Sulfhydryl oxidation and Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum

Our interest in the role of sulfhydryl groups (SH) in regulating or altering transport across biological membranes has focused on the significance of a critical SH group associated with the Ca2+-release protein from skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). We have shown that binding of heavy metals to this group or oxidation of this sulfhydryl to a disulfide induces rapid Ca2+ release from SR vesicles and induces contraction in skinned muscle fibers. Several models are described in which oxidation and reduction might control the state of the Ca2+-release channel from SR.