title: Modulation by ammonium ions of gill microsomal (Na+,K+)-ATPase in the swimming crab Callinectes danae: a possible mechanism for regulation of ammonia excretion.
abstract: The modulation by Na(+), K(+), NH(4)(+) and ATP of the (Na(+),K(+))-ATPase in a microsomal fraction from Callinectes danae gills was analyzed. ATP was hydrolyzed at high-affinity binding sites at a maximal rate of V=35.4+/-2.1 Umg(-1) and K(0.5)=54.0+/-3.6 nM, obeying cooperative kinetics (n(H)=3.6). At low-affinity sites, the enzyme hydrolyzed ATP obeying Michaelis-Menten kinetics with K(M)=55.0+/-3.0 microM and V=271.5+/-17.2 Umg(-1). This is the first demonstration of a crustacean (Na(+),K(+))-ATPase with two ATP hydrolyzing sites. Stimulation by sodium (K(0.5)=5.80+/-0.30 mM), magnesium (K(0.5)=0.48+/-0.02 mM) and potassium ions (K(0.5)=1.61+/-0.06 mM) exhibited site-site interactions, while that by ammonium ions obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics (K(M)=4.61+/-0.27 mM). Ouabain (K(I)=147.2+/-7.microM) and orthovanadate (K(I)=11.2+/-0.6 microM) completely inhibited ATPase activity, indicating the absence of contaminating ATPase and/or neutral phosphatase activities. Ammonium and potassium ions synergistically stimulated the enzyme, increasing specific activities up to 90%, suggesting that these ions bind to different sites on the molecule. The presence of each ion modulates enzyme stimulation by the other. The modulation of (Na(+),K(+))-ATPase activity by ammonium ions, and the excretion of NH(4)(+) in benthic crabs are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14040-901, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Masui
authors.forename: R P M
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Furriel
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: McNamara
authors.forename: F L M
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Mantelatto
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Leone
mesh_terms: D000643:Ammonium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000838:Anions; D003386:Brachyura; D005260:Female; D005880:Gills / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008861:Microsomes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000838:Anions; D000643:Ammonium Chloride; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase