Swelling activation of K-Cl cotransport in LK sheep erythrocytes: a three-state process

K-Cl cotransport in LK sheep erythrocytes is activated by osmotic swelling and inhibited by shrinkage. The mechanism by which changes in cell volume are transduced into changes in transport was investigated by measuring time courses of changes in transport after osmotic challenges in cells with normal and reduced Mg concentrations. When cells of normal volume and normal Mg are swollen, there is a delay of 10 min or more before the final steady-state flux is achieved, as there is for swelling activation of K-Cl cotransport in erythrocytes of other species. The delay was shown to be independent of the extent of swelling. There was also a delay after shrinkage inactivation of cotransport. Reducing cellular Mg concentration activates cotransport. Swelling of low-Mg cells activates cotransport further, but with no measurable delay. In contrast, there is a delay in shrinkage inactivation of cotransport in low-Mg cells. The results are interpreted in terms of a three-state model: [formula see text] in which A state, B state, and C state transporters have relatively slow, intermediate, and fast transport rates, respectively. Most transporters in shrunken cells with normal Mg are in the A state. Swelling converts transporters to the B state in the rate-limiting process, followed by rapid conversion to the C state. Reducing cell Mg also promotes the A-- >B conversion. Swelling of low-Mg cells activates transport rapidly because of the initial predominance of B state transporters. The results support the following conclusions about the rate constants of the three-state model: k21 is the rate constant for a Mg-promoted process that is inhibited by swelling; k12 is not volume sensitive. Both k23 and k32 are increased by swelling and reduced by shrinkage; they are rate constants for a single process, whereas k12 and k21 are rate constants for separate processes. Finally, the A-->B conversion entails an increase in Jmax of the transporters, and the B-->C conversion entails an increase in the affinity of the transporters for K.     

Volume-sensitive K(+)/Cl(-) cotransport in rabbit erythrocytes. Analysis of the rate-limiting activation and inactivation events

The kinetics of activation and inactivation of K(+)/Cl(-) cotransport (KCC) have been measured in rabbit red blood cells for the purpose of determining the individual rate constants for the rate-limiting activation and inactivation events. Four different interventions (cell swelling, N-ethylmaleimide [NEM], low intracellular pH, and low intracellular Mg(2+)) all activate KCC with a single exponential time course; the kinetics are consistent with the idea that there is a single rate-limiting event in the activation of transport by all four interventions. In contrast to LK sheep red cells, the KCC flux in Mg(2+)-depleted rabbit red cells is not affected by cell volume. KCC activation kinetics were examined in cells pretreated with NEM at 0 degrees C, washed, and then incubated at higher temperatures. The forward rate constant for activation has a very high temperature dependence (E(a) approximately 32 kCal/mol), but is not affected measurably by cell volume. Inactivation kinetics were examined by swelling cells at 37 degrees C to activate KCC, and then resuspending at various osmolalities and temperatures to inactivate most of the transporters. The rate of transport inactivation increases steeply as cell volume decreases, even in a range of volumes where nearly all the transporters are inactive in the steady state. This finding indicates that the rate-limiting inactivation event is strongly affected by cell volume over the entire range of cell volumes studied, including normal cell volume. The rate-limiting inactivation event may be mediated by a protein kinase that is inhibited, either directly or indirectly, by cell swelling, low Mg(2+), acid pH, and NEM.     

