Regulation of the rat brain Na+-driven Cl-/HCO3- exchanger involves protein kinase A and a multiprotein signaling complex

Potential Theranostic Roles of SLC4 Molecules in Human Diseases

The solute carrier family 4 (SLC4) is an important protein responsible for the transport of various ions across the cell membrane and mediating diverse physiological functions, such as the ion transporting function, protein-to-protein interactions, and molecular transduction. The deficiencies in SLC4 molecules may cause multisystem disease involving, particularly, the respiratory system, digestive, urinary, endocrine, hematopoietic, and central nervous systems. Currently, there are no effective strategies to treat these diseases. SLC4 proteins are also found to contribute to tumorigenesis and development, and some of them are regarded as therapeutic targets in quite a few clinical trials. This indicates that SLC4 proteins have potential clinical prospects. In view of their functional characteristics, there is a critical need to review the specific functions of bicarbonate transporters, their related diseases, and the involved pathological mechanisms. We summarize the diseases caused by the mutations in SLC4 family genes and briefly introduce the clinical manifestations of these diseases as well as the current treatment strategies. Additionally, we illustrate their roles in terms of the physiology and pathogenesis that has been currently researched, which might be the future therapeutic and diagnostic targets of diseases and a new direction for drug research and development.

Structure and Function of SLC4 Family [Formula: see text] Transporters

The solute carrier SLC4 family consists of 10 members, nine of which are [Formula: see text] transporters, including three Na(+)-independent Cl(-)/[Formula: see text] exchangers AE1, AE2, and AE3, five Na(+)-coupled [Formula: see text] transporters NBCe1, NBCe2, NBCn1, NBCn2, and NDCBE, as well as "AE4" whose Na(+)-dependence remains controversial. The SLC4 [Formula: see text] transporters play critical roles in pH regulation and transepithelial movement of electrolytes with a broad range of demonstrated physiological relevances. Dysfunctions of these transporters are associated with a series of human diseases. During the past decades, tremendous amount of effort has been undertaken to investigate the topological organization of the SLC4 transporters in the plasma membrane. Based upon the proposed topology models, mutational and functional studies have identified important structural elements likely involved in the ion translocation by the SLC4 transporters. In the present article, we review the advances during the past decades in understanding the structure and function of the SLC4 transporters.

Regulators of Slc4 bicarbonate transporter activity

The Slc4 family of transporters is comprised of anion exchangers (AE1-4), Na⁺-coupled bicarbonate transporters (NCBTs) including electrogenic Na/bicarbonate cotransporters (NBCe1 and NBCe2), electroneutral Na/bicarbonate cotransporters (NBCn1 and NBCn2), and the electroneutral Na-driven Cl-bicarbonate exchanger (NDCBE), as well as a borate transporter (BTR1). These transporters regulate intracellular pH (pH_i) and contribute to steady-state pH_i, but are also involved in other physiological processes including CO₂ carriage by red blood cells and solute secretion/reabsorption across epithelia. Acid-base transporters function as either acid extruders or acid loaders, with the Slc4 proteins moving HCO⁻₃ either into or out of cells. According to results from both molecular and functional studies, multiple Slc4 proteins and/or associated splice variants with similar expected effects on pH_i are often found in the same tissue or cell. Such apparent redundancy is likely to be physiologically important. In addition to regulating pH_i, a HCO⁻₃ transporter contributes to a cell's ability to fine tune the intracellular regulation of the cotransported/exchanged ion(s) (e.g., Na⁺ or Cl⁻). In addition, functionally similar transporters or splice variants with different regulatory profiles will optimize pH physiology and solute transport under various conditions or within subcellular domains. Such optimization will depend on activated signaling pathways and transporter expression profiles. In this review, we will summarize and discuss both well-known and more recently identified regulators of the Slc4 proteins. Some of these regulators include traditional second messengers, lipids, binding proteins, autoregulatory domains, and less conventional regulators. The material presented will provide insight into the diversity and physiological significance of multiple members within the Slc4 gene family.

