Physiology and pathophysiology of human airway mucus.

The mucus clearance system is the dominant mechanical host defense system of the human lung. Mucus is cleared from the lung by cilia and airflow, including both two-phase gas-liquid pumping and cough-dependent mechanisms, and mucus transport rates are heavily dependent on mucus concentration. Importantly, mucus transport rates are accurately predicted by the gel-on-brush model of the mucociliary apparatus from the relative osmotic moduli of the mucus and periciliary-glycocalyceal (PCL-G) layers. The fluid available to hydrate mucus is generated by transepithelial fluid transport. Feedback interactions between mucus concentrations and cilia beating, via purinergic signaling, coordinate Na+ absorptive vs Cl- secretory rates to maintain mucus hydration in health. In disease, mucus becomes hyperconcentrated (dehydrated). Multiple mechanisms derange the ion transport pathways that normally hydrate mucus in muco-obstructive lung diseases, e.g., cystic fibrosis (CF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), non-CF bronchiectasis (NCFB), and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). A key step in muco-obstructive disease pathogenesis is the osmotic compression of the mucus layer onto the airway surface with the formation of adherent mucus plaques and plugs, particularly in distal airways. Mucus plaques create locally hypoxic conditions and produce airflow obstruction, inflammation, infection, and, ultimately, airway wall damage. Therapies to clear adherent mucus with hydrating and mucolytic agents are rational, and strategies to develop these agents are reviewed.

Structural mechanisms for gating and ion selectivity of the human polyamine transporter ATP13A2.

Mutations in ATP13A2, also known as PARK9, cause a rare monogenic form of juvenile-onset Parkinson's disease named Kufor-Rakeb syndrome and other neurodegenerative diseases. ATP13A2 encodes a neuroprotective P5B P-type ATPase highly enriched in the brain that mediates selective import of spermine ions from lysosomes into the cytosol via an unknown mechanism. Here we present three structures of human ATP13A2 bound to an ATP analog or to spermine in the presence of phosphomimetics determined by cryoelectron microscopy. ATP13A2 autophosphorylation opens a lysosome luminal gate to reveal a narrow lumen access channel that holds a spermine ion in its entrance. ATP13A2's architecture suggests physical principles underlying selective polyamine transport and anticipates a "pump-channel" intermediate that could function as a counter-cation conduit to facilitate lysosome acidification. Our findings establish a firm foundation to understand ATP13A2 mutations associated with disease and bring us closer to realizing ATP13A2's potential in neuroprotective therapy.

Electrochemical control of cell and tissue polarity.

Localized ion fluxes at the plasma membrane provide electrochemical gradients at the cell surface that contribute to cell polarization, migration, and division. Ion transporters, local pH gradients, membrane potential, and organization are emerging as important factors in cell polarization mechanisms. The power of electrochemical effects is illustrated by the ability of exogenous electric fields to redirect polarization in cells ranging from bacteria, fungi, and amoebas to keratocytes and neurons. Electric fields normally surround cells and tissues and thus have been proposed to guide cell polarity in development, cancer, and wound healing. Recent studies on electric field responses in model systems and development of new biosensors provide new avenues to dissect molecular mechanisms. Here, we review recent advances that bring molecular understanding of how electrochemistry contributes to cell polarity in various contexts.

Anomalously enhanced ion transport and uptake in functionalized angstrom-scale two-dimensional channels.

Emulating angstrom-scale dynamics of the highly selective biological ion channels is a challenging task. Recent work on angstrom-scale artificial channels has expanded our understanding of ion transport and uptake mechanisms under confinement. However, the role of chemical environment in such channels is still not well understood. Here, we report the anomalously enhanced transport and uptake of ions under confined MoS2-based channels that are ~five angstroms in size. The ion uptake preference in the MoS2-based channels can be changed by the selection of surface functional groups and ion uptake sequence due to the interplay between kinetic and thermodynamic factors that depend on whether the ions are mixed or not prior to uptake. Our work offers a holistic picture of ion transport in 2D confinement and highlights ion interplay in this regime.

Ion transport in muscle acetylcholine receptor maintained by conserved salt bridges between the pore and lipid membrane.

