Elasmobranch rectal gland cell: autoradiographic localization of [3H]ouabain-sensitive Na, K-ATPase in rectal gland of dogfish, Squalus acanthias

Specific binding of radiolabeled inhibitor was employed to localize the Na-pump sites (Na,K-ATPase) in rectal gland epithelium, a NaCl-secreting osmoregulatory tissue which is particularly rich in pump sites. Slices of gland tissue from spiny dogfish were incubated in suitable [3H]ouabain-containing media and then prepared for Na,K-ATPase assay, measurement of radiolabel binding, or quantitative freeze-dry autoradiography at the light microscope level. Gross freezing or drying artifacts were excluded by comparison with additional aldehyde-fixed slices. Characterization experiments demonstrated high-affinity binding which correlated with Na,K-ATPase inhibition and half-saturated at approximately 5 microM [3H]ouabain. At this concentration, the normal half-loading time was approximately 1 h and low-affinity binding to nonspecific sites was negligible. Autoradiographs from both 1- and 4-h incubated slices showed approximately 85% of the bound [3H]ouabain to be localized within a 1-micrometer wide boundary region where the highly infolded basal-lateral cell membrane are closest to the mitochondria. These results establish that most of the enormous Na,K-ATPase activity associated with rectal gland epithelium is in the basal-lateral cell membrane facing interstitial fluid and not in the luminal membrane facing secreted fluid. Moreover, distribution along the basal-lateral membrane appears to be nonuniform with a higher density of enzyme sites close to mitochondria.     

The Na-K-Cl cotransport protein of shark rectal gland. II. Regulation by direct phosphorylation.

We determined the relationship between the activation state and phosphorylation state of the Na-K-Cl cotransport protein in tubules isolated from the shark rectal gland, a prototypic chloride-secreting epithelium. In response to cAMP-dependent secretagogues (e.g. vasoactive intestinal peptide, adenosine, and forskolin) or osmotically induced changes in cell volume, the activation state of the cotransport protein (assessed from measurements of loop diuretic binding) increased 5-10 fold. The response was temporally associated with a comparable increase (3-9 fold) in cotransport protein phosphorylation. Graded changes in cotransporter activation evoked proportional changes in cotransporter phosphorylation. Under the conditions of our experiments, the 195-kDa cotransporter was the only membrane protein whose phosphorylation state increased conspicuously in response to both cAMP and cell shrinkage. Both stimuli promoted phosphorylation of the cotransport protein at serine and threonine residues. One of the cAMP-sensitive phosphoacceptors was found within a segment of the cotransport protein comprised of a sequence (Phe-Gly-His-Asn-Thr*-Ile-Asp-Ala-Val-Pro) that corresponds to a segment of the Na-K-Cl cotransport protein predicted by cDNA analysis, where the phosphoacceptor (Thr*) is threonine 189. Incubation of rectal gland tubules with K-252a or H-8, structurally different protein kinase inhibitors, rendered the cotransporter insensitive to both cAMP and cell shrinkage. We conclude that the rectal gland Na-K-Cl cotransport protein is regulated by direct reversible phosphorylation at serine and threonine sites.     

Na-K-Cl协同转运蛋白研究进展

Na-K-Cl协同转运蛋白是一类膜蛋白,负责转运Na、K、Cl离子进出上皮细胞与非上皮细胞。Na-K-Cl介导的转运过程是电中性的,多数情况下是1Na：1K：2C1（乌贼轴突中是2Na：1K：3C1）,其活性被布美他尼（bumetanide）和呋塞米（furosemide）所抑制。迄今为止,Na-K-Cl协同转运蛋白被鉴定出来两个同源异构体：NKCCl和NKCC2。NKCCl存在于多个组织中,合有NKCCl的上皮大多数属于分泌上皮,而且会有Na-K-Cl协同转运蛋白位于基底膜外侧;NKCC2只存在于肾脏,位于上皮细胞致密斑的顶膜上。Na-K-Cl协同转运蛋白的调控在不同的细胞和组织中是不同的。Na-K-Cl协同转运蛋白的活性会受激素刺激和细胞体积变化的影响;有些组织中,这种调控作用（尤其是NKCCl亚基）是通过特定的激酶使该转运蛋白自身发生氧化／硝化、磷酸化／去磷酸化来实现的;蛋白过表达在Na-K-Cl协同转运蛋白的激活中也起重要作用。     

Na,K-ATPase expression in the developing brine shrimp Artemia. Immunochemical localization of the alpha- and beta-subunits.

