Elmira Tokhtaeva

The Role of the β1 Subunit of the Na,K-ATPase and Its Glycosylation in Cell-Cell Adhesion

Based on recent data showing that overexpression of the Na,K-ATPase β1 subunit increased cell-cell adhesion of nonpolarized cells, we hypothesized that the β1 subunit can also be involved in the formation of cell-cell contacts in highly polarized epithelial cells. In support of this hypothesis, in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, the Na,K-ATPase α1 and β1 subunits were detected as precisely co-localized with adherens junctions in all stages of the monolayer formation starting from the initiation of cell-cell contact. The Na,K-ATPase and adherens junction protein, β-catenin, stayed partially co-localized even after their internalization upon disruption of intercellular contacts by Ca2+ depletion of the medium. The Na,K-ATPase subunits remained co-localized with the adherens junctions after detergent treatment of the cells. In contrast, the heterodimer formed by expressed unglycosylated Na,K-ATPase β1 subunit and the endogenous α1 subunit was easily dissociated from the adherens junctions and cytoskeleton by the detergent extraction. The MDCK cell line in which half of the endogenous β1 subunits in the lateral membrane were substituted by unglycosylated β1 subunits displayed a decreased ability to form cell-to-cell contacts. Incubation of surface-attached MDCK cells with an antibody against the extracellular domain of the Na,K-ATPase β1 subunit specifically inhibited cell-cell contact formation. We conclude that the Na,K-ATPase β1 subunit is involved in the process of intercellular adhesion and is necessary for association of the heterodimeric Na,K-ATPase with the adherens junctions. Further, normal glycosylation of the Na,K-ATPase β1 subunit is essential for the stable association of the pump with the adherens junctions and plays an important role in cell-cell contact formation.

Characterization of a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker of the gastric H,K-ATPase, 1-[5-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-(pyridin-3-ylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl]-N-methylmethanamine monofumarate (TAK-438).

Inhibition of the gastric H,K-ATPase by the potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) 1-[5-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-(pyridin-3-ylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrrol-3-yl]-N-methylmethanamine (TAK-438), is strictly K+-competitive with a Ki of 10 nM at pH 7. In contrast to previous P-CABs, this structure has a point positive charge (pKa 9.06) allowing for greater accumulation in parietal cells compared with previous P-CABs [e.g., (8-benzyloxy-2-methyl-imidazo(1,2-a)pyridin-3-yl)acetonitrile (SCH28080), pKa 5.6]. The dissociation rate of the compound from the isolated ATPase is slower than other P-CABs, with the t1/2 being 7.5 h in 20 mM KCl at pH 7. The stoichiometry of binding of TAK-438 to the H,K-ATPase is 2.2 nmol/mg in the presence of Mg-ATP, vanadate, or MgPi. However, TAK-438 also binds enzyme at 1.3 nmol/mg in the absence of Mg2+. Modeling of the H,K-ATPase to the homologous Na,K-ATPase predicts a close approach and hydrogen bonding between the positively charged N-methylamino group and the negatively charged Glu795 in the K+-binding site in contrast to the planar diffuse positive charge of previous P-CABs. This probably accounts for the slow dissociation and high affinity. The model also predicts hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl of Tyr799 and the oxygens of the sulfonyl group of TAK-438. A Tyr799Phe mutation resulted in a 3-fold increase of the dissociation rate, showing that this hydrogen bonding also contributes to the slow dissociation rate. Hence, this K+-competitive inhibitor of the gastric H,K-ATPase should provide longer-lasting inhibition of gastric acid secretion compared with previous drugs of this class.

Inverse correlation between the extent of N-glycan branching and intercellular adhesion in epithelia: contribution of the Na,K- ATPase β1 subunit *,**

The majority of cell adhesion molecules are N-glycosylated, but the role of N-glycans in intercellular adhesion in epithelia remains ill-defined. Reducing N-glycan branching of cellular glycoproteins by swainsonine, the inhibitor of N-glycan processing, tightens and stabilizes cell-cell junctions as detected by a 3-fold decrease in the paracellular permeability and a 2-3-fold increase in the resistance of the adherens junction proteins to extraction by non-ionic detergent. In addition, exposure of cells to swainsonine inhibits motility of MDCK cells. Mutagenic removal of N-glycosylation sites from the Na,K-ATPase β1 subunit impairs cell-cell adhesion and decreases the effect of swainsonine on the paracellular permeability of the cell monolayer and also on detergent resistance of adherens junction proteins, indicating that the extent of N-glycan branching of this subunit is important for intercellular adhesion. The N-glycans of the Na,K-ATPase β1 subunit and E-cadherin are less complex in tight renal epithelia than in the leakier intestinal epithelium. The complexity of the N-glycans linked to these proteins gradually decreases upon the formation of a tight monolayer from dispersed MDCK cells. This correlates with a cell-cell adhesion-induced increase in expression of GnT-III (stops N-glycan branching) and a decrease in expression of GnTs IVC and V (promote N-glycan branching) as detected by real-time quantitative PCR. Consistent with these results, partial silencing of the gene encoding GnT-III increases branching of N-glycans linked to the Na,K-ATPase β1 subunit and other glycoproteins and results in a 2-fold increase in the paracellular permeability of MDCK cell monolayers. These results suggest epithelial cells can regulate tightness of cell junctions via remodeling of N-glycans, including those linked to the Na,K-ATPase β1-subunit.

The Na-K-ATPase α1β1 heterodimer as a cell adhesion molecule in epithelia

The ion gradients generated by the Na-K-ATPase play a critical role in epithelia by driving transepithelial transport of various solutes. The efficiency of this Na-K-ATPase-driven vectorial transport depends on the integrity of epithelial junctions that maintain polar distribution of membrane transporters, including the basolateral sodium pump, and restrict paracellular diffusion of solutes. The review summarizes the data showing that, in addition to pumping ions, the Na-K-ATPase located at the sites of cell-cell junction acts as a cell adhesion molecule by interacting with the Na-K-ATPase of the adjacent cell in the intercellular space accompanied by anchoring to the cytoskeleton in the cytoplasm. The review also discusses the experimental evidence on the importance of a specific amino acid region in the extracellular domain of the Na-K-ATPase β(1) subunit for the Na-K-ATPase trans-dimerization and intercellular adhesion. Furthermore, a possible role of N-glycans linked to the Na-K-ATPase β(1) subunit in regulation of epithelial junctions by modulating β(1)-β(1) interactions is discussed.

Assembly with the Na,K-ATPase α1 Subunit Is Required for Export of β1 and β2 Subunits from the Endoplasmic Reticulum

The level of the heterodimeric Na,K-ATPase is tightly controlled in epithelia to maintain appropriate transport function. The catalytic Na,K-ATPase alpha subunit is not able to exit the ER or catalyze ion transport unless assembled with the beta subunit. However, requirements for the ER exit of the Na,K-ATPase beta subunit that plays an additional, ion-transport-independent, role in intercellular adhesion are not clear. Exogenous beta(1) or beta(2) subunits expressed in renal MDCK cells replace endogenous beta(1) subunits in the alpha-beta complexes in the ER, resulting in a decrease in the amount of the alpha(1)-bound endogenous beta(1) subunits by 47-61% with no change in the amount of alpha(1) subunits. Disruption of the alpha(1)-beta association by mutations in defined alpha(1)-interacting regions of either beta(1) or beta(2) subunits results in the ER retention and rapid degradation of unassembled mutants. Hence, the ER quality control system allows export only of assembled alpha-beta complexes to the Golgi, thereby maintaining an equimolar ratio of alpha and beta subunits in the plasma membrane, whereas the number of alpha(1) subunits in the ER determines the amount of the alpha-beta complexes.

