Positively charged cyclic hexapeptides have been synthesized and tested for their effects on the cardiac sarcolemma Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange activities with a goal to identify a potent blocker. The cyclic hexapeptides, having the different amino acid sequence, contain two arginines (to retain a positive charge), two phenylalanines (to control hydrophobicity), and two cysteines (to form an intramolecular S-S bond). The effect of cyclic hexapeptides were tested on Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange and its partial reaction, the Ca(2+)-Ca2+ exchange, by measuring the 45Ca fluxes in the semi-rapid mixer or monitoring the calcium-sensitive dye Arsenazo III and voltage-sensitive dyes (Oxanol-V or Merocyanine-540). Seven cyclic hexapeptides inhibit Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange with a different potency (IC50 = 2-300 microM). Phe-Arg-Cys-Arg-Cys-Phe-CONH2 (FRCRCFa) inhibits the Na+i-dependent 45Ca uptake (Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange) and Ca2+i-dependent 45Ca uptake (Ca(2+)-Ca2+ exchange) in the isolated cardiac sarcolemma vesicles with IC50 = 10 +/- 2 microM and IC50 = 7 +/- 3 microM, respectively. Interaction of FRCRCFa with a putative inhibitory site does not involve a "slow" binding (a maximal inhibitory effect is already observed after t = 1 s of mixing). The inside positive potential, generated by Na+o-dependent Ca2+ efflux, was monitored by Oxanol-V (A635-A612) or Merocyanine-540 (A570-A500). In both assay systems, FRCRCFa inhibits the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange with IC50 = 2-3 microM, while a complete inhibition occurs at 20 microM FRCRCFa. The forward (Na+i-dependent Ca2+ influx) and reverse (Na+o-dependent Ca2+ efflux) modes of Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange, monitored by Arsenazo III (A600-A785), are also inhibited by FRCRCFa. The L-Arg4-->D-Arg4 substitution in FRCRCFa does not alter the IC50, meaning that this structural change may increase a proteolytic resistance without a loss of inhibitory potency. At fixed [Na+]i (160 mM) or [Ca2+]i (250 microM) and varying 45Cao (2-200 microM), FRCRCFa decreases Vmax without altering the Km. Therefore, FRCRCFa is a noncompetitive inhibitor in regard to extravesicular Ca2+ either for Na(+)-Ca2+ or Ca(2+)-Ca2+ exchange. It is suggested that FRCRCFa prevents the ion movements through the exchanger rather than the ion binding.