title: ATP-dependent calcium transport across basal plasma membranes of human placental trophoblast.
abstract: As a first step in understanding the cellular basis of maternal-fetal calcium transfer, we examined the characteristics of calcium uptake by a highly purified preparation of the syncytiotrophoblast basal (fetal facing) plasma membrane. In the presence of nanomolar concentrations of free calcium, basal membranes demonstrated substantial ATP-dependent calcium uptake [K0.5 = 119 nM, maximum velocity (Vmax) = 2 nM X min-1 X mg-1]. This uptake required magnesium, was not significantly affected by Na+ or K+ (50 mM), or sodium azide (10 mM). Intravesicular calcium was rapidly and completely released by the calcium ionophore A23187. Calcium transport was significantly stimulated by the calcium-dependent regulatory protein calmodulin. Placental membrane fractions enriched in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria also demonstrated ATP-dependent calcium uptake. In contrast to basal membrane, mitochondrial calcium uptake was completely inhibited by azide. The rate of calcium uptake by the ER was only 20% of that of basal membranes. We conclude that the placental basal plasma membrane possesses a high-affinity calcium transport system similar to that found in plasma membranes of a variety of cell types. This transporter is situated to permit it to function in vivo in maternal-fetal calcium transfer.
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000187:drug effects; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002147:Calmodulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014268:Trifluoperazine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002147:Calmodulin; D014268:Trifluoperazine; D000001:Calcimycin; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium