Binding of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide by the renal brush border membrane from rat kidney cortex

The characteristics of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) binding on brush border membranes prepared from rat renal cortex were investigated with the use of radioactively labelled NAD, [adenine-2,8-3H]NAD+, as a ligand. (1) We found that NAD binds on brush border membrane and that the extent of NAD binding is linearly proportional to the brush border membrane protein, and progressively increases with concentration of NAD in the medium. (2) The rate of NAD binding was dependent on temperature. At 20 degrees C, the equilibrium binding was obtained at 15 min, while NAD binding at 0 degree C was slower, but the final level of binding reached at 120 min was similar to that plateau of binding observed at 20 degrees C. Brush border membrane inactivated by heating at 95 degrees C for 3 min did not bind NAD. Binding of NAD on brush border membranes was reversed by simple dilution or by the addition of unlabelled NAD. Both alpha-NAD and beta-NAD stereoisomers displaced bound [3H]NAD. Reduced NAD (NADH) caused less displacement of bound NAD than oxidized NAD+. Adenine, nicotinamide, pyrophosphate, of 5'-AMP did not displace bound NAD. (3) The NAD binding to brush border membranes was nearly saturable, approximating saturation at 10(-4) M NAD. Kinetic analysis by Scatchard plot indicates two sets of NAD binding sites in brush border membranes: a high-affinity binding site (Kd = 1.9 . 10(-5) M) and a low-affinity binding site (Kd = 2.2 . 10(-3) M). (4) Unlike concentrative uptake of D-[14C]glucose by brush border membrane vesicles, binding of NAD was not dependent on the presence of an outside-in sodium gradient [Na+0 greater than Na+i], nor was it abolished by repeated freezing and thawing of brush border membranes. Unlike D-[14C]glucose uptake, NAD binding by brush border membranes did not change upon decrease of intravesicular volume in hypertonic media. These observations indicate that NAD association with brush border membranes is true binding rather than intravesicular uptake of this compound. (5) The presence of specific binding sites in renal brush border membrane capable of binding of NAD with a high degree of affinity suggests that such sites may be involved in previously observed (Kempson, S.A., Colon-Otero, G., Ou, S.L., Turner, S.T. and Dousa, T.P. (1981) J. Clin. Invest. 67, 1347) modulatory effect of NAD on sodium-gradient-dependent uptake of phosphate across luminal brush border membrane of proximal tubules.     

Possible role of calcium mediators in parathyroid hormone action on phosphate transport in rabbit renal brush border membrane

The possibility of the involvement of intracellular calcium in the action of parathyroid hormone on phosphate transport in renal brush border membrane was examined. Preincubation of rabbit renal proximal tubules with parathyroid hormone or 8-bromo-cAMP induced a significant inhibition on phosphate uptake by the brush border membrane vesicles isolated therefrom. The addition of intracellular Ca antagonists, trifluoperazine or W-7, to the preincubation medium, alone was without effect on phosphate uptake by the brush border membrane vesicles, but abolished the inhibitory effects of parathyroid hormone and 8-bromo-cAMP.     

Subcellular distribution of thyroxine 5'-monodeiodinase activity in rabbit kidney

