title: Activation of the calcium release channel (ryanodine receptor) by heparin and other polyanions is calcium dependent.
abstract: Heparin has been used as a potent competitive inhibitor of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-binding to IP3 receptors and to block IP3-gated calcium channels in bilayer experiments. In contrast to the effect on the IP3-gated channel, heparin (0.1-1 micrograms/ml) opened the Ca release channel (ryanodine receptor). Other polyanions such as pentosan polysulfate and polyvinyl sulfate also activated the Ca release channel. The effect of polyanions on the Ca release channel was Ca dependent. Polyanion addition activated the Ca release channel when free Ca was > 80 nM, but was ineffective when free Ca was < 20 nM. The level of channel activation could be altered by manipulating the free Ca concentration. These results suggest that the polyanions act by increasing the local concentration of Ca near regulatory sites on the channel complex. As most cells have both types of intracellular channels, the opposite effects of the polyanions on the two channel types suggests that addition of polyanions to intact cells may produce multiple effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06030.
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Bezprozvanny
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ondrias
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaftan
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Stoyanovsky
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D015640:Ion Channel Gating; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010426:Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel; D010426:Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; D006493:Heparin; D002118:Calcium