Ouabain-binding site of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in right-side-out vesicles has not an externally accessible SH group

The fluorescing sulfhydryl reagent N-(7-dimethylamino-4-methylcoumarinyl)maleimide (DACM) inactivates purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase at 20 microM. This inactivation results in a decrease of the ouabain-binding capacity of the enzyme. Treatment of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, embedded in right-side-out-oriented vesicles, by DACM does not affect ouabain binding to the enzyme. Incorporation of DACM into the alpha subunit of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase embedded in right-side-out vesicles is also not affected by the presence or absence of 100 microM ouabain. It is therefore concluded that a sulfhydryl group does not reside within the ouabain-binding site of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.     

Asymmetric orientation of amino groups in the alpha-subunit and the beta-subunit of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in tight right-side-out vesicles of basolateral membranes from outer medulla

The orientation of amino groups in the membrane in the alpha- and beta-subunits of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase was examined by labeling with Boldon-Hunter reagent, N-succinimidyl 3-(4-hydroxy,5-[125I]iodophenyl)propionate), in right-side-out vesicles or in open membrane fragments from the thick ascending limbs of the Henles loop of pig kidney. Sealed right-side-out vesicles of basolateral membranes were separated from open membrane fragments by centrifugation in a linear metrizamide density gradient. After labeling, (Na+ + K+)-ATPase was purified using a micro-scale version of the ATP-SDS procedure. Distribution of label was analyzed after SDS-gel electrophoresis of alpha-subunit, beta-subunit and proteolytic fragments of alpha-subunit. Both the alpha- and the beta-subunit of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase are uniformly labeled, but the distribution of labeled residues on the two membrane surfaces differs markedly. All the labeled residues in the beta-subunit are located on the extracellular surface. In the alpha-subunit, 65-80% of modified groups are localized to the cytoplasmic surface and 20-35% to the extracellular membrane surface. Proteolytic cleavage provides evidence for the random distribution of 125I-labeling within the alpha-subunit. The preservation of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity and the observation of distinct proteolytic cleavage patterns of the E1- and E2-forms of the alpha-subunit show that the native enzyme structure is unaffected by labeling with Bolton-Hunter reagent. Bolton-Hunter reagent was shown not to permeate into sheep erythrocytes under the conditions of the labeling experiment. The data therefore allow the conclusion that the mass distribution is asymmetric, with all the labeled amino groups in the beta-subunit being on the extracellular surface, while the alpha-subunit exposes 2.6-fold more amino groups on the cytoplasmic than on the extracellular surface.     

Calcium inhibition of the ATPase and phosphatase activities of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

In experiments performed at 37 degrees C, Ca2+ reversibly inhibits the Na+-and (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activities and the K+-dependent phosphatase activity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. With 3 mM ATP, the Na+-ATPase was less sensitive to CaCl2 than the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. With 0.02 mM ATP, the Na+-ATPase and the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activities were similarly inhibited by CaCl2. The K0.5 for Ca2+ as (Na+ + K+)-ATPase inhibitor depended on the total MgCl2 and ATP concentrations. This Ca2+ inhibition could be a consequence of Ca2+-Mg2+ competition, Ca . ATP-Mg . ATP competition or a combination of both mechanisms. In the presence of Na+ and Mg2+, Ca2+ inhibited the K+-dependent dephosphorylation of the phosphoenzyme formed from ATP, had no effect on the dephosphorylation in the absence of K+ and inhibited the rephosphorylation of the enzyme. In addition, the steady-state levels of phosphoenzyme were reduced in the presence both of NaCl and of NaCl plus KCl. With 3 mM ATP, Ca2+ alone sustained no more than 2% of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity and about 23% of the Na+-ATPase activity observed with Mg2+ and no Ca2+. With 0.003 mM ATP, Ca2+ was able to maintain about 40% of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity and 27% of the Na+-ATPase activity seen in the presence of Mg2+ alone. However, the E2(K)-E1K conformational change did not seem to be affected. Ca2+ inhibition of the K+-dependent rho-nitrophenylphosphatase activity of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase followed competition kinetics between Ca2+ and Mg2+. In the presence of 10 mM NaCl and 0.75 mM KCl, the fractional inhibition of the K+-dependent rho-nitrophenylphosphatase activity as a function of Ca2+ concentration was the same with and without ATP, suggesting that Ca2+ indeed plays the important role in this process. In the absence of Mg2+, Ca2+ was unable to sustain any detectable ouabain-sensitive phosphatase activity, either with rho-nitrophenylphosphate or with acetyl phosphate as substrate.     