The divergence, actions, roles, and relatives of sodium-coupled bicarbonate transporters

The mammalian Slc4 (Solute carrier 4) family of transporters is a functionally diverse group of 10 multi-spanning membrane proteins that includes three Cl-HCO3 exchangers (AE1-3), five Na(+)-coupled HCO3(-) transporters (NCBTs), and two other unusual members (AE4, BTR1). In this review, we mainly focus on the five mammalian NCBTs-NBCe1, NBCe2, NBCn1, NDCBE, and NBCn2. Each plays a specialized role in maintaining intracellular pH and, by contributing to the movement of HCO3(-) across epithelia, in maintaining whole-body pH and otherwise contributing to epithelial transport. Disruptions involving NCBT genes are linked to blindness, deafness, proximal renal tubular acidosis, mental retardation, and epilepsy. We also review AE1-3, AE4, and BTR1, addressing their relevance to the study of NCBTs. This review draws together recent advances in our understanding of the phylogenetic origins and physiological relevance of NCBTs and their progenitors. Underlying these advances is progress in such diverse disciplines as physiology, molecular biology, genetics, immunocytochemistry, proteomics, and structural biology. This review highlights the key similarities and differences between individual NCBTs and the genes that encode them and also clarifies the sometimes confusing NCBT nomenclature.

Cloning and functional characterization of novel variants and tissue-specific expression of alternative amino and carboxyl termini of products of slc4a10

Previous studies have shown that the electroneutral Na⁺/HCO₃⁻ cotransporter NBCn2 (SLC4A10) is predominantly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). The physiological and pathological significances of NBCn2 have been well recognized. However, little is known about the tissue specificity of expression of different NBCn2 variants. Moreover, little is known about the expression of NBCn2 proteins in systems other than CNS. Here, we identified a set of novel Slc4a10 variants differing from the originally described ones by containing a distinct 5′ untranslated region encoding a new extreme amino-terminus (Nt). Electrophysiology measurements showed that both NBCn2 variants with alternative Nt contain typical electroneutral Na⁺-coupled HCO₃⁻ transport activity in Xenopus oocytes. Luciferase reporter assay showed that Slc4a10 contains two alternative promoters responsible for expression of the two types of NBCn2 with distinct extreme Nt. Western blotting showed that NBCn2 proteins with the original Nt are primarily expressed in CNS, whereas those with the novel Nt are predominantly expressed in the kidney and to a lesser extent in the small intestine. Due to alternative splicing, the known NBCn2 variants contain two types of carboxyl-termini (CT) differing in the optional inclusion of a PDZ-binding motif. cDNA cloning showed that virtually all NBCn2 variants expressed in epithelial tissues contain, but the vast majority of those from the neural tissues lack the PDZ-binding motif. We conclude that alternative transcription and splicing of Slc4a10 products are regulated in a tissue-specific manner. Our findings provide critical insights that will greatly influence the study of the physiology of NBCn2.

SLC4A transporters

SLC4A gene family proteins include bicarbonate transporters that move HCO(3)(-) across the plasma membrane and regulate intracellular pH and transepithelial movement of acid-base equivalents. These transporters are Cl/HCO(3) exchangers, electrogenic Na/HCO(3) cotransporters, electroneutral Na/HCO(3) cotransporters, and Na(+)-driven Cl/HCO(3) exchanger. Studies of the bicarbonate transporters in vitro and in vivo have demonstrated their physiological importance for acid-base homeostasis at the cellular and systemic levels. Recent advances in structure/function analysis have also provided valuable information on domains or motifs critical for regulation, ion translocation, and protein topology. This chapter focuses on the molecular mechanisms of ion transport along with associated structural aspects from mutagenesis of particular residues and from chimeric constructs. Structure/function studies have helped to understand the mechanism by which ion substrates are moved via the transporters. This chapter also describes some insights into the structure of SLC4A1 (AE1) and SLC4A4 (NBCe1) transporters. Finally, as some SLC4A transporters exist in concert with other proteins in the cells, the structural features associated with protein-protein interactions are briefly discussed.

