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D N Sheppard

Publications and source records attributed to D N Sheppard.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Mutations in CFTR associated with mild-disease-form Cl- channels with altered pore properties.

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a phosphorylation-regulated Cl- channel located in the apical membrane of epithelia. Although cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in a single gene encoding CFTR, the disease has a variable clinical phenotype. The most common mutation associated with cystic fibrosis, deletion of a phenylalanine at position 508 (frequency, 67%), is associated with severe disease. But some missense mutations, for example ones in which arginine is replaced by histidine at residue at 117 (R117H; 0.8%), tryptophan at 334 (0.4%), or proline at 347 (0.5%), are associated with milder disease. These missense mutations affect basic residues located at the external end of the second (M2) and in the sixth (M6) putative membrane-spanning sequences. Here we report that, when expressed in heterologous epithelial cells, all three mutants were correctly processed and generated cyclic AMP-regulated apical Cl- currents. Although the macroscopic current properties were normal, the amount of current was reduced. Patch-clamp analysis revealed that all three mutants had reduced single-channel conductances. In addition, R117H showed altered sensitivity to external pH and had altered single-channel kinetics. These results explain the quantitative decrease in macroscopic Cl- current, and suggest that R117, R334 and R347 contribute to the pore of the CFTR Cl- channel. Our results also suggest why R117H, R334W and R347P produce less severe clinical disease and have implications for our understanding of cystic fibrosis.

Animals↗

Development of Na(+)- and K(+)-currents in the cochlear ganglion of the chick embryo.

The development of Na(+)- and K(+)-currents in the primary afferent neurons of the cochlear ganglion was studied using the patch-clamp technique. Cells were dissociated between days 6 and 17 of development and membrane currents recorded within the following 24 h. Outward currents were the first to appear between days 6 and 7 of embryonic development and their magnitude increased throughout development from 200 pA on day 7 to 900 pA on days 14-16. Threshold for activation decreased by 20 mV between days 8 and 14. Outward currents were absent when Cs+ replaced K+ in the pipette and were partially blocked by external tetraethylammonium. Outward currents contained at least three components: (i) a non-inactivating outward current, similar to the delayed-rectifier, predominating in mature neurons; (ii) a slowly inactivating current (tau about 200 ms), most evident in early and intermediate stages (days 7-10); and (iii) a rapidly inactivating outward current (tau about 20 ms) similar to the A-current (IA) described in other neurons, which was distinctly expressed in mature neurons. Sodium currents were identified as fast transient inward currents, sensitive to tetrodotoxin and extracellular Na(+)-removal. They appeared later than K(+)-currents and increased in size from about 100 pA between days 9-11 to 600 pA by days 13-16. The development of membrane currents in cochlear ganglion neurons corresponded to defined stages of the innervation pattern of the chick cochlea [Whitehead and Morest (1985) Neuroscience 14, 255-276]. These currents could be functionally related to the establishment of synaptic connections between transducing cells and primary afferent neurons.

Animals↗

Transient outward currents in cochlear ganglion neurons of the chick embryo.

Cochlear ganglion neurons were isolated from chick embryos and membrane currents recorded using the patch-clamp technique. Depolarizing voltage steps elicited transient outward currents whose inactivation was best fitted by a double-exponential function with time constants < 30 ms and > 100 ms. The fast inactivating transient outward current (Ito,f) had a threshold for activation of -61 +/- 5.5 mV; steady-state inactivation was voltage-dependent between -90 and -60 mV, with half-inactivation near -75 mV. The slowly inactivating outward current (Ito,s) showed an activation threshold of 34 +/- 4 mV. Half-inactivation was at -67 +/- 3 mV. Ito,f was blocked by 4-aminopyridine which did not affect Ito,s. The effect was concentration- and voltage-dependent. Tetraethylammonium had no effect on either fast or slow transient currents but reduced the amplitude of the non-inactivating outward current in a dose-dependent manner. Ito,f was strongly inhibited by removing Ca2+ from the extracellular bathing solution. Cobalt ions inhibited Ito,f in a dose-dependent manner between 2 and 20 mM. The inhibitory effect of Co2+ was voltage-dependent, displaying a bell-shaped inhibition curve as a function of membrane voltage, maximal inhibition occurring between -20 and 0 mV. Ca2+ removal did not affect Ito,s and partially reduced the amplitude of the steady-state current. These results provide kinetic and pharmacological evidence for the presence of two distinct transient outward currents in cochlear neurons. These currents may play a role in the first synaptic relay of sound transmission.