Involvement of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in binding and actions of palytoxin on human erythrocytes

Palytoxin (about 1 pM) increases the permeability of human erythrocytes. We now report its radiolabeling with 125I, followed by affinity purification on porcine kidney membranes. The resulting ligand binds fast and reversibly to intact erythrocytes. The Kd from velocity and equilibrium measurements is 2 X 10(-11) M, and the number of binding sites about 200 per cell. Binding is promoted by divalent cations (Ca2+ greater than Sr2+ greater than Ba2+) and by borate. It is inhibited by K+ (IC50 2 mM), ouabain (IC50 3 X 10(-9) M) and ouabagenin (IC50 6 X 10(-6) M). Conversely, [3H]ouabain is displaced by the substances and concentrations mentioned, and also by palytoxin (Ki 3 X 10(-11) M). Dog erythrocytes, which are known to possess a very low (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity, are resistant to and lack specific binding sites for palytoxin. Binding of 125I-palytoxin, like that of [3H]ouabain, depends on the state of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. ATP depletion decreases binding of both ligands to erythrocytes. Binding of 125I-palytoxin and [3H]ouabain to red cell stroma is partially restored by ATP. In contrast to [3H]ouabain, binding of 125I-palytoxin to red cell stroma is not promoted by Mg2+ and Pi. The data show that (a) all known promoters and inhibitors of palytoxin action on human red cells do so by enhancing or decreasing its binding, (b) (Na+ + K+)-ATPase serves as a receptor for palytoxin, and (c) the antagonism by ouabain is competitive at the receptor level. They support our previous hypothesis that palytoxin increases human erythrocyte permeability by formation of pores through (Na+ + K+)-ATPase or its close vicinity.     

Characterization of gill (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

Bass gill microsomal preparations contain both a Na+, K+ and Mg2+-dependent ATPase, which is completely inhibited by 10(-3)M ouabain and 10(-2)M Ca2+, and also a ouabain insensitive ATP-ase activity in the presence of both Mg2+ and Na+. Under the optimal conditions of pH 6.5, 100 mM Na+, 20 mM K+, 5 mM ATP and 5 mM Mg2+, (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity at 30 degrees C is 15.6 mumole Pi hr/mg protein. Bass gill (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is similar to other (Na+ + K+)-ATPases with respect to the sensitivity to ionic strength, Ca2+ and ouabain and to both Na+/K+ and Mg2+/ATP optimal ratios, while pH optimum is lower than poikilotherm data. The enzyme requires Na+, whereas K+ can be replaced efficiently by NH+4 and poorly by Li+. Both Km and Vm values decrease in the series NH+4 greater than K+ greater than Li+. The break of Arrhenius plot at 17.7 degrees C is close to the adaptation temperature. Activation energies are scarcely different from each other and both lower than those generally reported. The Km for Na+ poorly decreases as the assay temperature lowers. The comparison with literature data aims at distinguishing between distinctive and common features of bass gill (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.     

Characteristics of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in the gills of bass

A partial characterization of bass gill (Na+ + K+-ATPase is reported in the present paper. Microsomal preparation from gill homogenate showed optimal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity at pH 6,5 in the presence of 100 mM Na+, 20mM K+ and 5mM Mg2+. Under these conditions maximal activity was shown at 45 degrees C, even if an increased lability of the enzyme was shown at temperature greater than 30 degrees C. A complete inhibition of the enzyme occurred in the presence of 1 mM ouabain. The break in the Arrhenius plot occurred approximatively at the temperature of adaptation of these fish (18 degrees C). The energies of activation above and below the break were scarcely different from each other and lower than those reported in other Poikilotherms. Furthermore similar values of Km for Na+ were evidenced at 18 degrees C and 30 degrees C. The whole of data are discussed in comparison with other teleost gill (Na+ + K+)-ATPase reports and related to the physiological role of the enzyme in osmoregulation.     

Redistribution and characterization of (H+ + K+)-ATPase membranes from resting and stimulated gastric parietal cells.

When isolated from resting parietal cells, the majority of the (H+ + K+)-ATPase activity was recovered in the microsomal fraction. These microsomal vesicles demonstrated a low K+ permeability, such that the addition of valinomycin resulted in marked stimulation of (H+ + K+)-ATPase activity, and proton accumulation. When isolated from stimulated parietal cells, the (H+ + K+)-ATPase was redistributed to larger, denser vesicles: stimulation-associated (s.a.) vesicles. S.a. vesicles showed an increased K+ permeability, such that maximal (H+ + K+)-ATPase and proton accumulation activities were observed in low K+ concentrations and no enhancement of activities occurred on the addition of valinomycin. The change in subcellular distribution of (H+ + K+)-ATPase correlated with morphological changes observed with stimulation of parietal cells, the microsomes and s.a. vesicles derived from the intracellular tubulovesicles and the apical plasma membrane, respectively. Total (H+ + K+)-ATPase activity recoverable from stimulated gastric mucosa was 64% of that from resting tissue. Therefore, we tested for latent activity in s.a. vesicles. Permeabilization of s.a. vesicles with octyl glucoside increased (H+ + K+)-ATPase activity by greater than 2-fold. Latent (H+ + K+)-ATPase activity was resistant to highly tryptic conditions (which inactivated all activity in gastric microsomes). About 20% of the non-latent (H+ + K+)-ATPase activity was also resistant to trypsin digestion. We interpret these results as indicating that, of the s.a. vesicles, approx. 55% have a right-side-out orientation and are impermeable to ATP, 10% right-side-out and permeable to ATP, and 35% have an inside-out orientation.     

Kinetic properties of C12E8-solubilized (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

The properties of the rectal gland (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.8) solubilized in octaethyleneglycol dodecylmonoether ( C12E8 ) have been investigated. The kinetic properties of the solubilized enzyme resemble those of the membrane-bound enzyme to a large extent. The main difference is that Km for ATP for the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is about 30 microM for the solubilized enzyme and about 100 microM for the membrane-bound enzyme. The Na+-form (E1) and the K+-form (E2) can also be distinguished in the solubilized enzyme, as seen from tryptic digestion, the intrinsic fluorescence and eosin fluorescence responses to Na+ and K+. The number of vanadate-binding sites is unchanged upon solubilization, and it is shown that vanadate binding is much more resistant to detergent inactivation than the enzymatic activities. The number of phosphorylation sites on the 95-100% pure supernatant enzyme is about 3.8 nmol/mg, and is equal to the number of vanadate sites. Inactivation of the enzyme by high concentrations of detergent can be shown to be related to the C12E8 /protein ratio, with a weight ratio of about 4 being a threshold for the onset of inactivation at low ionic strength. At high ionic strength, more C12E8 is required both for solubilization and inactivation. It is observed that the commercially available detergent polyoxyethylene 10-lauryl ether is much less deleterious than C12E8 , and its advantages in the assay of detergent-solubilized (Na+ + K+)-ATPase are discussed. The results show that (Na+ + K+)-ATPase can be solubilized in C12E8 in an active form, and that most of the kinetic and conformational properties of the membrane-bound enzyme are conserved upon solubilization. C12E8 -solubilized (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is therefore a good model system for a solubilized membrane protein.     

Ligand binding sites of the ouabain-complexed (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

To clarify the mechanism of inhibition of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by cardiac glycosides, we tried to see if ouabain binding alters the properties of the binding sites for Na+, K+, and ATP. Ouabain was bound in the presence of either Na+ + MgATP or MgPi. Ligand-induced changes in the rate of release of ouabain from the two resulting complexes were used as signals to determine the affinities, the numbers, and the interactions of the ligand binding sites. Because the two complexes showed differences in the properties of their ligand binding sites, and since neither complex could be converted to the other, it is concluded that either the enzyme has two dissimilar but mutually exclusive ouabain sites or that it can be frozen in two distinct conformations by ouabain. The following ligand sites were identified on the two complexes: 1) two coexisting ATP sites (K0.5 values, 0.1 and 2 mM) representing altered states of the catalytic and the regulatory sites of the native enzyme; 2) mutually exclusive Na+ and K+ sites whose affinities (K0.5 values, 1.3 mM Na+ and 0.1 mM K+) suggested their identities with the high affinity uptake sites of the native enzyme; and 3) coexisting low affinity Na+ and K+ sites (K0.5 values, 0.2-0.6 M) representing either the discharge sites, or the regulatory sites, or the access channels of the native enzyme. The data suggest that the inability of the ouabain-complexed enzyme to participate in the normal reaction cycle is not because of its lack of ligand binding sites but most likely due to ouabain-induced disruptions of interprotomer site-site interactions.     

H+ transport by reconstituted gastric (H+ + K+)-ATPase

Gastric (H+ + K+)-ATPase was reconstituted into artificial phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol liposomes by means of a freeze-thaw-sonication technique. Upon addition of MgATP, active H+ transport was observed, with a maximal rate of 2.1 mumol X mg-1 X min-1, requiring the presence of 100 mM K+ at the intravesicular site. However, in the absence of ATP an H+-K+ exchange with a maximal rate of 0.12 mumol X mg-1 X min-1 was measured, which could be inhibited by the well-known ATPase inhibitors vanadate and omeprazole, giving the first evidence of a passive K+-H+ exchange function of gastric (H+ + K+)-ATPase. An Na+-H+ exchange activity was also measured, which was fully inhibited by 1 mM amiloride. Simultaneous reconstitution of Na+/H+ antiport and (H+ + K+)-ATPase could explain why reconstituted ATPase appeared less cation-specific than the native enzyme (Rabon, E.C., Gunther, R.B., Soumarmon, A., Bassilian, B., Lewin, M.J.M. and Sachs, G. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 10200-10212).     

Reconstitution of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase into phospholipid vesicles with full recovery of its specific activity

(Na+ + K+)-ATPase from rectal glands of the spiny dogfish has been reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles. The nonionic detergent octaethyleneglycoldodecyl monoether ( C12E8 ) is used to dissolve both the enzyme and the lipids and reconstitution is accomplished by subsequent removal of the detergent by adsorption to polystyrene beads. About 60% of the enzyme incorporates in the right-side-out orientation (r/o). The fraction of molecules in the inside-out orientation (i/o) increases from about 10% to about 30% with a parallel decrease in the fraction of 'non-oriented' (n-o) molecules (both sides exposed) when the protein/lipid ratio decreases from 1:10 to 1:75. The orientation of enzyme molecules detected from vanadate binding is the same as measured from activity, i.e., the turnover of the enzyme molecule in the different orientations is the same. The recovery of the specific activity of the incorporated enzyme increases with an increase in the protein/lipid ratio and is 100% with a protein/lipid ratio of about 1:20 or higher. Full recovery is only obtained provided a proper lipid composition is chosen which includes both negatively charged phospholipids, preferably phosphatidylinositol, and cholesterol. The ATP-dependent, K+-stimulated Na+-influx is found to be about 35 mumol Na+ per mg (i/o)-protein per min at 22 degrees C in 1:10 protein/lipid liposomes. The specific activity corresponds to 3 Na+ transported per ATP molecule hydrolyzed.     

Reconstitution of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase proteoliposomes having the same turnover rate as the membranous enzyme

Membranous (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from the electric eel was solubilized with 3-[3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio)-1-propanesulfonate (Chaps). 50 to 70% of the solubilized enzyme was reconstituted in egg phospholipid liposomes containing cholesterol by using Chaps. The obtained proteoliposomes consisted of large vesicles with a diameter of 134 +/- 24 nm as the major component, and their protein/lipid ratio was 1.25 +/- 0.07 g protein/mol phospholipid. The intravesicular volume of these proteoliposomes is too small to consistently sustain the intravesicular concentrations of ligands, especially K+, during the assay. The decrease in K+ concentration was cancelled by the addition of 20 microM valinomycin in the assay medium. The low value of the protein/lipid ratio suggests that these proteoliposomes contain one Na+/K+-pump particle with a molecular mass of 280 kDa per one vesicle as the major component. In these proteoliposomes, the specific activity of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase reaction was 10 mumol Pi/mg protein per min, and the turnover rate of the ATP-hydrolysis was 3500 min-1, the same as the original enzyme under the same assay condition. The ratio of transported Na+ to hydrolyzed ATP was 3, the same as that in the red cell. The proteoliposomes could be disintegrated by 40-50 mM Chaps without any significant inactivation. This disintegration of proteoliposomes nearly tripled the ATPase activity compared to the original ones and doubled the specific ATPase activity compared to the membranous enzyme, but the turnover rate was the same as the original proteoliposomes and the membranous enzyme. This disintegration of proteoliposomes by Chaps suggests the selective incorporation of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase particle into the liposomes and the asymmetric orientation of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase particle in the vesicle.     

Influence of pH and sodium on the inhibition of guinea-pig heart (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by calcium.

The inhibition of guinea-pig heart (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase EC 3.6.1.3) by calcium has been studied at pH 7.4, 6.8 and 6.4. 1. A decrease in pH reduced the threshold inhibitory concentration of calcium and the calcium concentration producing an inhibition of 50% of the enzyme activity. 2. Calcium reduced the apparent affinity of the enzyme of Na+, this effect occurred only at pH 7.4. 3. Calcium increased the apparent affinity of the enzyme for K+, this effect was enhanced at acidic pH. 4. Activation of the enzyme by Na+ for a constant Na+ : K+ ratio has been studied at pH 7.4 and at pH 6.8 in the absence and in the presence of 3.10(-4) M Ca 2+; the results of this experiment indicate that Ca2+ effect at pH 7.4 was not influenced by Na+ -- K+ competition and was probably due to a Na+ -- Ca2+ interaction. 5. At pH 7.4, the calcium inhibitory threshold concentration and the concentration producing 50% inhibition were reduced when Na+ was low; at pH 6.8, the calcium inhibition was not markedly modified by the change of Na+ concentration. 6. The Ca2+ -activated ATPase of myosin B which is related to the contractile behaviour of muscle and the Ca2+ -ATPase of the sarcoplasmic reticulum which is related to the ability of this structure to accumulate calcium were activated in a range of calcium concentration producing an inhibition of (Na2+ + K+) -ATPase. The present results indicate that the increase by acidity of the (Na2+ + K+) -ATPase sensitivity to calcium might be due to a suppression of a Na+ -Ca2+ interaction. On the basis of these observations, it is proposed that calcium might inhibit the Na+ -pump during the repolarization phase of the action potential and that, by this effect, it might control cell excitability.     

Activation by lithium ions of the inside sodium sites in (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.

1. Purified pig kidney ATPase was incubated in 30--160 mM Tris-HCl with various monovalent cations. 130 mM LiCl stimulated a ouabain-sensitive ATP hydrolysis (about 5% of the maximal (Na+ + K) activity), whereas 160 mM Tris-HCl did not stimulate hydrolysis. Similar results were obtained with human red blood cell broken membranes. 2. In the absence of Na+ and with 130 mM LiCl, the ATPase activity as a function of KCl concentration showed an initial slight inhibition (50 micrometer KCl) followed by an activation (maximal at 0.2 mM KCl) and a further inhibition, which was total at mM KCl. In the absence of LiCl, the rate of hydrolysis was not affected by any of the KCl concentrations investigated. 3. The lithium-activation curve for ATPase activity in the absence of both Na+ and K+ had sigmoid characteristics. It also showed a marked dependence on the total LiCl + Tris-HCl concentration, being inhibited at high concentrations. This inhibition was more noticeable at low LiCl concentrations. 4. In the absence of Na+, 130 mM Li+ showed promoted phosphorylation of ATPase from 1 to 3 mM ATP in the presence of Mg2+. In enzyme treated with N-ethylmaleimide, the levels of phosphorylation in Li+-containing solutions, amounted to 40% of those in Na+- and up to 7 times of those in K+-containing solutions. 5. The total (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity was markedly inhibited at high buffer concentrations (Tris-HCl, Imidazole-HCl and tetramethylammonium-HEPES gave similar results) in cases when either the concentration of Na+ or K+ (or both) was below saturation. On the other hand, the maximal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity was not affected (or very slightly) by the buffer concentration. 6. Under standard conditions (Tris-HCl + NaCl = 160 mM) the Na+-activation curve of Na+-ATPase had a steep rise between 0 and 2.5 mM, a fall between 2.5 and 20 mM and a further increase between 20 and 130 mM. With 30 mM Tris-HCl, the curve rose more steeply, inhibition was noticeable at 2.5 mM Na+ and was completed at 5 mM Na+. With Tris-HCl + NaCl = 280 mM, the amount of activation decreased and inhibition at intermediate Na+ concentrations was not detected.     

