Balancing of mitochondrial and glycolytic ATP production and of the ATP-consuming processes of Ehrlich mouse ascites tumour cells in a high phosphate medium

A balance of energy budgeting of Ehrlich mouse ascites tumour cells including mitochondrial and glycolytic ATP production and about 80% of ATP consumption in a high phosphate medium is presented. In the share of glycolysis was about one-third of the total ATP production, more than twice that found in a low phosphate medium. The extent of a single energy reaction was assessed from the decrease of coupled oxygen consumption and lactate formation following the specific inhibition of this process. The inhibitory effects on coupled respiration and glycolysis were identical for the energy consuming processes measured: protein turnover, Na+/K(+)-ATPase, Ca2(+)-transport and RNA synthesis.     

ConA induced changes in energy metabolism of rat thymocytes

The influence of ConA on the energy metabolism of quiescent rat thymocytes was investigated by measuring the effects of inhibitors of protein synthesis, proteolysis, RNA/DNA synthesis, Na⁺K⁺-ATPase, Ca²⁺-ATPase and mitochondrial ATP synthesis on respiration. Only about 50% of the coupled oxygen consumption of quiescent thymocytes could be assigned to specific processes using two different media. Under these conditions the oxygen is mainly used to drive mitochondrial proton leak and to provide ATP for protein synthesis and cation transport, whereas oxygen consumption to provide ATP for RNA/DNA synthesis and ATP-dependent proteolysis was not measurable. The mitogen ConA produced a persistent increase in oxygen consumption by about 30% within seconds. After stimulation more than 80% of respiration could be assigned to specific processes. The major oxygen consuming processes of ConA-stimulated thymocytes are mitochondrial proton leak, protein synthesis and Na⁺K⁺-ATPase with about 20% each of total oxygen consumption, while Ca²⁺-ATPase and RNA/DNA synthesis contribute about 10% each. Quiescent thymocytes resemble resting hepatocytes in that most of the oxygen consumption remains unexplained. In constrast, the pattern of energy metabolism in stimulated thymocytes is similar to that described for Ehrlich Ascites tumour cells and splenocytes, which may also be in an activated state. Most of the oxygen consumption is accounted for, so the unexplained process(es) in unstimulated cells shut(s) off on stimulation.     

ConA induced changes in energy metabolism of rat thymocytes

The influence of ConA on the energy metabolism of quiescent rat thymocytes was investigated by measuring the effects of inhibitors of protein synthesis, proteolysis, RNA/DNA synthesis, Na⁺K⁺-ATPase, Ca²⁺-ATPase and mitochondrial ATP synthesis on respiration. Only about 50% of the coupled oxygen consumption of quiescent thymocytes could be assigned to specific processes using two different media. Under these conditions the oxygen is mainly used to drive mitochondrial proton leak and to provide ATP for protein synthesis and cation transport, whereas oxygen consumption to provide ATP for RNA/DNA synthesis and ATP-dependent proteolysis was not measurable. The mitogen ConA produced a persistent increase in oxygen consumption by about 30% within seconds. After stimulation more than 80% of respiration could be assigned to specific processes. The major oxygen consuming processes of ConA-stimulated thymocytes are mitochondrial proton leak, protein synthesis and Na⁺K⁺-ATPase with about 20% each of total oxygen consumption, while Ca²⁺-ATPase and RNA/DNA synthesis contribute about 10% each. Quiescent thymocytes resemble resting hepatocytes in that most of the oxygen consumption remains unexplained. In contrast, the pattern of energy metabolism in stimulated thymocytes is similar to that described for Ehrlich Ascites tumour cells and splenocytes, which may also be in an activated state. Most of the oxygen consumption is accounted for, so the unexplained process(es) in unstimulated cells shut(s) off on stimulation.     

