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Sensing of Volume Changes by Poterioochromonas Involves a Ca²⁺-Regulated System Which Controls Activation of Isofloridoside-Phosphate Synthase ¹

Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Postfach 3049, 6750 Kaiserslautern, Federal Republic of Germany

In Poterioochromonas, osmotically induced shrinkage is reversed by an accumulation of isofloridoside. In crude extracts, the isofloridosidephosphate synthase is activated by an enzyme system, the activity of which is increased at reduced cell volume and decreases again when cells reswell. The synthase-activating enzyme system also spontaneously gains activity in cell homogenates. This process is affected by the presence of ethylene glycol-bis-(2-aminoethyl ether)-N,N-tetraacetate or ethylenediaminetetraacetate in the homogenization buffer and can also be irreversibly initiated by addition of Ca²⁺ ions to homogenates. Pretreatment of the cells with the Ca²⁺-ionophore A 23187 also enhances spontaneous operation of the activation system in homogenates. Addition of the calmodulin-binding drugs trifluoperazine, fluphenazine, or chlorpromazine to homogenates promotes the activation process. The results suggest that detection of volume changes involves a Ca²⁺-controlled and possibly calmodulin-mediated reaction sequence located in membranes. This mechanism might involve zymogens and, after stimulation by cell shrinkage, appears to produce or activate a specific protease capable of activating the isofloridosidephosphate synthase.