Ca2+-dependent interaction of BAPTA with phospholipids

Starting from a comparative study of different Ca2+ chelators on the G-protein-induced inhibition of the Ca(v)2.1 Ca channels, we demonstrate that BAPTA and DM-nitrophen are able to interact, in a Ca2+- and lipid-dependent manner, with phospholipid monolayers. Critical insertion pressure and sensitivity to charged lipids indicated that insertion in the lipid film may occur in biological membranes as those found on Xenopus oocytes. This novel property is not found for EGTA and EDTA and may participate to the unusual ability of BAPTA-related molecules to chelate Ca2+ ions in the very close vicinity of the plasma membrane, where most of the Ca2+-dependent signalling triggered by voltage-gated Ca2+ currents occurs. (C) 2004 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.