Alternative splicing and diversity of renal transporters

Genome-wide alternative splicing profile in the posterior kidney of brown trout (Salmo trutta) during proliferative kidney disease

BACKGROUND

The cnidarian myxozoan parasite Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae causes chronic proliferative kidney disease (PKD) in salmonids. This parasite is a serious threat to wild and cultured salmonids. T. bryosalmonae undergoes intra-luminal sporogonic development in the kidney of brown trout (Salmo trutta) and the viable spores are released via urine. We investigated the alternative splicing pattern in the posterior kidney of brown trout during PKD.

RESULTS

RNA-seq data were generated from the posterior kidney of brown trout collected at 12 weeks post-exposure to T. bryosalmonae. Subsequently, this data was mapped to the brown trout genome. About 153 significant differently expressed alternatively spliced (DEAS) genes, (delta PSI = 5%, FDR P-value < 0.05) were identified from 19,722 alternatively spliced events. Among the DEAS genes, the least and most abundant alternative splicing types were alternative 5' splice site (5.23%) and exon skipping (70.59%), respectively. The DEAS genes were significantly enriched for sodium-potassium transporter activity and ion homeostasis (ahcyl1, atp1a3a, atp1a1a.1, and atp1a1a.5). The protein-protein interaction network analysis enriched two local network clusters namely cation transporting ATPase C-terminus and Sodium/potassium ATPase beta chain cluster, and mixed inclusion of Ion homeostasis and EF-hand domain cluster. Furthermore, the human disease-related salmonella infection pathway was significantly enriched in the protein-protein interaction network.

CONCLUSION

This study provides the first baseline information about alternative splicing in brown trout during PKD. The generated data lay a foundation for further functional molecular studies in PKD - brown trout infection model. The information generated from the present study can help to develop therapeutic strategies for PKD in the future.

Osmoregulatory inositol transporter SMIT1 modulates electrical activity by adjusting PI(4,5)P2 levels

Myo-inositol is an important cellular osmolyte in autoregulation of cell volume and fluid balance, particularly for mammalian brain and kidney cells. We find it also regulates excitability. Myo-inositol is the precursor of phosphoinositides, key signaling lipids including phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2]. However, whether myo-inositol accumulation during osmoregulation affects signaling and excitability has not been fully explored. We found that overexpression of the Na(+)/myo-inositol cotransporter (SMIT1) and myo-inositol supplementation enlarged intracellular PI(4,5)P2 pools, modulated several PI(4,5)P2-dependent ion channels including KCNQ2/3 channels, and attenuated the action potential firing of superior cervical ganglion neurons. Further experiments using the rapamycin-recruitable phosphatase Sac1 to hydrolyze PI(4)P and the P4M probe to visualize PI(4)P suggested that PI(4)P levels increased after myo-inositol supplementation with SMIT1 expression. Elevated relative levels of PIP and PIP2 were directly confirmed using mass spectrometry. Inositol trisphosphate production and release of calcium from intracellular stores also were augmented after myo-inositol supplementation. Finally, we found that treatment with a hypertonic solution mimicked the effect we observed with SMIT1 overexpression, whereas silencing tonicity-responsive enhancer binding protein prevented these effects. These results show that ion channel function and cellular excitability are under regulation by several "physiological" manipulations that alter the PI(4,5)P2 setpoint. We demonstrate a previously unrecognized linkage between extracellular osmotic changes and the electrical properties of excitable cells.

Alternative channels for urea in the inner medulla of the rat kidney

The ascending thin limbs (ATLs) and lower descending thin limbs (DTLs) of Henle's loop in the inner medulla of the rat are highly permeable to urea, and yet no urea transporters have been identified in these sections. We hypothesized that novel, yet-unidentified transporters in these tubule segments could explain the high urea permeability. cDNAs encoding for Na(+)-glucose transporter 1a (SGLT1a), Na(+)-glucose transporter 1 (NaGLT1), urea transporter (UT)-A2c, and UT-A2d were isolated and cloned from the Munich-Wistar rat inner medulla. SGLT1a is a novel NH2-terminal truncated variant of SGLT1. NaGLT1 is a Na(+)-dependent glucose transporter primarily located in the proximal tubules and not previously described in the thin limbs. UT-A2c and UT-A2d are novel variants of UT-A2. UT-A2c is truncated at the COOH terminus, and UT-A2d has one exon skipped. When rats underwent water restriction for 72 h, mRNA levels of SGLT1a increased in ATLs, NaGLT1 levels increased in both ATLs and DTLs, and UT-A2c increased in ATLs. [(14)C]urea uptake assays performed on Xenopus oocytes heterologously expressing these proteins revealed that despite having structural differences from their full-length versions, SGLT1a, UT-A2c, and UT-A2d enhanced urea uptake. NaGLT1 also facilitated urea uptake. Uptakes were Na(+) independent and inhibitable by phloretin and/or phloridzin. Our data indicate that there are several alternative channels for urea in the rat inner medulla that could potentially contribute to the high urea permeabilities in thin limb segments.

The divergence, actions, roles, and relatives of sodium-coupled bicarbonate transporters

The mammalian Slc4 (Solute carrier 4) family of transporters is a functionally diverse group of 10 multi-spanning membrane proteins that includes three Cl-HCO3 exchangers (AE1-3), five Na(+)-coupled HCO3(-) transporters (NCBTs), and two other unusual members (AE4, BTR1). In this review, we mainly focus on the five mammalian NCBTs-NBCe1, NBCe2, NBCn1, NDCBE, and NBCn2. Each plays a specialized role in maintaining intracellular pH and, by contributing to the movement of HCO3(-) across epithelia, in maintaining whole-body pH and otherwise contributing to epithelial transport. Disruptions involving NCBT genes are linked to blindness, deafness, proximal renal tubular acidosis, mental retardation, and epilepsy. We also review AE1-3, AE4, and BTR1, addressing their relevance to the study of NCBTs. This review draws together recent advances in our understanding of the phylogenetic origins and physiological relevance of NCBTs and their progenitors. Underlying these advances is progress in such diverse disciplines as physiology, molecular biology, genetics, immunocytochemistry, proteomics, and structural biology. This review highlights the key similarities and differences between individual NCBTs and the genes that encode them and also clarifies the sometimes confusing NCBT nomenclature.

RNA-Seq reveals different mRNA abundance of transporters and their alternative transcript isoforms during liver development

During development, the maturation of liver transporters is essential for chemical elimination in newborns and children. One cannot compare the real abundance of transcripts by conventional messenger RNA (mRNA) profiling methods; in comparison, RNA-Seq provides a "true quantification" of transcript counts and an unbiased detection of novel transcripts. The purpose of this study was to compare the mRNA abundance of liver transporters and seek their novel transcripts during liver development. Livers from male C57BL/6J mice were collected at 12 ages from prenatal to adulthood. The transcriptome was determined by RNA-Seq, with transcript abundance estimated by Cufflinks. Among 498 known transporters, the ontogeny of 62 known critical xenobiotic transporters was examined in detail. The cumulative mRNAs of the uptake transporters increased more than the efflux transporters in livers after birth. A heatmap revealed three ontogenic patterns of these transporters, namely perinatal (reaching maximal expression before birth), adolescent (about 20 days), and adult enriched (about 60 days of age). Before birth, equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 was the transporter with highest expression in liver (29%), followed by breast cancer resistance protein (Bcrp) (26%). Within 1 day after birth, the mRNAs of these two transporters decreased markedly, and Ntcp became the transporter with highest expression (52%). In adult liver, the transporters with highest expression were organic cation transporter 1 and Ntcp (23% and 22%, respectively). Three isoforms of Bcrp with alternate leading exons were identified (E1a, E1b, and E1c), with E1b being the major isoform. In conclusion, this study reveals the mRNA abundance of transporters in liver and demonstrates that the expression of liver transporters is both age and isoform specific.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha is an endogenous inhibitor of Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter (NKCC2) isoform A in the thick ascending limb

