The SigmaR1 chaperone drives breast and colorectal cancer cell migration by tuning SK3-dependent Ca2+ homeostasis.

The remodeling of calcium homeostasis contributes to the cancer hallmarks and the molecular mechanisms involved in calcium channel regulation in tumors remain to be characterized. Here, we report that SigmaR1, a stress-activated chaperone, is required to increase calcium influx by triggering the coupling between SK3, a Ca2+-activated K+ channel (KCNN3) and the voltage-independent calcium channel Orai1. We show that SigmaR1 physically binds SK3 in BC cells. Inhibition of SigmaR1 activity, either by molecular silencing or by the use of sigma ligand (igmesine), decreased SK3 current and Ca2+ entry in breast cancer (BC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Interestingly, SigmaR1 inhibition diminished SK3 and/or Orai1 levels in lipid nanodomains isolated from BC cells. Analyses of tissue microarray from CRC patients showed higher SigmaR1 expression levels in cancer samples and a correlation with tumor grade. Moreover, the exploration of a cohort of 4937 BC patients indicated that high expression of SigmaR1 and Orai1 channels was significantly correlated to a lower overall survival. As the SK3/Orai1 tandem drives invasive process in CRC and bone metastasis progression in BC, our results may inaugurate innovative therapeutic approaches targeting SigmaR1 to control the remodeling of Ca2+ homeostasis in epithelial cancers.

Review. Leaky Cl--HCO3- exchangers: cation fluxes via modified AE1.

The abundant membrane protein AE1 normally functions as an obligate anion exchanger, with classical carrier properties, in human red blood cells. Recently, four single point mutations of hAE1 have been identified that have lost the anion exchange function, and act as non-selective monovalent cation channels, as shown in both red cell flux and oocyte expression studies. The red cell transport function shows a paradoxical temperature dependence, and is associated with spherocytic and stomatocytic red cell defects, and haemolytic anaemias. Other forms of AE1, including the native AE1 in trout red cells, and the human mutation R760Q show both channel-like and anion exchange properties. The present results point to membrane domains 9 and 10 being important in the functional modification of AE1 activity.

Multiple transport functions of a red blood cell anion exchanger, tAE1: its role in cell volume regulation.

1. It was previously shown that expressed in Xenopus oocyte the mouse (mAE1) and the trout (tAE1) anion exchanger behave differently: both elicit anion exchange activity but only tAE1 induces a transport of organic solutes correlated with a chloride channel activity. The present data, obtained by measurement of Xenopus oocyte membrane permeability and conductance, provide evidence that tAE1 also induces a large increase in Na(+) and K(+) permeability inhibited by several AE1 inhibitors. 2. This inhibition does not result from an effect on the driving force for electrodiffusion but represents a direct effect on the cation pathway. 3. As a control, expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) having, once stimulated by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), the same anion conductance magnitude as tAE1 did not induce any cation movement. 4. Chloride exchange, channel activity and cation transport induced by anion exchanger expression are inhibited by free or covalently bound H2DIDS as well. This covalent inhibition is reversed by the point mutation of Lys-522, the covalent binding site of H2DIDS to the protein. These data reveal that tAE1 itself acts both as an anion exchanger and as a channel of broad selectivity. 5. All results obtained by expression of AE1 isoforms in Xenopus oocytes and those obtained in erythrocytes are consistent with the proposal that, in nucleated erythrocytes, tAE1 functions as the swelling-activated osmolyte anion channel involved in cell volume regulation. In contrast AE1 from mammalian red cells, which do not regulate their volume, lacks swelling-activated osmolyte channel properties. 6. tAE1 illustrates the ability of a specific transport system to be a multifunctional protein exhibiting other transport functions when submitted to regulation.

Cell volume regulation: the role of taurine loss in maintaining membrane potential and cell pH.

1. In response to a hypo-osmotic stress cells undergo a regulatory volume decrease (RVD) by losing osmotically active solutes and obliged water. During RVD, trout red cells lost taurine, K+ and Cl- but gained Na+ and Cl-. Over the full time course of RVD the chloride concentration in the cell water remained remarkably constant. Thus membrane potential and cell pH, which depends on the ratio of internal to external chloride concentration ([Cl-]i:[Cl-]o), remained fixed. 2. When cell volume decreases it is only possible to keep the chloride concentration in the cell water constant if an equal percentage of the cell chloride pool and of the cell water pool are lost simultaneously. Quantitative analysis of our data showed that this requirement was fulfilled because, over the full time course of RVD, cells lost osmotically active solutes with a constant stoichiometry: 1 Cl-:1 positive charge:2.35 taurine. Any change in taurine permeability, by modifying the stoichiometric relationship, would affect the amount of water lost and consequently cell chloride concentration. 3. Experiments carried out with different cations as substitutes for external Na+ suggest that the constancy of the chloride concentration is not finely tuned by some mechanism able to modulate the channel transport capacity, but results in part from the fact that the swelling-dependent channel constitutively possesses an adequately fixed relative permeability for cations and taurine. However, as a significant fraction of K+ and Cl- loss occurs via a KCl cotransporter, the contribution of the cotransport to the stoichiometric relationship remains to be defined. 4. The large amount of taurine released during RVD (50 % of all solutes) was shown to be transported as an electroneutral zwitterion and not as an anion. How the channel can accommodate the zwitterionic form of taurine, which possesses a high electrical dipole, is considered.

Asn49 is the unique glycosylation site of the trout red blood cell Na+/H+ exchanger.

The Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) is a plasma membrane transport protein found in a wide range of biological systems. NHE is involved in various functions including pH homeostasis, volume regulation, cell proliferation and transcellular Na+ absorption. This study reports immunodetection results obtained with antibodies generated against the C-terminus of the NHE of trout red blood cells, betaNHE. Immunoblotting of cell membrane preparation reveals that betaNHE is a protein with an apparent molecular mass of 95 kDa. Moreover enzymatic glycosidase treatment demonstrates that the antiporter is an N-glycosylated but not O-glycosylated protein. The primary structure of betaNHE contains three putative N-glycosylation consensus sites (N-X-S/T) at Asn49, Asn338 and Asn378. Expression of betaNHE in PS120 fibroblasts, a cell line which lacks an endogenous Na+/H+ exchange, allows to determine the precise sites of glycosylation. The construction of a site-directed mutated betaNHE antiporter, lacking the first predicted motif, shows that betaNHE possesses an unique glycosylation site located on the first extracellular loop of the exchanger (Asn49). Expression of this deglycosylated antiporter shows that deglycosylation of the protein modifies neither the pH(i) dependency of the antiporter nor its hormonal stimulation.

Transport of uncharged organic solutes in Xenopus oocytes expressing red cell anion exchangers (AE1s).

When expressed in Xenopus oocytes, the trout red cell anion exchanger tAE1, but not the mouse exchanger mAE1, elicited a transport of electroneutral solutes (sorbitol, urea) in addition to the expected anion exchange activity. Chimeras constructed from mAE1 and tAE1 allowed us to identify the tAE1 domains involved in the induction of these transports. Expression of tAE1 (but not mAE1) is known to generate an anion conductance associated with a taurine transport. The present data provide evidence that (i) the capacity of tAE1 and tAE1 chimeras to generate urea and sorbitol permeability also was associated with an anion conductance; (ii) the same inhibitors affected both the permeability of solutes and anion conductance; and (iii) no measurable water transport was associated with the tAE1-dependent conductance. These results support the view that fish red blood cells, to achieve cell volume regulation in response to hypotonic swelling, activate a tAE1-associated anion channel that can mediate the passive transport of taurine and electroneutral solutes.

Regulation of Na+/H+ antiporter in trout red blood cells.

The trout red blood cell Na+/H+ antiporter (beta NHE) plays two interesting properties: it is the only NHE own to be activated by cyclic AMP, and the activation process is followed by a desensitisation of the transport system itself. Cloning and expression of beta NHE have provided inificant information about Na+/H+ activation, in particular that activation by cyclic AMP is directly dependent upon the presence of two protein kinase A consensus sites in the cytoplasmic tail of the antiporter. Expression of beta NHE in fibroblasts demonstrates that the protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC) activation pathways are independent and do not converge a common kinase. Moreover, the hydrophilic C-terminal fragment is essential to the mediation of the various hormonal responses. NHE1 (the human ubiquitous isoform) is not activated by cyclic AMP, but a "NHE1 transmembrane domain/beta NHE cytoplasmic domain' chimera is fully activated by cyclic AMP. In red cells, activation of beta NHE is the result of phosphorylation by PKA of at least two independent sites. Desensitisation, inhibited by the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid, may consist of the dephosphorylation of one of these two sites. Furthermore, Calyculin A (CIA), another specific protein phosphatase inhibitor, induces in unstimulated cells a Na+/H+ exchange activity whose exchange properties are very different from those of the adrenergically stimulated antiporter. It is suggested that CIA may be able to revive "sequestered' antiporters. We propose that the molecular events underlying beta NHE desensitisation could be similar to those involved in rhodopsin desensitisation. Antibodies were generated against trout red cell arrestin in order to analyse the binding of arrestin to the activated exchanger. Recombinant trout arrestin was produced in a protease-deficient strain of Escherichia coli and its functionality tested in a reconstituted rhodopsin assay.

Association of the band 3 protein with a volume-activated, anion and amino acid channel: a molecular approach.

In response to swelling, cells recover their initial volume by releasing intracellular solutes via volume-sensitive pathways. There is increasing evidence that structurally dissimilar organic osmolytes (amino acids, polyols, methyl amines), which are lost from cells in response to swelling, share a single pathway having the characteristics of an anion channel. However, the molecular identity of this pathway remains to be established. It has been suggested that the erythrocyte anion exchanger (AE1) or some AE1-related proteins could be involved. A direct evaluation of this possibility has been made by comparing the functional properties of two AE1s when expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes: tAE1 is from a fish erythrocyte which releases taurine when swollen, and mAE1 is from a mammalian erythrocyte which does not regulate its volume when swollen. While mAE1 performs exclusively Cl-/Cl- exchange, tAE1 behaves as a bifunctional protein with both anion exchange and Cl-/taurine channel functions. Construction of diverse tAE1/mAE1 chimaeras allows the identification of protein domains associated with this channel activity. Thus, some AE1 isoforms could act as a swelling-activated osmolyte channel, a result having a potentially important implication in malaria. This review also discusses the possibility that several different proteins might function as swelling-activated osmolyte channels.

The Na+/H+ exchanger present in trout erythrocyte membranes is not responsible for the amiloride-insensitive Na+/Li+ exchange activity.

The protein responsible for the Na+/Li+ exchange activity across the erythrocyte membrane has not been cloned or isolated. It has been suggested that a Na+/H+ exchanger could be responsible for the Na+/Li+ exchange activity across the erythrocyte membrane. Previously, we reported that in the trout erythrocyte, the Li+/H+ exchange activity (mediated by the Na+/H+ exchanger beta NHE) and the Na+/Li+ exchange activity respond differently to cAMP, DMA (dimethyl-amiloride) and O2. We concluded that the DMA insensitive Na+/Li+ exchange activity originates from a different protein. To further examine these findings, we measured Li+ efflux in fibroblasts expressing the beta NHE as the only Na+/H+ exchanger. Moreover, the internal pH of these cells was monitored with a fluorescent probe. Our findings indicate that acidification of fibroblasts expressing the Na+/H+ exchanger beta NHE, induces a Na+ stimulated Li+ efflux activity in trout erythrocytes. This exchange activity, however, is DMA sensitive and therefore differs from the DMA insensitive Na+/Li+ exchange activity. In these fibroblasts no significant DMA insensitive Na+/Li+ exchange activity was found. These results support the hypothesis that the trout erythrocyte Na+/Li+ exchange activity is not mediated by the Na+/H+ exchanger (beta NHE) present in these membranes.

A role for the anion exchanger AE1 (band 3 protein) in cell volume regulation.

In response to swelling cells recover their volume by releasing ions (mainly K+, Cl-) and different organic solutes (e.g. taurine) via volume-sensitive pathways. Depending on the cause of swelling (net uptake of electrolytes or decrease in external osmolality) cells use specifically some of these pathways. Previous data indicate that the anion exchanger (AE1) is involved in the choice of the regulatory pattern the cells adopt. Molecular cloning and functional expression of AE1 from the trout erythrocyte shows that this anion exchanger can function as a channel mediating taurine fluxes. In the erythrocyte, the channel activation depends on the conditions as the cell is swollen: when swelling is caused by an accumulation of electrolytes (resulting in an increase of the intracellular ionic strength) the channel is not activated and the regulatory volume decrease occurs exclusively by a release of K and Cl via a KCl cotransporter. When swelling is caused by hypotonic shock (resulting in a decrease in intracellular ionic strength) the KCl cotransporter is then mainly inactivated or even silent; conversely the channel is activated and allows volume recovery by mediating the release of both taurine and probably K and Cl. The possibility that AEs function as volume-activated taurine channels in other cell types and as a malaria-induced channel in malaria-infected human red cells is considered.

Trout red blood cell arrestin (TRCarr), a novel member of the arrestin family: cloning, immunoprecipitation and expression of recombinant TRCarr.

Arrestins are cytosolic proteins involved in the desensitization of G-protein-coupled receptors. We report the cloning of trout red blood cell arrestin which shows 76, 82 and 52% identity with bovine beta-arrestin1, beta-arrestin2 and retinal arrestin respectively. Antibodies were generated against the C-terminus of trout red blood cell arrestin. These antibodies detected arrestin in erythrocyte cytosol and were able to precipitate the native protein. The Na+/H+ antiporter of trout red blood cell is activated by beta-adrenergic stimulation and is then desensitized whereas the transmembrane signalling pathway is not. To investigate the subcellular distribution of arrestin on beta-adrenergic activation and desensitization of the antiporter, precipitation experiments were carried out on trout erythrocytes. A desensitization-dependent shift in cytosolic arrestin to the membranes could not be detected using the immunoprecipitation technique but we cannot exclude the possibility that a small number of cytosolic arrestins might be involved in the regulation of membrane proteins in trout erythrocyte. Recombinant trout arrestin was produced in a protease-deficient Escherichia coli strain and its functionality was tested in a reconstituted rhodopsin assay. The recombinant protein provides a suitable tool for investigating the target for arrestin in trout red blood cell, which still remains to be identified.

Phospholipase C in mouse oocytes: characterization of beta and gamma isoforms and their possible involvement in sperm-induced Ca2+ spiking.

This study involved an investigation of the role of phospholipase C (PLC) in generating repetitive Ca2+ spikes at fertilization. Using a PCR-based strategy we have demonstrated that mouse oocytes have mRNA coding for PLC beta 1, PLC beta 3 and PLC gamma isoenzymes. Furthermore, immunodetection of PLC gamma 1 using monoclonal antibodies reveals that PLC gamma 1 protein is present in mature mouse oocytes, ruling out the possibility that mRNA was being transcribed but not expressed. We were unsuccessful at detecting the presence of PLC beta protein, but the presence of this isoform can be inferred from functional studies. The PLC inhibitor, U73122, exerted an inhibitory effect on oocytes activated by spermatozoa or acetylcholine at concentrations of 10 and 30 microM respectively, while its inactive analogue had no effect. The soluble tyrosine kinase inhibitors, genistein (100 microM), herbimycin (10 microM) and geldanamycin (0.6 microM) which could affect signalling through PLC gamma hindered but never completely inhibited Ca2+ spiking in response to fertilization. We conclude that the activation of PLC to generate InsP3 may play a critical role in fertilization.

Expression of band 3 anion exchanger induces chloride current and taurine transport: structure-function analysis.

Most, but not all, cell types release intracellular organic solutes (e.g. taurine) in response to cell swelling to achieve cell volume regulation. Although this efflux is blocked by classical inhibitors of the electroneutral anion exchanger band 3 (AE1), it is thought to involve an anion channel. The role of band 3 in volume-dependent taurine transport was determined by expressing, in Xenopus oocytes, band 3 from erythrocytes which do (trout) or do not (mouse) release taurine when swollen. AE1 of both species elicited anion exchange activity, but only trout band 3 showed chloride channel activity and taurine transport. Chimeras constructed from trout and mouse band 3 allowed the identification of some protein domains critically associated with channel activity and taurine transport. The data provide evidence that swelling-induced taurine movements occur via an anion channel which is dependent on, or controlled by, band 3. They suggest the involvement of proteins of the band 3 (AE) family in cell volume regulation.

Regulation of Na+/H+ exchange activity by recruitment of new Na+/H+ antiporters: effect of calyculin A.

The Na+/H+ antiporter of trout red blood cells, beta-NHE, is activated by agonists of the adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) and by those of protein kinase C (PKC). beta-NHE, once activated, shifts into a refractory state, accounting for its desensitization. It had previously been shown that desensitization is blocked and reversed by the protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid (OA). In this study we examined the effect of another protein phosphatase inhibitor, calyculin A (CIA). CIA was at least 10 times more potent than OA in blocking beta-NHE desensitization, suggesting that desensitization is controlled by phosphatase-1. Furthermore, CIA alone induced a large Na+/H+ exchange in unstimulated red blood cells, a property not shared by OA. The characteristics of ClA-induced Na+/H+ exchange are very different from those of the exchange triggered by activation of beta-NHE by PKA or PKC agonists, i.e., a flat pH dependence and total insensitivity to PKA and PKC inhibitors. Simultaneous addition of maximal concentrations of ClA and catecholamine produced an additive stimulation of the Na+/H+ exchange, consistent with the interpretation that these agents act on two distinct pools of exchangers. Screening of different cDNA libraries suggested that only one isoform of antiporter exists in the trout red blood cell; it therefore seems likely that regulation of the Na+/H+ antiporter beta-NHE involves a recycling mechanism. The reasons why intracellular beta-NHE show different properties from membrane beta-NHE are discussed.

