Convergence of IRBIT, phosphatidylinositol (4,5) bisphosphate, and WNK/SPAK kinases in regulation of the Na+-HCO3- cotransporters family

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Mar 5;110(10):4105-10. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1221410110. Epub 2013 Feb 19.

Abstract

Fluid and HCO3(-) secretion is a vital function of secretory epithelia, involving basolateral HCO3(-) entry through the Na(+)-HCO3(-) cotransporter (NBC) NBCe1-B, and luminal HCO3(-) exit mediated by cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and solute carrier family 26 (SLC26) Cl(-)/HCO3(-) exchangers. HCO3(-) secretion is highly regulated, with the WNK/SPAK kinase pathway setting the resting state and the IRBIT/PP1 pathway setting the stimulated state. However, we know little about the relationships between the WNK/SPAK and IRBIT/PP1 sites in the regulation of the transporters. The first 85 N-terminal amino acids of NBCe1-B function as an autoinhibitory domain. Here we have identified a positively charged module within NBCe1-B(37-65) that is conserved in NBCn1-A and all 20 members of the NBC superfamily except NBCe1-A. This module is required for the interaction and activation of NBCe1-B and NBCn1-A by IRBIT and their regulation by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). Activation of the transporters by IRBIT and PIP2 is nonadditive but complementary. Phosphorylation of Ser65 mediates regulation of NBCe1-B by SPAK, and phosphorylation of Thr49 is required for regulation by IRBIT and SPAK. Sequence searches using the NBCe1-B regulatory module as a template identified a homologous sequence in the CFTR R domain and Slc26a6 sulfat transporter and antisigma factor antagonist (STAS) domain. Accordingly, the R and STAS domains bind IRBIT, and the R domain is required for activation of CFTR by IRBIT. These findings reveal convergence of regulatory modalities in a conserved domain of the NBC that may be present in other HCO3(-) transporters and thus in the regulation of epithelial fluid and HCO3(-) secretion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / chemistry
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / genetics
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Lectins, C-Type / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Diphosphate / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Signal Transduction
  • Sodium-Bicarbonate Symporters / chemistry
  • Sodium-Bicarbonate Symporters / genetics
  • Sodium-Bicarbonate Symporters / metabolism*

Substances

  • CFTR protein, human
  • CLECL1 protein, human
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Diphosphate
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • SLC4A4 protein, human
  • Sodium-Bicarbonate Symporters
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • STK39 protein, human