Characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of H^+ pump currents through the plasma membrane vacuolar H^+-ATPases in osteoclasts

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Osteoclasts resolve bone tissues by secreting acids and proteolytic enzymes and thus play significant roles in bone remodeling. We succeeded in a real-time measurements of proton currents through the plasma membrane vacuolar H^+-ATPase (V-ATPase) using the whole-cell clamp technique. The V-ATPase current was increased by intracellular acidification and depolarization, and inhibited rapidly by exposure to high concentrations of extracellular Ca^<2+>, a negative feedback signal for osteoclast functions. The underlying mechanisms of the Ca^<2+>-sensing responses were investigated.