The cytoplasmic domain of the Na+/H+ exchangers (NHEs) dictates the nature of the hormonal response: behavior of a chimeric human NHE1/trout beta NHE antiporter.

Studies of the effect of cAMP on the cloned Na+/H+ exchangers (NHEs) are difficult to interpret as variable results have been reported for the different isoforms when expressed in various cell types. We took advantage of the fact that the human NHE1 and the trout erythrocyte beta NHE, when expressed in the same cell line, PS120, respond differently to cAMP (NHE1 is insensitive, beta NHE is activated) to analyze the molecular mechanisms of cAMP activation. We constructed both a chimera between NHE1 and beta NHE and a set of beta NHE mutants to delineate the critical parts of the molecule involved in the activation process. NHE1 becomes cAMP stimulated when its cytoplasmic domain is replaced by the cytoplasmic domain of beta NHE; thus, the cytoplasmic C terminus of beta NHE, which contains two cAMP-dependent consensus sequences, is essential to confer cAMP dependence. Serine to glycine substitution of only one of the two protein kinase A (PKA) consensus sites decreased by 60% the ability of cAMP to activate Na+/H+ exchange. Simultaneous Ser to Gly substitution of the two PKA consensus sites decreased the cAMP-mediated activation by 72%. The residual activation required a cytoplasmic fragment (aa 559-661) that contains four sequences considered likely as putative PKA consensus sites. The results obtained with the chimeric NHE also demonstrated that if the cytoplasmic C terminus is crucially involved in the hormonal activation, the rate of Na+/H+ exchange so induced can be modulated by the nature of the interaction between the N- and C-terminal domains.

Role of protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation in activation and desensitization of the cAMP-dependent Na+/H+ antiport.

The Na+/H+ antiporter of trout erythrocytes is activated by agents raising intracellular cAMP, whereas other Na+/H+ exchangers are insensitive to or inhibited by cAMP. Cloning of the beta agonist-activated exchanger (beta NHE) reveals the presence of two consensus sites for phosphorylation by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (cAMP-PKA) on the cytoplasmic loop. Transfected to fibroblasts, beta NHE can no longer be activated by cAMP when these consensus sites are removed, indicating regulation through cAMP-PKA. Moreover, it has been shown that activation of the exchanger is rapidly followed by its desensitization. To further investigate the role of phosphorylation in these processes, we examined the effects of protein kinase and phosphatase inhibitors on the antiporter activation and desensitization in trout red cells. Na+/H+ exchange was not induced by strong acidification, indicating that beta NHE is normally in a nonfunctional state, whereas cAMP did activate the system by forcing beta NHE into a functional conformation; preincubation of cells with the kinase inhibitor H89 blocked cAMP-activation, confirming the role of cAMP-PKA in the activation process. The protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid (OA) neither activated the exchange when added on unstimulated cells nor prevented deactivation of beta agonist-activated beta NHE by propranolol. Hence, the cAMP-dependent phosphorylation involved in the activating process is controlled by an OA-insensitive phosphatase. beta NHE activated by beta agonist or cAMP shifts rapidly into a refractory state, accounting for the previously described desensitization. Desensitization was blocked and reversed by OA, indicating a control by an OA-sensitive phosphatase of the phosphorylation level of a site critical for the desensitizing process. Phosphorylation of this (site 2) and of the activating site (site 1) is mediated by cAMP-PKA, as demonstrated by the effects of both intracellular cAMP concentration and kinase inhibitor H89 on the Na+/H+ exchange activity. Based on these data, we proposed that beta NHE can exist in three different states (inactive I, activated A, and desensitized D). Conversion of I to A needs the simultaneous phosphorylation by cAMP-PKA of sites 1 and 2. These two sites might constitute the two neighboring cAMP-PKA sites located on the cytoplasmic loop as deduced from the oligonucleotide sequence. Dephosphorylation of site 2 and subsequent binding of an arrestin-like protein are assumed to account for desensitization of the antiport.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Volume-activated Cl(-)-independent and Cl(-)-dependent K+ pathways in trout red blood cells.