Developing brine shrimp are a good experimental model for study of gene expression during development. Development is initiated on suspension of brine shrimp cysts in seawater. Only 48 hr are required for progression from cyst to the larval stage. We have localize the alpha- and beta-subunits in different cells by immunostaining as development progresses. Both alpha- and beta-subunits are first detected in epidermal cells in the trunk region at the emergence 2 stage (16-hr incubation). At the nauplius 1 stage (24 hr) the enzyme appears in the brain and epidermal regions, as well as in mesenchymal cells, with weaker staining in the salt gland. After further development (nauplius 2 stage, 36 hr) stronger staining appears in the salt gland and in the epidermal region. At the nauplius 3 stage (48 hr) the enzyme appears in the midgut mucosa. Co-localization of the alpha- and beta-subunits appears in all positive cells during development. In the epidermal and salt gland cells the enzyme is mainly localized on the basolateral membrane. The basolateral localization of the Na,K-ATPase in epidermal and salt gland cells suggests that Na+ is actively transported into the epidermal and salt gland cells and passively diffuses out from the apical region.     

Identification and biochemical localization of a Na-K-Cl cotransporter in the human placental cell line BeWo

Several transport systems mediating the placental transport of Na, K and Cl have been described, but whether the trophoblast membrane also expresses a Na-K-Cl cotransporter that mediates the coupled movement of all three ions remains unclear. Here we show that BeWo cells, a human trophoblastic cell line, exhibit bumetanide-sensitive (86)Rb (a K surrogate) uptake. Entry via this route accounts for approximately 17% of the (86)Rb influx with the remainder being mediated largely via the Na,K-ATPase. The activity of the bumetanide-sensitive transporter was rapidly elevated (>40%) upon subjecting cells to an acute hyperosmotic challenge signifying a potential role in cell volume regulation. Antibodies to the Na-K-Cl cotransporter identified a single band of approximately 200 kDa on Western blots of fractionated BeWo membranes. This immunoreactivity colocalized with that of the Na,K-ATPase (a basal membrane marker), but was absent from membranes enriched with placental alkaline phosphatase (an apical membrane marker). These findings show for the first time, that a Na-K-Cl cotransporter is expressed in a human placental cell line which may be involved in regulating trophoblast cell volume.     

Na-K-Cl协同转运蛋白研究进展

Na-K-Cl协同转运蛋白是一类膜蛋白,负责转运Na、K、Cl离子进出上皮细胞与非上皮细胞。Na-K-Cl介导的转运过程是电中性的,多数情况下是1Na:1K:2Cl(乌贼轴突中是2Na:1 K:3Cl),其活性被布美他尼(bumetanide)和呋塞米(furosemide)所抑制。迄今为止,Na-K-Cl协同转运蛋白被鉴定出来两个同源异构体:NKCC1和NKCC2。NKCC1存在于多个组织中,含有NKCC1的上皮大多数属于分泌上皮,而且会有Na-K-Cl协同转运蛋白位于基底膜外侧;NKCC2只存在于肾脏,位于上皮细胞致密班的顶膜上。Na-K-Cl协同转运蛋白的调控在不同的细胞和组织中是不同的。Na-K-Cl协同转运蛋白的活性会受激素刺激和细胞体积变化的影响;有些组织中,这种调控作用(尤其是NKCC1亚基)是通过特定的激酶使该转运蛋白自身发生氧化/硝化、磷酸化/去磷酸化来实现的;蛋白过表达在Na-K-Cl协同转运蛋白的激活中也起重要作用。     

