Biochemical properties of the Na+/H+ exchange system in rat brain synaptosomes. Interdependence of internal and external pH control of the exchange activity

Relationship between intracellular proton buffering capacity and intracellular pH

In a recent publication the widely held view that the intracellular proton buffering power [defined as the amount of acid or base that has to be added to the cytosol to change the intracellular pH (pHi) by one pH unit] increases as the intracellular pH decreases, has been challenged, with the opposite relationship being proposed. In that publication, buffering was defined not in terms of pH change, but in terms of the change in proton concentration. The reason for this re-definition was the fear that the conventional analysis, using as it does a logarithmic function (pHi), could bias the outcome in favor of an increasing buffering power with decreasing pHi. The new system uses a "buffering co-efficient," defined as the number of protons necessary to be added to the cytosol to change the intracellular proton concentration by 1 mM. We report the use of both of these methods to analyze the relationship of pHi and buffering power, using human peripheral leucocytes loaded with the pH-sensitive fluorophore BCECF examined over a very wide range of pHi values (pHi 6.0 to 7.5). The most common method for pHi perturbation for the measurement of buffering is used, the rapid diffusion of ammonia across the cell membrane. In this study, analysis for both a bicarbonate-containing "open" system and for a Hepes-buffered "closed" system was performed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cytoplasmic alkalinization induced by insulin through an activation of Na(+)-H+ antiporter inhibits tyrosine hydroxylase activity in striatal synaptosomes

Insulin dose-dependently inhibited tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity and increased intrasynaposomal pH (pHi) in rat striatal nerve endings. Both these effects of insulin on TH and pHi were prevented by the 5-(N-methyl-N-(guanidinocarbonylmethyl) amiloride (MGCMA), a putative selective inhibitor of the Na(+)-H+ antiporter. Interestingly when, by changing the extracellular pH (pHo), the pHi was increased, from 7.1 up to 7.5, an equivalent inhibition of TH activity occurred. The inhibitory action exerted from insulin on TH activity disappeared when the hormone was added to synaptosomes whose pHi was lowered to 6.83. Collectively, the results of the present study showed that insulin inhibited TH activity in striatal synaptosomes. This effect seems to involve the activation of the Na(+)-H+ antiporter. This exchange system once activated, may induce an intrasynaptosomal alkalinization, a condition in which TH activity is inhibited.

Effect of diabetes on Na(+)-H+ exchange by single isolated hepatocytes

We used the fluorescent dye 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) to examine intracellular pH (pHi) regulation in single hepatocytes isolated from control rats and rats with either spontaneous or drug-induced diabetes mellitus (DM). In the absence of CO2-HCO3-, both control and DM cells recovered from cellular acid loads applied by the NH4+ prepulse technique. Because the pHi recovery was blocked by either Na+ withdrawal or ethylisopropylamiloride in both control and DM cells, it was presumably mediated by Na(+)-H+ exchange. In the control cells, the pHi threshold above which the rate of change of pHi (dpHi/dt) was zero was 7.06, and the slope of the dpHi/dt-pHi relationship was -0.030 s-1. In the DM cells, the pHi threshold was 7.22 and the slope was -0.017 s-1. Thus, at pHi values below approximately 6.9, the pHi recovery was slower in the DM cells. Inasmuch as we observed no difference in the cellular buffering power between control and DM cells, diabetes inhibits Na(+)-H+ exchange within this low pHi range. At pHi values above approximately 6.9, however, Na(+)-H+ exchange was apparently stimulated by diabetes. Thus diabetes induces two distinct alterations of Na(+)-H+ exchange, an alkaline shift in pHi threshold and decrease in slope. Treatment of diabetic rats with insulin for 48 h restored both Na(+)-H+ exchange parameters to normal. On the other hand, insulin added in vitro to DM cells for 2-5 h shifted the threshold toward the control value without affecting the slope, thus leading to a further inhibition of Na(+)-H+ exchange over the entire pHi range.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Receptor binding profiles of amiloride analogues provide no evidence for a link between receptors and the Na+/H+ exchanger, but indicate a common structure on receptor proteins