Volume-sensitive K transport in human erythrocytes

Studies have been carried out on human erythrocytes to examine the alterations of K transport induced by swelling or shrinking the cells by osmotic and isosmotic methods. Hypotonic swelling of erythrocytes (relative cell volume, 1.20) resulted in a striking, four- to fivefold augmentation in the ouabain-resistant K influx over the value obtained at a normal cell volume. Shrinking the cells in hypertonic media resulted in a small but statistically significant reduction in K influx. Three different methods of varying cell volume gave similar results. These include the addition of sucrose and of NaCl to hypotonic media and the isosmotic (nystatin) method. The major fraction of the K influx in swollen cells is specific in its requirement for Cl or Br and is not supported by thiocyanate, iodide, nitrate, methylsulfate, or acetate. Bumetanide (0.1 mM), MK-196 (0.2 mM), and piretanide (1 mM) are poorly effective in suppressing K uptake in swollen cells, but at higher concentrations, bumetanide (1 mM) inhibits 80% of the Cl-dependent K influx in swollen cells. The bumetanide concentration required to inhibit 50% of the Cl-dependent K influx is 0.17 mM. The volume-sensitive K influx is independent of both extracellular and intracellular Na, so that the (Na + K + 2Cl) cotransport pathway is not a likely mediator of the volume-sensitive K transport. A variety of inhibitors of the Ca-activated K channel are ineffective in suppressing swelling-induced K influx. Like K uptake, the efflux of K is also enhanced by cell swelling. Swelling-activated K efflux is Cl dependent, is independent of extracellular and intracellular Na, and is observed with both hypotonic and isosmotic methods of cell swelling. The activation of K efflux by cell swelling is observed in K-free media, which suggests that the volume-sensitive K transport pathway is capable of net K efflux. The addition of external K to hypotonic media resulted in an increase in K efflux compared with the efflux in K-free media, and this increase was probably due to K/K exchange. Thus, hypotonic or isosmotic swelling of human erythrocytes results in the activation of a ouabain-resistant, Cl-dependent, Na-independent transport pathway that is capable of mediating both net K efflux and K/K exchange.     

Okadaic acid inhibition of KCl cotransport. Evidence that protein dephosphorylation is necessary for activation of transport by either cell swelling or N-ethylmaleimide

The mechanism of activation of KCl cotransport has been examined in rabbit red blood cells. Previous work has provided evidence that a net dephosphorylation is required for activation of transport by cell swelling. In the present study okadaic acid, an inhibitor of protein phosphatases, was used to test this idea in more detail. We find that okadaic acid strongly inhibits swelling-stimulated KCl cotransport. The IC50 for okadaic acid is approximately 40 nM, consistent with the involvement of type 1 protein phosphatase in transport activation. N-Ethylmaleimide (NEM) is well known to activate KCl cotransport in cells of normal volume. Okadaic acid, added before NEM, inhibits the activation of transport by NEM, indicating that a dephosphorylation is necessary for the NEM effect. Okadaic acid added after NEM inhibits transport only very slightly. After a brief exposure to NEM and rapid removal of unreacted NEM, KCl cotransport activates with a time delay that is similar to that for swelling activation. Okadaic acid causes a slight increase in the delay time. These findings are all consistent with the idea that NEM activates transport not by a direct action on the transport protein but by altering a phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle. The simplest hypothesis that is consistent with the data is that both cell swelling and NEM cause inhibition of a protein kinase. Kinase inhibition causes net dephosphorylation of some key substrate (not necessarily the transport protein); dephosphorylation of this substrate, probably by type 1 protein phosphatase, causes transport activation.     

Purinergic-independent calcium signaling mediates recovery from hepatocellular swelling: implications for volume regulation.

Swelling of hepatocytes and other epithelia activates volume-sensitive ion channels that facilitate fluid and electrolyte efflux to restore cell volume, but the responsible signaling pathways are incompletely defined. Previous work in model HTC rat hepatoma cells has indicated that swelling elicits ATP release, which stimulates P2 receptors and activates Cl(-) channels, and that this mechanism is essential for hepatocellular volume recovery. Since P2 receptors are generally coupled to Ca(2+) signaling pathways, we determined whether hepatocellular swelling affected cytosolic [Ca(2+)], and if this involved a purinergic mechanism. Exposure of HTC cells to hypotonic media evoked an increase in cytosolic [Ca(2+)], which was followed by activation of K(+) and Cl(-) currents. Maneuvers that interfered with swelling-induced increases in cytosolic [Ca(2+)], including extracellular Ca(2+) removal and intracellular Ca(2+) store depletion with thapsigargin, inhibited activation of membrane currents and volume recovery. However, the swelling-induced increases in cytosolic [Ca(2+)] were unaffected by either extracellular ATP depletion with apyrase or blockade of P2 receptors with suramin. These findings indicate that swelling elicits an increase in hepatocellular Ca(2+), which is essential for ion channel activation and volume recovery, but that this increase does not stem from activation of volume-sensitive P2 receptors. Collectively, these observations imply that regulatory responses to hepatocellular swelling involve a dual requirement for a purinergic-independent Ca(2+) signaling cascade and a Ca(2+)-independent purinergic signaling pathway.     