Pores through ion channels rapidly transport small inorganic ions along their electrochemical gradients. Here, applying single-channel electrophysiology and mutagenesis to the archetypal muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) channel, we show that a conserved pore-peripheral salt bridge partners with those in the other subunits to regulate ion transport. Disrupting the salt bridges in all five receptor subunits greatly decreases the amplitude of the unitary current and increases its fluctuations. However, disrupting individual salt bridges has unequal effects that depend on the structural status of the other salt bridges. The AChR ε- and δ-subunits are structurally unique in harboring a putative palmitoylation site near each salt bridge and bordering the lipid membrane. The effects of disrupting the palmitoylation sites mirror those of disrupting the salt bridges, but the effect of disrupting either of these structures depends on the structural status of the other. Thus, rapid ion transport through the AChR channel is maintained by functionally interdependent salt bridges linking the pore to the lipid membrane.

Intracellular Ion Control of WNK Signaling.

The with no lysine (K) (WNK) kinases are an evolutionarily ancient group of kinases with atypical placement of the catalytic lysine and diverse physiological roles. Recent studies have shown that WNKs are directly regulated by chloride, potassium, and osmotic pressure. Here, we review the discovery of WNKs as chloride-sensitive kinases and discuss physiological contexts in which chloride regulation of WNKs has been demonstrated. These include the kidney, pancreatic duct, neurons, and inflammatory cells. We discuss the interdependent relationship of osmotic pressure and intracellular chloride in cell volume regulation. We review the recent demonstration of potassium regulation of WNKs and speculate on possible physiological roles. Finally, structural and mechanistic aspects of intracellular ion and osmotic pressure regulation of WNKs are discussed.

Palmitoylation of the pore-forming subunit of Ca(v)1.2 controls channel voltage sensitivity and calcium transients in cardiac myocytes.

Mammalian voltage-activated L-type Ca2+ channels, such as Ca(v)1.2, control transmembrane Ca2+ fluxes in numerous excitable tissues. Here, we report that the pore-forming α1C subunit of Ca(v)1.2 is reversibly palmitoylated in rat, rabbit, and human ventricular myocytes. We map the palmitoylation sites to two regions of the channel: The N terminus and the linker between domains I and II. Whole-cell voltage clamping revealed a rightward shift of the Ca(v)1.2 current-voltage relationship when α1C was not palmitoylated. To examine function, we expressed dihydropyridine-resistant α1C in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and measured Ca2+ transients in the presence of nifedipine to block the endogenous channels. The transients generated by unpalmitoylatable channels displayed a similar activation time course but significantly reduced amplitude compared to those generated by wild-type channels. We thus conclude that palmitoylation controls the voltage sensitivity of Ca(v)1.2. Given that the identified Ca(v)1.2 palmitoylation sites are also conserved in most Ca(v)1 isoforms, we propose that palmitoylation of the pore-forming α1C subunit provides a means to regulate the voltage sensitivity of voltage-activated Ca2+ channels in excitable cells.

Nutri-cereal tissue-specific transcriptome atlas during development: Functional integration of gene expression to identify mineral uptake pathways in little millet (Panicum sumatrense).

Little millet (Panicum sumatrense Roth ex Roem. & Schult.) is an essential minor millet of southeast Asia and Africa's temperate and subtropical regions. The plant is stress-tolerant, has a short life cycle, and has a mineral-rich nutritional profile associated with unique health benefits. We report the developmental gene expression atlas of little millet (genotype JK-8) from ten tissues representing different stages of its life cycle, starting from seed germination and vegetative growth to panicle maturation. The developmental transcriptome atlas led to the identification of 342 827 transcripts. The BUSCO analysis and comparison with the transcriptomes of related species confirm that this study presents high-quality, in-depth coverage of the little millet transcriptome. In addition, the eFP browser generated here has a user-friendly interface, allowing interactive visualizations of tissue-specific gene expression. Using these data, we identified transcripts, the orthologs of which in Arabidopsis and rice are involved in nutrient acquisition, transport, and response pathways. The comparative analysis of the expression levels of these transcripts holds great potential for enhancing the mineral content in crops, particularly zinc and iron, to address the issue of "hidden hunger" and to attain nutritional security, making it a valuable asset for translational research.

Structure of the human cation-chloride cotransport KCC1 in an outward-open state.

Cation-chloride cotransporters (CCCs) catalyze electroneutral symport of Cl- with Na+ and/or K+ across membranes. CCCs are fundamental in cell volume homeostasis, transepithelia ion movement, maintenance of intracellular Cl- concentration, and neuronal excitability. Here, we present a cryoelectron microscopy structure of human K+-Cl- cotransporter (KCC)1 bound with the VU0463271 inhibitor in an outward-open state. In contrast to many other amino acid-polyamine-organocation transporter cousins, our first outward-open CCC structure reveals that opening the KCC1 extracellular ion permeation path does not involve hinge-bending motions of the transmembrane (TM) 1 and TM6 half-helices. Instead, rocking of TM3 and TM8, together with displacements of TM4, TM9, and a conserved intracellular loop 1 helix, underlie alternate opening and closing of extracellular and cytoplasmic vestibules. We show that KCC1 intriguingly exists in one of two distinct dimeric states via different intersubunit interfaces. Our studies provide a blueprint for understanding the mechanisms of CCCs and their inhibition by small molecule compounds.

