Apical Membrane Of MDCK Cells Research Articles

The large GTPase Mx1 binds Kif5B for cargo transport along microtubules.

A highly specific transport and sorting machinery directing secretory cargo to the apical or basolateral plasma membrane maintains the characteristic polarized architecture of epithelial cells. This machinery comprises a defined set of transport carriers, which are crucial for cargo delivery to the correct membrane domain. Each carrier is composed of a distinct set of proteins to verify precise routing and cargo selection. Among these components, the dynamin-related GTPase Mx1 was identified on post-Golgi vesicles destined for the apical membrane of MDCK cells. In addition to the presence on late secretory compartments, Mx1 was also detected on compartments of the early secretory pathway. Vesicular structures positive for this GTPase are highly dynamic, and we have studied the influence of the microtubule cytoskeleton on this motility. Live-cell microscopy indicated that microtubule disruption using nocodazole inhibits long-range trafficking of these structures. Mx1 directly or indirectly interacts with α-tubulin and the kinesin motor Kif5B as assessed by coimmunoprecipitation. In agreement with these observations knock out of Mx1 or a mutation in the unstructured L4 loop of Mx1 decreases the efficiency of apical cargo delivery. Interestingly, the L4 loop mutant still interacts with Kif5B; however, it causes vesicle elongation. This suggests that Mx1 aids in vesicle fission and stabilizes the interaction between Kif5B, microtubules and apical transport carriers.

Surface heat shock protein 90 serves as a potential receptor for calcium oxalate crystal on apical membrane of renal tubular epithelial cells.

Adhesion of calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals on renal tubular epithelial cells is a crucial step in kidney stone formation. Finding potential crystal receptors on the apical membrane of the cells may lead to a novel approach to prevent kidney stone disease. Our previous study identified a large number of crystal-binding proteins on the apical membrane of MDCK cells. However, their functional role as potential crystal receptors had not been validated. The present study aimed to address the potential role of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) as a COM crystal receptor. The apical membrane was isolated from polarized MDCK cells by the peeling method and recovered proteins were incubated with COM crystals. Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of HSP90 in the apical membrane and the crystal-bound fraction. Immunofluorescence staining without permeabilization and laser-scanning confocal microscopy confirmed the surface HSP90 expression on the apical membrane of the intact cells. Crystal adhesion assay showed that blocking surface HSP90 by specific anti-HSP90 antibody and knockdown of HSP90 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) dramatically reduced crystal binding on the apical surface of MDCK cells (by approximately 1/2 and 2/3, respectively). Additionally, crystal internalization assay revealed the presence of HSP90 on the membrane of endocytic vesicle containing the internalized COM crystal. Moreover, pretreatment of MDCK cells with anti-HSP90 antibody significantly reduced crystal internalization (by approximately 1/3). Taken together, our data indicate that HSP90 serves as a potential receptor for COM crystals on the apical membrane of renal tubular epithelial cells and is involved in endocytosis/internalization of the crystals into the cells.

Suppression of Rac1 activity at the apical membrane of MDCK cells is essential for cyst structure maintenance

Using MDCK cells that constitutively express a Förster resonance energy transfer biosensor, we found that Rac1 activity is homogenous at the entire plasma membrane in early stages of cystogenesis, whereas in later stages Rac1 activity is higher at the lateral membrane than at the apical plasma membrane. If Rac1 is activated at the apical membrane in later stages, however, the monolayer cells move into the luminal space. In these cells, tight junctions are disrupted, accompanied by mislocalization of polarization markers and disorientation of cell division. These observations indicate that Rac1 suppression at the apical membrane is essential for the maintenance of cyst structure.

