Effects of atp or phosphate on passive rubidium fluxes mediated by Na-K-ATPase reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles

Interaction of substrates with the intestinal brush border membrane Na/phosphate cotransporter

The interaction of Na+ and phosphate with the intestinal brush border membrane Na+/phosphate cotransporter was examined using stopped-flow tryptophan fluorescence and ion-exchange Dowex columns coupled to a light-activated microsecond timer (LAM timer) which measures exchange kinetics between protein-bound ions and the external medium Na+ or Na+ + H2PO4- induced tryptophan fluorescence quenching with apparent rate constants of 35 s-1 and 13 s-1, respectively. Dilution of substrate-bound cotransporter resulted in tryptophan fluorescence recovery consistent with cotransporter return to the substrate-free conformation. Recovery of the substrate-free conformation was slow (1.6 s-1) in the absence of phosphate, was accelerated by H2PO4 (7 s-1) and was inhibited by HPO4(2) (1.1 s-1). The effects of substrates on tryptophan fluorescence were sensitive to substrate site blockers consistent with tryptophan fluorescence monitoring cotransporter conformations and substrate-induced changes in conformation. Equivalent experiments using the LAM timer and either (22Na+) or Na+ + (32P) phosphate verified the rate constants for the substrate-induced quenching of tryptophan fluorescence, suggested that 2 Na+ 's were occluded by the cotransporter as part of the Na(+)-induced conformational change and that H2PO4 accelerated deocclusion of Na+. The association of phosphate with the cotransporter was also examined. Although cotransporter-bound phosphate was medium anion-insensitive, a cotransporter conformational change preceding the release of phosphate from the cotransporter was not observed. However, three lines of evidence suggest that release of phosphate from the cotransporter involved a unique cotransporter conformation which may suggest that phosphate was also occluded by the intestinal brush border Na+/phosphate cotransporter.

The role of (alpha beta) protomer interaction in determining functional characteristics of red cell Na,K-ATPase

We have examined the possibility that interaction of (alpha beta) protomers within a diprotomer is responsible for some anomalous characteristics of red cell Na,K-ATPase by examining their response to two inhibitors, FITC and H2DIDS, which bind covalently, and to ouabain, which debinds slowly from red cell pumps. The phenomena we examined were: (1) the biphasic curve relating Na,K-ATPase activity to ATP concentration, and (2) protection of Na pumps against vanadate inhibition by external Na. If interaction of (alpha beta) protomers within a diprotomer were responsible for these phenomena, random inactivation of (alpha beta) protomers should have resulted in a high proportion of (alpha beta) promtomers with an inhibited protomer as a partner, and therefore should have significantly altered the consequences of subunit interaction. With each inhibitor, 60-70% inhibition of ATPase activity did not alter the functional characteristics of the residual activity. We conclude that interaction of functional (alpha beta) protomers does not explain the phenomena which we investigated. This is consistent with our previous observation that Na,K pumps of red cell membranes exist as monomeric (alpha beta) protomers (Martin, D.W. and Sachs, V.R. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 23922-23929).

Phosphatase activity and potassium transport in liposomes with Na+,K(+)-ATPase incorporated

We have used liposomes with incorporated pig kidney Na+,K(+)-ATPase to study vanadate sensitive K(+)-K+ exchange and net K+ uptake under conditions of acetyl- and p-nitrophenyl phosphatase activities. The experiments were performed at 20 degrees C. Cytoplasmic phosphate contamination was minimized with a phosphate trapping system based on glycogen, phosphorylase a and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. In the absence of Mg2+ (no phosphatase activity) 5-10 mM p-nitrophenyl phosphate slightly stimulated K(+)-K+ exchange whereas 5-10 mM acetyl phosphate did not. In the presence of 3 mM MgCl2 (high rate of phosphatase activity) acetyl phosphate did not affect K(+)-K+ exchange whereas p-nitrophenyl phosphate induced a greater stimulation than in the absence of Mg2+; a further addition of 1 mM ADP resulted in a 35-65% inhibition of phosphatase activity with an increase in K(+)-K+ exchange, which sometimes reached the levels seen with 5 mM phosphate and 1 mM ADP. The net K+ uptake in the presence of 3 mM MgCl2 was not affected by acetyl phosphate or p-nitrophenyl phosphate, whereas it was inhibited by 5 mM phosphate (with and without 1 mM ADP). The results of this work suggest that the phosphatase reaction is not by itself associated to K+ translocation. The ADP-dependent stimulation of K(+)-K+ exchange in the presence of phosphatase activity could be explained by the overlapping of one or more step/s of the reversible phosphorylation from phosphate with the phosphatase cycle.

