Further studies on the activation of microsomal (Na+ + k+)-atpase by a leukocytic product

Previous studies showed that microsomal (Na+ + K+)ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) is activated by a proteinaeous material released by polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Investigations on the mode of action of the activator have been conducted by the siolation of 32P-labeled phosphoenzyme intermediates formed in the reaction of ATP and (Na+ + K)-ATPase, which has been postulated to occur through the formation and hydrolysis of acyl phosphate intermediates. The activator caused a concentration-dependent decrease in the recovery of phosphoenzyme intermediates that was not quantitatively altered by the Na+ or K+ concentration of the reaction mixture of by the presence of 1 mM oubain. A decline in phosphoenzyme intermediate recovery was promoted by the addition of the activator to preformed phosphoenzyme intermediates but not by activator that had been pretreated with protease or phenol. In addition, the activator caused a concentration-dependent stimulation of the p-nitrophenyl phosphatase and acetyl phosphatase activities of microsomal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. It was proposed that the activator stimulates the dephosphorylation step of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase reaction sequence.