PROTON EJECTION AS A MAJOR FEATURE OF THE CA2+-PUMP

H+ ejection and Ca2+ uptake promoted by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-pump are similarly stimulated by millimolar Mg2+. This cannot be assigned to enhanced Ca2+ uptake and H+ displacement from internal metal binding sites since: (1) loading SR vesicles with high Mg2+ concentrations does not impair H+ ejection; (2) loading SR vesicles with Mn2+ does not depress H+ ejection occurring during Mn2+ uptake; (3) H+ ejection occurs even when Ca2+ accumulation inside the vesicles is prevented with Ca2+ ionophores. It is concluded that the Ca2+-pump promotes an active Ca2+/H+ countertransport stimulated by Mg2+. Finally, a mechanism for Ca2+ translocation is proposed in basic physico-chemical terms.