Translocation of human platelet calpain-I.

Intracellular localization of calpain (calcium dependent cysteine proteinase) was studied in resting or activated human platelets. When stimulated with 2 U/ml thrombin, approximately 40% of total cellular calpain activity and 25% of antigen translocated mainly to the intracellular membrane fractions with autolytic activation. Translocation of calpain was completely abolished by the addition of EDTA to the sonication medium. However an endogenous calpain inhibitor (calpastatin) activity was not detected in the membrane fractions both in resting and in thrombin stimulated platelets. Translocation of calpain was also observed in the platelets stimulated with ionomycin, collagen or phorbor myristate acetate (PMA). These data suggest that cytosolic calpain reversibly translocates to the intracellular membranes during platelet activation without an interference by calpastatin.