(Na++K+)-ATPase of Duchenne muscular dystrophy erythrocyte ghosts.

Adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity of erythrocyte ghosts from Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients and carriers was stimulated by ouabain while nonmyopathic donor preparations were inhibited. Ethacrynic acid was an effective inhibitor in both DMD patients and carriers as well as in controls. However, responsiveness of the enzyme to suramin and harmaline generally differed in DMD groups from that of nonmyopathic donors. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that modified affinity of Na binding site(s) may account for some properties of the (Na⁺+K⁺)-ATPase activity of DMD erythrocytes.