ATP hydrolysis kinetics of Na,K-ATPase in cataract.

The steady-state kinetics of hydrolysis of Mg2+ ATP by the epithelial Na,K-ATPase of individual human lenses were determined. Among the cataract lens population, four distinct kinetic types were observed: negative kinetic co-operativity. Michaelis-Menten kinetics, positive kinetic co-operativity, and substrate inhibition kinetics. Negative kinetic co-operativity and Michaelis-Menten kinetics were also observed in a group of presumably clear lenses from non-diabetic individuals ages 16-42 years. Substrate inhibition kinetics were found to be prevalent in individuals with mature onset diabetes. Substrate inhibition kinetics were also observed for Na,K-ATPase isolated from lenses which had been incubated in high glucose. It would appear that this modification leads to an inhibition of Na,K-ATPase-dependent K+ influx into these cultured lenses.