Crystallization patterns of membrane-bound (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

Extensive formation of two-dimensional crystals of the proteins of the pure membrane-bound $\text{(Na}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{+ K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{)-ATPase}$ is induced during prolonged incubation with vanadate and magnesium. Some membrane crystals are formed in medium containing magnesium and phosphate. Computer-averaged images of the two-dimensional crystals show that the unit cell in vanadate-induced crystals contains a protomeric αβ-unit of the enzyme protein. In phosphate-induced crystals an $\text{(αβ)}{}_2\text{-}\text{unit}$ occupies one unit cell suggesting that interactions between αβ-units can be of importance in the function of the Na⁺, K⁺ pump.     

The (Na+ + K+)-ATPase of chick sensory neurons. Studies on biosynthesis and intracellular transport

The (Na+ + K+)-ATPase of cultured chick sensory neurons was studied with the aid of antibodies specific for this enzyme. Immunofluorescent labeling indicated the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is evenly distributed on the neuronal cell surface; cell bodies, neurites, and growth cones were labeled with comparable intensity. Pulse-chase experiments with [35S]methionine, followed by immunoprecipitation, indicated concurrent synthesis and rapid association of the alpha (Mr = 105,000) and beta (Mr = 47,000) subunits. The alpha subunit is oligosaccharide-free while the beta subunit contains three Asn-linked oligosaccharide chains attached to a core peptide of 32,000 molecular weight. The time required for oligosaccharide processing of the newly synthesized beta subunit to endoglycosidase H-resistance suggests the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase takes 45-60 min to move from the site of polypeptide synthesis to the Golgi apparatus. Significantly less time was required for transport through the Golgi apparatus and insertion in the plasma membrane. From 30% to 55% of the newly synthesized (Na+ + K+)-ATPase did not appear on the cell surface but accumulated intracellularly. When tunicamycin was used to inhibit glycosylation of the beta subunit, there was no effect upon subunit assembly, intracellular transport, or degradation rate (t1/2 = 40 h).     

Characteristics of cooperative binding of Na+ and K+ with Na+,K+-ATPase depending upon its oligomeric structure

It has been shown that the desensibilization of the enzymic preparations of Na+, K+-ATPase by urea, DS-Na, digitonin and CHAPS reduces differently the amount of alpha beta-protomer in the enzymic preparations and the Hill coefficients of Na+ and K+. The factors (urea, DS-Na) which cause a more pronounced decrease in the amount of beta-protomer reduce the nH of Na+ for Na+, K+-ATPase and nH of K+ for Na+, K+-ATPase and K+-pNPPase to unit. The analysis of the effects of ATP and pNPP indicates that ATP has a protective effect only in the case of urea and DS-Na, but this effect is not exerted by pNPP (nonallosteric substrate). A conclusion is drawn that cooperative interactions of Na+, K+-ATPase from the brain with Na+ require more higher level of the oligomeric structure of enzyme than cooperative interactions with K+. At the same time these cooperative interactions in the both cases need subunits interactions in the protomer and interactions between cation sites with relatively high affinity.     

Regulation of Na+, K+ -ATPase Isoforms in Rat Neostriatum by Dopamine and Protein Kinase C

Our previous studies showed that dopamine inhibits Na+,K+-ATPase activity in acutely dissociated neurons from striatum. In the present study, we have found that in this preparation, dopamine inhibited significantly (by approximately 25%) the activity of the alpha3 and/or alpha2 isoforms, but not the alpha1 isoform, of Na+,K+-ATPase. Dopamine, via D1 receptors, activates cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) in striatal neurons. Dopamine is also known to activate the calcium- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (PKC) in a number of different cell types. The PKC activator phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate reduced the activity of Na+,K+-ATPase alpha3 and/or alpha2 isoforms (by approximately 30%) as well as the alpha1 isoform (by approximately 15%). However, dopamine-mediated inhibition of Na+,K+-ATPase activity was unaffected by calphostin C, a PKC inhibitor. Dopamine did not affect the phosphorylation of Na+,K+-ATPase isoforms at the PKA-dependent phosphorylation site. Phorbol ester treatment did not alter the phosphorylation of alpha2 or alpha3 isoforms of Na+,K+-ATPase in neostriatal neurons but did increase the phosphorylation of the alpha1 isoform. Thus, in rat neostriatal neurons, treatment with either dopamine or PKC activators results in inhibition of the activity of specific (alpha3 and/or alpha2) isoforms of Na+,K+-ATPase, but this is not apparently mediated through direct phosphorylation of the enzyme. In addition, PKC is unlikely to mediate inhibition of rat Na+,K+-ATPase activity by dopamine in neostriatal neurons.     

Ruthenium red inhibits mitochondrial Na+ and K+ uniports induced by magnesium removal.

Removal of bound magnesium from the outer surface of the inner mitochondrial membrane opens up a Na+ and Li+ selective electrophoretic uniport pathway whereas simultaneous depletion of intramitochondrial magnesium induces an electrogenic K+ flux as well. In order to clarify the nature of these cation movements we tested the effect of ruthenium red, a potent and specific inhibitor of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter on different Na+ and K+ uniport-associated phenomena. Ruthenium red efficiently inhibited mitochondrial swelling and depolarization induced by either EDTA in a NaCl-based medium (Na+ uniport) or by EDTA plus A23187 in a KCl-based medium (K+ uniport). For both cation uniports half-maximal inhibition was attained at a ruthenium red concentration as low as 40 nM. Complete inhibition was found above 200 nM. Neither the Na+/H+ nor the K+/H+ exchange was affected by ruthenium red. In light of these observations the possibility is raised that the electrogenic Na+ and K+ fluxes provoked by magnesium reduction or depletion may be mediated through the Ca2+ uniporter. It is suggested that intactness of the mitochondrial magnesium pools is necessary for maintaining the Ca2+ selectivity of the Ca2+ uniporter, and alterations of the membrane-associated magnesium content would make this transport route available also for monovalent cations.     

Human nongastric H+-K+-ATPase: transport properties of ATP1al1 assembled with different beta-subunits

To investigate whether nongastric H+-K+-ATPases transport Na+ in exchange for K+ and whether different beta-isoforms influence their transport properties, we compared the functional properties of the catalytic subunit of human nongastric H+-K+-ATPase, ATP1al1 (AL1), and of the Na+-K+-ATPase alpha1-subunit (alpha1) expressed in Xenopus oocytes, with different beta-subunits. Our results show that betaHK and beta1-NK can produce functional AL1/beta complexes at the oocyte cell surface that, in contrast to alpha1/beta1 NK and alpha1/betaHK complexes, exhibit a similar apparent K+ affinity. Similar to Na+-K+-ATPase, AL1/beta complexes are able to decrease intracellular Na+ concentrations in Na+-loaded oocytes, and their K+ transport depends on intra- and extracellular Na+ concentrations. Finally, controlled trypsinolysis reveals that beta-isoforms influence the protease sensitivity of AL1 and alpha1 and that AL1/beta complexes, similar to the Na+-K+-ATPase, can undergo distinct K+-Na+- and ouabain-dependent conformational changes. These results provide new evidence that the human nongastric H+-K+-ATPase interacts with and transports Na+ in exchange for K+ and that beta-isoforms have a distinct effect on the overall structural integrity of AL1 but influence its transport properties less than those of the Na+-K+-ATPase alpha-subunit.     

Structure of Na+,K+-ATPase at 11-A resolution: comparison with Ca2+-ATPase in E1 and E2 states

Na+,K+-ATPase is a heterodimer of alpha and beta subunits and a member of the P-type ATPase family of ion pumps. Here we present an 11-A structure of the heterodimer determined from electron micrographs of unstained frozen-hydrated tubular crystals. For this reconstruction, the enzyme was isolated from supraorbital glands of salt-adapted ducks and was crystallized within the native membranes. Crystallization conditions fixed Na+,K+-ATPase in the vanadate-inhibited E2 conformation, and the crystals had p1 symmetry. A large number of helical symmetries were observed, so a three-dimensional structure was calculated by averaging both Fourier-Bessel coefficients and real-space structures of data from the different symmetries. The resulting structure clearly reveals cytoplasmic, transmembrane, and extracellular regions of the molecule with densities separately attributable to alpha and beta subunits. The overall shape bears a remarkable resemblance to the E2 structure of rabbit sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase. After aligning these two structures, atomic coordinates for Ca2+-ATPase were fit to Na+,K+-ATPase, and several flexible surface loops, which fit the map poorly, were associated with sequences that differ in the two pumps. Nevertheless, cytoplasmic domains were very similarly arranged, suggesting that the E2-to-E1 conformational change postulated for Ca2+-ATPase probably applies to Na+,K+-ATPase as well as other P-type ATPases.     

Isoforms of Na+, K+-ATPase in human prostate; specificity of expression and apical membrane polarization

The cellular distribution of Na+, K+-ATPase subunit isoforms was mapped in the secretory epithelium of the human prostate gland by immunostaining with antibodies to the alpha and beta subunit isoforms of the enzyme. Immunolabeling of the alpha1, beta1 and beta2 isoforms was observed in the apical and lateral plasma membrane domains of prostatic epithelial cells in contrast to human kidney where the alpha1 and beta1 isoforms of Na+, K+-ATPase were localized in the basolateral membrane of both proximal and distal convoluted tubules. Using immunohistochemistry and PCR we found no evidence of Na+, K+-ATPase alpha2 and alpha3 isoform expression suggesting that prostatic Na+, K+-ATPase consists of alpha1/beta1 and alpha1/beta2 isozymes. Our immunohistochemical findings are consistent with previously proposed models placing prostatic Na+, K+-ATPase in the apical plasma membrane domain. Abundant expression of Na+, K+-ATPase in epithelial cells lining tubulo-alveoli in the human prostate gland confirms previous conclusions drawn from biochemical, pharmacological and physiological data and provides further evidence for the critical role of this enzyme in prostatic cell physiology and ion homeostasis. Na+, K+-ATPase most likely maintains an inwardly directed Na+ gradient essential for nutrient uptake and active citrate secretion by prostatic epithelial cells. Na+, K+-ATPase may also regulate lumenal Na+ and K+, major counter-ions for citrate.     

Two Isoenzymes of Na+, K+-ATPase Have Different Kinetics of K+ Dephosphorylation in Normal Cat and Human Brain Cortex

Analysis of purified Na+,K+-ATPase from cat and human cortex by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis reveals two large catalytic subunits called alpha (-) (lower molecular weight) and alpha (+) (higher molecular weight). Differences in K+ dephosphorylation of these two molecular forms have been investigated by measuring the phosphorylation level of each protein after their separation on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels. In the presence of Na+, Mg2+, and ATP, both subunits are phosphorylated. Increasing concentrations (from 0 to 3 mM) of K+ induce progressive dephosphorylation of both alpha-subunits, although the phosphoprotein content of alpha (-) is decreased significantly less than that of alpha (+). Ka values of alpha (-) for K+ are 40% and 50% greater in cat and human cortex, respectively, than values of alpha (+). alpha (-) and alpha (+) are thought to be localized in specific cell types of the brain: alpha (-) is the exclusive form of nonneuronal cells (astrocytes), whereas alpha (+) is the only form of axolemma. Our results support the hypothesis that glial and neuronal Na+,K+-ATPases are different molecular entities differing at least by their K+ sensitivity. Results are discussed in relation to the role of glial cells in the regulation of extracellular K+ in brain.     

Neuronal Na+, K+-ATPase in the peripheral nerve fibers

ATPase activity was localized by means of Wachstein-Meisel's method in rat sciatic nerve fibers. Using controls with ouabain, the presence of alpha + (neuronal) Na+, K+-ATPase was examined. The enzyme occurs in the ATPase reaction of the myelin-forming membranes, axoplasm and Schwann cell cytoplasm. Its presence in the Schwann cell plasma membrane is only admittable. The ATPase activity of the compact myelin and axolemma was exclusively of alpha + type of Na+, K+-ATPase.     

