H+, Na+-translocating pyrophosphatase family

Members of the H⁺, Na⁺-translocating Pyrophosphatase (M⁺-PPase) Family (TC# 3.A.10) are found in the vacuolar (tonoplast) membranes of higher plants, algae, and protozoa, and in both bacteria and archaea. They are therefore ancient enzymes.

Two types of inorganic diphosphatase, very different in terms of both amino acid sequence and structure, have been characterised to date: soluble and transmembrane proton-pumping pyrophosphatases (sPPases and H(⁺)-PPases, respectively). sPPases are ubiquitous proteins that hydrolyse pyrophosphate to release heat, whereas H⁺-PPases, so far unidentified in animal and fungal cells, couple the energy of PPi hydrolysis to proton movement across biological membranes. The latter type is represented by this group of proteins. H⁺-PPases vacuolar-type inorganic pyrophosphatases (V-PPase) or pyrophosphate-energised vacuolar membrane proton pumps. In plants, vacuoles contain two enzymes for acidifying the interior of the vacuole, the V-ATPase and the V-PPase (V is for vacuolar).

Two distinct biochemical subclasses of H⁺-PPases have been characterised to date: K⁺-stimulated and K⁺-insensitive.