Detection and quantification of Na,K-ATPase dimers in the plasma membrane of living cells by FRET-FCS.

The sodium potassium pump, Na,K-ATPase (NKA), is an integral plasma membrane protein, expressed in all eukaryotic cells. It is responsible for maintaining the transmembrane Na gradient and is the major determinant of the membrane potential. Self-interaction and oligomerization of NKA in cell membranes has been proposed and discussed but is still an open question.