Active K+ transport in Mycoplasma mycoides var. Capri. Net and unidirectional K+ movements

Analysis of the cation composition of growing Mycoplasma mycoides var. Capri indicates that these organisms have a high intracellular K⁺ concentration ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}\text{: 200–300}\text{mM}$) which greatly exceeds that of the growth medium, and a low Na⁺ concentration ($\text{Na}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{: 20}\text{mM}$). Unlike $\text{Na}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{, K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ varies with cell aging.The K⁺ transport properties studied in washed organisms resuspended in buffered saline solution show that cells maintain a steady and large K⁺ concentration gradient across their membrane at the expense of metabolic energy mainly derived from glycolysis. In starved cells, $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ decreases and is partially compensated by a gain in Na⁺. This substitution completely reverses when metabolic substrate is added (K⁺ reaccumulation process). Kinetic analysis of K⁺ movement in cells with steady K⁺ level shows that most of K⁺ influx is mediated by an autologous K⁺-K⁺ exchange mechanism. On the other hand, during K⁺ reaccumulation by K⁺-depleted cells, a different mechanism (a K⁺ uptake mechanism) with higher transport capacity and affinity drives the net K⁺ influx. Both mechanisms are energy-dependent.Ouabain and anoxia have no effect on K⁺ transport mechanisms; in contrast, both processes are completely blocked by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, an inhibitor of the Mg²⁺-dependent ATPase activity.     

Effects of sodium-transport inhibitors on diuresis and mid-gut (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in the tsetse fly Glossina morsitans

The effects of four inhibitors of specific sodium-transport mechanisms on diuresis in the tsetse fly Glossina morsitans, have been determined. Ouabain (1.0, 0.1 mM) and ethacrynic acid (1.0, 0.2 mM) reduced the rate of water loss, whereas amiloride (1.0 mM) and furosemide (1.0 mM) did not. The effects of ouabain, ethacrynic acid and meal size upon the anterior mid-gut (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase activity were also determined. For ouabain, the negative logarithm causing 50% inhibition of (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase (pI₅₀) was 6.0, whilst ethacrynic acid together with meal size did not affect the activity of this enzyme. These results show that diuresis in this insect involves the active transport of sodium ions by both electrogenic and $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ exchange pumps.     

The insect brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase Binding of ouabain in the hawk moth, Manduca sexta

(1) A quantitative study has been made of the binding of ouabain to the ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ in homogenates prepared from brain tissue of the hawk moth, Manduca sexta. The results have been compared to those obtained in bovine brain microsomes. (2) The insect brain ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ will bind ouabain either in the presence of Mg²⁺ and P_i, (‘Mg²⁺, P_i’ conditions) or in the presence of Na⁺, Mg²⁺, and an adenine nucleotide (‘nucleotide’ conditions) as is the case for the bovine brain ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$. The binding conditions did not alter the total number of receptor sites measured at high ouabain concentrations in either tissue. (3) Potassium ion decreases the affinity (increases the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>D</mtext>}}$) of ouabain to the M. sexta brain ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ under both binding conditions. However, ouabain binding is more sensitive to K⁺ inhibition under the nucleotide conditions. In bovine brain ouabain binding is equally sensitive to K⁺ inhibition under the both conditions. (4) The enzyme-ouabain complex has a rate of dissociation that is 10-fold faster in the M. sexta preparation than in the bovine brain preparation. Because of this, the M. sexta ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ has a higher $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>D</mtext>}}$ for ouabain binding and is less sensitive to inhibition by ouabain than the bovine brain enzyme. (5) This data supports the hypothesis that two different conformational states of the M. sexta ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ can bind ouabain.     

Minimal functional unit for transport and enzyme activities of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase as determined by radiation inactivation

