Activation of the calcium release channel (ryanodine receptor) by heparin and other polyanions is calcium dependent

Heparin has been used as a potent competitive inhibitor of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP₃)-binding to IP₃ receptors and to block IP₃-gated calcium channels in bilayer experiments. In contrast to the effect on the IP₃-gated channel, heparin (0.1-1 μg/ml) opened the Ca release channel (ryanodine receptor). Other polyanions such as pentosan polysulfate and polyvinyl sulfate also activated the Ca release channel. The effect of polyanions on the Ca release channel was Ca dependent. Polyanion addition activated the Ca release channel when free Ca was >80 nM, but was ineffective when free Ca was <20 nM. The level of channel activation could be altered by manipulating the free Ca concentration. These results suggest that the polyanions act by increasing the local concentration of Ca near regulatory sites on the channel complex. As most cells have both types of intracellular channels, the opposite effects of the polyanions on the two channel types suggests that addition of polyanions to intact cells may produce multiple effects.