Inhibition of the Formation of the Spf1p Phosphoenzyme by Ca2

P5-ATPases are important for processes associated with the endosomal-lysosomal system of eukaryotic cells. In humans, the loss of function of P5-ATPases causes neurodegeneration. In the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae, deletion of P5-ATPase Spf1p gives rise to endoplasmic reticulum stress. The reaction cycle of P5-ATPases is poorly characterized. Here, we showed that the formation of the Spf1p catalytic phosphoenzyme was fast in a reaction medium containing ATP, Mg(2+), and EGTA. Low concentrations of Ca(2+)in the phosphorylation medium decreased the rate of phosphorylation and the maximal level of phosphoenzyme. Neither Mn(2+)nor Mg(2+)had an inhibitory effect on the formation of the phosphoenzyme similar to that of Ca(2+) TheKmfor ATP in the phosphorylation reaction was ∼1 μmand did not significantly change in the presence of Ca(2+) Half-maximal phosphorylation was attained at 8 μmMg(2+), but higher concentrations partially protected from Ca(2+)inhibition. In conditions similar to those used for phosphorylation, Ca(2+)had a small effect accelerating dephosphorylation and minimally affected ATPase activity, suggesting that the formation of the phosphoenzyme was not the limiting step of the ATP hydrolytic cycle.