Inhibition studies of alkaline phosphatase in hard tissue-forming cells.

The effects of the alkaline phosphatase inhibitors levamisole and R 8231 on p-nitro-phenylphosphatase, inorganic pyrophosphatase and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activities in dentingenically active odontoblasts were studied. The p-nitrophenylphosphatase and inorganic pyrophosphatase activities were inhibited, while 40% of the ATP-splitting enzyme activity remained under the assay condition used. This finding, togeather with earlier studies, indicates that at least two different phosphatase are active at alkaline pH in hard tissue-forming cells; on nonspecific alkaline phosphatase and one specific ATPase. The ATPase activity is uninfluenced by ouabain and ruthenium red and is activated by Ca-2+ ions.     

The role of nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase in in vitro nucleoside triphosphate-dependent matrix vesicle calcification

Nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase (EC 3.6.1.8) activity is associated with matrix vesicles purified from collagenase digests of fetal calf epiphyseal cartilage. This enzyme hydrolyzes nucleoside triphosphates to nucleotides and PPi, the latter inducing precipitation in the presence of Ca2+ and Pi. An assay for matrix vesicle nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase is developed using beta, gamma-methylene ATP as substrate. The assay is effective in the presence of matrix vesicle-associated ATPase, pyrophosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase activities. A soluble nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase is obtained from matrix vesicles by treatment with 5 mM sodium deoxycholate. The solubilized enzyme induced the precipitation of calcium phosphate in the presence of ATP, Ca2+, and Pi. Extraction of deoxycholate-solubilized enzymes from matrix vesicles with 1-butanol destroys nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase activity while enhancing the specific activities of ATPase, pyrophosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase. In solutions devoid of ATP and matrix vesicles, concentrations of PPi between 10 and 100 microM induce calcification in mixtures containing initial Ca2+ X P ion products of 3.5 to 7.9 mM2. This finding plus the discovery of nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase in matrix vesicles supports the view that these extracellular organelles induce calcium precipitation by the enzymatic production of PPi. Nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase is more active against pyrimidine nucleoside triphosphates than the corresponding purine derivatives. The pH optimum is 10.0 and the enzyme is neither activated nor inhibited by Mg2+ or Ca2+ ions or mixtures of the two. Vmax at pH 7.5 for beta, gamma-methylene ATP is 0.012 mumol of substrate hydrolyzed per min per mg of protein and Km is below 10 microM. The enzyme is irreversibly destroyed at pH 4 and is stable at pH 10.5.     

Stimulation by ATP of alkaline phosphatase in placental plasma membranes.

1. ATP stimulated the p-nitrophenyl phosphatase activity of placental plasma membranes, with an increase in activity of approximately 100% at 5 mM ATP. The stimulation was not dependent on the presence of Mg-2-+. 2. The K-m for p-nitrophenyl phosphate was not changed by the presence of 5 mM ATP. 3. ATP hydrolysis by the plasma membrane preparation under the same assay conditions as for alkaline phosphatase was not influenced by the presence of 5 mM p-nitrophenyl phosphate. 4. Extraction of the plasma membrane preparation with n-butanol abolished the stimulatory effect of ATP, as well as Ca-2-+-activated ATPase activity.     

Effect of carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone on the calcium-stimulated ATPase activity of erythrocyteghosts.

Incubation of etythrocyte ghosts with carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenyl-hydrazone (CCCP) plus Ca-2+ resulted in inactivation of the Ca-2+ -stimulated ATPase activity. Omission of Ca-2+ or lowering of the temperature below 25 degrees C eliminated the inhibitory effect, as also did the presence of ATP during the incubation. On the other hand, the addition of beta-mercaptoethanol did not influence the Ca-2+ -dependent inhibition by CCCP. Compared with the level of CCCP which uncouples oxidative phosphorylation, a rather high level (0.5 mM) of CCCP was required to inhibit the ATPase activity in ghosts. However, once the inhibition had been accomplished, almost all of the CCCP could be removed from the ghost membrane by washing with a Ca-2+ -containing solution, without affecting the inhibition of ATPase. If ethylene-glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid was included in the washing medium, the inhibition of ATPase was nearly completely reversed by washing. The results indicate that only the Ca-2+ -stimulated, Mg-2+ -ATPase was inhibited by 0.5 mM CCCP, while the remaining components of the ATPase activity were slightly inhibited by higher levels of the uncoupler. Low levels of CCCP (0.1 mM) stimulated the Mg-2+ -ATPase slightly. CCCP was much more specific for the Ca-2+ -stimulated ATPases than N-(1-naphthyl)maleimide, an unusually effective sulfhydryl reagent, and the requirement of Ca-2+ for inactivation was also quite specific.     

