Effect of monovalent cations on Na+/Ca2+ exchange and ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport in synaptic plasma membranes.
Two Ca2+ transport systems were investigated in plasma membrane vesicles isolated from sheep brain cortex synaptosomes by hypotonic lysis and partial purification. Synaptic plasma membrane vesicles loaded with Na+ (Na+i) accumulate Ca2+ in exchange for Na+, provided that a Na+ gradient (in leads to out) is present. Agents that dissipate the Na+ gradient (monensin) prevent the Na+/Ca2+ exchange completely. Ca2+ accumulated by Na+/Ca2+ exchange can be released by A 23187, indicating that Ca2+ is accumulated intravesicularly. In the absence of any Na+ gradient (K+i-loaded vesicles), the membrane vesicles also accumulate Ca2+ owing to ATP hydrolysis. Monovalent cations stimulate Na+/Ca2+ exchange as well as the ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake activity. Taking the value for Na+/Ca2+ exchange in the presence of choline chloride (external cation) as reference, other monovalent cations in the external media have the following effects: K+ or NH4+ stimulates Na+/Ca2+ exchange; Li+ or Cs+ inhibits Na+/Ca2+ exchange. The ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport system is stimulated by increasing K+ concentrations in the external medium (Km for K+ is 15 mM). Replacing K+ by Na+ in the external medium inhibits the ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake, and this effect is due more to the reduction of K+ than to the elevation of Na+. The results suggest that synaptic membrane vesicles isolated from sheep brain cortex synaptosomes possess mechanisms for Na+/Ca2+ exchange and ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake, whose activity may be regulated by monovalent cations, specifically K+, at physiological concentrations.
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002414:Cations, Monovalent / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008985:Monensin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D012756:Sheep; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D002414:Cations, Monovalent; D000001:Calcimycin; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D008985:Monensin; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium