(Mg+ Ca-ATPase activity in plasma membrane enriched preparations of human skin fibroblasts: Decreased activity in fibroblasts derived from cystic fibrosis patients

Plasma membrane enriched preparations obtained from cultured human skin fibroblasts by differential centrifugation and sucrose density centrifugation techniques were found to contain a Mg²⁺-dependent Ca²⁺-stimulated ATPase activity. The specific activity of the (Mg²⁺ + Ca²⁺-ATPase present was 4–5-fold higher than that present in crude membrane preparations and 80–100-fold higher than that present in homogenates. The (Mg²⁺ + Ca²⁺-ATPase activity of both crude and plasma membrane enriched preparations of cultured fibroblasts from cystic fibrosis patients was significantly reduced compared to that activity observed in age-matched controls. This study corroborates our previous observations made in crude homogenate preparations of fibroblasts and indicates another cell type where (Mg²⁺ + Ca²⁺-ATPase activity may be altered in cystic fibrosis.