Differential expression of P-type ATPases in intestinal epithelial cells: Identification of putative new atp1a1 splice-variant

The Functioning of Na+-ATPases from Protozoan Parasites: Are These Pumps Targets for Antiparasitic Drugs?

The ENA ATPases (from exitus natru: the exit of sodium) belonging to the P-type ATPases are structurally very similar to the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA); they exchange Na+ for H+ and, therefore, are also known as Na+-ATPases. ENA ATPases are required in alkaline milieu, as in the case for Aspergillus, where other transporters cannot mediate an uphill Na+ efflux. They are also important for salt tolerance, as described for Arabidopsis. During their life cycles, protozoan parasites might encounter a high pH environment, thus allowing consideration of ENA ATPases as possible targets for controlling certain severe parasitic diseases, such as Chagas' Disease. Phylogenetic analysis has now shown that, besides the types IIA, IIB, IIC, and IID P-type ATPases, there exists a 5th subgroup of ATPases classified as ATP4-type ATPases, found in Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii. In malaria, for example, some drugs targeting PfATP4 destroy Na+ homeostasis; these drugs, which include spiroindolones, are now in clinical trials. The ENA P-type (IID P-type ATPase) and ATP4-type ATPases have no structural homologue in mammalian cells, appearing only in fungi, plants, and protozoan parasites, e.g., Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania sp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Plasmodium falciparum. This exclusivity makes Na+-ATPase a potential candidate for the biologically-based design of new therapeutic interventions; for this reason, Na+-ATPases deserves more attention.

Is the second sodium pump electrogenic?

Transepithelial sodium transport is a process that involves active Na⁺ transport at the basolateral membrane of the epithelial cell. This process is mediated by the Na⁺/K⁺ pump, which exchanges 3 internal Na⁺ by 2 external K⁺ inducing a net charge movement and the second Na⁺ pump, which transports Na⁺ accompanied by Cl⁻ and water. It has been suggested that this pump could also be electrogenic. Herein, we evaluated, in MDCK cells, the short-circuit current (I_sc) generated by these Na⁺ pumps at the basolateral membrane of the epithelial cells, using amphotericin B as an apical permeabilizing agent. In Cl⁻-containing media, I_sc induced by amphotericin B is totally inhibited by ouabain, indicating that only the electrogenic Na⁺/K⁺ pump is detectable in the presence of Cl⁻. Electrogenicity of the second Na⁺ pump can be demonstrated in Cl⁻-free media. The existence of a furosemide-sensitive component of I_sc, in addition to an ouabain-sensitive one, was identified in absence of chloride. Passive Cl⁻ movement associated with the function of the second Na⁺ pump seems to be regulated by the pump itself. These results demonstrate that the second Na⁺ pump is an electroneutral mechanism result from the stoichiometric movement of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ across the basolateral plasma membrane of the epithelial cell.

The second sodium pump: from the function to the gene

Transepithelial Na(+) transport is mediated by passive Na(+) entry across the luminal membrane and exit through the basolateral membrane by two active mechanisms: the Na(+)/K(+) pump and the second sodium pump. These processes are associated with the ouabain-sensitive Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase and the ouabain-insensitive, furosemide-inhibitable Na(+)-ATPase, respectively. Over the last 40 years, the second sodium pump has not been successfully associated with any particular membrane protein. Recently, however, purification and cloning of intestinal α-subunit of the Na(+)-ATPase from guinea pig allowed us to define it as a unique biochemical and molecular entity. The Na(+)- and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase genes are at the same locus, atp1a1, but have independent promoters and some different exons. Herein, we spotlight the functional characteristics of the second sodium pump, and the associated Na(+)-ATPase, in the context of its role in transepithelial transport and its response to a variety of physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Identification of the Na(+)-ATPase gene (atna) allowed us, using a bioinformatics approach, to explore the tertiary structure of the protein in relation to other P-type ATPases and to predict regulatory sites in the promoter region. Potential regulatory sites linked to inflammation and cellular stress were identified in the atna gene. In addition, a human atna ortholog was recognized. Finally, experimental data obtained using spontaneously hypertensive rats suggest that the Na(+)-ATPase could play a role in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. Thus, the participation of the second sodium pump in transepithelial Na(+) transport and cellular Na(+) homeostasis leads us to reconsider its role in health and disease.

Isolation and cloning of the K+-independent, ouabain-insensitive Na+-ATPase

Primary Na+ transport has been essentially attributed to Na+/K+ pump. However, there are functional and biochemical evidences that suggest the existence of a K+-independent, ouabain-insensitive Na+ pump, associated to a Na+-ATPase with similar characteristics, located at basolateral plasma membrane of epithelial cells. Herein, membrane protein complex associated with this Na+-ATPase was identified. Basolateral membranes from guinea-pig enterocytes were solubilized with polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether and Na+-ATPase was purified by concanavalin A affinity and ion exchange chromatographies. Purified enzyme preserves its native biochemical characteristics: Mg2+ dependence, specific Na+ stimulation, K+ independence, ouabain insensitivity and inhibition by furosemide (IC50: 0.5 mM) and vanadate (IC50: 9.1 μM). IgY antibodies against purified Na+-ATPase did not recognize Na+/K+-ATPase and vice versa. Analysis of purified Na+-ATPase by SDS-PAGE and 2D-electrophoresis showed that is constituted by two subunits: 90 (α) and 50 (β) kDa. Tandem mass spectrometry of α-subunit identified three peptides, also present in most Na+/K+-ATPase isoforms, which were used to design primers for cloning both ATPases by PCR from guinea-pig intestinal epithelial cells. A cDNA fragment of 1148 bp (atna) was cloned, in addition to Na+/K+-ATPase α1-isoform cDNA (1283 bp). In MDCK cells, which constitutively express Na+-ATPase, silencing of atna mRNA specifically suppressed Na+-ATPase α-subunit and ouabain-insensitive Na+-ATPase activity, demonstrating that atna transcript is linked to this enzyme. Guinea-pig atna mRNA sequence (2787 bp) was completed using RLM-RACE. It encodes a protein of 811 amino acids (88.9 kDa) with the nine structural motifs of P-type ATPases. It has 64% identity and 72% homology with guinea-pig Na+/K+-ATPase α1-isoform. These structural and biochemical evidences identify the K+-independent, ouabain-insensitive Na+-ATPase as a unique P-type ATPase.