Branchial mitochondria-rich cells in the dogfish Squalus acanthias

In marine teleost fishes, the gill mitochondria-rich cells (MRCs) are responsible for NaCl elimination; however, in elasmobranch fishes, the specialized rectal gland is considered to be the most important site for salt secretion. The role of the gills in elasmobranch ion regulation, although clearly shown to be secondary, is not well characterized. In the present study, we investigated some morphological properties of the branchial MRCs and the localization, and activity of the important ionoregulatory enzyme Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, under control conditions and following rectal gland removal (1 month) in the spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias. A clear correlation can be made between MRC numbers and the levels of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity in crude gill homogenates (r(2)=-0.69). Strong Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase immunoreactivity is also clearly associated with the basolateral membrane of these MRCs. In addition, the dogfish were able to maintain ionic balance after rectal gland removal. These results all suggest a possible role of the dogfish gill in salt secretion. MRCs were, however, unresponsive to rectal gland removal in terms of changes in number, fine structure and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity, as might be expected if they were compensating for the loss of salt secretion by the rectal gland. Thus, the specific role that these MRCs play in ion regulation in the dogfish remains to be determined     

Deletion of the Na/K-ATPase alpha1-subunit gene (Atp1a1) does not prevent cavitation of the preimplantation mouse embryo

Increases in Na/K-ATPase activity occur concurrently with the onset of cavitation and are associated with increases in Na(+)-pump subunit mRNA and protein expression. We have hypothesized that the alpha1-isozyme of the Na/K-ATPase is required to mediate blastocyst formation. We have tested this hypothesis by characterizing preimplantation development in mice with a targeted disruption of the Na/K-ATPase alpha1-subunit (Atp1a1) using embryos acquired from matings between Atp1a1 heterozygous mice. Mouse embryos homozygous for a null mutation in the Na/K-ATPase alpha1-subunit gene are able to undergo compaction and cavitation. These findings demonstrate that trophectoderm transport mechanisms are maintained in the absence of the predominant isozyme of the Na(+)-pump that has previously been localized to the basolateral membranes of mammalian trophectoderm cells. The presence of multiple isoforms of Na/K-ATPase alpha- and beta-subunits at the time of cavitation suggests that there may be a degree of genetic redundancy amongst isoforms of the catalytic alpha-subunit that allows blastocyst formation to progress in the absence of the alpha1-subunit.     

Hypoxia effects on cell volume and ion uptake of cerebral microvascular endothelial cells

Increased transport of Na across an intact blood-brain barrier (BBB) contributes to cerebral edema formation in ischemic stroke. Our previous studies have shown that ischemic factors stimulate activity of a luminal BBB Na-K-Cl cotransporter, and we have hypothesized that during ischemia, the cotransporter together with the abluminal Na/K pump mediates increased transport of Na from blood into the brain. However, it is possible that elevated Na-K-Cl cotransporter activity could also cause cell swelling if it outpaces ion efflux pathways. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of hypoxia on intracellular volume of BBB cells. Cerebral microvascular endothelial cell (CMEC) monolayers were exposed to varying levels of hypoxia for 1 to 5 h in an O(2)-controlled glove box, and cell volume was assessed using 3-O-methyl-D-[(3)H]glucose and [(14)C]sucrose as markers of total and extracellular water space, respectively. Cells exposed to either 7.5%, 3%, or 1% O(2) showed gradual increases in volume (compared with 19% O(2) normoxic controls) that became significant after 3 or more hours. By ion chromatography methods, we also found that a 30-min exposure to 7.5% O(2) caused an increase in bumetanide-sensitive net Na uptake by the cells without increasing cell Na content. CMEC Na content was significantly increased, however, following 3 or more hours of exposure to 7.5% O(2). These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that during cerebral ischemia, the BBB Na-K-Cl cotransporter is stimulated to mediate transendothelial uptake of Na into the brain and that increased cotransporter activity also contributes to gradual swelling of the cells.     

