Water transport in red blood cell membranes

The effect of ionic redistributions on the microwave dielectric response of cytosol water upon glucose uptake

The sensitivity of cytosol water's microwave dielectric (MD) response to D-glucose uptake in Red Blood Cells (RBCs) allows the detailed study of cellular mechanisms as a function of controlled exposures to glucose and other related analytes like electrolytes. However, the underlying mechanism behind the sensitivity to glucose exposure remains a topic of debate. In this research, we utilize MDS within the frequency range of 0.5-40 GHz to explore how ionic redistributions within the cell impact the microwave dielectric characteristics associated with D-glucose uptake in RBC suspensions. Specifically, we compare glucose uptake in RBCs exposed to the physiological concentration of Ca2+ vs. Ca-free conditions. We also investigate the potential involvement of Na+/K+ redistribution in glucose-mediated dielectric response by studying RBCs treated with a specific Na+/K+ pump inhibitor, ouabain. We present some insights into the MD response of cytosol water when exposed to Ca2+ in the absence of D-glucose. The findings from this study confirm that ion-induced alterations in bound/bulk water balance do not affect the MD response of cytosol water during glucose uptake.

In-cell NMR: Why and how?

NMR spectroscopy has been applied to cells and tissues analysis since its beginnings, as early as 1950. We have attempted to gather here in a didactic fashion the broad diversity of data and ideas that emerged from NMR investigations on living cells. Covering a large proportion of the periodic table, NMR spectroscopy permits scrutiny of a great variety of atomic nuclei in all living organisms non-invasively. It has thus provided quantitative information on cellular atoms and their chemical environment, dynamics, or interactions. We will show that NMR studies have generated valuable knowledge on a vast array of cellular molecules and events, from water, salts, metabolites, cell walls, proteins, nucleic acids, drugs and drug targets, to pH, redox equilibria and chemical reactions. The characterization of such a multitude of objects at the atomic scale has thus shaped our mental representation of cellular life at multiple levels, together with major techniques like mass-spectrometry or microscopies. NMR studies on cells has accompanied the developments of MRI and metabolomics, and various subfields have flourished, coined with appealing names: fluxomics, foodomics, MRI and MRS (i.e. imaging and localized spectroscopy of living tissues, respectively), whole-cell NMR, on-cell ligand-based NMR, systems NMR, cellular structural biology, in-cell NMR… All these have not grown separately, but rather by reinforcing each other like a braided trunk. Hence, we try here to provide an analytical account of a large ensemble of intricately linked approaches, whose integration has been and will be key to their success. We present extensive overviews, firstly on the various types of information provided by NMR in a cellular environment (the "why", oriented towards a broad readership), and secondly on the employed NMR techniques and setups (the "how", where we discuss the past, current and future methods). Each subsection is constructed as a historical anthology, showing how the intrinsic properties of NMR spectroscopy and its developments structured the accessible knowledge on cellular phenomena. Using this systematic approach, we sought i) to make this review accessible to the broadest audience and ii) to highlight some early techniques that may find renewed interest. Finally, we present a brief discussion on what may be potential and desirable developments in the context of integrative studies in biology.

The long-term effects of rapamycin-based immunosuppressive protocols on the expression of renal aquaporins 1, 2, 3 and 4 water channels in rats

BACKGROUND

To this day, the effect of multi-drug immunosuppressive protocols on renal expression of AQPs is unknown. This study aimed to determine the influence of rapamycin-based multi-drug immunosuppressive regimens on the expression of aquaporins (AQPs) 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the rat kidney.

METHODS

For 6 months, 24 male Wistar rats were administered immunosuppressants, according to the three-drug protocols used in patients after organ transplantation. The rats were divided into four groups: the control group, the TRP group (tacrolimus, rapamycin, prednisone), the CRP group (cyclosporine A, rapamycin, prednisone), and the MRP group (mycophenolate mofetil, rapamycin, prednisone). Selected red cell indices and total calcium were measured in the blood of rats and quantitative analysis of AQP1, AQP2, AQP3 and AQP4 immunoexpression in the kidneys were performed.

RESULTS

In the TRP and CRP groups, a mild increase of mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit and total calcium were observed. Moreover, decreased expression of AQP1-4 was found in all experimental groups, with the highest decrease in the CRP group.

CONCLUSIONS

The long-term immunosuppressive treatment using multi-drug protocols decreased AQP1-4 expressions in renal tubules, possibly leading to impaired urine-concentrating ability in rat.

The study of isotopic enrichment of water in human plasma and erythrocyte

Life does not sustain without water. For water, there is a natural abundance of stable isotope hydrogen and oxygen. Water molecules get across cell membranes through a plasma membrane protein, named aquaporin. Moreover, the kidney is the main organ to maintain water homeostasis. Here, we study the stable isotopic ratios of hydrogen and oxygen in human blood plasma and erythrocyte corresponding to kidney functions. We extract waters from human plasma and erythrocyte, collected from 110 participants, including 51 clinically stable outpatients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and 59 subjects with normal renal function (NRF). We observed that (i) both extracellular (blood plasma) and intracellular (erythrocyte) biology waters are isotopic differences between the ESRD and NRF participants, (ii) the natural abundance of isotopic waters of ESRD is hypo-isotopic, and (iii) the isotopic enrichment of water between erythrocyte and blood plasma are distinct. In addition, we introduce an empirical formula using entropy transformation to describe isotopic water enrichment for biology. Accordingly, the natural abundance of stable isotope water of blood plasma and erythrocyte may be possibly put in practice a new sign for assessments of kidney dysfunctions.