The Carboxyl Terminus of the α-Subunit of the Amiloride-sensitive Epithelial Sodium Channel Binds to F-actin

The activity of the amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is modulated by F-actin. However, it is unknown if there is a direct interaction between alpha-ENaC and actin. We have investigated the hypothesis that the actin cytoskeleton directly binds to the carboxyl terminus of alpha-ENaC using a combination of confocal microscopy, co-immunoprecipitation, and protein binding studies. Confocal microscopy of Madin-Darby canine kidney cell monolayers stably transfected with wild type, rat isoforms of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-ENaC revealed co-localization of alpha-ENaC with the cortical F-actin cytoskeleton both at the apical membrane and within the subapical cytoplasm. F-actin was found to co-immunoprecipitate with alpha-ENaC from whole cell lysates of this cell line. Gel overlay assays demonstrated that F-actin specifically binds to the carboxyl terminus of alpha-ENaC. A direct interaction between F-actin and the COOH terminus of alpha-ENaC was further corroborated by F-actin co-sedimentation studies. This is the first study to report a direct and specific biochemical interaction between F-actin and ENaC.

79 Cortactin and the cortactin binding protein, HAX-1, regulate levels of the bile salt export pump (BSEP) in the apical membrane of MDCK cells

79 Cortactin and the cortactin binding protein, HAX-1, regulate levels of the bile salt export pump (BSEP) in the apical membrane of MDCK cells

Role of the Membrane-Proximal O-glycosylation Site in Sorting of the Human Receptor for Neurotrophins to the Apical Membrane of MDCK Cells

We have analyzed the respective roles of the stalk and/or the O-glycosylation sites in apical sorting by producing partially deleted mutants in this region of the human receptor for neurotrophins (P75NTR). The mere presence of O-glycosylations was not sufficient for efficient delivery to the apical surface since changing the stalk domain of P75NTR for the heavily O-glycosylated stalk from human decay-accelerating factor led to random distribution of the chimera. The presence of O-glycosylations, however, was a prerequisite for exit from the ER and protection from intracellular cleavage since a P75NTR containing the non O-glycosylated stalk of the human placental alkaline phosphatase was not transported to the cell surface but was cleaved and secreted from the basolateral side. Deletion of the membrane-proximal part of the stalk showed a more dramatic reversal of polarity of P75NTR than the deletion of the distal part. Furthermore, moving the first putative O-glycosylation site (T216) two amino acids away from the membrane resulted in a loss of apical polarity of P75NTR, suggesting that an important clue for apical sorting resides in this part of the stalk. This loss of apical polarity paralleled a loss of association of P75NTR mutants with Lubrol rafts. These data indicate that the position of O-glycans in the proximal part of the stalk domain of P75NTR is crucial for apical sorting and may regulate association with apical rafts.

Upregulation of the expression of endogenous Mdr1 P-glycoprotein enhances lipid translocation in MDCK cells transfected with human MRP2.

Various ABC transporters can translocate lipid molecules from the cytoplasmic into the exoplasmic leaflet of the plasma membrane bilayer. Two of these, MDR1 P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and MRP1, are multidrug transporters responsible for the resistance of various cancers against chemotherapy. We wanted to study whether MRP2, an ABC transporter of the bile canalicular membrane with a substrate specificity very similar to that of MRP1, is capable of translocating lipids. The translocation of short-chain lipids across the apical membrane of MDCK cells transfected with MRP2 was significantly higher than that in untransfected controls. However, the characteristics of the lipid translocation were similar to substrate transport by MDR1 and not MRP2: transport was strongly inhibited by classic MDR1 Pgp inhibitors, was independent of cellular glutathione, and was insensitive to a drug known to inhibit MRP2 activity. When tested by immunoblot, the MRP2-transfected cells expressed high levels of MRP2 but also of endogenous Mdr1. The expression of Mdr1 was unstable during maintenance of the cell line and correlated with the rate of lipid translocation across the apical membrane. We conclude that the observed increase in lipid transport in the MDCK cells transfected with MRP2 is the consequence of the upregulation of the expression of endogenous Mdr1 and that careful characterization of endogenous Mdr1 expression is needed in studies aimed to identify substrates of plasma membrane transporters.

The apical membrane glycocalyx of MDCK cells.