Solidify Eutectic Electrolytes via the Added MXene as Nucleation Sites for a Solid-State Zinc-Ion Battery with Reconstructed Ion Transport.

Stationary energy storage infrastructure based on zinc-ion transport and storage chemistry is attracting more attention due to favorable metrics, including cost, safety, and recycling feasibility. However, splitting water and liquid electrolyte fluidity lead to cathode dissolution and Zn corrosion, resulting in rapid attenuation of the capacity and service life. Herein, a new architecture of solid-state electrolytes with high zinc ionic conductivity at room temperature was prepared via solidification of deep eutectic solvents utilizing MXene as nucleation additives. The ionic conductivity of MXene/ZCEs reached 6.69 × 10-4 S cm-1 at room temperature. Dendrite-free Zn plating/stripping with high reversibility can remain for over 2500 h. Subsequently, the fabricated solid-state zinc-ion battery with eliminated HER and suppressed Zn dendrites exhibited excellent cycling performance and could work normally in a range from -10 to 60 °C. This design inspired by eutectic solidification affords new insights into the multivalent solid electrochemistry suffering from slow ion migration.

Massively Enhanced Charge Selectivity, Ion Transport, and Osmotic Energy Conversion by Antiswelling Nanoconfined Hydrogels.

Developing a nanofluidic membrane with simultaneously enhanced ion selectivity and permeability for high-performance osmotic energy conversion has largely been unexplored. Here, we tackle this issue by the confinement of highly space-charged hydrogels within an orderedly aligned nanochannel array membrane. The nanoconfinement effect endows the hydrogel-based membrane with excellent antiswelling property. Furthermore, experimental and simulation results demonstrate that such a nanoconfined hydrogel membrane exhibits massively enhanced cation selectivity and ion transport properties. Consequently, an amazingly high power density up to ∼52.1 W/m2 with an unprecedented energy conversion efficiency of 37.5% can be reached by mixing simulated salt-lake water (5 M NaCl) and river water (0.01 M NaCl). Both efficiency indexes surpass those of most of the state-of-the-art nanofluidic membranes. This work offers insights into the design of highly ion-selective membranes to achieve ultrafast ion transport and high-performance osmotic energy harvesting.

Strain Engineering of Ion-Coordinated Nanochannels in Nanocellulose.

Expanding the interlayer spacing plays a significant role in improving the conductivity of a cellulose-based conductor. However, it remains a challenge to regulate the cellulose nanochannel expanded by ion coordination. Herein, starting from multiscale mechanics, we proposed a strain engineering method to regulate the interlayer spacing of the cellulose nanochannels. First-principles calculations were conducted to select the most suitable ions for coordination. Large-scale molecular dynamics simulations were performed to reveal the mechanism of interlayer spacing expansion by the ion cross-linking. Combining the shear-lag model, we established the relationship between interfacial cross-link density and interlayer spacing of an ion-coordinated cellulose nanochannel. Consequently, fast ion transport and current regulation were realized via the strain engineering of nanochannels, which provides a promising strategy for the current regulation of a cellulose-based conductor.

Light-Powered Propeller-like Transporter for Boosted Transmembrane Ion Transport.

Membrane-active molecular machines represent a recently emerging, yet important line of expansion in the field of artificial transmembrane transporters. Their hitherto demonstrated limited types (molecular swing, ion fishers, shuttlers, rotors, etc.) certainly call for new inspiring developments. Here, we report a very first motorized ion-transporting carrier-type transporter, i.e., a modularly tunable, light-powered propeller-like transporter derived from Feringa's molecular motor for consistently boosting transmembrane ion transport under continuous UV light irradiation. Based on the EC50 values, the molecular propeller-mediated ion transport activities under UV light irradiation for 300 s are 2.31, 1.74, 2.29, 2.80, and 2.92 times those values obtained without irradiation for Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+ ions, respectively, with EC50 value as low as 0.71 mol % for K+ ion under light irradiation.

Preanchoring Enabled Directional Modification of Atomically Thin Membrane for High-Performance Osmotic Energy Generation.

