Electrogenic NBCe1 (SLC4A4), but not electroneutral NBCn1 (SLC4A7), cotransporter undergoes cholinergic-stimulated endocytosis in salivary ParC5 cells

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.

Understanding the Physiological Role of Electroneutral Na+-Coupled HCO3− Cotransporter and Its Therapeutic Implications

Acid–base homeostasis is critical for proper physiological function and pathology. The SLC4 family of HCO₃⁻ transmembrane cotransporters is one of the HCO₃⁻ transmembrane transport carriers responsible for cellular pH regulation and the uptake or secretion of HCO₃⁻ in epithelial cells. NBCn1 (SLC4A7), an electroneutral Na⁺/HCO₃⁻ cotransporter, is extensively expressed in several tissues and functions as a cotransporter for net acid extrusion after cellular acidification. However, the expression and activity level of NBCn1 remain elusive. In addition, NBCn1 has been involved in numerous other cellular processes such as cell volume, cell death/survival balance, transepithelial transport, as well as regulation of cell viability. This review aims to give an inclusive overview of the most recent advances in the research of NBCn1, emphasizing the basic features, regulation, and tissue-specific physiology as well as the development and application of potent inhibitors of NBCn1 transporter in cancer therapy. Research and development of targeted therapies should be carried out for NBCn1 and its associated pathways.

Trafficking, localization and degradation of the Na+,HCO3- co-transporter NBCn1 in kidney and breast epithelial cells

The Na+;HCO3⁻ co-transporter NBCn1 (SLC4A7) is a major regulator of intracellular pH yet its trafficking and turnover are essentially unstudied. Here, we used MDCK-II and MCF-7 cells to investigate these processes in epithelial cells. GFP-NBCn1 membrane localization was abolished by truncation of the full NBCn1 C-terminal tail (C-tail) yet did not require the C-terminal PDZ-binding motif (ETSL). Glutathione-S-Transferase-pulldown of the C-tail followed by mass spectrometry analysis revealed putative interactions with multiple sorting-, degradation- and retention factors, including the scaffolding protein RACK1. Pulldown of FLAG-tagged deletion constructs mapped the RACK1 interaction to the proximal NBCn1 C-tail. Proximity Ligation Assay and co-immunoprecipitation confirmed that native NBCn1 interacts with RACK1 in a cellular context. Consistent with a functional role of this complex, RACK1 knockdown reduced NBCn1 membrane localization without affecting total NBCn1 expression. Notably, only non-confluent cells exhibited detectable NBCn1-RACK1 plasma membrane co-localization, suggesting that RACK1 regulates the trafficking of NBCn1 to the membrane. Whereas total NBCn1 degradation was slow, with a half-life of more than 24 h, one-third of surface NBCn1 was constitutively endocytosed from the basolateral membrane within 60 min. This suggests that a fraction of NBCn1 exhibits recycling between the basolateral membrane and intracellular compartment(s). Our findings have important implications for understanding NBCn1 regulation as well as its dysregulation in disease.

Sodium bicarbonate cotransporter NBCe2 gene variants increase sodium and bicarbonate transport in human renal proximal tubule cells

