title: Osmotic lysis of chromaffin granules treated with the ionophores nigericin and A23187 in isotonic sucrose solution at low pH.
abstract: Bovine chromaffin granules were treated with the ionophores nigericin or A23187 in sucrose solutions with the pH varying from 4.7 to 7.0. Nigericin and A23187 induced osmotic lysis of the granules in sucrose solutions at pH values below 5.8, but not at physiological pH. This effect is explained by a progressive protonation of the acidic chromogranins induced by the ionophore-promoted exchange of internal potassium- and calcium ions for external protons. The results support the view that the interactions between catecholamines and ATP with chromogranins play a significant role in osmotic pressure reduction of the granule interior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Division of Biophysics, Humboldt University, Berlin, F.R.G.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Donath
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D002837:Chromaffin Granules / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007476:Ionophores / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D009550:Nigericin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D013395:Sucrose
chemical_list: D002864:Chromogranins; D007476:Ionophores; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D000001:Calcimycin; D013395:Sucrose; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D009550:Nigericin; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium