Subcellular distribution of potassium in striated muscles

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · Scanning Electron Microsc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6001114

Edelmann, L

Microanalytical experiments have been performed to answer the question whether the main cellular cation, K+, follows the water distribution in the striated muscle cell or whether K+ follows the distribution of negative fixed charges (beta- and gamma-carboxyl groups of aspartic and glutamic acid residues). Subcellular localization of K and/or of the K surrogates Rb, Cs, and Tl has been investigated by the following methods: Chemical precipitation of K with tetraphenylborate. Autoradiography of alkali-metals and Tl in air-dried and frozen-hydrated preparations. TEM visualization of electron dense Cs and Tl in sections of freeze-dried and plastic embedded muscle. X-ray microanalysis of air-dried myofibrils and muscle cryosections. The experiments consistently show that K, Rb, Cs, and Tl do not follow the water distribution but are mainly accumulated in the A band, especially in the marginal regions, and at Z lines. The same sites preferentially accumulate Cs or uranyl cations when sections of freeze-dried, embedded muscle are exposed to these electron microscopic stains. It is concluded that the detected uneven distribution of K, Rb, Cs, and Tl in muscle is neither a freeze-drying artifact nor an embedding artifact and may result from a weak ion binding to the beta- and gamma-carboxyl groups of cellular proteins.

• Research Organization: Universitaet des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany
• OSTI ID: 6001114
• Journal Information: Scanning Electron Microsc.; (United States), Journal Name: Scanning Electron Microsc.; (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CESIUM
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
MUSCLES
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
POTASSIUM
RUBIDIUM
THALLIUM
BEES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
WATER
ALKALI METALS
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYMENOPTERA
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
METALS
MICROANALYSIS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques