Inhibition Of Phosphate Transport Research Articles

Inhibition of phosphate transport in rat heart mitochondria by 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine due to stimulation of superoxide anion mitochondrial production

In order to gain some insight into the mechanism by which 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) damages mitochondria, we investigated whether externally added AZT can stimulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by rat heart mitochondria (RHM). An increase in superoxide anion (O 2 −) production was measured in RHM added with AZT, by using a photometrically method which allows an early O 2 − detection by following the absorbance increase at 550 nm due to the ferricytochrome c reduction. Such an increase was found to be prevented from externally added superoxide dismutase. The stimulation of O 2 − mitochondrial production induced by AZT was found to occur under conditions in which mitochondrial oxygen consumption was prevented by both inhibitors of electron flow and ATP synthesis. Since ROS can cause mitochondrial carrier impairment, we investigated whether AZT can affect mitochondrial permeability in virtue of its capability to stimulate ROS production. In this regard, we studied the transport of phosphate (P i), by measuring the mitochondrial shrinkage that takes place as a result of P i uptake by RHM previously swollen in a calcium acetate medium. As a result of the AZT-dependent O 2 − production, uncompetitive inhibition of the rate of P i transport in RHM was found ( K i of about 10 μM), consistently, such an inhibition was found to prevent by certain known ROS scavengers, i.e. superoxide dismutase, the antioxidant Vitamin C and reduced gluthatione.

PTH and DA regulate Na-K ATPase through divergent pathways.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and dopamine (DA) inhibit Na-K ATPase activity and sodium-phosphate cotransport in proximal tubular cells. We previously showed that PTH and DA inhibit phosphate transport in opossum kidney (OK) cells through different signaling pathways. Therefore, we hypothesized that PTH and DA also inhibit Na-K ATPase through divergent pathways. We measured PTH and DA inhibition of Na-K ATPase activity in the presence of inhibitors of signaling pathways. PTH and DA inhibited Na-K ATPase in a biphasic manner, the early inhibition through protein kinase C (PKC)- and phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2))-dependent pathways and the late inhibition through protein kinase A- and PLA(2)-dependent pathways. Inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation blocked early and late inhibition of Na-K ATPase by PTH but not by DA. Pertussis toxin blocked early and late inhibition by DA but not by PTH. Treatment with DA, but not PTH, resulted in an early downregulation of basolateral membrane expression of the alpha-subunit, whereas total cellular expression remained constant for both agonists. We conclude that PTH and DA regulate Na-K ATPase by different mechanisms through activation of divergent pathways.

Inhibitory effects of bisphosphonate on vascular calcification

Recently, it has been hypothesized that vascular calcification is an actively regulated process in which vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) acquire osteoblast-like functions. Bisphosphonates prevent in vitro calcification of VSMCs and probably inhibit phosphate transport by sodium dependent phosphate transporter which plays a key role in VSMCs calcification. The effects of bisphosphonate on VSMCs have important implications for the future management of patients with vascular calcification.

A case of neuroendocrine oncogenic osteomalacia associated with a PHEX and fibroblast growth factor-23 expressing sinusidal malignant schwannoma

Oncogenic osteomalacia is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome that is characterized biochemically by hypophosphatemia and low plasma 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3, and clinically by osteomalacia, pseudofractures, bone pain, fatigue, and muscle weakness. We present a patient with a malignant schwannoma as the underlying cause of this disorder. A permanent cell line (HMS-97) derived from this tumor showed evidence of neuroendocrine differentiation by immunohistochemistry and of neurosecretory activity by electron microscopy. The cell line did express PHEX (phosphate-regulating gene with homologies to endopeptidases located on the X-chromosome) and FGF-23 (fibroblast growth factor-23) transcripts on northern hybridization; however, none of the known mutations from the related mendelian disorders of X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets or autosomal-dominant hypophosphatemic rickets could be detected. Tumor cell (HMS-97)-derived conditioned medium did not inhibit phosphate transport in a standard opossum kidney cell assay and in animal experiments. The medium also showed no PTH1- or PTH2-receptor-stimulating bioactivity. HMS-97 cells might be useful for further studies that aim to determine the genetic mechanism that leads to the observed PHEX and FGF-23 expression, both of which might have a direct role in the pathogenesis of oncogenic osteomalacia. In addition, these cells might be a useful tool for the investigation of neuroendocrine Schwann cell function and autoimmune peripheral nerve disease.

