Transport parameters and stoichiometry of active calcium ion extrusion in intact human red cells.

Ca2+-transport and its energy consumption were studied in intact human red cells loaded with Ca2+ by the aid of the ionophore A23187. After the complete elimination of the ionophore the passive Ca2+-permeability of the membrane returned to its normal low value, except when the intracellular Ca2+-concentration was higher than 3 mM or the ATP level fell below 100 muM. Within these limits the rate of Ca2+-extrusion was independent of the cellular ATP content but was greatly enhanced by increasing [Ca2+]i and reached a plateau at about 1 mM intracellular Ca2+-concentration.

Kinetic studies on the calcium-dependent potassium transport in human red blood cells.

The kinetics of the Ca-dependent K transport across the human red cell membrane were studied under experimental conditions allowing the separation of this step from the previous membrane events. Net potassium and tracer potassium fluxes were measured and a self-consistent model was constructed for calculating the ionic permeability values. All the experimental results could be interpreted by means of a nonsaturable neutral K selective channel.

The use of ionophores of rapid loading of human red cells with radioactive cations for cation-pump studies.

Techniques are described for the rapid loading of intact human red cells with radioactive isotopes of alkali cations or Ca2+ by using ionophorous compounds (nigericin, gramicidin D and A 23187). Loading was rapid and efficient if the membrane potential of the cells was rendered more negative inside. After cation loading the ionophores could be bound to albumin and removed by repeated washings.