Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Promotion of cell fusion by divalent cation ionophores

Abstract

THE importance of cytoplasmic calcium has recently been emphasised by demonstrations that the ionophores X537A and A23187, which are known to facilitate the movement of Ca2+ through membranes1,2, trigger secretion in the presence of extracellular calcium ions3,4. We now report observations on the effects of these two cation ionophores on hen erythrocytes at physiological pH, which raise the possibility that the phenomenon of cell fusion may also be mediated by an increased concentration of cytoplasmic Ca2+.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Reed, P. W., and Lardy, H. A., in The Role of Membranes in Metabolic Regulation (edit. by Mehlman, M. A., and Hanson, R. W.), 111–131 (Academic Press, New York, 1972).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  2. Pressman, B. C., Fedn Proc., 32, 1698–1701 (1973).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Cochrane, D. E., and Douglas, W. W., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 71, 408–412 (1974).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Foreman, J. C., Mongar, J. C., and Gomperts, B. D., Nature, 245, 249–251 (1973).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ahkong, Q. F., Fisher, D., Tampion, W., and Lucy, J. A., Biochem. J., 136, 147–155 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Jan, K.-M., and Chien, S., J. gen. Physiol., 61, 638–654 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Howell, J. I., and Lucy, J. A., FEBS Lett., 4, 147–150 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ahkong, Q. F., Cramp, F. C., Fisher, D., Howell, J. I., Tampion, W., and Verrinder, M., and Lucy, J. A., Nature new Biol., 242, 215–217 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Papahadjopoulos, D., Poste, G., and Schaeffer, B. E., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 323, 23–42 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Metcalfe, J. C., Seeman, P., and Burgen, A. S. V., Molec. Pharmac., 4, 87–95 (1968).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Fisher, D., in NATO Symposium on Lipids, Proteins and Receptors (edit. By Burton, R. M., and Packer, L.), (Bi-Science Publications Division, Webster Groves, Missouri, in the press).

  12. Poste, G., and Allison, A. C., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 300, 421–465 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Dunn, M. J., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 352, 97–116 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Yanagimachi, R., and Usui, N., Expl Cell Res., 89, 161–174 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Nicolson, G. L., and Painter, R. G., J. Cell Biol., 59, 395–406 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Ohnishi, S-I., and Ito, T., Biochemistry, 13, 881–887 (1974).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Zwaal, R. F. A., Roelofsen, B., and Colley, C. M., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 300, 159–182 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Grant, C. W. M., and McConnell, H. M., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 71, 4653–4657 (1974).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Ahkong, Q. F., Fisher, D., Tampion, W., and Lucy, J. A., Nature, 253, 194–195 (1975).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Douglas, W. W., Biochem. Soc. Symp., 39, 1–28 (1974).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Rubin, P., Calcium and the Secretory Process (Plenum, New York, 1974).

    Book  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

AHKONG, Q., TAMPION, W. & LUCY, J. Promotion of cell fusion by divalent cation ionophores. Nature 256, 208–209 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/256208a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/256208a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing