[Primary structure of the alpha subunit of Na+,K+-ATPase. I. Analysis of hydrophilic fragments of the polypeptide chain].

The selective tryptic digestion of the native membrane-bound enzyme was carried out under conditions that provide the extensive hydrolysis of hydrophilic regions of the alpha-subunit into small fragments and allow to preserve the integrity of the beta-subunit. Twenty-seven water-soluble peptides comprising approximately 40% of the total polypeptide chain were isolated by HPLC and their complete or partial amino acid sequence was determined. It led to general outline of the structural organisation of the alpha-subunit hydrophilic regions exposed from membrane.