Effect of phosphate transporter and methylation inhibitor drugs on the disposition of arsenate and arsenite in rats.

Arsenate (AsV) is biotransformed into the more toxic arsenite (AsIII) and monomethylarsonous acid (MMAsIII), but it is unknown how to decrease production of these harmful metabolites. We investigated the effects of foscarnet and fosfomycin, drugs interacting with the phosphate transporter, on biotransformation of AsV, an analog of inorganic phosphate. The effects of entacapone, an inhibitor of catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT), and nitrous oxide, an inactivator of methylcobalamin, were also tested on the formation of MMAsIII from AsIII in order to clarify the role of COMT and methylcobalamin in biomethylation of AsIII. Arsenic in bile and urine of control and treated rats receiving AsV or AsIII was speciated by HPLC-HG-AFS. In AsV-injected rats, foscarnet, but not fosfomycin, increased the urinary excretion of AsV and decreased the biliary and urinary excretion of AsIII as well as biliary excretion of MMAsIII. In AsIII-injected rats, however, foscarnet failed to influence the excretion of AsIII and its metabolites, suggesting that this drug inhibits the hepatic uptake and renal reabsorption of AsV, thereby decreasing formation of AsIII and MMAsIII from AsV. Entacapone or nitrous oxide pretreatment slightly or not at all influenced the biliary excretion of MMAsIII and urinary excretion of dimethylarsinic acid (DMAsV) in AsIII-injected rats. In contrast, periodate-oxidized adenosine, an inhibitor of S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferases, nearly abolished appearance of methylated arsenic metabolites in bile and urine. Thus, foscarnet facilitates urinary clearance of AsV and decreases formation of toxic AsIII and MMAsIII, indicating that this drug may be used to promote elimination and counter toxification of AsV. Because entacapone and nitrous oxide influenced the excretion of MMAsIII and DMAsV negligibly, neither COMT nor methylcobalamin appears to be involved in arsenic methylation in rats.

Extracts from tumors causing oncogenic osteomalacia inhibit phosphate uptake in opossum kidney cells.

In oncogenic osteomalacia (OOM), a tumor produces an unknown substance that inhibits phosphate reabsorption in the proximal tubules. This causes urinary phosphate wasting and, as a consequence, hypophosphatemic osteomalacia. To characterize this poorly understood biological tumor activity we generated aqueous extracts from several OOM tumors. Extracts from three of four tumors inhibited, dose- and time-dependently, (32)P-orthophosphate uptake by opossum kidney (OK) cells; maximum inhibition was about 45% of untreated control. Further characterization revealed that the factor is resistant to heat and several proteases, and that it has a low molecular weight. The tumor extracts also stimulated cAMP accumulation in OK cells, but not in osteoblastic ROS 17/2.8 and UMR106 cells, or in LLC-PK1 kidney cells expressing the parathyroid hormone (PTH)/PTH-related peptide receptor or the PTH-2 receptor. HPLC separation of low molecular weight fractions of the tumor extracts revealed that the flow-through of all three positive tumor extracts inhibited (32)P uptake and stimulated cAMP accumulation in OK cells. Additionally, a second peak with inhibitory activity on phosphate transport, but without cAMP stimulatory activity, was identified in the most potent tumor extract. We have concluded that several low molecular weight molecules with the ability to inhibit phosphate transport in OK cells can be found in extracts from OOM tumors. It remains uncertain, however, whether these are related to the long-sought phosphaturic factor responsible for the phosphate wasting seen in OOM patients.

Specific Labeling of the Bovine Heart Mitochondrial Phosphate Carrier with Fluorescein 5-Isothiocyanate: ROLES OF LYS185 AND PUTATIVE ADENINE NUCLEOTIDE RECOGNITION SITE IN PHOSPHATE TRANSPORT