4-Aminopyridine↗

Effect of ATP-sensitive K+ channel regulators on cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator chloride currents.

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a Cl- channel that is regulated by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation and by intracellular ATP. Intracellular ATP also regulates a class of K+ channels that have a distinct pharmacology: they are inhibited by sulfonylureas and activated by a novel class of drugs called K+ channel openers. In search of modulators of CFTR Cl- channels, we examined the effect of sulfonylureas and K+ channel openers on CFTR Cl- currents in cells expressing recombinant CFTR. The sulfonylureas, tolbutamide and glibenclamide, inhibited whole-cell CFTR Cl- currents at half-maximal concentrations of approximately 150 and 20 microM, respectively. Inhibition by both agents showed little voltage dependence and developed slowly; > 90% inhibition occurred 3 min after adding 1 mM tolbutamide or 100 microM glibenclamide. The effect of tolbutamide was reversible, while that of glibenclamide was not. In contrast to their activating effect on K+ channels, the K+ channel openers, diazoxide, BRL 38227, and minoxidil sulfate inhibited CFTR Cl- currents. Half-maximal inhibition was observed at approximately 250 microM diazoxide, 50 microM BRL 38227, and 40 microM minoxidil sulfate. The rank order of potency for inhibition of CFTR Cl- currents was: glibenclamide < BRL 38227 approximately equal to minoxidil sulfate > tolbutamide > diazoxide. Site-directed mutations of CFTR in the first membrane-spanning domain and second nucleotide-binding domain did not affect glibenclamide inhibition of CFTR Cl- currents. However, when part of the R domain was deleted, glibenclamide inhibition showed significant voltage dependence. These agents, especially glibenclamide, which was the most potent, may be of value in identifying CFTR Cl- channels. They or related analogues might also prove to be of value in treating diseases such as diarrhea, which may involve increased activity of the CFTR Cl- channel.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Chloride channels in the apical membrane of normal and cystic fibrosis airway and intestinal epithelia.

Cl- channels located in the apical membrane of secretory epithelia play a key role in epithelial fluid and electrolyte transport. Dysfunction of one of these channels, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), causes the genetic disease cystic fibrosis (CF). We review here the properties and regulation of the different types of Cl- channels that have been reported in airway and intestinal epithelia. We begin by describing the properties of the CFTR Cl- channel and then use those properties as a point of reference. We focused particularly on the evidence that localizes specific types of Cl- channel to the apical membrane. With that background, we assess the biological function of various Cl- channels in airway and intestinal epithelia.

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Two types of potassium currents seen in isolated Necturus enterocytes with the single-electrode voltage-clamp technique.

1. The ionic permeability of Necturus maculosus small intestine epithelial cells was investigated using intracellular microelectrodes to measure membrane potential in intact tissue or by the single-electrode voltage-clamp technique in isolated cells. 2. The basolateral membrane of enterocytes appears to be K+ selective as demonstrated by the dependence of membrane potential and fractional serosal resistance measured in the intact epithelium on serosal K+ concentration. 3. Isolated cells had membrane potentials similar to those measured in the intact tissue. Voltage-clamp experiments in a physiological Ringer solution showed the presence of both large outward and inward currents. 4. Removal of Cl- from the bathing medium, linear subtraction or the use of a Cl- channel blocker revealed outwardly rectifying currents. The quasi-linear component was also revealed following K+ channel inhibition; it reversed near ECl, suggesting that the charge carrier was Cl-. 5. Outwardly rectifying currents could be kinetically resolved into two components. A fast component (tau for activation < 4 ms) accounted for 60-80% of the total current at positive potentials. A slowly activating component appeared at voltages positive to 50 mV with tau for activation of > 25 ms. 6. The slow outward current showed strong voltage dependence of both activation and relaxation, which were faster at more depolarized potentials. 7. Both fast and slow outward currents seem to be carried by K+ as they were blocked by Ba2+ and tetraethylammonium (TEA). Tail current analysis of the slow component indicated a reversal potential very similar to EK. 8. Fast outward currents were half-activated at about -40 mV whereas slow outward currents were only apparent at more positive potentials. It is proposed that the fast outward K+ current plays a role, together with Cl- currents, in determining the resting membrane potential of Necturus enterocytes.

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Potassium currents of isolated Necturus enterocytes: a whole-cell patch-clamp study.