Septin dynamics are essential for exocytosis

Background: Septins serve as scaffolds for membrane-associated protein complexes. Results: Knockdown of septin-2 or disruption of septin assembly/disassembly impairs interactions between exocytic proteins and inhibits late steps of exocytosis. Conclusion: Septins undergo dynamic reorganization to facilitate localized and timely interactions between exocytosis-essential proteins. Significance: Both the presence of septin-2 and active reorganization of septin oligomers are required for exocytosis. Septins are a family of 14 cytoskeletal proteins that dynamically form hetero-oligomers and organize membrane microdomains for protein complexes. The previously reported interactions with SNARE proteins suggested the involvement of septins in exocytosis. However, the contradictory results of up- or down-regulation of septin-5 in various cells and mouse models or septin-4 in mice suggested either an inhibitory or a stimulatory role for these septins in exocytosis. The involvement of the ubiquitously expressed septin-2 or general septin polymerization in exocytosis has not been explored to date. Here, by nano-LC with tandem MS and immunoblot analyses of the septin-2 interactome in mouse brain, we identified not only SNARE proteins but also Munc-18-1 (stabilizes assembled SNARE complexes), N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) (disassembles SNARE complexes after each membrane fusion event), and the chaperones Hsc70 and synucleins (maintain functional conformation of SNARE proteins after complex disassembly). Importantly, α-soluble NSF attachment protein (SNAP), the adaptor protein that mediates NSF binding to the SNARE complex, did not interact with septin-2, indicating that septins undergo reorganization during each exocytosis cycle. Partial depletion of septin-2 by siRNA or impairment of septin dynamics by forchlorfenuron inhibited constitutive and stimulated exocytosis of secreted and transmembrane proteins in various cell types. Forchlorfenuron impaired the interaction between SNAP-25 and its chaperone Hsc70, decreasing SNAP-25 levels in cultured neuroendocrine cells, and inhibited both spontaneous and stimulated acetylcholine secretion in mouse motor neurons. The results demonstrate a stimulatory role of septin-2 and the dynamic reorganization of septin oligomers in exocytosis.

Epithelial Junctions Depend on Intercellular Trans-interactions between the Na,K-ATPase β1 Subunits

N-Glycans of the Na,K-ATPase β1 subunit are important for intercellular adhesion in epithelia, suggesting that epithelial junctions depend on N-glycan-mediated interactions between the β1 subunits of neighboring cells. The level of co-immunoprecipitation of the endogenous β1 subunit with various YFP-linked β1 subunits expressed in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells was used to assess β1-β1 interactions. The amount of co-precipitated endogenous dog β1 was greater with dog YFP-β1 than with rat YFP-β1, showing that amino acid-mediated interactions are important for β1-β1 binding. Co-precipitation of β1 was also less with the unglycosylated YFP-β1 than with glycosylated YFP-β1, indicating a role for N-glycans. Mixing cells expressing dog YFP-β1 with non-transfected cells increased the amount of co-precipitated β1, confirming the presence of intercellular (YFP-β1)-β1 complexes. Accordingly, disruption of intercellular junctions decreased the amount of co-precipitated β1 subunits. The decrease in β1 co-precipitation both with rat YFP-β1 and unglycosylated YFP-β1 was associated with decreased detergent stability of junctional proteins and increased paracellular permeability. Reducing N-glycan branching by specific inhibitors increased (YFP-β1)-β1 co-precipitation and strengthened intercellular junctions. Therefore, interactions between the β1 subunits of neighboring cells maintain integrity of intercellular junctions, and alterations in the β1 subunit N-glycan structure can regulate stability and tightness of intercellular junctions.

N-glycan-dependent quality control of the Na,K-ATPase beta(2) subunit.

Bulky hydrophilic N-glycans stabilize the proper tertiary structure of glycoproteins. In addition, N-glycans comprise the binding sites for the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident lectins that assist correct folding of newly synthesized glycoproteins. To reveal the role of N-glycans in maturation of the Na,K-ATPase beta(2) subunit in the ER, the effects of preventing or modifying the beta(2) subunit N-glycosylation on trafficking of the subunit and its binding to the ER lectin chaperone, calnexin, were studied in MDCK cells. Preventing N-glycosylation abolishes binding of the beta(2) subunit to calnexin and results in the ER retention of the subunit. Furthermore, the fully N-glycosylated beta(2) subunit is retained in the ER when glycan-calnexin interactions are prevented by castanospermine, showing that N-glycan-mediated calnexin binding is required for correct subunit folding. Calnexin binding persists for several hours after translation is stopped with cycloheximide, suggesting that the beta(2) subunit undergoes repeated post-translational calnexin-assisted folding attempts. Homology modeling of the beta(2) subunit using the crystal structure of the alpha(1)-beta(1) Na,K-ATPase shows the presence of a relatively hydrophobic amino acid cluster proximal to N-glycosylation sites 2 and 7. Combined, but not separate, removal of sites 2 and 7 dramatically impairs calnexin binding and prevents the export of the beta(2) subunit from the ER. Similarly, hydrophilic substitution of two hydrophobic amino acids in this cluster disrupts both beta(2)-calnexin binding and trafficking of the subunit to the Golgi. Therefore, the hydrophobic residues in the proximity of N-glycans 2 and 7 are required for post-translational calnexin binding to these N-glycans in incompletely folded conformers, which, in turn, is necessary for maturation of the Na,K-ATPase beta(2) subunit.