RATIONALE

Salt sensitivity of blood pressure affects >30% of the hypertensive and >15% of the normotensive population. Variants of the electrogenic sodium bicarbonate cotransporter NBCe2 gene, SLC4A5, are associated with increased blood pressure in several ethnic groups. SLC4A5 variants are also highly associated with salt sensitivity, independent of hypertension. However, little is known about how NBCe2 contributes to salt sensitivity, although NBCe2 regulates renal tubular sodium bicarbonate transport. We hypothesized that SLC4A5 rs10177833 and rs7571842 increase NBCe2 expression and human renal proximal tubule cell (hRPTC) sodium transport and may be a cause of salt sensitivity of blood pressure.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the hRPTC ion transport of wild-type (WT) and homozygous variants (HV) of SLC4A5.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The expressions of NBCe2 mRNA and protein were not different between hRPTCs carrying WT or HV SLC4A5 before or after dopaminergic or angiotensin (II and III) stimulation. However, luminal to basolateral sodium transport, NHE3 protein, and Cl-/HCO3- exchanger activity in hRPTCs were higher in HV than WT SLC4A5. Increasing intracellular sodium enhanced the apical location of NBCe2 in HV hRPTCs (4.24±0.35% to 11.06±1.72% (P<0.05, N = 3, 2-way ANOVA, Holm-Sidak test)) as determined by Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRFM). In hRPTCs isolated from kidney tissue, increasing intracellular sodium enhanced bicarbonate-dependent pH recovery rate and increased NBCe2 mRNA and protein expressions to a greater extent in HV than WT SLC4A5 (+38.00±6.23% vs HV normal salt (P<0.01, N = 4, 2-way ANOVA, Holm-Sidak test)). In hRPTCs isolated from freshly voided urine, bicarbonate-dependent pH recovery was also faster in those from salt-sensitive and carriers of HV SLC4A5 than from salt-resistant and carriers of WT SLC4A5. The faster NBCe2-specific bicarbonate-dependent pH recovery rate in HV SCL4A5 was normalized by SLC4A5- but not SLC4A4-shRNA. The binding of purified hepatocyte nuclear factor type 4A (HNF4A) to DNA was increased in hRPTCs carrying HV SLC4A5 rs7571842 but not rs10177833. The faster NBCe2-specific bicarbonate-dependent pH recovery rate in HV SCL4A5 was abolished by HNF4A antagonists.

CONCLUSION

NBCe2 activity is stimulated by an increase in intracellular sodium and is hyper-responsive in hRPTCs carrying HV SLC4A5 rs7571842 through an aberrant HNF4A-mediated mechanism.

The sodium-bicarbonate cotransporter NBCe2 (slc4a5) expressed in human renal proximal tubules shows increased apical expression under high-salt conditions

The electrogenic sodium bicarbonate cotransporter (NBCe2) is encoded by SLC4A5, variants of which have been associated with salt sensitivity of blood pressure, which affects 25% of the adult population. NBCe2 is thought to mediate sodium bicarbonate cotransport primarily in the renal collecting duct, but NBCe2 mRNA is also found in the rodent renal proximal tubule (RPT). The protein expression or function of NBCe2 has not been demonstrated in the human RPT. We validated an NBCe2 antibody by shRNA and Western blot analysis, as well as overexpression of an epitope-tagged NBCe2 construct in both RPT cells (RPTCs) and human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells. Using this validated NBCe2 antibody, we found NBCe2 protein expression in the RPT of fresh and frozen human kidney slices, RPTCs isolated from human urine, and isolated RPTC apical membrane. Under basal conditions, NBCe2 was primarily found in the Golgi, while NBCe1 was primarily found at the basolateral membrane. Following an acute short-term increase in intracellular sodium, NBCe2 expression was increased at the apical membrane in cultured slices of human kidney and polarized, immortalized RPTCs. Sodium bicarbonate transport was increased by monensin and overexpression of NBCe2, decreased by NBCe2 shRNA, but not by NBCe1 shRNA, and blocked by 2,2'-(1,2-ethenediyl)bis[5-isothiocyanato-benzenesulfonic acid]. NBCe2 could be important in apical sodium and bicarbonate cotransport under high-salt conditions; the implication of the ex vivo studies to the in vivo situation when salt intake is increased remains unclear. Therefore, future studies will examine the role of NBCe2 in mediating increased renal sodium transport in humans whose blood pressures are elevated by an increase in sodium intake.

