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PubMed1987

Comparison of the binding of Na+ and Ca2+ to bovine alpha-lactalbumin.

alpha-Lactalbumin is a metal-binding protein which binds Ca2+- and Na+-ions competitively to one specific site, giving rise to a large conformational change of the protein. For this reason, the enthalpy change of binding Ca2+ to apo-alpha-lactalbumin (delta Ho) is strongly dependent on the concentration of Na+ ions in the medium. From that relationship a molar enthalpy of -145 +/- 3 kJ X mol-1 is calculated for the Ca2+-binding at pH 7.4 and 25 degrees C, while a delta Ho of -5 +/- 3 kJ X mol-1 is found to substitute a complexed Na+ by a Ca2+-ion. These measurements also allowed us to calculate a binding constant for Na+ of 195 +/- 18 M-1. The molar enthalpy of Na+-loading was found to be -142 +/- 3 kJ X mol-1, a value very close to delta Ho of the binding of Ca2+ to alpha-lactalbumin. Both enthalpy changes in binding Ca2+ and Na+ are independent of the protein concentration. These exothermic values are in agreement with the hypothesis that both Na+- and Ca2+-ions are able to induce the same conformational change in alpha-lactalbumin upon which hydrophobic regions are removed from the solvent, yielding a less hydrophobic protein. The latter is confirmed by means of affinity measurements of the hydrophobic fluorescent probe 4,4'-bis[1-(phenylamino)-8-naphthalene sulphonate](bis-ANS) to alpha-lactalbumin. The association constant (Ka) decreased from (6.6 +/- 0.5) X 10(4) M-1 in the absence of NaCl to (2.7 +/- 0.2) X 10(4) M-1 in 75 mM NaCl, while the maximum intensity (Imax) of the binary bis-ANS-alpha-lactalbumin complex remained constant at 0.44 +/- 0.02 (arbitrary units). The Ka value of bis-ANS for Ca2+-alpha-lactalbumin was determined at (1.7 +/- 0.2) X 10(4) M-1 and Imax was 0.43 +/- 0.02 (arbitrary units). The difference in hydrophobicity between the two conformational states of the protein was further demonstrated by adsorption experiments of both conformers to phenyl-Sepharose. Apo-alpha-lactalbumin, hydrophobically bound to phenyl-Sepharose, can be eluted by adding Ca2- or Na+-solutions.

Animals↗

PubMed1985

Coexistence of hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia and interstitial lung disease in a family: a cross-sectional study.

In a prospective investigation, a large kindred (twenty-one subjects) with unexplained association of familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia and idiopathic interstitial lung disease was studied. Serum calcium was increased in fifteen patients (the youngest being 7 years old) and was associated with hypo- or normocalciuria. The abnormalities were not age-dependent. The serum concentrations of parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and calcitonin were normal. In twelve patients the diffusing capacity (DLCO) and/or DLCO per unit lung volume was less than 75% predicted. This was often accompanied by a vital capacity of less than 80% predicted, and increased Tiffeneau index, and a reticulo-micronodular pattern with high diaphragm on chest X-ray. The decrease in DLCO was more pronounced in older non-smoking as well as smoking subjects (P less than 0.02) suggesting a progressing interstitial disease with age. The fibrosing alveolitis, which had been confirmed by open lung biopsy in three subjects, could not be attributed to sarcoidosis, collagen-vascular disease, or exogenous causes. The disturbances in the calcium homeostasis and in the diffusing capacity of the lung coexisted in seven of the twenty-one patients. Apparently, both abnormalities were inherited following an autosomal-dominant pattern but with a different penetration in each person, and seemed not be causally related to each other.

Adolescent↗