New models of the gastric H,K ATPase in the E 1 K and E 2 P states are presented as the first structures of a K + counter-transport P 2 -type ATPase exhibiting ion entry and exit paths. Homology modeling was first used to generate a starting conformation from the srCa ATPase E 2 P form (PDB code 1wpg) that contains bound MgADP. Energy minimization of the model showed a conserved adenosine site but nonconserved polyphosphate contacts compared to the srCa ATPase. Molecular dynamics was then employed to expand the luminal entry sufficiently to allow access of the rigid K + competitive naphthyridine inhibitor, Byk99, to its binding site within the membrane domain. The new E 2 P model had increased separation between transmembrane segments M3 through M8, and addition of water in this space showed not only an inhibitor entry path to the luminal vestibule but also a channel leading to the ion binding site. Addition of K + to the hydrated channel with molecular dynamics modeling of ion movement identified a pathway for K + from the lumen to the ion binding site to give E 2 K. A K + exit path to the cytoplasm operating during the normal catalytic cycle is also proposed on the basis of an E 1 K homology model derived from the E 1 2Ca 2+ form of the srCa ATPase (PDB code 1su4). Autodock analyses of the new E 2 P model now correctly discriminate between high-and low-affinity K + competitive inhibitors. Finally, the expanded luminal vestibule of the E 2 P model explains high-affinity ouabain binding in a mutant of the H,K ATPase P 2 -type ATPases (ion pumps) catalyze active ion transport by coupling autophosphorylation and dephosphorylation to ion movement across lipid bilayers. The Na,K ATPases and the gastric H,K ATPase couple outward transport of sodium or protons to the inward transport of potassium. They are distinguished from the other members of this family by the presence of a glycosylated β subunit tightly bound to the larger catalytic (α) subunit and by the need for K + on their luminal surface for completion of the catalytic cycle. There is about 62% homology between their α subunits and about 35% homology between the gastric β subunit and the Na,K ATPase β 2 isoform (1). The α subunits contain the known binding sites for ATP, ions, and inhibitors. Several avenues of research have defined the biochemical features of the shared transport mechanism (2). Transport is achieved through a series of conformational transitions which alternatively bind the transported ions from the cytoplasm in the E 1 form or from the lumen after autophosphorylation from ATP to give the E 2 P conformer. Conversion to E 2 P is associated with export of the outbound cation with generation of luminal acid in the case of the H,K ATPase. For Na,K and H,K ATPases binding of potassium activates dephosphorylation to give a state with tightly bound ion (E 2 K occluded) in equilibrium with † Supported in part by the U.S. Veterans Administration and NIH Grants DK46917, DK53462, and DK58333. *Corresponding author. . kmunson@ucla.edu. ‡ David ...