Functionally distinct classes of K+ sites on the (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase

K+ interactions with a rat brain (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase and the associated K+-dependent nitrophenyl phosphatase activity were examined. Classes of sites for K+ were distinguished, initially, on the basis of affinity estimated by kinetic analysis in terms of KO.5 (the concentration for half-maximal activation), and by K+-accelerated enzyme inactivation by F-minus, which permits evaluation of a dissociation constant for K+, KD. Moderate-affinity sites ("alpha sites"), with a KD near 1 mM, were demonstrable for the phosphatase activity and for the "free" enzyme. High-affinity sites ("beta sites"), with a KD near 0.1 mM, were seen for the overall ATPase activity and under conditions in which enzyme phosphorylation by substrate also occurs. Further differentiation between alpha and beta sites was made in terms of (i) the characteristic changes in affinity with pH, and (ii) the efficacy of Li+ relative to K+, Rb+, Cs+, and Tl+ at these two classes of sites. Low-affinity sites ("gamma sites") through which K+ inhibits enzymatic activity were also detectable, with a KD around 140 mM. These data are incorporated into a model for the reaction sequence to accommodate both transport processes and certain K+/ATP antagonisms.