Reversible inhibition of sodium and potassium-dependent adenosine triphosphatase by the pyridine derivative, AU-1421 during turnover cycle

A novel pyridine derivative, (Z)-5-methyl-2-[2-(1-naphthyl)ethenyl]-4-piperidonopyridine hydrochloride, AU-1421, was found to produce reversible inhibition of the dog kidney sodium and potassium ion-dependent adenosine triphosphatase [(Na,K)-ATPase] with I50 values of about 50 microM. The reversible inhibition was observed when the enzyme was added directly to the enzyme assay media in the presence of saturating concentrations of the enzyme ligands, Na+, K+, Mg2+ and ATP ("turnover conditions"). In the present study, we focused on the reversible inhibition without preincubation of the enzyme with AU-1421. This inhibition was competitive with respect to K+. The K(+)-pNPPase activity of the same preparation was also inhibited by AU-1421 with I50 values of about 90 microM, and this manner was also competitive with respect to K+. ATP enhanced the AU-1421 inhibition of (Na,K)-ATPase, suggesting that AU-1421 also bound to the enzyme-substrate complex. AU-1421 inhibition of (Na,K)-ATPase was not antagonized by ouabain, suggesting the difference of the binding sites between AU-1421 and ouabain. It is therefore proposed that AU-1421 reversibly interacts at or near the K+ site during turnover conditions.

Electrogenic and electroneutral transport modes of renal Na/K ATPase reconstituted into proteoliposomes

This paper describes measurements of electrical potentials generated by renal Na/K-ATPase reconstituted into proteoliposomes, utilizing the anionic dye, oxonol VI. Calibration of absorption changes with imposed diffusion potentials allows estimation of absolute values of electrogenic potentials. ATP-dependent Nacyt/Kexc exchange in K-loaded vesicles generates large potentials, up to 250 mV. By comparing initial rates or steady-state potentials with ATP-dependent 22Na fluxes in different conditions, it is possible to infer whether coupling ratios are constant or variable. For concentrations of Nacyt (2-50 mM) and ATP (1-1000 microM) and pH's (6.5-8.5), the classical 3Nacyt/2Kexc coupling ratio is maintained. However, at low Nacyt concentrations (less than 0.8 mM), the coupling ratio is apparently less than 3Nacyt/2Kexc. ATP-dependent Nacyt/congenerexc exchange in vesicles loaded with Rb, Cs, Li and Na is electrogenic. In this mode congeners, including Naexc, act as Kexc surrogates in an electrogenic 3Nacyt/2congenerexc exchange. (ATP + Pi)-dependent Kcyt/Kexc exchange in K-loaded vesicles is electroneutral. ATP-dependent "uncoupled" Na flux into Na- and K-free vesicles is electroneutral at pH 6.5-7.0 but becomes progressively electrogenic as the pH is raised to 8.5. The 22Na flux shows no anion specificity. We propose that "uncoupled" Na flux is an electroneutral 3Nacyt/3Hexc exchange at pH 6.5-7.0 but at higher pH's the coupling ratio changes progressively, reaching 3Na/no ions at pH 8.5. Slow passive pump-mediated net K uptake into Na- and K-free vesicles is electroneutral, and may also involve Kcyt/Hexc exchange. We propose the general hypothesis that coupling ratios are fixed when cation transport sites are saturated, but at low concentrations of transported cations, e.g., Nacyt in Na/K exchange and Hexc in "uncoupled" Na flux, coupling ratios may change.

