Optimizing charge breeding techniques for ISOL facilities in Europe: Conclusions from the EMILIE project

The present paper summarizes the results obtained from the past few years in the framework of the Enhanced Multi-Ionization of short-Lived Isotopes for Eurisol (EMILIE) project. The EMILIE project aims at improving the charge breeding techniques with both Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Sources (ECRIS) and Electron Beam Ion Sources (EBISs) for European Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) facilities. Within EMILIE, an original technique for debunching the beam from EBIS charge breeders is being developed, for making an optimal use of the capabilities of CW post-accelerators of the future facilities. Such a debunching technique should eventually resolve duty cycle and time structure issues which presently complicate the data-acquisition of experiments. The results of the first tests of this technique are reported here. In comparison with charge breeding with an EBIS, the ECRIS technique had lower performance in efficiency and attainable charge state for metallic ion beams and also suffered from issues related to beam contamination. In recent years, improvements have been made which significantly reduce the differences between the two techniques, making ECRIS charge breeding more attractive especially for CW machines producing intense beams. Upgraded versions of the Phoenix charge breeder, originally developed by LPSC, will be used at SPES and GANIL/SPIRAL. These two charge breeders have benefited from studies undertaken within EMILIE, which are also briefly summarized here.

Prospects for advanced electron cyclotron resonance and electron beam ion source charge breeding methods for EURISOL

As the most ambitious concept of isotope separation on line (ISOL) facility, EURISOL aims at producing unprecedented intensities of post-accelerated radioactive isotopes. Charge breeding, which transforms the charge state of radioactive beams from 1+ to an n+ charge state prior to post-acceleration, is a key technology which has to overcome the following challenges: high charge states for high energies, efficiency, rapidity and purity. On the roadmap to EURISOL, a dedicated R&D is being undertaken to push forward the frontiers of the present state-of-the-art techniques which use either electron cyclotron resonance or electron beam ion sources. We describe here the guidelines of this R&D.

Calcium transport in basolateral plasma membranes from kidney cortex of Milan hypertensive rats

Ca2+ transport was investigated in basolateral plasma membranes (BLM) isolated from kidney cortex of the Milan strain of genetically hypertensive rats (MHS) and their normotensive controls (MNS) during a pre-hypertensive stage (age 3-4 weeks). It was found that the Vmax of ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport (in the presence of calmodulin) was about 16% lower in MHS than in control rats. In membranes from MNS rats which had been isolated in the presence of EGTA, the ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport showed a hyperbolic Ca2+ concentration dependence, a high Km (Ca2+) and a low Vmax; upon addition of exogenous calmodulin, the kinetics became sigmoidal, the Km (Ca2+) was decreased and the Vmax was increased. In membranes from MHS rats, the Ca2+ concentration dependence of ATP-driven Ca2+ transport was sigmoidal and the Ca2+ affinity was high in the absence of added calmodulin. Addition of exogenous calmodulin to these membranes resulted in an increase in Vmax, but no change in other kinetic parameters. Low-affinity hyperbolic kinetics of Ca2+ transport could only be obtained in MHS rats if the membranes were extracted with hypotonic EDTA and hypertonic KCl. These data suggest that the plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase, which catalyses the ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport, exists in BLM of pre-hypertensive MHS rats predominantly in an activated, high-affinity form.

ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake and Ca2+-dependent protein phosphorylation in basolateral liver plasma membranes

ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake was measured in vesicles of rat liver cell basolateral plasma membranes. Nucleotide-dependent uptake was specific for ATP and observed at pH 7.0 and 7.4/7.5 but not at pH 8.0. ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport was only observed in the presence of Mg2+. Kinetic analysis of ATP-dependent transport revealed an apparent Km in the submicromolar region. Addition of calmodulin and trifluoperazine had no effect on ATP-dependent uptake. A Ca2+-dependent, phosphorylated intermediate with the apparent molecular weight of 135,000 could be demonstrated in the basolateral plasma membranes. Phosphorylated intermediates with apparent molecular weights of 200,000 and 110,000 were demonstrated in microsomes and appeared to contaminate 'basolateral' membrane protein phosphorylation. The results suggest that a 135,000 molecular weight protein is a Ca2+-ATPase and the enzymatic expression of the liver cell basolateral membrane Ca2+ pump.

