Equilibrium dialysis measurements of the Ca2+-binding properties of recombinant radish vacuolar Ca2+-binding protein expressed in Escherichia coli

Vacuoles of radish (Raphanus sativus) contained a Ca2+-binding protein (RVCaB) of 43 kDa. We investigated the Ca2+-binding properties of the protein. RVCaB was expressed in Escherichia coli and was purified from an extract by ion-exchange chromatography, nitrocellulose membrane filtration, and gel-filtration column chromatography. Ca2+-binding properties of the recombinant protein were examined by equilibrium dialysis with Ca-45(2+) and small dialysis buttons. The protein was estimated to bind 19Ca(2+) ions per molecule with a K-d for Ca2+ of 3.4 mm. Ca2+ was bound to the protein even in the presence of high concentrations of Mg2+ or K+. The results suggested that the protein bound Ca2+ with high ion selectivity, high capacity, and low affinity.