The amine/SH-modifying fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate (FITC) specifically labeled Lys(185) in the putative membrane-spanning region of the phosphate carrier from both the cytosolic and matrix sides of bovine heart mitochondria at 0 degrees C and pH 7.2, and the labeling inhibited the phosphate transport. Nonmodifying fluorescein derivatives having similar structural features to those of ADP and ATP (Majima, E., Yamaguchi, N., Chuman, H., Shinohara, Y., Ishida, M., Goto, S., and Terada, H. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 424-432) inhibited the specific FITC labeling and phosphate transport, but the nonfluorescein phenylisothiocyanate did not inhibit FITC labeling, suggesting that there is a region recognizing the adenine nucleotides in the phosphate carrier and that this region is closely associated with the transport activity. The phosphate transport inhibitor pyridoxal 5'-phosphate inhibited the specific FITC labeling, possibly due to competitive modification of Lys(185). In addition, FITC inhibited the ADP transport and specific labeling of the ADP/ATP carrier with the fluorescein SH reagent eosin 5-maleimide. Based on these results, we discuss the structural features of the phosphate carrier in relation to its transport activity.

Natural and Azido Fatty Acids Inhibit Phosphate Transport and Activate Fatty Acid Anion Uniport Mediated by the Mitochondrial Phosphate Carrier

The electroneutral P(i) uptake via the phosphate carrier (PIC) in rat liver and heart mitochondria is inhibited by fatty acids (FAs), by 12-(4-azido-2-nitrophenylamino)dodecanoic acid (AzDA) and heptylbenzoic acid ( approximately 1 microm doses) and by lauric, palmitic, or 12-azidododecanoic acids ( approximately 0.1 mm doses). In turn, reconstituted E. coli-expressed yeast PIC mediated anionic FA uniport with a similar pattern leading to FA cycling and H(+) uniport. The kinetics of P(i)/P(i) exchange on recombinant PIC in the presence of AzDA better corresponded to a competitive inhibition mechanism. Methanephosphonate was identified as a new PIC substrate. Decanephosphonate, butanephosphonate, 4-nitrophenylphosphate, and other P(i) analogs were not translocated and did not inhibit P(i) transport. However, methylenediphosphonate and iminodi(methylenephosphonate) inhibited both electroneutral P(i) uptake and FA cycling via PIC. AzDA analog 16-(4-azido-2-nitrophenylamino)-[(3)H(4)]-hexadecanoic acid ((3)H-AzHA) bound upon photoactivation to several mitochondrial proteins, including the 30- and 34-kDa bands. The latter was ascribed to PIC due to its specific elution pattern on Blue Sepharose and Affi-Gel. (3)H-AzHA photolabeling of recombinant PIC was prevented by methanephosphonate and diphosphonates and after premodification with 4-azido-2-nitrophenylphosphate. Hence, the demonstrated PIC interaction with monovalent long-chain FA anions, but with divalent phosphonates of short chain only, indicates a pattern distinct from that valid for the mitochondrial uncoupling protein-1.

Obligate mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in parathyroid hormone stimulation of calcium transport but not calcium signaling.

PTH regulates calcium homeostasis through direct actions on its cognate type I receptor in the kidney and bone. PTH inhibits phosphate transport in renal proximal (PCT) tubules and stimulates calcium absorption by distal convoluted tubules (DCT). We examined PTH activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade raf-MEK-ERK in PCT and DCT cells and its effects on calcium transport and signaling. In DCT cells, PTH stimulates phosphorylation of ERK2 and activation of ERK2 kinase and is blocked by the MEK inhibitor PD98059. In DCT cells, stimulation of calcium entry with ionomycin did not activate ERK2 or augment PTH-stimulated ERK2 activity, indicating that MAPK activation lies upstream of calcium entry. ERK2 activation by PTH was blocked by the protein kinase C inhibitor calphostin-C but was unaffected by the protein kinase A inhibitor Rp-cAMPs. PD98059 abolished the increase of intracellular calcium induced by PTH demonstrating that ERK2 activation is directly involved in the increase of intracellular calcium activated by PTH in the DCT. Thus, PTH- stimulated ERK2 activation is PKC dependent and calcium independent. PTH also induced ERK2 phosphorylation in PCT cells. However, this effect is not involved in the transient rise of intracellular calcium because PD98059 did not inhibit the PTH-stimulated rise of intracellular calcium but abolished ERK2 activation. In conclusion, PTH activates MAPK in both distal and proximal renal tubule cells. However, the rise of [Ca2+]i depends upon MAPK activation only in distal cells. Thus, a common PTH1R exhibits differential signaling along the nephron that contributes to the ability to regulate distinct physiological actions of PTH.

