The sodium/proton exchanger NHE8 regulates late endosomal morphology and function

Mol Biol Cell. 2010 Oct 15;21(20):3540-51. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E09-12-1053. Epub 2010 Aug 18.

Abstract

The pH and lumenal environment of intracellular organelles is considered essential for protein sorting and trafficking through the cell. We provide the first evidence that a mammalian NHE sodium (potassium)/proton exchanger, NHE8, plays a key role in the control of protein trafficking and endosome morphology. At steady state, the majority of epitope-tagged NHE8 was found in the trans-Golgi network of HeLa M-cells, but a proportion was also localized to multivesicular bodies (MVBs). Depletion of NHE8 in HeLa M-cells with siRNA resulted in the perturbation of MVB protein sorting, as shown by an increase in epidermal growth factor degradation. Additionally, NHE8-depleted cells displayed striking perinuclear clustering of endosomes and lysosomes, and there was a ninefold increase in the cellular volume taken up by LAMP1/LBPA-positive, dense MVBs. Our data points to a role for the ion exchange activity of NHE8 being required to maintain endosome morphology, as overexpression of a nonfunctional point mutant protein (NHE8 E225Q) resulted in phenotypes similar to those seen after siRNA depletion of endogenous NHE8. Interestingly, we found that depletion of NHE8, despite its function as a sodium (potassium)/proton antiporter, did not affect the overall pH inside dense MVBs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Compartmentation
  • Down-Regulation
  • Endosomes / metabolism*
  • Endosomes / ultrastructure
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Epitopes / immunology
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Lysosomes / metabolism
  • Multivesicular Bodies / metabolism
  • Multivesicular Bodies / ultrastructure
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • Organelle Shape / physiology*
  • Protein Transport
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / metabolism*
  • trans-Golgi Network / metabolism
  • trans-Golgi Network / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Epitopes
  • Mutant Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • SLC9A8 protein, human
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers
  • Epidermal Growth Factor