Stimulation of glucosylated lens epithelial Na,K-ATPase by an aldose reductase inhibitor.

In diabetes, glucosylation of the Na,K-ATPase of the lens epithelium makes the pump inefficient. K+ transport and ATP hydrolysis (at near saturating ATP concentrations) are inhibited and the kinetics of ATP hydrolysis become substrate inhibition type. The AR inhibitor (AL1576, Alcon Laboratories) stimulates K+ transport and ATP hydrolysis by glucosylated bovine lens Na,K-ATPase. This inhibitor has a slight stimulatory effect upon the unmodified enzyme function also. The AR inhibitor is not able to prevent glucosylation of the pump in high-glucose-containing medium.