Obligate Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Activation in Parathyroid Hormone Stimulation of Calcium Transport But Not Calcium Signaling

PTH regulates calcium homeostasis through direct actions on its cognate type I receptor in the kidney and bone. PTH inhibits phosphate transport in renal proximal (PCT) tubules and stimulates calcium absorption by distal convoluted tubules (DCT). We examined PTH activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade raf-MEK-ERK in PCT and DCT cells and its effects on calcium transport and signaling. In DCT cells, PTH stimulates phosphorylation of ERK2 and activation of ERK2 kinase and is blocked by the MEK inhibitor PD98059. In DCT cells, stimulation of calcium entry with ionomycin did not activate ERK2 or augment PTH-stimulated ERK2 activity, indicating that MAPK activation lies upstream of calcium entry. ERK2 activation by PTH was blocked by the protein kinase C inhibitor calphostin-C but was unaffected by the protein kinase A inhibitor Rp-cAMPs. PD98059 abolished the increase of intracellular calcium induced by PTH demonstrating that ERK2 activation is directly involved in the increase of intracellular calcium activated by PTH in the DCT. Thus, PTH- stimulated ERK2 activation is PKC dependent and calcium independent. PTH also induced ERK2 phosphorylation in PCT cells. However, this effect is not involved in the transient rise of intracellular calcium because PD98059 did not inhibit the PTH-stimulated rise of intracellular calcium but abolished ERK2 activation. In conclusion, PTH activates MAPK in both distal and proximal renal tubule cells. However, the rise of [Ca2+]i depends upon MAPK activation only in distal cells. Thus, a common PTH1R exhibits differential signaling along the nephron that contributes to the ability to regulate distinct physiological actions of PTH.

Dietary phosphorus regulates intestinal transport and plasma concentrations of phosphate in rainbow trout

Intestinal inorganic phosphate transport and its regulation have not been studied in fish. In this study, we initially characterized the mechanisms of intestinal inorganic phosphate transport in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) then determined the effects of dietary phosphorus concentrations on intestinal inorganic phosphate uptake, plasma inorganic phosphate, and intestinal luminal inorganic phosphate concentrations. In 11-g trout, the saturable mechanism of brushborder inorganic phosphate uptake had a Kt= 1.2 mmol l(-1) and a Vmax = 0.22 nmol mg(-1) min(-1), while the diffusive component had a Kd = 0.012 min(-1). Similar kinetic constants were obtained from 51-g trout, suggesting that development or size had little effect on transport. Tracer inorganic phosphate (1.18 mmol l(-1)) uptake was almost completely inhibited (>95%) by 20 mmol l(-1) unlabeled inorganic phosphate. Inorganic phosphate uptake (0.2 mmol l(-1)) was strongly inhibited (approximately 75% inhibition) by phosphonoformic acid, a competitive inhibitor of mammalian inorganic phosphate transport, as well as by the absence of Na+ (approximately 90% inhibition). Northern blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction indicated that the intestinal inorganic phosphate transporter in trout is not related to the cloned Na+ inorganic phosphate-II transporter of winter flounder. Intestinal luminal and plasma inorganic phosphate concentrations each increased with dietary P concentrations. Intestinal inorganic phosphate, but not proline, absorption rates decreased with dietary phosphorus concentrations. As in mammals and birds, a Na-dependent inorganic phosphate carrier that is tightly regulated by diet is present in trout small intestine.

Interaction of mitochondrial phosphate carrier with fatty acids and hydrophobic phosphate analogs