Voltage dependence of partial reactions of the Na+/K+ pump: predictions from microscopic models

A theoretical treatment of the voltage dependence of electroneutral Na+-Na+ and K+-K+ exchange mediated by the Na+/K+ pump is given. The analysis is based on the Post-Albers reaction scheme in which the overall transport process is described as a sequence of conformational transitions and ion-binding and ion-release steps. The voltage dependence of the exchange rate is determined by a set of 'dielectric coefficients' reflecting the magnitude of charge translocations associated with individual reaction steps. Charge movement may result from conformational changes of the transport protein and/or from migration of ions in an access channel connecting the binding sites with the aqueous medium. It is shown that valuable mechanistic information may be obtained by studying the voltage dependence of transport rates at different (saturating and nonsaturating) ion concentrations.

Role of the sodium pump and the background K+ channel in passive K+(Rb+) uptake by isolated cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles

A simple procedure was developed for the isolation of a sarcolemma-enriched membrane preparation from homogenates of bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) heart. Crude microsomes obtained by differential centrifugation were fractionated in Hypaque density gradients. The fraction enriched in surface membrane markers consisted of 87% tightly sealed vesicles. The uptake of 86Rb+ by the preparation was measured in the presence of an opposing K+ gradient using a rapid ion exchange technique. At low extravesicular Rb+ concentrations, at least 50% of the uptake was blocked by addition of 1 mM ouabain to the assay medium. Orthovanadate (50 microM), ADP (2.5 mM) or Mg (1 mM) were also partial inhibitors of Rb+ uptake under these conditions, and produced a complete block of Rb+ influx in the presence of 1 mM ouabain. When 86Rb+ was used as a tracer of extravesicular K+ (Rb+0 less than or equal to 40 microM, K+0 = 0.1-5 mM) a distinct uptake pathway emerged, as detected by its inhibition by 1 mM Ba2+ (K0.5 = 20 microM). At a constant internal K+ concentration (K+in = 50 mM), the magnitude of the Ba2+-sensitive K+ uptake was found to depend on K+0 in a manner that closely resembles the K+ concentration dependence of the background K+ conductance (IK1) observed electrophysiologically in intact cardiac cells. We conclude that K+ permeates passively this preparation through two distinct pathways, the sodium pump and a system identifiable as the background potassium channel.

Phosphate inhibition of the human red cell sodium pump: simultaneous binding of adenosine triphosphate and phosphate

1. The Na+-K+ exchange carried out by the Na+ pump of human red cell ghosts and the Na+ + K+-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (Na+,K+-ATPase) activity of human red cell membranes are inhibited by MgPO4 rather than by free phosphate; similarly, the substrate for the K+-K+ exchange carried out by the pump is MgPO4 rather than free phosphate. 2. Inhibition of the Na+, K+-ATPase activity by MgPO4 is only partially competitive (mixed type) with ATP, and MgPO4 inhibition of the Na+-K+ exchange measured in Na+-free solutions and in K+-free ghosts which contain ATP at relatively high concentration is partially uncompetitive (mixed type) with external K+. 3. When measurements were made in K+-free ghosts and Na+-free solutions, or when Na+,K+-ATPase activity was measured at high ATP concentrations, inhibition by MgPO4 was non-competitive with cell Na+. This observation is not consistent with the Albers-Post reaction mechanism of the Na+ pump, and suggests the presence of an alternative reaction pathway in which ATP combines with the enzyme before phosphate is released. 4. MgPO4 monotonically inhibited the uncoupled Na+ efflux which occurs in solutions free of both Na+ and K+. The uncoupled efflux seemed to be more sensitive to MgPO4 inhibition than the Na+-K+ exchange. 5. Trinitrophenyladenosine-5'-tetraphosphate stimulated the K+-K+ exchange in the presence of MgPO4, and the characteristics of stimulation by TNP adenosine tetraphosphate were little different from the characteristics of stimulation by trinitrophenyladenosine-5'-triphosphate or -5'-diphosphate. The nucleotide binding site at which K+-K+ exchange is stimulated must be able to accommodate a nucleotide with a linear array of four phosphate groups.

