Accessory Subunit Barttin Research Articles

Role of PKC in the Regulation of the Human Kidney Chloride Channel ClC-Ka

The physiological role of the renal ClC-Ka/ClC-K1 channels is to confer a high Cl- permeability to the thin Ascending Limb of Henle (tAL), which in turn is essential for establishing the high osmolarity of the renal medulla that drives water reabsorption from collecting ducts. Here, we investigated by whole-cell patch-clamp measurements on HEK293 cells co-expressing ClC-Ka (tagged with GFP) and the accessory subunit barttin (tagged with m-Cherry) the effect of a natural diuretic extract from roots of Dandelion (DRE), and other compounds activating PKC, such as ATP, on ClC-Ka activity and its membrane localization. Treatment with 400 µg/ml DRE significantly inhibited Cl- currents time-dependently within several minutes. Of note, the same effect on Cl- currents was obtained upon treatment with 100 µM ATP. Pretreatment of cells with either the intracellular Ca2+ chelator BAPTA-AM (30 μM) or the PKC inhibitor Calphostin C (100 nM) reduced the inhibitory effect of DRE. Conversely, 1 µM of phorbol meristate acetate (PMA), a specific PKC activator, mimicked the inhibitory effect of DRE on ClC-Ka. Finally, we found that pretreatment with 30 µM Heclin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase inhibitor, did not revert DRE-induced Cl- current inhibition. In agreement with this, live-cell confocal analysis showed that DRE treatment did not induce ClC-Ka internalization. In conclusion, we demonstrate for the first time that the activity of ClC-Ka in renal cells could be significantly inhibited by the activation of PKC elicited by classical maneuvers, such as activation of purinergic receptors, or by exposure to herbal extracts that activates a PKC-dependent pathway. Overall, we provide both new information regarding the regulation of ClC-Ka and a proof-of-concept study for the use of DRE as new diuretic.

Functional Study of Novel Bartter's Syndrome Mutations in ClC-Kb and Rescue by the Accessory Subunit Barttin Toward Personalized Medicine.

Type III and IV Bartter syndromes (BS) are rare kidney tubulopathies caused by loss-of-function mutations in the CLCNKB and BSND genes coding respectively for the ClC-Kb chloride channels and accessory subunit barttin. ClC-K channels are expressed in the Henle’s loop, distal convoluted tubule, and cortical collecting ducts of the kidney and contribute to chloride absorption and urine concentration. In our Italian cohort, we identified two new mutations in CLCNKB, G167V and G289R, in children affected by BS and previously reported genetic variants, A242E, a chimeric gene and the deletion of the whole CLCNKB. All the patients had hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis, increased serum renin and aldosterone levels and were treated with a symptomatic therapy. In order to define the molecular mechanisms responsible for BS, we co-expressed ClC-Kb wild type and channels with point mutations with barttin in HEK 293 cells and characterized chloride currents through the patch-clamp technique. In addition, we attempted to revert the functional defect caused by BS mutations through barttin overexpression. G167V and A242E channels showed a drastic current reduction compared to wild type, likely suggesting compromised expression of mutant channels at the plasma membrane. Conversely, G289R channel was similar to wild type raising the doubt that an additional mutation in another gene or other mechanisms could account for the clinical phenotype. Interestingly, increasing ClC-K/barttin ratio augmented G167V and A242E mutants’ chloride current amplitudes towards wild type levels. These results confirm a genotype-phenotype correlation in BS and represent a preliminary proof of concept that molecules functioning as molecular chaperones can restore channel function in expression-defective ClC-Kb mutants.

Reconstitution and NMR Characterization of the Ion-Channel Accessory Subunit Barttin in Detergents and Lipid-Bilayer Nanodiscs.

Barttin is an accessory subunit of ClC-K chloride channels expressed in the kidney and the inner ear. Main functions of ClC-K/barttin channels are the generation of the cortico-medullary osmotic gradients in the kidney and the endocochlear potential in the inner ear. Mutations in the gene encoding barttin, BSND, result in impaired urinary concentration and sensory deafness. Barttin is predicted to be a two helical integral membrane protein that directly interacts with its ion channel in the membrane bilayer where it stabilizes the channel complex, promotes its incorporation into the surface membrane and leads to channel activation. It therefore is an attractive target to address fundamental questions of intermolecular communication within the membrane. However, so far inherent challenges in protein expression and stabilization prevented comprehensive in vitro studies and structural characterization. Here we demonstrate that cell-free expression enables production of sufficient quantities of an isotope-labeled barttin variant (I72X Barttin, capable to promote surface membrane insertion and channel activation) for NMR-based structural studies. Additionally, we established purification protocols as well as reconstitution strategies in detergent micelles and phospholipid bilayer nanodiscs. Stability, folding, and NMR data quality are reported as well as a suitable assignment strategy, paving the way to its structural characterization.