Mitochondrial transporters, in particular uncoupling proteins and the ADP/ATP carrier, are known to mediate uniport of anionic fatty acids (FAs), allowing FA cycling which is completed by the passive movement of FAs across the membrane in their protonated form. This study investigated the ability of the mitochondrial phosphate carrier to catalyze such a mechanism and, furthermore, how this putative activity is related to the previously observed HgCl 2-induced uniport mode. The yeast mitochondrial phosphate carrier was expressed in Escherichia coli and then reconstituted into lipid vesicles. The FA-induced H + uniport or Cl − uniport were monitored fluorometrically after HgCl 2 addition. These transport activities were further characterized by testing various inhibitors of the two different transport modes. The phosphate carrier was found to mediate FA cycling, which led to H + efflux in proteoliposomes. This activity was insensitive to ATP, mersalyl or N-ethylmaleimide and was inhibited by methylenediphosphonate and iminodi(methylenephosphonate), which are new inhibitors of mitochondrial phosphate transport. Also, the HgCl 2 induced Cl − uniport mediated by the reconstituted yeast PIC, was found to be inhibited by these reagents. Both methylenediphosphonate and iminodi(methylenephosphonate) blocked unidirectional Cl − uptake, whereas Cl − efflux was inhibited by iminodi(methylenephosphonate) and phosphonoformic acid only. These results suggest that a hydrophobic domain, interacting with FAs, exists in the mitochondrial phosphate carrier, which is distinct from the phosphate transport pathway. This domain allows for FA anion uniport via the phosphate carrier and consequently, FA cycling that should lead to uncoupling in mitochondria. This might be considered as a side function of this carrier.

Coordinated maturational regulation of PHEX and renal phosphate transport inhibitory activity: evidence for the pathophysiological role of PHEX in X-linked hypophosphatemia.

The mechanism by which inactivating mutations of PHEX (phosphate-regulating gene with homologies to endopeptidases on the X chromosome) cause X-linked hypophosphatemia remains unknown. However, recent reports suggest errant PHEX activity in osteoblasts may fail to inactivate a phosphaturic factor produced by these cells. To test this possibility, we examined coordinated maturational expression of PHEX and production of phosphate transport inhibitory activity in osteoblasts from normal and hyp-mice. We assessed the inhibitory activity in conditioned medium by examining the effects on opossum kidney cell phosphate transport and osteoblast PHEX expression by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction during a 17-day maturational period. Inhibitory activity increased as a function of osteoblast maturational stage, with no activity after 3 days and persistent activity by 6 days of culture. More significantly, equal phosphate transport inhibitory activity in conditioned medium from normal and hyp-mouse osteoblasts (control 1.90 +/- 0.12, normal 1.48 +/- 0.10, hyp 1.45 +/- 0.04 nmol/mg of protein/minute) was observed at 6 days. However, by 10 days hyp-mouse osteoblasts exhibited greater inhibitory activity than controls, and by 17 days the difference in phosphate transport inhibition maximized (control 2.08 +/- 0.09, normal 1.88 +/- 0.06, hyp 1.58 +/- 0.06 nmol/mg of protein/minute). Concurrently, we observed absent PHEX expression in normal osteoblasts after 3 days, limited production at 6 days, and significant production by day 10 of culture, while hyp-mouse osteoblasts exhibited limited PHEX activity secondary to an inactivating mutation. The data suggest that the presence of inactivating PHEX mutations results in the enhanced renal phosphate transport inhibitory activity exhibited by hyp-mouse osteoblasts.

NaPO(4) cotransport type III (PiT1) expression in human embryonic kidney cells and regulation by PTH.

The aim of the present study was to characterize the type(s) of NaPO(4) cotransporter expressed in the human renal cell line HEK-293 and its regulation by parathyroid hormone (PTH) in wild-type cells and in cells transfected by the PTH/PTH-related protein (PTHrP) receptor. The results showed that human embryonic kidney HEK-293 cells expressed NaPO(4) cotransporter type III (PiT1) mRNA and protein. In contrast, type I (NPT1) or II (NPT2) cotransporter mRNA were not expressed. Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake followed a Michaelis-Menten model (apparent maximal transport rate and affinity constant: 23.32 +/- 0.69 nmol PO(4). mg protein(-1). 10 min(-1) and 0.147 +/- 0.014 mM KH(2)PO(4), respectively), was stimulated by phosphate deprivation (maximal increase 24.5 +/- 0.8%, P < 0.001, after 15 h of phosphate deprivation), and was inhibited by increasing pH (3.6 +/- 0.2-fold decrease at pH 8.5, P < 0.0001). It was inhibited in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion by PTH in HEK-293 cells stably transfected by PTH/PTHrP receptors but not in parental HEK-293 cells. Maximal inhibition of Na(+)-dependent phosphate transport was observed at 30 min after the addition of 72 nM PTH-(1-34) (31.5 +/- 2.4% inhibition, P < 0.01). PTH inhibition of phosphate transport was maintained in phosphate-deprived cells and reversed by both GF109203X (10(-6) M) or staurosporine (5.5 nM), two protein kinase C inhibitors. Na(+)-dependent phosphate uptake was also significantly inhibited by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (20.9 +/- 3.9% inhibition, P < 0.001) but not by dibutyril-cAMP (10(-4) M) or forskolin (50 microM). The physiological role played by type III NaPO(4) cotransport expression in the overall renal regulation of phosphate homeostasis remains to be established.

