Effect of vanadate, molybdate, and azide on membrane-associated ATPase and soluble phosphatase activities of corn roots [Zea mays, maize, Avena sativa, oats]

The effects of vanadate, molybdate, and azide on ATP phosphohydrolase (ATPase) and acid phosphatase activities of plasma membrane, mitochondrial, and soluble supernatant fractions from corn (Zea mays L. WF9 × MO17) roots were investigated. Azide (0.1-10 millimolar) was a selective inhibitor of pH 9.0-ATPase activity of the mitochondrial fraction, while molybdate (0.01-1.0 millimolar) was a relatively selective inhibitor of acid phosphatase activity in the supernatant fraction. The pH 6.4-ATPase activity of the plasma membrane fraction was inhibited by vanadate (10-500 micromolar), but vanadate, at similar concentrations, also inhibited acid phosphatase activity. This result was confirmed for oat (Avena sativa L.) root and coleoptile tissues. While vanadate does not appear to be a selective inhibitor, it can be used in combination with molybdate and azide to distinguish the plasma membrane ATPase from mitochondrial ATPase or supernatant acid phosphatase. Vanadate appeared to be a noncompetitive inhibitor of the plasma membrane ATPase, and its effectiveness was increased by K+. K+-stimulated ATPase activity was inhibited by 50% at about 21 micromolar vanadate. The rate of K+ transport in excised corn root segments was inhibited by 66% by 500 micromolar vanadate.