnutrition

Reduced expressions of calmodulin genes and protein and reduced ability of calmodulin to activate plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase in the brain of protein undernourished rats: modulatory roles of selenium and zinc supplementation

The roles of protein undernutrition as well as selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) supplementation on the ability of calmodulin (CaM) to activate erythrocyte ghost membrane (EGM) Ca(2+)-ATPase and the calmodulin genes and protein expressions in rat's cortex and cerebellum were investigated. Rats on adequate protein diet and protein-undernourished (PU) rats were fed with diet containing 16% and 5% casein, respectively, for a period of 10 weeks. The rats were then supplemented with Se and Zn at a concentration of 0.15 and 227 mg l(-1), respectively, in drinking water for 3 weeks. The results obtained from the study showed significant reductions in synaptosomal plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase (PMCA) activity, Ca(2+)/CaM activated EGM Ca(2+) ATPase activity and calmodulin genes and protein expressions in PU rats. Se or Zn supplementation improved the ability of Ca(2+)/CaM to activate EGM Ca(2+)-ATPase and protein expressions. Se or Zn supplementation improved gene expression in the cerebellum but not in the cortex. Also, the activity of PMCA was significantly improved by Zn. In conclusion, it is postulated that Se and Zn might be beneficial antioxidants in protecting against neuronal dysfunction resulting from reduced level of calmodulin such as present in protein undernutrition.

Effect of reactive oxygen species on the erythrocyte calcium-pump function in protein-energy malnutrition

The presence of detectable amounts of non-heme iron in erythrocyte ghost membranes have been postulated to lead to the initiation of membrane lipid peroxidation and the attendant perturbation of membrane functions. We have investigated the presence of non-heme iron and endogenous products of lipid peroxidation in erythrocyte membranes of normal and kwashiorkor (KWA) subjects and assessed the susceptibility of the membranes to exogenously generated reactive oxygen species. The modulation of the basal and calmodulin-stimulated calcium-pumping activity of these membranes by reactive oxygen species was also assessed. The results show the presence of significant amounts of non-heme iron and endogenous free radical reaction products in the red cell membranes of KWA subjects compared with that of normal children. Estimation of the extent of lipid peroxidation in the presence of exogenously generated reactive oxygen species further revealed that erythrocyte ghost membranes of KWA subjects are more susceptible to oxidative stress than those of normal individuals. Although both the basal and calmodulin-stimulated activities of the membrane-bound Ca(2+)-pump enzyme in normal and KWA subjects were inhibited by oxygen-free radicals, the erythrocyte enzyme in KWA subjects showed higher susceptibility to inhibition by oxygen free radicals than that of normal individuals. We propose that the reduced erythrocyte calcium-pump function in KWA is not unconnected with excessive generation of reactive oxygen species.

Purification and analysis of erythrocyte membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase from small samples of patient blood: application to cystic fibrosis

A method is presented for the micro-scale isolation and characterization of erythrocyte membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase from small samples (7 mL) of whole human blood. Ca(2+)-ATPase isolated by this technique was more than 92% pure and showed calcium-activation characteristics similar to enzyme purified by standard macroscale procedures--viz maximal velocity of activation (VCA2+) = 15.5 +/- 1.2 mumol ATP hydrolysed/mg/min, and reciprocal of apparent affinity (KCa2+) = 0.73 +/- 0.15 microM free calcium (mean +/- SEM; n = 9). Using the isolation procedure described, purified Ca(2+)-ATPase could be prepared and assayed in a single working day. When the calcium-activation kinetics of cystic fibrosis erythrocyte membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase were reassessed using enzyme purified by this technique, VCa2+ and KCa2+ were not significantly different from normal values.

Comparative action of calpain on erythrocyte Ca2(+)-pumping ATPase in sickle cell anaemia, essential hypertension and kwashiorkor

Calpain, a calcium-dependent, neutral cysteine-protease was purified from the erythrocyte cytosol of subjects having essential hypertension (HTN), sickle cell anaemia, (SCA), or kwashiorkor (KWA). Identical electrophoretic mobility on SDS-polyacrylamide gradient gel, sensitivity to micromolar amounts of Ca2+, absolute requirement for a reducing environment and a high susceptibility to inhibition by leupeptin and thiol-group modifying reagents confirm that calpain preparations from these erythrocytes are equivalent to calpain I. Whereas the extent of calpain activation of erythrocyte membrane Ca2(+)-pumping ATPase of normal subjects was almost equal to that due to calmodulin, calpain activation of the HTN and SCA pump was greater than activation by calmodulin. Like in normal membranes, exogenous calmodulin protected the Ca2(+)-pumping ATPase of these erythrocytes against calpainization; the degree of protection by calmodulin is least in SCA and HTN. Electrophoretic separation of erythrocyte membranes and the purified Ca2(+)-pumping ATPase of HTN, SCA and KWA subjects does not indicate the presence of fragments resulting from the proteolytic action of calpain.