The microenvironment near the apical membrane of MDCK cells was studied by quantitation of the fluorescence of wheat germ agglutinin attached to fluorescein (WGA). WGA was shown to bind to sialic acid residues attached to galactose at the alpha-2,3 position in the glycocalyx on the apical membrane. Young MDCK cells (5-8 days after splitting) showed a patchy distribution of WGA at stable sites that returned to the same locations after removal of sialic acid residues by neuraminidase treatment. Other lectins also showed stable binding to patches on the apical membrane of young cells. The ratio of WGA fluorescence emission at two excitation wavelengths was used to measure near-membrane pH. The near-membrane pH was markedly acidic to the pH 7.4 bathing solution in both young and older cells (13-21 days after splitting). Patches on the apical membrane of young cells exhibited a range of near-membrane pH values with a mean +/- SEM of 6.86 +/- 0.04 (n = 121) while the near-membrane pH of older cells was 6.61 +/- 0.04 (n = 120) with a uniform WGA distribution. We conclude that the distribution of lectin binding sites in young cells reflects the underlying nonrandom location of membrane proteins in the apical membrane and that nonuniformities in the pH of patches may indicate regional differences in membrane acid-base transport as well as in the location of charged sugars in the glycocalyx.

Intracellular trafficking of variant chicken kidney AE1 anion exchangers: role Of alternative NH(2) termini in polarized sorting and Golgi recycling.

The variant chicken kidney AE1 anion exchangers differ only at the NH(2) terminus of their cytoplasmic domains. Transfection studies have indicated that the variant chicken AE1-4 anion exchanger accumulates in the basolateral membrane of polarized MDCK kidney epithelial cells, while the AE1-3 variant, which lacks the NH(2)-terminal 63 amino acids of AE1-4, primarily accumulates in the apical membrane. Mutagenesis studies have shown that the basolateral accumulation of AE1-4 is dependent upon two tyrosine residues at amino acids 44 and 47 of the polypeptide. Interestingly, either of these tyrosines is sufficient to direct efficient basolateral sorting of AE1-4. However, in the absence of both tyrosine residues, AE1-4 accumulates in the apical membrane of MDCK cells. Pulse-chase studies have shown that after delivery to the cell surface, newly synthesized AE1-4 is recycled to the Golgi where it acquires additional N-linked sugar modifications. This Golgi recycling activity is dependent upon the same cytoplasmic tyrosine residues that are required for the basolateral sorting of this variant transporter. Furthermore, mutants of AE1-4 that are defective in Golgi recycling are unable to associate with the detergent insoluble actin cytoskeleton and are rapidly turned over. These studies, which represent the first description of tyrosine-dependent cytoplasmic sorting signal for a type III membrane protein, have suggested a critical role for the actin cytoskeleton in regulating AE1 anion exchanger localization and stability in this epithelial cell type.

Distribution of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein at the apical surface of MDCK cells examined at a resolution of

Membrane microdomains ("lipid rafts") enriched in glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins, glycosphingolipids, and cholesterol have been implicated in events ranging from membrane trafficking to signal transduction. Although there is biochemical evidence for such membrane microdomains, they have not been visualized by light or electron microscopy. To probe for microdomains enriched in GPI- anchored proteins in intact cell membranes, we used a novel form of digital microscopy, imaging fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), which extends the resolution of fluorescence microscopy to the molecular level (<100 A). We detected significant energy transfer between donor- and acceptor-labeled antibodies against the GPI-anchored protein 5' nucleotidase (5' NT) at the apical membrane of MDCK cells. The efficiency of energy transfer correlated strongly with the surface density of the acceptor-labeled antibody. The FRET data conformed to theoretical predictions for two-dimensional FRET between randomly distributed molecules and were inconsistent with a model in which 5' NT is constitutively clustered. Though we cannot completely exclude the possibility that some 5' NT is in clusters, the data imply that most 5' NT molecules are randomly distributed across the apical surface of MDCK cells. These findings constrain current models for lipid rafts and the membrane organization of GPI-anchored proteins.