Shutter-Speed DCE-MRI Analyses of Human Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Data

BACKGROUND

The shutter-speed model dynamic contrast-enhanced (SSM-DCE) MRI pharmacokinetic analysis adds a metabolic dimension to DCE-MRI. This is of particular interest in cancers, since abnormal metabolic activity might happen.

PURPOSE

To develop a DCE-MRI SSM analysis framework for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cases considering the heterogeneous tissue found in GBM.

STUDY TYPE

Prospective.

SUBJECTS

Ten GBM patients.

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE

3T MRI with DCE-MRI.

ASSESSMENTS

The corrected Akaike information criterion (AIC_c ) was used to automatically separate DCE-MRI data into proper SSM versions based on the contrast agent (CA) extravasation in each pixel. The supra-intensive parameters, including the vascular water efflux rate constant (k_bo ), the cellular efflux rate constant (k_io ), and the CA vascular efflux rate constant (k_pe ), together with intravascular and extravascular-extracellular water mole fractions (p_b and p_o , respectively) were determined. Further error analyses were also performed to eliminate unreliable estimations on k_io and k_bo .

STATISTICAL TESTS

Student's t-test.

RESULTS

For tumor pixels of all subjects, 88% show lower AIC_c with SSM than with the Tofts model. Compared to normal-appearing white matter (NAWM), tumor tissue showed significantly larger p_b (0.045 vs. 0.011, P < 0.001) and higher k_pe (3.0 × 10^-2 s^-1 vs. 6.1 × 10^-4 s^-1 , P < 0.001). In the contrast, significant k_bo reduction was observed from NAWM to GBM tumor tissue (2.8 s^-1 vs. 1.0 s^-1 , P < 0.001). In addition, k_bo is four orders and two orders of magnitude greater than k_pe in the NAWM and GBM tumor, respectively. These results indicate that CA and water molecule have different transmembrane pathways. The mean tumor k_io of all subjects was 0.57 s^-1 .

DATA CONCLUSION

We demonstrate the feasibility of applying SSM models in GBM cases. Within the proposed SSM analysis framework, k_io and k_bo could be estimated, which might be useful biomarkers for GBM diagnosis and survival prediction in future.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:850-863.

Changes observed in erythrocyte cells exposed to an alternating current

Background and aims

Appliance of electric pulses induces red blood cells (RBCs) membrane poration, membrane aminophospholipid perturbation and alteration of the normal flip-flop process, resulting in various shape changes of the RBCs. We studied morphological and water permeability changes of RBCs bombarded with electrons in an alternating current circuit.

Methods

We used three venous blood samples of 100 mL and an alternating current device. The harvested blood was divided into four experimental sets to be used for various exposure times: 0 hours (control RBCs), 0.5h, 3h and 6h (electric-stimulated RBCs).

Following the electric current each of the four sets were further divided into three samples: one for the assessment of the echinocytes/RBCs ratio, another for the electron microscopy study of ultrastructural changes induced by the alternating electrical current and a larger third one for determining water permeability of RCBs by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy and morphological measurements.

Results

There is a small but statistically significant effect of the RBC exposure to alternating electric current on cell diameters. Exposure to electric current is positively and strongly correlated with the percentage of echinocytes in a duration-dependent manner. There is a strong and statistically significant correlation between electric current exposure and permeability to water as measured by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy.

Conclusion

Following interactions between electric current and RBC membrane, certain modifications were observed in the erythrocyte structure. We attribute the increased cell size to a higher permeability to water and a decreased tonicity. This leads to the transformation of the RBCs into echinocytes.

NMR quantification of diffusional exchange in cell suspensions with relaxation rate differences between intra and extracellular compartments

Water transport across cell membranes can be measured non-invasively with diffusion NMR. We present a method to quantify the intracellular lifetime of water in cell suspensions with short transverse relaxation times, T₂, and also circumvent the confounding effect of different T₂ values in the intra- and extracellular compartments. Filter exchange spectroscopy (FEXSY) is specifically sensitive to exchange between compartments with different apparent diffusivities. Our investigation shows that FEXSY could yield significantly biased results if differences in T₂ are not accounted for. To mitigate this problem, we propose combining FEXSY with diffusion-relaxation correlation experiment, which can quantify differences in T₂ values in compartments with different diffusivities. Our analysis uses a joint constrained fitting of the two datasets and considers the effects of diffusion, relaxation and exchange in both experiments. The method is demonstrated on yeast cells with and without human aquaporins.

Red blood cell membrane water permeability increases with length of ex vivo storage

Water transport across the red blood cell (RBC) membrane is an essential cell function that needs to be preserved during ex vivo storage. Progressive biochemical depletion during storage can result in significant conformational and compositional changes to the membrane. Characterizing the changes to RBC water permeability can help in evaluating the quality of stored blood products and aid in the development of improved methods for the cryopreservation of red blood cells. This study aimed to characterize the water permeability (L_p), osmotically inactive fraction (b), and Arrhenius activation energy (E_a) at defined storage time-points throughout storage and to correlate the observed results with other in vitro RBC quality parameters. RBCs were collected from age- and sex-matched blood donors. A stopped flow spectrophotometer was used to determine L_p and b by monitoring changes in hemoglobin autofluorescence when RBCs were exposed to anisotonic solutions. Experimental values of L_p were characterized at three different temperatures (4, 20 and 37 °C) to determine the E_a. Results showed that L_p, b, and E_a of stored RBCs significantly increase by day 21 of storage. Degradation of the RBC membrane with length of storage was seen as an increase in hemolysis and supernatant potassium, and a decrease in deformability, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and supernatant sodium. RBC osmotic characteristics were shown to change with storage and correlate with changes in RBC membrane quality metrics. Monitoring water parameters is a predictor of membrane damage and loss of membrane integrity in ex vivo stored RBCs.