Amiloride and its analogues affect radioligand binding to the adenosine-A1 receptor. In this paper, the specificity of this effect is investigated by generating receptor binding profiles for amiloride and two of its analogues. A limited structure-activity relationships study is performed to probe the relationship between inhibition of receptor binding by amiloride analogues and the effects of these compounds on Na+ transport, in particular Na+/H+ exchange. The receptor binding profiles of amiloride, benzamil and 5'-(N,N-hexamethylene)amiloride (HMA) indicate that the compounds affect a variety of receptors and that none of the compounds is highly selective for any of these. The SAR study indicates that it is very unlikely that a direct coupling between receptors and Na+/H+ exchange or another amiloride-sensitive ion transport system is responsible for the inhibition of receptor binding. A correlation between the signal transduction systems coupled to the receptors involved and the potency of the amiloride analogues is also absent. The varying nature of the receptors, affected by amiloride or its analogues, suggests a wide-spread presence of an amiloride binding site on receptors and other membrane proteins.

Direct characterization of the Na+/H+ exchanger in human platelets

The kinetic properties of the Na+/H+ exchanger in human platelets were investigated by direct measurements of pHi as detected with the fluorescent dye, BCECF. In acid-loaded cells, the antiporter displayed a hyperbolic dependence regarding external Na+ with an apparent Km of 38 +/- 4 mM (pHo 7.2 at 25 degrees C) whereas its pHi-dependent activation between 7.3 to 6.4 did not obey a Michaelian model. External acidification from 7.7 to 6.5 decreased significantly the initial rate of Na(+)-dependent H+ efflux. The amiloride derivative, ethylisopropylamiloride blocked this exchanger and exerted a non-competitive inhibition with respect to Na+o (Ki = 17 nM). The cation selectivity of the external site of the antiporter was Na+ greater than Li+ greater than K+ and choline. These results indicate that the BCECF technique allows to evaluate the main features of the Na+/H+ exchanger in human platelets, which possesses kinetic properties similar to those reported in other cell types.

Cyanide-induced alteration of cytosolic pH: involvement of cellular hydrogen ion handling processes

Neuronal cells exposed to cyanide rapidly lose the capacity to regulate internal Ca2+ homeostasis, thereby accumulating an excess cytosolic Ca2+ load. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of KCN on another important ion: hydrogen ion. KCN (1-10 mM) rapidly decreased intracellular pH (pHi) of cultured pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells as indicated by the pH-sensitive fluorescent dye 2',7-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein. Removal of Ca2+ from the media or pretreating the cells with diltiazem (10(-5) M), a calcium channel blocker, delayed the onset and reduced the magnitude of the drop in pHi. Lowering the pH of the incubation medium (pHo) to 6.9 exaggerated the drop in pHi, while raising it to 7.9 attenuated the change in pHi. Removal of Na+ from the media enhanced the cyanide effect. Reintroduction of Na+ or substitution with Li+ reversed the cytosolic acidification, suggesting involvement of the Na+/H+ exchanger in the cyanide action. Pretreatment of cells with amiloride, 0.2 mM, blunted the cytosolic acidification induced by KCN, possibly by decreasing intracellular Na+ accumulation and disrupting H+ efflux. Cyanide thus produces a rapid dysfunction of hydrogen ion handling mechanisms and this may play a role in cyanide neurotoxicity.