Thyroxine 5'-monodeiodinase is located in the proximal tubules of the rabbit kidney. To estimate the subcellular distribution of 5'-monodeiodinase activity, we prepared subcellular fractions, a basolateral membrane fraction and a brush border membrane fraction, from kidneys of Japanese white rabbits. Each fraction (0.5 mg protein) was incubated at 37 degrees C for 60 min with 0.5 micrograms T4 in the presence of 5 mM DTT. The T3 generated in the reaction mixture was extracted with cold ethanol and measured by RIA. For analysis of propylthiouracil-insensitive thyroxine 5'-monodeiodinase, we examined its kinetic behavior at nanomolar concentrations of the substrate, T4, in the presence of 100 microM propylthiouracil. In order of decreasing activity, basolateral membrane, microsomal fraction, mitochondrial fraction, cytosolic fraction, brush border membrane and nuclear fraction were capable of converting T4 to T3. Upon addition of 10(-5) M propylthiouracil to the reaction mixture, 5'-monodeiodinase activities of basolateral membrane and brush border membrane were inhibited by more than 90%, but that of microsomes was inhibited by only about 50%. In addition, kinetic analysis of microsomal 5'-monodeiodinase activity at nanomolar T4 concentrations in the presence of 10(-4) M propylthiouracil suggested on apparent Km of 3.8 nmol. These results indicate that there is high-Km 5'-monodeiodinase activity (PTU-sensitive) in the basolateral and brush border membranes and also high-Km and low-Km 5'-monodeiodinase (PTU-insensitive) in the microsomes of rabbit kidney.     

Signals that regulate GLUT4 translocation

We have shown that there is a maturational increase in osmotic water permeability (Pf) of rabbit renal brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV). The purpose of the present study was to further investigate the changes in proximal tubule water transport that occur during postnatal development. Diffusional water permeability (PDW) has not been measured directly in adult or neonatal BBMV. We validated the method described by Ye and Verkman (Simultaneous optical measurement of osmotic and diffusional water permeability in cells and liposomes. Biochemistry 28:824-829, 1989) to measure PDW in red cell ghosts and liposomes, to examine the maturational changes in PDW in BBMV. This method utilizes the sensitivity of 8-aminonaphtalene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (ANTS) fluorescence to the D2O-H2O content of the solvent. ANTS-loaded neonatal (11 days old) and adult BBMV were rapidly mixed with two volumes of isoosmotic D2O solution using a stopped-flow apparatus at 5 degrees -37 degrees C. PDW was lower in neonatal than adult BBMV at 5 degrees (3.77 +/- 0.34 vs. 5.35 +/- 0.43 mm/sec, respectively, p<0.05) and 20 degrees C (7.03 +/- 0.40 vs. 9.04 +/- 0.25 mm/sec, respectively, p<0.001), but was not different at 30 degrees and 37 degrees C. The activation energy (Ea) was higher in neonatal than in adult BBMV (9.29 +/- 0.56 kcal/mol vs. 6.46 +/- 0.56 kcal/mol, p<0.001). In adult BBMV, PDW was inhibited by 0.5 mM HgCl2 by 46.6 +/- 3.6%, while it was not affected in neonatal BBMV (p<0.001). The results indicate that PDW can be measured in rabbit renal BBMV. There are significant changes in water transport across the apical membrane during postnatal development, consistent with a maturational increase in channel-mediated water transport.     

Phorbol myristate acetate activates protein kinase C, stimulates the phosphorylation of endogenous proteins and inhibits phosphate transport in mouse renal tubules

Calcium-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) has been implicated in the regulation of transport processes in a variety of tissues and cell lines. To establish whether protein kinase C participates in the regulation of renal phosphate transport, we examined the effect of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a potent activator of protein kinase C, on phosphate uptake in fresh preparations of mouse renal tubules, and we correlated the changes in transport activity with protein kinase C activation and phosphorylation of endogenous proteins. PMA inhibited Na+-dependent phosphate transport, elicited a rapid translocation of protein kinase C from the cytosolic to the particulate fraction and stimulated the phosphorylation of endogenous substrates in the cytosolic and brush border membrane fractions. Effects of PMA were maximal after a 10 min incubation of the tubules with the activator. 4 alpha-Phorbol, an inert analogue of PMA, did not elicit any of these effects. The present results demonstrate a temporal correlation between inhibition of Na+-dependent phosphate transport, translocation and activation of protein kinase C, and phosphorylation of endogenous proteins in mouse renal tubules. These data suggest that protein kinase C may play a regulatory role in phosphate transport in mammalian kidney.     

