Characterization of a novel phosphorylation site in the sodium-chloride cotransporter, NCC
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
Authors: Rosenbaek, L. L.; Assentoft, M.; Pedersen, N. B.; MacAulay, N.; Fenton, R. A.
Abstract
Key points The sodiumchloride cotransporter, NCC, is essential for renal electrolyte balance and its function can be regulated by protein phosphorylation Here we report the role and regulation of a novel phosphorylation site in NCC at Ser124 Ser124 phosphorylation plays a role in mediating full NCC transport activity, but does not seem to be involved in NCC trafficking Various physiological stimuli such as vasopressin and aldosterone regulate the abundance of the Ser124 phosphorylation status and other phosphorylation sites in NCC Unlike other known phosphorylation sites in NCC, the STE20/SPS1-related prolinealanine-rich kinase and oxidative stress-response kinases (SPAK and OSR1) were not able to phosphorylate NCC at Ser124 The results demonstrate that phosphorylation of NCC is a major factor in determining the function of NCC under various physiological conditions Abstract The sodiumchloride cotransporter, NCC, is essential for renal electrolyte balance. NCC function can be modulated by protein phosphorylation. In this study, we characterized the role and physiological regulation of a novel phosphorylation site in NCC at Ser124 (S124). Novel phospho-specific antibodies targeting pS124-NCC demonstrated a band of 160 kDa in the kidney cortex, but not medulla, which was preabsorbed by a corresponding phosphorylated peptide. Confocal microscopy with kidney tubule segment-specific markers localized pS124-NCC to all distal convoluted tubule cells. Double immunogold electron microscopy demonstrated that pS124-NCC co-localized with total NCC in the apical plasma membrane of distal convoluted tubule cells and intracellular vesicles. Acute treatment of MunichWistar rats or vasopressin-deficient Brattleboro rats with the vasopressin type 2 receptor-specific agonist dDAVP significantly increased pS124-NCC abundance, with no changes in total NCC plasma membrane abundance. pS124-NCC levels also increased in abundance in rats after stimulation of the reninangiotensinaldosterone system by dietary low sodium intake. In contrast to other NCC phosphorylation sites, the STE20/SPS1-related prolinealanine-rich kinase and oxidative stress-response kinases (SPAK and OSR1) were not able to phosphorylate NCC at S124. Protein kinase arrays identified multiple kinases that were able to bind to the region surrounding S124. Four of these kinases (IRAK2, CDK6/Cyclin D1, NLK and mTOR/FRAP) showed weak but significant phosphorylation activity at S124. In oocytes, 36Cl uptake studies combined with biochemical analysis showed decreased activity of plasma membrane-associated NCC when replacing S124 with alanine (A) or aspartic acid (D). In novel tetracycline-inducible MDCKII-NCC cell lines, S124A and S124D mutants were able to traffic to the plasma membrane similarly to wildtype NCC.
NURR1 and ERR1 Modulate the Expression of Genes of a DRD2 Coexpression Network Enriched for Schizophrenia Risk
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
Authors: Torretta, Silvia; Rampino, Antonio; Basso, Manuela; Pergola, Giulio; Di Carlo, Pasquale; Shin, Joo H.; Kleinman, Joel E.; Hyde, Thomas M.; Weinberger, Daniel R.; Masellis, Rita; Blasi, Giuseppe; Pennuto, Maria; Bertolino, Alessandro
Abstract
Multiple schizophrenia (SCZ) risk loci may be involved in gene co-regulation mechanisms, and analysis of coexpressed gene networks may help to clarify SCZ molecular basis. We have previously identified a dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) coexpression module enriched for SCZ risk genes and associated with cognitive and neuroimaging phenotypes of SCZ, as well as with response to treatment with antipsychotics. Here we aimed to identify regulatory factors modulating this coexpression module and their relevance to SCZ. We performed motif enrichment analysis to identify transcription factor (TF) binding sites in human promoters of genes coexpressed with DRD2. Then, we measured transcript levels of a group of these genes in primary mouse cortical neurons in basal conditions and upon overexpression and knockdown of predicted TFs. Finally, we analyzed expression levels of these TFs in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of SCZ patients. Our in silico analysis revealed enrichment for NURR1 and ERR1 binding sites. In neuronal cultures, the expression of genes either relevant to SCZ risk (Drd2, Gatad2a, Slc28a1,Cnr1) or indexing coexpression in our module (Rtg4,Chit1, Osr1, Gpld1) was significantly modified by gain and loss of Nuni and Eng . Postmortem DLPFC expression data analysis showed decreased expression levels of NURR1 and ERR1 in patients with SCZ. For NURR1 such decreased expression is associated with treatment with antipsychotics. Our results show that NURR1 and ERR1 modulate the transcription of DRD2 coexpression partners and support the hypothesis that NURR1 is involved in the response to SCZ treatment.