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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Assessment of Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Reserve and Intracellular Diastolic Calcium Removal in Isolated Ventricular Cardiomyocytes
Published on: September 18, 2017
Inhibition of the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase by glucose 6-phosphate is Ca2+ dependent
A M Kraft1, M Cassetta, N W Seidler
1Department of Biochemistry, The University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri 64124, USA.
Abstract:
Defects in the structure or function of the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (CSR) Ca2+-ATPase presumably contribute to the Ca2+ imbalance in the diabetic myocardium. The susceptibility to nonenzymatic protein glycation by glucose metabolites is suggested due to the relatively high percent of target lysines and arginines (approaching 15 mol%) at the ATP binding and phosphorylation domains. Brief incubations (15 min) of CSR microsomes at 24 degrees C in the presence of 5.0 mM glucose 6-phosphate (Glc6P) inhibited Ca2+-dependent ATPase maximal activity relative to controls. Inhibition was only observed when incubations contained 0.1 mM CaCl2 (1.86 micromol ATP hydrolyzed x mg-1 x min-1, +Glc6P versus 2.78, control). Nonconvergent regression lines drawn from maximal velocities as a function of CSR microsome concentration indicate an irreversible mechanism of inhibition which is supported by an observed depletion in CSR amine content (2.98 micromol -NH2 groups/mg microsomal protein, +Glc6P versus 3.34, control). Glucose 6-phosphate (5.0 mM) in Ca2+-free incubations (plus 0.1 mM EGTA) had no affect on either enzyme activity or total amine content. These data suggest that the E1 but not the E2 conformation of the CSR Ca2+-ATPase is susceptible to Glc6P-mediated modification resulting in diminished maximal Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity.
Insights
Glucose 6-phosphate (Glc6P) irreversibly inhibits cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase activity in the E1 conformation. This suggests Glc6P contributes to diabetic heart dysfunction by impairing calcium handling.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Diabetic Complications
Background:
- Cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (CSR) Ca2+-ATPase dysfunction contributes to diabetic heart calcium imbalance.
- The enzyme has numerous lysine and arginine residues susceptible to nonenzymatic glycation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of glucose 6-phosphate (Glc6P) on CSR Ca2+-ATPase activity and structure.
- To determine if Glc6P-induced inhibition is reversible and related to specific enzyme conformations.
Main Methods:
- Incubation of CSR microsomes with Glc6P and CaCl2.
- Measurement of Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity.
- Quantification of CSR amine content.
- Analysis of inhibition kinetics.
Main Results:
- Glc6P (5.0 mM) significantly inhibited Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity in the presence of CaCl2.
- Inhibition was irreversible and associated with a decrease in CSR amine content.
- Glc6P did not affect enzyme activity or amine content in Ca2+-free conditions.
- The E1 conformation of CSR Ca2+-ATPase was susceptible to Glc6P-mediated modification.
Conclusions:
- Glc6P irreversibly inhibits CSR Ca2+-ATPase, likely via modification of the E1 conformation.
- This inhibition contributes to impaired calcium handling in the diabetic myocardium.
- Glc6P-induced glycation may be a mechanism for diabetic cardiomyopathy.
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