Abstract
The active transport of sodium ions through cell membranes requires the presence in these membranes of sites which are capable of transient binding of sodium ions. Since active transport has been shown to be dependent on the availability of metabolic energy in the form of ATP ( Hodgkin and Keynes 1955, Caldwell and Keynes 1957) the binding of sodium ions should also be dependent on ATP. Recently subcellular fractions of the microsome category have been described to contain an ATPase activity which is dependent on the presence of sodium ions ( Skou 1957, 1960, Post et al, 1960, Järnefelt 1960, 1961a). This ATPase has been postulated to reflect a mechanisn for active transport of sodium ions. Support for this view was obtained from inhibitor studies, which indicated the involvement of an intermediate in the ATPase reaction ( Järnefelt 1961b). It has now been possible to demonstrate that microsomes isolated from rat brain are capable of binding sodium ions in the presence of ATP. The properties of this binding indicate that sodium is bound to the intermediate formed in the ATPase reaction.
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