Vanadate oligoanions interact with the proton ejection by the Ca2+ pump of sarcoplasmic reticulum

Decameric vanadate differs from other oligomeric vanadate species in inhibiting Ca2+ uptake and H+ ejection promoted by sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase. A decavanadate solution, 2 mM in total vanadium, containing about 200 microM decameric species, inhibits by about 50% the uptake of Ca2+ and by 75% the H+ ejection, whereas 2 mM nominal monovanadate slightly increases the uptake of Ca2+ and inhibits the ejection of H+ by 25%. Moreover, decavanadate linearly increases the Ca2+/H+ ratio, whereas monovanadate mimicks decavanadate behavior only at concentrations up to 1.2 mM. For higher concentrations of monovanadate, this effect is reversed probably due to the formation of metavanadates, namely tetravandate. It is concluded that Ca2+ uptake is tightly coupled to proton ejection through molecular events that are sensitive to the interaction of vanadate species. Apparently, the stoichiometry is variable and modulated by molecular events involved in vanadate interaction suggesting alterations in the energetic coupling associated with Ca2+ translocation.