Isolation, purification, and partial characterization of a membrane-bound Cl-/HCO3--activated ATPase complex from rat brain with sensitivity to GABAAergic ligands

This study describes the isolation and purification of a protein complex with [Formula: see text]-ATPase activity and sensitivity to GABA_Aergic ligands from rat brain plasma membranes. The ATPase complex was enriched using size-exclusion, affinity, and ion-exchange chromatography. The fractions obtained at each purification step were subjected to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), which revealed four subunits with molecular mass ∼48, 52, 56, and 59 kDa; these were retained at all stages of the purification process. Autoradiography revealed that the ∼52 and 56 kDa subunits could bind [³H]muscimol. The [Formula: see text]-ATPase activity of this enriched protein complex was regulated by GABA_Aergic ligands but was not sensitive to blockers of the NKCC or KCC cotransporters.