Effect of angiotensin-II on renal Na+/H+ exchanger-NHE3 and NHE2

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of angiotensin II (A-II) on membrane expression of Na+/H+ exchange isoforms NHE3 and NHE2 in the rat renal cortex. A-II (500 ng/kg per min) was chronically infused into the Sprague-Dawley rats by miniosmotic pump for 7 days. Arterial pressure and circulating plasma A-II level were significantly increased in A-II rats as compared to control rats. pH-dependent uptake of 22Na+ study in the presence of 50 microM HOE-694 revealed that Na+ uptake mediated by NHE3 was increased approximately 88% in the brush border membrane from renal cortex of A-II-treated rats. Western blotting showed that A-II increased NHE3 immunoreactive protein levels in the brush border membrane of the proximal tubules by 31%. Northern blotting revealed that A-II increased NHE3 mRNA abundance in the renal cortex by 42%. A-II treatment did not alter brush border NHE2 protein abundance in the renal proximal tubules. In conclusion, chronic A-II treatment increases NHE3-mediated Na+ uptake by stimulating NHE3 mRNA and protein content.     

Effects of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on the transport of alpha-methyl-D-glucoside and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid in separated tubules and brush border membranes from rabbit kidney.

The effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on the transport of alpha-methyl-D-glucoside and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid in separated tubules and purified brush border membranes from rabbit kidney was investigated using a rapid filtration procedure. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP stimulated the uptake of alpha-methyl-D-glucoside and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid by separated renal tubules in agreement iwth prior studies utilizing renal slices (Rea, C. and Segal, S. (1973) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 311, 615--624; Weiss, I.W., Morgan, K. and Phang, J.M. (1972) J. Biol. Chem. 247, 760--764). However, in contrast to previous reports, no preincubation of the tissue with dibutyryl cyclic AMP was required for stimulation of transport to be manifest. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP stimulated oxygen consumption by separated tubules suggesting that stimulation of transport may occur by a linkage with renal oxidative metabolism. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP increased the uptake of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid into purified renal brush border membranes. However the uptakes of alpha-methyl-D-glucoside, proline, leucine and phosphate into brush border membranes were significantly inhibited.     

Different molecular sizes for Na(+)-dependent phosphonoformic acid binding and phosphate transport in renal brush border membrane vesicles

We compared several features of Na(+)-dependent phosphono[14C]formic acid (PFA) binding and Na(+)-dependent phosphate transport in rat renal brush border membrane vesicles. From kinetic analyses, we estimated an apparent Km for PFA binding of 0.86 mM, an order of magnitude greater than that for phosphate and the high-affinity phosphate transport system. A hyperbolic Na(+)-saturation curve for PFA binding and a sigmoidal Na(+)-saturation curve for phosphate transport were demonstrated; based on these data, we estimated stoichiometries of 1:1 for Na+/PFA and 2:1 for Na+/phosphate. By radiation inactivation analysis, target sizes for brush border membrane protein(s) mediating Na(+)-dependent PFA binding and Na(+)-dependent phosphate transport corresponded to molecular masses of 555 +/- 32 kDa and 205 +/- 36 kDa, respectively. Similar analysis of the phosphate-inhibitable component of Na(+)-dependent PFA binding gave a target size of 130 +/- 28 kDa. We also demonstrated that phosphate deprivation, which elicits a 2.6-fold increase in brush border membrane Na(+)-dependent phosphate transport, had no effect on either Na(+)-dependent PFA binding or on the target size for PFA binding. However, phosphate deprivation appeared to increase the target size for phosphate transport (from 255 +/- 32 to 335 +/- 75 kDa (P less than 0.01]. In summary, we present evidence for several differences between Na(+)-dependent PFA binding and Na(+)-dependent phosphate transport in rat renal brush border membrane vesicles and suggest that PFA may not interact exclusively with the proteins mediating Na(+)-phosphate co-transport.     