Frozen aqueous suspensions of partially purified membrane-bound renal (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase have been irradiated at –135°C with high-energy electrons. (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase and K⁺-phosphatase activities are inactivated exponentially with apparent target sizes of $\text{184 ± 4 kDa and 125 ± 3 kDa}$, respectively. These values are significantly lower then found previously from irradiation of lyophilized membranes. After reconstitution of irradiated (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase into phospholipid vesicles the following transport functions have been measured and target sizes calculated from the exponential inactivation curves: ATP-dependent Na⁺?K⁺ exchange, $\text{201 ± 4}\text{kDa}$; (ATP + P_i)-activated Rb⁺?Rb⁺ exchange, $\text{206 ± 7}\text{kDa}$ and ATP-independent Rb⁺?Rb⁺ exchange, $\text{117 ± 4}\text{kDa}$. The apparent size of the α-chain, judged by disappearance of Coomassie stain on SDS-gels, lies between 115 and 141 kDa. That for the β-glycoprotein, though clearly smaller, could not be estimated. We draw the following conclusions: (1) The simplest interpretation of the results is that the minimal functional unit for (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase is αβ. (2) The inactivation target size for (Na⁺ + K⁺)-dependent ATP hydrolysis is the same as for ATP-dependent pumping of Na⁺ and K⁺. (3) The target sizes, for K⁺-phosphatase (125 kDa) and ATP-independent Rb⁺?Rb⁺ exchange (117 kDa) are indistinguishable from that of the α-chain itself, suggesting that cation binding sites and transport pathways, and the $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenyl}$ phosphate binding site are located exclusively on the α-chain. (4) ATP-dependent activities appear to depend on the integrity of an αβ complex.     

Eosin,a fluorescent probe of ATP binding to the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

(1) Eosin bound to the $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ in the presence of K⁺ has practically the same fluorescence as eosin without enzyme while in the presence of Na⁺ the fluorescence is higher, the excitation maximum is shifted from 518 to 524 nm, the emission maximum from 538 to 542 nm, and a shoulder appears at about 490 nm on the excitation curve. (2) The amount of eosin bound increases with the K⁺ concentration but with a low affinity. With equal concentrations of Na⁺ and K⁺ more is bound in the presence of Na⁺, and the difference between 150 mM Na⁺ and 150 mM K⁺ shows one high-affinity eosin binding site per ³²P-labelling site ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{D}}$ 0.45 μM). With lower concentrations of the cations there are between one and two Na⁺-dependent high-affinity eosin binding sites per ³²P-labelling site. (3) ATP (and ADP) prevents the hig-affinity Na⁺-dependent eosin binding and there is competition between eosin and ATP for the hydrolysis in the presence of Na⁺ (+Mg²⁺). (4) Eosin, like ATP, increases the Na⁺ relative to K⁺ affinity $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{= 150}\text{mM}$) for Na⁺ activation of hydrolysis and for Na⁺ protection against inactivation by $\text{N-}\text{ethylmaleimide}$. (5) The results suggest that the high affinity eosin binding site is an ATP binding site and that it is located on the enzyme in an environment with a low polarity, i.e., the conformational change induced by Na⁺ opens a high-affinity site for ATP while K⁺ closes the site (or decreases the affinity to a low level). The experiments suggest, furthermore, that the ATP which increases the Na⁺ relative to K⁺ affinity of the internal sites is not the ATP which is hydrolyzed, i.e., in a turnover cycle in the presence of $\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}$ the system reacts with two different ATP molecules.     

Kinetic parameters and mechanism of active cation transport in HeLa cells as studied by Rb+ influx

On incubation of HeLa cells in chilled isotonic medium, intracellular Na⁺ (Na_c⁺) increased and K⁺ (K_c⁺) decreased with time, reaching steady levels after 3 h. The steady levels varied in parallel with the extracellular cation concentrations ([Na⁺]_e, [K⁺]_e). The cell volumes and the protein and water contents, respectively, of cells kept for 3 h in chilled media of various [Na⁺]_e and [K⁺]_e were not significantly different. Ouabain-sensitive Rb⁺ influx took place at the initial rate for a certain period which depended on [Na⁺]_c at the beginning of the assays. The existence of two external K⁺ loading sites per Na⁺/K⁺-pump was demonstrated. The affinities of the sites for Rb⁺ as a congener of K⁺ were almost the same. Na_e⁺ inhibited ouabain-sensitive Rb⁺ influx competitively, whereas K_c⁺ was not inhibitory. Kinetic parameters were determined: the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ for Rb_e⁺ in the absence of Na_e⁺ was 0.16 mM and the K_i for Na_e⁺ was 36.8 mM; the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ was 19.5 mM and the K_i for K_c⁺ seemed to be extremely large. The rate equation of the ouabain-sensitive Rb⁺ influx suggests that Na⁺ and K⁺ are exchanged alternately through the pump by a binary mechanism.     

Scorpion neurotoxin - a presynaptic toxin which affects both Na+ and K+ channels in axons.