Essential activation of Na(+)-H+ exchange by [H+]i in HL-60 cells

The intracellular pH (pHi) dependence of the rate of Na(+)-H+ exchange was determined in undifferentiated promyelocytic HL-60 cells by measuring alkalinization rates using the fluorescent pHi indicator 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). BCECF was calibrated in the pH range from 5 to 7 using the nigericin technique of Thomas and co-workers (J. A. Thomas, R. N. Buchsbaum, A. Zimniak, and E. Racker. Biochemistry 18: 2210-2218, 1979). Exchange rate increases as pHi is lowered below pH 7.00. At low pH (pH below 6.3), the dependence of Na(+)-H+ exchange rate on intracellular proton activity is well fitted by the Michaelis-Menten equation with a maximum exchange velocity of 33.7 +/- 2.4 mmol H(+).1 cell water-1.min-1 and a half-saturation constant of 1.35 +/- 0.28 microM (corresponding to a minus log of the Michaelis constant of 5.89). However, a Hill plot reveals that the Hill coefficient changes gradually from one to two when pH is changed from 5 to 7, ruling out Michaelian kinetics. The dependence of exchange flux on internal protons is well fit in the full pH range from 5 to 7 by a simple kinetic model (essential activation) with modifier and transport sites for internal proton binding. At low pH, failure to correct BCECF measurement of pHi for contribution to fluorescence signal from extracellular dye and for quenching of intracellular BCECF leads to an artifactual increase in the measured Hill coefficient. These two findings (increase in Hill coefficient as pHi is increased and artifactual increase in Hill coefficient because of methodological reasons) provide a good explanation for the wide range of Hill coefficients reported in the literature.

ATP-dependent H+ transport in synaptosomal membrane vesicles of the rat brain

H+ transport into synaptosomal membrane vesicles of the rat brain was stimulated by ATP and to a lesser extent by GTP, but not by ITP, CTP, UTP, ADP, AMP or beta, gamma-methylene ATP. ATP at concentrations up to 200 mM concentration-dependently stimulated the rate of H+ transport with a Km value of 0.6 mM, but at higher concentrations of this nucleotide the rate decreased. Other nucleotides such as CTP, UTP, GTP and AMP, or products of ATP hydrolysis i.e. ADP and Pi also reduced the ATP-stimulated H+ transport. The inhibition by GTP and ADP was not affected by the ATP concentration. These findings suggest that plasma membranes of nerve endings transport H+ from inside to outside of the cells utilizing energy from ATP hydrolysis, and that this transport is regulated by the intracellular concentration of nucleotides and Pi on sites other than those involved in substrate binding.

Accelerated ion fluxes during differentiation in zoospores of Phytophthora palmivora

Zoospores of Phytophthora palmivora show increased fluxes of Na+ and Ca2+ 3-5 min after they have been stimulated to differentiate with pectin. Both spontaneous and pectin-induced encystment are reduced below pH 6 and accelerated above pH 7. The ionophores monensin and A23187 induce slow differentiation when added together, but not when added separately. Ethanol (0.5%) also induces slow differentiation. Amiloride and verapamil inhibit pectin-induced differentiation and also reduce the onset of the Na+ and Ca2+ flux. A requirement for Ca2+ for differentiation is confirmed, but a requirement for Na+ could not be demonstrated.

pH regulation in single glomerular mesangial cells. I. Acid extrusion in absence and presence of HCO3-

We have developed a technique to measure the fluorescence of a pH-sensitive dye (2,7-biscarboxyethyl-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein) in single glomerular mesangial cells in culture. The intracellular fluorescence excitation ratio of the dye was calibrated using the nigericin-high-K+ approach. In the absence of CO2-HCO3-, mesangial cells that are acid loaded by an NH+4 prepulse exhibit a spontaneous intracellular pH (pHi) recovery that is blocked either by ethylisopropylamiloride (EIPA) or removal of external Na+. This pHi recovery most probably reflects the activity of a Na+-H+ exchanger. When the cells are switched from a N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES)-buffered solution to one containing CO2-HCO3-, there is an abrupt acidification due to CO2 entry, which is followed by a spontaneous recovery of pHi to a steady-state value higher than that prevailing in HEPES. Both the rate of recovery and the higher steady-state pHi imply that the application of CO2-HCO3- introduces an increase in net acid extrusion from the cell. One third of total net acid extrusion in CO2-HCO3- is EIPA sensitive and most likely is mediated by the Na+-H+ exchanger. The remaining two thirds of acid extrusion could be caused by a decrease in the background acid-loading rate and/or the introduction of a new, HCO3- -dependent acid-extrusion mechanism. The HCO3- -induced alkalinization cannot be accounted for by a HCO3- -induced reduction in the acid-loading rate. The latter can be estimated by applying EIPA in the absence of HCO3- and observing the rate of pHi decline. We found that this acid-loading rate is only about one fifth as great as the total net acid extrusion rate in the presence of HCO3-. Indeed, two thirds of net acid extrusion in HCO3- is blocked by 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS), an inhibitor of HCO3- -dependent transport. Furthermore, the effects of EIPA and SITS were additive. Thus, in the presence of CO2-HCO3-, a SITS-sensitive-HCO3- -dependent transporter is the dominant mechanism of acid extrusion. This mechanism also accounts for the increase in steady-state pHi on addition of CO2-HCO3-.

