Bioinformatic Analysis of Na+, K+-ATPase Regulation through Phosphorylation of the Alpha-Subunit N-Terminus

The Na+, K+-ATPase is an integral membrane protein which uses the energy of ATP hydrolysis to pump Na+ and K+ ions across the plasma membrane of all animal cells. It plays crucial roles in numerous physiological processes, such as cell volume regulation, nutrient reabsorption in the kidneys, nerve impulse transmission, and muscle contraction. Recent data suggest that it is regulated via an electrostatic switch mechanism involving the interaction of its lysine-rich N-terminus with the cytoplasmic surface of its surrounding lipid membrane, which can be modulated through the regulatory phosphorylation of the conserved serine and tyrosine residues on the protein’s N-terminal tail. Prior data indicate that the kinases responsible for phosphorylation belong to the protein kinase C (PKC) and Src kinase families. To provide indications of which particular enzyme of these families might be responsible, we analysed them for evidence of coevolution via the mirror tree method, utilising coevolution as a marker for a functional interaction. The results obtained showed that the most likely kinase isoforms to interact with the Na+, K+-ATPase were the θ and η isoforms of PKC and the Src kinase itself. These theoretical results will guide the direction of future experimental studies.