The effects of TNF gene deletion on renal Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransporter (NKCC2) expression and activity were determined. Outer medulla from TNF(-/-) mice exhibited a twofold increase in total NKCC2 protein expression compared with wild-type (WT) mice. This increase was not observed in TNF(-/-) mice treated with recombinant human TNF (hTNF) for 7 days. Administration of hTNF had no effect on total NKCC2 expression in WT mice. A fourfold increase in NKCC2A mRNA accumulation was observed in outer medulla from TNF(-/-) compared with WT mice; NKCC2F and NKCC2B mRNA accumulation was similar between genotypes. The increase in NKCC2A mRNA accumulation was attenuated when TNF(-/-) mice were treated with hTNF. Bumetanide-sensitive O(2) consumption, an in vitro correlate of NKCC2 activity, was 2.8 ± 0.2 nmol·min(-1)·mg(-1) in medullary thick ascending limb tubules from WT, representing ∼40% of total O(2) consumption, whereas, in medullary thick ascending limb tubules from TNF(-/-) mice, it was 5.6 ± 0.3 nmol·min(-1)·mg(-1), representing ∼60% of total O(2) consumption. Administration of hTNF to TNF(-/-) mice restored the bumetanide-sensitive component to ∼30% of total O(2) consumption. Ambient urine osmolality was higher in TNF(-/-) compared with WT mice (2,072 ± 104 vs. 1,696 ± 153 mosmol/kgH(2)O, P < 0.05). The diluting ability of the kidney, assessed by measuring urine osmolality before and after 1 h of water loading also was greater in TNF(-/-) compared with WT mice (174 ± 38 and 465 ± 81 mosmol/kgH(2)O, respectively, P < 0.01). Collectively, these findings suggest that TNF plays a role as an endogenous inhibitor of NKCC2 expression and function.

Alternate mRNA splicing in multiple human tryptase genes is predicted to regulate tetramer formation

Tryptases are serine proteases that are thought to be uniquely and proteolytically active as tetramers. Crystallographic studies reveal that the active tetramer is a flat ring structure composed of four monomers, with their active sites arranged around a narrow central pore. This model explains why many of the preferred substrates of tryptase are short peptides; however, it does not explain how tryptase cleaves large protein substrates such as fibronectin, although a number of studies have reported in vitro mechanisms for generating active monomers that could digest larger substrates. Here we suggest that alternate mRNA splicing of human tryptase genes generates active tryptase monomers (or dimers). We have identified a conserved pattern of alternate splicing in four tryptase alleles (alphaII, betaI, betaIII, and deltaI), representing three distinct tryptase gene loci. When compared with their full-length counterparts, the splice variants use an alternate acceptor site within exon 4. This results in the deletion of 27 nucleotides within the central coding sequence and 9 amino acids from the translated protein product. Although modeling suggests that the deletion can be easily accommodated by the enzymes structurally, it is predicted to alter the specificity by enlarging the S1' or S2' binding pocket and results in the complete loss of the "47 loop," reported to be critical for the formation of tetramers. Although active monomers can be generated in vitro using a range of artificial conditions, we suggest that alternate splicing is the in vivo mechanism used to generate active tryptase that can cleave large protein substrates.

Absence of SLC22A12 gene mutations in Greek Caucasian patients with primary renal hypouricaemia

OBJECTIVE

Primary renal hypouricaemia is a hereditary clinical disorder characterized by increased renal urate clearance due to isolated renal tubular defect of uric acid transport. There have been only a few studies on primary renal hypouricaemia in Caucasian populations. Defects in the SLC22A12 gene, which encodes the renal urate transporter URAT1, have been reported to be related to the disease pathogenesis. This study was undertaken to elucidate whether SLC22A12 gene mutations are responsible for low serum uric acid levels in Greek people.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Nine Greek Caucasian subjects with primary renal hypouricaemia were included in the study. All had serum uric acid less than 2.5 mg dL(-1) (0.14 mmol L(-1)), fractional excretion of uric acid more than 10% and no other known causes of hypouricaemia. Mutation analysis of the SLC22A12 gene was performed.