H+ transport by reconstituted gastric (H+ + K+)-ATPase

Gastric (H+ + K+)-ATPase was reconstituted into artificial phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol liposomes by means of a freeze-thaw-sonication technique. Upon addition of MgATP, active H+ transport was observed, with a maximal rate of 2.1 mumol X mg-1 X min-1, requiring the presence of 100 mM K+ at the intravesicular site. However, in the absence of ATP an H+-K+ exchange with a maximal rate of 0.12 mumol X mg-1 X min-1 was measured, which could be inhibited by the well-known ATPase inhibitors vanadate and omeprazole, giving the first evidence of a passive K+-H+ exchange function of gastric (H+ + K+)-ATPase. An Na+-H+ exchange activity was also measured, which was fully inhibited by 1 mM amiloride. Simultaneous reconstitution of Na+/H+ antiport and (H+ + K+)-ATPase could explain why reconstituted ATPase appeared less cation-specific than the native enzyme (Rabon, E.C., Gunther, R.B., Soumarmon, A., Bassilian, B., Lewin, M.J.M. and Sachs, G. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 10200-10212).

Potassium-potassium exchange as part of the over-all reaction mechanism of the sodium pump of the human red blood cell

When the efflux components of the Na-K exchange and K-K exchange are measured under identical conditions, the apparent K 1/2 (the concentration of K at which the velocity is half-maximal) for external K of the two processes differ. The discrepancy diminishes when the measurements are made in solutions containing low concentrations of Na, and in these solutions the uncoupled Na efflux is also partially suppressed. It is possible to demonstrate an uncoupled K efflux into solutions free of Na and K. This uncoupled efflux is also partially inhibited by low concentrations of external Na. At high enough concentrations, intracellular Na completely inhibits the K-K exchange. Inhibition of the K-K exchange by cell Na is competitive with cell K, and inhibition of the Na-K exchange by cell K is competitive with cell Na. In each case the characteristics of the competition suggest that both ions competitively interact with sites on the same enzyme form. The Albers-Post model of the Na-K pump reaction mechanism, modified to account for the uncoupled Na and K efflux, accounts in detail for these observations. If the K-K exchange is part of the over-all Na-K exchange, as indicated by the findings, pump models in which Na must add to the pump at the inside before K is released are excluded.

Chymotryptic cleavage of alpha-subunit in E1-forms of renal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase: effects on enzymatic properties, ligand binding and cation exchange

Chymotrypsin in NaCl medium at low ionic strength rapidly cleaves a bond in the N-terminal half of the alpha-subunit of pure membrane-bound (Na+ + K+)-ATPase from outer renal medulla. Secondary cleavage is very slow and the alpha-subunit can be converted almost quantitatively to a 78 kDa fragment. The sensitive bond is exposed to cleavage when the protein is stabilized in the E1 form by binding of Na+ or nucleotides. The bond is protected in medium containing KCl (E2K form), but it is exposed when ADP or ATP are added (E1KATP form). Fluorescence analysis and examination of ligand binding and enzymatic properties of the cleaved protein demonstrate that cleavage of the bond stabilizes the protein in the E1 form with sites for tight binding of nucleotides and cations exposed to the medium. About two 86Rb ions are bound per cleaved alpha-subunit with normal affinity (Kd = 9 microM). The bound Rb+ is not displaced by ATP or ADP. The nucleotide-potassium antagonism is abolished and ATP is bound with high affinity both in NaCl and in KCl media. Na+-dependent phosphorylation is quantitatively recovered in the 78 kDa fragment, but the affinity for binding of [48V]vanadate is very low after cleavage. ADP-ATP exchange is stimulated 4-5-fold by cleavage; while nucleotide dependent Na+-Na+, K+-K+, or Na+-K+ exchange are abolished. Cleavage with chymotrypsin in NaCl at the N-terminal side of the phosphorylated residue thus stabilizes the E1 form of the protein and abolishes cation exchange and conformational transitions in the protein although binding of cations, nucleotides and phosphate is preserved. In contrast, cleavage with trypsin in KCl at the C-terminal side of the phosphorylated residue does not interfere with E1-E2 transitions and Na+-Na+ or K+-K+ exchange. This data support the notion that cation exchange and E1-E2 transitions are thightly coupled.

