Active calcium and strontium transport in human erythrocyte ghosts.

Both calcium and strontium could be transported actively from erythrocytes if adenosine triphosphate, guanosine triphosphate, or inosine triphosphate were included in the hypotonic medium used to infuse calcium or strontium into the cells. Acetyl phosphate and pyrophosphate were not energy sources for the transport of either ion. Neither calcium nor strontium transport was accompanied by magnesium exchange, and the addition of Mg(++) to the reaction medium in a final concentration of 3.0 mmoles/liter did not promote the transport of either ion. In the absence of nucleotide triphosphates, the addition of 1.5 mmoles/liter of Sr(++) to the reaction solution did not bring about active calcium transport and similarly 1.5 mmoles/liter of Ca(++) did not bring about active strontium transport. The inclusion of 1.5 mmoles/liter of Ca(++) or Sr(++) in the reaction medium did not interfere with the transport of the other ion when the erythrocytes were infused with adenosine triphosphate.