Soluble (pro)renin receptor regulation of ENaC involved in aldosterone signaling in cultured collecting duct cells
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-RENAL PHYSIOLOGY
Authors: Wang, Fei; Luo, Renfei; Peng, Kexin; Liu, Xiyang; Xu, Chuanming; Lu, Xiaohan; Soodvilai, Sunhapas; Yang, Tianxin
Abstract
We have previously shown that activation of (pro)renin receptor (PRR) induces epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) activity in cultured collecting duct cells. IIere, we examined the role of soluble PRR (sPRR). the cleavage product of PRR in ENaC regulation, and further tested its relevance to aldosterone signaling. In cultured mpkCCD cells, administration of recombinant histidine-tagged sPRR (sPRR-His) at 10 nM within minutes induced a significant and transient increase in the amiloride-sensitive shortcircuit current as assessed using the Ussing chamber technique. The acute ENaC activation was blocked by the NADPH oxidase 1/4 inhibitor GKT137892 and siRNA against Nox4 but not the beta-catenin inhibitor ICG-001. In primary rat inner medullary collecting duct cells, administration of sPRR-His at 10 nM for 24 h induced protein expression of the alpha-subunit but not II- or gamma-subunits of ENaC, in parallel with upregulation of mRNA expression as well as promoter activity of the alpha-subunit. The transcriptional activation of alpha-ENaC was dependent on beta-catenin signaling. Consistent results obtained by epithelial volt ohmmeter measurement of equivalent current and Ussing chamber determination of short-circuit current showed that aldosterone-induced transepithelial Na+ transport was inhibited by the PRR decoy inhibitor PRO20 and PF-429242. an inhibitor of sPRR-generating enzyme site-1 protease, and the response was restored by the addition of sPRR-His. Medium sPRR was elevated by aldosterone and inhibited by PF-429242. Taken together. these results demonstrate that sPRR induces two phases of ENaC activation via distinct mechanisms and functions as a mediator of the natriferic action of aldosterone.
The expression and characterization of recombinant cp19k barnacle cement protein from Pollicipes pollicipes
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Authors: Tilbury, Maura A.; McCarthy, Sean; Domagalska, Magdalena; Ederth, Thomas; Power, Anne Marie; Wall, J. Gerard
Abstract
Adhesive proteins of barnacle cement have potential as environmentally friendly adhesives owing to their ability to adhere to various substrates in aqueous environments. By understanding the taxonomic breath of barnacles with different lifestyles, we may uncover commonalities in adhesives produced by these specialized organisms. The 19 kDa cement protein (cp19k) of the stalked barnacle Pollicipes pollicipes was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 to investigate its adhesive properties. Initial expression of hexahistidine-tagged protein (rPpolcp19k-his) yielded low levels of insoluble protein. Co-overproduction of E. coli molecular chaperones GroEL-GroES and trigger factor (TF) increased soluble protein yields, although TF co-purified with the target protein (TF-rPpolcp19k-his). Surface coat analysis revealed high levels of adsorption of the TF-rPpolcp19k-his complex and of purified E. coli TF on both hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces, while low levels of adsorption were observed for rPpolcp19k-his. Tag-free rPpolcp19k protein also exhibited low adsorption compared to fibrinogen and Cell-Tak controls on hydrophobic, neutral hydrophilic and charged self-assembled monolayers under surface plasmon resonance assay conditions designed to mimic the barnacle cement gland or seawater. Because rPpolcp19k protein displays low adhesive capability, this protein is suggested to confer the ability to self-assemble into a plaque within the barnacle cement complex. This article is part of the theme issue 'Transdisciplinary approaches to the study of adhesion and adhesives in biological systems'.