Mechanism of thiyl radical-catalyzed isomerization of unsaturated fatty acid residues in homogeneous solution and in liposomes

Taurine is an important osmolyte involved in cell volume regulation. During regulatory volume decrease it is released via a volume-sensitive organic osmolyte/anion channel. Several molecules have been suggested as candidates for osmolyte release. In this study, we chose three of these, namely ClC-2, ClC-3 and ICln, because of their expression in rat astrocytes, a cell type which is known to release taurine under hypotonic stress, and their activation by hypotonic shock. As all three candidates were also suggested to be chloride channels, we investigated their permeability for both chloride and taurine under isotonic and hypotonic conditions using the Xenopus laevis oocyte expression system. We found a volume-sensitive increase of chloride permeability in ClC-2-expressing oocytes only. Yet, the taurine permeability was significantly increased under hypotonic conditions in oocytes expressing any of the tested candidates. Further experiments confirmed that the detected taurine efflux does not represent unspecific leakage. These results suggest that ClC-2, ClC-3 and ICln either participate in taurine transport themselves or upregulate an endogenous oocyte osmolyte channel. In either case, the taurine efflux of oocytes not being accompanied by an increased chloride flux suggests that taurine and chloride can be released via two separate pathways.     

Determination of the apparent functional molecular mass of the hepatocellular sodium-dependent taurocholate transporter by radiation inactivation

The apparent target size of the sodium-dependent taurocholate transporter in basolateral rat liver plasma membrane vesicles, showing overshooting taurocholate uptake in the presence of sodium was estimated by radiation inactivation. Radiation at -105 to -120 degrees C and 2.5 Mrad/min causes a dose-dependent monoexponential reduction of the overshoot of taurocholate uptake in the presence of sodium. In contrast, taurocholate transport in the absence of sodium and taurocholate permeation at 4 degrees C remained totally unaffected by the radiation dose, indicating that the passive permeability of the membrane towards taurocholate remained unaffected. Radiation inactivation by high-energy electrons provides information about the size of the functional unit of the transporter in situ. The target size determined represents the size of the radiation-sensitive mass which is compact enough for significant energy transfer to occur within all parts of the transport system. The minimal function molecular mass was determined to be 170 kDa for the sodium-dependent taurocholate transporter. To prove the validity of radiation inactivation data four internal standard enzymes were tested under identical conditions.     

Ionic events during the volume response of human peripheral blood lymphocytes to hypotonic media. II. Volume- and time-dependent activation and inactivation of ion transport pathways

Hypotonic dilution of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) induces large conductive permeabilities for K+ and Cl-, associated with the capacity of the cells to regulate their volumes. When rapid cation leakage is assured by the addition of the ionophore gramicidin, the behavior of the anion conductance pathway can be independently examined. Using this technique it is demonstrated that the volume- induced activation of Cl- transport is triggered at a threshold of approximately 1.15 X isotonic cell volume. If the volume of a cell is increased to this level or above, the Cl- transport system is activated, whereas if the volume of a swollen cell is decreased below the threshold value, the Cl- transport is inactivated. Activation and inactivation are independent of the relative volume changes and of the actual cellular Na+, K+, or Cl- concentrations, as well as of the changes in membrane potential in PBL. When net salt movement and thus volume change are inhibited by specific blockers of K+ transport (e.g., quinine, or Ca2+ depletion), volume-induced Cl- conductance shows a time-dependent inactivation, with a half-time of 5-8 min. The Cl- conductance, when activated, appears to involve an all-or-none response. In contrast, volume-induced K+ conductance is a graded response, with the increase in K+ flux being roughly proportional to the hypotonicity-induced increase in cell volume. The data indicate that during lymphocyte volume response in hypotonic media, anion conductance increases by orders of magnitude, exceeding the K+ conductance, so that the rate of the volume decrease (KCl efflux) is determined by a graded alteration in K+ conductance. When the cell volume approaches the isotonic value, it is stabilized by the inactivation of the anion conductance pathway.     

