Monomeric ATP-actin binds Ca2+ 3–4-times more strongly than Mg2+ at pH 8. On conversion of G-ATP-actin to G-ADP-actin, the relative affinity of actin for the divalent cations is reversed, so that Mg2+ is bound 6-times more strongly than Ca2+. The dissociation rate constant of Ca2+ from Ca-ADP-actin is 50-fold higher than that for Ca2+ from Ca-ATP-actin, suggesting that this reversal of divalent cation affinities is due primarily to a higher equilibrium dissociation constant for Ca-ADP-actin. These results demonstrate an interaction between the actin-bound nucleotide and divalent cation or their binding sites.