Calcium uptake into rat small intestinal brush border membrane vesicles: characterization of transmembrane calcium transport at short initial incubation times

Calcium transport into brush border vesicles from rat small intestine was investigated by determining uptake rates at very short incubation periods. At incubation times up to 1 second a linear relationship between calcium uptake and time was observed at free calcium concentrations ranging from 1 microM to 5 mM. At time points above 1 second calcium uptake deviates progressively from linearity. Several lines of evidences (EGTA-wash, dependency on membrane potential, temperature sensitivity and effect of the calcium ionophore A23187) suggest transmembrane transport rather than extravesicular binding of calcium as being responsible for calcium uptake. Saturation experiments performed under initial linear and curvilinear uptake conditions show a saturable transport component in the mu molar and only a tendency to saturate in the molar concentration range. It is concluded that uptake values far from equilibrium are characteristic for transmembrane flux of calcium. Transmembrane flux of calcium is mediated by multiple and potential-sensitive mechanisms.

Effect of pH on phosphate transport in rat renal brush border membrane vesicles

The initial linear rate of phosphate uptake was analyzed in rat renal brush border membrane vesicles. An increase in medium pH from 6.0 to 8.0 increased the sodium gradient-dependent phosphate uptake about 20-fold. Sodium-independent phosphate uptake was not altered in this pH range. At pH 7.4 an intravesicular acid pH stimulated the initial linear uptake rate (20-25%). The apparent Km for sodium increased from about 100 to 200 mM when pH was decreased from 7.4 to 6.4. The Hill coefficient for sodium interaction was close to 2 and was unaffected by pH. Increasing external sodium reduced the apparent Km of the transport system for phosphate independent of pH. Variations of phosphate concentration had no influence on the apparent Km for sodium. At high sodium concentrations, small effects (20-30%) of pH on the apparent Vmax of the transport system were found; measured at saturating sodium concentrations, the apparent Km values calculated on the basis of total phosphate were increased (50-60%) when pH was decreased from 7.4 to 6.4. The data indicate that the major effect of pH is to modify the interaction of the transport system with sodium. At nonsaturating sodium concentrations, this resulted indirectly in a reduction in the affinity for phosphate related to a different occupancy of the sodium binding site. The differences of transport rate at low phosphate and high sodium concentrations could be explained by preferential transport of divalent phosphate as well as by pH effects on other carrier properties.

Ca2+-stimulated, Mg2+-independent ATP hydrolysis and the high affinity Ca2+-pumping ATPase. Two different activities in rat kidney basolateral membranes

The Mg2+-dependency of Ca2+-induced ATP hydrolysis is studied in basolateral plasma membrane vesicles from rat kidney cortex in the presence of CDTA and EGTA as Mg2+- and Ca2+-buffering ligands. ATP hydrolysis is strongly stimulated by Mg2+ with a Km of 13 microM in the absence or presence of 1 microM free Ca2+. At free Mg2+ concentrations of 1 microM and lower, ATP hydrolysis is Mg2+-independent, but is strongly stimulated by submicromolar Ca2+ concentrations (Km = 0.25 microM, Vmax = 24 mumol Pi/h per mg protein). The Ca2+-stimulated ATP hydrolysis strongly decreases at higher Mg2+ concentrations. The Ca2+-stimulated Mg2+-independent ATP hydrolysis is not affected by calmodulin or trifluoperazine and shows no specificity for ATP over ADP, ITP and GTP. In contrast, at high Mg2+ concentrations calmodulin and trifluoperazine affect the high affinity Ca2+-ATPase activity significantly and ATP is the preferred substrate. Control studies on ATP-dependent Ca2+-pumping in renal basolaterals and on Ca2+-ATPase in erythrocyte ghosts suggest that the Ca2+-pumping enzyme requires Mg2+. In contrast, a role of the Ca2+-stimulated Mg2+-independent ATP hydrolysis in active Ca2+ transport across basolateral membranes is rather unlikely.

Intravesicular NAD has no effect on sodium-dependent phosphate transport in isolated renal brush border membrane vesicles

The effects of intravesicular NAD on Na+-dependent 32Pi uptake were investigated in isolated rat kidney brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV). NAD was introduced into the vesicles by osmotic shock, and extravesicular NAD was removed by passing the vesicles through a anion exchange column. The effectiveness of the osmotic shock procedure and the hydrolysis of extra- and intravesicular NAD were controlled by enzymatic analysis and thin layer chromatography. ADP-ribosylation of the membrane proteins was analyzed in vesicles osmotically shocked in the presence of either [adenylate-32P]-NAD or [adenine-2,8-3H]-NAD by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It was found that the Na+-dependent Pi uptake was inhibited when the BBMV were incubated with NAD at alkaline pH, which resulted in rapid NAD hydrolysis. When NAD was present in the intravesicular space only, the Na+-dependent Pi uptake was not inhibited. 32P from NAD was rapidly incorporated into a number of brush border membrane proteins, but no incorporation of 3H-adenine could be detected. The results provide evidence that NAD does not inhibit Pi transport by a direct interaction with the cytoplasmic side of the brush border membrane. No evidence of ADP-ribosylation of the brush border membrane protein(s) was found.

A high-affinity, calmodulin-dependent Ca2+ pump in the basal-lateral plasma membranes of kidney cortex

A purified preparation of kidney basolateral membrane vesicles is capable of ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake. The reaction has high affinity for Ca2+ (Km about 0.1 microM) and a V of 5.8 nmol Ca2+ X mg-1 protein X min-1 in the predominantly right-side-out vesicular preparation used. It is inhibited by vanadate (K0.5 about 5 microM) and by anti-calmodulin drugs. A stimulatory effect of calmodulin is visible in membranes depleted of the activator. Exposure of basolateral membranes to 125I-azido-modified calmodulin results in the specific labeling of a membrane protein of Mr 141 000, which is tentatively suggested to be the Ca2+-pumping ATPase.

Co- and counter-transport mechanisms in brush border membranes and basal-lateral membranes of intestine and kidney

One way to obtain a deeper understanding of the complex function of the small intestinal and renal proximal tubular epithelium is to dissect it into single components and then, having defined the components under well-controlled conditions, try to describe the behaviour of the whole system on the basis of the properties of the single components. Brush border and basal-lateral membranes can be isolated by different methods, including free flow electrophoresis, differential and gradient centrifugation. Transport can be analysed in vesiculated membrane fractions by tracer techniques and spectrophotometric techniques. Different sodium-solute co-transport mechanisms were identified in the brush border membrane. Until now, studies with vesicles failed to document a sodium-chloride co-transport mechanism satisfactorily. On the other hand, a sodium/proton and a chloride/hydroxyl exchange mechanism were documented. These two exchange mechanisms could represent partial reactions of the postulated electroneutral sodium-chloride co-transport. In addition to different sodium-independent transport systems, the basal-lateral membrane contains an ATP-driven transport system for calcium as well as a sodium/calcium exchange mechanism. Studies with membrane vesicles isolated from animals which have been exposed to different dietary conditions or in which the parathyroid hormone or 1.25(OH)2VitD3 level has been altered show altered transport of calcium and inorganic phosphate. Thereby, it might be possible to identify the biochemical mechanisms involved in transport regulation.

