Ion transport and phosphoproteins of human red blood cells

J. D. Judah, K. Ahmed, A. E.M. McLean

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102 Scopus citations

Abstract

1. 1. The influence of Na+ and K+ ions on the phosphate metabolism of the phosphoproteins of human red cells has been studied. 2. 2. With high intracellular Na+, but in the absence of external K+, the radioactivity of the phosphoproteins increases steadily over a period of at least 4 h. 3. 3. In the presence of external K+, or if external K+ is added during the incubation, the number of radioactive phosphate groups in the proteins declines and reaches a steady-state level at about 67% of that in the absence of external K+. 4. 4. Ouabain abolishes the effect of K+ ions, and also reduces the build up of radioactive phosphoprotein in the presence of intracellular Na+ ions. 5. 5. A protein phosphokinase has been demonstrated in purified red-cell membranes. It is activated by a number of monovalent cations. 6. 6. A phosphatase has been demonstrated to exist in these membranes. This enzyme splits p-nitrophenyl phosphate, is stimulated by K+ ions and inhibited by ouabain.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)472-480
Number of pages9
JournalBBA - Biochimica et Biophysica Acta
Volume65
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 17 1962

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This investigation was supported (in part) by a grant from the Burroughs-Wellcome Fund, by a PHS research grant C-4534 from the NCI, grant DR G-534 from the Damon Runyon Memorial Fund for Cancer Research, and Charles Pfizer and Company.

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