252-259The kinetic properties of the rat liver microsomal ATPase, with respect to Na+, K+ and ATP requirements were examined. Presence of Na+ and K+ or both hardly caused any stimulation of the enzyme activity. The Km values for Na+ and K+were substantially low (0.32 and 0.05 mM, respectively), compared to those reported for the Na+, K+ ATPases from different tissues. Substrate kinetics studies revealed that in the absence of Na+ and K+, ATP is an activator of the enzyme. The enzyme displayed increased activity with increase in the energy of activation in the absence of Na+ and K+. The activity was partially inhibited by ouabain only in the presence of Na+ and K+. The results suggest that the liver microsomal enzyme is not a Na+, K+ ATPase, but has requirement of monovalent cations for the regulation of its activity. Also, the β3 subunit of the enzyme has a Km lowering effect