Activation of renal ClC-K chloride channels depends on an intact N terminus of their accessory subunit barttin

ClC-K channels belong to the CLC family of chloride channels and chloride/proton antiporters. They contribute to sodium chloride reabsorption in Henle's loop of the kidney and to potassium secretion into the endolymph by the stria vascularis of the inner ear. Their accessory subunit barttin stabilizes the ClC-K/barttin complex, promotes its insertion into the surface membrane, and turns the pore-forming subunits into a conductive state. Barttin mutations cause Bartter syndrome type IV, a salt-wasting nephropathy with sensorineural deafness. Here, studying ClC-K/barttin channels heterologously expressed in MDCK-II and HEK293T cells with confocal imaging and patch-clamp recordings, we demonstrate that the eight-amino-acids-long barttin N terminus is required for channel trafficking and activation. Deletion of the complete N terminus (Δ2-8 barttin) retained barttin and human hClC-Ka channels in intracellular compartments. Partial N-terminal deletions did not compromise subcellular hClC-Ka trafficking but drastically reduced current amplitudes. Sequence deletions encompassing Thr-6, Phe-7, or Arg-8 in barttin completely failed to activate hClC-Ka. Analyses of protein expression and whole-cell current noise revealed that inactive channels reside in the plasma membrane. Substituting the deleted N terminus with a polyalanine sequence was insufficient for recovering chloride currents, and single amino acid substitutions highlighted that the correct sequence is required for proper function. Fast and slow gate activation curves obtained from rat V166E rClC-K1/barttin channels indicated that mutant barttin fails to constitutively open the slow gate. Increasing expression of barttin over that of ClC-K partially recovered this insufficiency, indicating that N-terminal modifications of barttin alter both binding affinities and gating properties.

Kidney CLC-K chloride channels inhibitors: structure-based studies and efficacy in hypertension and associated CLC-K polymorphisms.

Alterations in the handling of renal salt reabsorption may contribute to interindividual differences in blood pressure regulation and susceptibility to hypertension. CLC-K chloride channels and their accessory subunit barttin play a pivotal role in kidney by controlling chloride and water absorption. Compounds selective for CLC-Ks, such as the benzofuran derivative MT-189, may have a significant therapeutic potential. Here, we assessed the feasibility of using CLC-K blockers in hypertension and aimed at enhancing drug inhibitory affinity. We demonstrated that acute in-vivo administration of MT-189 to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) caused a reduction of blood pressure and defined the CLC-K/barttin gene expression pattern in kidney of SHR in comparison with normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. Based on MT-189, we designed and tested a new series of benzofuran derivatives on CLC-K chloride channels heterologously expressed in HEK293 cells. These studies enabled us to elucidate the causative molecular relationship for obtaining the most potent and selective inhibitor (SRA-36) described so far, with an IC50 of 6.6 ± 1 μmol/l. The biophysical and pharmacological characterization of A447T CLC-Ka and Y315F CLC-Ka, both polymorphisms associated with hypertension, showed that SRA-36 is an efficacious inhibitor of the chloride currents sustained by these polymorphisms. Molecular docking studies allowed hypothesizing an inhibition mechanism for the considered ligands, laying the foundations for the rational design of new and more effective CLC-K inhibitors. The SRA-36 molecule represents a new potential therapeutic option for hypertension.

Carboxyl-terminal Truncations of ClC-Kb Abolish Channel Activation by Barttin Via Modified Common Gating and Trafficking

ClC-K chloride channels are crucial for auditory transduction and urine concentration. Mutations in CLCNKB, the gene encoding the renal chloride channel hClC-Kb, cause Bartter syndrome type III, a human genetic condition characterized by polyuria, hypokalemia, and alkalosis. In recent years, several Bartter syndrome-associated mutations have been described that result in truncations of the intracellular carboxyl terminus of hClC-Kb. We here used a combination of whole-cell patch clamp, confocal imaging, co-immunoprecipitation, and surface biotinylation to study the functional consequences of a frequent CLCNKB mutation that creates a premature stop codon at Trp-610. We found that W610X leaves the association of hClC-Kb and the accessory subunit barttin unaffected, but impairs its regulation by barttin. W610X attenuates hClC-Kb surface membrane insertion. Moreover, W610X results in hClC-Kb channel opening in the absence of barttin and prevents further barttin-mediated activation. To describe how the carboxyl terminus modifies the regulation by barttin we used V166E rClC-K1. V166E rClC-K1 is active without barttin and exhibits prominent, barttin-regulated voltage-dependent gating. Electrophysiological characterization of truncated V166E rClC-K1 demonstrated that the distal carboxyl terminus is necessary for slow cooperative gating. Since barttin modifies this particular gating process, channels lacking the distal carboxyl-terminal domain are no longer regulated by the accessory subunit. Our results demonstrate that the carboxyl terminus of hClC-Kb is not part of the binding site for barttin, but functionally modifies the interplay with barttin. The loss-of-activation of truncated hClC-Kb channels in heterologous expression systems fully explains the reduced basolateral chloride conductance in affected kidneys and the clinical symptoms of Bartter syndrome patients.

Human CLC-K Channels Require Palmitoylation of Their Accessory Subunit Barttin to Be Functional

CLC-K/barttin chloride channels are essential for NaCl re-absorption in Henle's loop and for potassium secretion by the stria vascularis in the inner ear. Here, we studied the posttranslational modification of such channels by palmitoylation of their accessory subunit barttin. We found that barttin is palmitoylated in vivo and in vitro and identified two conserved cysteine residues at positions 54 and 56 as palmitoylation sites. Point mutations at these two residues reduce the macroscopic current amplitudes in cells expressing CLC-K/barttin channels proportionally to the relative reduction in palmitoylated barttin. CLC-K/barttin expression, plasma membrane insertion, and single channel properties remain unaffected, indicating that these mutations decrease the number of active channels. R8W and G47R, two naturally occurring barttin mutations identified in patients with Bartter syndrome type IV, reduce barttin palmitoylation and CLC-K/barttin channel activity. Palmitoylation of the accessory subunit barttin might thus play a role in chloride channel dysfunction in certain variants of Bartter syndrome. We did not observe pronounced alteration of barttin palmitoylation upon increased salt and water intake or water deprivation, indicating that this posttranslational modification does not contribute to long term adaptation to variable water intake. Our results identify barttin palmitoylation as a novel posttranslational modification of CLC-K/barttin chloride channels.

Tryptophan Scanning Mutagenesis Identifies the Molecular Determinants of Distinct Barttin Functions

CLC-K chloride channels are expressed in the kidney and in the inner ear and require the accessory subunit barttin for proper function and membrane insertion. Barttin exerts multiple functions on CLC-proteins: it modifies protein stability and intracellular trafficking as well as channel activity, ion conduction, and gating. So far, the molecular determinants of these distinct barttin functions have remained elusive. Here we performed serial perturbation mutagenesis to identify the sequence determinants of barttin function. Barttin consists of two transmembrane helices followed by a long intracellular carboxyl terminus, and earlier work demonstrated that the transmembrane core of barttin suffices for most effects on the α-subunit. We individually substituted every amino acid of the predicted transmembrane core (amino acids 9-26 and 35-55) with tryptophan, co-expressed mutant barttin with hClC-Ka or V166E rClC-K1, and characterized CLC-K/barttin channels by patch clamp techniques, biochemistry, and confocal microscopy. The majority of mutations left the chaperone function of barttin, i.e. the effects on endoplasmic reticulum exit and surface membrane insertion, unaffected. In contrast, tryptophan insertion at multiple positions resulted in impaired activity of hClC-Ka/barttin and changes in gating of V166E rClC-K1/barttin. These results demonstrate that mutations in a cluster of hydrophobic residues within transmembrane domain 1 affect barttin-CLC-K interaction and impair gating modification by the accessory subunit. Whereas tight interaction is necessary for functional modification, even impaired association of barttin and CLC-K suffices for normal intracellular trafficking. Our findings allow definition of a likely interaction surface and clarify the mechanisms underlying CLC-K channel modification by barttin.

Targeting kidney CLC-K channels: Pharmacological profile in a human cell line versus Xenopus oocytes

CLC-K chloride channels play a crucial role in kidney physiology and genetic mutations, affecting their function are responsible for severe renal salt loss in humans. Thus, compounds that selectively bind to CLC-Ka and/or CLC-Kb channels and modulate their activity may have a significant therapeutic potential. Here, we compare the biophysical and pharmacological behaviors of human CLC-K channels expressed either in HEK293 cells or in Xenopus oocytes and we show that CLC-K channel properties are greatly influenced by the biochemical environment surrounding the channels. Indeed, in HEK293 cells the potentiating effect of niflumic acid (NFA) on CLC-Ka/barttin and CLC-Kb/barttin channels seems to be absent while the blocking efficacy of niflumic acid and benzofuran derivatives observed in oocytes is preserved. The NFA block does not seem to involve the accessory subunit barttin on CLC-K1 channels. In addition, the sensitivity of CLC-Ks to external Ca2+ is reduced in HEK293 cells. Based on our findings, we propose that mammalian cell lines are a suitable expression system for the pharmacological profiling of CLC-Ks.

