Urearetics: a small molecule screen yields nanomolar potency inhibitors of urea transporter UT-B

Crystal structure of a bacterial homologue of the kidney urea transporter

Urea is highly concentrated in the mammalian kidney to produce the osmotic gradient necessary for water re-absorption. Free diffusion of urea across cell membranes is slow owing to its high polarity, and specialized urea transporters have evolved to achieve rapid and selective urea permeation. Here we present the 2.3 A structure of a functional urea transporter from the bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris. The transporter is a homotrimer, and each subunit contains a continuous membrane-spanning pore formed by the two homologous halves of the protein. The pore contains a constricted selectivity filter that can accommodate several dehydrated urea molecules in single file. Backbone and side-chain oxygen atoms provide continuous coordination of urea as it progresses through the filter, and well-placed alpha-helix dipoles provide further compensation for dehydration energy. These results establish that the urea transporter operates by a channel-like mechanism and reveal the physical and chemical basis of urea selectivity.

Aquaporins: translating bench research to human disease

There is considerable potential for translating knowledge of aquaporin structure, function and physiology to the clinic. One area is in aquaporin-based diagnostics. The discovery of AQP4 autoantibodies as a marker of the neuromyelitis optica form of multiple sclerosis has allowed precise diagnosis of this disease. Other aquaporin-based diagnostics are possible. Another area is in aquaporin-based genetics. Genetic diseases caused by loss-of-function mutations in aquaporins include nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and cataracts, and functionally significant aquaporin polymorphisms are beginning to be explored. Perhaps of greatest translational potential is aquaporin-based therapeutics. Information largely from aquaporin knockout mice has implicated key roles of aquaporin-facilitated water transport in transepithelial fluid transport (urinary concentrating, gland fluid secretion), water movement into and out of the brain, cell migration (angiogenesis, tumor metastasis, wound healing) and neural function (sensory signaling, seizures). A subset of aquaporins that transport both water and glycerol, the 'aquaglyceroporins', regulate glycerol content in epidermal, fat and other tissues, and are involved in skin hydration, cell proliferation, carcinogenesis and fat metabolism. Aquaporin-based modulator drugs are predicted to be of broad potential utility in the treatment of edematous states, cancer, obesity, wound healing, epilepsy and glaucoma. These exciting possibilities and their associated challenges are reviewed.

Functional characterization of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae urea transport protein, ApUT

Urea transporters (UTs) effect rapid flux of urea across biological membranes. In the mammalian kidney, UT activity is essential for effective urine concentration. In bacteria, UT-mediated urea uptake permits intracellular urease to degrade urea to ammonia and CO(2), a process that either buffers acid loads or provides nutrient nitrogen. We have characterized the urea transport channel protein ApUT from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Kinetic analysis of bacterial inside-out membranes enriched in ApUT showed approximately 28-fold increase in urea permeability (3.3 +/- 0.4 x 10(-4) cm/s) compared with control vesicles (0.11 +/- 0.02 x 10(-4) cm/s). In addition to urea, ApUT also conducts water. Urea and water transport across the channel was phloretin and mercury inhibitable, and the site of inhibition may be located on the cytoplasmic side of the protein. Glycerol and urea analogs, such as methylamine, dimethylurea, formamide, acetamide, methylurea, propanamide, and ethylamine did not permeate across ApUT.

Comparative transport efficiencies of urea analogues through urea transporter UT-B

Expression of urea transporter UT-B confers high urea permeability to mammalian erythrocytes. Erythrocyte membranes also permeate various urea analogues, suggesting common transport pathways for urea and structurally similar solutes. In this study, we examined UT-B-facilitated passage of urea analogues and other neutral small solutes by comparing transport properties of wildtype to UT-B-deficient mouse erythrocytes. Stopped-flow light-scattering measurements indicated high UT-B permeability to urea and chemical analogues formamide, acetamide, methylurea, methylformamide, ammonium carbamate, and acrylamide, each with P(s)>5.0 x 10(-6) cm/s at 10 degrees C. UT-B genetic knockout and phloretin treatment of wildtype erythrocytes similarly reduced urea analogue permeabilities. Strong temperature dependencies of formamide, acetamide, acrylamide and butyramide transport across UT-B-null membranes (E(a)>10 kcal/mol) suggested efficient diffusion of these amides across lipid bilayers. Urea analogues dimethylurea, acryalmide, methylurea, thiourea and methylformamide inhibited UT-B-mediated urea transport by >60% in the absence of transmembrane analogue gradients, supporting a pore-blocking mechanism of UT-B inhibition. Differential transport efficiencies of urea and its analogues through UT-B provide insight into chemical interactions between neutral solutes and the UT-B pore.