Stimulation of synaptosomal ATP-dependent Ca2+-uptake by N-ethylmaleimide

Treatment of rat brain synaptosomal lysate with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) was found to stimulate ATP-dependent Ca2+-uptake. This Ca2+-uptake stimulation was blocked by dithioerythritol (DTE), mitochondrial inhibitors oligomycin and sodium azide, but not by vanadate, an inhibitor of plasma membrane Ca2+ pump. Maximal stimulation of Ca2+-uptake was observed at a NEM/protein ratio of 0.1 mumole/0.5-1.0 mg. On fractionation, it was found that NEM did not affect synaptic plasma membrane Ca2+-uptake, but almost doubled it in synaptic mitochondria.