Single-cell analysis of the intracellular pH and its regulation during the monocytic differentiation of U937 human leukemic cells

Monocytic differentiation of U937 cells induced by retinoic acid is accompanied by a 0.2-pH-unit cell alkalinisation. The effect of retinoic acid on intracellular pH (pHi) develops slowly and it precedes the differentiation of the cells by 24 h. Heterogeneity in cellular pHi values was assessed using flow cytometry. It was higher at the differentiated stage than at the undifferentiated stage. It was reduced under conditions of clamped pHi values. Two membrane mechanisms allow U937 cells to recover from an intracellular acidosis. These are the Na+/H+ exchange system and a Na+-dependent HCO3-/Cl- exchange system. The increase in the pHi observed after monocytic differentiation resulted from a twofold increase in the maximum activity of the Na+/H+ exchange system with no change in the activity of the bicarbonate-dependent system. The properties of interaction of the Na+/H+ exchanger of U937 cells with Na+, Li+, amiloride and its derivatives were defined and appeared to be unique to human leukemic cells.

Acidosis and ischemic brain damage

It is now widely accepted that acidosis is an important component of the pathogenetic events that lead to ischemic brain damage. The objective with this article is to recall the evolution of the concept, to describe the conditions under which tissue acidosis arises and causes enhanced brain damage, and to probe into the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved.

The regulation of the intracellular pH in cells from vertebrates

Eukaryotic cells control their intracellular pH using ion-transporting systems that are situated in the plasma membrane. This paper describes the different mechanisms that are involved and how their activity is regulated.

Properties of the Na+-dependent Cl-/HCO3- exchange system in U937 human leukemic cells

U937 cell possess two mechanisms that allow them to recover from an intracellular acidification. The first mechanism is the amiloride-sensitive Na+/H+ exchange system. The second system involves bicarbonate ions. Its properties have been defined from intracellular pH (pHi) recovery experiments, 22Na+ uptake experiments, 36Cl- influx and efflux experiments. Bicarbonate induced pHi recovery of the cells after a cellular acidification to pHi = 6.3 provided that Na+ ions were present in the assay medium. Li+ or K+ could not substitute for Na+. The system seemed to be electroneutral. 22Na+ uptake experiments showed the presence of a bicarbonate-stimulated uptake pathway for Na+ which was inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate. The bicarbonate-dependent 22Na+ uptake component was reduced by depleting cells of their internal Cl- and increased by removal of external Cl-. 36Cl- efflux experiments showed that the presence of both external Na+ and bicarbonate stimulated the efflux of 36Cl- at a cell pHi of 6.3. Finally a 36Cl- uptake pathway was documented. It was inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (K0.5 = 10 microM) and bicarbonate (K0.5 = 2 mM). These results are consistent with the presence in U937 cells of a coupled exchange of Na+ and bicarbonate against chloride. It operates to raise the intracellular pH. Its pHi and external Na+ dependences were defined. No evidence for a Na+-independent Cl-/HCO3- exchange system could be found. The Na+-dependent Cl-/HCO3- exchange system was relatively insensitive to (aryloxy)alkanoic acids which are potent inhibitors of bicarbonate-induced swelling of astroglia and of the Li(Na)CO3-/Cl- exchange system of human erythrocytes. It is concluded that different anionic exchangers exist in different cell types that can be distinguished both by their biochemical properties and by their pharmacological properties.

