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Synergistic effects of micromolar concentrations of Zn/sup 2 +/ and Ca/sup 2 +/ on membrane fusion

Journal Article · · Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.; (United States)
Resonance Energy Transfer between N-(7-nitro-2,1,3 benzoxadiazol-4 yl) phosphatidyl ethanolamine and N-Lissamine-Rhodamine B sulfonyl) phosphatidyl ethanolamine embedded in two different populations of small unilamellar vesicles made of phosphatidyl serine has been used to study the fusion process induced by Zn/sup 2 +/ and Ca/sup 2 +/. Lipid intermixing demonstrating fusion of liposome membranes can already be observed at 125 and 250 ..mu..mol/l of Zn/sup 2 +/. After short time pre-incubations with micromolar concentrations of Zn/sup 2 +/ as low as 150 ..mu..mol/l, Ca/sup 2 +/ induces an instantaneous increase of vesicle fusion. The lipid intermixing induced by micromolar concentrations of Ca/sup 2 +/ (250-500 ..mu..mol/l) could be increased up to 4 times when pre-incubated with 150 or 200 ..mu..mol/l of Zn/sup 2 +/. The effect of 1 mM of Ca/sup 2 +/ alone on lipid intermixing can be mimicked by 150 ..mu..mol/l of Zn/sup 2 +/ followed by 500 ..mu..mol/l of Ca/sup 2 +/. The data demonstrate that Zn/sup 2 +/ and Ca/sup 2 +/ act synergistically to affect cation-induced membrane fusion.
Research Organization:
Centre de Recherches, Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium
OSTI ID:
5073386
Journal Information:
Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.; (United States), Journal Name: Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.; (United States) Vol. 137:1; ISSN BBRCA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English