Expression and distribution of NBCn2 (Slc4a10) splice variants in mouse brain: cloning of novel variant NBCn2-D

The SLC4A10 gene, which is highly expressed in the mammalian brain, contains two known alternative splicing units, inserts A and B, and is theoretically capable of producing four NBCn2 splice variants: NBCn2-A, -B, -C, and -D. By immunoprecipitation and western blotting, a previous study showed the putative NBCn2-D to be expressed predominantly in the subcortex (SCX) and medulla (MD) of mouse brain. However, no evidence has been provided, in any species, for the existence of a full-length transcript encoding NBCn2-D. In the present study, we report for the first time the cloning of the full-length cDNAs encoding NBCn2-D from mouse SCX and MD. Based on the frequency of bacterial colonies obtained after PCR, we conclude that in SCX, the NBCn2-A transcript is dominant, whereas in MD, NBCn2-B is dominant. NBCn2-D is the least abundant transcript in each of these two brain regions. An analysis based upon the present PCR data as well as the previous immunoprecipitation/western-blot data suggests the following prevalence of NBCn2 variants in total mouse brain: NBCn2-A (~83%), NBCn2-B (~10%), NBCn2-C (~5%), and NBCn2-D (~2%). We also estimate the prevalence of each variant in each of the five brain regions (i.e., cerebral cortex, SCX, cerebellum, hippocampus, and MD). We hypothesize that the expression of different NBCn2 splice variants is characteristic of specific tissue/cells.

Control of MCT1 function in cerebrovascular endothelial cells by intracellular pH

Monocarboxylic Acid Transporter 1 (MCT1) is expressed on the plasma membrane of cerebrovascular endothelial cells where it is the only known facilitator of lactic acid transport across the blood brain barrier. During stroke, brain injury, and certain other brain pathologies, anaerobic glycolysis produces severe lactic acidosis of brain tissue leading to brain cell damage. Therefore, a better understanding of factors that control MCT1 function may be the key to better understanding the origins and treatment of pathological lactic acidosis. In this study, we characterized the effects of intracellular pH in controlling MCT1 function and showed that microtubule disruption targeted this mechanism in rat cerebrovascular endothelial cells. Acidic intracellular pH values were shown to strongly inhibit lactic acid transport into the cytoplasmic space, while alkalinization of the cytoplasm significantly enhanced this transport function. These results support a better understanding of how cerebrovascular endothelial MCT1 may contribute to the development of lactic acidosis in brain pathologies, and suggest targeting it as a novel therapy.

Distribution of NBCn2 (SLC4A10) splice variants in mouse brain

The five known Na-coupled HCO(3)(-) transporters (NCBTs) of the solute carrier 4 (SLC4) family play important roles in pH regulation and transepithelial HCO(3)(-) transport. Nearly all of the NCBTs have multiple splice variants. One particular NCBT, the electroneutral Na/HCO(3)(-) cotransporter NBCn2 (SLC4A10), which is predominantly expressed in brain, has three known splice variants-NBCn2-A, -B, and -C-as well as a potential variant-D. It is important to know the tissue-specific expression of the splice variants for understanding the physiological roles of NBCn2 in central nervous system. In the present study, we developed three novel rabbit polyclonal antibodies against NBCn2: (1) anti-ABCD, which recognizes all four variants; (2) anti-BD, which recognizes NBCn2-B and -D; (3) anti-CD, which recognizes NBCn2-C and -D. By western blotting, we examined the expression and distribution of NBCn2 splice variants in five brain regions: cerebral cortex, subcortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, and medulla. The expression pattern revealed with anti-ABCD is distinct from those revealed with anti-BD and anti-CD. Moreover, by using immunoprecipitation in combination with western blotting, we demonstrate that NBCn2-D does indeed exist and that it is predominantly expressed in subcortex, to a lesser extent in medulla, but at very low levels in cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus. NBCn2-A may be the dominant variant in mouse brain as a whole, and may also dominate in cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus. Immunohistochemistry with anti-ABCD shows that NBCn2 is highly expressed in choroid plexus, cortex, molecular layer of cerebellum, hippocampus, and some specific regions of the brainstem.

