Substrate requirements and subcellular distribution of calcium transport activities in brain membranes

Ca2+ transport activity in synaptosomal membranes has been identified as having two major components: Ca2+-stimulated ATP hydrolysis and ATP-dependent CA2+ uptake. Both processes exhibit similar affinities for Ca2+ and operate maximally under identical buffer conditions. Subcellular fractionation studies revealed the Ca2+/Mg2+ ATPase and ATP-dependent CA2+ uptake activities to be highest in synaptic plasma membrane fractions 1 and 2, with lesser activity in synaptic vesicles and mitochondria. Progressive treatment with Triton X-100 activated, then decreased Ca2+/Mg2+ ATPase, Mg2+ ATPase and Ca2+ ATPase. ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake was progressively decreased by similar treatment with Triton X-100. These studies illustrate that Ca2+ ATPase and ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake may provide two important mechanisms for buffering of cytosolic Ca2+ at the nerve terminal. These systems may function to rapidly sequester cytosolic Ca2+ following a rise during depolarization and then extrude Ca2+ from the terminal against a concentration gradient. This regulation of cytosolic Ca2+, represented by two processes of the type seen in other plasma membranes, may play critical roles in calcium homeostasis in nerve cells.