Horacio F. Cantiello

Polycystin-2, the protein mutated in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), is a Ca2+-permeable nonselective cation channel

Defects in polycystin-2, a ubiquitous transmembrane glycoprotein of unknown function, is a major cause of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), whose manifestation entails the development of fluid-filled cysts in target organs. Here, we demonstrate that polycystin-2 is present in term human syncytiotrophoblast, where it behaves as a nonselective cation channel. Lipid bilayer reconstitution of polycystin-2-positive human syncytiotrophoblast apical membranes displayed a nonselective cation channel with multiple subconductance states, and a high perm-selectivity to Ca2+. This channel was inhibited by anti-polycystin-2 antibody, Ca2+, La3+, Gd3+, and the diuretic amiloride. Channel function by polycystin-2 was confirmed by patch-clamping experiments of polycystin-2 heterologously infected Sf9 insect cells. Further, purified insect cell-derived recombinant polycystin-2 and in vitro translated human polycystin-2 had similar ion channel activity. The polycystin-2 channel may be associated with fluid accumulation and/or ion transport regulation in target epithelia, including placenta. Dysregulation of this channel provides a mechanism for the onset and progression of ADPKD.

Growth and Function of the Embryonic Heart Depend upon the Cardiac-Specific L-Type Calcium Channel α1 Subunit

The heart must function from the moment of its embryonic assembly, but the molecular underpinnings of the first heart beat are not known, nor whether function determines form at this early stage. Here, we find by positional cloning that the embryonic lethal island beat (isl) mutation in zebrafish disrupts the alpha1 C L-type calcium channel subunit (C-LTCC). The isl atrium is relatively normal in size, and individual cells contract chaotically, in a pattern resembling atrial fibrillation. The ventricle is completely silent. Unlike another mutation with a silent ventricle, isl fails to acquire the normal number of myocytes. Thus, calcium signaling via C-LTCC can regulate heart growth independently of contraction, and plays distinctive roles in fashioning both form and function of the two developing chambers.

Regulation of Epithelial Sodium Channels by Short Actin Filaments

Cytoskeletal elements play an important role in the regulation of ion transport in epithelia. We have studied the effects of actin filaments of different length on the α, β, γ-rENaC (rat epithelial Na+ channel) in planar lipid bilayers. We found the following. 1) Short actin filaments caused a 2-fold decrease in unitary conductance and a 2-fold increase in open probability (Po) of α,β,γ-rENaC. 2) α,β,γ-rENaC could be transiently activated by protein kinase A (PKA) plus ATP in the presence, but not in the absence, of actin. 3) ATP in the presence of actin was also able to induce a transitory activation of α,β,γ-rENaC, although with a shortened time course and with a lower magnitude of change in Po. 4) DNase I, an agent known to prohibit elongation of actin filaments, prevented activation of α,β,γ-rENaC by ATP or PKA plus ATP. 5) Cytochalasin D, added after rundown of α,β,γ-rENaC activity following ATP or PKA plus ATP treatment, produced a second transient activation of α,β,γ-rENaC. 6) Gelsolin, a protein that stabilizes polymerization of actin filaments at certain lengths, evoked a sustained activation of α,β,γ-rENaC at actin/gelsolin ratios of <32:1, with a maximal effect at an actin/gelsolin ratio of 2:1. These results suggest that short actin filaments activate α,β,γ-rENaC. PKA-mediated phosphorylation augments activation of this channel by decreasing the rate of elongation of actin filaments. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that cloned α,β,γ-rENaCs form a core conduction unit of epithelial Na+ channels and that interaction of these channels with other associated proteins, such as short actin filaments, confers regulation to channel activity.