Effect of angiotensin-II on renal Na/H exchanger-NHE3 and NHE2

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of angiotensin II (A-II) on membrane expression of Na⁺/H⁺ exchange isoforms NHE3 and NHE2 in the rat renal cortex. A-II (500 ng/kg per min) was chronically infused into the Sprague-Dawley rats by miniosmotic pump for 7 days. Arterial pressure and circulating plasma A-II level were significantly increased in A-II rats as compared to control rats. pH-dependent uptake of ²²Na⁺ study in the presence of 50 μM HOE-694 revealed that Na⁺ uptake mediated by NHE3 was increased ∼88% in the brush border membrane from renal cortex of A-II-treated rats. Western blotting showed that A-II increased NHE3 immunoreactive protein levels in the brush border membrane of the proximal tubules by 31%. Northern blotting revealed that A-II increased NHE3 mRNA abundance in the renal cortex by 42%. A-II treatment did not alter brush border NHE2 protein abundance in the renal proximal tubules. In conclusion, chronic A-II treatment increases NHE3-mediated Na⁺ uptake by stimulating NHE3 mRNA and protein content.     

Effects of dibutyryl cyclic amp on the transport of α-methyl-d-glucoside and α-aminoisobutyric acid in separated tubules and brush border membranes from rabbit kidney

The effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on the transport of α-methyl-d-glucoside and α-aminoisobutyric acid in separated tubules and purified brush border membranes from rabbit kidney was investigated using a rapid filtration procedure. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP stimulated the uptake of α-methyl-d-glucoside and α-aminoisobutyric acid by separated renal tubules in agreement with prior studies utilizing renal slices (Rea, C. and Segal, S. (1973) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 311, 615–624; Weiss, I.W., Morgan, K. and Phang, J.M. (1972) J. Biol. Chem. 247, 760–764). However, in contrast to previous reports, no preincubation of the tissue with dibutyryl cyclic AMP was required for stimulation of transport to be manifest. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP stimulated oxygen consumption by separated tubules suggesting that stimulation of transport may occur by a linkage with renal oxidative metabolism. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP increased the uptake of α-aminoisobutyric acid into purified renal brush border membranes. However the uptakes of α-methyl-d-glucoside, proline, leucine and phosphate into brush border membranes were significantly inhibited.     

Ontogeny of rabbit proximal tubule urea permeability

Urea transport in the proximal tubule is passive and is dependent on the epithelial permeability. The present study examined the maturation of urea permeability (P(urea)) in in vitro perfused proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) and basolateral membrane vesicles (BLMV) from rabbit renal cortex. Urea transport was lower in neonatal than adult PCT at both 37 and 25 degrees C. The PCT P(urea) was also lower in the neonates than the adults (37 degrees C: 45.4 +/- 10.8 vs. 88.5 +/- 15.2 x 10(-6) cm/s, P < 0.05; 25 degrees C: 28.5 +/- 6.9 vs. 55.3 +/- 10.4 x 10(-6) cm/s; P < 0.05). The activation energy for PCT P(urea) was not different between the neonatal and adult groups. BLMV P(urea) was determined by measuring vesicle shrinkage, due to efflux of urea, using a stop-flow instrument. Neonatal BLMV P(urea) was not different from adult BLMV P(urea) at 37 degrees C [1.14 +/- 0.05 x 10(-6) vs. 1.25 +/- 0.05 x 10(-6) cm/s; P = not significant (NS)] or 25 degrees C (0.94 +/- 0.06 vs. 1.05 +/- 0.10 x 10(-6) cm/s; P = NS). There was no effect of 250 microM phloretin, an inhibitor of the urea transporter, on P(urea) in either adult or neonatal BLMV. The activation energy for urea diffusion was also identical in the neonatal and adult BLMV. These findings in the BLMV are in contrast to the brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) where we have previously demonstrated that urea transport is lower in the neonate than the adult. Urea transport is lower in the neonatal proximal tubule than the adult. This is due to a lower rate of apical membrane urea transport, whereas basolateral urea transport is the same in neonates and adults. The lower P(urea) in neonatal proximal tubules may play a role in overall urea excretion and in developing and maintaining a high medullary urea concentration and thus in the ability to concentrate the urine during renal maturation.     

