PubMed HealthSearch

PubMed · 6375453

A highly sensitive photometric method for proton release or uptake: difference protometry.

Abstract

A highly sensitive quantitative method was developed to detect protons released or taken up upon ligand binding. A small change in pH due to proton release or uptake was detected by measuring the difference in the absorbance of a pH indicator upon ligand addition. Owing to the difference detection of protons, the uncertainty of pH due to CO2 dissolution and unknown buffering capacities of sample solutes could be compensated with easy manipulations. Precise calibration of the absolute amount of protons could also be made very easily. The amount of protons measurable by the method is as small as 0.5 nmol that is 10 to 30 times more sensitive than the pH-stat method. We measured the Mg2+ ion-induced proton releases of ADP to confirm the accuracy and reliability of the method and of Escherichia coli ribosomes to show the improvement in sensitivity. The method is useful for protometric studies of biomolecules that are difficult to obtain in large amount.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

K Horie, H Hagihara, A Wada, H Fukutome. 1984. A highly sensitive photometric method for proton release or uptake: difference protometry.. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-2697(84)90350-6

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

Regulation of intracellular pH by cell-cell adhesive interactions.

As was shown in our previous work, the intracellular pH (pHi) of cultured human fibroblasts depends on cell density. The pHi is low in single cells, higher in cells, forming small groups and maximal in a sparse monolayer. On the other hand, the pHi is low in areas of confluent monolayers. In the present work, we show that the effects of inhibitors of various pH-controlling mechanisms as well as inhibitors of key enzymes in signal transduction pathways depend on the local cell density. We have found that N-ethylmaleimide and 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole, known as inhibitors of V-type H+ ATPase, inhibit the elevation of pHi induced by cell-cell contact interactions; meanwhile Cd2+ ions, which inhibit H+ conductive pathway, cause an increase of pHi in a confluent monolayer. Our data revealed also that the Na+/H+ antiporter does not play an essential role in the pHi regulation by intercellular contacts. Inhibitors of phospholipase A2 (4-bromophenacyl-bromide), phospholipase C (neomycin) and protein kinase C (H-7) dramatically change the way the pHi is modulated by local cell density. It is suggested that cell-cell interactions regulate cell activities via modulation of pHi, which is under positive control from phospholipase A2 and under negative control from protein kinase C.

Acid-Base Equilibrium

[Therapy of candiduria by alkalinization of urine. Oral treatment with potassium-sodium-hydrogen citrate].

METHOD: Eighteen hospitalized patients with candiduria were treated with oral potassium-sodium-hydrogen citrate to alkalinize the urine. The results obtained were compared with those observed in an untreated retrospective control group. Dosage was adjusted in accordance with the pH of the urine measured immediately before treatment with the aim of achieving a pH of 7 to 7.5. RESULTS: All patients had an indwelling catheter, which is a predisposing factor for candiduria. In 16 out of 18 patients (89%) treatment with potassium-sodium-hydrogen citrate raised pH and resulted in the disappearance of candiduria. Duration of treatment varied between two days and one month (mean: seven days). In four patients the urine became completely sterile; during treatment 12 out of 18 patients developed significant bacteriuria (in eight cases of these the indwelling catheter had been left in place). CONCLUSIONS: Alkalinization of the urine is a simple and effective method of treating candiduria in patients with an indwelling catheter. An additional advantage is the metaphylaxis and prophylaxis of renal stone formation in immobilized patients.

Acid-Base Equilibrium

Cytosolic pH regulation in chicken enterocytes: Na(+)-independent regulatory cell alkalinization.

The mechanisms involved in intracellular pH (pHi) recovery from an acid load have been investigated in enterocytes isolated from chicken. Following an intracellular acidification, by abrupt withdrawal of NH4Cl, pHi alkalinized in the nominally absence of Na+ and bicarbonate. This Na(+)- and bicarbonate-independent (NBI) regulatory cell alkalinization became negligible when the pHi has reached a value of approx. 6.85. Addition of Na+ induced a rapid pHi recovery to control values. Rotenone, DCCD, vanadate, NBD-Cl, SCH 28080 and EIPA inhibited the NBI cell alkalinization, whereas bafilomycin A1, ouabain and H2-DIDS were without effect. Na(+)-dependent pHi recovery from an acid load was inhibited by EIPA and unaffected by SCH 28080 or DCCD. The rate of NBI cell alkalinization was a linear function of the electrochemical proton gradient. In high external K+ buffer plus valinomycin the line goes through the origin. Gramicidin accelerated the rate of NBI cell alkalinization, whereas it was slightly reduced by low external potassium. The results demonstrate that in intestinal epithelial cells exist at least two mechanisms for proton secretion: a Na(+)-H+ exchanger and a Na(+)- and bicarbonate-independent proton transport system. This latter mechanism appears to be a proton conductance pathway.

Acid-Base Equilibrium