Nucleoside pyrophosphatase activity associated with pig kidney alkaline phosphatase.

1. A study was made of the hydrolysis, at pH9.0, of ATP and ADP catalysed by pig kidney alkaline phosphatase. Both of these nucleoside pyrophosphates are substrates for the enzyme; K(m) values are 4x10(-5)m for ATP and 6.3x10(-5)m for ADP. V(max.) for ADP is approximately double that of ATP. 2. Above 0.1mm approximately, both ATP and ADP are inhibitory, but the inhibition is reversible by the addition of Mg(2+) ions to form MgATP(2-) or MgADP(-) complexes. The complexes, besides being non-inhibitory, are also substrates for the enzyme with K(m) values identical with those of the respective free nucleotides. 3. Mg(2+) ions are inhibitory when present in excess of ATP or ADP. The degree of inhibition is greater with ATP as substrate, but with both ATP and ADP a mixed competitive-non-competitive type of inhibition is observed. 4. It is suggested that under normal conditions the enzyme is inhibited by cellular concentrations of ATP plus ADP but that an increase in the concentration of Mg(2+) ions stimulates activity by relieving nucleoside pyrophosphate inhibition. The properties may be of importance in the regulation of the transport of bivalent cations.