A high-affinity plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase in Dictyostelium discoideum: its relation to cAMP-induced Ca2+ fluxes

Chemotactic stimulation of Dictyostelium discoideum induces an uptake of Ca2+ by the cells followed by a release of Ca2+. In this study we investigated the mechanism of Ca2+ release and found that it was inhibited by La3+, Cd2+ and azide. Ca2+ release occurred in the absence of external Na+, indicating that an Na+/Ca2+ exchange was not involved. Plasma membranes contained high- and low-affinity ATPase activities. Apparent K0.5 values were 8 microM for the major Mg2+-ATPase and 1.1 microM for the high-affinity Ca2+-ATPase, respectively. The Mg2+-ATPase activity was inhibited by elevated concentrations of Ca2+, whereas both Ca2+-ATPases were active in the absence of added Mg2+. The activities of the Ca2+-ATPases were not modified by calmodulin. The high-affinity Ca2+-ATPase was competitively inhibited by La3+ and Cd2+; we suggest that this high-affinity enzyme mediates the release of Ca2+ from D. discoideum cells.