Role of Sodium Bicarbonate Cotransporters in Intracellular pH Regulation and Their Regulatory Mechanisms in Human Submandibular Glands

Sodium bicarbonate cotransporters (NBCs) are involved in the pH regulation of salivary glands. However, the roles and regulatory mechanisms among different NBC isotypes have not been rigorously evaluated. We investigated the roles of two different types of NBCs, electroneutral (NBCn1) and electrogenic NBC (NBCe1), with respect to pH regulation and regulatory mechanisms using human submandibular glands (hSMGs) and HSG cells. Intracellular pH (pH_i) was measured and the pH_i recovery rate from cell acidification induced by an NH₄Cl pulse was recorded. Subcellular localization and protein phosphorylation were determined using immunohistochemistry and co-immunoprecipitation techniques. We determined that NBCn1 is expressed on the basolateral side of acinar cells and the apical side of duct cells, while NBCe1 is exclusively expressed on the apical membrane of duct cells. The pH_i recovery rate in hSMG acinar cells, which only express NBCn1, was not affected by pre-incubation with 5 μM PP2, an Src tyrosine kinase inhibitor. However, in HSG cells, which express both NBCe1 and NBCn1, the pH_i recovery rate was inhibited by PP2. The apparent difference in regulatory mechanisms for NBCn1 and NBCe1 was evaluated by artificial overexpression of NBCn1 or NBCe1 in HSG cells, which revealed that the pH_i recovery rate was only inhibited by PP2 in cells overexpressing NBCe1. Furthermore, only NBCe1 was significantly phosphorylated and translocated by NH₄Cl, which was inhibited by PP2. Our results suggest that both NBCn1 and NBCe1 play a role in pH_i regulation in hSMG acinar cells, and also that Src kinase does not regulate the activity of NBCn1.

Cation-coupled bicarbonate transporters

Cation-coupled HCO3(-) transport was initially identified in the mid-1970s when pioneering studies showed that acid extrusion from cells is stimulated by CO2/HCO3(-) and associated with Na(+) and Cl(-) movement. The first Na(+)-coupled bicarbonate transporter (NCBT) was expression-cloned in the late 1990s. There are currently five mammalian NCBTs in the SLC4-family: the electrogenic Na,HCO3-cotransporters NBCe1 and NBCe2 (SLC4A4 and SLC4A5 gene products); the electroneutral Na,HCO3-cotransporter NBCn1 (SLC4A7 gene product); the Na(+)-driven Cl,HCO3-exchanger NDCBE (SLC4A8 gene product); and NBCn2/NCBE (SLC4A10 gene product), which has been characterized as an electroneutral Na,HCO3-cotransporter or a Na(+)-driven Cl,HCO3-exchanger. Despite the similarity in amino acid sequence and predicted structure among the NCBTs of the SLC4-family, they exhibit distinct differences in ion dependency, transport function, pharmacological properties, and interactions with other proteins. In epithelia, NCBTs are involved in transcellular movement of acid-base equivalents and intracellular pH control. In nonepithelial tissues, NCBTs contribute to intracellular pH regulation; and hence, they are crucial for diverse tissue functions including neuronal discharge, sensory neuron development, performance of the heart, and vascular tone regulation. The function and expression levels of the NCBTs are generally sensitive to intracellular and systemic pH. Animal models have revealed pathophysiological roles of the transporters in disease states including metabolic acidosis, hypertension, visual defects, and epileptic seizures. Studies are being conducted to understand the physiological consequences of genetic polymorphisms in the SLC4-members, which are associated with cancer, hypertension, and drug addiction. Here, we describe the current knowledge regarding the function, structure, and regulation of the mammalian cation-coupled HCO3(-) transporters of the SLC4-family.

Short-term regulation of murine colonic NBCe1-B (electrogenic Na+/HCO3(-) cotransporter) membrane expression and activity by protein kinase C

