Regulation of the glutamate transporter EAAT4 by PIKfyve.

The excitatory amino-acid transporter EAAT4 (SLC1A6), a Na(+),glutamate cotransporter expressed mainly in Purkinje cells, serves to clear glutamate from the synaptic cleft. EAAT4 activity is stimulated by the serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase SGK1. SGK1-dependent regulation of the Na(+),glucose transporter SGLT1 (SLC5A1) and the creatine transporter CreaT (SLC6A8) has recently been shown to involve the mammalian phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate-5-kinase PIKfyve (PIP5K3). The present experiments thus explored whether SGK1-dependent EAAT4-regulation similarly involves PIKfyve. In Xenopus oocytes expressing EAAT4, but not in water injected oocytes, glutamate induced a current which was significantly enhanced by coexpression of PIKfyve and SGK1. The glutamate induced current in Xenopus oocytes coexpressing EAAT4 and both, PIKfyve and SGK1, was significantly larger than the current in Xenopus oocytes expressing EAAT4 together with either kinase alone. Coexpression of the inactive SGK1 mutant (K127N)SGK1 did not significantly alter glutamate induced current in EAAT4-expressing Xenopus oocytes and abolished the stimulation of glutamate induced current by coexpression of PIKfyve. The stimulating effect of PIKfyve was abrogated by replacement of the serine with alanine in the SGK consensus sequence ((S318A)PIKfyve). Furthermore, coexpression of (S318A)PIKfyve significantly blunted the stimulating effect of SGK1 on EAAT4 activity. The observations disclose that PIKfyve indeed participates in the regulation of EAAT4.

Regulation of the glutamate transporter EAAT2 by PIKfyve.

The Na(+),glutamate cotransporter EAAT2 is expressed in astrocytes and clears glutamate from the synaptic cleft. EAAT2 dependent currrent is stimulated by the serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase SGK1. Phosphorylation targets of SGK1 include the human phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate-5-kinase PIKfyve (PIP5K3). Nothing is known, however, on the role of PIKfyve in the regulation of EAAT2. The present experiments thus explored, whether PIKfyve expression modifies EAAT2 dependent currrent and protein abundance in the cell membrane. In Xenopus oocytes expressing EAAT2 but not in water injected oocytes application of glutamate (2 mM) induced an inward current (I(glu)). Coexpression of either, SGK1 or PIKfyve, significantly enhanced I(glu) in EAAT2 expressing oocytes. I(glu) was significantly higher in Xenopus oocytes coexpressing EAAT2, SGK1 and PIKfyve than in Xenopus oocytes expressing EAAT2 and either, SGK1 or PIKfyve, alone. Additional coexpression of the inactive mutant of the serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase (K127N)SGK1 did not significantly alter I(glu) in EAAT2 expressing oocytes and significantly decreased I(glu) in oocytes coexpressing EAAT2 together with PIKfyve. The stimulating effect of PIKfyve on I(glu) was abrogated by replacement of the serine in the SGK consensus sequence by alanine ((S318A)PIKfyve). Furthermore, additional coexpression of (S318A)PIKfyve virtually abolished I(glu) in Xenopus oocytes coexpressing SGK1 and EAAT2. Confocal microscopy reveals that PIKfyve enhances the EAAT2 protein abundance in the cell membrane. The observations disclose that PIKfyve indeed participates in the regulation of EAAT2.

Regulation of the Na(+)-coupled glutamate transporter EAAT3 by PIKfyve.

The Na(+), glutamate cotransporter EAAT3 is expressed in a wide variety of tissues. It accomplishes transepithelial transport and the cellular uptake of acidic amino acids. Regulation of EAAT3 activity involves a signaling cascade including the phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI3)-kinase, the phosphoinositide dependent kinase PDK1, and the serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase SGK1. Targets of SGK1include the mammalian phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate-5-kinase PIKfyve (PIP5K3). The present experiments explored whether PIKfyve participates in the regulation of EAAT3 activity. To this end,EAAT3 was expressed in Xenopus oocytes with or without SGK1 and/or PIKfyve and glutamate-induced current (I(glu)) determined by dual electrode voltage clamp. In Xenopus oocytes expressing EAAT3 but not in water injected oocytes glutamate induced an inwardly directed I(glu). Coexpression of either, SGK1 orPIKfyve, significantly enhanced I(glu) in EAAT3 expressing oocytes. The increased I(glu) was paralleled by increased EAAT3 protein abundance in the oocyte cell membrane. I(glu) and EAAT3 protein abundance were significantly larger in oocytes coexpressing EAAT3, SGK1 and PIKfyve than in oocytes expressingEAAT3 and either, SGK1 or PIKfyve, alone. Coexpression of the inactive SGK1 mutant (K127N)SGK1 did not significantly alter I(glu) in EAAT3 expressing oocytes and completely reversed the stimulating effect ofPIKfyve coexpression on I(glu). The stimulating effect of PIKfyve on I(glu) was abolished by replacement of the serine by alanine in the SGK consensus sequence ((S318A)PIKfyve). Moreover, additional coexpression of(S318A)PIKfyve significantly blunted I(glu) in Xenopus oocytes coexpressing SGK1 and EAAT3. The observations demonstrate that PIKfyve participates in EAAT3 regulation likely downstream of SGK1.