Fast, accurate 2D-MR relaxation exchange spectroscopy (REXSY): Beyond compressed sensing

Previously, we showed that compressive or compressed sensing (CS) can be used to reduce significantly the data required to obtain 2D-NMR relaxation and diffusion spectra when they are sparse or well localized. In some cases, an order of magnitude fewer uniformly sampled data were required to reconstruct 2D-MR spectra of comparable quality. Nonetheless, this acceleration may still not be sufficient to make 2D-MR spectroscopy practicable for many important applications, such as studying time-varying exchange processes in swelling gels or drying paints, in living tissue in response to various biological or biochemical challenges, and particularly for in vivo MRI applications. A recently introduced framework, marginal distributions constrained optimization (MADCO), tremendously accelerates such 2D acquisitions by using a priori obtained 1D marginal distribution as powerful constraints when 2D spectra are reconstructed. Here we exploit one important intrinsic property of the 2D-MR relaxation exchange spectra: the fact that the 1D marginal distributions of each 2D-MR relaxation exchange spectrum in both dimensions are equal and can be rapidly estimated from a single Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) or inversion recovery prepared CPMG measurement. We extend the MADCO framework by further proposing to use the 1D marginal distributions to inform the subsequent 2D data-sampling scheme, concentrating measurements where spectral peaks are present and reducing them where they are not. In this way we achieve compression or acceleration that is an order of magnitude greater than that in our previous CS method while providing data in reconstructed 2D-MR spectral maps of comparable quality, demonstrated using several simulated and real 2D T2 - T2 experimental data. This method, which can be called "informed compressed sensing," is extendable to other 2D- and even ND-MR exchange spectroscopy.

Morphology and water permeability of red blood cells from green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas)

The morphology and diffusional water permeability (P d) of red blood cells (RBCs) from green sea turtle (GST) (Chelonia mydas) are presented for the first time. The RBCs had an ellipsoidal shape with full-axis lengths (diameters): D = 14.4 μm; d = 10.2 μm; h = 2.8 μm. The values of P d (cm s(-1)) were 5.1 × 10(-3) at 15 °C, 5.7 × 10(-3) at 20 °C, 6.3 × 10(-3) at 25 °C, 6.8 × 10(-3) at 30 °C, and 7.9 × 10(-3) at 37 °C (i.e., significantly higher than in human RBCs in which it was measured to be 4.2 × 10(-3) at 25 °C, 5.0 × 10(-3) at 30 °C, and 6.2 × 10(-3) at 37 °C). There was a lack of inhibition of P d of GST RBCs by p-chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB), a well-known inhibitor of the RBC water channel proteins (WCPs). The activation energy of water diffusion (E a,d) in GST RBCs was 15.0 ± 1.6 kJ mol(-1) which is lower than the E a,d for human RBCs (~25 kJ mol(-1)). These results indicate that in the membrane of GST RBCs, there were no WCPs that were inhibited by the mercurial reagent, while the lipid bilayer of this membrane is unusually permeable to water. This is likely to be a phylogenetically old trait, like that found in amphibians and even the later birds, all of which have nucleated erythrocytes; and it is also likely to be a result of the animal's adaptation to a herbivorous diet (algae and seagrasses).

Mapping water exchange rates in rat tumor xenografts using the late-stage uptake following bolus injections of contrast agent

PURPOSE

To map the intra-to-extracellular water exchange rate constant in rat xenografts using a two-compartment model of relaxation with water exchange and a range of contrast agent concentrations and compare with histology.

METHODS

MDA-MB-231 cells were xenografted into six nude rats. Three bolus injections of gadodiamide were administered. When uptake in the tumor demonstrated a steady-state, T1 data were acquired by spoiled gradient recalled acquisitions at four flip angles. A global fit of data to a two-compartment model incorporating exchange was performed, assuming a distribution volume of 20% of the rat.

RESULTS

Voxels that did not reach steady-state and were excluded from parametric maps tended to be in large necrotic areas. TUNEL-negative (nonapoptotic) regions tended to have well-defined error bounds, with an average intra-to-extracellular exchange rate constant of 0.6 s(-1) . Apoptotic regions had higher exchange, but poorly determined upper bounds, with goodness of fit similar to that for a model assuming infinitely fast exchange. A lower bound of >3 s(-1) was used to establish voxels where the exchange rate constant was fast despite a large upper bound.

CONCLUSION

Water exchange rates were higher in apoptotic regions, but examination of statistical errors was an important step in the mapping process.

