Activation of Ca2+ release in isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum

The relationship between Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum, induced by elevated pH, tetraphenylboron (TPB-) or chemical modification, and the change in the surface charge of the membranes as measured by the fluorescence intensity of anilinonaphthalene sulfonate (ANS) is examined. The simulated Ca2+ release is inhibited by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and external Ca2+. TPB-, but not tetraphenylarsonium (TPA+), causes a decrease in ANS- fluorescence, with 50% decrease occurring at about 5 microM TPB-. The decrease in ANS- fluorescence as well as the inhibition of Ca2+ accumulation induced by TPB- are prevented by TPA+. A linear relationship between the decrease in membrane surface potential and the extent of the Ca2+ released by TPB- is obtained. Similar levels of [3H]TPB-bound to sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes were obtained regardless of whether or not the vesicles have taken up Ca2+. The inhibition of Ca2+ accumulation and the [3H]TPB- incorporation into the membranes were correlated. Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum, by pH elevation, chemical modification or by addition of NaSCN (0.2 to 0.5 M) or the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin, is also accompanied by a decrease in ANS- fluorescence intensity. However, chemical modification and elevated pH affects the surface potential much less than SCN- or TPB- do. These results suggest that the enhancement of Ca2+ release by these treatments is not due to a general effect on the membrane surface potential, but rather through the modification of a specific protein. They also suggest that membrane surface charges might play an important role in the control mechanism of Ca2+ release.