Activation of Ca2+ uptake and inhibition of reversal of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump by aromatic compounds.

The effects of aromatic compounds in sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase were investigated. The solubility of the drugs in various organic solvents and water was measured. The ratio between the solubility in organic solvents and that in water (distribution coefficient) was used as an index of their hydrophobicity. The order found was triphenylphosphine greater than diphenylamine greater than 3-nitrophenol greater than 4-nitrophenol greater than 1,3-dihydroxybenzene. The effects observed on the Ca2+-ATPase were correlated with hydrophobicity of the drugs, activation and inhibition being obtained at a lower concentration the greater the distribution coefficient of the drug into organic solvent. In leaky vesicles, the effects of each compound on the ATPase activity varied depending on the Ca2+ concentration in the medium: it inhibited in the presence of 5 microM Ca2+ and activated when the Ca2+ concentration was raised to 2 mM. In intact vesicles, 3- and 4-nitrophenol, diphenylamine, and triphenylphosphine enhanced both the rate of ATP hydrolysis and the amount of Ca2+ accumulated by the vesicles. These four drugs inhibited Ca2+ uptake when ITP was used as substrate. 1,3-Dihydroxybenzene enhanced the amount of Ca2+ accumulated by the vesicles regardless of whether ATP or ITP was the substrate. All five compounds inhibited the phosphorylation of the enzyme by Pi, the efflux of Ca2+, and the synthesis of ATP measured during the reversal of the Ca2+ pump. The results indicate that the hydrophobic character of various organic compounds determines their access to sensitive domains of the membrane-bound calcium pump. Additional specific effects are then produced, depending on the structure of each compound.