Polarized membrane distribution of potassium-dependent ion pumps in epithelial cells: Different roles of the N-glycans of their β subunits

The Na,K-ATPases and the H,K-ATPases are two potassium-dependent homologous heterodimeric P2-type pumps that catalyze active transport of Na+ in exchange for K+ (Na,K-ATPase) or H+ in exchange for K+ (H,K-ATPase). The ubiquitous Na,K-ATPase maintains intracellular ion balance and membrane potential. The gastric H,K-ATPase is responsible for acid secretion by the parietal cell of the stomach. Both pumps consist of a catalytic α-subunit and a glycosylated β-subunit that is obligatory for normal pump maturation and trafficking. Individual N-glycans linked to the β-subunits of the Na,K-ATPase and H,K-ATPase are important for stable membrane integration of their respective α subunits, folding, stability, subunit assembly, and enzymatic activity of the pumps. They are also essential for the quality control of unassembled β-subunits that results in either the exit of the subunits from the ER or their ER retention and subsequent degradation. Overall, the importance of N-glycans for the␣maturation and quality control of the H,K-ATPase is greater than that of the Na,K-ATPase. The roles of individual N-glycans of the β-subunits in the post-ER trafficking, membrane targeting and plasma membrane retention of the Na,K-ATPase and H,K-ATPase are different. The Na,K-ATPase β1-subunit is the major β-subunit isoform in cells with lateral location of the pump. All three N-glycans of the Na,K-ATPase β1-subunit are important for the lateral membrane retention of the pump due to glycan-mediated interaction between the β1-subunits of the two neighboring cells in the cell monolayer and cytosolic linkage of the α-subunit to the cytoskeleton. This intercellular β1–β1 interaction is also important for formation of cell–cell contacts. In contrast, the N-glycans unique to the Na,K-ATPase β2-subunit,which has up to eight N-glycosylation sites, contain apical sorting information. This is consistent with the apical location of the Na,K-ATPase in normal and malignant epithelial cells with high abundance of the β2-subunit. Similarly, all seven N-glycans of the gastric H,K-ATPase β-subunit determine apical sorting of this subunit.

Diverse Pathways for Maturation of the Na,K-ATPase β1 and β2 Subunits in the Endoplasmic Reticulum of Madin-Darby Canine Kidney Cells

Proper folding of the Na,K-ATPase β subunits followed by assembly with the α subunits is necessary for their export from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Here we examine roles of the ER lectin chaperone, calnexin, and non-lectin chaperone, BiP, in folding and quality control of the β1 and β2 subunits in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Short term prevention of glycan-calnexin interactions by castanospermine slightly increases ER retention of β1, suggesting minor involvement of calnexin in subunit folding. However, both prolonged incubation with castanospermine and removal of N-glycosylation sites do not affect the α1-assembly or trafficking of β1 but increase the amount of the β1-bound BiP, showing that BiP can compensate for calnexin in assisting β1 folding. In contrast to β1, prevention of either N-glycosylation or glycan-calnexin interactions abolishes the α1-assembly and export of β2 from the ER despite increased β2-BiP binding. Mutations in the α1-interacting regions of β1 and β2 subunits impair α1 assembly but do not affect folding of the β subunits tested by their sensitivity to trypsin. At the same time, these mutations increase the amount of β-bound BiP but not of β-bound calnexin and increase ER retention of both β-isoforms. BiP, therefore, prevents the ER export of folded but α1-unassembled β subunits. These α1-unassembled β subunits are degraded faster than α1-bound β subunits, preventing ER overload. In conclusion, folding of the β1 and β2 subunits is assisted predominantly by BiP and calnexin, respectively. Folded β1 and β2 either assemble with α1 or bind BiP. The α1-bound β subunits traffic to the Golgi, whereas BiP-bound β subunits are retained and degraded in the ER.