The colonic mucosa actively secretes HCO3(-), and several lines of evidence point to an important role of Na+/HCO3(-) cotransport (NBC) as a basolateral HCO3(-) import pathway. We could recently demonstrate that the predominant NBC isoform in murine colonic crypts is electrogenic NBCe1-B, and that secretagogues cause NBCe1 exocytosis, which likely represents a component of NBC activation. Since protein kinase C (PKC) plays a key role in the regulation of ion transport by trafficking events, we asked whether it is also involved in the observed NBC activity increase. Crypts were isolated from murine proximal colon to assess PKC activation as well as NBC function and membrane abundance using fluorometric pHi measurements and cell surface biotinylation, respectively. PKC isoform translocation and phosphorylation occurred in response to PMA-, as well as secretagogue stimulation. The conventional and novel PKC inhibitors Gö6976 or Gö6850 did not alter NBC function or surface expression by themselves, but stimulation with forskolin (10(-5) M) or carbachol (10(-4) M) in their presence led to a significant decrease in NBC-mediated proton flux, and biotinylated NBCe1. Our data thus indicate that secretagogues lead to PKC translocation and phosphorylation in murine colonic crypts, and that PKC is necessary for the increase in NBC transport rate and membrane abundance caused by cholinergic and cAMP-dependent stimuli.

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.

Physiological relevance of cell-specific distribution patterns of CFTR, NKCC1, NBCe1, and NHE3 along the crypt-villus axis in the intestine

We examined the cell-specific subcellular expression patterns for sodium- and potassium-coupled chloride (NaK2Cl) cotransporter 1 (NKCC1), Na(+) bicarbonate cotransporter (NBCe1), cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), and Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 3 (NHE3) to understand the functional plasticity and synchronization of ion transport functions along the crypt-villus axis and its relevance to intestinal disease. In the unstimulated intestine, all small intestinal villus enterocytes coexpressed apical CFTR and NHE3, basolateral NBCe1, and mostly intracellular NKCC1. All (crypt and villus) goblet cells strongly expressed basolateral NKCC1 (at approximately three-fold higher levels than villus enterocytes), but no CFTR, NBCe1, or NHE3. Lower crypt cells coexpressed apical CFTR and basolateral NKCC1, but no NHE3 or NBCe1 (except NBCe1-expressing proximal colonic crypts). CFTR, NBCe1, and NKCC1 colocalized with markers of early and recycling endosomes, implicating endocytic recycling in cell-specific anion transport. Brunner's glands of the proximal duodenum coexpressed high levels of apical/subapical CFTR and basolateral NKCC1, but very low levels of NBCe1, consistent with secretion of Cl(-)-enriched fluid into the crypt. The cholinergic agonist carbachol rapidly (within 10 min) reduced cell volume along the entire crypt/villus axis and promoted NHE3 internalization into early endosomes. In contrast, carbachol induced membrane recruitment of NKCC1 and CFTR in all crypt and villus enterocytes, NKCC1 in all goblet cells, and NBCe1 in all villus enterocytes. These observations support regulated vesicle traffic in Cl(-) secretion by goblet cells and Cl(-) and HCO(3)(-) secretion by villus enterocytes during the transient phase of cholinergic stimulation. Overall, the carbachol-induced membrane trafficking profile of the four ion transporters supports functional plasticity of the small intestinal villus epithelium that enables it to conduct both absorptive and secretory functions.

Neuronal expression of sodium/bicarbonate cotransporter NBCn1 (SLC4A7) and its response to chronic metabolic acidosis

The sodium-bicarbonate cotransporter NBCn1 (SLC4A7) is an acid-base transporter that normally moves Na(+) and HCO(3)(-) into the cell. This membrane protein is sensitive to cellular and systemic pH changes. We examined NBCn1 expression and localization in the brain and its response to chronic metabolic acidosis. Two new NBCn1 antibodies were generated by immunizing a rabbit and a guinea pig. The antibodies stained neurons in a variety of rat brain regions, including hippocampal pyramidal neurons, dentate gyrus granular neurons, posterior cortical neurons, and cerebellar Purkinje neurons. Choroid plexus epithelia were also stained. Double immunofluorescence labeling showed that NBCn1 and the postsynaptic density protein PSD-95 were found in the same hippocampal CA3 neurons and partially colocalized in dendrites. PSD-95 was pulled down from rat brain lysates with the GST/NBCn1 fusion protein and was also coimmunoprecipitated with NBCn1. Chronic metabolic acidosis was induced by feeding rats with normal chow or 0.4 M HCl-containing chow for 7 days. Real-time PCR and immunoblot showed upregulation of NBCn1 mRNA and protein in the hippocampus of acidotic rats. NBCn1 immunostaining was enhanced in CA3 neurons, posterior cortical neurons, and cerebellar granular cells. Intraperitoneal administration of N-methyl-d-aspartate caused neuronal death determined by caspase-3 activity, and this effect was more severe in acidotic rats. Administering N-methyl-d-aspartate also inhibited NBCn1 upregulation in acidotic rats. We conclude that NBCn1 in neurons is upregulated by chronic acid loads, and this upregulation is associated with glutamate excitotoxicity.