Evidence for a structural relationship between apoB75kDa and human plasma apolipoprotein B 100, from translation of human liver mRNA in vitro and immunochemical studies with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies

The report deals with a detailed balance of ATP production and consumption of the rabbit reticulocyte. The sum-total of ATP produced amounts to 135 mmol . 1-1 . h-1. About 70% of the ATP consumption has been accounted for by specific processes. The main contributing processes are the globin synthesis with about 28%, the Na+, K+-ATPase with 23% and the proteolysis with more than 15%. 30% of ATP consumption has not been accounted for. Cycloheximide (20 microM) leads to a dissociation between synthesis and degradation of proteins, which argues against any obligatory connection between these processes. More than 90% of the lysine liberated from mitochondria by proteolysis were reutilized for the globin synthesis demonstrating the high nitrogen economy of reticulocytes. Each of the ATP-consuming processes studied appears to control ATP production in an independent manner without competition with each other.     

ATP-producing and consuming processes of Ehrlich mouse ascites tumor cells in proliferating and resting phases.

The extents of ATP-yielding and consuming processes in Ehrlich mouse ascites tumor cells during the proliferating and resting growth phase were compared. In the resting phase the total ATP production was decreased by one-third. The ATP supply by oxidative phosphorylation was drastically reduced, whereas the rate of glycolysis stayed nearly constant. All ATP-consuming processes investigated, i.e., protein turnover, Na+/K(+)-ATPase, Ca2(+)-ATPase, and RNA synthesis, were decreased proportionally with the total ATP consumption.     

Respiratory energy demand for protein turnover and ion transport in wheat leaves upon water deficit

The effect of water stress on the respiratory energy demand for the main biosynthetic and transport processes was estimated in the leaves of spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. cv. San Pastore) acclimated and non-acclimated to drought. ATP-consuming processes were assessed from the effects of selective inhibitors of RNA synthesis, protein synthesis and proteolysis, Ca²⁺-ATPase and P-type ATPases on respiration. The proportions of energy consumed by these processes were compared with the theoretical ATP production calculated from the rate of oxygen consumption measured manometrically. Respiratory energy production increased significantly in both acclimated leaves and in leaves stressed by drought. In the fully grown wheat leaves, Ca²⁺-dependent reactions and protein turnover consumed about 37% and 34% of the total respiratory energy, respectively. The costs of ion transport constituted another 15% of the total ATP production. Both acclimation and drought stress in non-acclimated leaves resulted in a decrease of leaf sensitivity towards inhibitors of RNA and protein syntheses as well as a decrease in Ca²⁺-mediated processes; but also in an increase of leaf sensitivity towards inhibitors of proteolysis and ouabain-sensitive ATPase in non-acclimated plants. This indicates a shift in ATP input into the energy-requiring processes towards greater expenses for ion transport upon water deficit. However, in acclimated leaves under drought stress, distribution of respiratory energy became almost the same as in control plants.     

The contribution of ATP turnover by the Na+/K+-ATPase to the rate of respiration of hepatocytes. Effects of thyroid status and fatty acids

In less than 1 min ouabain maximally inhibits oxygen consumption due to gramicidin-induced ATP turnover by the Na+/K+-ATPase in hepatocytes. Ouabain rapidly inhibits respiration on palmitate or glucose by only 6-10% indicating that the Na+/K+-ATPase plays a minor role in cell ATP turnover. 29% of the extra oxygen consumption of hepatocytes isolated from hyperthyroid rats was inhibited by ouabain showing that the Na+/K+-ATPase is responsible for some but not the majority of the stimulation of respiration induced by thyroid hormone.     

Balancing of energy-consuming processes of rat hepatocytes.

A method for the quantification of energy consuming processes described by Siems et al. for reticulocytes and by Müller et al. for ascites tumour cells was applied to balance the ATP-consumption of isolated rat hepatocytes. On the basis of decreased coupled respiration rates following the specific inhibition of energy-requiring reactions, the energy demands of protein turnover, nucleic acid synthesis, Na+/K(+)-ATPase and Ca2(+)-transport of hepatocytes in different incubation media were assessed. These processes together with urea synthesis account for about 60 per cent of the total energy consumption in a glucose and amino acid-enriched Eagle/Borsook medium. The metabolic flux rates of total ATP-consumption and ATP-consumption of single energy-requiring processes in hepatocytes are compared with those in reticulocytes and different tumour cell types.     