Fibroblast growth factor-23-mediated inhibition of renal phosphate transport in mice requires sodium-hydrogen exchanger regulatory factor-1 (NHERF-1) and synergizes with parathyroid hormone

Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) inhibits sodium-dependent phosphate transport in brush border membrane vesicles derived from hormone-treated kidney slices of the mouse and in mouse proximal tubule cells by processes involving mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) but not protein kinase A (PKA) or protein kinase C (PKC). By contrast, phosphate transport in brush border membrane vesicles and proximal tubule cells from sodium-hydrogen exchanger regulatory factor-1 (NHERF-1)-null mice were resistant to the inhibitory effect of FGF-23 (10(-9) m). Infection of NHERF-1-null proximal tubule cells with wild-type adenovirus-GFP-NHERF-1 increased basal phosphate transport and restored the inhibitory effect of FGF-23. Infection with adenovirus-GFP-NHERF-1 containing a S77A or T95D mutation also increased basal phosphate transport, but the cells remained resistant to FGF-23 (10(-9) m). Low concentrations of FGF-23 (10(-13) m) and PTH (10(-11) m) individually did not inhibit phosphate transport or activate PKA, PKC, or MAPK. When combined, however, these hormones markedly inhibited phosphate transport associated with activation of PKC and PKA but not MAPK. These studies indicate that FGF-23 inhibits phosphate transport in the mouse kidney by processes that involve the scaffold protein NHERF-1. In addition, FGF-23 synergizes with PTH to inhibit phosphate transport by facilitating the activation of the PTH signal transduction pathway.     

Functional unit of 30 kDa for proximal tubule water channels as revealed by radiation inactivation

The high water permeability of kidney proximal tubules is of paramount importance for isotonic reabsorption of 70% of the glomerular filtrate, and water channels have been postulated to account for the high water permeability. Target analysis following radiation inactivation was used to probe the molecular size of the water channel. Samples of brush border membranes from rat renal cortex were subjected to 3-MeV electron pulses from the Van de Graaff accelerator at a temperature of -130 degrees C. The inactivation of the renal brush border enzymes, alkaline phosphatase, and maltase was used for internal standardization of accumulated dose measurements in target analysis of the water channel. Osmotic water permeability was measured by following the change in scattered light intensity upon rapid mixing of vesicles with a hypertonic solution using stopped-flow spectrophotometry. The vesicle shrinkage response was biphasic and the rate of the fast phase decreased dose dependently by irradiation corresponding to a target size of 30 +/- 3.5 kDa. The total change in scattered light intensity was unaltered, indicating that irradiation did not destroy the lipid barrier. Our results provide strong support for the hypothesis that the high osmotic water permeability of renal proximal tubules results from a water channel-specific protein with a functional unit of 30 kDa.     

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance measurement of diffusional water permeability in suspended renal proximal tubules.

