title: Inhibition of Na+-Ca2+ exchange in heart sarcolemmal vesicles by phosphatidylethanolamine N-methylation.
abstract: The effect of phosphatidylethanolamine N-methylation on Na+-Ca2+ exchange was studied in sarcolemmal vesicles isolated from rat heart. Phosphatidylethanolamine N-methylation following incubation of membranes with S-adenosyl-L-methionine, a methyl donor for the enzymatic N-methylation, inhibited Nai+-dependent Ca2+ uptake by about 50%. The N-methylation reaction did not alter the passive permeability of the sarcolemmal vesicles to Na+ and Ca2+ and did not modify the electrogenic characteristics of the exchanger. The depressant effect of phosphatidylethanolamine N-methylation on Nai+-dependent Ca2+ uptake was prevented by S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine, an inhibitor of the N-methylation. Pretreatment of sarcolemma with methyl acetimidate hydrochloride, an amino-group-blocking agent, also prevented methylation-induced inhibition of Ca2+ uptake. In the presence of exogenous phospholipid substrate, the phospholipid N-methylation process in methyl-acetimidate-treated sarcolemmal vesicles was restored and the inhibitory effect on Ca2+ uptake was evident. These results suggest that phosphatidylethanolamine N-methylation influences the heart sarcolemmal Na+-Ca2+ exchange system.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008745:Methylation; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012508:Sarcolemma / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D012964:Sodium; D002118:Calcium