Regulation of Ca2+ efflux from kidney and liver mitochondria by unsaturated fatty acids and Na+ ions

The effects of fatty acids and monovalent cations on the Ca2+ efflux from isolated liver and kidney mitochondria were investigated by means of electrode techniques. It was shown that unsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids of medium chain length (C12 and C14) induced a Ca2+ efflux from mitochondria which was not inhibited by ruthenium red, but was specifically inhibited by Na+ and Li+. The Ca2+-releasing activity of unsaturated fatty acids did not correlate with their uncoupling activity. In kidney mitochondria a spontaneous, temperature-dependent Ca2+ efflux was observed which was inhibited either by albumin or by Na+. It is suggested that the net Ca2+ accumulation by mitochondria depends on the operation of independent pump and leak pathways. The pump is driven by the membrane potential and can be inhibited by ruthenium red, the leak depends on the presence of unsaturated fatty acids and is inhibited by Na+ and Li+. It is suggested that the unsaturated fatty acids produced by mitochondrial phospholipase A2 can be essential in the regulation of the Ca2+ retention in and the Ca2+ release from the mitochondria.

Calcium ion transport across plasma membranes isolated from rat kidney cortex

Basal-lateral-plasma-membrane vesicles and brush-border-membrane vesicles were isolated from rat kidney cortex by differential centrifugation followed by free-flow-electrophoresis. Ca2+ uptake into these vesicles was investigated by a rapid filtration method. Both membranes show a considerable binding of Ca2+ to the vesicle interior, making the analysis of passive fluxes in uptake experiments difficult. Only the basal-lateral-plasma-membrane vesicles exhibit an ATP-dependent pump activity which can be distinguished from the activity in mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum by virtue of the different distribution during free-flow electrophoresis and its lack of sensitivity to oligomycin. The basal-lateral plasma membranes contain in addition a Na+/Ca2+-exchange system which mediates a probably rheogenic counter-transport of Ca2+ and Na+ across the basal cell border. The latter system is probably involved in the secondary active Na+-dependent and ouabain-inhibitable Ca2+ reabsorption in the proximal tubule, the ATP-driven system is probably more important for the maintenance of a low concentration of intracellular Ca2+.

What are the driving forces for the proximal tubular H+ and Ca++ transport? The electrochemical gradient for Na+ and/or ATP

The H+ ion secretion in the proximal tubule as revealed by the reabsorption of the glycodiazine buffer vanishes when the ambient solutions are sodium-free. The same holds for other Na+-dependent transport processes such as Ca++, phosphate, glucose and amino acid reabsorption. If Na+ transport is blocked by ouabain the latter transport processes are abolished, the secretion of H+ ions, however, remains unchanged suggesting H+ to be not exclusively driven by active Na+ transport. These observations agree with electrical measurements which show an electrogenic component of H+ secretion to exist in rat proximal tubule. In experiments with isolated membrane vesicles an electroneutral Na+/H+-exchange mechanism could be demonstrated in the brush border membrane and an ATP-driven Ca++ pumpt as well as Na+-Ca++ countertransport in the baso-lateral cell membrane. These data suggest that both, the Na+ gradient and ATP, are used to drive H+ ion secretion across the luminal brush border and Ca++ reabsorption across the baso-lateral cell side. The biochemical nature of the various systems and their relative importance for the transepithelial ion movement remain to be elucidated.

Additive inhibition of renal bicarbonate reabsorption by maleate plus acetazolamide

The effects of two potent inhibitors of renal bicarbonate reabsorption--maleate and acetazolamide--were investigated in the rat using clearance techniques. Acetazolamide given in high dose (50 mg/kg body wt) inhibited fractional bicarbonate reabsorption by ca. 30%, maleate (2.58 nmol/kg body wt) by 25%, and maleate plus acetazolamide by 54-72%. GFR was depressed, and urine volume was increased by both drugs in an additive manner. Maleate was equally effective as inhibitor of HCO3- reabsorption in the presence and absence of carbonic anhydrase activity. It is suggested that the site of action of both drugs is predominantly proximal, but they act on different steps in the transcellular HCO3- transport. A hypothetical mechanism of maleate action is presented, which takes into account the changes in passive HCO3- flux through the basolateral membrane.