Apical-to-basolateral transepithelial transport of Ochratoxin A by two subtypes of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells

In this study we investigated the transepithelial transport of Ochratoxin A (OTA), a potent nephrotoxin, across monolayers of two collecting duct-derived cells clones (Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK)-C7 and MDCK-C11 cells, resembling principal and intercalated cells, respectively) either from the apical to the basolateral side or vice versa. We cultured cells on permeable supports and compared the transport rates of OTA, p-aminohippuric acid (PAH) and fluorescein-labelled inulin. Monolayers of both cell clones translocated OTA from the apical to the basolateral side but not in the opposite direction. Transport rate across MDCK-C11 cell monolayers was 2.9-fold the transport rate across MDCK-C7 cell monolayers. OTA transport was temperature-dependent being reduced from 77.5 pmol/cm 2 per h to 10.1 pmol/cm 2 per h in MDCK-C11 and from 27.0 pmol/cm 2 per h to 7.6 pmol/cm 2 per h in MDCK-C7 cells when temperature was decreased from 37°C to 4°C. In both cell clones, the dipeptides carnosine and glycylsarcosine but not the amino acids glycine or phenylalanine had an inhibitory effect on OTA transport. In both cell clones, transepithelial transport of OTA was dependent on the apical pH (p K a of OTA=7.1). In an environment mimicking the transepithelial in vivo pH gradient to some extent with more acidic pH on the apical side than on the basolateral side, transport was 4-fold higher in both cell clones as compared to conditions when pH was 7.4 in both bath solutions. In the absence of a pH gradient, transport rates were similar to that at 4°C. Apical uptake of [ 3H]OTA was inhibited by carnosine and by glycylsarcosine and the uptake of [ 3H]carnosine was inhibited by OTA. Our results indicate that OTA is transported across the apical membrane of MDCK cells by both non-ionic diffusion and by a H +-dipeptide cotransporter. Thus, reabsorption of OTA in the collecting duct contributes to the observed long half life of OTA in the mammalian body.

NH3 permeation through the apical membrane of MDCK cells is via a lipid pathway

The pathway for NH3 permeation across the apical membrane of MDCK cells was determined by measuring the effect of membrane fluidizing agents, protein reactive agents, and temperature on cellular NH3 influx. The rate of NH3 influx was calculated from the time course of increase in intracellular pH (pHi), measured with 2,7-biscarboxyethyl-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein, when MDCK cell monolayers were exposed to NH4Cl. The apical membrane NH3 permeability was 7.13 +/- 0.37 x 10(-3) cm/s (n = 12) at 37 degrees C and 1.23 +/- 0.07 x 10(-3) cm/s (n = 7) at 18 degrees C. In comparison, apical membrane permeability at 37 degrees C to the weak acids, valeric acid and acetic acid, were 1.39 +/- 0.11 x 10(-2) cm/s (n = 4) and 6.93 +/- 0.11 x 10(-3) cm/s (n = 4), respectively. The activation energy for NH3 permeation was 15.0 +/- 1.0 kcal/mol (17.5 degrees C-37.5 degrees C). In the presence of the membrane fluidizing agents, heptanol or chloroform, NH3 permeability increased in a dose-dependent manner. Heptanol (15 mM) significantly decreased the activation energy for NH3 permeation to 4.4 +/- 0.6 kcal/mol, P less than 0.001. The carboxyl reactive agent (1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholinoethyl)carbodiimide metho-p-toluensulfonic acid 1 mM), aminoreactive agents (4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid 50 microM; picrylsulphonic acid 1 mM), the sulphydryl reactive agent (p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid 1 mM), and the nonspecific membrane protein cleaving agent pronase (1 mg/ml) had no effect on the NH3 influx. The results suggest that NH3 permeates the plasma membrane of MDCK cells via a lipid pathway.