These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Electrogenic Na/HCO3 cotransporter (NBCe1) variants expressed in Xenopus oocytes: functional comparison and roles of the amino and carboxy termini.
    Author: McAlear SD, Liu X, Williams JB, McNicholas-Bevensee CM, Bevensee MO.
    Journal: J Gen Physiol; 2006 Jun; 127(6):639-58. PubMed ID: 16735752.
    Abstract:
    Using pH- and voltage-sensitive microelectrodes, as well as the two-electrode voltage-clamp and macropatch techniques, we compared the functional properties of the three NBCe1 variants (NBCe1-A, -B, and -C) with different amino and/or carboxy termini expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Oocytes expressing rat brain NBCe1-B and exposed to a CO(2)/HCO(3)(-) solution displayed all the hallmarks of an electrogenic Na(+)/HCO(3)(-) cotransporter: (a) a DIDS-sensitive pH(i) recovery following the initial CO(2)-induced acidification, (b) an instantaneous hyperpolarization, and (c) an instantaneous Na(+)-dependent outward current under voltage-clamp conditions (-60 mV). All three variants had similar external HCO(3)(-) dependencies (apparent K(M) of 4-6 mM) and external Na(+) dependencies (apparent K(M) of 21-36 mM), as well as similar voltage dependencies. However, voltage-clamped oocytes (-60 mV) expressing NBCe1-A exhibited peak HCO(3)(-)-stimulated NBC currents that were 4.3-fold larger than the currents seen in oocytes expressing the most dissimilar C variant. Larger NBCe1-A currents were also observed in current-voltage relationships. Plasma membrane expression levels as assessed by single oocyte chemiluminescence with hemagglutinin-tagged NBCs were similar for the three variants. In whole-cell experiments (V(m) = -60 mV), removing the unique amino terminus of NBCe1-A reduced the mean HCO(3)(-)-induced NBC current 55%, whereas removing the different amino terminus of NBCe1-C increased the mean NBC current 2.7-fold. A similar pattern was observed in macropatch experiments. Thus, the unique amino terminus of NBCe1-A stimulates transporter activity, whereas the different amino terminus of the B and C variants inhibits activity. One or more cytosolic factors may also contribute to NBCe1 activity based on discrepancies between macropatch and whole-cell currents. While the amino termini influence transporter function, the carboxy termini influence plasma membrane expression. Removing the entire cytosolic carboxy terminus of NBCe1-C, or the different carboxy terminus of the A/B variants, causes a loss of NBC activity due to low expression at the plasma membrane.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]