RESULTS

No mutation was found--only the previously reported silent polymorphism 1246T > C (His 42His) in exon 2 of the SLC22A12 gene.

CONCLUSIONS

No previously reported mutation of URAT1 was associated with primary renal hypouricaemia in Greek subjects.

Heme carrier protein 1 (HCP1) expression and functional analysis in the retina and retinal pigment epithelium

The retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) are present in the posterior segment of the eye, and the retina is dependent upon the underlying RPE for normal function. The retina is the most oxygenated tissue in the body but is isolated from the blood circulation by blood-retinal barriers. Metabolism of cellular oxygen involves heme but little is known about heme transport in the retina and RPE. Here we report the identification from bovine RPE of a heme transporter bHcp1 (bovine heme carrier protein 1) that is homologous to mouse intestinal HCP1 expressed in duodenal enterocytes. Similar to the mouse protein, bHcp1 exhibited heme uptake ability in Xenopus oocytes and localized to the cell membrane in cultured mammalian epithelium. Whereas bHcp1 expression was detected only in bovine RPE, expression of its human homologue was identified in both retina and RPE. Furthermore, the data revealed low-level wider expression of human HCP1 transcript in multiple tissues suggesting that it is responsible for heme transport in the body, not the intestine alone. Expression of HCP1 in the RPE and retina indicates the mechanism of heme transport in these ocular tissues.

Comparative studies on Ureide Permeases in Arabidopsis thaliana and analysis of two alternative splice variants of AtUPS5

The recovery of free purine and pyrimidine bases and their degradation products represent alternative pathways in plant cells either to synthesize nucleotides (salvage pathways) by low energy consumption or to reuse organic nitrogen. Such recycling of metabolites often requires their uptake into the cell by specialized transport systems residing in the plasma membrane. In plants, it has been suggested that several protein families are involved in this process, but only a few transporters have so far been characterized. In this work, gene expression, substrate specificities, and transport mechanisms of members of the Ureide Permease family in Arabidopsis (AtUPS) were analyzed and compared. Promoter-GUS studies indicated that the members of the family have distinct and partially overlapping expression patterns with regard to developmental stages or tissue specific localization. In addition, two alternative splice variants of AtUPS5, a novel member of the transporter family, were identified and investigated. The abundance of both alternative mRNAs varied in different organs, while the relative amounts were comparable. AtUPS5l (longer isoform) shares similar structural prediction with AtUPS1 and AtUPS2. In contrast, AtUPS5s (shorter isoform) lacks two transmembrane domains as structural consequence of the additional splice event. When expressed in yeast, AtUPS5l mediates cellular import of cyclic purine degradation products and pyrimidines similarly to AtUPS1 and AtUPS2, but differences in transport efficiencies were observed. AtUPS5s, however, could not be shown to mediate uptake of these compounds into yeast cells and might therefore be defective or have a different function.

Cloning and functional characterization of a second urea transporter from the kidney of the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina

The cloning of cDNAs encoding facilitated urea transporters (UTs) from the kidneys of the elasmobranchs indicates that in these fish renal urea reabsorption occurs, at least in part, by passive processes. The previously described elasmobranch urea transporter clones from shark (shUT) and stingray (strUT-1) differ from each other primarily because of the COOH-terminus of the predicted strUT-1 translation product being extended by 51-amino acid residues compared with shUT. Previously, we noted multiple UT transcripts were present in stingray kidney. We hypothesized that a COOH terminally abbreviated UT isoform, homologous to shUT, would also be present in stingray kidney. Therefore, we used 5'/3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends to identify a 3'UTR-variant (strUT-1a) of the cDNA that encodes (strUT-1), as well as three, 3'UTR-variant cDNAs (strUT-2a,b,c) that encode a second phloretin-sensitive, urea transporter (strUT-2). The 5'UTR and the first 1,132 nucleotides of the predicted coding region of the strUT-2 cDNAs are identical to the strUT-1 cDNAs. The remainder of the coding region contains only five novel nucleotides. The strUT-2 cDNAs putatively encode a 379-amino acid protein, the first 377 amino acids identical to strUT-1 plus 2 additional amino acids. We conclude that 1) a second UT isoform is expressed in the Atlantic stingray and that this isoform is similar in size to the UT previously cloned from the kidney of the dogfish shark, and 2) at least five transcripts encoding the 2 stingray UTs are derived from a single gene product through alternative splicing and polyadenylation.

Association of the human urate transporter 1 with reduced renal uric acid excretion and hyperuricemia in a German Caucasian population

OBJECTIVE

Human urate transporter 1 (hURAT1) is a member of the organic anion transporter family (SLC22A12) that mainly regulates tubular urate reabsorption. Loss-of-function mutations result in idiopathic hypouricemia. The present case-control study was designed to analyze whether hURAT1 might also be a candidate gene for hyperuricemia with primary reduced renal urate excretion.

METHODS

DNA samples from 389 individuals with reduced fractional excretion of uric acid (FEUA) (< or =6.5%) and from 263 controls (FEUA >6.5%) were sequenced. Genotype frequencies between groups were compared by Cochran-Armitage trend test.

RESULTS

Significantly different genotype distributions could be demonstrated for the -788 T >A (promoter; P = 0.014), the C258T (exon 1; P = 0.006), and the C426T (exon 2; P = 0.0002) polymorphisms, but not for the T1309C (exon 8) and the +18 C >T (intron 9) polymorphisms. The strongest association with reduced FEUA was observed for the C426T polymorphism, with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.59 and 2.54 (P = 0.0002) for the CT and TT genotypes, respectively. Adjusted values for FEUA in the C426T genotype, were significantly reduced decreasing to 7.3%, 6.7%, and 6.3% in individuals with the CC, CT, and TT genotypes, respectively (P = 0.004). Haplotypes were constructed from the -788 T >A, C258T, and C426T polymorphisms. Individuals carrying at least 1 ACT haplotype (n = 349) had a significantly higher risk for reduced FEUA than individuals without any ACT haplotype (n = 303) (OR 1.39, P = 0.041).

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that polymorphisms in the N-terminus of the hURAT1 gene were significantly associated with reduced renal uric acid excretion. The main regulating factor seems to be located close to the C426T polymorphism or is in strong linkage disequilibrium.

Molecular Physiology and Pathophysiology of Electroneutral Cation-Chloride Cotransporters

Electroneutral cation-Cl−cotransporters compose a family of solute carriers in which cation (Na+or K+) movement through the plasma membrane is always accompanied by Cl−in a 1:1 stoichiometry. Seven well-characterized members include one gene encoding the thiazide-sensitive Na+−Cl−cotransporter, two genes encoding loop diuretic-sensitive Na+−K+−2Cl−cotransporters, and four genes encoding K+−Cl−cotransporters. These membrane proteins are involved in several physiological activities including transepithelial ion absorption and secretion, cell volume regulation, and setting intracellular Cl−concentration below or above its electrochemical potential equilibrium. In addition, members of this family play an important role in cardiovascular and neuronal pharmacology and pathophysiology. Some of these cotransporters serve as targets for loop diuretics and thiazide-type diuretics, which are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the world, and inactivating mutations of three members of the family cause inherited diseases such as Bartter's, Gitelman's, and Anderman's diseases. Major advances have been made in the past decade as consequences of molecular identification of all members in this family. This work is a comprehensive review of the knowledge that has evolved in this area and includes molecular biology of each gene, functional properties of identified cotransporters, structure-function relationships, and physiological and pathophysiological roles of each cotransporter.

A human sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2 isoform acts as a dominant-negative inhibitor of ascorbic acid transport

Vitamin C is transported as ascorbic acid (AA) through the sodium-ascorbate cotransporters (SVCT1 and -2) and as dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) through the facilitative glucose transporters. All cells have glucose transporters and take up DHA that is trapped intracellularly by reduction and accumulated as AA. SVCT2 is widely expressed in cells and tissues at the mRNA level; however, only specialized cells directly transport AA. We undertook a molecular analysis of SVCT2 expression and discovered a transcript encoding a short form of human SVCT2 (hSVCT2-short) in which 345 bp is deleted without a frame shift. The deletion involves domains 5 and 6 and part of domain 4. cDNA encoding this isoform was isolated and expressed in 293T cells, where the protein was detected on the plasma membrane. Transport studies, however, revealed that hSVCT2-short gave rise to a nonfunctional transporter protein. hSVCT2-short arises by alternative splicing and encodes a protein that strongly inhibited the function of SVCT2 and, to a lesser extent, SVCT1 in a dominant-negative manner, probably by protein-protein interaction. The expression of hSVCT2-short varies among cells. PCR analysis of cDNA isolated from melanocytes capable of transporting AA revealed a predominance of the full-length isoform, while HL-60 cells, which express SVCT2 at the mRNA level and were incapable of transporting AA, showed a predominance of the short isoform. These findings suggest a mechanism of AA uptake regulation whereby an alternative SVCT2 gene product inhibits transport through the two known AA transporters.

Peptide and amino acid transporters are differentially regulated during seed development and germination in faba bean

Two peptide transporter (PTR) homologs have been isolated from developing seeds of faba bean (Vicia faba). VfPTR1 was shown to be a functional peptide transporter through complementation of a yeast mutant. Expression patterns of VfPTR1 and VfPTR2 as well as of the amino acid permease VfAAP1 (Miranda et al., 2001) were compared throughout seed development and germination. In developing seeds, the highest levels of VfPTR1 transcripts were reached during midcotyledon development, whereas VfAAP1 transcripts were most abundant during early cotyledon development, before the appearance of storage protein gene transcripts, and were detectable until late cotyledon development. During early germination, VfPTR1 mRNA appeared first in cotyledons and later, during seedling growth, also in axes and roots. Expression of VfPTR2 and VfAAP1 was delayed compared with VfPTR1, and was restricted to the nascent organs of the seedlings. Localization of VfPTR1 transcripts showed that this PTR is temporally and spatially regulated during cotyledon development. In germinating seeds, VfPTR1 mRNA was localized in root hairs and root epidermal cells, suggesting a role in nutrient uptake from the soil. In seedling roots, VfPTR1 was repressed by a dipeptide and by an amino acid, whereas nitrate was without influence.

cAMP-dependent activation of the renal-specific Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter is mediated by regulation of cotransporter trafficking

The murine apical bumetanide-sensitive Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransporter gene (mBSC1) exhibits two spliced isoform products that differ at the COOH-terminal domain. A long COOH-terminal isoform (L-mBSC1) encodes the Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransporter, and a short isoform (S-mBSC1) exerts a dominant-negative effect on L-mBSC1 cotransporter activity that is abrogated by cAMP. However, the mechanism of this dominant-negative effect was not clear. In this study, we used confocal microscopic analysis of an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fusion construct (L-mBSC1-EGFP) expressed to characterize the surface expression of the L-BSC1 isoform in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Functional expression was also assessed in L-mBSC1-injected oocytes by measuring the bumetanide-sensitive (86)Rb(+) uptake. Oocytes injected with L-mBSC1-EGFP cRNA developed a distinct plasma membrane-associated fluorescence that colocalized with the fluorescent membrane dye FM 4-64. The fluorescence intensity in L-mBSC1-EGFP oocytes did not change after cAMP was added to the extracellular medium. In contrast, L-mBSC1-EGFP fluorescence intensity was reduced in a dose-dependent manner, with coexpression of S-mBSC1. The inhibitory effect of S-mBSC1 was abrogated by cAMP. Finally, the exocytosis inhibitor colchicine blocked the effect of cAMP on the L-mBSC1-EGFP/S-mBSC1-coinjected oocytes. All changes in L-mBSC1 surface expression correlated with modification of bumetanide-sensitive (86)Rb(+) uptake. Our data suggest that the dominant-negative effect of S-mBSC1 on L-mBSC1 transport function is due to the effects of the cotransporter on trafficking.