Diffusional water permeability was measured in renal proximal tubule cell membranes by pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance using proton spin-lattice relaxation times (T1). A suspension of viable proximal tubules was prepared from rabbit renal cortex by Dounce homogenization and differential sieving. T1 measured in a tubule suspension (22% of exchangeable water in the intracellular compartment) containing 20 mM extracellular MnCl2 was biexponential with time constants 1.8 +/- 0.1 ms and 8.3 +/- 0.2 ms (mean +/- SD, n = 8, 37 degrees C, 10 MHz). The slower time constant, representing diffusional exchange of water between intracellular and extracellular compartments, increased to 11.6 +/- 0.6 ms (n = 6) after incubation of tubules with 5 mM parachloromercuribenzene sulfonate (pCMBS) for 60 min at 4 degrees C and was temperature dependent with activation energy Ea = 2.9 +/- 0.4 kcal/mol. To relate T1 data to cell membrane diffusional water permeabilities (Pd), a three-compartment exchange model was developed that included intrinsic decay of proton magnetization in each compartment and apical and basolateral membrane water transport. The model predicted that the slow T1 was relatively insensitive to apical membrane Pd because of low luminal/cell volume ratio. Based on this analysis, basolateral Pd (corrected for basolateral membrane surface convolutions) is 2.0 X 10(-3) cm/s, much lower than corresponding values for basolateral Pf (10-30 X 10(-3) cm/s) measured in the intact tubule and in isolated basolateral membrane vesicles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Evidence for receptor-mediated uptake of adenosine deaminase in rabbit kidney

We investigated the subcellular location of adenosine deaminase-complexing protein in the proximal renal tubules of rabbit kidney and its interaction with intravenously infused monomeric calf adenosine deaminase. Cortical tissue from non-infused animals, stained in suspension by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method for complexing protein and embedded in resin, was examined by transmission electron microscopy. Positive staining indicated the presence of complexing protein on the surface of microvilli in the proximal tubules. Sections (1 micron) of resin-embedded cortex from infused rabbits, stained first for complexing protein and then for adenosine deaminase, were examined by light microscopy. After staining for complexing protein by indirect immunofluorescence, the sections were photographed and then immersed in buffer containing 6 M guanidine hydrochloride plus 2-mercaptoethanol for 3 hr at 60 degrees C to remove bound antibodies. The sections were then stained by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method for infused enzyme. Vesicle-like apical structures, the basal membrane area and, as previously reported, the brush border of proximal tubule cells were positive for complexing protein. Vesicle-like structures and brush borders positive for complexing protein were also stained for adenosine deaminase. The basal membrane area did not stain. These results support the hypothesis that complexing protein can act as a receptor for adenosine deaminase.     

Localization of nucleotide pyrophosphatase in the rat kidney

Hydrolysis of NAD by a nucleotide pyrophosphatase of renal membrane fractions has been reported previously. The aim of the present study was to localize this enzyme in the rat kidney. Nucleotide pyrophosphatase was assayed in glomeruli, in three parts of the proximal tubule and in four parts of the distal tubule dissected form freeze-dried sections. Nucleotide pyrophosphatase activity, expressed in mumol X min-1 X mg protein-1, ranged between 9.8 and 32.3 in the proximal tubular segments and between 1.1 and 2.7 in the distal tubular segments. It was 3.4 in the glomeruli. The enrichment of the activity during the purification of brush border vesicles was measured. A ten-fold higher specific activity was found in the brush border vesicles as compared to the renal cortical homogenates. Thus, most of the renal nucleotide pyrophosphatase appears to be localized in the luminal membrane of the proximal tubule. A permeabilization of the membrane did not increase the activity of brush border vesicles. This indicates that all catalytic sites are accessible at the outer surface of the membrane.     

Temperature dependence of solute transport and enzyme activities in hog renal brush border membrane vesicles

The temperature dependence of sodium-dependent and sodium-independent d-glucose and phosphate uptake by renal brush border membrane vesicles has been studied under tracer exchange conditions. For sodium-dependent d-glucose and phosphate uptake, discontinuities in the Arrhenius plot were observed. The apparent activation energy for both processes increased at least 4-fold with decreasing temperature. The most striking change in the slope of the Arrhenius plot occurred between 12 and 15°C. The sodium-independent uptake of d-glucose and phosphate showed a linear Arrhenius plot over the temperature range tested (35–5°C). The behavior of the transport processes was compared to the temperature dependence of typical brush border membrane enzymes. Alkaline phosphatase as intrinsic membrane protein showed a nonlinear Arrhenius plot with a transition temperature at 12.4°C. Aminopeptidase M, an extrinsic membrane protein exhibited a linear Arrhenius plot. These data indicate that the sodium-glucose and sodium-phosphate cotransport systems are intrinsic brush border membrane proteins, and that a change in membrane organization alters the activity of a variety of intrinsic membrane proteins simultaneously.     