The role of tissue microstructure and water exchange in biophysical modelling of diffusion in white matter

Biophysical models that describe the outcome of white matter diffusion MRI experiments have various degrees of complexity. While the simplest models assume equal-sized and parallel axons, more elaborate ones may include distributions of axon diameters and axonal orientation dispersions. These microstructural features can be inferred from diffusion-weighted signal attenuation curves by solving an inverse problem, validated in several Monte Carlo simulation studies. Model development has been paralleled by microscopy studies of the microstructure of excised and fixed nerves, confirming that axon diameter estimates from diffusion measurements agree with those from microscopy. However, results obtained in vivo are less conclusive. For example, the amount of slowly diffusing water is lower than expected, and the diffusion-encoded signal is apparently insensitive to diffusion time variations, contrary to what may be expected. Recent understandings of the resolution limit in diffusion MRI, the rate of water exchange, and the presence of microscopic axonal undulation and axonal orientation dispersions may, however, explain such apparent contradictions. Knowledge of the effects of biophysical mechanisms on water diffusion in tissue can be used to predict the outcome of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) studies. Alterations of DTI or DKI parameters found in studies of pathologies such as ischemic stroke can thus be compared with those predicted by modelling. Observations in agreement with the predictions strengthen the credibility of biophysical models; those in disagreement could provide clues of how to improve them. DKI is particularly suited for this purpose; it is performed using higher b-values than DTI, and thus carries more information about the tissue microstructure. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the current understanding of how various properties of the tissue microstructure and the rate of water exchange between microenvironments are reflected in diffusion MRI measurements. We focus on the use of biophysical models for extracting tissue-specific parameters from data obtained with single PGSE sequences on clinical MRI scanners, but results obtained with animal MRI scanners are also considered. While modelling of white matter is the central theme, experiments on model systems that highlight important aspects of the biophysical models are also reviewed.

Comparative studies of water permeability of red blood cells from humans and over 30 animal species: an overview of 20 years of collaboration with Philip Kuchel

NMR measurements of the diffusional permeability of the human adult red blood cell (RBC) membrane to water (P(d)) and of the activation energy (E(a,d)) of the process furnished values of P(d) ~ 4 × 10(-3) cm/s at 25 °C and ~6.1 × 10(-3) cm/s at 37 °C, and E(a,d) ~ 26 kJ/mol. Comparative NMR measurements for other species showed: (1) monotremes (echidna and platypus), chicken, little penguin, and saltwater crocodile have the lowest P(d) values; (2) sheep, cow, and elephant have P(d) values lower than human P(d) values; (3) cat, horse, alpaca, and camel have P(d) values close to those of humans; (4) guinea pig, dog, dingo, agile wallaby, red-necked wallaby, Eastern grey kangaroo, and red kangaroo have P(d) values higher than those of humans; (5) mouse, rat, rabbit, and "small and medium size" marsupials have the highest values of P(d) (>8.0 × 10(-3) cm/s at 25 °C and >10.0 × 10(-3) cm/s at 37 °C). There are peculiarities of E(a,d) values for the RBCs from different species. The maximum inhibition of diffusional permeability of RBCs induced by incubation with p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate varied between 0% (for the chicken and little penguin) to ~50% (for human, mouse, cat, sheep, horse, camel, and Indian elephant), and ~60-75% (for rat, guinea pig, rabbit, dog, alpaca, and all marsupials). These results indicate that no water channel proteins (WCPs) or aquaporins are present in the membrane of RBCs from monotremes (echidna, platypus), chicken, little penguin and saltwater crocodile whereas WCPs from the membranes of RBCs from marsupials have peculiarities.

The first discovered water channel protein, later called aquaporin 1: molecular characteristics, functions and medical implications

After a decade of work on the water permeability of red blood cells (RBC) Benga group in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, discovered in 1985 the first water channel protein in the RBC membrane. The discovery was reported in publications in 1986 and reviewed in subsequent years. The same protein was purified by chance by Agre group in Baltimore, USA, in 1988, who called in 1991 the protein CHIP28 (CHannel forming Integral membrane Protein of 28 kDa), suggesting that it may play a role in linkage of the membrane skeleton to the lipid bilayer. In 1992 the Agre group identified CHIP28's water transport property. One year later CHIP28 was named aquaporin 1, abbreviated as AQP1. In this review the molecular structure-function relationships of AQP1 are presented. In the natural or model membranes AQP1 is in the form of a homotetramer, however, each monomer has an independent water channel (pore). The three-dimensional structure of AQP1 is described, with a detailed description of the channel (pore), the molecular mechanisms of permeation through the channel of water molecules and exclusion of protons. The permeability of the pore to gases (CO(2), NH(3), NO, O(2)) and ions is also mentioned. I have also reviewed the functional roles and medical implications of AQP1 expressed in various organs and cells (microvascular endothelial cells, kidney, central nervous system, eye, lacrimal and salivary glands, respiratory apparatus, gastrointestinal tract, hepatobiliary compartments, female and male reproductive system, inner ear, skin). The role of AQP1 in cell migration and angiogenesis in relation with cancer, the genetics of AQP1 and mutations in human subjects are also mentioned. The role of AQP1 in red blood cells is discussed based on our comparative studies of water permeability in over 30 species.

Filter-exchange PGSE NMR determination of cell membrane permeability

A new PGSE NMR sequence is introduced for measuring diffusive transport across the plasma membrane of living cells. A "diffusion filter" and a variable mixing time precedes a standard PGSE block for diffusion encoding of the NMR signal. The filter is a PGSE block optimized for selectively removing the magnetization of the extracellular water. With increasing mixing time the intra- and extracellular components approach their equilibrium fractional populations. The rate of exchange can be measured using only a few minutes of instrument time. Water exchange over the plasma membrane of starved yeast cells is studied in the temperature range +5 to +32 degrees C.

