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Active Transport of Na + and K + through Animal Cell Membranes
Author(s) -
Schoner Wilhelm
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition in english
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 0570-0833
DOI - 10.1002/anie.197108821
Subject(s) - ouabain , atp hydrolysis , chemistry , enzyme , membrane , phosphate , hydrolysis , electrochemical gradient , atpase , membrane transport , cell membrane , biophysics , biochemistry , sodium , organic chemistry , biology
The transport of Na + out of the cell and K + into the cell against a concentration gradient is catalyzed by a (Na + + K + )‐activated ATPase. The way in which the cations pass through the cell membrane has not yet been elucidated. Studies on the ATP hydrolysis revealed a Na + ‐dependent phosphorylation of the enzyme protein; the conformation of the enzyme also appears to change. The energy required for transport of the cations against their concentration gradients is probably provided by K + ‐dependent hydrolysis of the enzyme‐bound phosphate. The enzyme can synthesize ATP from inorganic phosphate and ADP on reversal of the cation concentration gradient. By keeping the enzyme in a particular conformation, the cardiac glycoside ouabain specifically inhibits the Na + pump.