Kinetics of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase: analysis of the influence of Na+ and K+ by steady-state kinetics

The influence of Na+ and K+ on the steady-state kinetics at 37 degrees C of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase was investigated. From an analysis of the dependence of slopes and intercepts (from double-reciprocal plots or from Hanes plots) of the primary data on Na+ and K+ concentrations a detailed model for the interaction of the cations with the individual steps in the mechanism may be inferred and a set of intrinsic (i.e. cation independent) rate constants and cation dissociation constants are obtained. A comparison of the rate constants with those obtained from an analogous analysis of Na+-ATPase kinetics (preceding paper) provides evidence that the ATP hydrolysis proceeds through a series of intermediates, all of which are kinetically different from those responsible for the Na+-ATPase activity. The complete model for the enzyme thus involves two distinct, but doubly connected, hydrolysis cycles. The model derived for (Na+ + K+)-ATPase has the following properties: The empty, substrate free, enzyme form is the K+-bound form E2K. Na+ (Kd = 9 mM) and MgATP (Kd = 0.48 mM), in that order, must be bound to it in order to effect K+ release. Thus Na+ and K+ are simultaneously present on the enzyme in part of the reaction cycle. Each enzyme unit has three equivalent and independent Na+ sites. K+ binding to high-affinity sites (Kd = 1.4 mM) on the presumed phosphorylated intermediate is preceded by release of Na+ from low-affinity sites (Kd = 430 mM). The stoichiometry is variable, and may be Na:K:ATP = 3:2:1. To the extent that the transport properties of the enzyme are reflected in the kinetic ATPase model, these properties are in accord with one of the models shown by Sachs ((1980) J. Physiol. 302, 219-240) to give a quantitative fit of transport data for red blood cells.     

Na+ currents generated by the purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase on planar lipid membranes

Purified (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from pig kidney was attached to black lipid membranes and ATP-induced electric currents were measured as described previously by Fendler et al. ((1985) EMBO J. 4, 3079-3085). An ATP concentration jump was produced by an ultraviolet-light flash converting non-hydrolysable caged ATP to ATP. In the presence of Na+ and Mg2+ this resulted in a transient current signal. The pump current was not only ATP dependent, but also was influenced by the ATP/caged ATP ratio. It was concluded that caged ATP binds to the enzyme (and hence inhibits the signal) with a Ki of approx. 30 microM, which was confirmed by enzymatic activity studies. An ATP affinity of approx. 2 microM was determined. The addition of the protonophore 1799 and the Me+/H+ exchanger monensin made the bilayer conductive leading to a stationary pump current. The stationary current was strongly increased by the addition of K+ with a K0.5 of 700 microM. Even in the absence of K+ a stationary current could be measured, which showed two Na+-affinities: a high-affinity (K0.5 less than or equal to 1 mM) and a low-affinity (K0.5 greater than or equal to 0.2 M). In order to explain the sustained electrogenic Na+ transport during the Na+-ATPase activity, it is proposed, that Na+ can replace K+ in dephosphorylating the enzyme, but binds about 1000-times weaker than K+. The ATP requirement of the Na+-ATPase was the same (K0.5 = 2 microM) with regard to the peak currents and the stationary currents. However, for the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase the stationary currents required more ATP. The results are discussed on the basis of the Albers-Post scheme.     

Na+-ATPase in the gills of bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

The authors evidence a Mg2+ dependent ATPase activity stimulated by Na+ in absence of K+ in bass gill microsomes. As this stimulated ATPase shows different features from "baseline" activity measured in the absence of both Na+ and K+ ions (Mg2+-ATPase) and from 1mM ouabain sensitive (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, it has been ascribed to a distinct Na+-ATPase. In the present paper the optimal conditions for bass gill Na+-ATPase assay and the temperature dependence of the enzyme are reported. Moreover the Na+-ATPase appears to be insensitive to 1mM ouabain and 100% inhibited by 2,5mM ethacrynic acid. It is suggested a parallel diffusion of Na+- and (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and a possible physiological role of Na+ATPase in osmoregulation.     

