Search

The Na,K-ATPase, or sodium pump, is well known for its role in ion transport across the plasma membrane of animal cells. It carries out the transport of Na ions out of the cell and of K ions into the cell and thus maintains electrolyte and fluid balance. In addition to the fundamental ion-pumping function of the Na,K-ATPase, recent work has suggested additional roles for Na,K-ATPase in signal transduction and biomembrane structure. Several signaling pathways have been found to involve Na,K-ATPase, which serves as a docking station for a fast-growing number of protein interaction partners. In this review, we focus on Na,K-ATPase as a signal transducer, but also briefly discuss other Na,K-ATPase protein-protein interactions, providing a comprehensive overview of the diverse signaling functions ascribed to this well-known enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]