The present studies concern the roles of synthesis and degradation of the large subunit of (Na+ + k+)-adenosine triphosphatase (NaK-ATPase) in the response to triiodothyronin (T3). Single doses of either the diluent of T3 (50 mug/100 g body weight) were given to two pairs of surgically thyroidectomized rats. Twenty hours after injection, the rats received 3H- or 35S-labeled methionine administered as a constant injusion into the tail vein for 1 h. The kidneys were removed either 8 h or 20 h after infusion and the eight kidneys were divided into pairs, as follows. I, 3H (diluent)/35S (T3); II, 35S (diluent)/3H (T3); III, 3H (diluent)/35S (diluent); IV, 3H (T3)/35S (T3). Partially purified NaK-ATPase was prepared from the pooled homogenates and prepared from the pooled homogenates and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAG-electrophoresis). The large subunit of NaK-ATPase was identified by (Na+ + mg2+)-dependent and K+-sensitive incorpotation of 32P from [gamma-32P]ATP. This component had an estimated molecular weight of 92,000 and migrated as a single peptide in gels of varying total carylamide concentration, with respect to: (1) Coomassie blue staining, (b) (Na+ + Mg2+)-dependent, K+-sensitive incorporation of 32P from [gamma-32-P]ATP, and (c) T3-dependent enhanced incorporation of labeled methionine. T3 augmented incorporation of labeled methionine into the large subunit by 44% 8 h after infusion of the amino acid and by 61% 20 h after infusion. Incorporation of methionine into two adjacent polypeptides in the SDS gels was unaffected by thyroid status. The effect otical NaK-ATPase was assessed by a double label technique. Pairs of thyroidectomized rats were injected with either the diluent or 50 mug of T3/100 g body weight at 48-h after the first injection (diluent or T3, i.e. Day "zero"). Kidney cortices were processed on either Day 4 or Day 6; the partially purified NaK-ATPase fraction was prepared, labeled with [gamma-32P]ATP, and analyzed by SDS-PAG-electrophoresis. The degredation rate constants of the large subunit were similar; 0.145 and 0.124 day-1 for the hypothyroid and T3-treated groups, respectively. Thus, the T2-dependent increase in incorporation of labeled methionine into the large subunit appears to result from enhanced synthesis and this increase is sufficient to account for the entire increase in both the number of the activity of the NaK-ATPase units.