Detection of apoptotic cell death in vitro in the presence of Gd-DTPA-BMA

Due to variability in patient response to cancer therapy, there is a growing interest in monitoring patient progress during treatment. Apoptotic cell death is one early marker of tumor response to treatment. Using known extracellular concentrations of gadolinium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid bismethylamide (Gd-DTPA-BMA) to vary the exchange regime, T(1) and T(2) relaxation data for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell samples were obtained and then analyzed using a two-pool model of relaxation with exchange. Leukemia cells treated with cisplatin to induce apoptosis exhibited a statistically significant (P < 0.05) decrease in intracellular longitudinal relaxation time, T(1I), from 1030 ms to 940 ms, a decrease (P < 0.001) in the intracellular water fraction, M(0I), from 0.86 to 0.68 and a statistically significant increase (P < 0.01) in transmembrane water exchange rate, k(IE), from 1.4 s(-1) to 6.8 s(-1). The changes in MR parameters correlated with quantitative histology, such as cellular cross-sectional area and average nuclear area measurements. The results of this study emphasize the importance of accounting for water exchange in dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) studies, particularly those that examine tumor response to therapies in which apoptotic changes occur.

Water channel proteins (later called aquaporins) and relatives: past, present, and future

Water channels or water channel proteins (WCPs) are transmembrane proteins that have a specific three-dimensional structure with a pore that can be permeated by water molecules. WCPs are large families (over 450 members) that are present in all kingdoms of life. The first WCP was discovered in the human red blood cell (RBC) membrane in 1980s. In 1990s other WCPs were discovered in plants, microorganisms, various animals, and humans; and it became obvious that the WCPs belong to the superfamily of major intrinsic proteins (MIPs, over 800 members). WCPs include three subfamilies: (a) aquaporins (AQPs), which are water specific (or selective water channels); (b) aquaglyceroporins (and glycerol facilitators), which are permeable to water and/or other small molecules; and (c) "superaquaporins" or subcellular AQPs. WCPs (and MIPs) have several structural characteristics which were better understood after the atomic structure of some MIPs was deciphered. The structure-function relationships of MIPs expressed in microorganisms (bacteria, archaea, yeast, and protozoa), plants, and some multicellular animal species [nematodes, insects, fishes, amphibians, mammals (and humans)] are described. A synthetic overview on the WCPs from RBCs from various species is provided. The physiological roles of WCPs in kidney, gastrointestinal system, respiratory apparatus, central nervous system, eye, adipose tissue, skin are described, and some implications of WCPs in various diseases are briefly presented. References of detailed reviews on each topic are given. This is the first review providing in a condensed form an overview of the whole WCP field that became in the last 20 years a very hot area of research in biochemistry and molecular cell biology, with wide and increasing implications.

2H2O quadrupolar splitting used to measure water exchange in erythrocytes

The 2H NMR resonance from HDO (D=2H) in human red blood cells (RBCs) suspended in gelatin that was held stretched in a special apparatus was distinct from the two signals that were symmetrically arranged on either side of it, which were assigned to extracellular HDO. The large extracellular splitting is due to the interaction of the electric quadrupole moment of the 2H nuclei with the electric field gradient tensor of the stretched, partially aligned gelatin. Lack of resolved splitting of the intracellular resonance indicated greatly diminished or absent ordering of the HDO inside RBCs. The separate resonances enabled the application of a saturation transfer method to estimate the rate constants of transmembrane exchange of water in RBCs. However both the theory and the practical applications needed modifications because even in the absence of RBCs the HDO resonances were maximally suppressed when the saturating radio-frequency radiation was applied exactly at the central frequency between the two resonances of the quadrupolar HDO doublet. More statistically robust estimates of the exchange rate constants were obtained by applying two-dimensional exchange spectroscopy (2D EXSY), with back-transformation analysis. A monotonic dependence of the estimates of the efflux rate constants on the mixing time, tmix, used in the 2D EXSY experiment were seen. Extrapolation to tmix=0, gave an estimate of the efflux rate constant at 15 degrees C of 31.5+/-2.2 s(-1) while at 25 degrees C it was approximately 50 s(-1). These values are close to, but less than, those estimated by an NMR relaxation-enhancement method that uses Mn2+ doping of the extracellular medium. The basis for this difference is thought to include the high viscosity of the extracellular gel. At the abstract level of quantum mechanics we have used the quadrupolar Hamiltonian to provide chemical shift separation between signals from spin populations across cell membranes; this is the first time, to our knowledge, that this has been achieved.

Why does the mammalian red blood cell have aquaporins?

Aquaporins are now known to mediate the rapid exchange of water across the plasma membranes of diverse cell types. This exchange has been studied and kinetically characterized in red blood cells (erythrocytes; RBC) from many animal species. In recent years, a favoured method has been one based on NMR spectroscopy. Despite knowledge of their molecular structure the physiological raison d' etre of aquaporins in RBCs is still only speculated upon. Here, we present two hypotheses that account for the fact that the exchange of water is so fast in RBCs. The first is denoted the "oscillating sieve" hypothesis and it posits that known membrane undulations at frequencies up to 30 Hz with displacements up to 0.3 microm are energetically favoured by the high water permeability of the membrane. The second denoted the "water displacement" hypothesis is based on the known rapid exchange across the RBC membrane of ions such as Cl- and HCO3- and solutes such as glucose, all of whose molecular volumes are significantly greater than that of water. The ideas are generalizable to other cell types and organelles.

