Polyamines and neomycin inhibit the purified plasma-membrane Ca2+ pump by interacting with associated polyphosphoinositides.

We investigated the effect of spermine, spermidine, putrescine and neomycin on the activity of the plasma-membrane Ca2+ pump and on its stimulation by negatively charged phospholipids and calmodulin. Millimolar concentrations of spermine and to a lesser extent of spermidine decreased the ATPase activity in the presence of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), without affecting the stimulation by phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PIP). Sub-millimolar concentrations of neomycin inhibited the stimulation of the ATPase by PIP and by PIP2. Neomycin was more effective at the higher concentrations of PIP and PIP2. We discuss that these findings are compatible with the hypothesis that PIP and PIP2 bind to the ATPase and that several of these molecules have to be available to stimulate the ATPase.