Salinity gradient energy is an environmentally friendly energy source that possesses potential to meet the growing global energy demand. Although covalently modified nanoporous graphene membranes are prospective candidates to break the trade-off between ion selectivity and permeability, the random reaction sites and inevitable defects during modification reduce the reaction efficiency and energy conversion performance. Here, we developed a preanchoring method to achieve directional modification near the graphene nanopores periphery. Numerical simulation revealed that the improved surface charge density around nanopores results in exceptional K+/Cl- selectivity and osmotic energy conversion performance, which agreed well with experimental results. Ionic transport measurements showed that the directionally modified graphene membranes achieved an outstanding power density of 81.6 W m-2 with an energy conversion efficiency of 35.4% under a 100-fold salinity gradient, outperforming state-of-the-art graphene-based nanoporous membranes. This work provided a facile approach for precise modification of nanoporous graphene membranes and opened up new ways for osmotic power harvesting.

Ion Selectivity, Current, and Water Flow Regulation in Ti3C2 MXene Nanopores.

Recent years have seen a growing interest in zero-dimensional (0D) transport phenomena occurring across two-dimensional (2D) materials for their potential applications to nanopore technology such as ion separation and molecular sensing. Herein, we investigate ion transport through 1 nm-wide nanopores in Ti3C2 MXene using molecular dynamics simulations. The high polarity and fish-bone arrangement of the Ti3C2 MXene offer a built-in potential and an atomic-scale distortion to the nanopore, causing an adsorption preference for cations. Our observation of variable cation-specific ion selectivity and Coulomb blockade highlights the complex interplay between adsorption affinity and cation size. The cation-specific ion selectivity can induce both the ion current and electro-osmotic water transmission, which can be regulated by tailoring the ions' preferential pathways through electric field tilting. Our finding underscores the pivotal role of the atomic arrangement of MXenes in 0D ion transport and provides fundamental insight into the application of 2D material in nanopores-based technologies.

Ionic Current Saturation Enabled by Cation Gating Effect in Metal-Organic-Framework Membranes.

Ion transport through nanoporous two-dimensional (2D) membranes is predicted to be tunable by controlling the charging status of the membranes' planar surfaces, the behavior of which though remains to be assessed experimentally. Here we investigate ion transport through intrinsically porous membranes made of 2D metal-organic-framework layers. In the presence of certain cations, we observe a linear-to-nonlinear transition of the ionic current in response to the applied electric field, the behavior of which is analogous to the cation gating effect in the biological ion channels. Specifically, the ionic currents saturate at transmembrane voltages exceeding a few hundreds of millivolts, depending on the concentration of the gating cations. This is attributed to the binding of cations at the membranes' surfaces, tuning the charging states there and affecting the entry/exit process of translocating ions. Our work also provides 2D membranes as candidates for building nanofluidic devices with tunable transport properties.

Mechanisms of Systemic Osmoregulation in Insects.

Water is essential to life. Terrestrial insects lose water by evaporation from the body surface and respiratory surfaces, as well as in the excretory products, posing a challenge made more acute by their high surface-to-volume ratio. These losses must be kept to a minimum and be offset by water gained from other sources. By contrast, insects such as the blood-sucking bug Rhodnius prolixus consume up to 10 times their body weight in a single blood meal, necessitating rapid expulsion of excess water and ions. How do insects manage their ion and water budgets? A century of study has revealed a great deal about the organ systems that insects use to maintain their ion and water balance and their regulation. Traditionally, a taxonomically wide range of species were studied, whereas more recent research has focused on model organisms to leverage the power of the molecular genetic approach. Key advances in new technologies have become available for a wider range of species in the past decade. We document how these approaches have already begun to inform our understanding of the diversity and conservation of insect systemic osmoregulation. We advocate that these technologies be combined with traditional approaches to study a broader range of nonmodel species to gain a comprehensive overview of the mechanism underpinning systemic osmoregulation in the most species-rich group of animals on earth, the insects.

Increased ENaC-mediated liquid absorption across vitamin-D deficient human airway epithelia.

Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for exacerbation of obstructive airway disease, a hallmark of which is mucus dehydration and plugging. Calcitriol (the active form of vitamin D) deficiency in cultured human airway epithelia resulted in increased SCNN1G and ATP1B1 mRNAs encoding subunits of ENaC and the Na-K pump compared with supplemented epithelia. These drive the absorption of airway surface liquid. Consistently, calcitriol-deficient epithelia absorbed liquid faster than supplemented epithelia. Calcitriol deficiency also increased amiloride-sensitive Isc and Gt without altering Na-K pump activity, indicating the changes in amiloride-sensitivity arose from ENaC. ENaC activity can be regulated by trafficking, proteases, and channel abundance. We found the effect was likely not induced by changes to endocytosis of ENaC given that calcitriol did not affect the half-lives of amiloride-sensitive Isc and Gt. Furthermore, trypsin nominally increased Isc produced by epithelia ± calcitriol, suggesting calcitriol did not affect proteolytic activation of ENaC. Consistent with mRNA and functional data, calcitriol deficiency resulted in increased γENaC protein. These data indicate that the vitamin D receptor response controls ENaC function and subsequent liquid absorption, providing insight into the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and respiratory disease.NEW & NOTEWORTHY It is unknown why calcitriol (active vitamin D) deficiency worsens pulmonary disease outcomes. Results from mRNA, immunoblot, Ussing chamber, and absorption experiments indicate that calcitriol deficiency increases ENaC activity in human airway epithelia, decreasing apical hydration. Given that epithelial hydration is required for mucociliary transport and airway innate immune function, the increased ENaC activity observed in calcitriol-deficient epithelia may contribute to respiratory pathology observed in vitamin D deficiency.

Divergent roles of estrogen receptor subtypes in regulating estrogen-modulated colonic ion transports and epithelial repair.

Although it was described previously for estrogen (E2) regulation of intestinal epithelial Cl- and HCO3- secretion in sex difference, almost nothing is known about the roles of estrogen receptor (ER) subtypes in regulating E2-modulated epithelial ion transports and epithelial restitution. Here, we aimed to investigate ERα and ERß subtypes in the regulation of E2-modulated colonic epithelial HCO3- and Cl- secretion and epithelial restitution. Through physiological and biochemical studies, in combination of genetic knockdown, we showed that ERα attenuated female colonic Cl- secretion but promoted Ca2+-dependent HCO3- secretion via store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) mechanism in mice. However, ERß attenuated HCO3- secretion by inhibiting Ca2+via the SOCE and inhibiting cAMP via protein kinases. Moreover, ERα but not ERß promoted epithelial cell restitution via SOCE/Ca2+ signaling. ERα also enhanced cyclin D1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and ß-catenin expression in normal human colonic epithelial cells. All ERα-mediated biological effects could be attenuated by its selective antagonist and genetic knockdown. Finally, both ERα and ERß were expressed in human colonic epithelial cells and mouse colonic tissues. We therefore conclude that E2 modulates complex colonic epithelial HCO3- and Cl- secretion via ER subtype-dependent mechanisms and that ERα is specifically responsible for colonic epithelial regeneration. This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of how ERα and ERß subtypes orchestrate functional homeostasis of normal colonic epithelial cells.

Acquired dysfunction of CFTR underlies cystic fibrosis-like disease of the canine gallbladder.

Mucocele formation in dogs is a unique and enigmatic muco-obstructive disease of the gallbladder caused by amassment of abnormal mucus that bears striking pathological similarity to cystic fibrosis. We investigated the role of CFTR in the pathogenesis of this disease. The location and frequency of disease-associated variants in the coding region of CFTR was compared using whole genome sequence data from 2,642 dogs representing breeds at low-risk, high-risk, or with confirmed disease. Expression, localization, and ion transport activity of CFTR was quantified in control and mucocele gallbladders by NanoString, Western blotting, immunofluorescence imaging, and studies in Ussing chambers. Our results establish significant loss of CFTR-dependent anion secretion by mucocele gallbladder mucosa. A significantly lower quantity of CFTR protein was demonstrated relative to E-cadherin in mucocele compared to control gallbladder mucosa. Immunofluorescence identified CFTR along the apical membrane of epithelial cells in control gallbladders but not in mucocele gallbladder epithelium. Decreases in mRNA copy number for CFTR was accompanied by decreases in mRNA for the Cl-/HCO3- exchanger SLC26A3, K+ channels (KCNQ1, KCNN4), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide receptor (VIPR1) which suggest a driving force for change in secretory function of gallbladder epithelial cells in the pathogenesis of mucocele formation. There were no significant differences in CFTR gene variant frequency, type, or predicted impact comparing low risk, high risk, and definitively diagnosed groups of dogs. This study describes a unique, naturally occurring muco-obstructive disease of the canine gallbladder, with uncanny similarity to cystic fibrosis, and driven by underlying failure of CFTR function.