Inhibition by mercuric chloride of Na-K-2Cl cotransport activity in rectal gland plasma membrane vesicles isolated from Squalus acanthias

The rectal gland of the dogfish shark is a model system for active transepithelial transport of chloride. It has been shown previously that mercuric chloride, one of the toxic environmental pollutants, inhibits chloride secretion in this organ. In order to investigate the mechanism of action of HgCl(2) at a membrane-molecular level, plasma membrane vesicles were isolated from the rectal gland and the effect of mercury on the activity of the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter was investigated in isotope flux studies. During a 30 s exposure HgCl(2) inhibited cotransport activity in a dose-dependent manner with an apparent K(i) of approx. 50 microM. The inhibition was complete after 15 s, partly reversible by dilution of the incubation medium and completely attenuated upon addition of reduced glutathione. The extent of inhibition by mercury depended on the ionic composition of the medium. The sensitivity of the cotransporter was highest when only the high affinity binding sites for sodium and chloride were saturated. Organic mercurials such as p-chloromercuribenzoic acid and p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid at 100 microM did not inhibit the cotransporter, similarly exposure of the vesicles to 10 mM H(2)O(2) or 1 mM dithiothreitol for 30 min at 15 degrees C did not change cotransport activity. Transport activity was, however, reduced by 45.9+/-2.5% after an incubation with 3 mM N-ethylmaleimide for 20 min. Blocking free amino groups by N-hydroxysuccinimide or biotinamidocapronate-N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide had no effect. Investigations on the sidedness of the plasma membrane vesicles, employing the asymmetry of the (Na+K)-ATPase, demonstrated a right-side-out orientation in which the former extracellular face of the membrane is exposed to the incubation medium. In addition, extracellular mercury (5x10(-5) M) inhibited bumetanide-sensitive rubidium uptake into T84 cells by 48.5+/-7.1% after a 2 min incubation period. This inhibition was reversible in a manner similar to that observed in the plasma membrane vesicles. These studies suggest that in isolated rectal gland plasma membrane vesicles the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (sNKCC1) exposes functionally relevant mercury binding sites at its external surface. These sites represent probably cysteines, the accessibility and/or sensitivity of which depends on the functional state of the transporter.     

RT-PCR detection of Na,K-ATPase subunit isoforms in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC): evidence for the presence of alpha1 and beta3.

The endothelial Na,K-ATPase is an active component in maintaining a variety of normal vascular functions. The enzyme is characterized by a complex molecular heterogeneity that results from differential expression and association of multiple isoforms of both its alpha- and beta-subunits. The aim of the present study was to determine which isoforms of the Na,K-ATPase are expressed in human endothelial cells. HUVEC (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) were used as a model of well known human endothelial cells. The high sensitive method RT-PCR was used with primers specific for the various isoforms of the alpha- and beta-subunits of the Na,K-ATPase. The results show that HUVEC express alpha1-, but not alpha2-, alpha3- or alpha4-isoforms of the catalytic subunit and that beta3- but not beta2- or beta1-isoforms is present in these cells. These findings are in contradiction with our previous detection of Na,K-ATPase isoforms in HUVEC using antibodies (14). Such results raise the technical problem of the specificity of the available antibodies directed against the different isoforms as well as the question of the physiological relevance of the diversity of the Na,K-ATPase isoforms.     