Cation activation of the pig kidney sodium pump: transmembrane allosteric effects of sodium

We have studied activation by Na or Rb ions of different transport modes of the Na-K pump, using phospholipid vesicles reconstituted with pig kidney Na-K-ATPase. The shape of the activation curves, sigmoid or quasi-hyperbolic, depends on the nature of the cation at the opposite surface and not on the specific mode of transport. ATP-dependent Na uptake into K-containing vesicles (Na-K exchange) is activated by cytoplasmic Na along a highly sigmoid curve in the absence of extracellular Na (Hill number, nH = 1.9). Activation displays progressively less-sigmoid curves as extracellular Na is raised to 150 mM (nH = 1.2). The maximal rate of the Na-K exchange is not affected. Na is not transported from the extracellular face by the pump in the presence of excess extracellular K, and the transmembrane effects of the extracellular Na are therefore 'allosteric' in nature. ATP-dependent Na-Na exchange (Lee & Blostein, 1980) and classical ATP-plus-ADP-dependent Na-Na exchange are activated by cytoplasmic Na along hyperbolic curves. ATP-dependent Na uptake into Tris-containing vesicles is activated by cytoplasmic Na along a somewhat sigmoidal curve. (ATP + Pi)-dependent Rb-Rb exchange is activated by cytoplasmic and extracellular Rb along strictly hyperbolic curves. The same applies for Rb-Rb exchange in the presence or absence of ATP or Pi alone. The presence of a high concentration of extracellular Na together with extracellular Rb induces a sigmoidal activation by cytoplasmic Rb of (ATP + Pi)-dependent Rb-Rb exchange (nH = 1.45) but does not affect the maximal rate of exchange. Slow passive Rb fluxes through the pump observed in the absence of other pump ligands (see Karlish & Stein, 1982 alpha) are activated by cytoplasmic Rb along a strictly hyperbolic curve with extracellular Rb, nH = 1.0 (Rb-Rb exchange), along a strongly sigmoid curve with extracellular Na, nH = 1.5 (Rb-Na exchange), and along less-sigmoid curves with extracellular Tris, nH = 1.24 (net Rb flux) or extracellular Li, nH = 1.2 (Rb-Li exchange). Activation of the passive Rb fluxes by extracellular Rb is hyperbolic in the presence of cytoplasmic Rb, Li or Tris but is sigmoid in the presence of cytoplasmic Na (nH = 1.36). Inhibition by cytoplasmic Na of passive Rb fluxes from the cytoplasmic to the extracellular face of the pump depends on the nature of the cation at the extracellular surface.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Minimal functional unit for transport and enzyme activities of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase as determined by radiation inactivation

