Combining rapid filtration and rapid acid quenchmg, we have directly measured, at pH 7.0 and 5 "C, the association and dissociation rate constants of Mg . ATP binding to the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) ATPase in the presence of 50 pM calcium and 5 mM MgC12 (3-4x lo6 M-' . s-' and 9 s-', respectively). Therefore, we have determined the true affinity for Mg . ATP (Kd = 3 pM) in the presence of calcium, which can not be measured at equilibrium because of spontaneous and fast phosphorylation. At low concentrations, Mg . ATP binding is the rate limiting step in the phosphorylation process, and Mg . ATP dissociation is slower than dephosphorylation.The kinetics of Ca2+ binding measured by rapid filtration are biphasic, reflecting a two-step mechanism, both steps being accelerated by Mg . ATP. Combining rapid filtration and rapid monitoring of the intrinsic fluorescence of SR Ca2+-ATPase, we showed that rate constants for calcium binding are always lower than those of Mg . ATP binding to an EGTA-incubated enzyme. We measured dissociation and association rate constants of Mg . ATP binding in the absence of calcium (k-1 = 25 s-' and kl = 7.5 lo6 M-' . s-' ). This gives a Kd similar to that obtained by equilibrium measurements (3 -4 pM).Both non-phosphorylated conformations of the enzyme have similar affinity for Mg . ATP.Therefore, activation of ATPase activity by an excess of ATP cannot be explained by a change in affinity of the non-phophorylated enzyme for Mg . ATP. In conjunction with previous results, these data are used to discuss the molecular mechanism for the Ca2+-ATPase cycle, in which ATP is sequentially substrate and activator on a multiple-function single site.Calcium transport by Ca2 +-ATPase of skeletal-muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) proceeds at the expense of ATP hydrolysis. The reaction mechanism is commonly represented by a scheme in which the enzyme resides in two main conformations: El in the presence of calcium, and E2 in the absence of calcium (reviews: de Meis, 1981;Inesi, 1985).It has already been observed that ATP concentrations higher than that required for phosphoenzyme formation accelerate ATP hydrolysis (Weber et al., 1966). Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain t h s activation process. One proposes that, similar to Na/K-ATPase (for a review, see Skou, 1990) the affinity of the enzyme for Mg . ATP could change depending on the enzyme conformation (Reynolds et al., 1985). Two distinct sites have also been postulated, one catalytic and one regulatory (de Meis and de Mello, 1973;Coll and Murphy, 1985,1991 Abbreviations. SR, sarcoplasmic reticulum; kobsr observed rate constant; k,,, association rate constant; koff, dissociation rate constant; Kp, equilibrium constant of phosphorylation; Vo, initial rate; Np,ATP, 2'(3')-0-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)adenosine 5'-triphosphate.Enzyme. Ca-transporting ATPase (EC 3.6