2-Aminoethylmethyl-sulfone (AEMS): a potent stimulator of ATP-dependent calcium uptake

Retinal ATP-dependent calcium ion uptake is stimulated by a number of agents, but none are previously reported to be as potent as taurine. We have evaluated the effects of 2-aminoethylmethyl-sulfone (AEMS), thiomorpholine-1,1-dioxide (TMS), and N-methyl-thiomorpholine-1,1-dioxide (M-TMS) on calcium ion uptake. AEMS is twice as potent a stimulator of calcium ion uptake compared to taurine. TMS and M-TMS did not stimulate calcium ion uptake at concentrations up to 20 mM. These data demonstrate that the sulfonic acid moiety can be replaced by a methyl sulfone moiety for stimulation of ATP-dependent calcium ion uptake.