Comparative nuclear magnetic resonance studies of water permeability of red blood cells from maternal venous blood and newborn umbilical cord blood

Comparative morphological and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of the diffusional permeability (Pd) were performed on red blood cells (RBCs) from maternal venous blood and fetal RBCs, isolated from cord blood taken at delivery. Fetal RBC had a diameter of 8.79+/-0.03 microm (mean+/-standard deviation, SD), a volume of 103 microm3 and a surface area of 157 microm2. We report here the first comparative measurements of Pd of maternal and fetal RBCs by using a Mn2+-doping NMR technique. The values of Pd were, in the case of maternal RBC, 3.7 x 10(-3) cm/s at 15 degrees C, 4.1 x 10(-3) cm/s at 10 degrees C, 4.9 x 10(-3) cm/s at 25 degrees C, 5.2 x 10(-3) cm/s at 30 degrees C and 7.2 x 10(-3) cm/s at 37 degrees C. For fetal RBC all corresponding Pd values were almost half, namely 2.0 x 10(-3) cm/s at 15 degrees C, 2.3 x 10(-3) cm/s at 20 degrees C, 2.8 x 10(-3) cm/s at 25 degrees C, 3.4 x 10(-3) cm/s at 30 degrees C and 4.4 x 10(-3) cm/s at 37 degrees C. The decreased Pd values of fetal RBCs were probably due to lower channel-mediated water permeability compared with adult RBCs. The values of the activation energy for water permeability (E(a,d)) were significantly higher for fetal RBCs (27.6+/-5.0 kJ/mol) than for adult RBCs (22.8+/-2.7 kJ/mol). A positive correlation between the Pd values of the two kinds of RBCs was found. This points to the genetic basis for the determination of RBC water permeability.

Comparative studies of the protein composition of red blood cell membranes from eight mammalian species

The polypeptide pattern of red blood cell (RBC) membranes from cow, sheep, horse, rabbit, guinea pig, rat, mouse, analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was compared to human RBC counterpart. Some qualitative and quantitative differences were noted. Among the high molecular weight components the bands 2.1-2.3 appeared slightly decreased in rabbit and rat and increased in sheep RBC membranes. Band 3 appeared to have a higher molecular weight in the cow, guinea pig and mouse RBCs, and a lower molecular weight in the sheep RBCs. Band 4.1 from the RBC membranes of cow, sheep, rabbit and guinea pig was splitted into two sub-bands, while band 4.2 overlapped with band 4.1 in horse and guinea pig RBC membranes. There are marked differences in the number and position of bands in the 4.5 region, while band 4.9 is present in higher amounts in horse, rabbit and guinea pig RBC membranes. Band 6 (glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase) was undetectable in horse, rat and mouse RBC membranes and was decreased in sheep, rabbit and guinea pig. There are also major differences in the region of band 7 and below ("post-7"). Band 8 was undetectable in horse, cow and guinea pig, and was in higher amounts in rat. A band corresponding to a molecular weight of about 22 kD in the "post-8" region was present only in guinea pig RBC membranes.

Multiple-quantum filtered 17Q and 23Na NMR analysis of mitochondrial suspensions

The fraction of strongly- and weakly-bound water molecules within mitochondrial suspensions, determined using three-quantum filtered 17O NMR relaxation analysis, was found to be large in comparison with that in erythrocytes and concentrated solutions of bovine serum albumen. It is suggested that bound water, together with regulation of mitochondrial matrix volume, may be an important controlling factor in the modulation of enzymic activity in the matrix. A spin I = 5/2 Jeener-Broekaert experiment and a four-quantum filtration experiment were used to demonstrate the absence of orientationally ordered water molecules within the mitochondrion. In contrast, the mitochondrial sodium environment was shown to be highly ordered using a spin I = 3/2 Jeener-Broekaert experiment.

The anion transporter and a 28 kDa protein are selectively photolabeled by p-azidobenzylphlorizin under conditions that alter RBC morphology, flexibility, and volume

Tritiated p-azidobenzylphlorizin (p-AzBPhz) was photoactivated in the presence of red blood cells under conditions previously found to alter morphology, flexibility and volume. When less than 0.25 million molecules were added per cell, only a 28 kDa peptide was photolabeled: at 1-2 million molecules added, band 3 also incorporated significant radioactivity. When using leaky ghosts, other proteins became labeled, including those limited to the cytoplasm. Protein N-deglycosylation caused a shift of radiolabeled band 3 to higher Rf values on SDS-PAGE gels but not for the 28 kDa band; the latter was, however, susceptible to enzymatic digestion by NANase (N-acetylneuraminidase) III but not by NANase II. Inhibition of photoincorporation into both receptors by unlabeled p-AzBPhz was dose-dependent. Mercuric chloride and p-CMBS selectively blocked 28 kDa peptide labeling. DIDS partially blocked at band 3; after 15% inhibition, greater DIDS concentrations caused increased incorporation into the 28 kDa peptide. These results, and a temperature-dependent labeling pattern, suggest that: (i) cellular changes occur when p-AzBPhz binds to the exofacial sides of the anion transporter and 28 kDa peptide; (ii) these proteins may be physically associated in the native membrane; (iii) they mediate ligand-induced changes in morphology, flexibility, and volume.