Secretagogue stimulation enhances NBCe1 (electrogenic Na(+)/HCO(3)(-) cotransporter) surface expression in murine colonic crypts

A Na(+)/HCO(3)(-) cotransporter (NBC) is located in the basolateral membrane of the gastrointestinal epithelium, where it imports HCO(3)(-) during stimulated anion secretion. Having previously demonstrated secretagogue activation of NBC in murine colonic crypts, we now asked whether vesicle traffic and exocytosis are involved in this process. Electrogenic NBCe1-B was expressed at significantly higher levels than electroneutral NBCn1 in colonic crypts as determined by QRT-PCR. In cell surface biotinylation experiments, a time-dependent increase in biotinylated NBCe1 was observed, which occurred with a peak of +54.8% after 20 min with forskolin (P < 0.05) and more rapidly with a peak of +59.8% after 10 min with carbachol (P < 0.05) and which corresponded well with the time course of secretagogue-stimulated colonic bicarbonate secretion in Ussing chamber experiments. Accordingly, in isolated colonic crypts pretreated with forskolin and carbachol for 10 min, respectively, and subjected to immunohistochemistry, the NBCe1 signal showed a markedly stronger colocalization with the E-cadherin signal, which was used as a membrane marker, compared with the untreated control. Cytochalasin D did not change the observed increase in membrane abundance, whereas colchicine alone enhanced NBCe1 membrane expression without an additional increase after carbachol or forskolin, and LY294002 had a marked inhibitory effect. Taken together, our results demonstrate a secretagogue-induced increase of NBCe1 membrane expression. Vesicle traffic and exocytosis might thus represent a novel mechanism of intestinal NBC activation by secretagogues.

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced endocytosis of the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter in MDCK cells is associated with a clathrin-dependent pathway

In secretory epithelial cells, the basolateral Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransporter (NKCC1) plays a major role in salt and fluid secretion. Our laboratory has identified NKCC1 surface expression as an important regulatory mechanism for Cl(-) secretion in the colonic crypt cell line T84, a process also present in native human colonic crypts. We previously showed that activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by carbachol and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) decreases NKCC1 surface expression in T84 cells. However, the specific endocytic entry pathway has not been defined. We used a Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line stably transfected with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-NKCC1 to map NKCC1 entry during PMA exposure. At given times, we fixed and stained the cells with specific markers (e.g., dynamin II, clathrin heavy chain, and caveolin-1). We also used chlorpromazine, methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, amiloride, and dynasore, blockers of the clathrin, caveolin, and macropinocytosis pathways and the vesicle "pinchase" dynamin, respectively. We found that PMA caused dose- and time-dependent NKCC1 endocytosis. After 2.5 min of PMA exposure, approximately 80% of EGFP-NKCC1 endocytic vesicles colocalized with clathrin and approximately 40% colocalized with dynamin II and with the transferrin receptor, the uptake of which is also mediated by clathrin-coated vesicles. We did not observe significant colocalization of EGFP-NKCC1 endocytic vesicles with caveolin-1, a marker of the caveolae-mediated endocytic pathway. We quantified the effect of each inhibitor on PMA-induced EGFP-NKCC1 endocytosis and found that only chlorpromazine and dynasore caused significant inhibition compared with the untreated control (61% and 25%, respectively, at 2.5 min). Together, these results strongly support the conclusion that PMA-stimulated NKCC1 endocytosis is associated with a clathrin pathway.