A neurotoxin from the venom of the scorpion, $\text{Androctonus australis Hector}$, affects the closing of the Na⁺ channel and the opening of the K⁺ channel in giant axons of crayfish and lobster nerves. It blocks both Na⁺ and K⁺ conductances in $\text{Sepia}$ giant axons. Dose-response curves are markedly cooperative with all types of axons. Apparent dissociation constants for the receptor-toxin complexes are 0.25 μM, 0.7 μM and 2–4 μM for the crayfish, lobster and $\text{Sepia}$ axons, respectively. This toxin will be probably a useful tool for biochemical investigation of Na⁺ and K⁺ channels.     

Ouabain-insensitive Na+-stimulated ATPase activity of basolateral plasma membranes from guinea-pig kidney cortex cells: II. Effect of Ca2+

The ouabain-insensitive, Mg²⁺-dependent, Na⁺-stimulated ATPase activity present in fresh basolateral plasma membranes from guinea-pig kidney cortex cells (prepared at pH 7.2) can be increased by the addition of micromolar concentrations of Ca²⁺ to the assay medium. The Ca²⁺ involved in this effect seems to be associated with the membranes in two different ways: as a labile component, which can be quickly and easily ‘deactivated’ by reducing the free Ca²⁺ concentration of the assay medium to values lower than 1 μM; and as a stable component, which can be ‘deactivated’ by preincubating the membranes for periods of 3–4 h with 2 mM EDTA or EGTA. Both components are easily activated by micromolar concentrations of Ca²⁺. The $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}$ of the system for Na⁺ is the same, 8 mM, whether only the stable component or both components, stable and labile, are working. In other words, the activating effect of Ca²⁺ on the Na⁺-stimulated ATPase is on the $\text{V}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>max</mtext>}}$, and not on the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>a</mtext>}}$ of the system for Na⁺. The activating effect of Ca²⁺ may be related to some conformational change produced by the interaction of this ion with the membranes, since it can also be obtained by resuspending the membranes at pH 7.8 or by ageing the preparations. Changes in the Ca²⁺ concentration may modulate the ouabain-insensitive, Na⁺-stimulated ATPase activity. This modulation could regulate the magnitude of the extrusion of Na⁺ accompanied by Cl^? and water that these cells show, and to which the Na⁺-ATPase has been associated as being responsible for the energy supply of this mode of Na⁺ extrusion.     

A model for the reaction pathways of the K+-dependent phosphatase activity of the (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase

$\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-dependent}$ ATPase preparations from rat brain, dog kidney, and human red blood cells also catalyze a K⁺-dependent phosphatase reaction. K⁺ activation and Na⁺ inhibition of this reaction are described quantitatively by a model featuring isomerization between E₁ and E₂ enzyme conformations with activity proportional to E₂K concentration:

Differences between the three preparations in $\text{K}{}_{0.5}$ for K⁺ activation can then be accounted for by differences in equilibria between E₁K and E₂K with dissociation constants identical. Similarly, reductions in $\text{K}{}_{0.5}$ produced by dimethyl sulfoxide are attributable to shifts in equilibria toward E₂ conformations. Na⁺ stimulation of K⁺-dependent phosphatase activity of brain and red blood cell preparations, demonstrable with KCl under 1 mM, can be accounted for by including a supplementary pathway proportional to E₁Na but dependent also on K⁺ activation through high-affinity sites. With inside-out red blood cell vesicles, K⁺ activation in the absence of Na⁺ is mediated through sites oriented toward the cytoplasm, while in the presence of Na⁺ high-affinity K⁺-sites are oriented extracellularly, as are those of the $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-dependent}$ ATPase reaction. Dimethyl sulfoxide accentuated Na⁺-stimulated K⁺-dependent phosphatase activity in all three preparations, attributable to shifts from the E₁P to E₂P conformation, with the latter bearing the high-affinity, extracellularly oriented K⁺-sites of the Na⁺-stimulated pathway.     

