Calcium stimulation of glutamine hydrolysis in synaptosomes from rat brain

Calcium stimulates the hydrolysis of glutamine in synaptosomes prepared from rat brain both by the sucrose- (12) and the Ficoll/sucrose-gradient techniques (13). The calcium activation is phosphate-dependent and maximal effect is obtained at a calcium concentration of 0.5-1.0 mM. It is reduced by increasing the numbers of synaptosomes in the incubation mixture, and abolished by the product inhibitors of glutaminase, glutamate and ammonia, but unaffected by the uncoupler 2,4-dinitrophenol which inhibits the mitochondrial proton pump. Moreover, since the hydrolysis of glutamine is mediated by glutaminase (EC 3.5.1.2), and calcium does not activate the purified enzyme, an indirect phosphate-dependent effect of calcium on glutaminase is most likely. Calcium activates preferentially the N-ethylmaleimide insensitive fraction of glutaminase. The calcium activation is not dependent on synaptosomal membranes as it is found in synaptosomes subject to previous freezing. It is also found in isolated synaptosomal mitochondria and is thus a property of nerve endings. The calcium activation of glutaminase is unaffected by potassium in depolarizing concentrations, and may not be directly involved in the neurotransmission processes, but possibly in replenishing depleted stores of transmitter glutamate.