Relationship among activation of the Na+/H+ antiporter, ornithine decarboxylase induction, and DNA synthesis

The relationship among activation of the Na+/H+ antiporter, ornithine decarboxylase, and DNA synthesis was examined with bovine small lymphocytes stimulated by concanavalin A (Con A). The Na+/H+ antiport activity was activated immediately after addition of concanavalin A; the maximum was reached 1 h after Con A addition and the activation continued at least 6 h. With increasing concanavalin A concentrations, the activities of the Na+/H+ antiporter, ornithine decarboxylase, and DNA synthesis increased in a parallel manner. In the presence of HCO3- in the medium, the internal alkalinization of lymphocytes was not induced by Con A. Ornithine decarboxylase and DNA synthetic activities were not inhibited by 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl) amiloride (EIPA), a specific inhibitor of the Na+/H+ antiporter. In contrast, in the absence of HCO3- in the medium, the internal pH was alkalinized approximately 0.06 pH units by Con A. EIPA did inhibit the alkalinization of the internal pH or DNA synthesis significantly. Ornithine decarboxylase activity was not inhibited by EIPA. These results indicate that the activation of a Na+/H+ antiporter is not a trigger for cell proliferation, but its activation is important probably through the maintenance of the internal pH optimum, especially in HCO3(-)-free medium.

Proton permeability of the plasma membrane of rat cortical synaptosomes

1. Transmembrane pH gradients (acidic inside) and electrical gradients (negative inside) were estimated in cortical synaptosomes from the distribution of the weak base methylamine and the lipophilic cation tetraphenylphosphonium, respectively. 2. Acidic interior pH gradients were produced by outwardly directed K+ gradients in Na+-free media. External K+ accelerated the dissipation of preformed H+ gradients. The appearance of H+ in the medium was directly demonstrated by pH-stat titration of a weakly buffered medium. Amiloride failed to inhibit K+-induced H+ release. 3. Elevating K+ in the absence of Na+ did not affect the endogenous contents of noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin, as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. 4. H+ diffusion potentials were generated when outwardly directed H+ gradients were imposed onto the plasma membrane indicating an electrogenic H+ efflux which is not coupled to other ions. 5. At low K+ in the Na+-free sucrose medium, the plasma membrane potential Em (derived from distribution of tetraphenylphosphorium cation) did not approach a value for EK, the K+ equilibrium potential (calculated from K+ gradients). The deviation of Em from EK could be quantitatively described by a modified constant-field equation, taking a relative H+/K+ permeability coefficient of 12,400 into consideration. 6. It is concluded that synaptosomes have a H+ conductance pathway in their plasma membrane in addition to the Na+/H+ antiporter. H+ influx is driven by and leads to a reduction of Em. K+/H+ exchange resulted from the electrical coupling of K+ and H+ fluxes via parallel K+ and H+ channels. Since the Na+/H+ antiporter counteracts passive equilibration of H+ under physiological conditions, a continuous cycling of H+ across the plasma membrane will take place. A possible physiological role of the H+ leak in pHi regulation is discussed.

Na+/H+ exchange is the major mechanism of pH regulation in cultured sympathetic neurons: measurements in single cell bodies and neurites using a fluorescent pH indicator

