Brain (Na +,K +)-ATPase: Biphasic interaction with erythrosin B

Abstract

Brain (Na +,K +)-adenosine triphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.3) has both high and low affinity ouabain binding sites. It has been proposed that the high affinity ouabain binding sites characterize a nerve-specific form of the enzyme. Erythrosin B has been reported to inhibit high affinity ouabain binding selectively. The experiments in this paper were carried out in order to characterize the interactions of erythrosin B with (Na +,K +)-ATPase and to examine the specificity of erythrosin B for enzyme with high affinity for ouabain. Inhibition by erythrosin B was biphasic, with a rapid and a slow phase. The rapid phase appeared to be relatively specific for enzyme with high affinity for ouabain, while the slow phase was not. Inhibition by erythrosin B was accelerated by Mg 2+ and was retarded by ATP, K +, or Na + and ATP. Erythrosin B increased apparent affinity of the enzyme for K + and decreased apparent affinity for Na + and for ATP. These results indicate that erythrosin B interacts with an ATP site and has effects on cation affinities opposite to those of ATP. Erythrosin B inhibition is proportional to high affinity ouabain binding if brief incubation times and moderate concentrations are used.