Propranolol has direct antithyroid activity: Inhibition of iodide transport in cultured thyroid follicles

The effect of propranolol on the process of thyroid hormone formation was studied in a physiological culture system. Porcine thyroid follicles were preincubated with propranolol for 24 h. Iodide transport, iodine organification, and de novo thyroid hormone formation were measured by incubating these follicles with the mixture of carrier-free 0·1 μCi Na ¹²⁵I and 50 nM NaI for 2 to 6 h at 37°C. A concentration of propranolol greater than 100 μM inhibited iodide transport in a dose-dependent manner; this inhibition was non-competitive with iodide and independent of thyrotropin (TSH). Reduced iodine organification and thyroid hormone formation was seen with 150 μM propranolol or greater. The inhibitory action of propranolol was not caused by beta-blocking activity, since D -propranolol (devoid of beta-blocking activity) inhibited iodide transport, and other beta-blockers (metoprolol, atenolol, and labetalol) did not inhibit iodide transport. The inhibition of iodide transport was most likely caused by membrane stabilizing activity since quinidine, which possess the same membrane stabilizing activity as propranolol, also inhibited iodide transport. TSH-mediated cAMP generation and Na ⁺K⁺ ATPase activity, membrane functions for iodide transport, were unaffected by propranolol. Our study has shown, for the first time, that propranolol has a direct antithyroid action, namely inhibition of iodide transport in the intact thyroid follicle.     

Inhibition of Na,K-ATPase and sodium pump by anticancer ether lipids and protein kinase C inhibitors ET-18-OCH3 and BM 41.440

The anticancer ether lipid analogs ET-18-OCH3 and BM 41.440 inhibited Na, K-ATPase in the purified rat brain membrane fragments, with a potency comparable to that of their inhibition of protein kinase C. They also inhibited Na,K-ATPase in the crude membrane fraction of HL60 cells. Kinetic analysis indicated that the lipids had a mode of action different from that of ouabain, a classic inhibitor of the ATPase. The lipids also blocked 22Na uptake in the inside-out membrane vesicles of human erythrocytes. It is suggested that Na,K-ATPase might represent an additional site with which certain protein kinase C inhibitors can interact to alter cellular activities.     

Stimulation of Na,K-ATPase activity of frog skeletal muscle by insulin

Na,K-ATPase activity of a plasma membrane fraction obtained from frog skeletal muscles was increased approximately two-fold by exposing muscles to insulin, whereas the addition of insulin to a membrane preparation suspension has no effect on Na,K-ATPase activity. The effect of insulin on Na,K-ATPase activity of whole muscles was specific to insulin and insulin derivatives that had the ability of receptor-binding and was not inhibited by actinomycin D. Insulin also induced a development of Na,K-ATPase activity in muscles whose Na,K-ATPase activity had been blocked by ouabain-pretreating. Such a insulin action was inhibited by monensin. These observations suggest that insulin stimulates the monensin-sensitive intracellular transport of membrane proteins which should be responsible for the increase in Na/K pumping activity.     

Some properties of hog thyroidal membrane-bound adenosine tri-phosphatase: proteolytic activation of Mg-dependent activity.

The ATPase preparations from the hog thyroid was preincubated with various amounts of trypsin. The activity of Mg-ATPase was consistently elevated. On the contrary, the Na, K-ATPase activity decreased with increasing amounts of trypsin. The effects were similar to those which were observed in the enzyme preparations treated with basis polyamino acids as previously reported. This phenomenon seemed to be specific in the preparations from the thyroid. The Mg-dependent activity was increased after pretreatment with trypsin or poly-L-lysine (PLL) when CTP, ITP and UTP were used as substrate. Thus the substrate specificity of Mg-ATPase was low. The enzyme-kinetics using ATP as substrate showed that the increase in activity was due to an increase in Vmax and not to a change in Km. The activity of Mg-ATPase was increased even after 30 min of preincubation with trypsin, while the Na, K-ATPase activity was almost diminished. These results suggest that the activity of Mg-ATPase in the preparation from the thyroid is specifically changed by the modification of the molecular environment of the enzyme with trypsin or basic polyamino acids.     

