Sodium and potassium effects on skeletal muscle microsomal adenosine triphosphatase and calcium uptake.

The relationship between the (Na(+) and K(+))-activated adenosine triphosphatase enzyme system implicated in sodium-transport by cell membranes and the calcium-activated adenosine triphosphatase, which is generally associated with calcium uptake, was examined in microsomes from skeletal muscle. Whereas sodium and potassium did not modify the relatively low adenosine triphosphatase activity seen in the absence of calcium, a pattern similar to that of the sodium-transport enzyme system was seen afer the addition of CaCl(2). The calcium-activated adenosine triphosphatase was stimulated equally by sodium or potassium alone, but both the rate and extent of calcium uptake were enhanced more by potassium than by sodium at concentrations below 0.12 mole per liter. In the absence of either of these ions addition of calcium failed to activate adenosine triphosphatase although significant amounts of calcium were taken up by the microsomes.