Changes in the surface charge properties of isolated cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles measured by light scattering. I. Characteristics of rat and canine preparations.

The cation-binding characteristics of isolated sarcolemmal vesicles from rat and canine cardiac muscle cells were investigated. To help elucidate the molecular properties involved in these interactions the cation-induced aggregation behavior of rat and canine cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles, sonicated unilamellar vesicles (SUVs) made from sarcolemmal lipid extracts, and SUVs generated from combinations of synthetic lipids similar to those found in the sarcolemmal membrane, as well as mitochondrial and sarcoplasmic reticulum enriched membrane fractions were examined. Our results indicate that cations, such as Ca2+, to indeed bind to the sarcolemmal membrane surface. They also suggest that two (or more) interacting sites are involved in the Ca2+-induced aggregation of the isolated sarcolemmal vesicles, and that sarcolemmal lipid components could be the primary binding sites. The modulating (secondary) sites on the other hand may be protein or carbohydrate in nature, or require specific lipid organizational properties. Finally, the results indicate that the interactions of cations, such as Ca2+, with the sarcolemmal surface are species specific, with the sarcolemmal membranes of both rat and canine preparations having different physico-chemical properties.