PKC{alpha}{beta}{gamma}- and PKC{delta}-dependent endocytosis of NBCe1-A and NBCe1-B in salivary parotid acinar cells

We examined membrane trafficking of NBCe1-A and NBCe1-B variants of the electrogenic Na(+)-HCO(3)(-) cotransporter (NBCe1) encoded by the SLC4A4 gene, using confocal fluorescent microscopy in rat parotid acinar cells (ParC5 and ParC10). We showed that yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-tagged NBCe1-A and green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged NBCe1-B are colocalized with E-cadherin in the basolateral membrane (BLM) but not with the apical membrane marker zona occludens 1 (ZO-1). We inhibited constitutive recycling with monensin and W13 and detected that NBCe1-A and NBCe1-B accumulated in vesicles marked with the early endosomal marker early endosome antigen-1 (EEA1), with a parallel loss from the BLM. We observed that NBCe1-A and NBCe1-B undergo massive carbachol (CCh)-stimulated redistribution from the BLM into early endosomes. We showed that internalization of NBCe1-A and NBCe1-B was prevented by the general PKC inhibitor GF-109203X, the PKCalphabetagamma-specific inhibitor Gö-6976, and the PKCdelta-specific inhibitor rottlerin. We verified the involvement of PKCdelta by blocking CCh-induced internalization of NBCe1-A-cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) in cells transfected with dominant-negative kinase-dead (Lys376Arg) PKCdelta-GFP. Our data suggest that NBCe1-A and NBCe1-B undergo constitutive and CCh-stimulated endocytosis regulated by conventional PKCs (PKCalphabetagamma) and by novel PKCdelta in rat epithelial cells. To help develop a more complete model of the role of NBCe1 in parotid acinar cells we also investigated the initial phase of the secretory response to cholinergic agonist. In an Ussing chamber study we showed that inhibition of basolateral NBCe1 with 5-chloro-2,3-dihydro-3-(hydroxy-2-thienylmethylene)-2-oxo-1H-indole-1-carboxamide (tenidap) significantly decreases an initial phase of luminal anion secretion measured as a transient short-circuit current (I(sc)) across ParC10 cell monolayers. Using trafficking and functional data we propose a model that describes a physiological role of NBC in salivary acinar cell secretion.

Inhibition of rat Na+(-)HCO3(-) cotransporter (NBCn1) function and expression by the alternative splice domain

The Na(+)-HCO(3)(-) cotransporter NBCn1 (SLC4A7) has multiple variants depending upon splice domains in the cytoplasmic amino- and carboxy-termini of the protein. In this study, we examined the role of the amino-terminal splice domain containing 123 amino acids (cassette II) in the regulation of NBCn1 function and expression. Polymerase chain reaction detected NBCn1 mRNAs containing cassette II in a variety of tissues. Two variants, NBCn1-B containing cassette II and NBCn1-E lacking cassette II, were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and assessed by two-electrode voltage clamp to measure the ionic current mediated by the transporters. The two variants showed similar current-voltage (I-V) relations when measured 3-4 days after RNA injection. Replacment of Cl() with gluconate did not affect the I-V relations. When exposed to solutions containing 20-50 mm Na(+), the current produced by NBCn1-B was slightly more positive than that produced by NBCn1-E. The two currents were similar at 100 mm Na(+). The slope conductances for the two variants were progressively increased at higher Na(+) levels, and the increases were parallel and superimposed. Measured at different time points after RNA injection, NBCn1-B produced lower conductance than NBCn1-E at 24-48 h. Protein expression of NBCn1-B was also low at these time points as determined by immunoblot of oocyte membrane preparation. Expressed in opossum kidney (OK) cells, NBCn1-E caused a 1.5-fold increase in ouabain-sensitive production of p-nitrophenol from p-phenyl phosphate compared with control preparations, whereas NBCn1-B had negligible effect. We conclude that the primary function of cassette II is to reduce NBCn1 protein expression.