Some properties of the adenosine triphosphatase systems of two yeast species,saccharomyces cerevisiae and rhodotorula glutinis

1. Total ATPase levels were determined in homogenate fractions of baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae K and Rhodotorula glutinis. The maximum ATPase activities in 8000 X g supernatant of the three yeast strains were 6.0, 1.9, and 2.2 mmol Pih-1 (gDS)-1, respectively; the activities in the sediment were somewhat higher. Exponential cells of S. cerevisiae K and R. glutinis exhibited higher ATPase levels than did the stationary cells. 2. The total ATPase activity in both yeast species showed a maximum at ph 6.8 a minimum at pH 7.2, and another broader masimum around pH 8.0. 3. No significant NaK-ATPase activity was detected in baker's yeast, in either the exponential or the stationary cells of R. glutinis, and in exponential S. cerevisiae K cells in the pH range of 6.0-9.3. 4. Stationary cells of S. cerevisiae K exhibited, at pH 7.0-8.5, A Na,K-ATPase activity attaining 9% of total ATPase level. 5.3 X 10(-3) M phenylmethyl sulphonyl fluoride had no effect on the total ATPase level in S. cerevisiae and inhibited the activity in R. glutinis by 25%; it did not bring forth any Na,K-ATPase activity apart from that found in its absence. 6. 1.5 M urea lowered the ATPase activity in R. glutinis by 68% but had no effect on S. cerevisiae cells. 10(-5) M dicyclohexylcarbodiimide suppressed the ATPase activity in S. cerevisiae and R. glutinis by 74 and 79%, respectively. Neither agent revealed and additional Na,K-ATPase activity. 7. The comparison of Na,K-ATPase activities with data on K+ fluxes across the yeast plasma membrane suggested that even with the lower flux values the Na,K-ATPase, even if present, would account for a mere 40% of transported ions. The results imply that the active ion transport in yeasts is energized by mechanisms other than the Na,K-ATPase.     

Inactivation of the Na,K-ATPase by modification of Lys-501 with 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS).

The sodium pump or Na,K-ATPase, maintains the Na+ and K+ gradients across eukaryotic cell membranes at the expense of ATP. Incubation of purified canine renal Na,K-ATPase with 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS) inhibited the ATPase activity. Both the labeling of the protein and the loss of ATPase activity were prevented by co-incubation with ADP (acting as an ATP analog) or KCl. Only the alpha-subunit was labeled by SITS. The alpha-subunit from the inhibited enzyme was extensively digested with trypsin, and SITS-labeled peptides were purified by reverse-phase HPLC and sequenced. The amino acid sequence determined, His-Leu-Leu-Val-Met-X-Gly-Ala-Pro-Glu, indicated that SITS modifies Lys-501 (X) on the alpha-subunit of Na,K-ATPase.     

Regulatory phosphorylation of FXYD2 by PKC and cross interactions between FXYD2, plasmalemmal Ca-ATPase and Na,K-ATPase

FXYD2 is a regulatory peptide associated with the α-subunit of the kidney Na,K-ATPase. FXYD2 can be phosphorylated by PKA, and its phosphorylation activates Na,K-ATPase. Here we show that FXYD2 is phosphorylated by PKC (PKC-FXYD2-P), by PKA (PKA-FXYD2-P) or by PKA and PKC simultaneously (FXYD2-P₂) modulating both the erythrocyte Na,K-ATPase and the plasma membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase (PMCA). In erythrocyte ghosts, the addition of PKA-FXYD2-P activated Na,K-ATPase by 80%, while non-phosphorylated FXYD2 (np) activated only 55%. The addition of np FXYD2 did not affect PMCA basal activity, but FXYD2-P₂ increased the basal PMCA activity by up to 200%. Calmodulin-activated PMCA activity was increased by np FXYD2 (3-fold) or FXYD2-P₂ (2.5-fold). However, PKC-FXYD2-P increased PMCA activity only by 50%. In contrast, when PMCA was treated with PKA-FXYD2-P, the ATPase activity was inhibited by 50%. The effect of all forms of FXYD2-P on calcium uptake from PMCA resembled the pattern observed in ATP hydrolysis. Our results suggest that the FXYD2 anchoring site could be conserved among the P-ATPase family permitting cross regulation. The effects of FXYD2 on calcium uptake and calcium-stimulated ATP hydrolysis suggest a novel role for FXYD2 on PMCA.     

Localization of the phlorizin site on Na, K-ATPase in red cell membranes.

Phlorizin at 2 X 10(-4) M inhibited Na+ and Rb+-activated ATPase activities in human red cell membranes by 43%. It inhibited the 86Rb uptake activity of erythrocytes by only 15%. 86Rb uptake into resealed ghosts was inhibited strongly when phlorizin and ATP were preloaded in the ghosts before resealing. Na,K-ATPase activity in the resealed ghosts was also inhibited in the presence of phlorizin inside but not outside the ghosts. These findings suggested that the phlorizin site is located inside the cell.     

Omega-3 fatty acids modulate ATPases involved in duodenal Ca absorption

Dietary supplementation with fish oil that contains omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids has been shown to enhance bone density as well as duodenal calcium uptake in rats. The latter process is supported by membrane ATPases. The present in vitro study was undertaken to test the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on ATPase activity in isolated basolateral membranes from rat duodenal enterocytes. Ca-ATPase in calmodulin-stripped membranes was activated in a biphasic manner by docosahexanoic acid (DHA) (10-30 microg/ml) but not by eicosapentanoic acid (EPA). This effect was blocked partially by 0.5 microM calphostin (a protein kinase C blocker). DHA inhibited Na,K-ATPase (-49% of basal activity, [DHA]=30 microg/ml, P <0.01). This effect could be reversed partially by 50 microM genistein, a tyrosine kinase blocker. EPA also inhibited Na,K-ATPase: (-47% of basal activity, [EPA]=30 microg/ml, P <0.01), this effect was partially reversed by 100 microM indomethacin, a cyclo-oxygenase blocker. Omega-3 fatty acids are thus involved in multiple signalling effects that effect ATPases in BLM.     

Effects of detergents on Na+ + K+-dependent ATPase activity in plasma-membrane fractions prepared from frog muscles. Studies of insulin action on Na+ and K+ transport.

The increase in Na+/K+ transport activity in skeletal muscles exposed to insulin was analysed. Plasma-membrane fractions were prepared from frog (Rana catesbeiana) skeletal muscles, and examination of the Na,K-ATPase (Na+ + K+-dependent ATPase) activity showed that it was insensitive to ouabain. In contrast, plasma-membrane fractions prepared from ouabain-pretreated muscles, by the same procedures, showed extremely low Na,K-ATPase activity. On adding saponin to the membrane suspension, the Na,K-ATPase activity increased, according to the detergent concentration. The maximum activity was about twice the control value, at 0.33 mg of saponin/mg of protein. Thus saponin makes vesicle membranes leaky, allowing ouabain in assay solutions to reach receptors on the inner surface of vesicles. Addition of insulin to saponin-treated membrane suspensions had no effect on the Na,K-ATPase activity, whereas the maximum activity of Na,K-ATPase in whole muscles was stimulated by exposure to insulin. The results show that the stimulation of Na+/K+ transport by insulin is not directly due to insulin binding to receptors on the cell surface, but rather support the view that the increase in the Na,K-ATPase induced by insulin requires an alteration of intracellular events.     

Structural relatedness of three ion-transport adenosine triphosphatases around their active sites of phosphorylation

Three membrane-bound adenosine triphosphatases were investigated for homology in the sequence of four amino acids about the active site of phosphorylation. The ATPases were as follows: sodium-potassium-dependent ATPase from dog kidney, Na,K-ATPase; hydrogen-potassium-dependent ATPase from hog gastric mucosa, H,K-ATPase, an ATPase similar to Na,K-ATPase; and an ATPase activity in the plasma membrane of corn, Zea mays, roots (CR-ATPase), a higher plant ATPase. A membrane preparation containing an ATPase of Acholeplasma laidlawii, a prokaryote, (AL) was also investigated. For most of the experiments, the preparations were phosphorylated from [gamma-32P]ATP, denatured in acid, and subjected to proteolytic digestion. Radioactive phosphopeptides were separated by high voltage paper electrophoresis and characterized by sensitivity to chemical reagents. In gastric H,K-ATPase, the aspartate residue at the active site was determined directly by labeling with [3H]borohydride. A common sequence around the active site was found for Na,K-ATPase, H,K-ATPase, and CR-ATPase. This sequence, -Cys-(Ser/Thr)-Asp(P)-Lys-, is similar to that in the calcium ion-transport ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum. The AL membrane preparation showed an acylphosphate that turned over rapidly after a chase of labeled membranes with unlabeled ATP. The corresponding sequence was different from that of the three ATPases. An acylphosphate was on two polypeptides with molecular weights of about 80,000 and 60,000; these appear not to correspond to subunits of a Na+-stimulated ATPase in this organism (Lewis, R. N. A. H., and McElhaney, R. N. (1983) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 735, 113-122).     

Characterization of membrane-bound adenosinetriphosphatase activity of sarcolemma-enriched fraction from vascular smooth muscle

Membrane-bound adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activities of the sarcolemma-enriched fraction from bovine aorta were characterized. The membranes, isolated by a sucrose density gradient method, were enriched about 31-fold in sodium- and potassium-stimulated, magnesium-dependent ATPase (Na,K-ATPase) activity, and about 8-fold in 5'-nucleotidase activity compared to the homogenate, suggesting that the isolated membranes were substantially enriched with the sarcolemma. The membranes exhibited about 31, 33 and 42 mumol Pi/mg protein/h of Na,K-ATPase, magnesium-dependent ATPase and calcium-dependent ATPase activities, respectively, in the presence of 4 mmol/l ATP. The sarcolemma-enriched membranes required considerably high concentrations of well-known inhibitors for Na,K-ATPase such as vanadate (more than 1 mumol/l), lanthanum (more than 1 mmol/l) and calcium (10 mmol/l), to induce a significant inhibition in the Na,K-ATPase activity. Treatments of the membrane with physical disruptions and sodium dodecyl sulfate or deoxycholate reduced the total Na,K-ATPase activity, and did not expose fully the ouabain sensitivity of the Na,K-ATPase. These results indicate that there are marked differences in the properties of the ATPase between vascular smooth muscle sarcolemma and cardiac sarcolemma.     

Direct evidence for ATP consumption due to iodide uptake by isolated, uncultured, pig thyroid epithelial cells

The concept that iodide uptake by thyroid requires a supply of ATP is currently accepted. However, there is little direct evidence that the extents of iodide uptake and ATP consumption are correlated. To demonstrate this correlation, we used isolated, uncultured pig thyroid epithelial cells in basal media containing only glucose and the cations necessary for Na+,K(+)-ATPase, which prevented other possible cellular activities requiring ATP. The isolated cells were sensitive to various metabolic inhibitors of ATP-generating systems, confirming that they were intact. The extents of increase in iodide uptake and decrease in ATP content of the cells were entirely dependent on the presence of the cations, and were closely correlated with each other. Furthermore, the ATP content was not reduced in the absence of NaI, even when all necessary cations for the ATPase were present. These findings provide direct evidence for a correlation between the extents of iodide uptake and ATP consumption. Cells in medium with Mg alone did not show iodide incorporation or ATP consumption, confirming that Mg2(+)-dependent ATPase does not contribute to iodide uptake by the thyroid.     

Analytical isolation of plasma membranes of intestinal epithelial cells: identification of Na, K-ATPase rich membranes and the distribution of enzyme activities.

A procedure was developed for the analytical isolation of brush border and basal lateral plasma membranes of intestinal epithelial cells. Brush border fragments were collected by low speed centrifugation, disrupted in hypertonic sorbitol, and subjected to density gradient centrifugation for separation of plasma membranes from nuclei and core material. Sucrase specific activity in the purified brush border plasma membranes was increased fortyfold with respect to the initial homogenate. Basal lateral membrane were harvested from the low speed supernatant and resolved from other subcellular components by equilibrium density gradient centrifugation. Recovery of Na, K-ATPase activity was 94%, and 61% of the recovered activity was present in a single symmetrical peak. The specific activity of Na, K-ATPase was increased twelvefold, and it was purified with respect to sucrase, succinic dehydrogenase, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, nonspecific esterase, beta-glucuronidase, DNA, and RNA. The observed purification factors are comparable to results reported for other purification procedures, and the yield of Na, K-ATPase is greater by a factor of two than those reported for other procedures which produce no net increase in the Na, K-ATPase activity. Na, K-ATPase rich membranes are shown to originate from the basal lateral plasma membranes by the patterns of labeling that were produced when either isolated cells or everted gut sacs were incubated with the slowly permeating reagent 35S-p-(diazonium)-benzenesulfonic acid. In the former case subsequently purified Na, K-ATPase rich and sucrase rich membranes are labeled to the same extent, while in the latter there is a tenfold excess of label in the sucrase rich membranes. The plasma membrane fractions were in both cases more heavily labeled than intracellular protein. Alkaline phosphatase and calcium-stimulated ATPase were present at comparable levels on the two aspects of the epithelial cell plasma membrane, and 25% of the acid phosphatase activity was present on the basal lateral membrane, while it was absent from the brush border membrane. Less than 6% of the total Na, K-ATPase was present in brush border membranes.     

Interaction of cofilin with triose-phosphate isomerase contributes glycolytic fuel for Na,K-ATPase via Rho-mediated signaling pathway

We reported previously that cofilin, an actin-binding protein, interacts with Na,K-ATPase and enhances its activity (Lee, K., Jung, J., Kim, M., and Guidotti, G. (2001) Biochem. J. 353, 377-385). To understand the nature of this interaction and the role of cofilin in the regulation of Na,K-ATPase activity, we searched for cofilin-binding proteins in the rat skeletal muscle cDNA library using the yeast two-hybrid system. Several cDNA clones were isolated, some of which coded for triose-phosphate isomerase, a glycolytic enzyme. The interaction of cofilin with triose-phosphate isomerase as well as Na,K-ATPase was confirmed by immunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy in HeLa cells. Cofilin was translocated to the plasma membrane along with triose-phosphate isomerase by the Rho activator lysophosphatidic acid but not by the p160 Rho-associated kinase inhibitor Y-27632, suggesting that the phosphorylated form of cofilin bound to TPI interacts with Na,K-ATPase. Ouabain-sensitive (86)Rb(+) uptake showed that Na,K-ATPase activity was increased by the overexpression of cofilin and lysophosphatidic acid treatment, but not by the overexpression of mutant cofilin S3A and Y-27632 treatment. Pretreatment with the glycolytic inhibitor iodoacetic acid caused a remarkable reduction of Na,K-ATPase activity, whereas pretreatment with the oxidative inhibitor carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone caused no detectable changes, suggesting that the phosphorylated cofilin is involved in feeding glycolytic fuel for Na,K-ATPase activity. These findings provide a novel molecular mechanism for the regulation of Na,K-ATPase activity and for the nature of the functional coupling of cellular energy transduction.     

Ouabain-sensitive H,K-ATPase functions as Na,K-ATPase in apical membranes of rat distal colon

Na,K-ATPase activity has been identified in the apical membrane of rat distal colon, whereas ouabain-sensitive and ouabain-insensitive H,K-ATPase activities are localized solely to apical membranes. This study was designed to determine whether apical membrane Na,K-ATPase represented contamination of basolateral membranes or an alternate mode of H,K-ATPase expression. An antibody directed against the H, K-ATPase alpha subunit (HKcalpha) inhibited apical Na,K-ATPase activity by 92% but did not alter basolateral membrane Na,K-ATPase activity. Two distinct H,K-ATPase isoforms exist; one of which, the ouabain-insensitive HKcalpha, has been cloned. Because dietary sodium depletion markedly increases ouabain-insensitive active potassium absorption and HKcalpha mRNA and protein expression, Na, K-ATPase and H,K-ATPase activities and protein expression were determined in apical membranes from control and sodium-depleted rats. Sodium depletion substantially increased ouabain-insensitive H, K-ATPase activity and HKcalpha protein expression by 109-250% but increased ouabain-sensitive Na,K-ATPase and H,K-ATPase activities by only 30% and 42%, respectively. These studies suggest that apical membrane Na,K-ATPase activity is an alternate mode of ouabain-sensitive H,K-ATPase and does not solely represent basolateral membrane contamination.     

Proton-coupledl-lysine uptake by renal brush border membrane vesicles from mullet (Mugil cephalus)

The uptake of the basic amino acid, L-lysine, was studied in brush border membrane vesicles isolated from the kidney of the striped mullet (Mugil cephalus). The uptake of L-lysine was not significantly stimulated by a Na+ gradient and no overshoot was observed. However, when a proton gradient (pHo = 5.5; pHi = 8.3) was imposed across the membrane in the absence of Na+, uptake was transiently stimulated. When the proton gradient was short circuited by the proton ionophore, carbonylcyanide p-triflouromethoxyphenyl hydrazone, proton gradient-dependent uptake of lysine was inhibited. Kinetics of lysine uptake determined under equilibrium exchange conditions indicated that the Vmax increased as available protons increased (2.1 nmol/min/mg protein at pH 7.5 to 3.7 nmol/min/mg at pH 5.5), whereas the apparent Km (4.9 +/- 0.6 mM) was not altered appreciably. When membrane potential (inside negative) was imposed by K+ diffusion via valinomycin, a similar (but smaller) stimulation of lysine uptake was observed. When the membrane potential and the proton gradient were imposed simultaneously, a much higher stimulation in lysine uptake was shown, and the uptake of lysine was approximately the sum of the components measured separately. These results indicate that the uptake mechanism for basic amino acids is different from that of neutral or acidic amino acids and that the proton-motive force can provide the driving force for the uptake of L-lysine into the isolated brush border membrane vesicles.     

The distribution of ATPase activities in purified transverse tubular membranes

Vesiculated fragments of transverse tubules (TT) and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes were purified from heterogeneous microsomal membrane fractions of chicken breast muscle by a modification of an iterative calcium-oxalate loading technique. The distribution of ATPase activities were determined for the TT and SR and were compared to enriched fractions of sarcolemma (SL) membranes. The TT membranes were characterized by high rates of magnesium-stimulated ATPase (Mg-ATPase) and 5′-nucleotidase activities but were virtually devoid of calcium-stimulated, magnesium-dependent ATPase (Ca,Mg-ATPase) activity. Moderate levels of a latent sodium and potassium-stimulated ATPase (Na,K-ATPase) were observed for TT membranes when unmasked with valinomycin and monensin. In contrast to the behavior of TT membranes, highly purified SR membranes displayed an active Ca,Mg-ATPase but negligible Na,K-ATPase, Mg-ATPase, and 5′-nucleotidase activities. High levels of Na,K-ATPase and 5′-nucleotidase activities were observed for SL membranes; however, the SL displayed no appreciable Ca,Mg-ATPase and Mg-ATPase activities. The lack of significant Mg-ATPase activity in the SR and SL fractions suggested that the Mg-ATPase was uniquely associated with the TT membranes. The TT Mg-ATPase was further characterized by its pH and temperature dependences, and its sensitivity to pharmacologic agents. The Mg-ATPase of the TT was insensitive to inhibition by sodium azide and oligomycin in concentrations shown to exert maximum inhibition on the F₁ ATPase of submitochondrial particles. The Mg-ATPase was also resistant to the effects of ouabain and orthovanadate in concentrations which abolished the Na,K-ATPase and Ca,Mg-ATPase activities of the SL and SR, respectively. The Mg-ATPase displayed temperature and pH optima (25 °C, pH 7.3) which were distinguishable from the Ca,Mg-ATPase (45 °, pH 7.0) of highly purified SR fractions but which were very similar to the temperature and pH dependencies of the mixed microsomal fractions (MMF) from which the TT membranes were derived. Similarities in the pH and temperature dependencies of the TT and MMF Mg-ATPases plus the absence of appreciable Mg-ATPase activity in highly purified SR membranes suggests that the “basic” Mg-ATPase often seen in crude SR fractions may originate from TT membrane contamination. The resistance of the TT Mg-ATPase to inhibition by the pharmacologic agents tested plus its unique temperature and pH dependences indicate that this ATPase is distinguishable from other ATPases and may, therefore, be of value as a specific biochemical marker for TT membranes.     

Ultrastructure of the purified and reconstituted Na/K-ATPase of the avian salt gland

Na/K-ATPase of salt-stressed salt glands of the domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos) was purified in membrane-bound form by incubation of the microsomal fraction with sodium dodecylsulphate and ATP followed by discontinuous sucrose gradient centrifugation. Gel electrophoresis of the purified plasma membrane preparation substantially showed the two polypeptide subunits of the Na/K-ATPase both of which stained with the periodic acid-Schiff reagent. About 99% of the total ATPase activity was ouabain-inhibitable amounting to 1300 mumol Pi/(mg protein X h) of specific activity. The anion-stimulated, ouabain-insensitive ATPase increased parallel to the Na/K-ATPase up to the microsomal fraction until it totally vanished during SDS incubation. Electron microscopy of thin sections revealed that the purified fraction consisted of flat and cup-shaped triple-layered membrane fragments. Particles arranged into clusters and strands were visible as 3 to 5 nm surface particles in negatively stained suspensions and as 8 to 10 nm intramembraneous particles in freeze fracture replicas. The differential distribution of the intramembraneous particles on the fracture faces reflected the structural membrane asymmetry. Solubilization of Na/K-ATPase led to the disappearance of intramembraneous particles. Incorporation of the solubilized enzyme into phosphatidylcholine vesicles again showed 8 to 10 nm particles apparently orientated at random in the artificial membrane. Control liposomes prepared in the absence of solubilized enzyme were devoid of intramembraneous particles. These results clearly demonstrate that the avian salt gland Na/K-ATPase exists as 8 to 10 nm particles in both the purified plasma membrane and the artificial phospholipid membrane.