Copper homeostasis and toxicity in the elasmobranch Raja erinacea and the teleost Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus during exposure to elevated water-borne copper

Clear nosed skate, Raja erinacea were exposed to 0.10 (control), 0.52 or 1.73 microM copper and sculpin, Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus were exposed to 0.10 or 1.73 microM copper (as CuSO4) in Salisbury Cove seawater for up to seven days. Skate gill copper concentrations increased 40-50 fold over background in response to copper exposure at both concentrations. In comparison, sculpin gill levels only increased 3-fold. While there was no evidence for internalized copper in the skate arising from the water-borne exposure, sculpin kidneys, but not livers, exhibited elevated copper concentrations after the seven days of exposure. The marked difference in branchial copper accumulation between the skate and the sculpin likely explains why elasmobranchs appear to be more sensitive to metal exposure than most marine teleost fish. Brain tissue from both species and the skate rectal gland contained relatively high background copper concentrations. Copper exposure caused an initial transient reduction in skate plasma total ammonia (Tamm), but eventually led to elevated plasma Tamm. Despite the marked branchial copper accumulation in the skate, there was no reduction in gill Na/K-ATPase activity. Similarly, Na/K-ATPase activity in skate rectal gland and intestine, as well as in sculpin gill and intestine were not affected by copper exposure. Plasma sodium, magnesium and chloride were not affected by copper exposure in either the skate or the sculpin.     

Identification and localization of a dogfish homolog of human cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator.

Chloride channels in the apical plasma membrane of cells in the dogfish rectal gland have served as a model system for the study of regulation of chloride flux by changes in intracellular cyclic AMP levels. Similar regulation by cyclic AMP has been described for channels in cells of human secretory epithelia where defective regulation by cyclic AMP-dependent protein phosphorylation is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). We have isolated a cDNA clone from the rectal gland encoding a protein that is 72% identical to the human CFTR. One of the major phosphorylation sites in CFTR is absent in the dogfish protein. The dogfish protein has, however, four additional putative substrate sites for the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. A peptide antibody, which was raised against an amino acid sequence common to both the human and dogfish CFTR sequences, recognizes proteins with similar molecular masses (160 kDa) in the dogfish gland and in mammalian lung. Immunolocalization studies with this antibody show that the putative dogfish CFTR is localized to the apical membrane of cells lining the lumen of the rectal gland.     

Association of Renal Na,K-ATPase α-Subunit with the β- and γ-Subunits Based on Cryoelectron Microscopy

Na,K-ATPase transports Na(+) and K(+) across cell membranes and consists of alpha- and beta-subunits. Na,K-ATPase also associates with small FXYD proteins that regulate the activity of the pump. We have used cryoelectron microscopy of two-dimensional crystals including data to 8 A resolution to determine the three-dimensional (3-D) structure of renal Na,K-ATPase containing FXYD2, the gamma-subunit. A homology model for the alpha-subunit was calculated from a Ca(2+)-ATPase structure and used to locate the additional beta- and gamma-subunits present in the 3-D map of Na,K-ATPase. Based on the 3-D map, the beta-subunit is located close to transmembrane helices M8 and M10 and the gamma-subunit is adjacent to helices M2 and M9 of the alpha-subunit.     

Is the alkaline tide a signal to activate metabolic or ionoregulatory enzymes in the dogfish shark (Squalus acanthias)?

Experimental metabolic alkalosis is known to stimulate whole-animal urea production and active ion secretion by the rectal gland in the dogfish shark. Furthermore, recent evidence indicates that a marked alkaline tide (systemic metabolic alkalosis) follows feeding in this species and that the activities of the enzymes of the ornithine-urea cycle (OUC) for urea synthesis in skeletal muscle and liver and of energy metabolism and ion transport in the rectal gland are increased at this time. We therefore evaluated whether alkalosis and/or NaCl/volume loading (which also occurs with feeding) could serve as a signal for activation of these enzymes independent of nutrient loading. Fasted dogfish were infused for 20 h with either 500 mmol L(-1) NaHCO3 (alkalosis + volume expansion) or 500 mmol L(-1) NaCl (volume expansion alone), both isosmotic to dogfish plasma, at a rate of 3 mL kg(-1) h(-1). NaHCO3 infusion progressively raised arterial pH to 8.28 (control = 7.85) and plasma [HCO3-] to 20.8 mmol L(-1) (control = 4.5 mmol L(-1)) at 20 h, with unchanged arterial P(CO2), whereas NaCl/volume loading had no effect on blood acid-base status. Rectal gland Na+,K+-ATPase activity was increased 50% by NaCl loading and more than 100% by NaHCO3 loading, indicating stimulatory effects of both volume expansion and alkalosis. Rectal gland lactate dehydrogenase activity was elevated 25% by both treatments, indicating volume expansion effects only, whereas neither treatment increased the activities of the aerobic enzymes citrate synthase, NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase, or the ketone body-utilizing enzyme beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase in the rectal gland or liver. The activity of ornithine-citrulline transcarbamoylase in skeletal muscle was doubled by NaHCO3 infusion, but neither treatment altered the activities of other OUC-related enzymes (glutamine synthetase, carbamoylphosphate synthetase III). We conclude that both the alkaline tide and salt loading/volume expansion act as signals to activate some but not all of the elevated metabolic pathways and ionoregulatory mechanisms needed during processing of a meal.     

