Tellurite effect on ATPase activity of contractile membrane protein

AbstractThe effect of tellurite on ATPase activity of the contractile membrane protein in human erythrocytes was studied. Tellurite, even at a concentration of 0·01 mM, inhibited 25 per cent of the saponin‐stimulated ATPase activity of the contractile membrane protein; the inhibition increased with increasing tellurite concentration, and was reversible. On the other hand, in erythrocytes preincubated with tellurite, the ATPase activity of the membrane contractile protein, non‐stimulated by saponin, increased, and the increase was further enhanced by washing the erythrocytes. The behaviour is analogous to the tellurite effect on erythrocyte morphology: incubation of erythrocytes with tellurite caused morphological changes which were more pronounced after removing the tellurite by washing. The complex effect of tellurite is discussed.