1. Swelling of trout erythrocytes can be induced either by addition of catecholamine to the cell suspension, thus promoting NaCl uptake via beta-adrenergic-stimulated Na(+)-H+ exchange (isotonic swelling) or by suspending red blood cells in a hypotonic medium (hypotonic swelling). In both cases cells tend to regulate their volume by losing K+, but the characteristics of the volume-activated K+ pathways are different: after hormonally induced swelling the K+ loss is strictly Cl- dependent; after hypotonic swelling the K+ loss is essentially Cl- independent. 2. In order to determine the nature of these volume regulatory pathways (i.e. whether the net K+ loss was conductive or was by electroneutral K(+)-H+ exchange or KCl co-transport), studies were performed to analyse ion fluxes and associated electrical phenomena. The cell membrane potential and intracellular ionic activities of volume-regulating and volume-static cells were measured by impalement with conventional microelectrodes and double-barrelled ion-sensitive microelectrodes. 3. The information gained from the electrical and ion flux studies leads to the conclusion that both Cl(-)-independent and Cl(-)-dependent K+ loss proceed via electrically silent pathways. 4. Experiments were designed to distinguish between electroneutral K(+)-H+ exchange or KCl co-transport. These were based upon the inhibition of Cl(-)-OH- exchange to evaluate the degree of coupling between K+ and Cl- (KCl stoichiometry, pH change). The experimental observations are consistent with the fact that both Cl(-)-independent and Cl(-)-dependent K+ loss are mediated by coupled K(+)-anion co-transport and not by K(+)-H+ exchange. 5. On the basis of previous data, we suggest that only one type of K(+)-anion co-transport exists in the cell membrane, for which the selectivity for anions varies according to the change in cellular ionic strength induced by swelling.

Regulation of Na+/H+ exchange and pH in erythrocytes of fish.

1. The function of trout RBC Na+/H+ antiport is unrelated to cell volume or cell pH regulation. Its role is to improve oxygen transport capacity when the supply of oxygen becomes limited. 2. Antiport activation, mediated by cAMP, promotes complex changes in blood pH which have been analyzed in vivo and in vitro. 3. The regulation of antiport (activation, desensitization, control by molecular oxygen and by a newly discovered cytosolic protein, arrestin) is presented. 4. Molecular cloning of the antiport shows that two typical site motifs of phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase are localized on the cytoplasmic region.

Cloning and expression of a cAMP-activated Na+/H+ exchanger: evidence that the cytoplasmic domain mediates hormonal regulation.

The ubiquitous plasma membrane Na+/H+ exchanger (termed NHE1) is activated by diverse hormonal signals, with the notable exception of hormones acting through cAMP as second messenger. Therefore, the Na+/H+ exchanger found in the nucleated trout red cell is of particular interest since it is activated by catecholamines, forskolin, and cAMP analogues. We report here that a cloned cDNA encoding the red cell exchanger restores functional Na+/H+ activity when transfected into Na+/H+ antiporter-deficient fibroblasts (i.e., it regulates intracellular pH in a Na-dependent and amiloride-sensitive manner). This red cell exchanger represents an additional form of Na+/H+ exchanger (termed beta NHE), which is characterized by a specific cytoplasmic domain involved in activation by the cAMP-dependent signaling pathway. After transfection in the same cellular context, beta NHE, but not NHE1, is activated by cAMP or by hormones that increase cAMP levels. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of exchangers shows that beta NHE, but not NHE1, contains two clustered consensus motifs for phosphorylation by a cAMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A; PKA). A deletion mutant devoid of the C-terminal region of the cytoplasmic loop containing the two PKA sites restores Na+/H+ activity but is no longer activated by cAMP analogues or catecholamines. In red blood cells, the Na+/H+ exchanger is also activated by another pathway involving protein kinase C (PKC). Expression of beta NHE in fibroblasts shows that these two independent signaling pathways impinge on two distinct domains of the exchanger. The cytoplasmic segment containing PKA consensus sites, which is crucial for cAMP activation, is unnecessary for stimulation by PKC activators.

Regulation of Cl-dependent K transport by oxy-deoxyhemoglobin transitions in trout red cells.

The oxygenation of trout red cells opens a Cl-dependent K pathway inhibited by furosemide, and by inhibitors of the erythrocyte anion exchanger such as DIDS and niflumic acid. The trigger is the deoxy-oxy conformational change of hemoglobin. The binding of carbon monoxide to heme, which induces a similar conformational change, mimics the effect of oxygen. The possible mechanisms enabling molecular oxygen to control the transport protein are discussed. This oxygenation-activated K transport appears to play a regulatory role in the control of the extracellular K concentration.