Modular structure of sodium-coupled bicarbonate transporters

Mammalian genomes contain 10 SLC4 genes that, between them, encode three Cl-HCO(3) exchangers, five Na(+)-coupled HCO(3) transporters (NCBTs), one reported borate transporter, and what is reported to be a fourth Cl-HCO(3) exchanger. The NCBTs are expressed throughout the body and play important roles in maintaining intracellular and whole-body pH, as well as contributing to transepithelial transport processes. The importance of NCBTs is underscored by the genetic association of dysfunctional NCBT genes with blindness, deafness, epilepsy, hypertension and metal retardation. Key to understanding the action and regulation of NCBTs is an appreciation of the diversity of NCBT gene products. The transmembrane domains of human NCBT paralogs are 50-84% identical to each other at the amino acid level, and are capable of a diverse range of actions, including electrogenic Na/HCO(3) cotransport (i.e. NBCe1 and NBCe2) and electroneutral Na/HCO(3) cotransport (i.e. NBCn1 and NBCn2), as well as Na(+)-dependent Cl-HCO(3) exchange (i.e. NDCBE). Furthermore, by the use of alternative promoters and alternative-splicing events, individual SLC4 genes have the potential to generate multiple splice variants (as many as 16 in the case of NBCn1), each of which could have unique temporal and spatial patterns of distribution, unitary transporter activity (i.e. flux mediated by one molecule), array of protein-binding partners, and complement of regulatory stimuli. In the first section of this review, we summarize our present knowledge of the function and distribution of mammalian NCBTs and their multiple variants. In the second section of this review we consider the molecular consequences of NCBT variation.

Use of a new polyclonal antibody to study the distribution and glycosylation of the sodium-coupled bicarbonate transporter NCBE in rodent brain

NCBE (SLC4A10) is a member of the SLC4 family of bicarbonate transporters, several of which play important roles in intracellular-pH regulation and transepithelial HCO(3)(-) transport. Here we characterize a new antibody that was generated in rabbit against a fusion protein consisting of maltose-binding protein and the first 135 amino acids (aa) of the N-terminus of human NCBE. Western blotting--both of purified peptides representing the initial approximately 120 aa of the transporters and of full-length transporters expressed in Xenopus oocytes--demonstrated that the antibody is specific for NCBE versus the two most closely related proteins, NDCBE (SLC4A8) and NBCn1 (SLC4A7). Western blotting of tissue in four regions of adult mouse brain indicates that NCBE is expressed most abundantly in cerebral cortex (CX), cerebellum (CB) and hippocampus (HC), and less so in subcortex (SCX). NCBE protein was present in CX, CB, and HC microdissected to avoid choroid plexus. Immunocytochemistry shows that NCBE is present at the basolateral membrane of embryonic day 18 (E18) fetal and adult choroid plexus. NCBE protein is present by Western blot and immunocytochemistry in cultured and freshly dissociated HC neurons but not astrocytes. By Western blot, nearly all NCBE in mouse and rat brain is highly N-glycosylated (approximately 150 kDa). PNGase F reduces the molecular weight (MW) of natural NCBE in mouse brain or human NCBE expressed in oocytes to approximately the predicted MW of the unglycosylated protein. In oocytes, mutating any one of the three consensus N-glycosylation sites reduces glycosylation of the other two, and the triple mutant exhibits negligible functional expression.

Modulation of succinate transport in Hep G2 cell line by PKC

The cellular uptake of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) intermediates is very important for cellular metabolism. However, the transport pathways for these intermediates in liver cells are not well characterized. We have examined the transport of succinate and citrate in the human hepatoma cell line Hep G2 and found that it exhibited a higher rate of succinate compared to citrate transport, which was sodium dependent. Comparison of the transport properties of Hep G2 to that of human retinal pigment epithelial (HRPE) cells transfected with human sodium dicarboxylate transporters, hNaDC-1, hNaDC-3, and hNaCT indicated that Hep G2 cells express a combination of hNaDC-3 and hNaCT. Short period activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate (PMA) and alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist, phenylephrine (PE), downregulated sodium-dependent succinate transport presumably via hNaDC-3. The inhibition by PMA was partially prevented by cytochalasin D, suggesting that PKC reduces the hNaDC-3 activity, at least in part, by increased endocytosis. In contrast, activation of PKA by both forskolin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) had no effect on succinate transport. Our results suggest that Hep G2 cells provide a useful model for studies of di- and tricarboxylate regulation of human liver.