Effect of cell density on energy-dependent calcium uptake by Balb/c 3T3 membranes is independent of protein synthesis and attachment to substratum.
Membranes isolated from subconfluent cultures of Balb/c 3T3 cells have low energy-dependent calcium uptake activity. Replating confluent cells at low density results in a prompt fall of energy-dependent calcium uptake by membrane fractions. The level to which uptake activity falls is a function of the density at which the cells are plated (Moore and Pastan, '77b). To determine if regulation of energy-dependent uptake of calcium by membrane fractions is dependent upon attachment to a substrate and to further characterize conditions that regulate the process, we examined calcium uptake activity of membranes isolated from cells in suspension. With cells in suspension energy-dependent calcium uptake activity of isolated membranes falls promptly if cells are diluted to a low density (less than 10(5) cells/ml) and is a function of cell density. When cells in suspension at low cell densities are concentrated to high cell densities (greater than 2 x 10(6) cells/ml), calcium uptake activity of the isolated membrane fraction is increased as a function of cell density. These changes of membrane calcium uptake activity occur promptly and do not require protein synthesis.
D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002452:Cell Count; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism
D003609:Dactinomycin; D003513:Cycloheximide; D002118:Calcium