13C-NMR studies of transmembrane electron transfer to extracellular ferricyanide in human erythrocytes

Human erythrocytes are known to reduce ferricyanide (hexacyanoferrate) [Fe(CN)6]3- to ferrocyanide [Fe(CN)6]2- in an extracellular reaction that involves the transmembrane transfer of reducing equivalents; potentially these could be either electrons from NADH, formed in glycolysis inside the cells or transmembrane exchange of reduced solutes. The 13C-NMR resonance of [Fe(13CN)6]3- (which was synthesised in our laboratory) was seen to be very broad while that of ferrocyanide was narrow. This phenomenon formed the basis of a simple non-invasive procedure to study ferricyanide reduction in high-haematocrit suspensions of erythrocytes. The method should be directly applicable to other cell types. In a series of experiments, erythrocyte metabolism was studied in the presence of ferricyanide, using 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR spectroscopy. Incubating the cells with 13C-labelled glucose enabled the rate of ferricyanide reduction, glucose utilisation, and lactate and bicarbonate production to be measured simultaneously. Various metabolic states were imposed as follows: glycolysis was inhibited with F- and iodoacetate; glucose transport was inhibited with phloretin and cytochalasin B; and anion transport was inhibited with dinitrostilbene 2,2'-disulfonate and p-chloromercuriphenyl sulfonate. Earlier work was confirmed, showing that ascorbate is intimately involved in the reduction reaction; but its main action appears not to be mediated by membrane transport but in a membrane-associated redox-protein complex that is functionally linked to glycolysis. Also, large differences (factors of three) in the rate of the reduction reaction were recorded in erythrocytes from different, apparently healthy, donors.

Diffusional water permeability of mammalian red blood cells

An extensive programme of comparative nuclear magnetic resonance measurements of the membrane diffusional permeability for water (Pd) and of the activation energy (Ea,d) of this process in red blood cells (RBCs) from 21 mammalian species was carried out. On the basis of Pd, these species could be divided into three groups. First, the RBC's from humans, cow, sheep and "large" kangaroos (Macropus giganteus and Macropus rufus) had Pd values approximately 5 x 10(-3) cm/s at 25 degrees and 7 x 10(-3) cm/s at 37 degrees C. The RBCs from other marsupial species, mouse, rat, guinea pig and rabbit, had Pd values roughly twice higher, whereas echidna RBCs were twice lower than human RBCs. The value of Ea,d was in most cases correlated with the values of Pd. A value of Ea,d approximately 26 kJ/mol was found for the RBCs from humans and the species having similar Pd values. Low values of Ea,d (ranging from 15 to 22 kJ/mol) appeared to be associated with relatively high values of Pd. The highest values of Ea,d (33 kJ/mol) was found in echidna RBCs. This points to specialized channels for water diffusion incorporated in membrane proteins; a relatively high water permeability of the RBC membrane could be due to a greater number of channel proteins. There are, however, situations where a very high water permeability of RBCs is associated with a high value of Ea,d (above 25 kJ/mol) as in the case of RBCs from mouse, rat and tree kangaroo. Moreover, it was found that Pd in different species was positively correlated to the RBC membrane phosphatidylcholine and negatively correlated to the sphingomyelin content. This suggests that in addition to the number of channel proteins, other factors are involved in the water permeability of the RBC membrane.

A Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic investigation of the hydrogen-deuterium exchange and secondary structure of the 28-kDa channel-forming integral membrane protein (CHIP28)

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) has been employed to investigate the structural properties of the 28-kDa channel-forming integral membrane protein (CHIP28) present in phospholipid vesicles suspended in aqueous media. This study reports the FTIR spectra of this membrane protein present in H2O and 2H2O. The secondary structure of the protein was determined and found to consist of 36% alpha-helical and 42% beta-sheet structures. These results are in close agreement with the results of a previous CD study [Van Hoek, A. N., Wiener, M., Bicknese, S., Miercke, L., Biwersi, J. & Verkman, A. S. (1993) Biochemistry 32, 11,847-11,856]. However, the results differ from those given in an FTIR analysis by the same workers who recorded FTIR spectra of the CHIP28 protein in a dehydrated state. An unusually high extent of hydrogen-deuterium exchange of the peptide groups of this protein occurs. The magnitude of the spectral changes observed upon exposure of the protein to 2H2O is greater than has been observed with any other membrane protein previously studied. Thus, over 80% of the peptide groups exchange within 5 min and the amide I band maximum shifts to low frequency by approximately 20 cm-1. This high hydrogen-deuterium exchange observed with the CHIP28 protein is consistent with the presence of an aqueous pore within the protein structure.

Modification of erythrocyte Na+/Li+ countertransport kinetics by two types of thiol group

Erythrocyte Na+/Li+ countertransport activity is decreased by reagents that react with thiol groups. An understanding of the role of these groups in control of Na+/Li+ countertransport may help to explain its association with disease states. The effect of thiol reactive agents on the kinetic parameters of Na+/Li+ countertransport has not previously been described. In choline medium, N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and iodoacetamide (IAamide) cause a rapid decrease of about 40% in Km for external sodium (Km(So)) that is complete in 10 s with a much smaller change in Vmax and an increase in the Vmax/Km ratio. In Na medium, NEM and IAamide both cause a rapid decrease in Km(So) and Vmax. With NEM the partial reduction in Vmax is complete in 100s although the NEM is sufficient to reduce Vmax up to 15 min. With IAamide the decrease in Vmax is initially slower but it continues apparently towards complete inhibition. These results indicate at least two types of thiol group controlling Na+/Li+ countertransport kinetics. The type 1 thiol reaction is Na independent and causes an increase in the apparent rate constant for Na association with the unloaded carrier so that Vmax/Km rises and Km(So) decreases. The type 2 thiol reaction is facilitated by Na at the outside ion-binding site and causes a decrease in Vmax, possibly by total blockage of carriers with IAamide but by a different mechanism with NEM such as reduced turnover rate.