Regulation of expression of type II sodium-phosphate cotransporters by protein kinases A and C.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of protein kinase A and protein kinase C activation on the membrane expression of NaPi-4, the type II sodium-phosphate cotransporter in OK cells. NaPi-4 expression was measured using polyclonal antisera produced in rabbits against a peptide identical to the carboxy-terminal 12-amino acid sequence of NaPi-4. The antisera identified an apically localized protein by confocal imaging of intact OK cells and a broad band of 110-140 kDa by immunoblot analysis of OK cell membranes. Treatment of OK cells with parathyroid hormone (PTH) decreased the intensity of the 110- to 140-kDa band, which was detectable by 2 h, maximal by 4 h at 62%, and sustained for 24 h. 8-Bromo-cAMP (8-BrcAMP) inhibited NaPi-4 expression for up to 24 h by over 90%. However, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate inhibited NaPi-4 expression by less than 10%. PTH-(3-34), a fragment which stimulates only protein kinase C, inhibited phosphate transport but also had no effect on NaPi-4 expression. We conclude that protein kinase A but not protein kinase C inhibits sodium-phosphate uptake in OK cells by downregulation of NaPi-4 expression.

Glyphosate Uptake inCatharanthus roseusCells: Role of a Phosphate Transporter

InCatharanthus roseusL. cells, the study of glyphosate uptake indicates that, at low concentrations, glyphosate is transported against a concentration gradient, reaching an accumulation ratio of about 30, 18 h after the cells are transferred into a fresh medium. Evidence that part of the glyphosate uptake may be carrier mediated was provided by concentration dependence experiments which showed that glyphosate uptake exhibited a saturation phase at low concentrations (up to 50 μM). The role played by a phosphate transporter in this process is demonstrated by the existence of a lag period and the inhibition of glyphosate uptake in the presence of high concentrations of sodium phosphate. It is also shown by the effect of PFA, a powerful inhibitor of phosphate transport in animal cells, and also by the action of protein chemical reagents (PCMBS and DCCD). Compartmental analysis with isolated protoplasts and vacuoles indicated that [14C]glyphosate is distributed between the cytosolic and the vacuolar compartments, but the greater part is localized in the cytosol. Detailed studies carried out to investigate the requirements of the glyphosate transporter showed that, among the different constituents of the Gamborg's nutrient medium, the major elements increasing the cellular glyphosate uptake were Ca2+, Mg2+, and the presence of iron.

The Reversible Antiport-Uniport Conversion of the Phosphate Carrier from Yeast Mitochondria Depends on the Presence of a Single Cysteine

Wild type and mutant phosphate carriers (PIC) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria were expressed in Escherichia coli as inclusion bodies, solubilized, purified, and optimally reconstituted into liposomal membranes. This PIC can function as coupled antiport (Pi-/Pi- antiport and Pi- net transport, i.e. Pi-/OH- antiport) and uncoupled uniport (mercuric chloride-induced Pi- efflux). The basic kinetic properties of these three transport modes were analyzed. The kinetic properties closely resemble those of the reconstituted PIC from beef heart mitochondria. A competitive inhibitor of phosphate transport by the PIC, phosphonoformic acid, was used to establish functional overlap between the the physiological transport modes and the induced efflux mode. Replacement mutants were used to relate the reversible switch from antiport to uniport to a specific residue of the carrier. There are only three cysteines in the yeast PIC. They are at positions 28, 134, and 300 and were replaced by serine, both individually and in combinations. Cysteine 300 near the C-terminal loop and cysteine 134 located within the third transmembrane segment are accessible to bulky hydrophilic reagents from the cytosolic side, whereas cysteine 28 within the first transmembrane segment is not. None of the three cysteines is relevant to the two antiport modes. Cysteine 134 was identified to be the major target of bulky SH reagents, that lead to complete inactivation of the physiological transport modes. The reversible conversion between coupled antiport and uncoupled uniport of the PIC depends on the presence of one single cysteine (cysteine 28) in the PIC monomer, i.e. two cysteines in the functionally active dimer. The consequences of this result with respect to a functional model of the carrier protein are discussed.