The regulation of intracellular pH in single cell bodies and in neurites of cultured neurons from rat superior cervical ganglion was studied by continuous monitoring of pH transients using the fluorescent indicator bis(carboxyethyl)carboxy-fluorescein. Intracellular pH was 7.03 +/- 0.05 (n = 8) in bicarbonate-free media at pH 7.4 and was not affected by depolarization with high potassium. Brief exposure to NH4Cl caused rapid cytoplasmic acidification followed by an exponential return of intracellular pH to the resting value. The apparent first order rate constant for recovery from an NH4Cl-induced acid load was 0.2 +/- 0.03 min-1 (37 degrees C) and was similar in media at pH 6.5 or 7.8. Recovery from an acid load was blocked by removal of extracellular Na+ or by amiloride but was not dependent on extracellular Cl- or phosphate or blocked by inhibitors of anion transport, in the presence or absence of bicarbonate. Addition of 5-10 mM bicarbonate at pH 7.4 resulted in a slight alkalinization of the cytoplasm and enhanced complete restoration of pHi after an NH4Cl-induced acid load. Nerve growth factor did not affect intracellular pH of either growing cells deprived of nerve growth factor up to 6 days or of newly isolated neurons left at 4 degrees C for a week before exposure to nerve growth factor. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate had no effect on the pH of cell bodies of growing cells and increased pH of cells deprived of nerve growth factor by less than 0.05 pH units. It is concluded that: pH regulation in cultured sympathetic neurons is largely achieved by Na+/H+ exchange; Bicarbonate may also participate in pH regulation, but not by its exchange with Cl-.

The Na+/H+ antiport of eukaryotic cells: relationship between the kinetic properties of the system and its physiological function

The Na+/H+ antiport is present in the plasma membrane of virtually all vertebrate cells and it plays a central role in cell homeostasis. The pharmacological properties and the characteristics of the interaction of extracellular Na+, Li+, H+ and of intracellular H+ with the Na+/H+ antiport are reviewed herein. The kinetic properties of the system are shown to be essential for defining its four main physiological functions: transepithelial ion transport, control of the pHi, control of the intracellular Na+ concentration, and control of the cell volume. The activity of the Na+/H+ antiport can be modulated by a large number of effectors which are thought to act via protein kinases. At least three mechanisms of activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger are defined from the analysis of the kinetic properties of the system. Activation of the Na+/H+ antiport leads to very different consequences, depending upon the activity of other ion transporting systems in the membrane.

The Na+/H+ exchange system in glial cell lines. Properties and activation by an hyperosmotic shock

The properties of the Na+/H+ exchange system in the glial cell lines C6 and NN were studied from 22Na+ uptake experiments and measurements of the internal pH (pHi) using intracellularly trapped biscarboxyethyl-carboxyfluorescein. In both cell types, the Na+/H+ exchanger is the major mechanism by which cells recover their pHi after an intracellular acidification. The exchanger is inhibited by amiloride and its derivatives. The pharmacological profile (ethylisopropylamiloride greater than amiloride greater than benzamil) is identical for the two cell lines. Both Na+ and Li+ can be exchanged for H+. Increasing the external pH increases the activity of the exchanger in the two cell lines. In NN cells the external pH dependence of the exchanger is independent of the pHi. In contrast, in C6 cells, changing the pHi value from 7.0 to 6.5 produces a pH shift of 0.6 pH units in the external pH dependence of the exchanger in the acidic range. Decreasing pHi activates the Na+/H+ exchanger in both cell lines. Increasing the osmolarity of the external medium with mannitol produces an activation of the exchanger in C6 cells, which leads to a cell alkalinization. Mannitol action on 22Na+ uptake and the pHi were not observed in the presence of amiloride derivatives. Mannitol produces a modification of the properties of interaction of the antiport with both internal and external H+. It shifts the pHi dependence of the system to the alkaline range and the external pH (pHo) dependence to the acidic range. It also suppresses the interdependence of pHi and pHo controls of the exchanger's activity. NN cells that possess an Na+/H+ exchange system with different properties do not respond to mannitol by an increased activity of the Na+/H+ exchanger. The action of mannitol on C6 cells is unlikely to be mediated by an activation of protein kinase C.