The influence of Methylprednisolone on the energy metabolism of Ehrlich ascites tumour cells

Using Ehrlich ascites tumour cells, the short-term effects of the therapeutic glucocorticoid Methylprednisolone (MP) on the cellular energy metabolism were studied. ATP-consuming processes involved in the rapid MP effects were identified indirectly from the effects of MP on cellular oxygen consumption related to the inhibition of respiration by selective inhibitors of Ca²⁺-ATPase and protein synthesis. The effects of MP on plasma membrane permeability for Ca²⁺ ions and phospholipid turnover were studied directly by using confocal laser scanning microscopy and tracerkinetic measurements, respectively. MP inhibited cellular oxygen consumption, suppressed the inhibitory effect of lanthanum but not that of cycloheximide on oxygen consumption, blocked the [Ca²⁺]_i rise in response to calcium ionophore A 23187, and decreased phospholipid turnover. MP acted instantly in a dose-dependent manner.The observed effects of MP are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that the drug has direct membrane effect affecting plasma membrane permeability and function.     

Control of brain slice respiration by (Na+ + K+)-activated adenosine triphosphate and the effects of enzyme inhibitors.

The involvement of membrane (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (Mg2+-dependent, (Na+ + K+)-activated ATP phosphohydrolase, E.C. 3.6.1.3) in the oxygen consumption of rat brain cortical slices was studied in order to determine whether (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity in intact cells can be estimated from oxygen consumption. The stimulation of brain slice respiration with K+ required the simultaneous presence of Na+. Ouabain, a specific inhibitor of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, significantly inhibited the (Na+ + K+)-stimulation of respiration. These observations suggest that the (Na+ + K+)-stimulation of brain slice respiration is related to ADP production as a result of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. However, ouabain also inhibited non-K+ -stimulated respiration. Additionally, ouabain markedly reduced the stimulation of respiration by 2,4-dinitrophenol in a high (Na+ + K+)-medium. Thus, ouabain depresses brain slice respiration by reducing the availability of ADP through (Na+ + K+)-ATPase inhibition and acts additionally by increasing the intracellular Na+ concentration. These studies indicate that the use of ouabain results in an over-estimation of the respiration related to (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. This fraction of the respiration can be estimated more precisely from the difference between slice respiration in high Na+ and K+ media and that in choline, K+ media. Studies were performed with two (Na+ + K+)-ATPase inhibitors to determine whether administration of these agents to intact rats would produce changes in brain respiration and (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. The intraperitoneal injection of digitoxin in rats caused an inhibition of brain (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and related respiration, but chlorpromazine failed to alter either (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity or related respiration.     

Breakdown of Na+/K+-exchanging ATPase phosphoenzymes formed from ATP and from inorganic phosphate during Na+-ATPase activity.

The reactivity towards Na+ and K+ of Na+/K+-ATPase phosphoenzymes formed from ATP and Pi during Na+-ATPase turnover and that obtained from Pi in the absence of ATP, Na+ and K+ was studied. The phosphoenzyme formed from Pi in the absence of cycling and with no Na+ or K+ in the medium showed a biphasic time-dependent breakdown. The fast component, 96% of the total EP, had a decay rate of about 4 s(-1) in K+-free 130 mm Na+, and was 40% inhibited by 20 mm K+. The slow component, about 0.14 s(-1), was K+ insensitive. Values for the time-dependent breakdown of the phosphoenzymes obtained from ATP and from Pi during Na+-ATPase activity were indistinguishable from each other. In K+-free medium containing 130 mm Na+, the decays followed a single exponential with a rate constant of 0.45 s(-1). The addition of 20 mm K+ markedly increased the decays and made them biphasic. The fast components had a rate of approximately 220 s-1 and accounted for 92-93% of the total phosphoenzyme. The slow components decayed at a rate of about 47-53 s(-1). A second group of experiments examined the reactivity towards Na+ of the E2P forms obtained with ATP and Pi when the enzyme was cycling. In both cases, the rate of dephosphorylation was a biphasic function of [Na+]: inhibition at low [Na+], with a minimum at about 5 mm Na+, followed by recovery at higher [Na+]. Although qualitatively similar, the phosphoenzyme formed from Pi showed slightly less inhibition and more pronounced recovery. These results indicate that forward and backward phosphorylation during Na+-ATPase turnover share the same intermediates.     

