PLASMA-MEMBRANE CA-ATPASE OF RADISH SEEDLINGS .1. BIOCHEMICAL-CHARACTERIZATION USING ITP AS A SUBSTRATE

In this work, we exploited the capability of the plasma membrane Ca-ATPase to utilize ITP as a substrate to study its characteristics in plasma membrane vesicles purified from radish (Raphanus sativus L.) seedlings. The majority of the ITPase activity of plasma membrane was Ca2+-dependent. The Ca2+-dependent ITPase activity was Mg2+-dependent and was stimulated by the calcium ionophore A23187. It was inhibited by erythrosin B (concentration giving 50% inhibition, 50 nanomolar) and by vanadate (concentration giving 50% inhibition, 3 micromolar) and displayed a broad pH optimum around pH 7.2 to 7.5. Both the hydrolytic and the transport activity of the plasma membrane Ca-ATPase were half-saturated by Ca2+ in the micromolar concentration range. No major effect of EGTA on the saturation kinetics of the enzyme was observed. The affinity of the plasma membrane Ca-ATPase for Ca2+ was about fourfold higher at pH 7.5 than at pH 6.9. The Ca2+-dependent ITPase activity was stimulated about twofold by polyoxyethylene 20 cetyl ether, although it was inhibited by Triton X-100 and by lysolecithin.