Effects of barium on gastric microsomal K+-stimulated para-nitrophenyl phosphatase activity

Ba2+ at low concentrations (1 mM or lower) stimulates the basal and K+-stimulated para-nitrophenyl phosphatase activity associated with the purified microsomal fractions from the oxyntic cells of bullfrog gastric mucosa. However, at higher concentrations Ba2+ acts as a competitive inhibitor of the K+-stimulated phosphatase. Ba2+ alone, in absence of any Mg2+, cannot maintain the enzyme activity; hence Ba2+ can only influence or modulate the Mg2+-dependent phosphatase. The effects are unique for Ba2+ because all other divalent cations such as Ca2+ and Zn2+ act as inhibitors of this enzyme under similar conditions. The data offer a possible biochemical basis for the known pharmacological effects of Ba2+ in gastric acid secretion.