Abstract
The Na-Ca exchangers family of membrane transporters is widely distributed in cells and tissues of the animal kingdom and constitutes one of the most important mechanisms for extruding calcium from the cell. Two basic properties characterize them: 1-Their activity is not predicted by thermodynamic parameters of classical electrogenic counter-transporters (dependence on ionic gradients and membrane potential), but is markedly regulated by transported (Na and Ca) and non-transported ionic species (protons and other monovalent cations). These modulations take place at specific sites in the exchanger protein located at extra, intra and trans-membrane protein domains. 2- Exchange activity is also regulated by the metabolic state of the cell. The mammalian and invertebrate preparations share MgATP in that role; the squid has an additional compound, phosphoarginine. This presentation emphasizes the interrelations between ionic and metabolic modulations of Na-Ca exchange, focusing mainly in two preparations where most of the studies have been carried out: the mammalian heart and the squid giant axon. A surprising fact that emerges when comparing the MgATP related pathways in these two systems is that although they are different (PIP2 in the cardiac and a soluble cytosolic regulatory protein in the squid), their final target effects are essentially similar: sodium-calcium-proton interactions with the exchanger. A model integrating both ionic and metabolic interactions in the regulation of the exchanger will be discussed. [J Physiol Sci. 2006;56 Suppl:S36]