Functional and developmental expression of a zebrafish Kir1.1 (ROMK) potassium channel homologue Kcnj1

The zebrafish, Danio rerio, is emerging as an important model organism for the pathophysiological study of some human kidney diseases, but the sites of expression and physiological roles of a number of protein orthologues in the zebrafish nephron remain mostly undefined. Here we show that a zebrafish potassium channel is orthologous to the mammalian kidney potassium channel, ROMK. The cDNA (kcnj1) encodes a protein (Kcnj1) that when expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes displayed pH- and Ba2+-sensitive K+-selective currents, but unlike the mammalian channel, was completely insensitive to the peptide inhibitor tertiapin-Q. In the pronephros, kcnj1 transcript expression was restricted to a distal region and overlapped with that of sodium–chloride cotransporter Nkcc, chloride channel ClC-Ka, and ClC-Ka/b accessory subunit Barttin, indicating the location of the diluting segment. In a subpopulation of surface cells, kcnj1 was coexpressed with the a1a.4 isoform of the Na+/K+-ATPase, identifying these cells as potential K+ secretory cells in this epithelium. At later stages of development, kcnj1 appeared in cells of the developing gill that also expressed the a1a.4 subunit.Morpholino antisense-mediated knockdown of kcnj1 was accompanied by transient tachycardia followed by bradycardia, effects consistent with alterations in extracellular K+ concentration in the embryo.Our findings indicate that Kcnj1 is expressed in cells associated with osmoregulation and acts as a K+ efflux pathway that is important in maintaining extracellular levels of K+ in the developing embryo.

Modulation of ClC-K Channel Function by the Accessory Subunit Barttin

The human ClC-Ka/ClC-Kb and rodent ClC-K1/ClC-K2 channels are the pore-forming channel proteins participating in electrolyte transport across the thick (ClC-Kb, ClC-K2) and thin (ClC-Ka, ClC-K1) ascending limbs of Henle's Loop; further nephron segments, such as distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct (ClC-K2, ClC-Kb); and the marginal cells of the stria vascularis in the inner ear (ClC-Ka, ClC-K1 and ClC-Kb, ClC-K2).1–4 When expressed alone, ClC-K1 generates only small Cl− currents, whereas ClC-K2, ClC-Ka and ClC-Kb do not generate any appreciable currents. The channels require barttin as accessory subunit to become fully functional. Null mouse models as well as various genetic disorders highlight the physiologic and pathophysiologic importance of ClC-K/barttin channel complexes for renal salt and water reabsorption as well as endolymph secretion in the inner ear. Knockout of ClC-K1 leads to renal diabetes insipidus with diuresis despite increased antidiuretic hormone levels, a defect resulting from failure to upregulate medullary osmolarity adequately during dehydration.5 Naturally occurring loss-of-function mutations of ClC-Ka have hitherto not been described.2 Loss-of-function mutations of ClC-Kb lead to renal salt wasting (Bartter syndrome type III).2,6,7 The simultaneous impairment of …

CLCNKB-T481S and essential hypertension in a Ghanaian population

Prior to the discovery of chloride channel Kb with a variant threonine change to serine at position 481 (CLCNKB-T481S) there were no variants or clinical disorders associated with gain-of-function defects in thick ascending limb of the kidney channels or transporters. CLCNKB-T481S is a novel gain-of-function variant that has been associated with essential hypertension. This finding has not been replicated until our current study. In this study, we re-examined CLCNKB-T481S using a large homogenous population from Ghana, and coupled genetic analyses with the functional characterization of this polymorphism using a mammalian expression system. We genotyped CLCNKB-T481S in four ethnically defined control populations and a homogenous cohort of normotensive and hypertensive Ghanaians. Functional analysis was performed by whole-cell patch-clamp recording of tsA201 cells (a cell line derived from the human renal cell line, HEK-293) transiently transfected with ClC-Kb and barttin. CLCNKB-T481S was found more commonly in the African and Caucasian-Americans when compared with the Asian and Hispanic American populations, having minor allele frequencies of 0.20, 0.15, 0.06 and 0.01 respectively. Additionally, CLCNKB-T481S was significantly associated with hypertension in Ghanaian males. In stratified logistic regression analysis with Ghanaian males, we observed a significant odds ratio of 3.29 (1.17-9.20 95% confidence interval, P=0.024) in the recessive model (TT versus AT&TT). Unlike previous results obtained in Xenopus oocytes, coexpression of CLCNKB-T481S with the obligatory accessory subunit barttin in tsA201 cells did not generate larger currents than coexpression of the wild-type allele. We conclude that CLCNKB-T481S is associated with essential hypertension in males within the Ghanaian population; however, further studies are needed to understand its sex and ethnic segregation as well as to identify cellular factors that account for the divergent functional expression of ClC-Kb-T481S plus barttin in Xenopus oocytes and mammalian cells.