Regulation of the Cellular Content of the Organic Osmolyte Taurine in Mammalian Cells

Change in the intracellular concentration of osmolytes or the extracellular tonicity results in a rapid transmembrane water flow in mammalian cells until intracellular and extracellular tonicities are equilibrated. Most cells respond to the osmotic cell swelling by activation of volume-sensitive flux pathways for ions and organic osmolytes to restore their original cell volume. Taurine is an important organic osmolyte in mammalian cells, and taurine release via a volume-sensitive taurine efflux pathway is increased and the active taurine uptake via the taurine specific taurine transporter TauT decreased following osmotic cell swelling. The cellular signaling cascades, the second messengers profile, the activation of specific transporters, and the subsequent time course for the readjustment of the cellular content of osmolytes and volume vary from cell type to cell type. Using Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts and HeLa cells as biological systems, it is revealed that phospholipase A₂-mediated mobilization of arachidonic acid from phospholipids and subsequent oxidation of the fatty acid via lipoxygenase systems to potent eicosanoids are essential elements in the signaling cascade that is activated by cell swelling and leads to release of osmolytes. The cellular signaling cascade and the activity of the volume-sensitive taurine efflux pathway are modulated by elements of the cytoskeleton, protein tyrosine kinases/phosphatases, GTP-binding proteins, Ca²⁺/calmodulin, and reactive oxygen species and nucleotides. Serine/threonine phosphorylation of the active taurine uptake system TauT or a putative regulator, as well as change in the membrane potential, are important elements in the regulation of TauT activity. A model describing the cellular sequence, which is activated by cell swelling and leads to activation of the volume-sensitive efflux pathway, is presented at the end of the review.     

Ca2+ nanodomain-mediated component of swelling-induced volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying anion current triggered by autocrine action of ATP in mouse astrocytes

The volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying (VSOR) anion channel provides a major pathway for anion transport during cell volume regulation. It is typically activated in response to cell swelling, but how the channel senses the swelling remains unclear. Meanwhile, we recently found that in mouse astrocytes the channel is activated by an inflammatory chemical mediator, bradykinin, without cell swelling and that the activation is regulated via high concentration regions of intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) in the immediate vicinity of open Ca(2+)-permeable channels, so-called Ca(2+) nanodomains. Here we investigated whether a similar mechanism is involved in the swelling-induced VSOR channel activation in the astrocytes. A hypotonic stimulus (25% reduction in osmolality) caused the [Ca(2+)](i) rises in the astrocytes, and the rises were abolished in the presence of an ATP-degrading enzyme, apyrase (10 U/ml). Application of ATP (100 μM) under isotonic conditions generated the current through VSOR channels via Ca(2+) nanodomains, as bradykinin does. The current induced by the hypotonic stimulus was suppressed by ~40% in the Ca(2+)-depleted condition where the ATP-induced VSOR current was totally prevented. Thus the swelling-induced VSOR channel activation in mouse astrocytes is partly regulated via Ca(2+) nanodomains, whose generation is triggered by an autocrine action of ATP.     

