Direct evidence for an ADP-sensitive phosphointermediate of (K + H-ATPase

Direct evidence for the occurrence of an ADP-sensitive phosphoenzyme of (K⁺ + H⁺)-ATPase, the proton-pumping system of the gastric parietal cell is presented. The enzyme is phosphorylated with 5 μM [γ-³²P]ATP in 50 mM imidazole-HCl (pH 7.0) and in the presence of 7–15 μM Mg²⁺. Addition of 5 mM ADP to this preparation greatly accelerates its hydrolysis. We have been able to establish this by stopping the phosphorylation with radioactive ATP, by adding 1 mM non-radioactive ATP, which leads to a slow monoexponential process of dephosphorylation of ³²P-labeled enzyme. The relative proportion of the ADP-sensitive phosphoenzyme is 22% of the total phosphoenzyme. Values for the rate constants of breakdown and interconversion of the two phosphoenzyme forms have been determined.