Polycystin-1 Activates and Stabilizes the Polycystin-2 Channel

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a prevalent genetic disorder largely caused by mutations in the PKD1 and PKD2 genes that encode the transmembrane proteins polycystin-1 and -2, respectively. Both proteins appear to be involved in the regulation of cell growth and maturation, but the precise mechanisms are not yet well defined. Polycystin-2 has recently been shown to function as a Ca2+-permeable, non-selective cation channel. Polycystin-2 interacts through its cytoplasmic carboxyl-terminal region with a coiled-coil motif in the cytoplasmic tail of polycystin-1 (P1CC). The functional consequences of this interaction on its channel activity, however, are unknown. In this report, we show that P1CC enhanced the channel activity of polycystin-2. R742X, a disease-causing polycystin-2 mutant lacking the polycystin-1 interacting region, fails to respond to P1CC. Also, P1CC containing a disease-causing mutation in its coiled-coil motif loses its stimulatory effect on wild-type polycystin-2 channel activity. The modulation of polycystin-2 channel activity by polycystin-1 may be important for the various biological processes mediated by this molecular complex.

Role of gelsolin in the actin filament regulation of cardiac L-type calcium channels.

The actin cytoskeleton is an important contributor to the modulation of the cell function. However, little is known about the regulatory role of this supermolecular structure in the membrane events that take place in the heart. In this report, the regulation of cardiac myocyte function by actin filament organization was investigated in neonatal mouse cardiac myocytes (NMCM) from both wild-type mice and mice genetically devoid of the actin filament severing protein gelsolin (Gsn-/-). Cardiac L-type calcium channel currents ( I Ca) were assessed using the whole cell voltage-clamp technique. Addition of the actin filament stabilizer phalloidin to wild-type NMCM increased I Ca by 227% over control conditions. The basal I Ca of Gsn-/- NMCM was 300% higher than wild-type controls. This increase was completely reversed by intracellular perfusion of the Gsn-/- NMCM with exogenous gelsolin. Further, cytoskeletal disruption of either Gsn-/- or phalloidin-dialyzed wild-type NMCM with cytochalasin D (CD) decreased the enhanced I Ca by 84% and 87%, respectively. The data indicate that actin filament stabilization by either a lack of gelsolin or intracellular dialysis with phalloidin increase I Ca, whereas actin filament disruption with CD or dialysis of Gsn-/- NMCM with gelsolin decrease I Ca. We conclude that cardiac L-type calcium channel regulation is tightly controlled by actin filament organization. Actin filament rearrangement mediated by gelsolin may contribute to calcium channel inactivation.

Ionic wave propagation along actin filaments.

We investigate the conditions enabling actin filaments to act as electrical transmission lines for ion flows along their lengths. We propose a model in which each actin monomer is an electric element with a capacitive, inductive, and resistive property due to the molecular structure of the actin filament and viscosity of the solution. Based on Kirchhoffs laws taken in the continuum limit, a nonlinear partial differential equation is derived for the propagation of ionic waves. We solve this equation in two different regimes. In the first, the maximum propagation velocity wave is found in terms of Jacobi elliptic functions. In the general case, we analyze the equation in terms of Fisher-Kolmogoroff modes with both localized and extended wave characteristics. We propose a new signaling mechanism in the cell, especially in neurons.

Atrial natriuretic factor and cGMP inhibit amiloride-sensitive Na+ transport in the cultured renal epithelial cell line, LLC-PK1

The renal cell culture model, LLC-PK1, which contains an amiloride-sensitive conductive Na+ transport pathway and a Na+/H+ exchanger, was utilized to examine the direct effects of atriopeptin II and cGMP on Na+ transport in epithelial cells. Exposure of cells to atriopeptin II (10(-7) M) increased cGMP production within 2 min of addition to cells in monolayer. Atriopeptin II (10(-7) M) or exogenous 8-bromo-cGMP (10(-3) M) maximally inhibited the uptake of 22Na+ through the conductive pathway which accounted for up to 60% of total 22Na+ uptake. The apparent Ki for this inhibition by atriopeptin II was 2 X 10(-11) M. Amiloride inhibited 22Na+ uptake to a similar extent as atriopeptin II, and the effects of the presence of both agents was not additive. In contrast, neither atriopeptin II nor cGMP blunted the increment in 22Na+ uptake induced by a pH gradient. Thus atriopeptin II can directly inhibit Na+ transport in renal epithelial cells, probably through its stimulation of cGMP.