Identification of the renal Na+/H+ exchanger with N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) and amiloride analogues

Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) and the 5-ethyl-isopropyl-6-bromo-derivative of amiloride (Br-EIPA) have been used as affinity and photoaffinity labels of the Na+/H+ exchanger in rat renal brush-border membranes. Intravesicular acidification by the Na+/H+ exchanger was irreversibly inhibited after incubation of vesicles for 30 min with DCCD. The substrate of the antiporter, Na+, and the competitive inhibitor, amiloride, protected from irreversible inhibition. The Na+-dependent transport systems for sulfate, dicarboxylates, and neutral, acidic, and basic amino acids were inhibited by DCCD, but not protected by amiloride. An irreversible inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange was also observed when brush-border membrane vesicles were irradiated in the presence of Br-EIPA. Na+ and Li+ protected. [14C]-DCCD was mostly incorporated into three brush-border membrane polypeptides with apparent molecular weights of 88,000, 65,000 and 51,000. Na+ did not protect but rather enhanced labeling. In contrast, amiloride effectively decreased the labeling of the 65,000 molecular weight polypeptide. In basolateral membrane vesicles one band was highly labeled by [14C]DCCD that was identified as the alpha-subunit of the Na+,K+-ATPase. [14C]-Br-EIPA was mainly incorporated into a brush-border membrane polypeptide with apparent molecular weight of 65,000. Na+ decreased the labeling of this protein. Similar to the Na+/H+ exchanger this Na+-protectable band was absent in basolateral membrane vesicles. We conclude that a membrane protein with an apparent molecular weight of 65,000 is involved in rat renal Na+/H+ exchange.

Amiloride-sensitive sodium-hydrogen exchange in osmotically shrunken rabbit red blood cells

As part of a detailed study of cell volume regulation in high-potassium mammalian erythrocytes, we have characterized ouabain-insensitive sodium transport in normal and osmotically shrunken rabbit red cells. In cells of normal volume and physiological pH, there is no amiloride-inhibited component of the sodium efflux (into either sodium-containing or sodium-free media). Osmotic shrinkage activates an amiloride-sensitive (50% inhibitory concentration = 10(-5) M) sodium transport system that can catalyze net sodium movement in either direction. This system appears to be distinct from the sodium-sodium (sodium-lithium) counter-transporter that operates in cells of normal volume. Replacement of chloride with acetate does not inhibit the sodium flux, but replacement with either nitrate or thiocyanate is inhibitory. An inward sodium gradient in shrunken cells induces a net uphill efflux of acid equivalents, indicating that the sodium transport is a sodium-hydrogen exchange. However, a sevenfold inward gradient of hydrogen ions (pHo = 6.4; pHi = 7.2) does not stimulate net sodium efflux in shrunken cells. This suggests that the extracellular affinity of the transport site for hydrogen ions is high, and that there is an extracellular noncompetitive inhibitory site for proton binding. Bilateral pH reduction stimulates an amiloride-inhibitable sodium flux in cells of normal volume; this indicates that, as has been found in kidney, brain, and lymphocytes, there is an intracellular protonation site that can activate the transport. Shrinkage of the cells shifts the pH dependence of the transport, suggesting that part of the signal for the osmotic activation of the transport is a shift in the pKa of this modifier site.

Interaction of guanidinium and guanidinium derivatives with the Na+/H+ exchange system

Guanidinium, a small organic monovalent cation that is permeant through voltage-dependent cationic channels cannot be transported by the cardiac Na+/H+ exchange system. Yet it recognizes the exchanger and is able to block its activity (K0.5 = 30 mM). Guanidinium derivatives that do not belong to the amiloride series and which possess potent antihypertensive properties also block the activity of the Na+/H+ exchange system in various cell types with a greater potency than unsubstituted guanidinium. The most potent compound found, guanochlor, has an affinity for the exchanger ranging between 0.5 microM and 6 microM in different systems and is more potent than amiloride in all systems studied. Guanochlor has the same action as amiloride derivatives on the cardiac cells; it prevents intracellular pH recovery in cardiac cells that have been acidified and also antagonizes the effect of ouabain on 45Ca2+ uptake by chick cardiac cells. Guanochlor does not compete with [3H]ethylpropylamiloride for its binding to the Na+/H+ exchange system of rabbit kidney brush border membrane. It is suggested that guanochlor recognizes a binding site on the Na+/H+ exchanger that is distinct from the amiloride binding site.