Hydrolysis of erythrocyte membrane phospholipids by a preparation of phospholipase C from Clostridium Welchii. Deactivation of (Ca-2+, Mg-2+)-ATPase and its reactivation by added lipids.

1. Haemoglobin-free erythrocyte ghosts were prepared in 40 imosM bicarbonate buffer, pH 7.4, containing 1 mM EDTA (40 imosM/l mM EDTA). The ghost preparation was highly permeable on preparation but partially resealed on incubation in media containing Ca-2+. 2. A partially purified preparation of phospholipase C from Clostridum welchii caused an increase in observed Mg-2+-ATPase activity, reflecting a change in the permeability of the ghost to substrate. The phospholipase did not decrease Mg-2+-ATPase even at the highest levels tested. Mg-2+-ATPase activity could therefore be used as a permeability indicatior in these experiments. 3. Both (Ca-2+, Mg-2+)-ATPase activities of the ghosts were progressively lost as a result of the phospholipid hydrolysis induced by phospholipase C. 4. When a haemolysin in the commercial preparation was destroyed by heat-treatment, deactivation of the (Ca-2+, Mg-2+)-ATPase and (Na+, K+, Mg-2+)-ATPases were still observed but permeability changes were greatly reduced. 5. The products of phospholipase action were not inhibitory to the Ca-2+, Mg-2+)-ATPase. 6. Lysolecithin brought about a reactivation of the (Ca-2+, Mg-2+)-ATPase which was superimposed upon permeability changes in the preparation. 7. Reactivation of the (Ca-2+, Mg-2+)-ATPase was brought about by a nonlytic, mixed lipid preparation without significant effect upon permeability. 8. Human erythrocyte (Ca-2+, Mg-2+)-ATPase therefore appears to be an enzyme which responds to perturbation of the lipid environment in the membrane and is a "lipid-dependant" enzyme.     

Evidence for a plasma membrane calcium pump in bovine adrenal medulla but not adrenal cortex.

Continuous sucrose density gradient subfractions from bovine adrenal medullary microsomes were found to accumulate 45-Ca-2+ in the presence of ATP and ammonium oxalate mainly in subfractions of intermediate density. (Na-++K-+)-ATPase (plasma membrane marker) and Ca-2+-ATPase activities were also concentrated in these intermediate subfractions but thiamine pyrophosphatase (Golgi apparatus marker) was not. NADH oxidase (endoplasmic reticulum marker) activity was distributed throughout all subfractions. 45-Ca-2+ accumulation in adrenal cortical microsomes was found to rise and fall in parallel with thiamine pyrophosphatase but not with (Na-++K-+)-ATPase or NADH oxidase activities. Accumulation of 45-Ca-2+ in membrane vesicles in these experiments suggests the existence of a calcium transfer mechanism in plasma membranes of the adrenal medulla but not adrenal cortex.     

Ion-transporting ATPases and matrix mineralization in cultured osteoblastlike cells

