This is the catalytic component of the active enzyme, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of ATP coupled with the exchange of sodium and potassium ions across the plasma membrane. This action creates the electrochemical gradient of sodium and potassium ions, providing the energy for active transport of various nutrients. ATP + H2O + K(+)(out) + Na(+)(in) = ADP + H(+) + K(+)(in) + Na(+)(out) + phosphate The sodium/potassium-transporting ATPase is composed of a catalytic alpha subunit, an auxiliary non-catalytic beta subunit and an additional regulatory subunit. Interacts with regulatory subunit FXYD1 (By similarity). Interacts with regulatory subunit FXYD3 (PubMed:21454534). Interacts with SIK1 (By similarity). Binds the HLA class II histocompatibility antigen DR1 (PubMed:1380674). Interacts with SLC35G1 and STIM1 (PubMed:22084111). Interacts with CLN3; this interaction regulates the sodium/potassium-transporting ATPase complex localization at the plasma membrane (Probable). Identified by mass spectrometry in melanosome fractions from stage I to stage IV. Phosphorylation on Tyr-10 modulates pumping activity. Phosphorylation of Ser-943 by PKA modulates the response of ATP1A1 to PKC. Dephosphorylation by protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) following increases in intracellular sodium, leading to increase catalytic activity (By similarity). The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. May be produced at very low levels due to a premature stop codon in the mRNA, leading to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Belongs to the cation transport ATPase (P-type) (TC 3.A.3) family. Type IIC subfamily.