CHIP28 water channels are localized in constitutively water-permeable segments of the nephron

The sites of water transport along the nephron are well characterized, but the molecular basis of renal water transport remains poorly understood. CHIP28 is a 28-kD integral protein which was proposed to mediate transmembrane water movement in red cells and kidney (Preston, G. M., T. P. Carroll, W. B. Guggino, and P. Agre. 1992. Science [Wash. DC]. 256:385-387). To determine whether CHIP28 could account for renal epithelial water transport, we used specific polyclonal antibodies to quantitate and localize CHIP28 at cellular and subcellular levels in rat kidney using light and electron microscopy. CHIP28 comprised 3.8% of isolated proximal tubule brush border protein. Except for the first few cells of the S1 segment, CHIP28 was immunolocalized throughout the convoluted and straight proximal tubules where it was observed in the microvilli of the apical brush border and in basolateral membranes. Very little CHIP28 was detected in endocytic vesicles or other intracellular structures in proximal tubules. Uninterrupted, heavy immunostaining of CHIP28 was also observed over both apical and basolateral membranes of descending thin limbs, including both short and long loops of Henle. These nephron sites have constitutively high osmotic water permeabilities. CHIP28 was not detected in ascending thin limbs, thick ascending limbs, or distal tubules, which are highly impermeable to water. Moreover, CHIP28 was not detected in collecting duct epithelia, where water permeability is regulated by antidiuretic hormone. These determinations of abundance and structural organization provide evidence that the CHIP28 water channel is the predominant pathway for constitutive transepithelial water transport in the proximal tubule and descending limb of Henle's loop.     

Linking receptor-mediated endocytosis and cell signaling: evidence for regulated intramembrane proteolysis of megalin in proximal tubule

Megalin, a member of the low density lipoprotein receptor gene family, is required for efficient protein absorption in the proximal tubule. Recent studies have shown that the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein, another member of this gene family, is proteolytically processed by gamma-secretase implying a role for low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein in a Notchlike signaling pathway. This pathway has been shown to involve: 1) metalloprotease-mediated ectodomain shedding and gamma-secretase-mediated intramembrane proteolysis of some receptors. Experiments were performed to determine whether megalin undergoes similar processing. By immunocytochemistry, immunoblotting, and a fluorogenic enzyme assay presenilin-1 (required for gamma-secretase activity) and gamma-secretase activity were found in the brush border of proximal kidney tubules where megalin is localized. Using a fluorogenic peptide containing an amyloid precursor protein gamma-secretase cleavage site and Compound E, a specific gamma-secretase inhibitor, we found high levels of gamma-secretase activity in renal brush border membrane vesicles. Immunoblotting analysis of renal microsomes and opossum kidney proximal tubule (OKP) cells using antibodies directed to the cytosolic domain of megalin showed a 35-40-kDa, membrane-associated, carboxyl-terminal fragment of megalin (MCTF). When cells were incubated with 200 nm phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, the appearance of the MCTF increased 2.5-fold and was blocked by metalloprotease inhibitors. When the cells were incubated with gamma-secretase inhibitor Compound E, it caused a 2-fold increase in MCTF. Finally, incubating the cells with 1 microm vitamin D-binding protein resulted in a 25% increase in the appearance of the MCTF. In summary, the MCTF is produced by protein kinase C regulated, metalloprotease-mediated ectodomain shedding and is the substrate for gamma-secretase. We postulate that the enzymatic processing of megalin represents part of a novel ligand-dependent signaling pathway in the proximal tubule that links receptor-mediated endocytosis with cell signaling.