Background：

The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the family of P-type cation transport ATPases， and to the subfamily of Na+/K+ -ATPases. Na+/K+ -ATPase is an integral membrane protein responsible for establishing and maintaining the electrochemical gradients of Na and K ions across the plasma membrane. These gradients are essential for osmoregulation， for sodium-coupled transport of a variety of organic and inorganic molecules， and for electrical excitability of nerve and muscle. This enzyme is composed of two subunits， a large catalytic subunit (alpha) and a smaller glycoprotein subunit (beta). The catalytic subunit of Na+/K+ -ATPase is encoded by multiple genes. This gene encodes an alpha 1 subunit. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq， May 2009]