Membrane-bound adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activities of the sarcolemma-
enriched fraction from bovine aorta were characterized. The membranes, isolated by a
sucrose density gradient method, were enriched about 31-fold in sodium- and potassiumstimulated,
magnesium-dependent ATPase (Na,K-ATPase) activity, and about 8-fold in 5'-
nucleotidase activity compared to the homogenate, suggesting that the isolated membranes
were substantially enriched with the sarcolemma. The membranes exhibited about 31, 33 and
42 μmol Pi/mg protein/h of Na,K-ATPase, magnesium-dependent ATPase and calciumdependent
ATPase activities, respectively, in the presence of 4 mmol/1 ATP. The sarcolemmaenriched
membranes required considerably high concentrations of well-known inhibitors for
Na,K-ATPase such as vanadate (more than 1 μmol/1), lanthanum (more than 1 mmol/1) and
calcium (10 mmol/1), to induce a significant inhibition in the Na,K-ATPase activity. Treatments
of the membrane with physical disruptions and sodium dodecyl sulfate or deoxycholate
reduced the total Na,K-ATPase activity, and did not expose fully the ouabain sensitivity of the
Na,K-ATPase. These results indicate that there are marked differences in the properties of the
ATPase between vascular smooth muscle sarcolemma and cardiac sarcolemma.