Functional comparison of the K+-Cl- cotransporters KCC1 and KCC4

The K(+)-Cl(-) cotransporters (KCCs) are members of the cation-chloride cotransporter gene family and fall into two phylogenetic subgroups: KCC2 paired with KCC4 and KCC1 paired with KCC3. We report a functional comparison in Xenopus oocytes of KCC1 and KCC4, widely expressed representatives of these two subgroups. KCC1 and KCC4 exhibit differential sensitivity to transport inhibitors, such that KCC4 is much less sensitive to bumetanide and furosemide. The efficacy of these anion inhibitors is critically dependent on the concentration of extracellular K(+), with much higher inhibition in 50 mm K(+) versus 2 mm K(+). KCC4 is also uniquely sensitive to 10 mm barium and to 2 mm trichlormethiazide. Kinetic characterization reveals divergent affinities for K(+) (K(m) values of approximately 25.5 and 17.5 mm for KCC1 and KCC4, respectively), probably due to variation within the second transmembrane segment. Although the two isoforms have equivalent affinities for Cl(-), they differ in the anion selectivity of K(+) transport (Cl(-) > SCN(-) = Br(-) > PO(4)(-3) > I(-) for KCC1 and Cl(-) > Br(-) > PO(4)(-3) = I(-) > SCN(-) for KCC4). Both KCCs express minimal K(+)-Cl(-) cotransport under isotonic conditions, with significant activation by cell swelling under hypotonic conditions. The cysteine-alkylating agent N-ethylmaleimide activates K(+)-Cl(-) cotransport in isotonic conditions but abrogates hypotonic activation, an unexpected dissociation of N-ethylmaleimide sensitivity and volume sensitivity. Although KCC4 is consistently more volume-sensitive, the hypotonic activation of both isoforms is critically dependent on protein phosphatase 1. Overall, the functional comparison of these cloned K(+)-Cl(-) cotransporters reveals important functional, pharmacological, and kinetic differences with both physiological and mechanistic implications.     

Amino acid-dependent increase in hepatic system N activity is linked to cell swelling

Treatment of cultured rat hepatocytes with certain amino acids stimulates the activity of the System N transporter. The present report investigates the mechanism by which the stimulatory amino acids elicit their effect. Activation of System N-mediated transport by amino acids is rapid, cycloheximide-insensitive, and involves neither trans-stimulation nor recruitment of additional carriers to the plasma membrane. In addition, the activation is Na(+)-dependent, supporting the related observation that the most effective stimulatory amino acids are substrates of Na(+)-dependent transport Systems A, ASC, and N whereas substrates of Na(+)-independent System L and non-amino acid metabolites are ineffective. The data suggest that active accumulation of amino acids via Na(+)-dependent carriers is necessary for the activation to occur. The amino acid-dependent stimulation is blocked in a concentration-dependent manner by increasing extracellular K+. Treatment of hepatocytes with an amino acid such as asparagine causes cell swelling and stimulation of System N activity; both of these effects are reduced by hypertonic media. Furthermore, swelling of rat hepatocytes with hypotonic media mimics the System N-stimulatory effects of asparagine. Among the Na(+)-dependent amino acid transport systems present in rat hepatocytes, System N is stimulated preferentially by amino acid-containing or hypotonic media. Collectively, these results demonstrate that cell swelling is a prerequisite for the amino acid-dependent activation of the hepatic System N transporter.     

Transport of organic substrates via a volume-activated channel.

We have investigated the volume-activated transport of organic solutes in flounder erythrocytes. Osmotic swelling of cells suspended in a Na(+)-free medium led to increased membrane transport of taurine, glucose, and uridine. For each compound there was a significant lag period (1-2 min at 10 degrees C) between cell swelling and activation of the flux. The volume-activated fluxes of each of the substrates increased in parallel with increasing cell volume, and those of taurine and uridine increased linearly with concentration (up to 19 mM). The volume-activated fluxes of each of the three compounds showed similar sensitivities to a number of anion-selective channel blockers (5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid > 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid approximately MK-196 > niflumic acid > furosemide); the IC50 for the inhibition of the volume-activated fluxes by NPPB was around 12 microM. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the volume-activated transport of organic osmolytes is via a pathway with the characteristics of a volume-activated "chloride channel." This raises the question of whether the transport of organic substrates might represent a physiological role for such channels in other cell types.     