Comparative nuclear magnetic resonance studies of diffusional water permeability of red blood cells from different species. V--Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

1. The diffusional water permeability (Pd) of rabbit red blood cell (RBC) membrane has been monitored by a doping nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique on control cells and following inhibition with p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate (PCMBS). 2. The values of Pd were around 6.3 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 15 degrees C, 7.0 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 20 degrees C, 8.0 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 25 degrees C, 9.1 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 30 degrees C and 10.7 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 37 degrees C. 3. Systematic studies on the effects of PCMBS on water diffusion indicated that the maximal inhibition was reached in 15 min at 37 degrees C with 0.5 mM PCMBS. 4. The values of maximal inhibition were around 71-74% at all temperatures. 5. The basal permeability to water was estimated as 1.6 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 15 degrees C, 2.0 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 20 degrees C, 2.4 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 25 degrees C, 2.6 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 30 degrees C, and 3.1 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 37 degrees C. 6. The activation energy of water diffusion was around 18 kJ/mol and increased to 27 kcal/mol after incubation with PCMBS in conditions of maximal inhibition of water diffusion. 7. The membrane polypeptide electrophoretic pattern of rabbit RBCs has been compared with its human counterpart. 8. The rabbit membrane contained a higher amount of spectrin (bands 1 and 2), while the band 6 (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) was markedly less intense.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

NMR studies of diffusional water permeability of red blood cells from macropodid marsupials (kangaroos and wallabies)

1. The water permeabilities of the red blood cell (RBC) membranes of five species of macropodid marsupials were monitored by using a Mn(2+)-doping 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique. 2. Since this appears to be the first time that this type of measurement at 400 MHz for 1H has been reported, an analysis of instrumental parameters influencing the estimated value of the water exchange time (Te), and of the diffusional water permeability (Pd), was performed on samples of human RBC. 3. It was found that a short interpulse delay in the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill pulse sequence had to be used (around 100 microseconds) to avoid an underestimation of the relaxation times, that occurred as the result of molecular diffusion through non-uniform local magnetic fields in and around the cells. 4. There were no significant differences, in the water permeabilities of the RBC membranes, between the five species (Macropus rufogriseus, M. parma, M. eugenii, M. parryi and Wallabia bicolor). 5. There were also no significant differences between various colonies of M. eugenii living in different habitats. 6. The average values of Pd were 9.1 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 24.6 degrees C, 10.4 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 30 degrees C, 12.6 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 37 degrees C, and 14.7 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 42.1 degrees C; these were more than twice as high as those for human RBC. 7. In agreement with the high water permeability the RBC of macropodids displayed a relatively low activation energy of water diffusion across their membranes, approximately 21 kJ/mol, compared with 25 kJ/mol for human RBC.

Comparative nuclear magnetic resonance studies of diffusional water permeability of red blood cells from sheep and cow

1. The diffusional water permeability (p) of sheep and cow red blood cell (RBC) membrane has been monitored by a doping nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique on control cells and following inhibition with p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate (PCMBS). 2. There were no significant differences in the water permeability of sheep and cow RBCs, the values of p being around 3 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 20 degrees C and 5 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 37 degrees C. 3. Systematic studies of the effects of PCMBS on water diffusion indicated that in both species the maximal inhibition is reached in 60-90 min at 37 degrees C with 1 mM PCMBS. 4. The degree of inhibition increased as the temperature of measurement decreased, regardless of PCMBS concentration and incubation time. 5. The values of maximal inhibition ranged from 60-70% at 20 degrees C to 50-60% at 37 degrees C in the case of sheep RBCs, and from 45-55% at 20 degrees C to 40-50% at 37 degrees C in the case of cow RBCs. 6. The basal permeability to water of sheep RBCs was estimated as 1.0 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 20 degrees C and 2.2 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 37 degrees C, and that of cow RBCs as 1.6 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 20 degrees C and 2.7 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 37 degrees C. 7. In both species the activation energy of water diffusion was around 23 kJ/mol in control cells and reached values of around 30 kJ/mol after incubation with PCMBS in conditions of maximal inhibition of water diffusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparative nuclear magnetic resonance studies on water diffusional permeability of red blood cells from mice and rats

1. The diffusional water permeability (P) of mouse and rat red blood cell (RBC) membrane has been monitored by a doping nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique on control cells and following exposure to various concentrations of p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonate (PCMBS). 2. There were no significant differences in the water permeability of mouse and rat RBCs, the values of P being around 6 x 10(-3)/sec at 20 degrees C and 11 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 37 degrees C. 3. Systematic studies of the effects of PCMBS on water diffusion indicated that the maximal inhibition is reached in 60 min at 20 degrees C with 1 mM PCMBS for the mouse RBCs and with 2 mM PCMBS for the rat RBCs. 4. The values of maximal inhibition ranged from 55-57% at 37 degrees C and reached values around 70% at 10 degrees C. 5. The degree of inhibition increased as the temperature of measurement decreased, regardless of PCMBS concentration and incubation time. 6. The basal permeability to water of mouse RBCs was estimated as 1.8 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 20 degrees C and 4.6 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 37 degrees C, and that of rat RBCs as 2.2 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 20 degrees C and 4.2 x 10(-3) cm/sec at 37 degrees C. 7. In both species the activation energy was around 27 kJ/mol and reached values over 40 kJ/mol after incubation with PCMBS in the conditions of maximal inhibition of water diffusion.