Mercuric chloride (HgCl2), a neurotoxic compound, inhibited the adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) system in a concentration-dependent manner. Hydrolysis of ATP was linear with time with or without HgCl2 in the reaction mixtures. Higher inhibition of (Na(+)-K+)ATPase activity by HgCl2 was observed in alkaline (8.0 to 9.0) pH and at lower temperatures (17 to 32 degrees). Activation energy values were increased slightly in the presence of HgCl2. Activation of (Na(+)-K+)ATPase by ATP in the presence of HgCl2 showed a decrease in Vmax from 15.29 to 5.0 mumol of inorganic phosphate (Pi)/mg protein/hr with no change in Km. Similarly, activation of K(+)-stimulated p-nitrophenyl phosphatase (K(+)-PNPPase) in the presence of HgCl2 showed a decrease in Vmax from 3.26 to 1.35 mumols of p-nitrophenol (PNP)/mg protein/hr with no change in Km. K(+)-activation kinetic studies indicated that HgCl2 decreased Vmax from 14.01 to 4.30 mumols Pi/mg protein/hr in the case of (Na(+)-K+)ATPase and from 3.45 to 2.40 mumols PNP/mg protein/hr in the case of K(+)-PNPPase with no changes in Km. Na(+)-activation of (Na(+)-K+)ATPase in the presence of HgCl2 showed a decrease in Vmax from 11.06 to 3.23 mumols Pi/mg protein/hr and an increase in Km from 1.06 to 2.08 mM. Preincubation of microsomes with sulfhydryl (SH) agents dithiothreitol, cysteine and glutathione protected HgCl2-inhibition of (Na(+)-K+)ATPase. The data suggest that HgCl2 inhibited (Na(+)-K+)ATPase by interfering with the dephosphorylation of the enzyme-phosphoryl complex.