Kinetics of pressure-induced inactivation of bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase

Kinetics of pressure-induced denaturation of bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.3) were investigated in the pressure range 1.8-2.8 kbar by observing the residual activity after the pressure-release and the scattered light intensity during the incubation at high pressure. The residual activity decreased exponentially with the incubation time, whereas the scattered light intensity showed a bimodal profile indicating parallel aggregation and dissociation reactions. The latter suggested that two kinds of aggregates were formed during the incubation under pressure. The observed first-order rate constant for the inactivation, k obs, showed a minimum around 30 degrees C. These experimental results were interpreted in terms of the following reaction scheme; (formula; see text) where N represents the enzyme entity with native structure, D1 the partially denatured intermediate, D2 the irreversibly denatured state, and A1 and A2 the two kinds of aggregates, one of which (A1) is reversibly formed at an early stage of the incubation under high pressure. The apparent activation volume for the inactivation reaction was estimated to be delta V*app = -113 +/- 5 cm3 X mol-1 from the pressure dependence of k obs. The effect of coenzyme, NAD+, on the pressure-induced inactivation was also studied. The inactivation was retarded by the presence of the coenzyme, whereas the apparent activation volume for the holoenzyme (delta V*app = -104 +/- 2 cm3 X mol-1) did not differ significantly from that for the apoenzyme.     

High acetylcholine concentrations cause rapid inactivation before fast desensitization in nicotinic acetylcholine receptors from Torpedo.

By using both a 3 to 4 ms quenched-86Rb+ flux assay and native acetylcholine receptor (AChR) rich electroplaque vesicles on which 50-60% of acetylcholine activation sites were blocked with alpha-BTX, we determined apparent rates of agonist-induced inactivation in AChR from Torpedo under conditions where measured flux response was directly proportional to initial 86Rb+ influx rate. Inactivation kinetics with acetylcholine in both the activating range (10 microM-10 mM) and the self-inhibiting range (15-100 mM) were measured at 4 degrees C. In the presence of 10 microM-1 mM acetylcholine, inactivation is characterized by a single exponential rate constant, kd (fast desensitization). Plots of kd vs. acetylcholine concentration display maximum kds [kd(max)] of 6.6-8.0 s-1, half-maximal kd at 102 +/- 16 microM, and a Hill coefficient of 1.6 +/- 0.3, closely paralleling the initial ion flux response of AChR. Thus, fast desensitization probably occurs from a doubly-liganded preopen state or the open channel state. In the self-inhibiting acetylcholine concentration range, inactivation is biphasic. A "rapid inactivation" phase is complete within 30 ms, followed by fast desensitization at a rate close to kd(max). Both the rate and extent of rapid inactivation increase with acetylcholine concentration, indicating that acetylcholine binds to its self-inhibition site with apparent kon approximately equal to 10(3) M-1s-1 and koff approximately equal to 40 s-1. This slow kon suggests either hindered access to the inhibitory allosteric site or that a fast binding step is followed by a slower conformational change leading to channel inhibition. Overall, our data suggest that acetylcholine binds preferentially to its inhibitory site when the receptor is in the open-channel conformation and that fast desensitization can occur from all multiple-liganded states.     

Hypotonic stress upregulates β- and γ-ENaC expression through suppression of ERK by inducing MKP-1

We investigated a physiological role for ERK, a member of the MAPK family, in the hypotonic stimulation of epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC)-mediated Na(+) reabsorption in renal epithelial A6 cells. We show that hypotonic stress causes a major dephosphorylation of ERK following a rapid transient phosphorylation. PD98059 (a MEK inhibitor) increases dephosphorylated ERK and enhances the hypotonic-stress-stimulated Na(+) reabsorption. ERK dephosphorylation is mediated by MAPK phosphatase (MKP). Hypotonic stress activates p38, which in turn induces MKP-1 and to a lesser extent MKP-3 mRNA expression. Inhibition of p38 suppresses MKP-1 induction, preventing hypotonic stress from dephosphorylating ERK. Inhibition of MKP-1 and -3 by the inhibitor NSC95397 also suppresses the hypotonicity-induced dephosphorylation of ERK. NSC95397 reduces both β- and γ-ENaC mRNA expression and ENaC-mediated Na(+) reabsorption stimulated by hypotonic stress. In contrast, pretreatment with PD98059 significantly enhances mRNA and protein expression of β- and γ-ENaC even under isotonic conditions. However, PD98059 only stimulates Na(+) reabsorption in response to hypotonic stress, suggesting that ERK inactivation by itself (i.e., under isotonic conditions) is not sufficient to stimulate Na(+) reabsorption, even though ERK inactivation enhances β- and γ-ENaC expression. Based on these results, we conclude that hypotonic stress stimulates Na(+) reabsorption through at least two signaling pathways: 1) induction of MKP-1 that suppresses ERK activity and induces β- and γ-ENaC expression, and 2) promotion of translocation of the newly synthesized ENaC to the apical membrane.     

