title: Cytoplasmic calcium buffers in intact human red cells.
abstract: 1. Precise knowledge of the cytoplasmic Ca2+ buffering behaviour in intact human red cells is essential for the characterization of their [Ca2+]i-dependent functions. This was investigated by using a refined method and experimental protocols which allowed continuity in the estimates of [Ca2+]i, from nanomolar to millimolar concentrations, in the presence and absence of external Ca2+ chelators. 2. The study was carried out in human red cells whose plasma membrane Ca2+ pump was inhibited either by depleting the cells of ATP or by adding vanadate to the cell suspension. Cytoplasmic Ca2+ buffering was analysed from plots of total cell calcium content vs. ionized cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([CaT]i vs. [Ca2+]i) obtained from measurements of the equilibrium distribution of 45Ca2+ at different external Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]o), in conditions known to clamp cell volume and pH. The equilibrium distribution of 45Ca2+ was induced by the divalent cation ionophore A23187. 3. The results showed the following. (i) The known red cell Ca2+ buffer represented by alpha, with a large capacity and low Ca2+ affinity, was the main cytoplasmic Ca2+ binding agent. (ii) The value of alpha was remarkably constant; the means for each of four donors ranged from 0.33 to 0.35, with a combined value of all independent measurements of 0.34 +/- 0.01 (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 16). This contrasts with the variability previously reported. (iii) There was an additional Ca2+ buffering complex with a low capacity (approximately 80 micromol (340 g Hb)(-1)) and intermediate Ca2+ affinity (apparent dissociation constant, K(D,app) approximately 4-50 microM) whose possible identity is discussed. (iv) The cell content of putative Ca2+ buffers with submicromolar Ca2+ dissociation constants was below the detection limit of the methods used here (less than 2 micromol (340 g Hb)(-1)). 4. Vanadate (1 mM) inhibited the Vmax of the Ca2+ pump in inosine-fed cells by 99.7%. The cytoplasmic Ca2+ buffering behaviour in these cells was similar to that found in ATP-depleted cells.
authors.affiliation: The Physiological Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tiffert
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Lew
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000097:blood; D002021:Buffers; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013776:Tetrathionic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D014638:Vanadates / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002021:Buffers; D002614:Chelating Agents; D000001:Calcimycin; D014638:Vanadates; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D013776:Tetrathionic Acid; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases; C025603:1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid; D002118:Calcium