Frozen aqueous suspensions of partially purified membrane-bound renal (Na+ + K+)-ATPase have been irradiated at -135 degrees C with high-energy electrons. (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and K+-phosphatase activities are inactivated exponentially with apparent target sizes of 184 +/- 4 kDa and 125 +/- 3 kDa, respectively. These values are significantly lower then found previously from irradiation of lyophilized membranes. After reconstitution of irradiated (Na+ + K+)-ATPase into phospholipid vesicles the following transport functions have been measured and target sizes calculated from the exponential inactivation curves: ATP-dependent Na+-K+ exchange, 201 +/- 4 kDa; (ATP + Pi)-activated Rb+-Rb+ exchange, 206 +/- 7 kDa and ATP-independent Rb+-Rb+ exchange, 117 +/- 4 kDa. The apparent size of the alpha-chain, judged by disappearance of Coomassie stain on SDS-gels, lies between 115 and 141 kDa. That for the beta-glycoprotein, though clearly smaller, could not be estimated. We draw the following conclusions: (1) The simplest interpretation of the results is that the minimal functional unit for (Na+ + K+)-ATPase is alpha beta. (2) The inactivation target size for (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATP hydrolysis is the same as for ATP-dependent pumping of Na+ and K+. (3) The target sizes, for K+-phosphatase (125 kDa) and ATP-independent Rb+-Rb+ exchange (117 kDa) are indistinguishable from that of the alpha-chain itself, suggesting that cation binding sites and transport pathways, and the p-nitrophenyl phosphate binding site are located exclusively on the alpha-chain. (4) ATP-dependent activities appear to depend on the integrity of an alpha beta complex.

Stimulation and inhibition by ATP and orthophosphate of the potassium-potassium exchange in resealed red cell ghosts

The potassium:potassium (K-K) exchange through the sodium pump has been measured as the ouabain-sensitive 86Rb uptake by Na-free ghosts resealed to contain various concentrations of ATP, orthophosphate and K. The exchange is activated by increasing either internal or external K+ (Rb+) ion concentration. The activation curves can be described by simple Michaelis kinetics as: exchange = Vmax [K]/(Kapp + [K]). Increasing ATP concentration increases the apparent affinity for external K ions but decreases the apparent affinity for internal K (Ki+). Increasing [ATP] from 1 microM to 1 mM typically increases the Kapp for Ki+ from less than 1 mM to about 30 mM. Increasing ATP first activates the exchange but, after an optimal concentration is reached, further increase of ATP inhibits. The value of ATP concentration which gives the maximum flux depends on the internal and external K+ concentrations. The higher [Ki], the greater the optimal ATP concentration. Increasing external K (Rb) decreases the optimal ATP concentration. Increasing the concentration of orthophosphate (Pi) activates the exchange at high ATP but inhibits at low ATP concentration. A concentration of Pi which stimulates the exchange at high external K (Rb) can inhibit at low external K (Rb). These findings are in agreement with a consecutive or ping-pong model of the K-K exchange. We suggest that previous experiments have not shown the inhibitory effects of ATP and Pi because of the particular range of concentrations investigated.

Combined effects of ATP and phosphate on rubidium exchange mediated by Na-K-ATPase reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles

1. Phospholipid vesicles reconstituted with Na-K-ATPase show an (ATP+phosphate)-stimulated Rb-Rb exchange, with properties similar to the K-K exchange of human red cells. This includes a rate 15-20% of the rate of active ATP-dependent Na-K exchange.2. We have studied activation of this Rb-Rb exchange by ATP at fixed phosphate concentrations and by phosphate at fixed ATP concentrations. It is found for both ATP and phosphate that with low concentrations of the fixed ligand an increase in concentration of the complementary ligand produces first stimulation and then inhibition of Rb-Rb exchange. At high concentrations of the fixed ligand the complementary ligand shows only saturation behaviour.3. The pattern of activation and of inhibition by ATP and by phosphate is affected by the Rb(0) concentration in the exterior medium, in that higher concentrations of Rb(0) counteract inhibitory effects of high concentrations of ATP and phosphate.4. (ATP+phosphate)-stimulated Rb-Rb exchange is activated by Rb(0) in the exterior medium along a sigmoid curve. An increase of Rb(i) within the vesicles, which raises the maximal velocity of Rb-Rb exchange, is accompanied by a smaller increase in the Rb(0) concentration required for half-maximal stimulation of the Rb-Rb exchange.5. The data are interpreted in terms of a model similar to those proposed by Karlish & Stein (1982a,b), but extended to include simultaneous effects of ATP and phosphate. Inhibitions by high concentration of ATP or phosphate arise as a result of stabilization of E(1) ATP or E(2)-P forms respectively, in the presence of low concentrations of the complementary ligand. With high concentrations of the fixed ligand, saturation behaviour of the varying ligand is observed because the occluded Rb forms become the dominant transport intermediates. The occluded Rb forms bind both ATP and phosphate weakly and independently. The effects of ATP together with phosphate are accounted for by a simple combination of their separate effects on the Rb-Rb exchange.6. We suggest that the functional role of the occluded Rb form E(2) (Rb)(occ) in active transport is to minimize passive cation leaks through the system and allow control of the direction of cation movements by binding of physiological ligands such as ATP or phosphate.