Ligand-dependent reactivity of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase with showdomycin

Showdomycin inhibited pig brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase with pseudo first-order kinetics. The rate of inhibition by showdomycin was examined in the presence of 16 combinations of four ligands, i.e., Na+, K+, Mg2+ and ATP, and was found to depend on the ligands added. Combinations of ligands were divided into five groups in terms of the magnitude of the rate constant; in the order of decreasing rate constants these were: (1) Na+ + Mg2+ + ATP, (2) Mg2+, Mg2+ + K+, K+ and none, (3) Na+ + Mg2+, Na+, K+ + Na+ and Na+ + K+ + Mg2+, (4) Mg2+ + K+ + ATP, K+ + ATP and Mg2+ + ATP, (5) K+ + Na + + ATP, Na+ + ATP, Na+ + K+ + Mg2+ + ATP and ATP. The highest rate was obtained in the presence of Na+, Mg2+ and ATP. The apparent concentrations of Na+, Mg2+ and ATP for half-maximum stimulation of inhibition (KS0.5) were 3 mM, 0.13 mM and 4 MicroM, respectively. The rate was unchanged upon further increase in Na+ concentration from 140 to 1000 mM. The rates of inhibition could be explained on the basis of the enzyme forms present, including E1, E2, ES, E1-P and E2-P, i. e., E2 has higher reactivity with showdomycin than E1, while E2-P has almost the same reactivity as E1-P. We conclude that the reaction of (Na+ + K+)- ATPase proceeds via at least four kinds of enzyme form (E1, E2, E1 . nucleotide and EP), which all have different conformations.     

Thallium inhibition of ouabain-sensitive sodium transport and of the (Na+ plus K+)-ATPase in human erythrocytes.

The influence of Tl+ on Na+ transport and on the ATPase activity in human erythrocytes was studied. 0.1-1.0 mM Tl+ added to a K+-free medium inhibited the ouabain-sensitive self-exchange of Na+ and activated both the ouabain-sensitive 22Na outward transport and the transport related ATPase. 5-10mM external Tl+ caused inhibition of the ouabain-sensitive 22Na efflux as well as the (Na+ plus Tl+)-ATPase. Competition between the internal Na+ and rapidly penetrating thallous ions at the inner Na+-specific binding sites of the erythrocyte membrane could account for the inhibitory effect of Tl+. An increase of the internal Na+ concentration in erythrocytes or in ghosts protected the system against the inhibitory effect of high concentration of Tl+. A protective effect of Na+ was also demonstrated on the (Na+ plus Tl+)-ATPase of fragmented erythrocyte membranes studied at various Na+ and Tl+ concentrations.     

(Na+ + K+)-ATPase: confirmation of the three-pool model for the phosphointermediates of Na+-ATPase activity. Estimation of the enzyme-ATP dissociation rate constant

The dephosphorylation kinetics of acid-stable phosphointermediates of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from ox brain, ox kidney and pig kidney was studied at 0 degree C. Experiments performed on brain enzyme phosphorylated at 0 degree C in the presence of 20-600 mM Na+, 1 mM Mg2+ and 25 microM [gamma-32P]ATP show that irrespectively of the EP-pool composition, which is determined by Na+ concentration, all phosphoenzyme is either ADP- or K+-sensitive. After phosphorylation of kidney enzymes at 0 degree C with 1 mM Mg2+, 25 microM [gamma-32P]ATP and 150-1000 mM Na+ the amounts of ADP- and K+-sensitive phosphoenzymes were determined by addition of 1 mM ATP + 2.5 mM ADP or 1 mM ATP + 20 mM K+. Similarly to the previously reported results on brain enzyme, both types of dephosphorylation curves have a fast and a slow phase, so that also for kidney enzymes a slow decay of a part of the phosphoenzyme, up to 80% at 1000 mM Na+, after addition of 1 mM ATP + 20 mM K+ is observed. The results obtained with the kidney enzymes seem therefore to reinforce previous doubts about the role played by E1 approximately P(Na3) as intermediate of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. Furthermore, for both kidney enzymes the sum of ADP- and K+-sensitive phosphoenzymes is greater than E tot. In experiments on brain enzyme an estimate of dissociation rate constant for the enzyme-ATP complex, k-1, is obtained. k-1 varies between 1 and 4 s-1 and seems to depend on the ligands present during formation of the complex. The highest values are found for enzyme-ATP complex formed in the presence of Na+ or Tris+. The results confirm the validity of the three-pool model in describing dephosphorylation kinetics of phosphointermediates of Na+-ATPase activity.