Properties of toad skin Na-K-ATPase with special reference to effect of temperature

The NA-K-ATPase of toad skin was characteristically sensitive to Na, K, and ATP. It was not affected by amiloride, vasopressin, cAMP, and thyroxine, but stimulated by insulin. Ouabain, a potent inhibitor at 37 degrees C, did not inhibit the enzyme activity significantly at 23 degrees C. The optimal pH for the enzyme activity increased as temperature decreased. However, the optimal OH-/H+ ratio of the medium remained constant at 16 regardless of temperature. The Km for ATP remained unchanged between 37 and 8 degrees C if the OH-/H+ ratio was held constant at 16, but increased as temperature decreased if the pH of the medium was held constant at 7.4. The enzyme activity showed no appreciable variation between 37 and 20 degrees C with a constant OH-/H+ ratio of 16, whereas it decreased logarithmically at a constant pH of 7.4 over the same temperature range. These results indicate the presence of a typical Na-K-ATPase system in toad skin and that the enzyme is in the most active catalytic state at a fixed level of OH-/H+ ratio in the medium regardless of incubation temperature.