Is Phosphorylation of the α1 Subunit at Ser-16 Involved in the Control of Na,K-ATPase Activity by Phorbol Ester–activated Protein Kinase C?

The α1 subunit of Na,K-ATPase is phosphorylated at Ser-16 by phorbol ester-sensitive protein kinase(s) C (PKC). The role of Ser-16 phosphorylation was analyzed in COS-7 cells stably expressing wild-type or mutant (T15A/S16A and S16D-E) ouabain-resistant Bufo α1 subunits. In cells incubated at 37°C, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) inhibited the transport activity and decreased the cell surface expression of wild-type and mutant Na,K-pumps equally (∼20–30%). This effect of PDBu was mimicked by arachidonic acid and was dependent on PKC, phospholipase A(2), and cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase. In contrast, incubation of cells at 18°C suppressed the down-regulation of Na,K-pumps and revealed a phosphorylation-dependent stimulation of the transport activity of Na,K-ATPase. Na,K-ATPase from cells expressing α1-mutants mimicking Ser-16 phosphorylation (S16D or S16E) exhibited an increase in the apparent Na affinity. This finding was confirmed by the PDBu-induced increase in Na sensitivity of the activity of Na,K-ATPase measured in permeabilized nontransfected COS-7 cells. These results illustrate the complexity of the regulation of Na,K-ATPase α1 isozymes by phorbol ester-sensitive PKCs and reveal 1) a phosphorylation-independent decrease in cell surface expression and 2) a phosphorylation-dependent stimulation of the transport activity attributable to an increase in the apparent Na affinity.