Existence of ADP- and KCl-insensitive phosphoenzyme intermediate of Na+,K(+)-ATPase at alkaline Ph

The Na(+)-ATPase activity of Na+,K(+)-ATPase in the absence of K+ was least dependent on the sodium concentration when the pH was 9.5. Around 40% of the phosphoenzyme formed from ATP in the presence of 0.5 mM MgCl2 at alkaline pH was insensitive to both KCl and ADP. High-Na+ chase reversed this insensitivity, i.e., the phosphoenzyme became sensitive to KCl or ADP. On the other hand, phosphorylation at 0.1 mM MgCl2 instead of 0.5 mM showed at least 95% sensitivity to KCl. These observations suggest that ADP- and KCl-insensitive phosphoenzyme was formed when excess Mg++ was present during phosphorylation at alkaline pH. This phosphoenzyme might be an intermediate in the process of ATP hydrolysis.