Characterization of proton-transporting membranes from resting pig gastric mucosa

Membrane vesicles were purified from resting corpus mucosa of pig stomachs by velocity-sedimentation on a sucrose-Ficoll step gradient. Two vesicular fractions containing the (H+ + K+)-ATPase were obtained. One fraction was tight towards KCl, the other was leaky. At 21 degrees C maximal (H+ + K+)-ATPase activities of 0.8 and 0.4 mumol X mg-1 X min-1, respectively, were observed in lyophilized vesicles. The vesicles contained a membrane-associated carbonic anhydrase, the activity of which was in 100-fold excess of the maximal ATPase activity. Both vesicular fractions were rich in phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingomyelin and cholesterol. The characteristics of ion permeability and transport in the tight vesicles were in agreement with corresponding data for vesicles of a tubulovesicular origin in the parietal cell. Measurement of the rate of K+ uptake into the vesicles was based on the ability of K+ to promote H+ transport. The uptake was slow and dependent on the type of anion present. The effectiveness in promoting uptake of K+ by anions was SCN- greater than NO3- greater than Cl- much greater than HCO3- greater than SO4(2-). Uptake of K+ was much more rapid at alkaline pH than at neutral or at acidic pH. Addition of CO2 at alkaline pH strongly stimulated the rate of H+ accumulation in the vesicles. The initial part of this stimulation was sensitive to acetazolamide, an inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase. A model how the (H+ + K+)-ATPase and the carbonic anhydrase may co-operate is presented. It is concluded that membrane vesicles of a tubulovesicular origin can produce acid.