Reconstitution of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase into phospholipid vesicles with full recovery of its specific activity.

(Na+ + K+)-ATPase from rectal glands of the spiny dogfish has been reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles. The nonionic detergent octaethyleneglycoldodecyl monoether ( C12E8 ) is used to dissolve both the enzyme and the lipids and reconstitution is accomplished by subsequent removal of the detergent by adsorption to polystyrene beads. About 60% of the enzyme incorporates in the right-side-out orientation (r/o). The fraction of molecules in the inside-out orientation (i/o) increases from about 10% to about 30% with a parallel decrease in the fraction of 'non-oriented' (n-o) molecules (both sides exposed) when the protein/lipid ratio decreases from 1:10 to 1:75. The orientation of enzyme molecules detected from vanadate binding is the same as measured from activity, i.e., the turnover of the enzyme molecule in the different orientations is the same. The recovery of the specific activity of the incorporated enzyme increases with an increase in the protein/lipid ratio and is 100% with a protein/lipid ratio of about 1:20 or higher. Full recovery is only obtained provided a proper lipid composition is chosen which includes both negatively charged phospholipids, preferably phosphatidylinositol, and cholesterol. The ATP-dependent, K+-stimulated Na+-influx is found to be about 35 mumol Na+ per mg (i/o)-protein per min at 22 degrees C in 1:10 protein/lipid liposomes. The specific activity corresponds to 3 Na+ transported per ATP molecule hydrolyzed.