title: Ionomycin, a carboxylic acid ionophore, transports Pb(2+) with high selectivity.
abstract: Studies utilizing phospholipid vesicle loaded with chelator/indicators for polyvalent cations show that ionomycin transports divalent cations with the selectivity sequence Pb(2+) > Cd(2+) > Zn(2+) > Mn(2+) > Ca(2+) > Cu(2+) > Co(2+) > Ni(2+) > Sr(2+). The selectivity of this ionophore for Pb(2+) is in contrast to that observed for A23178 and 4-BrA23187, which transport Pb(2+) at efficiencies that are intermediate between those of other cations. When the selectivity difference of ionomycin for Pb(2+) versus Ca(2+) was calculated from relative rates of transport, with either cation present individually and all other conditions held constant, a value of approximately 450 was obtained. This rose to approximately 3200 when both cations were present and transported simultaneously. 1 microM Pb(2+) inhibited the transport of 1 mM Ca(2+) by approximately 50%, whereas the rate of Pb(2+) transport approached a maximum at a concentration of 10 microM Pb(2+) when 1 mM Ca(2+) was also present. Plots of log rate versus log ionomycin or log Pb(2+) concentration indicated that the transporting species is of 1:1 stoichiometry, ionophore to Pb(2+), but that complexes containing an additional Pb(2+) may occur. The species transporting Pb(2+) may include H.IPb.OH, wherein ionomycin is ionized once and the presence of OH(-) maintains charge neutrality. Ionomycin retained a high efficiency for Pb(2+) transport in A20 B lymphoma cells loaded with Indo-1. Both Pb(2+) entry and efflux were observed. Ionomycin should be considered primarily as an ionophore for Pb(2+), rather than Ca(2+), of possible value for the investigation and treatment of Pb(2+) intoxication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Erdahl
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
mesh_terms: D000634:Aminoquinolines / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007476:Ionophores / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007854:Lead / Q000378:metabolism*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000634:Aminoquinolines; D007476:Ionophores; D007854:Lead; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D015759:Ionomycin; D004492:Edetic Acid; C025603:1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid; C035739:Quin2; D002118:Calcium