1. The whole-cell recording mode of the patch-clamp technique was used to investigate the ionic currents of enterocytes isolated from the small intestine epithelium of Necturus maculosus. 2. When enterocytes were bathed in a physiological Ringer solution and dialysed with a K(+)-rich intracellular solution containing 1.5 x 10(-7) M intracellular Ca2+, strongly outwardly rectifying currents were observed. These currents were absent from enterocytes internally dialysed with K(+)-free solutions. 3. The kinetics of activation of the outwardly rectifying current was monoexponential with rate constants decreasing with depolarization from 160 ms at 20 mV to 40 ms at 60 mV. Similar voltage dependence of the relaxations after activation were observed. 4. Strongly buffering intracellular Ca2+ with EGTA inhibited outward currents, while increasing Ca2+ increased both their magnitude and rate of activation. 5. Bath application of the K+ channel inhibitors Ba2+ and TEA greatly attenuated outwardly rectifying currents. This observation plus the fact that tail currents reverse near EK points to K+ as the charge carrier in these currents. 6. Outside-out patches showed maxi K+ channels and lower conductance K+ channels. Averaging fluctuations of the maxi K+ channels gave a kinetic behaviour similar to the whole-cell currents.

Animals↗

Characterization of a phosphorylation-activated Cl-selective channel in isolated Necturus enterocytes.

1. The cell-attached and excised inside-out configurations of the patch-clamp technique were employed to probe isolated enterocytes of Necturus maculosus for the presence of Cl(-)-selective channels. 2. Chloride-selective channels were rarely observed unless cells were previously stimulated by agonists that raise cyclic AMP. In cell-attached patches forskolin (20 microM) or dibutyryl cyclic AMP 2 mM) evoked single-channel activity that reversed, depending on the cell, between 9 and 27 mV positive to the spontaneous membrane potential. This is close to the Cl- equilibrium potential in those cells; the single-channel current-voltage relationship was linear with a unitary slope conductance between 17 and 25 pS (pipettes filled with 100 mM-NaCl). 3. Large depolarizing voltage steps also activated Cl- channels in excised inside-out membrane patches that were previously quiescent. This mode of activation produced a distinctive single-channel current-voltage relationship with strong outward rectification at depolarizing membrane potentials. Single-channel cord conductance at negative potentials was 15-18 pS and increased to 45 pS at + 100 mV. 4. Altering the Cl- concentration in the bathing solution of excised inside-out patches displaced the observed reversal potential (Erev) to values predicted for Cl- equilibrium potential. Replacement of K+ for Na+ was without effect. 5. The effect of different anions upon Erev was used to determine the channel anion selectivity in excised inside-out patches. The permeability sequence was SCN- greater than I- greater than Br- greater than Cl- greater than F- greater than HCO3- greater than gluconate which corresponds to Eisenman's sequence 1. Neither ionic size nor diffusion rates determine the permeation of ions through the channel. 6. In channels activated by depolarization the open probability (Po) was insensitive to changes in the Ca2+ concentration (less than 10(-8)-10(-3) M) bathing the cytoplasmic face of excised inside-out patches. Depolarization was also without marked effect on Po. 7. Chloride channels in excised inside-out patches were inhibited by stilbene and diphenylamine-2-carboxylate derivatives. 4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (SITS, 5 x 10(-5) M) and 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB, 1 x 10(-5) M) caused an irreversible 'flickery' blockade without altering single-channel current. 3'5-Dichlorodiphenylamine-2-carboxylic acid (DDPC, 5 x 10(-5) M) reduced the currents at every voltage without apparent effects on gating properties of the channel.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

K+ channels activated by L-alanine transport in isolated Necturus enterocytes.

Using the patch-clamp technique, we demonstrate here the opening of K+ channels evoked by the actively transported amino acid L-alanine in isolated Necturus enterocytes. These channels had a conductance of about 30 pS and their activation was dependent on transmembrane electrical potential and cytosolic Ca2+.

Alanine↗

Kinetics of voltage- and Ca2+ activation and Ba2+ blockade of a large-conductance K+ channel from Necturus enterocytes.

Potassium channels in membranes of isolated Necturus enterocytes were studied using the patch-clamp technique. The most frequent channel observed had a conductance of 170 pS and reversal potential of 0 mV in symmetrical potassium-rich solutions. Channels were highly K- selective. Channel activity was modulated by membrane potential and cytosolic Ca2+ concentration. Channel openings occurred in characteristic bursts separated by long closures. During bursts openings were interrupted by brief closures. Two gating modes controlled channel opening. The primary gate's sensitivity to intracellular Ca2+ concentration and membrane potential crucially determined long duration closures and bursting. In comparison, the second gate determining brief closures was largely insensitive to voltage and intracellular Ca2+ concentration. The channel was reversibly blocked by cytosolic barium exposure in a voltage-sensitive manner. Blockade reduced open-state probability without altering single-channel conductance and could be described, at relatively high Ca2+ concentration, by a three-state model where Ba2+ interacted with the open channel with a dissociation constant of about 10(-4) M at 0 mV.