Mg2+-induced changes of lipid order and conformation of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

The effect of magnesium on the phospholipid order parameter and not the conformation of purified pig kidney outer medulla (Na+ + K+)-ATPase was investigated by fluorescence techniques. Measurements with a fluorescent probe TMA-DPH and its sensitized fluorescence with tryptophan residues as donors revealed that magnesium increased the order of the membrane phospholipids both in the lipid annulus and in the bulk phase. Changes in the lipid order induced by Mg2+ can be closely referred to the protein arrangement followed by the steady-state anisotropy of FITC-labeled (Na+ + K+)-ATPase.     

Phosphorylation of two isozymes of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by inorganic phosphate

The phosphorylation of two isozymes (alpha(+) and alpha) of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by 32Pi was studied under equilibrium conditions in various enzyme preparations from rat medulla oblongata, rat cerebral cortex, rat cerebellum, rat kidney, guinea pig kidney, and rabbit kidney. In ouabain-sensitive (Na+ + K+)-ATPases such as the brain, guinea pig kidney, and rabbit kidney enzymes, ouabain stimulated the Mg2+-dependent phosphorylation at lower concentrations, while a higher concentration was required for the stimulation of rat kidney (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, an ouabain-insensitive enzyme. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that two isozymes of the brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase were also phosphorylated by 32Pi in the presence of ouabain. The properties of the phosphorylation were compared between the medullar oblongata (referred to as alpha(+] and the kidney (referred to as alpha) (Na+ + K+)-ATPases. The steady-state level of phosphorylation was achieved faster in the kidney enzymes than in the medulla oblongata enzyme. Phosphorylation without ouabain was greater in the kidney enzymes than in the brain enzymes. Furthermore, the former enzymes were inhibited by K+ much more than the latter. These findings suggest that the two isozymes of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase differ in their conformational changes during enzyme turnover.     

Difference in phospholipid dependence between two isozymes of brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase

The effect of phospholipase C on two isozymes (alpha (+) and alpha forms) of rat brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and the temperature-dependence of their activities were investigated. Phospholipase C from Clostridium welchii inhibited the activities of the enzymes treated with and without pyrithiamin or N-ethylmaleimide, a preferential inhibitor of the alpha (+) form, but the extent of the inhibition was higher in the control enzyme than in the treated enzymes. The treatment of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase with phospholipase C altered a ratio between high- and low-affinity components for ouabain inhibition. It also caused the similar change in a ratio between the alpha (+) and alpha forms of Na+-stimulated phosphorylation from [gamma-32P]ATP. These findings indicate that the alpha (+) form of rat brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is more sensitive to phospholipase C than the alpha form. Analysis of Arrhenius plots of the activities of the control and pyrithiamin-treated enzymes showed that there was a difference between the two enzymes in a break point. We suggest that two isozymes of rat brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase differ in the interaction with phospholipids or in the lipid-environment.     

Phosphorylation of the catalytic subunit of rat renal Na+, K+-ATPase by classical PKC isoforms

In this study we have evaluated the specificity of different PKC isozymes for the phosphorylation of the catalytic alpha1 subunit of rat renal Na+,K+-ATPase (alpha1 Na+,K+-ATPase). Using in vitro phosphotransferase assays we found that classical PKCs (cPKCs) alpha, betaI, and gamma efficiently phosphorylate alpha1 Na+,K+-ATPase. However, alpha1 Na+,K+-ATPase was a poor substrate for the novel PKCs (nPKCs) delta and epsilon. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping revealed a similar pattern of phosphorylation by all cPKCs. The functional significance of this finding was evaluated by measuring Na+,K+-ATPase activity (assessed by 86Rb+ uptake) in COS-7 cells expressing the rat alpha1 Na+,K+-ATPase. 1-oleoyl-2-acetoyl-sn-glycerol (OAG), a nonselective PKC activator, inhibited Na+,K+-ATPase activity in this system. On the other hand, 12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenylacetate (DPP), which preferentially activates nPKCepsilon, did not affect 86Rb+ uptake. These results indicate a differential pattern of phosphorylation and regulation of rat renal Na+,K+-ATPase activity by PKC isoforms and suggest an important role for cPKCs in the physiological regulation of the pump.     