Novel role for Na,K-ATPase in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling and suppression of cell motility

The Na,K-ATPase, consisting of alpha- and beta-subunits, regulates intracellular ion homeostasis. Recent studies have demonstrated that Na,K-ATPase also regulates epithelial cell tight junction structure and functions. Consistent with an important role in the regulation of epithelial cell structure, both Na,K-ATPase enzyme activity and subunit levels are altered in carcinoma. Previously, we have shown that repletion of Na,K-ATPase beta1-subunit (Na,K-beta) in highly motile Moloney sarcoma virus-transformed Madin-Darby canine kidney (MSV-MDCK) cells suppressed their motility. However, until now, the mechanism by which Na,K-beta reduces cell motility remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that Na,K-beta localizes to lamellipodia and suppresses cell motility by a novel signaling mechanism involving a cross-talk between Na,K-ATPase alpha1-subunit (Na,K-alpha) and Na,K-beta with proteins involved in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) signaling pathway. We show that Na,K-alpha associates with the regulatory subunit of PI3-kinase and Na,K-beta binds to annexin II. These molecular interactions locally activate PI3-kinase at the lamellipodia and suppress cell motility in MSV-MDCK cells, independent of Na,K-ATPase ion transport activity. Thus, these results demonstrate a new role for Na,K-ATPase in regulating carcinoma cell motility.     

Regulation of Na,K-ATPase by PLMS,the phospholemman-like protein from shark: molecular cloning,sequence, expression,cellular distribution,and functional effects of PLMS

In Na,K-ATPase membrane preparations from shark rectal glands, we have previously identified an FXYD domain-containing protein, phospholemman-like protein from shark, PLMS. This protein was shown to associate and modulate shark Na,K-ATPase activity in vitro. Here we describe the complete coding sequence, expression, and cellular localization of PLMS in the rectal gland of the shark Squalus acanthias. The mature protein contained 74 amino acids, including the N-terminal FXYD motif and a C-terminal protein kinase multisite phosphorylation motif. The sequence is preceded by a 20 amino acid candidate cleavable signal sequence. Immunogold labeling of the Na,K-ATPase alpha-subunit and PLMS showed the presence of alpha and PLMS in the basolateral membranes of the rectal gland cells and suggested their partial colocalization. Furthermore, through controlled proteolysis, the C terminus of PLMS containing the protein kinase phosphorylation domain can be specifically cleaved. Removal of this domain resulted in stimulation of maximal Na,K-ATPase activity, as well as several partial reactions. Both the E1 approximately P --> E2-P reaction, which is partially rate-limiting in shark, and the K+ deocclusion reaction, E2(K) --> E1, are accelerated. The latter may explain the finding that the apparent Na+ affinity was increased by the specific C-terminal PLMS truncation. Thus, these data are consistent with a model where interaction of the phosphorylation domain of PLMS with the Na,K-ATPase alpha-subunit is important for the modulation of shark Na,K-ATPase activity.