The basic asymmetry of Na+-dependent glycine transport in Ehrlich cells

Influx and efflux of glycine have been examined as a function of external and internal Na⁺ concentrations, respectively, when $\text{Δ}\text{μ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Na</mtext>}}\text{= 0}$. With $\text{Δ}\text{μ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Na</mtext>}}\text{= 0}$ it was found that at comparable external and cellular Na⁺ levels, the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ for efflux was larger by an order of magnitude than the value for influx and the $\text{V}$ for efflux was several times greater than the $\text{V}$ for influx. For both fluxes the major effect of Na⁺ was to decrease the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ value. The observations are consistent with the conclusion that the Na⁺-dependent transport system is asymmetric per se. Influx and efflux of glycine were increased in a near linear manner by increasing the Na⁺ concentration from 13 to 100 mM, the half-time for glycine equilibration being a function of the Na⁺ concentration in absence of an electrochemical potential difference for Na⁺. In Na⁺-free media ($\text{[}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{] < 5}\text{mM}$) equilibration of glycine between cells and medium was not achieved after 60 min at 25°C. With $\text{Δ}\text{μ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>Na</mtext>}}\text{= 0}$, efflux (or uptake) of glycine was not affected by internal (or external) K⁺ between 20 and 120 mM suggesting that K⁺ plays no direct role in Na⁺-dependent transport of glycine in Ehrlich cells.     

Pressure effects on lipid-protein interactions in (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

The (Na⁺ + K⁺)-stimulated ATPase activity decreases with increasing pressure and a plot of the logarithm of the activity versus pressure shows a change in slope at a defined breakpoint pressure (P_b). The value of P_b increases linearly with increasing temperature. A $\text{d}\text{T}\text{d}\text{P}$ value of 27.7 ± 0.4 (S.D.) K/1000 atm is obtained. This is in very good agreement with the pressure shift for the melting transitions in phospholipids and aliphatic chains. This strongly indicates that an aliphatic chain melting process is involved in the breakpoint in the Arrhenius plot and pressure dependence of (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase. The p-nitrophenyl phosphatase activity of this enzyme also decreases with pressure. In this case the plot of the logarithm of the activity versus pressure is linear without a break-point. The temperature dependence for (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase was also studied in the presence of fluidizing drugs: desipramine and benzylalcohol. The presence of these drugs had no effect on the inflection point in the Arrhenius plot.     

Radiation inactivation of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase a small target size for the K+-occluding mechanism

Radiation inactivation of partially purified (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) from pig kidney outer medulla shows that the target size for Rb⁺ occlusion by the enzyme (in the absence of phosphorylation) is much smaller than the target size for $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenyl phosphatase activity}$, which is itself smaller than the reported target size for (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase activity.     

Inhibition of the (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase by inorganic phosphate

Inhibition of the $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-dependent}$ ATPase by inorganic phosphate, P_i, was examined in terms of product inhibition of the various activities catalyzed by an enzyme preparation from rat brain, and considered in terms of the specific transport processes of the membrane Na⁺,K⁺-pump that these activities reflect. The K⁺-dependent phosphatase activity of the enzyme was most sensitive to P_i, and inhibition was competitive toward the substrate, nitrophenyl phosphate, as would be expected if P_i were released from the same enzyme form that bound substrate. However, this enzymatic activity does not seem to represent a transport process, and thus a cyclical discharge of K⁺ may not be involved. The Na⁺-dependent exchange activity was unaffected by P_i, in accord with the absence of P_i release in the reaction sequence. For the corresponding Na⁺/Na⁺ exchange function of the pump, which reportedly does not involve ATP hydrolysis either, prior release of P_i obviously cannot be required for Na⁺ discharge. With the Na⁺-dependent ATPase activity, measured using micromolar concentrations of ATP, P_i inhibited, but far less than with the phosphatase activity, and inhibition was not competitive toward ATP. Moreover, inhibition decreased as the Na⁺ concentration was raised from 10 to 100 mM. This elevated concentration of Na⁺ also led to substrate inhibition. For this ATPase activity, and the corresponding transport process, uncoupled Na⁺ efflux, the findings suggest that Na⁺ discharge follows P_i release, in contrast to Na⁺/Na⁺ exchange. The $\text{(}\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-dependent}$ ATPase activity, measured with millimolar concentrations of ATP and reflecting the coupled Na⁺,K⁺-transport function, was similarly sensitive to P_i, and again inhibition was not competitive toward ATP. However, in this case inhibition did not increase as the Na⁺ concentration was lowered. For this activity, and the associated transport process, the site of Na⁺ discharge in the overall reaction sequence remains unresolved.     