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

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

Effect of calixarene-phosphonic acid on Na+, K+-ATPase activity in plasma membranes of the smooth-muscle cells

Effect of calix[4]arenes C-97, C-99, C-107, functionalized by fragments of alpha-hydroxy-phosphonic, alpha-aminophosphonic- and methylene-bisphosphonic acid on enzymatic activity of oubaine-sensitive Na+, K+-ATPase and oubaine-resistant basal Mg2+- ATPase (specific activity - 10.6 +/- 0.9 and 18.1 +/- 1.2 micromol Pi/h per 1 mg of protein, respectively; n = 7) was studied in experiments made on the suspension of myometrium cell plasma membranes treated by 0.1% solution of digitonin. It was found that calixarene-phosphonic acids in concentration of 100 microM inhibited enzymatic activity of Na+, K+-ATPase by 86-98% and did not practically affect activity of Mg2+-ATPase. These calixarenes were more efficient than oubaine in suppressing enzymatic activity of the sodium pump: in case of the effect of calixerenes the value of the appearence constant of inhibition I0.5 was < 0.1 microM. Calixarene-methylene-bisphosphonic acid (calixarene C-97; I0.5 =33 +/- 4 microM (n = 6) takes the most efficient inhibitory effect on Na+,K+-ATPase activity among the studied calixarenes. A phenomenon of negative cooperation: the Hill coefficient value etaH =0.1-0.5<1 is characteristic of both the inhibiting effect of calixarenes and oubaine. Reguliarities of calixarenes C-97 effect on enzymatic activity of Na+,K+-ATPase were studied. As it appeared its inhibiting effect cannot be caused by trivial factors - potentially possible binding of Mg ions by it and (or) this substance effect on Mg2+ interaction with ATP4- in the incubation medium. Calixerene C-97 does not also decrease the enzyme affinity for Mg ions or ATP. However this calixerenes decreases the affinity of Na+,K+-ATPase for Na ions (the value of activation constant K(Na+)) from 50 +/- 4 (control) to 76 +/- 6 microM in the control and under the effect of calixerene, respectively). A conclusion is made that calixerene C-97 is highly-efficient (with respect to oubaine) and selective (with respect to lack of its effect on basal Mg2+-ATPase) inhibitor of Na+,K+-ATPase of plasma membrane. In the practical aspect it may be used in concentration of 1-10 microM in biochemical membranology when testing and studying kinetic and catalytic properties of the sodium pump in case of such experimental model, as the plasma membrane fraction.     

Effect of external ATP on the plasma membrane permeability and (Na+ +K+)-ATPase activity of mouse neuroblastoma cells

1. Addition of 3.5 mM ATP to mouse neuroblastoma Neuro-2A cells results in a selective enhancement of the plasma membrane permeability for Na+ relative to K+, as measured by cation flux measurements and electro-physiological techniques. 2. Addition of 3.5 mM ATP to Neuro-2A cells results in a 70% stimulation of the rate of active K+ -uptake by these cells, partly because of the enhanced plasma membrane permeability for Na+. Under these conditions the pumping activity of the Neuro-2A (Na+ +K+)-ATPase is optimally stimulated with respect to its various substrate ions. 3. External ATP significantly enhances the affinity of the Neuro-2A (Na+ +K+)-ATPase for ouabain, as measured by direct [3H]ouabain-binding studies and by inhibition studies of active K+ uptake. In the presence of 3.5 mM ATP and the absence of external K+ both techniques indicate an apparent dissociation constant for ouabain of 2 X 10(-6)M. Neuro-2A cells contain (3.5 +/- 0.7) X 10(5) ouabain-binding sites per cell, giving rise to an optimal pumping activity of (1.7 +/- 0.4) X 10(-20) mol K+/min per copy of (Na+ +K+)-ATPase at room temperature.     

