Energy metabolism of reticulocytes: two different sources of energy for Na+K(+)-ATPase activity.

Total energy production in rabbit reticulocytes amounted to 136.52 +/- 6.50 mumol ATP h-1 ml-1 of reticulocytes: 88.3 per cent was provided by oxidative phosphorylation, whereas only 11.7 per cent by aerobic glycolysis. Na+K(+)-ATPase accounted for 23 per cent, i.e. 27.65 +/- 2.55 mumol ATP h-1ml-1 of reticulocytes, in the overall energy consumption in reticulocytes of rabbits. Under basal conditions ATP for Na+K(+)-ATPase activity was derived exclusively from oxidative phosphorylation. However, when the activity of Na+K(+)-ATPase was increased due to the stimulation of adenylate cyclase by (-)-isoprenaline, the additional energy required was provided by aerobic glycolysis. These results indicate that two different compartments, one cytosolic and the other mitochondrial, provide energy for Na+K(+)-ATPase activity in reticulocytes.