Kinetic studies on the inhibition of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by diketocoriolin B

Diketocoriolin B, a sesquiterpene antitumor antibiotic, inhibits particulate $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{-ATPase}$ (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) of Yoshida sarcoma cells competitively, with respect to ATP, and uncompetitively with respect to Na⁺ and K⁺. The inhibition is reduced by the addition of phosphatidylserine.Rat brain $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{-ATPase}$, which is solubilized by deoxycholate and requires phosphatidylserine for its activity, is also inhibited by diketocoriolin B competitively with respect to ATP and the inhibition was reversed by increasing the concentration of phosphatidylserine.However, several differences are found between the solubilized and particulate systems: (a) 2 moles of diketocoriolin B interact with the former, while only one mole interacts with the latter, (b) K⁺-dependent phosphatase activity of the former requires phospholipid and is sensitive to diketocoriolin B while the reverse is true with the latter.Based on these kinetic studies, it is supported that $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ has two binding sites for phospholipid, one being essential for K⁺-dependent phosphatase activity and when these two sites are filled with the appropriate phospholipids, ATP can bind to the enzyme.     

Temperature effects on cation affinities of the (Na+, K+)-ATPase of mammalian brain

Effects of temperature on the Na⁺-dependent ADP-ATP exchange and the $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ reactions catalysed by (Na⁺, K⁺)-ATPase were examined. Apparent Mg²⁺ affinity decreased with decreasing temperature. Arrhenius plots of $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ in the presence of Na⁺ and ATP had discontinuities similar to those previously reported for ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$, while those of $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ measured without Na⁺ or ATP did not. The apparent activation energy for $\text{p-}\text{nitrophenylphosphatase}$ was a function of the physical characteristics of the cation acting at the K⁺ site.     

Induction by ouabain of hemoglobin synthesis in cultured friend erythroleukemic cells

Induction of erythroid differentiation in ouabain-resistant murine erythroleukemia cells by ouabain is reported. Ouabain induction results in the appearance of hemoglobin-containing cells 12–24 hr earlier than induction of the same clone by dimethyl sulfoxide. The levels of globin mRNA after ouabain induction are similar in amount to the globin mRNA levels observed after induction by dimethyl sulfoxide. The concentration of ouabain required to induce hemoglobin synthesis depends upon the K⁺ ion levels in the culture medium. Lowering the extracellular K⁺ ion concentration 2–4 fold reduced by 10–40 fold the ouabain concentration necessary for the induction of hemoglobin synthesis. In low K⁺ medium (1.8 mM), ouabain is an effective inducer of hemoglobin synthesis at a concentration of 0.02 mM. This K⁺ effect is specific for ouabain induction, since induction by other inducers, such as dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethyl acetamide, does not exhibit this marked sensitivity to the levels of K⁺ ions in the culture medium. These results suggest that the binding of ouabain to the plasma membrane enzyme, $\text{Na}\text{K}$ ATPase, is required for the induction of erythroid differentiation by ouabain. A small but significant proportion of wild-type, ouabain-sensitive cells also can be induced by ouabain, below ouabain concentrations that are toxic to these cells. The observation that the binding of ouabain to the $\text{Na}\text{K}$ ATPase induces hemoglobin synthesis suggests that changes in the intracellular concentration of K⁺ ions may be involved in the control of erythroid differentiation in Friend erythroleukemic cells.     

Kinetic studies on the (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase. Evidence for coexisting sites for Na+, K+ and Mg2+

Na⁺-ATPase activity of a dog kidney (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase enzyme preparation was inhibited by a high concentration of NaCl (100 mM) in the presence of 30 μM ATP and 50 μM MgCl₂, but stimulated by 100 mM NaCl in the presence of 30 μM ATP and 3 mM MgCl₂. The $\text{K}{}_{0.5}$ for the effect of MgCl₂ was near 0.5 mM. Treatment of the enzyme with the organic mercurial thimerosal had little effect on Na⁺-ATPase activity with 10 mM NaCl but lessened inhibition by 100 mM NaCl in the presence of 50 μM MgCl₂. Similar thimerosal treatment reduced (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase activity by half but did not appreciably affect the $\text{K}{}_{0.5}$ for activation by either Na⁺ or K⁺, although it reduced inhibition by high Na⁺ concentrations. These data are interpreted in terms of two classes of extracellularly-available low-affinity sites for Na⁺: Na⁺-discharge sites at which Na⁺-binding can drive E₂-P back to E₁-P, thereby inhibiting Na⁺-ATPase activity, and sites activating E₂-P hydrolysis and thereby stimulating Na⁺-ATPase activity, corresponding to the K⁺-acceptance sites. Since these two classes of sites cannot be identical, the data favor co-existing Na⁺-discharge and K⁺-acceptance sites. Mg²⁺ may stimulate Na⁺-ATPase activity by favoring E₂-P over E₁-P, through occupying intracellular sites distinct from the phosphorylation site or Na⁺-acceptance sites, perhaps at a coexisting low-affinity substrate site. Among other effects, thimerosal treatment appears to stimulate the Na⁺-ATPase reaction and lessen Na⁺-inhibition of the (Na⁺ + K⁺)-ATPase reaction by increasing the efficacy of Na⁺ in activating E₂-P hydrolysis.     