Coordinated regulation of shrinkage-induced Na/H exchange and swelling- induced [K-Cl] cotransport in dog red cells. Further evidence from activation kinetics and phosphatase inhibition

Hypertonic shrinkage of dog red cells caused rapid activation of Na/H exchange and rapid deactivation of [K-Cl] cotransport. Hypotonic swelling caused delayed deactivation of Na/H exchange and delayed activation of [K-Cl] cotransport. Okadaic acid stimulated shrinkage-induced Na/H exchange and inhibited swelling-induced [K-Cl] cotransport. The data are compatible with the kinetic model of Jennings and Al-Rohil (1990. J. Gen. Physiol. 95:1021-1040) for volume regulation of [K-Cl] cotransport in rabbit red cells and suggest that in dog red cells Na/H exchange and [K-Cl] cotransport are controlled by a common regulatory system. The proposal of Jennings and Schulz (1991. J. Gen. Physiol. 96:799-817) that activation/deactivation of volume-sensitive transport involves phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of a regulatory protein is supported by these observations.     

Autocrine regulation of volume-sensitive anion channels in airway epithelial cells by adenosine

The activity of volume-sensitive Cl- channels was studied in human tracheal epithelial cells (9HTEo-) by taurine efflux experiments. The efflux elicited by a hypotonic shock was partially inhibited by adenosine receptor antagonists, by alpha,beta-methyleneadenosine 5'-diphosphate (alphabetaMeADP), an inhibitor of the 5'-ectonucleotidase, and by adenosine deaminase. On the other hand, dipyridamole, a nucleoside transporter inhibitor, increased the swelling-induced taurine efflux. Extracellular ATP and adenosine increased taurine efflux by potentiating the effect of hypotonic shock. alphabetaMeADP strongly inhibited the effect of extracellular ATP but not that of adenosine. These results suggest that anion channel activation involves the release of intracellular ATP, which is then degraded to adenosine by specific ectoenzymes. Adenosine then binds to purinergic receptors, causing the activation of the channels. To directly demonstrate ATP efflux, cells were loaded with [3H]AMP, and the release of radiolabeled molecules was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. During hypotonic shock, cell supernatants showed the presence of ATP, ADP, and adenosine. alphabetaMeADP inhibited adenosine formation and caused the appearance of AMP. Under hypotonic conditions, elevation of intracellular Ca2+ by ionomycin caused an increase of ATP and adenosine in the extracellular solution. Our results demonstrate that volume-sensitive anion channels are regulated with an autocrine mechanism involving swelling-induced ATP release and then hydrolysis to adenosine.     

Cross talk between activation and slow inactivation gates of Shaker potassium channels

This study addresses the energetic coupling between the activation and slow inactivation gates of Shaker potassium channels. To track the status of the activation gate in inactivated channels that are nonconducting, we used two functional assays: the accessibility of a cysteine residue engineered into the protein lining the pore cavity (V474C) and the liberation by depolarization of a Cs(+) ion trapped behind the closed activation gate. We determined that the rate of activation gate movement depends on the state of the inactivation gate. A closed inactivation gate favors faster opening and slower closing of the activation gate. We also show that hyperpolarization closes the activation gate long before a channel recovers from inactivation. Because activation and slow inactivation are ubiquitous gating processes in potassium channels, the cross talk between them is likely to be a fundamental factor in controlling ion flux across membranes.