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pubmed:abstractText |
The preparation of cytoplasmic membranes from suspensions of Staphylococcus aureus lysed by an enzyme recently isolated in these laboratories is described. These membranes contained: protein, 34.4%; ribonucleic acid, 6.6%; lipids, 34.5%; and total phosphorus, 1.4%. Such membranes exhibited adenosine 5'-triphosphatase (E.C. 3.6.1.3) activity, liberating orthophosphate at an initial rate of 0.53 mumole per min per mg of protein under optimal conditions. The enzyme was Mg(++)-dependent and K(+)- or Na(+)-stimulated. Maximal activity was observed with a molar adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) to Mg(++) ratio of 1. One mole of orthophosphate was liberated per mole of ATP; the other product of digestion was adenosine 5'-diphosphate. Inorganic pyrophosphate and the 5'-triphosphates of guanosine, uridine, and cytidine were also attacked by membrane preparations, but more slowly than ATP. Ouabain, p-chloromercuribenzoate, and 2,4-dinitrophenol did not alter adenosine triphosphatase activity, whereas both Atebrine and chlorpromazine were inhibitory.
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