Tubular reabsorption of myo-inositol vs. that of D-glucose in rat kidney in vivo et situ

Filtered myo-inositol, an important renal intracellular organic osmolyte, is almost completely reabsorbed. To examine tubule sites and specificity and, thus possible mechanism of this reabsorption, we microinfused myo-[(3)H]inositol or D-[(3)H]glucose into early proximal (EP), late proximal (LP), or early distal tubule sections of superficial nephrons and into long loops of Henle (LLH) of juxtamedullary nephrons and papillary vasa recta in rats in vivo et situ and determined urinary fractional recovery of the (3)H label compared with comicroinfused [(14)C]inulin. To determine the extent to which the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) alone contributes to myo-inositol reabsorption, we also microperfused this tubule segment between EP and LP puncture sites. We examined specificity of reabsorptive carrier(s) by adding high concentrations of other polyols and monosaccharides to the infusate. The results show that >60% of the physiological glomerular load of myo-inositol can be reabsorbed in the PCT and >90% in the short loop of Henle (SLH) by a saturable, phloridzin-sensitive process. myo-Inositol can also be reabsorbed in the ascending limb of LLH and can move from papillary vasa recta blood into ipsilateral tubular structures. Essentially no reabsorption occurred in nephron segments beyond the SLH or in collecting ducts. Specificity studies indicate that reabsorption probably occurs via a luminal Na(+)-myo-inositol cotransporter.

Functional properties of the apical Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter isoforms

The bumetanide-sensitive Na(+):K(+):2Cl(-) cotransporter (BSC1) is the major pathway for salt reabsorption in the apical membrane of the mammalian thick ascending limb of Henle. Three isoforms of the cotransporter, known as A, B, and F, exhibit axial expression along the thick ascending limb. We report here a functional comparison of the three isoforms from mouse kidney. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes the mBSC1-A isoform showed higher capacity of transport, with no difference in the amount of surface expression. Kinetic characterization revealed divergent affinities for the three cotransported ions. The observed EC(50) values for Na(+), K(+), and Cl(-) were 5.0 +/- 3.9, 0.96 +/- 0.16, and 22.2 +/- 4.8 mm for mBSC1-A; 3.0 +/- 0.6, 0.76 +/- 0.07, and 11.6 +/- 0.7 mm for mBSC1-B; and 20.6 +/- 7.2, 1.54 +/- 0.16, and 29.2 +/- 2.1 mm for mBSC1-F, respectively. Bumetanide sensitivity was higher in mBSC1-B compared with the mBSC1-A and mBSC1-F isoforms. All three transporters were partially inhibited by hypotonicity but to different extents. The cell swelling-induced inhibition profile was mBSC1-F > mBSC1-B > mBSC1-A. The function of the Na(+):K(+):2Cl(-) cotransporter was not affected by extracellular pH or by the addition of metolazone, 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), or R(+)-[(2-n-butyl-6,7-dichloro-2-cyclopentyl-2,3-dihydro-1-oxo-1-H-indenyl-5-yl)-oxy]acetic acid (DIOA) to the extracellular medium. In contrast, exposure of oocytes to HgCl(2) before the uptake period reduced the activity of the cotransporter. The effect of HgCl(2) was dose-dependent, and mBSC1-A and mBSC1-B exhibited higher affinity than mBSC1-F. Overall, the functional comparison of the murine apical renal-specific Na(+):K(+):2Cl(-) cotransporter isoforms A, B, and F reveals important functional, pharmacological, and kinetic differences, with both physiological and structural implications.