Electrical properties of the muscle fiber membrane were studied in the barnacle, Balanus nubilus Darw. by using intracellular electrode techniques. A depolarization of the membrane does not usually produce an all-or-none spike potential in the normal muscle fiber even though a mechanical response is elicited. The intracellular injection of Ca(++)-binding agents (K(2)SO(4) and K salt of EDTA sol...

In a variety of smooth muscle cells, agonists activating membrane receptors induce oscillations in the cytoplasmic Ca(2+) concentration via an inositol trisphosphate-activated mechanism. Ca(2+) oscillations participate in the control of cell membrane potential and the tone of smooth muscle. There is evidence that alterations in Ca(2+) oscillations modulate smooth muscle responsiveness.

Previous evidence established that a sequestered form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP pools) resides in the membrane/cytoskeletal complex of red cell porous ghosts. Here, we further characterize the roles these ATP pools can perform in the operation of the membrane's Na(+) and Ca(2+) pumps. The formation of the Na(+)- and Ca(2+)-dependent phosphointermediates of both types of pumps (E(Na)-P and ...

The membrane-associated Mg(2+)-activated and Ca(2+)-activated adenosine 5'-triphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.3; ATPase) activities of Escherichia coli were further characterized. The degree of inhibition of membrane-bound Mg(2+)-(Ca(2+))-ATPase by a series of anions (i.e., sodium salts of nitrate, iodide, chloride, and acetate) was found to correlate with the relative chaotropic, or solubilizing, effect...

Recently we described a new, evolutionarily conserved cellular stress response characterized by a reversible reorganization of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes that is distinct from canonical ER stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR). Apogossypol, a putative broad spectrum BCL-2 family antagonist, was the prototype compound used to induce this ER membrane reorganization. Following m...

effluent from ro (reverse osmosis) systems during recovery gradually becomes concentrated and supersaturated with soluble salts such as calcium carbonate (caco3), calcium sulfate (caso4), barium sulfate (baso4) and silica (sio2). thus we were looking for procedures to prevent precipitation of soluble salts on the membrane surface and decrease membrane permeability. therefore, recovery could be ...

1. We have isolated a mutant of Escherichia coli K12 (strain AN295) that forms de-repressed amounts of Mg(2+),Ca(2+)-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase. 2. The Mg(2+),Ca(2+)-stimulated triphosphatase activity was separated from membrane preparations from strain AN295 by extraction with 5mm-Tris-HCl buffer containing EDTA and dithiothreitol, resulting in a loss of the ATP-dependent transhydroge...

Mechanotransduction is required for a wide variety of biological functions. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of activation of a mechanosensitive Ca(2+) channel, present in human jejunal circular smooth muscle cells, on whole cell currents and on membrane potential. Currents were recorded using patch-clamp techniques, and perfusion of the bath (10 ml/min, 30 s) was used to mecha...

Numerous studies have focused on functional vascular changes that characterize the hypertensive state. Recent evidence that suggests that increased vascular reactivity in hypertension is due to changes in the delivery of activator Ca++ through channels in the cell membrane will be reviewed. The primary evidence supporting this hypothesis comes from studies that characterize the effects of Ca++-...

The Ca(2+) transport system of corn (Zea mays) leaf plasma membrane is composed of Ca(2+) pump and Ca(2+)/H(+) antiporter driven by H(+) gradient imposed by a H(+) pump (M Kasai, S Muto [1990] J Membr Biol 114: 133-142). It is necessary for characterization of these Ca(2+) transporters to establish the procedure for their solubilization, isolation, and reconstitution into liposomes. We attempte...