title: Hemisodium, a novel selective Na ionophore. Effect on normal human erythrocytes.
abstract: Hemisodium is a novel Na ionophore that belongs to the class of compounds called cryptands. These compounds possess an electron-rich cavity for binding of cations and are conformationally organized during synthesis to favor the selective binding of one cation over another. In media containing 145 mM NaCl and 5 mM KCl, hemisodium (10(-5) M) increased erythrocyte Na content from 23 to 345 mmol/kg.dry cell solid (dcs) over 4 h and increased water content from 1.8 to 3.5 liter/kg.dcs over the same period. K content decreased somewhat over the same time period, but this fall in K content was prevented entirely by incubation in either low Na media (to prevent net Na entry) or in Cl free media. Thus, the decrease in K content in high NaCl media was due to cell swelling, which activated KCl cotransport, and not due to a direct action of hemisodium on K permeability. Hemisodium-mediated Na transport was conductive, because erythrocyte membrane potential (Vm), determined by diS-C3-5 fluorescence, changed from -9 to +22 mV in high Na media in the presence of hemisodium and DIDS. In cells equilibrated with sulfamate, an anion with low conductive permeability, Vm changed 54 mV per 10-fold change in external Na concentration with the addition of hemisodium. In contrast, a 10-fold change in the external concentration of K, Rb, Cs, or T1 failed to alter Vm in the presence of hemisodium, suggesting a high Na specificity of the ionophore. Na conductance determined from net fluxes increased from 0.04 to 5.2 microS/cm2 with 10 microM hemisodium, and with that concentration the ratio of Na to K conductance was 45:1. Among the Na ionophores available so far, hemisodium appears to have the greatest specificity. Hemisodium may be a valuable tool in membrane transport studies.
authors.affiliation: Renal Section, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York 10468.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kaji
mesh_terms: D017878:4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid; D012856:4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004553:Electric Conductivity / Q000187:drug effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004913:Erythrocytes, Abnormal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007476:Ionophores / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D007476:Ionophores; D012856:4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid; D012964:Sodium; D017878:4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid; D011188:Potassium