Enhancement of Ca2+-sensitive myosin ATPase activity by cadmium.

The effects of Cd2+ on Ca2+-sensitive myosin ATPase activity were examined. In the absence of Ca2+, the Ca2+-dependent myosin ATPase activity was enhanced by Cd2+ to the same extent as with Ca2+ at concentrations ranging from 10(-6) to 10(-3) M. At 10(-2) M, however, no activation was observed. Zn2+, Co2+, and Sr2+ also activated the myosin ATPase. Sr2+ and Co2+ were less effective. Hg2+, Cr3+, and Cu2+ were essentially inactive. In the presence of below 10(-3) M Ca2+, the increase in the enzyme activity observed on the addition of Cd2+ was in addition to that caused by Ca2+ alone. The ability of metal ions to activate myosin ATPase was compared with that to activate calmodulin-dependent cAMP phosphodiesterase. The activating effects of the metal ions tested were in the order of Ca2+ greater than Cd2+ greater than Zn2+ greater than Co2+ greater than Sr2+ for Ca2+-sensitive myosin ATPase and Ca2+ greater than Cd2+ greater than Sr2+ greater than Zn2+ greater than Hg2+ greater than Co2+ for cAMP phosphodiesterase. Cd2+ activated both enzyme activities most efficiently among the metal ions tested except Ca2+. These results indicate that Cd2+ is able to substitute for Ca2+ in the case of Ca2+ dependent enzymes, regardless of whether or not calmodulin participates in the activating process.