Passive rubidium fluxes mediated by Na-K-ATPase reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles when ATP- and phosphate-free

1. Phospholipid vesicles reconstituted with Na-K-ATPase from pig kidney, show slow passive pump-mediated (86)Rb fluxes in the complete absence of ATP and phosphate.2. The Rb fluxes are inhibited in vesicles prepared from enzyme pre-treated with either ouabain or vanadate ions. Rb fluxes through Na-K pumps oriented inside-out or right-side out by comparison with the normal cellular orientation can be distinguished by effects of vanadate on one or both sides of the vesicle.3. (86)Rb uptake into Rb-loaded vesicles represents a (86)Rb-Rb exchange. The maximal rate of exchange through inside-out and right-side out oriented pumps is equal, suggesting a random arrangement of the pumps across the vesicle membrane. This Rb-Rb exchange is half-saturated on inside-out and right-side out pumps at about 0.6 and 0.2 mM-external Rb respectively.4. (86)Rb uptake into Rb-free vesicles represents a net Rb flux. The Rb uptake through inside-out pumps has a maximal rate about equal to the Rb-Rb exchange, half-saturates at an external Rb concentration of roughly 0.5 mM, and shows evidence for co-operativity. Net Rb uptake through right-side out pumps is very slow, and half-saturates at roughly 0.1 mM external Rb.5. K ions at low concentrations in the exterior medium stimulate (86)Rb uptake, but at high concentrations, inhibit. Na ions in the exterior medium always inhibit (86)Rb uptake. The result suggests that K ions are transported in co-operative fashion together with Rb ions, while Na ions block the Rb fluxes.6. The presence of Rb congeners at the vesicle interior raises the (86)Rb uptake through inside-out pumps with the decreasing order of effectiveness: Li > Na > Cs > K > Rb. Stimulation by Na ions involves a Rb-Na exchange.7. Turnover numbers were estimated from parallel measurement of Na/K pump mediated fluxes and amount of covalent phosphoenzyme. In units of moles of ion per mole of phosphoenzyme per second at 20 degrees C the following values were obtained: ATP-dependent Na-Rb exchange, 43; (ATP+phosphate)-stimulated Rb-Rb exchange, 7. For (ATP+phosphate)-independent fluxes: Rb-Rb exchange 0.25; net Rb uptake 0.15 and Rb-Na exchange 0.65.8. Mg ions in the exterior medium inhibited both net and exchange Rb fluxes through inside-out pumps in a manner antagonistic with respect to Rb. Mg and vanadate ions inhibit the Rb fluxes in a synergistic fashion.9. The results are interpreted in terms of a model in which net and exchange (86)Rb fluxes occur via conformational transitions between form E(1) which binds Rb at the cytoplasmic face of the protein, the form E(2) (Rb)(occ) containing occluded Rb ions and a form E(2) which binds Rb at the extracellular face of the protein. A kinetic analysis allows us to identify rate-limiting steps of the transport cycle by making use of our transport data in combination with values of rate-constants for conformational transitions observed directly in isolated Na-K-ATPase.