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a b s t r a c tIon pump, Na,K-ATPase specifically binds cardiotonic steroids (CTS), which leads to inhibition of the enzyme activity and activation of signaling network in the cell. We have studied interaction of Na,K-ATPase with CTS of two different types -marinobufagenin and ouabain. We have shown that both CTS inhibit activity of Na,K-ATPase with the same K i values, but binding of ouabain is sensitive to the conformation of Na,K-ATPase while binding of marinobufagenin is not. Furthermore, binding of ouabain and marinobufagenin results in different structural changes in Na,K-ATPase. Our data allow to explain the diversity of effects on the receptor function of Na,K-ATPase caused by different types of CTS.

1. The membrane structure of erythrocytes of rats with different forms of arterial hypertension was studied by means of two hydrophobic fluorescent probes (diphenylhexatriene and pyrene). 2. Microviscosity of hydrophobic areas of erythrocyte membrane of spontaneously hypertensive rats was found to be increased compared with that of membranes from normotensive control rats. 3. No alterations of membrane structure of erythrocytes of deoxycorticosterone-treated rats and renal hypertensive rats were found.