An integrative, in situ approach to examining K+ flux in resting skeletal muscle

The contributions of Na+/K+-ATPase, K+ channels, and the NaK2Cl cotransporter (NKCC) to total and unidirectional K+ flux were determined in mammalian skeletal muscle at rest. Rat hindlimbs were perfused in situ via the femoral artery with a bovine erythrocyte perfusion medium that contained either 86Rb or 42K, or both simultaneously, to determine differences in ability to trace unidirectional K+ flux in the absence and presence of K+-flux inhibitors. In most experiments, the unidirectional flux of K+ into skeletal muscle (J(in)K) measured using 86Rb was 8-10% lower than J(in)K measured using 42K. Ouabain (5 mM) was used to inhibit Na+/K+-ATPase activity, 0.06 mM bumetanide to inhibit NKCC activity, 1 mM tetracaine or 0.5 mM barium to block K+ channels, and 0.05 mM glybenclamide (GLY) to block ATP-sensitive K+ (K(ATP)) channels. In controls, J(in)K remained unchanged at 0.31 +/- 0.03 micromol x g(-1) x min(-1) during 55 min of perfusion. The ouabain-sensitive Na+/K+-ATPase contributed to 50 +/- 2% of basal J(in)K, K+ channels to 47 +/- 2%, and the NKCC to 12 +/- 1%. GLY had minimal effect on J(in)K, and both GLY and barium inhibited unidirectional efflux of K+ (J(out)K) from the cell through K+ channels. Combined ouabain and tetracaine reduced J(in)K by 55 +/- 2%, while the combination of ouabain, tetracaine, and bumetanide reduced J(in)K by 67 +/- 2%, suggesting that other K+-flux pathways may be recruited because the combined drug effects on inhibiting J(in)K were not additive. The main conclusions are that the NKCC accounted for about 12% of J(in)K, and that K(ATP) channels accounted for nearly all of the J(out)K, in resting skeletal muscle in situ.     

Temperature-dependencies of various catalytic activities of membrane-bound Na+/K+-ATPase from ox brain, ox kidney and shark rectal gland and of C12E8-solubilized shark Na+/K+-ATPase

The temperature dependence of ouabain-sensitive ATPase and phosphatase activities of membrane fragments containing the Na+/K+-ATPase were investigated in tissue from ox kidney, ox brain and from shark rectal glands. The shark enzyme was also tested in solubilized form. Arrhenius plots of the Na+/K+-ATPase activity seem to be linear up to about 20 degrees C, and non-linear above this temperature. The Arrhenius plots of mammalian enzyme (ox brain and kidney) were steeper, especially at temperatures below 20-30 degrees C, than that of shark enzyme. The Na+-ATPase activity showed a weaker temperature-dependence than the Na+/K+-ATPase activity. The phosphatase reactions measured, K+-stimulated, Na+/K+-stimulated and Na+/K+/ATP-stimulated, also showed a weaker temperature-dependence than the overall Na+/K+-ATPase activity. Among the phosphatase reactions, the largest change in slope of the Arrhenius plot was observed with the Na+/K+/ATP)-stimulated phosphatase reaction. The Arrhenius plots of the partial reactions were all non-linear. Solubilization of shark enzyme in C12E8 did not change the curvature of Arrhenius plots of the Na+/K+-ATPase activity or the K+-phosphatase activity. Since solubilization involves a disruption of the membrane and an 80% delipidation, the observed curvature of the Arrhenius plot can not be attributed to a property of the membrane as such.     

