Interaction of lanthanide cations and uranyl ion with the calcium/proton antiport system in Mycobacterium phlei.

Uranyl ions (UO2+(2)) and lanthanide cations (La3+, Nd3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Tb3+ and Dy3+) at 100-200 microM concentration inhibited active transport of Ca2+, mediated by respiratory linked substrates as well as by ATP hydrolysis, without affecting respiration and membrane-bound ATPase activity, in inside-out membrane vesicles of Mycobacterium phlei. The extent of inhibition in the uptake of Ca2+, mediated by ATP hydrolysis, increased with increase in ionic radii of these cations. Lanthanide cations did not dissipate the formation of a proton gradient, as measured by determining the effect either on the uptake of [14C]methylamine or energy-linked quenching of the fluorescence of 9-aminoacridine. However, uranyl ion (UO2+(2+)) caused reversal of the energy-linked quenching of 9-aminoacridine. UO2+(2)) concentration yielding 50% of Vmax (S0.5) was approx. 15 microM. Kinetic studies revealed that inhibition in the uptake of Ca2+ was competitive with UO2+(2) while non-competitive with rare-earth metals. It is proposed that inhibition in the uptake of Ca2+ by uranyl ion occurs as a result of UO2+(2) transport into the interior of vesicles in exchange for protons, while lanthanide cations are not being transported but affect the binding of Ca2+ to the membrane, presumably to the Ca2+/H+ antiporter.