Use of phosphonocarboxylic acids as inhibitors of sodium-phosphate cotransport

Phosphonocarboxylic acids, initially developed as antiviral agents, are found to be specific inhibitors of phosphate (P i) transport across cell membranes. Foscarnet (PFA), the most potent and the most widely used compound, can induce phosphaturia both after parenteral and oral administration. Furthermore, it can inhibit intestinal phosphate absorption when administered orally. PFA absorption and bioavailability are increased in animals on phosphate-restricted diets. PFA also blunts the adaptive increase in intestinal and renal Na +-P i cotransport which accompanies dietary phosphorus restriction. Finally, PFA is shown to inhibit hydroxyapatite crystal formation and calcium-phosphate precipitation when tested in in vitro systems. These properties, and the low toxicity of PFA, point to potential new applications for PFA and some of its analogs in clinical conditions such as chronic renal insufficiency, where phosphate retention may lead to progression of renal failure and to other serious complications.

Kinetic mechanism of phosphate/phosphate and phosphate/OH- antiports catalyzed by reconstituted phosphate carrier from beef heart mitochondria

In an optimized reconstituted system, the basic kinetic properties of the phosphate carrier from bovine heart mitochondria, e.g. the influence of membrane potential, pH, and proton gradient, were investigated for the two physiological modes of transport (Pi-/Pi- antiport and electroneutral, unidirectional phosphate transport). On the basis of these data, which closely resemble the function known from mitochondria, the reaction mechanism of the phosphate carrier was determined using bireactant initial velocity studies in both transport modes. Translocation occurred according to a simultaneous (sequential) mechanism, involving a ternary complex in transport catalysis. This mechanism indicates that the phosphate carrier falls into the same functional family as most other mitochondrial carriers. A detailed analysis of the different effects of pH on transport substrates and carrier protein in both possible transport modes, in combination with the identity of the kinetic mechanism in both modes, provides evidence that the unidirectional phosphate transport is catalyzed by Pi-/OH- antiport rather than by Pi-/H+ symport. We furthermore observed noncompetitive inhibition of phosphate transport by other anions. The consequences of this result with respect to a functional model of the carrier protein are discussed.

Calcitonin inhibits phosphate uptake in opossum kidney cells stably transfected with a porcine calcitonin receptor.

Calcitonin (CT), and PTH and PTH-related protein (PTHrP) stimulated urinary excretion of phosphate is brought about through inhibition of Na/P04 cotransport in proximal renal tubules. PTH/PTHrP receptors linked to inhibition of phosphate uptake have been characterized in a renal tubular cell line from the American opossum (OK). Specific binding of [125I]salmon CT (sCT) to OK cells was not recognized, but 1 microM sCT stimulated cAMP accumulation 10-fold and reduced phosphate uptake by 7 +/- 2% (P < 0.05). The responses were amplified in OK cells stably transfected with a cloned CT receptor from a porcine LLC-PK1 kidney cell line. The transfected cells expressed 20,000 CT receptors per cell with a Kd of 0.05 nM and an EC50 of cAMP accumulation of 6.2 nM; maximal cAMP stimulation in response to 1 microM sCT was 259-fold (P < 0.01). Phosphate uptake was inhibited by 35 +/- 4% in response to 1 microM sCT and by 34 +/- 3% to 1 microM chicken PTHrP(1-36) (P < 0.01). Half-maximal inhibition was obtained with 0.63 +/- 0.30 nM sCT and with 1.39 +/- 0.67 nM chicken PTHrP(1-36). The inhibition of [125I]sCT binding by nonlabeled human amylin required about 5000-fold higher concentrations than those of sCT, and human calcitonin gene-related peptide-I (CGRP) at up to 1 microM did not affect [125I]sCT binding. The rank order of potencies with respect to stimulation of cAMP accumulation and inhibition of phosphate transport of sCT, amylin and CGRP was the same. This is the first report linking a cloned CT receptor to inhibition of phosphate transport in a renal proximal tubular cell.