Cultures of osteoblastlike cells obtained from the endosteal surfaces of rabbit long bones formed and mineralized an extracellular matrix when they were supplied daily with medium containing fresh ascorbate. No matrix formed without this supplementation. The matrix mineralized whether or not beta-glycerophosphate, a substrate of alkaline phosphatase, was added to the medium. The ion-transporting ATPase activities of untreated, ascorbate-treated, and ascorbate plus beta-glycerophosphate-treated cells were measured. Ascorbate-treated and ascorbate plus beta-glycerophosphate-treated cells had similar enzyme activities. The activities of the Ca2+-ATPase; Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase; and alkaline phosphatase in treated cells were elevated over the activities in untreated cells. Na+,K+-ATPase activity was lower in treated than in untreated cells. HCO3--ATPase activity was not changed by treatment. Alkaline phosphatase activity was 20 times higher in freshly isolated osteoblastlike cells than in cells grown to confluence in primary culture. In addition, subculturing further reduced the activity of this osteoblast-marker enzyme. The activities of the ion-transporting ATPases and alkaline phosphatase in second passage cells were similar to the activities of these enzymes in fresh, noncalcifying tissues. Nevertheless, second passage cells retain the ability to mineralize an extracellular matrix, and their ion-transporting ATPase and alkaline phosphatase activities are altered when the cells mineralize a matrix.     

Formation of adenosine triphosphate from Pi and adenosine diphosphate by purified Ca-2+-adenosine triphosphatase.

Ca-2+-ATPase purified from sarcoplasmic reticulum of rabbit muscle forms a phsophoeznyme when exposed to inorganic phosphate in the presence of Mg-2+. On addition of ADP and Ca-2+ virtually all of the phosphate bound to the enzyme is transferred to form ATP. It has been shown previously and confirmed by us that (a) the purified ATPase contains one major polypeptide and about 30% phospholipids; (b) on removal of residual detergent by passage through Sephadex the enzyme forms vesicular membranes; and (c) these vesicles are leaky and incapable of accumulating Ca-2+. Our findings therefore indicate that we have observed ATP generation from ADP and P-i without the formation of an ion gradient across a membrane. We propose that the energy derived from ion-protein interaction drives the formation of ATP.     

ATPase and alkaline phosphatase activities of chick and rat small intestinal mucosa.

The alkaline phosphatase and (Ca2+ +Mg2+)-ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) of chick and rat small intestine have been investigated. The same pH optimum was found for membrane-bound and solubilized alkaline phosphatase, whereas those of the corresponding ATPases differed. The solubilised ATPases had inhibition and activation characteristics similar to those of alkaline phosphatase but markedly different from those of the membrane-bound ATPase. These results suggest that membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase and ATPase are not the same enzyme.     

Ion-transporting ATPases and matrix mineralization in cultured osteoblastlike cells

Summary Cultures of osteoblastlike cells obtained from the endosteal surfaces of rabbit long bones formed and mineralized an extracellular matrix when they were supplied daily with medium containing fresh ascorbate. No matrix formed without this supplementation. The matrix mineralized whether or not beta-glycerophosphate, a substrate of alkaline phosphatase, was added to the medium. The ion-transporting ATPase activities of untreated, ascorbate-treated, and ascorbate plus beta-glycerophosphate-treated cells were measured. Ascorbate-treated and ascorbate plus beta-glycerophosphate-treated cells had similar enzyme activities. The activities of the Ca²⁺-ATPase; Ca²⁺,Mg²⁺-ATPase; and alkaline phosphatase in treated cells were elevated over the activities in untreated cells. Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase activity was lower in treated than in untreated cells. HCO₃ ⁻-ATPase activity was not changed by treatment. Alkaline phosphatase activity was 20 times higher in freshly isolated osteoblastlike cells than in cells grown to confluence in primary culture. In addition, subculturing further reduced the activity of this osteoblast-marker enzyme. The activities of the ion-transporting ATPases and alkaline phosphatase in second passage cells were similar to the activities of these enzymes in fresh, noncalcifying tissues. Nevertheless, second passage cells retain the ability to mineralize an extracellular matrix, and their ion-transporting ATPase and alkaline phosphatase activities are altered when the cells mineralize a matrix. This work was supported by Grant NAG-2-108 from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, D.C., and Grant 5 PO1 NS15767 from the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD.     

Ecto-adenosine triphosphatase activity at the cholinergic nerve endings of the Torpedo electric organ

Synaptosomes isolated from the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata contain activity of an ATPase which is located at the extracellular face of the plasma membrane. Ecto-ATPase activity can be stimulated independently and to a similar extent by either Ca-2+ or Mg-2+. Apparent Km-values for ATP are 79 microM and 53 microM for Ca-2+ and Mg-2+ respectively. Apparent Km-values for Ca-2+ and Mg-2+ at 1 mM ATP are 0.71 mM and 0.61 mM respectively. The enzyme is also activated by Mn-2+ and GTP can replace ATP as a substrate. Presence of 5'- nucleotidase activity suggests that adenosine is the final hydrolysis product. Thus hydrolysis of nucleotides released during exocytosis of synaptic vesicle contents and purine salvage must be a major role of this ecto-enzyme. We furthermore suggest that the ecto-ATPase may provide the key to understanding the storage of the high energy compound ATP in cholinergic synaptic vesicles. On depolarization of the nerve terminal and exocytosis, ATP represents the signal for activating the ATPase whereby concentrations of Ca-2+ and Mg-2+ are already saturating. Following depolarization induced Ca-2+ influx, a possible function of the ATPase may be the outward transport of Ca-2+ from the nerve terminal.     

Calcification of rachitic cartilage to study matrix vesicle function.

Growth plate cartilage from rachitic rats was studied to assess the role of extra-cellular matrix vesicles in the reinstitution of calcification during healing. The concentration and distribution of matrix vesicles was found to be normal in rachitic growth plate, and although the rachitic cartilage matrix was largely uncalcified, an occasional vesicle did contain internal mineral. Matrix vesicles served as initial loci for mineralization when healing was brought about either by in vivo injection of phosphate or in vitro incubation of growth plates in a metastable calcifying solution. During in vitro calcification a distinct line of mineralization developed in the upper growth plate which was shown by electron microscopy to reflect mineralization by the vesicles. The appearance of this vesicle-associated calcification line was inhibited by preheating or repeated freezing and thawing, and by 30 minutes preincubation in deoxycholate, ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-diphosphonate, or beryllium sulfate. Our results suggest that vesicle calcification is dependent on the structural and enzymatic integrity of the vesicle membrane. Enzymes that may well play a role in vesicle calcification are phosphatases (e. g., alkaline phosphatase, pyrophosphatase and ATPase), which are known to be concentrated in vesicle membranes.     

The calcium and magnesium binding sites on troponin and their role in the regulation of myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase.

Purified troponin (Tn), the complex of the Ca-2+ binding subunit (TnC), the inhibitory subunit (TnI), and the tropomyosin binding subunit (TnT) binds 4 mol of Ca-2+ per mol. Two sites bind Ca-2+ with a binding constant of 5 times 10-8 M- minus 1, and two with a binding constant of 5 times 10-6 M- minus 1. In the presence of 2 mM MgCl2 the binding to four sites can be characterized with a single affinity constant of 5 times 10-6 M- minus 1. Purified TnC also binds 4 mol of Ca-2+ per mol; two sites have a binding constant of 2 times 10-7 M- minus 1 and two have one of 2 times 10-5 M- minus 1. In the presence of 2 mM MgCl2 the binding constant of the sites of higher affinity is reduced to 2 times 10-6 M- minus 1, while Ca-2+ binding to the sites of lower affinity is unaffected. Assuming competition between Mg-2+ and Ca-2+ for the high affinity sites on TnC and Tn, the changes in Ca-2+ binding can be accounted for with KMg values of 5 times 10-3 M- minus 1 and 5 times 10-4 M- minus 1, respectively. Tn and TnC bind 4 mol of Mg-2+ per mol in the absence of Cs-2+. The fact that at [Ca-2+] similar to 10- minus 5 M four Ca-2+ and only two Mg-2+ are bound per mol of TnC in the presence of 2 mM Mg-2+ further supports the view that there is direct competition between Mg-2+ and Ca-2+ for the high affinity Ca-2+ binding sites on TnC and Tn. These results then suggest that Tn and TnC contain six divalent cation binding sites: two high affinity Ca-2+ binding sites that also bind Mg-2+ competitively (Ca-2+-Mg-2+ sites); two sites with lower affinity for Ca-2+ that do not bind Mg-2+ (Ca-2+-specific sites); and two sites that bind Mg-2+ but not Ca-2+ (Mg-2+-specific sites). The complex of TnC and TnI (1:1 molar ratio) has the same binding properties as Tn, suggesting a conformational change in TnC upon interaction with TnI. Studies on myofibrillar ATPase activity as a function of free Ca-2+ concentration at two different free Mg-2+ concentrations suggest that full activation by Ca-2+ occurs only upon binding of Ca-2+ to the two Ca-2+-specific binding sites in Tn but does not require binding of Ca-2+ to the Ca-2+-Mg-2+ sites.     

Matrix vesicles of bovine fetal cartilage: metabolic potential and solubilization with detergents.

The ATPase of matrix vesicles is not stimulated by calcium ions, nor do the vesicles have any capacity to metabolize glucose. ADPase of high activity is also present; thus vesicles cannot be a component of the conventional ATP cycle, in which energy is stored by phosphorylating ADP and released by hydrolyzing the resultant ATP. These results do not support speculations that matrix vesicles might function by concentrating calcium via an energy-dependent ion transport system such as those found in the plasma membrane and the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Matrix vesicles' alkaline phosphatase can be solubilized by treatment with certain detergents: sodium dodecyl sulfate (12 mM and 16 mM), cetylpyridinium chloride (14mM), and deoxycholic acid (DOC, 14 MM). The first two detergents denature the enzyme during storage whereas DOC does not. DOC will also solubilize ATPase and inorganic pyrophosphatase. Yields of the three enzymes are 85-95%. Dialysis of a DOC digest of vesicles removes DOC and 43% of protein, and also causes much of the alkaline phosphatase to become particulate once again.     

Biphasic ATP splitting of myosin at low temperature.

Studies were carried out to elucidate the nature of biphasic ATP hydrolysis by myosin at low temperature. 1. The rate of ATP splitting decreased sharply at 3--5 min after initiation of the reaction below a critical temperature (25 degrees and 30 degrees in the presence of Ca-2+ and EDTA, respectively). On the other hand, Mg-2+-ATPase [ED 3.6.1.3] did not exhibit such biphasic kinetics. 2. The Arrhenius plot of the second phase of the reaction after the rate transition gave a straight line whether the temperature of assay was above or below the critical one, giving 5.7 kcal/mole as the activation energy of Da-2+-ATPase showed features similar to those of Ca-2+-ATPase. 3. Michaelis constants for the two phases at 8 degrees were also different. In addition, the first phase of EDTA-ATPase was shown to have two different constants, depending on ATP concentration. 4. The profiles of the dependence of ATPase activity on KCl concentration were essentially the same for both phases, while bending of the time curve was scarecly observed obove pH 8 for Ca-2+-ATPase or at pH 6 for EDTA-ATPase. 5. 2, 4-Dinitrophenol abolished the phase transition for Ca-2+-ATPase and EDTA-ATPase, and heat treatment also minimized the transition for the former.     

The red cell membrane contains three different adenosine triphophatases.

Phosphorylated intermediates in the hydrolysis of ATP by human red cell membrane adenosine triphosphatases have been detected using [gamma-32-P]ATP. Intermediates formed in the presence of Mg2+ alone (MG-2+-ATPase), Mg-2+ and Na+ ((Na+,K+)-ATPase), and Mg-2+ and Ca-2+ (Ca-2+-ATPase) were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate at pH 2.4, indicating that these three ATPases are different molecular species. There are roughly 100, 150, and 400 copies per cell, respectively, of the three ATPases.     

Ultrahistochemistry of matrix vesicles in elastic cartilage.

Matrix vesicles in the elastic cartilage of epiglottis were negative for acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and ATPase. This is in agreement with the very rare occurrence of mineralization of elastic cartilage. Only the lysosomes of the chondrocytes showed a positive reaction for acid phosphatase, and a positive reaction for alkaline phosphatase and ATPase was found in relation to the cells of the perichondrium.     

Nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide inhibition of pig kidney alkaline phosphatase.

1. The interaction of NAD+, NADH and various nucleotide analogues with pig kidney alkaline phosphatase (orthophosphoric-monoester phosphohydrolase (alkaline optimum) EC 3.1.3.1) has been investigated by kinetic means. Some inhibitors act uncompetitively whereas others markedly increase the slopes of double reciprocal plots suggesting they have some affinity for the free enzyme. 2. The compounds seem to bind to alkaline phosphatase through interactions of their bases with a relatively non-specific region of the enzyme, although it is likely that for those nucleotides having some affinity for the free enzyme there is some attraction between the pyrophosphate backbone and the active site. 3. From studies of the effect of NAD+ and NADH on ATPase activity it was concluded that the substrate inhibition that is characteristic of the ATPase activity of alkaline phosphatase originates from binding of ATP to the site assumed to exist for NAD+ and NADH. The potentiation of NAD+-inhibition of ATPase activity by Mg-2+ is probably a result of the depletion of [ATP-4-] the true substrate. The depletion allows NAD+ to complete more effectively for the active site. 4. Binding of NADH is favoured by protonation of an enzymic group with a pK of approx. 9.0 belonging possibly to a tyrosine residue or a zinc hydrate. 5. A large entropy decrease was found to accompany the binding of NAD+ and NADH to alkaline phosphatase. This may be further evidence of an "induced-fit" mechanism previously suspected because of the synergistic inhibitory effects of adenosine and nicotinamide.     

Biochemical studies on sulfate-reducing bacteria. XIV. Enzyme levels of adenylylsulfate reductase, inorganic pyrophosphatase, sulfite reductase, hydrogenase, and adenosine triphosphatase in cells grown on sulfate, sulfite, and thiosulfate.

Sulfate-reducing bacteria, Desulfovibrio vulgaris, strain Miyazaki, were grown on either sulfate, sulfite, or thiosulfate as the terminal electron acceptor. Better growth was observed on sulfite and less growth on thiosulfate than on sulfate. Enzyme levels of adenylylsulfate (APS) reductase [EC 1.8.99.2], reductant-activated inorganic pyrophosphatase [EC 3.6.1.1], sulfite reductase [EC 1.8.99.1] (desulfoviridin), hydrogenase [EC 1.12.2.1], and Mg2+-activated ATPase [EC 3.6.1.3] were compared in crude extracts of these cells at various stages of growth. 1) The specific activity of APS reductase in sulfite-grown cells was only one-fourth that in sulfate-grown cells throughout growth. Thiosulfate-grown cells had an activity intermediate between those of sulfate- and sulfite-grown cells. 2) Cells grown on sulfite had lower specific activity of reductant-activated inorganic pyrophosphatase than cells grown on sulfate or thiosulfate. 3) The specific activity of sulfite reductase (desulfoviridin) was highest in sulfite-grown cells. The sulfite medium gave the enzyme in high yield as well as with high specific activity. 4) The specific activities of hydrogenase and Mg2+-ATPase were not significantly altered by electron acceptors in the growth medium.     

ATPase and phosphatase activities from human red cell membranes: I. The effects of N-ethylmaleimide.

In human red cell membranes the sensitivity to N-ethylmaleimide of Ca2+-dependent ATPase and phosphatase activities is at least ten times larger than the sensitivity to N-ethylmaleimide of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and K+-activated phosphatase activities. All activities are partially protected against N-ethylmaleimide by ATP but not by inorganic phosphate or by p-nitrophenylphosphate. (ii) Protection by ATP of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is impeded by either Na+ or K+ whereas only K+ impedes protection by ATP of K+-activated phosphatase. On the other hand, Na+ or K+ slightly protects Ca2+-dependent activities against N-ethylmaleimide, this effect being independent of ATP. (iii) The sensitivity to N-ethylmaleimide of Ca2+-dependent ATPase and phosphatase activities is markedly enhanced by low concentrations of Ca2+. This effect is half-maximal at less than 1 micron Ca2+ and does not require ATP, which suggests that sites with high affinity for Ca2+ exist in the Ca2+-ATPase in the absence of ATP. (IV) Under all conditions tested the response to N-ethylmaleimide of the ATPase and phosphatase activities stimulated by K+ or Na+ in the presence of Ca2+ parallels that of the Ca2+-dependent activities, suggesting that the Ca2+-ATPase system possesses sites at which monovalent cations bind to increase its activity.