Difference between neuronal and nonneuronal (Na+ + K+)-ATPases in their conformational equilibrium

Several experiments were carried out to study the difference between two isozymes (alpha(+) and alpha) of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in the conformational equilibrium. Rat brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase was much more thermolabile than the kidney enzyme. Both enzymes were protected from heat inactivation not only by Na+ and K+, but also by choline in varying degrees, though there was a difference between the two enzymes in the protection by the ligands. The brain enzyme was partially protected from N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) inactivation by both Na+ and K+, but the effects of the ligands on NEM inactivation of the kidney enzyme were more complex. Though ligands differentially affected the thermostability and NEM sensitivity of the two enzymes, the effects were not simply related to the conformational states. The sensitivity of phosphoenzyme (EP) formed in the presence of ATP, Na+, and Mg2+ to ADP or K+ and K+-p-nitrophenyl phosphatase (pNPPase) was then studied as a probe of the differences in the conformational equilibrium between the two isozymes. The EP of the brain enzyme was partially sensitive to ADP, while those of the heart and kidney enzymes were not. At physiological Na+ concentrations the percentages of E1P formed by the brain and kidney enzymes were determined to be about 40-50 and 10-20% of the total EP, respectively. The hydrolytic activity of pNPP in the presence of Li+, a selective activator at catalytic sites of the reaction, was much higher in the kidney enzyme than in the brain enzyme. The inhibition of K+-stimulated pNPPase by ATP and Na+ was greater in the latter enzyme than in the former. These results suggest that neuronal and nonneuronal (Na+ + K+)-ATPases differ in their conformational equilibrium: the E1 or E1P may be more stable in the alpha(+) than in the alpha during the turnover, and conversely the E2 or E2P may be more stable in the latter than in the former.     

Involvement of sulfhydryl groups in the inhibition of brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase by pyrithiamin

Brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase was protected by low concentrations of GSH from the inhibitory effect of pyrithiamin. The possible involvement of sulfhydryl groups in the inhibition was then studied by comparing the effect of pyrithiamin with that of N-ethylmaleimide on the enzyme. The treatment of rat brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase with thesee inhibitors caused a significant decrease in reactivity of the enzyme to N-ethyl[3H]maleimide. N-Ethylmaleimide, like pyrithiamin, inhibited the partial reactions of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase system in parallel with the inhibition of the overall reaction. An SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis procedure indicated that pyrithiamin and N-ethylmaleimide inhibited Na+-dependent phosphorylation of the alpha(+) form of rat brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase more than that of alpha, though the selectivity for the alpha(+) seemed to be higher with the former inhibitor than in the latter. The treatment also decreased sensitivity of the enzyme to ouabain inhibition. However, pyrithiamin- and N-ethylmaleimide-induced inactivations of the enzyme differed in the efficacy of GSH for protection and in the effect of the kind of ligands present during the reaction. Furthermore, pyrithiamin did not appear to interact directly with sulfhydryl groups, but caused the formation of disulfide in bovine brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. In contrast to N-ethylmaleimide, pyrithiamin did not affect the sulfhydryl-enzymes such as alcohol dehydrogenase and L-alanine dehydrogenase. It is concluded that pyrithiamin modifies the functional sulfhydryl groups of brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in a way different from N-ethylmaleimide and causes a structural change and inactivation of the enzyme.     

Na+/K+ ATPase and its functional coupling with Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in mouse embryonic stem cells during differentiation into cardiomyocytes

Cardiomyocytes derived from mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells have been demonstrated to exhibit a time-dependent expression of ion channels and signal transduction pathways in electrophysiological studies. However, ion transporters, such as Na+/K+ ATPase (Na+ pump) or Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, which play crucial roles for cardiac function, have not been well studied in this system. In this study, we investigated the functional expression of Na+/K+ ATPase and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in mES cells during in vitro differentiation into cardiomyocytes, as well as the functional coupling between the two transporters. By measuring [Na+]i and Na+ pump current (Ip), it was shown that an ouabain-high sensitive Na+/K+ ATPase was expressed functionally in undifferentiated mES cells and these activities increased during a time course of differentiation. Using RT-PCR, the expression of mRNA for alpha1-subunit and alpha3-subunit of the Na+/K+ ATPase could be detected in both undifferentiated mES cells and derived cardiomyocytes. In contrast alpha2-subunit mRNA could be detected only in derived cardiomyocytes but not in undifferentiated mES cells. mRNA for the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger 1 isoform (NCX1) could be detected in undifferentiated mES cells and its expression levels seemed to gradually increase throughout the differentiation accompanied by increasing its Ca2+ extrusion function. At the middle stages of differentiation (after 10-day induction), more than 75% derived cardiomyocytes exhibited [Ca2+]i oscillations by blocking of Na+/K+ ATPase, suggesting the functional coupling with Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. From these results and RT-PCR analysis, we conclude that alpha2-subunit Na+/K+ ATPase mainly contributes to establish the functional coupling with NCX1 at the middle stages of differentiation of cardiomyocytes.     

Structural organization of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase in purified membranes

The structural organization of crystalline, membrane-bound (Na+ + K+)-ATPase was studied by negative staining and thin sectioning. The enzyme molecules were induced to form crystalline arrays within fragments of membrane by incubation in defined ionic conditions. The enzyme remained fully active after crystallization. Negative staining and computer processing of images of the crystalline specimens identified two discrete crystalline arrays. The dimensions of the unit cell of one of the arrays were large enough to accommodate an alpha beta protomer; those of the other array, an (alpha beta)2 diprotomer . Thin sections of the crystalline fraction contained a unique membrane complex that was formed from two apposed plasma membranes. The paired membranes in this complex were separated by a center-to-center space of 15 nm containing evenly spaced septa that connected the membrane surfaces; the overall thickness of the entire structure was 22-25 nm. The agglutinin from Ricinus communis, a lectin that binds to the carbohydrate moiety of the beta-subunit of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, decorated the free surfaces of the complex. Therefore, this complex of paired membranes is the result of interactions between the cytoplasmic domains of the enzyme. From measurements of the dimensions of these structures, we estimate the overall length of the enzyme to be approximately 11.5 nm along the axis perpendicular to the plane of the membrane, and the molecular protrudes more (approximately 5 nm) on the cytoplasmic surface than on the extracytoplasmic surface (approximately 2 nm).     

Phospholemman overexpression inhibits Na+-K+-ATPase in adult rat cardiac myocytes: relevance to decreased Na+ pump activity in postinfarction myocytes.

Messenger RNA levels of phospholemman (PLM), a member of the FXYD family of small single-span membrane proteins with putative ion-transport regulatory properties, were increased in postmyocardial infarction (MI) rat myocytes. We tested the hypothesis that the previously observed reduction in Na+-K+-ATPase activity in MI rat myocytes was due to PLM overexpression. In rat hearts harvested 3 and 7 days post-MI, PLM protein expression was increased by two- and fourfold, respectively. To simulate increased PLM expression post-MI, PLM was overexpressed in normal adult rat myocytes by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer. PLM overexpression did not affect the relative level of phosphorylation on serine68 of PLM. Na+-K+-ATPase activity was measured as ouabain-sensitive Na+-K+ pump current (Ip). Compared with control myocytes overexpressing green fluorescent protein alone, Ip measured in myocytes overexpressing PLM was significantly (P < 0.0001) lower at similar membrane voltages, pipette Na+ ([Na+]pip) and extracellular K+ ([K+]o) concentrations. From -70 to +60 mV, neither [Na+]pip nor [K+]o required to attain half-maximal Ip was significantly different between control and PLM myocytes. This phenotype of decreased V(max) without appreciable changes in K(m) for Na+ and K+ in PLM-overexpressed myocytes was similar to that observed in MI rat myocytes. Inhibition of Ip by PLM overexpression was not due to decreased Na+-K+-ATPase expression because there were no changes in either protein or messenger RNA levels of either alpha1- or alpha2-isoforms of Na+-K+-ATPase. In native rat cardiac myocytes, PLM coimmunoprecipitated with alpha-subunits of Na+-K+-ATPase. Inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase by PLM overexpression, in addition to previously reported decrease in Na+-K+-ATPase expression, may explain altered V(max) but not K(m) of Na+-K+-ATPase in postinfarction rat myocytes.