Polycystin-2 Cation Channel Function Is under the Control of Microtubular Structures in Primary Cilia of Renal Epithelial Cells

Mutations in the gene encoding polycystin-2 (PC2) result in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and defects in left-right asymmetry during embryogenesis. PC2 is a TRP-type Ca2+-permeable non-selective cation channel, which is expressed in kidney and other organs. PC2 is present and functional in microtubule-containing primary cilia of renal epithelial cells. However, no information is yet available as to whether PC2 interacts with microtubules. Here, we assessed the role of microtubular dynamics in regulating PC2 channel function in primary cilia. Isolated ciliary membranes from LLC-PK1 epithelial cells were reconstituted in a lipid bilayer system. The acute addition of the microtubular disrupter colchicine (15 μm) rapidly abolished, whereas the addition of the microtubular stabilizer paclitaxel (taxol, 15 μm) increased ciliary PC2 channel activity. The further addition of α-tubulin plus GTP also stimulated PC2 channel activity in ciliary membranes. However, α-tubulin and GTP had no effect on in vitro translated PC2. Using the yeast two-hybrid assay, we found that PC2 interacts with the microtubule-dependent motor kinesin-2 subunit KIF3A, a protein involved in polycystic kidney disease. The interaction occurred through the carboxyl termini domain of both proteins, which was further confirmed by in vitro glutathione S-transferase pull-down and dot blot overlay assays. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed that PC2 and KIF3A are in the same complex in native HEK293, Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK), and LLC-PK1 cells. Immunofluorescent staining also showed substantial PC2 and KIF3A co-localization in primary cilia of renal epithelial cells. The data indicate that microtubular organization regulates PC2 function, which may explain, among others, the regulatory role of PC2 in the sensory function of primary cilia.

The multimeric structure of polycystin-2 (TRPP2): structural–functional correlates of homo- and hetero-multimers with TRPC1

Polycystin-2 (PC2, TRPP2), the gene product of PKD2, whose mutations cause autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), belongs to the superfamily of TRP channels. PC2 is a non-selective cation channel, with multiple subconductance states. In this report, we explored structural and functional properties of PC2 and whether the conductance substates represent monomeric contributions to the channel complex. A kinetic analysis of spontaneous channel currents of PC2 showed that four intrinsic, non-stochastic subconductance states, which followed a staircase behavior, were both pH- and voltage-dependent. To confirm the oligomeric contributions to PC2 channel function, heteromeric PC2/TRPC1 channel complexes were also functionally assessed by single channel current analysis. Low pH inhibited the PC2 currents in PC2 homomeric complexes, but failed to affect PC2 currents in PC2/TRPC1 heteromeric complexes. Amiloride, in contrast, abolished PC2 currents in both the homomeric PC2 complexes and the heteromeric PC2/TRPC1 complexes, thus PC2/TRPC1 complexes have distinct functional properties from the homomeric complexes. The topological features of the homomeric PC2-, TRPC1- and heteromeric PC2/TRPC1 channel complexes, assessed by atomic force microscopy, were consistent with structural tetramers. TRPC1 homomeric channels had different average diameter and protruding height when compared with the PC2 homomers. The contribution of individual monomers to the PC2/TRPC1 hetero-complexes was easily distinguishable. The data support tetrameric models of both the PC2 and TRPC1 channels, where the overall conductance of a particular channel will depend on the contribution of the various functional monomers in the complex.

Evidence for direct interaction between actin and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator

Abstract. Previous studies have demonstrated that actin filament organization controls the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) ion channel function. The precise molecular nature of the interaction between actin and CFTR, however, remains largely unknown. In this report, interactions between actin and purified human epithelial CFTR were directly assessed by reconstitution of the channel protein in a lipid bilayer system and by atomic force microscopy (AFM). CFTR-containing liposomes in solution were deposited on freshly cleaved mica and imaging was performed in tapping-mode AFM. CFTR function was also determined in identical preparations. Images of single CFTR molecules were obtained, and addition of monomeric actin below its critical concentration showed the formation of actin filaments associated with CFTR. The data indicate a direct interaction between actin and CFTR exists, which may explain the regulatory role of the cytoskeleton in ion channel function. This was confirmed by functional studies of CFTR single-channel currents, which were regulated by addition of various conformations of actin. The present study indicates that CFTR may directly bind actin and that this interaction helps affect the functional properties of this channel protein.