Animals↗

A chloride conductance activated by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate in the apical membrane of Necturus enterocytes.

1. Intracellular potentials, Cl- activity and membrane resistances were measured in Necturus small intestinal epithelium during Cl- replacement experiments using conventional or Cl- -selective double-barrelled microelectrodes. A Cl- conductance, located in the apical membrane and activated by cyclic nucleotides is demonstrated by ion-substitution experiments. 2. The mean mucosal membrane potential (Em) was -35.5 mV. Removal of Cl- from the mucosal medium by replacement with gluconate, evoked a sudden depolarization of Em and an immediate increase in the fractional resistance of the mucosal membrane (f(Rm)). The size of the change in Em varied between 3 and 65 mV, corresponding to Cl- to K+ permeability ratios between 0.2 and 20. It was inversely related to the initial f(Rm), which ranged from 0.04 to 0.50. 3. Prolonged incubation in low-Cl- solutions led to a reversal of the initial depolarization and to a sustained hyperpolarization accompanied by a marked increase in f(Rm). The new value of Em was close to the K+ equilibrium potential, consistent with a depletion of cellular Cl- and the preponderance of a K+ membrane permeability in the absence of Cl-. This emphasizes the role of Cl- in establishing Em. 4. Removal of mucosal Cl- produced a fast decrease in intracellular Cl-, as measured with Cl- -selective microelectrodes. The efflux was consistent with electrodiffusion across the mucosal membrane. Changes in Em paralleled changes in intracellular Cl- activity, indicating the presence of a large Cl- conductance. 5. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP or forskolin produced a slow depolarization, a decrease in f(Rm) and an increased change in intracellular potential in low mucosal Cl- which on average corresponds to an approximately 15-fold increase in the relative Cl- permeability. These results are consistent with an activation of apical Cl- conductance. 6. The selectivity of Cl- channels of Necturus enterocytes to different anions was obtained from potential measurements. The sequence of permeabilities was SCN- greater than I- greater than or equal to Br- greater than NO3- greater than Cl- much greater than HCO3- greater than gluconate. This is consistent with a model involving a weak interaction of the anions with the selectivity filter. 7. The selectivity of the anion conductance was maintained after activation with cyclic nucleotides, suggesting a single channel for the permeation of the different anions tested, rather than parallel channels. 8. Derivatives of 9-anthracene which are potent inhibitors of Cl- channels in other systems failed to block the apical Cl- conductance of Necturus enterocytes. Chloride conductance was also insensitive to furosemide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Direct block of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator Cl(-) channel by niflumic acid.

Niflumic acid is widely used to inhibit Ca(2+) -activated Cl(-) channels. However, the chemical structure of niflumic acid resembles that of diphenylamine-2-carboxylate, a drug that inhibits the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl(-) channel. To investigate how niflumic acid inhibits CFTR Cl(-) channel, we studied recombinant wild-type human CFTR in excised inside-out membrane patches. When added to the intracellular solution, niflumic acid caused a concentration- and voltage-dependent decrease of CFTR Cl(-) current with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (K(i)) of 253 microM and Hill co-efficient of approximately 1, at -50 mV. Niflumic acid inhibition of single CFTR Cl(-) channels was characterized by a very fast, flickery block that decreased dramatically current amplitude without altering open-probability. Consistent with these data, spectral analysis of CFTR Cl(-) currents suggested that channel block by niflumic acid was described by the closed <--> open <--> blocked kinetic scheme with blocker on rate (k(on)) = 13.9 x 10(6) M(-1)s(-1), off rate (k(off))=3348 s(-1) and dissociation constant (K(d)) = 241 microM, at -50 mV. Based on these data, we tested the effects of niflumic acid on transepithelial Cl(-) secretion and cyst growth using type I MDCK epithelial cells. Niflumic acid (200 microM) inhibited cAMP-stimulated, bumetanide-sensitive short-circuit current by 55%. Moreover, the drug potently retarded cyst growth. We conclude that niflumic acid is an open-channel blocker of CFTR that inhibits Cl(-) permeation by plugging the channel pore. It or related agents might be of value in the development of new therapies for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Animals↗