The Effect of Exogenous Adenosine Triphosphate on Potassium Movements in HeLa Cells

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Abstract
The effect of exogenous ATP on the K movements of cultured HeLa [human cervical carcinoma] cells was studied. The results were consistent with the hypothesis that, in these cells, externally applied ATP activates a tightly coupled K-K exchange mechanism. The response to ATP was characterized by a transient, 20-fold increase in K influx and K efflux. The tight coupling of the K-K exchange mechanism was confirmed by the results of several different types of experiment, all of which demonstrated the consistent matching of the ATP-stimulated fluxes. Two different strains of HeLa cells gave quantitatively different responses under similar experimental conditions. The reason for this difference was investigated and evidence was obtained which was consistent with the view that the membrane potential also influenced the HeLa cell K-K exchange mechanism.