The stimulation of Na+ uptake in frog skin by uranyl ions

Biochim Biophys Acta. 1978 May 18;509(2):218-29. doi: 10.1016/0005-2736(78)90042-1.

Abstract

1. The Na+ uptake in the isolated from skin of Rana esculenta was measured by the short-circuit current (Isc). Uranyl ions increase at pH 5.5 the Isc up to 200% at concentrations of 10 mM. The half-maximal value for this effect is at about 1 mM uranyl salt. 2. The effect is (a) specific for the Na+-selective membrane, (b) fully reversible. No stimulation can be seen in presence of 1 mM H+ or 0.1 mM amiloride. 3. The decrease of the sodium permeability of the apical membrane (PNa), normally induced by increasing concentrations of Na+ in the mucosal solution, %Na]o, is partially prevented by uranyl ions. The apparent Michaelis constant of the saturable Na+ uptake is shifted to much higher values. 4. A comparison between the uranyl effect and similar effects of the other drugs leads to the conclusion that uranyl ions might act in a polar hydrophobic environment, possibly by combining with phosphate groups (of phospholipids), and, thus, enhancing Na+ permeability by changes in tertiary structure near each Na channel. The interaction of mucosal Na+ with their receptor, normally triggering the [Na]o-dependent decrease of PNa, is thought to be diminished by uranyl association in a neighbouring region, causing a noncompetitive stimulation of the Na+ translocation though the apical frog skin membrane.

MeSH terms

  • Amiloride / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Anura
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Kinetics
  • Permeability
  • Phosphates / metabolism
  • Rana esculenta
  • Skin / metabolism*
  • Sodium / metabolism*
  • Uranium / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Uranium / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Phosphates
  • Uranium
  • Amiloride
  • Sodium