Na+-driven Ca2+ transport in alkalophilic Bacillus

Ca²⁺ transport was studied in membrane vesicles of alkalophilic Bacillus. When Na⁺-loaded membrane vesicles were suspended in KHCO₃/KOH buffer (pH 10) containing Ca²⁺, rapid uptake of Ca²⁺ was observed. The apparent $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ value for Ca²⁺ measured at pH 10 was about 7 μM, and the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ value shifted to 24 μM when measured at pH 7.4. The efflux of Ca²⁺ was studied with Ca²⁺-loaded vesicles. Ca²⁺ was released when Ca²⁺-loaded vesicles were suspended in medium containing 0.4 M Na⁺.Ca²⁺ was also transported in membrane vesicles driven by an artificial pH gradient and by a membrane potential generated by K⁺-valinomycin in the presence of Na⁺.These results indicate the presence of Ca²⁺/Na⁺ and H⁺/Na⁺ antiporters in the alkalophilic Bacillus A-007.     

Isolation and characterization of an alkali metal ion-sensitive NAD+-dependent glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase from germinating green gram (Phaseolus aurieus).

An alkali metal ion-sensitive NAD⁺-specific glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase has been purified 250-fold from germinating green gram (Phaseolus aurieus). The purified enzyme shows a single protein band on gel electrophoresis. It has been shown to be a tetrameric protein (molecular weight 160,000) made up of apparently identical monomers (subunit molecular weight 40,000). It shows an $\text{A}{}_{280}\text{A}{}_{260}$ ratio equal to 1.38, which is not changed on treatment with animal charcoal or cellulosic ion exchangers. Direct estimation shows less than 0.07 mol bound NAD⁺/mol enzyme. Green gram glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase is inhibited fairly strongly at physiological concentrations of Na⁺ ions. The inhibition is stronger at higher pH and lower protein concentration. Deproteinated extract, cysteine, and reduced glutathione reverse the Na⁺ ion inhibition. The effect of deproteinated extract is attributable to the presence of some SH-containing compounds. Potassium and rubidium ions have a mild activating effect at lower concentration (below 100 mm) and are inhibitory at higher, nonphysiological, concentrations. Ammonium and lithium ions have no effect. The inhibition due to Na⁺ ions is noncompetitive with respect to NAD⁺ and phosphate ions but competitive with respect to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, with K_i about 60 mm. Sodium ions protect the enzyme against proteolysis with trypsin. It is suggested that Na⁺ ions and the small molecular weight SH-compounds may possibly be involved in regulation of the overall rate of glycolysis via modulation of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity.     

Characterization of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase liposomes: I. Effect of enzyme concentration and modification on liposome size,intramembrane particle formation and Na+,K+-transport

Rabbit renal ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ (EC 3.6.1.3) was purified and incorporated into phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Freeze-fracture analysis of the reconstituted system reveals intramembrane particles formed by ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ molecules which are randomly distributed on concave and convex fracture faces. The reconstituted ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ performs active Na⁺,K⁺-transport. The distribution of particles as well as the rate of active transport are directly proportional to the ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ protein concentration used for reconstitution, while the total amount of sodium and potassium ions exchanged by ATP per volume vesicle suspension reaches maximum when each vesicle contains on the average more than two particles. ($\text{Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+}\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-}\text{ATPase}$ pretreated with ouabain or vanadate yields the same particle density and vesicle size as control enzyme. However, detergent-denatured enzyme loses its ability to form intramembrane particles or to increase the vesicle size indicating that the lipids surrounding the protein part of the molecule are essential for the reconstitution process. The vesicle diameter increases as a function of the number of particles per vesicle. Histograms of the size distribution become wider with increasing intramembrane particle density and tend to show more than one maximum.