Comparative study of properties of Na+, K+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase of the myometrium plasma membrane

The comparative research of catalytic properties of two ATP-hydrolases of the sarcolemma of the smooth muscle of the uterus--ouabaine-sensitive Na+,K+-ATPase and ouabaine-resistent Mg2+-ATPase is carried out. The specific enzymatic activity of Na+,K+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase makes 10.2 +/- 0.7 and 18.1 +/- 1.2 mmol P/mg of protein for 1 hour, accordingly. The action of ouabaine on Na+,K+-ATPase is characterized by magnitude of quotient of inhibition I0.5=21.3 +/- 1.5 mkM. Processing of the sarcolemma fraction by digitonin in concentrations 0.001 +/- 0.1% promotes an activation of Na+,K+ATPase and Mg2+- ATPase, and in the first case much more efficiently than in the second. The kinetics of accumulation of the product of ATP-hydrolase reactions of phosphate satisfies the laws of the zero order reaction (incubation time--about 10 min). Na+,K+-ATPase is highly specific concerning the univalent cations--Na+, K+, however Li+ can partially substitute K+. Activity of Mg2+-ATPase is not specific concerning univalent cations. The dependence of Na+,K+-ATPase activity on pH in the range of 6.0-8.0 is characterized by the bell-shaped curve, at the same time the linear dependence on pH is peculiar to Mg2+-ATPase. The functioning of Na+,K+-ATPase is provided only by ATP, in the case of Mg2+-ATPase ATP can be successfully replaced with other nucleotidetriphosphates. It is supposed that the obtained experimental data can be beneficial in further research of membranous mechanisms underlying the cation exchange in the smooth muscles, in particular when studying the role of the plasma membrane in the maintenance of electromechanical coupling in them, and also in the regulation of ionic homeostasis in myocytes.     

Lactoferrin stimulates erythrocyte Na+/K+ -adenosine triphosphatase: effect of some modulators of membrane phosphorylation

We studied the effect of some modulators of signal transduction on the erythrocyte Na+/ K+-ATPase. Go6976 and Go6983 (protein kinase C inhibitors) showed a stimulatory effect and calyculin A (protein phosphatase inhibitor) exerted an inhibitory effect on the Na pump activity. Some of the tested modulators of cell-signaling [protein phosphatase(s), phosphodiesterase, calmodulin and some protein kinases] interfered with the lactoferrin (Lf) stimulatory effect on the sodium pump. Lf itself was able to modulate the effect of some agents upon the pump activity. Moreover, an additive effect of stimulation was found when Lf and some agents were used simultaneously. The summarized results showed that: (i) Lf upregulates the Na+/K+-ATPase in erythrocytes and facilitates the K+ influx into the erythrocytes; (ii) the effect of pump stimulation is mediated by phosphorylation processes. These results suggest a potential opportunity for using Lf alone or together with other agents as a stimulator of the erythrocyte Na+/K+-ATPase.     

Charge translocation by the Na+/K+-ATPase investigated on solid supported membranes: cytoplasmic cation binding and release.

In the preceding publication (. Biophys. J. 76:000-000) a new technique was described that was able to produce concentration jumps of arbitrary ion species at the surface of a solid supported membrane (SSM). This technique can be used to investigate the kinetics of ion translocating proteins adsorbed to the SSM. Charge translocation of the Na+/K+-ATPase in the presence of ATP was investigated. Here we describe experiments carried out with membrane fragments containing Na+/K+-ATPase from pig kidney and in the absence of ATP. Electrical currents are measured after rapid addition of Na+. We demonstrate that these currents can be explained only by a cation binding process on the cytoplasmic side, most probably to the cytoplasmic cation binding site of the Na+/K+-ATPase. An electrogenic reaction of the protein was observed only with Na+, but not with other monovalent cations (K+, Li+, Rb+, Cs+). Using Na+ activation of the enzyme after preincubation with K+ we also investigated the K+-dependent half-cycle of the Na+/K+-ATPase. A rate constant for K+ translocation in the absence of ATP of 0.2-0.3 s-1 was determined. In addition, these experiments show that K+ deocclusion, and cytoplasmic K+ release are electroneutral.